Garmin nuvi 1690 – ecoRouting, online access, social networking plus navigation

Garmin nuvi 1690 and nuLink! connect drivers to real time data through AT&T Wireless.

[fimg=right]http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Garmin_nuvi_1690.jpg[/fimg]Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 17, 2009

Garmin nuvi 1690 – Excellent feature set but do we really want anyone to surf or update a Facebook like app while driving?

Net access

Garmin and AT&T* announced that AT&T will provide the wireless network connection for the nuvi 1690, a portable navigation device with a built-in wireless module planned for release later this year.

The nuvi 1690 will come equipped with Garmin's nuLink!, an industry leading, feature-rich service that will provide customers mobile access to Google(TM) Local search and up-to-date local information, including traffic, weather, fuel prices, movie listings, flight status, local events, and white page telephone listings. The service also features Ciao!, Garmin's exclusive location-based social networking system that connects multiple networks into a single portal for Garmin users.

"The nuvi is a powerful time-saving tool that takes the mystery out of where you are, where you're going, and the best way to get there - whether it's to an important meeting, a child's soccer game, or across the country on a road trip," said Cliff Pemble, Garmin's president and COO. "We're pleased to deliver this compelling, real-time content across AT&T's nationwide network, delivering the ultimate navigation experience."

The US version of the nuvi 1690 will be offered with two years of free Garmin nuLink! service, making it the first online PND to offer an extended period of online features included in the purchase price of the device. It will come equipped with preloaded maps of North America and is expected to be available in the fourth quarter for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $499.99. Following the first two years of service, the Garmin nuLink! subscription renewal price for data services is $5.00/month.

Social Networing

The nuvi 1690 is Garmin's first mobile navigation device to transform traditional social networking into location-enabled social networking. Through Ciao!, a patent-pending social network application that links multiple location-centric social networks onto one application, customers have the option of sharing their whereabouts with friends and family. Ciao! users will see their friends' location on a map and then be able to navigate to that location. Oh wow, I cannot wait :roplleyes:

ecoRoute

The nuvi 1690 includes ecoRoute, an innovative application that helps customers stretch their dollars and conserve fuel by creating routes that are optimized for using less fuel. When a user selects the "less fuel" option, the nuvi will determine a fuel efficient route based on fuel consumption rates, estimated driving speeds and vehicle acceleration data. Customers can then develop better driving habits by reviewing the results of ecoRoute's Fuel Report and Mileage Report. When used in combination with nuLink!'s fuel prices, customers can not only optimize their routes but also can choose their refueling locations in order to minimize the cost of vehicle operation. Fuel prices in the U.S. are updated daily.

Bluetooth

The nuvi 1690 also features Bluetooth Wireless Technology that makes it possible to receive and place phone calls directly from the nuvi, once paired with a wireless phone. It can be paired with over 200 Bluetooth enabled phones, and a driver can retrieve and dial numbers using a supported phone's contact list, the phone's call history log, or the nuvi's preloaded points of interest database.

Online Access

The nuvi 1690 boasts the most comprehensive set of points of interest (POI) search capabilities offered by any online navigation device, delivered through nuLink's Google Local and white page telephone listings. Google Local brings online POIs to customers' fingertips and lets them search for destinations by name or key words just like they are accustomed to doing on their personal computer. In addition, Garmin has created a "quick search" feature that lets users search Google Local via categories like food, lodging and fuel, rather than typing a word or phrase into the Google Local search box. Customers can also use the nuLink!'s white page telephone listing feature to search for a person's street address by their first name, last name or phone number.

In addition to the local search feature, Garmin nuLink! offers a plethora of other online services. Local events and movie listings help customers find interesting activities wherever they might travel. Real-time flight status takes the stress out of traveling to the airport with up-to-the minute arrival and departure information for major air carriers. And the Garmin nuLink! traffic feature provides the best-in-class information from NAVTEQ to help customers navigate in and around congestion.

Finally, Navigation​

Maps

City Navigator – North America: Coverage includes detailed maps for the U.S. and Canada, including Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas. Hawaii coverage uses Unverified Government dat. Mexico coverage is not included.

Turn by Turn Directions

nüvi 1690's intuitive interface greets you with 2 simple options: "Where To?" and "View Map." Touch the color screen to easily look up addresses and services and get voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to your destination. It comes preloaded with detailed City Navigator® NT street maps, nearly 6 million POIs, 2-D or 3-D maps and speed limits for most major roads. Its digital elevation maps show you shaded contours at higher zoom levels, giving you a big picture of the surrounding terrain. And with HotFix™ satellite prediction, nüvi calculates your position faster to get you there quicker.

Lane Assist

No more guessing which lane you need to be in to make an upcoming turn. Lane assist with junction view guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. It realistically displays road signs and junctions on your route along with arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation.

Route Planning

nüvi 1690 includes advanced navigation features to take the worry out of traveling. With route planning you can save 10 routes, specify via points and preview simulated turns on the 1690's wide screen. In addition, nüvi 1690 automatically sorts multiple destinations to provide an efficient route for errands, deliveries or sales calls. It also displays speed limits for highways and Interstates. A trip log provides an electronic breadcrumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you've been on the map.

POI’s

Customers can also opt to use the nuvi 1690's preloaded POI database to search for a location and then receive turn-by-turn, voice prompted directions to the destination. The nuvi 1690 includes lane assist with junction view so drivers will see a realistic presentation of road signs and junctions along the route, as well as arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation. These features make it easy to navigate unfamiliar intersections and exits because the nuvi guides drivers to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit. Map and traffic data is provided by NAVTEQ(TM) - a world leader in premium-quality mapping.

Travel Services

With Garmin nüLink! Services, you receive accurate real-time information delivered wirelessly to your nüvi 1690. In the U.S., each nüvi 1690 comes with a free 2-year nüLink! subscription and includes Google local search to find local POIs. And the traffic service delivers alerts for delays and road construction then automatically guides you around them in the shortest time. Need fuel? Find up-to-date fuel prices near your location for regular, mid-grade, premium or diesel. Other convenient services included in the subscription: Ciao!™ friend finder, weather, movie times, local events, Send to GPS, flight status, converter, White Pages and myGarmin.

A feature packed Navigation unit although for a feature packed price. Available for $499 later this fall.

 

What bugs me with Garmin is they have 4-6 models that do the exact same thing and it is real pain to figure out which one would be best for which application.

Example would be the 700 series. 755,765,785 models. OK when I look at all of them the 755 is the best option for me. Problem is there are 3 or 4 other units that are so similar in function that cost more and cost less. Garmin is so generic in their descriptions that a $225unit looks pretty close in function to a $350 model. Why pay more for the same GPS with a different case.

At least with the Tom Tom's it is pretty cut and dry the differences between models and prices.

This the whole reason I haven't bought one yet.