Ultra-Thin Portable GPS with beautiful hi-res 5-Inch display. [fimg=left]http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Garmin_nuvi_1490t.jpg[/fimg]Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Nov. 28, 2009 Working end of the Garmin 1490t. Garmin, the global leader in satellite navigation, has released a nüvi 1490T to us for review. The 1490t automotive GPS includes a large, 5-inch touchscreen and sleek body style that is 25-percent slimmer than most nüvi models. The large screen, ultra-thin navigator is ideal for those wanting to take advantage of Garmin’s newest navigation features like free, lifetime traffic alerts and lane assist with junction view that gives added confidence when driving roads with complicated intersection and turns. “The nüvi 1490T is designed to give drivers a big picture of the route ahead, while offering every-day conveniences customers want and need to take the worry out of traveling,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “With its enhanced pedestrian navigation capabilities and ultra-thin design, it’s also a perfect companion for travelers in unfamiliar territory who want to explore the city on foot or with public transportation.” Multiple Route Planning The nüvi 1490T gives clear guidance on the 5-inch touchscreen that details upcoming turns and specific driving directions, including road sign detail and arrows indicating the proper lane for navigation. With the nüvi 1490T, route planning is straightforward thanks to the ability to save up to 10 planned routes. The multiple-point routing feature makes running errands more efficient because the nüvi will calculate the most efficient route between multiple stops. For trips across the country, drivers will benefit from the automatic time zone transition feature that automatically sets the unit to the correct time zone. In addition, a speed limit indicator displays speed limits for most major roads. Traffic Alerts For the ultimate in convenience, the nüvi 1490T also makes it easy for drivers to steer clear of traffic accidents, road closures and construction. An integrated traffic receiver comes standard with the nüvi 1490T and gives free, lifetime traffic alerts without a subscription fee. The free lifetime traffic alerts are from NAVTEQ Traffic and are available in select coverage areas. Lifetime traffic alerts extend for the useful life of the nüvi unit or as long as Garmin receives traffic data from its traffic supplier. ecoRoute To help drivers make their gas tanks go the extra mile, the nüvi 1490T comes standard with ecoRoute™ that suggests fuel-efficient navigation. In addition to “faster time” and “shorter distance” for route preference, ecoRoute lets nüvi users choose “less fuel” as the best way to save gas and money. Through ecoRoute’s Fuel Report and Mileage Report, drivers can focus on their fuel conservation and find fuel-saving tips along the way. Select Fuel-efficient Routes - With ecoRoute, you will have a “less fuel” option as a routing preference. When selected, nüvi will determine if more fuel efficient routes exist based upon road speed data and vehicle acceleration data for a given route. Get Fuel and Mileage Reports - ecoRoute’s Fuel Report tracks fuel usage over time, and Mileage Report monitors mileage and fuel usage on a per-trip basis. Mileage Report also makes it easy for business travelers to keep track of distance traveled for company reimbursements. You can also customize your nüvi by entering your car’s fuel economy and the current price of gas. Bluetooth In addition, the nüvi 1490T also has Bluetooth® Wireless Technology that makes it possible to receive and place phone calls directly from the nüvi. The nüvi supports over 200 Bluetooth enabled phones, and drivers can retrieve and dial numbers using a supported phone’s contact list, the phone’s call history log, or the nüvi’s preloaded points of interest database. CityXplorer The ultra-thin nüvi 1490T also offers enhanced pedestrian navigation capability with optional CityXplorer™ maps. Available for select tourist destinations in both North America and Europe, CityXplorer maps can easily be downloaded directly to the nüvi. With CityXplorer, users will make the most of their journey by planning and using routes that include public transit options such as bus and metro rail stations. Content from CityXplorer varies in cost from $9.99 - $14.99, depending on the city. A list of cities offered in North America and Europe will be available at www.garmin.com. Price The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the nüvi 1490T is $499.99. Units on the street have been found for $380.00. We will add more as we let the 1490t loose into the wild. Namely, a Chicago to LA and back workout
There isn't necessarily a single most fuel-efficient route for all cars, e.g. Prius vs HCH-II for city vs highway speeds. The terrain can make a difference as well; my car has more drag for its mass than an Accord, so it favors steeper hills for P&G. I get worse FE in flat terrain than hilly, which is counterintuitive and probably not what ecorouting would expect. However, it's probably better than the fastest route by a long shot.
Thanks Wayne for putting up these GPS reviews. The problem I'm having is, I don't want to buy last years technology today with the speed GPS units are evolving.
Another thing that bothers me is they load them with 10 yr. old[ maybe 5 yr.] rd. maps. So as soon as you get it you have to pay for updates. Some roads in my area were change over 20 yrs. ago and this thing cannot even tell that the bridge is no longer there or if you take a new road it cant see it. Just another money grab I'm afraid! Hal
