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By Yenie Darian, October 6, 2009 4:21 PM

Garmin Nuvifone G60 GPS Phone Review: Do Not Buy

Here the new review from Gizmodo

Garmin nuvifone G60

What’s Bad ?

• The resistive touchscreen reminds me of phones circa 2006, bad for everything but big-button tapping.

• There’s no homescreen button, to quickly take you out of a mire of menus.

• It’s crashy—screens froze twice while I was writing this, forcing a full-on hard restart.

• Sometimes the accelerometer just stops working completely.

• The camera is terrible—if the hardware button required for the shutter even works—and there’s no video of any kind.

• The web browser is all but useless, because it relies heavily on zooming in and out, and the touchscreen easily confuses swiping and tapping.

• The interface looks cool at first, but there are strange design choices throughout. Want an example? The QWERTY keyboard only appears in horizontal mode—it’s ABCDE in vertical mode. Also, no “Where To?” button, a la older Nuvi devices.

• You have to pay a $5/month premium charge to check the weather, traffic, local events and other services—all of which can be found on free apps from real smartphone platforms (not just iPhone).

• Even when using email (let alone calendar), there doesn’t seem to be any awareness of the rest of the internet: The email wizard lets you enter any address and password, but it doesn’t say whether it can actually get mail. This tenacious little phone is still trying to log onto my Hotmail account.

• The battery ran down completely during my first day of testing, after a few phone calls and some modest GPS navigation, and the battery indicator drops fast when it’s just on standby. In fairness, you shouldn’t use this phone or any other phone without a car charger, if you intend to use it for GPS navigation.

• There is no car charger. It’s missing the $7 USB-to-cig-lighter adapter. AT&T probably wanted to sell it separately, but when I asked at my local AT&T store, they didn’t even carry it.

• Since it’s an AT&T phone, it has to compete with the iPhone and other handsets that are way better. If the Nuvifone were on Verizon, it would at least have a network advantage in certain markets that it could lord over the iPhone herd. But even Apple haters would have a hard time spending an extra $100 on this—with the exact same phone reception.

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By Yenie Darian, September 14, 2009 9:32 AM

Using TomTom Bluetooth GPS Receiver as External GPS Receiver for PDA

By: Yenie Darian

If you have PDA without GPS support, now, you never need to be lost again. Whatever you are doing and wherever you are, Tom Tom’s Bluetooth device is designed for people who already own a PDA that supports Bluetooth. This external GPS receiver gives your PDA GPS functionality, which will let you know where you are going and how best to get there exactly, when combined with Tom Tom’s Navigator software and maps.

External GPS Receiver

Wherever you might happen to go, the receiver utilizes Bluetooth technology to eliminate the need for connecting cables, and a high-performance GPS antenna to ensure the best possible reception.

TomTom Bluetooth GPS Receiver as External GPS Receiver has small size and light weight, this handy receiver can fit easily in a purse, pocket, or anywhere else off the beaten track.

The GPS antenna on this unit will stay connected to make sure you find your way whether you are driving down the road or walking down the street, and because of its Bluetooth connectivity.

This external GPS receiver is compatible with most popular brands and models of PDAs, including; O2, Palm Treo, Nokia, Acer, Imate, Dell, HP, Orange, T-Mobile, Qtek and Eten.

Unfortunately, this external GPS receiver is expensive for an older tech receiver. And once you have powered this on it works well enough. When it loses Bluetooth connection to whatever it is talking to it shuts off. When the client comes back this unit has to be manually powered on again.

Just thought you may be interested in reading this guide: A Review of Garmin Nuvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator and Finding the Best Garmin GPS Accessories.

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By Yenie Darian, September 11, 2009 3:50 PM

Garmin® Updates Low-Cost, High-Sensitivity GPS 72H Marine Handheld

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it was introducing the GPS 72H with new, state-of-the-art features including a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, and a fast USB interface – all in an easy-to-use handheld that floats.

“Since 2002, the GPS 72 has been the handheld of choice for the boater that wants a simple, rugged, and reliable navigator,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president for worldwide sales.  “Now, with a high-sensitivity receiver, boaters can acquire a position fix quickly and easily.”

In addition to improved GPS satellite reception, the GPS 72H can quickly transfer waypoints, tracks, and routes via its fast USB interface, as well as the tried-and-true NMEA 0183.  Battery life has also been improved to 18 hours (typical use).  Like the legacy GPS 72, the updated 72H is fully waterproof to IPX-7 standards (submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes).  Best of all, the unit floats, in case of an accidental dunking.

The GPS 72H features built-in celestial data, including tide tables, sunrise/sunset times, and a fishing and hunting almanac.  Like its predecessor, the GPS 72H stores up to 500 waypoints and 50 routes.

The GPS 72H includes a wrist strap, a quick start manual, and digital owner’s manual.  The unit is expected to be available in the October 2009 for a suggested retail price of $149.99.  Visit www.garmin.com for more information.

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