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Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
tching to try out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to locate the best toffee apples on the east coast? Now, it's easy to search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest, then transfer the addresses directly to your Garmin GPS navigator.
The process does require a small plugin, which you can get at Garmin's website at http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3739. You can send business addresses to your Garmin device from these countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. | ||
Search for the location you want. | Pick "Send to GPS". | Go! |
Traffic-Capable for Either FM Traffic or Enhanced MSN Direct Content
MSN Direct Enhanced Traffic and Content | With an optional receiver, you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nüvi. Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services. A 3-month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the receiver. After that, subscription fees are $49.95 per year, or $129.95 for a lifetime subscription. |
FM Traffic
 | With an optional receiver, you can get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you'll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you're forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi's sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time. In most areas, TMC Clear Channel traffic broadcasts are continuous â there's no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a "silent" FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions. A 3-month subscription to TMC Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network is included with the receiver. For more information on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin website. |
Where Am I?
On any nüvi, just tap "Where Am I?" to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates.First-Rate Map Data
 nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger. | The nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. In addition, nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store. |
Garmin Lock
Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location
Beyond Navigation
Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer. | Navigation is just the beginning. The nüvi 2x5 models features travel tools including a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via microSD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs. For Accessory Map Cards and Travel Guides the Units Feature: a MicroSD Card Slot on the 3.5 inch Units, and an SD Card Slot on the 4.3 inch Units. Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras. |
Trick Your GPS Ride
 Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS. See more icon option | All Garmin nüvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map. |
Notes
- Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
- Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.
Which nüvi is Best for You?
Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
| Device | Screen Size inches (W x H) | Included Maps | Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names) | Traffic | Bluetooth | Media | FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system) | Multi-Point Routing | Battery life (hours) | ||
| Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico | AK and Canada | Europe | |||||||||
| nüvi 205 | 2.8 x 2.1 |  | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||||
| nüvi 205w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||||
| nüvi 255 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 255w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 260w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | Photos | up to 5 | |||||
| nüvi 265T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 265WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 275T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 285WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 465T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 755T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 760 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | |
| nüvi 765T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |
| nüvi 775T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 780 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 | |
| nüvi 785T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |
| nüvi 850 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 855 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 885T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 3 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 | |
| nüvi 1200 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | |||||
| nüvi 1250 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 1260T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 1300 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | |||||
| nüvi 1350 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 1350T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | Photos | up to 4 | ||||
| nüvi 1370T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 1390T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 1490T | 4.4 x 2.5 | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | up to 4 | ||
| nüvi 1690 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | NAVTEQ Traffic, 2 years free (Garmin nüLink! service) | | Photos | | up to 4 | ||
| Basic MSN Direct Content Features | |
| Traffic Reports
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 | Gas Prices
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 | Weather Reports
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 | Movie Times
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| Enhanced MSN Direct Content | |
 | Web Favorites (Send custom destinations to your GPS with Live Search Maps)
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 | Local Events
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 | Stock Quotes
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 | News Headlines
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| MSN Direct Coverage Map | |
Get detailed info for your Zip Code at the MSN Direct website.  | |
A GPS for all that is required from a GPS.. July 22, 2008Mika (NJ USA)
246 out of 252 found this review helpful
Ok..now I feel morally obliged to offer my review after reading so many other reviews to base my buying decision. The inner voice kept asking me to post a review even though it is boring like mowing somebody elses lawn.
I have used nuvi 205 couple of times and find it really well designed. Garmin has tweaked the screen-interface and I must say that it really works in favour of the users.
Users care less about mp3 and other cosmetic stuff provided in nuvi 350. All we care about is a smart GPS that guides us through the best route. 205 has all those ingredients!!
Nuvi 205 does not have spoken street names but it does have voice guidance that says something like " turn right in next 1 mile". Users who typically find guidance through one of those green-freeway-signs are smart enough to figure the street name. Moreover, the street name is right on top of the screen. In my view, it is a waste of $$ to pay 100 bucks more for just yelling street names when it is right in front of you. Satellite acquisition and Route recalculation also seemed to have improved a bit. I have not used the traffic support and POI to offer any good comments. One little feature I find cool is the speed limit mentioned on the screen. This way user doesnt have to be on lookout for signs showing the limit. Of course, this is of little use to people who drive in left lane @ >70...
And for those of you who think that GPS should offer more..205 does have photo navigation, customized car-shaped icons, world travel clock, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator.....I wouldnt really give big grades for having them..
Hope that this review helps users..to navigate to the best GPS!!
Garmin Nuvi 205 - Great Basic GPS With Updated Features September 2, 2008Mark (East Coast)
88 out of 88 found this review helpful
The Garmin nüvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator is one of several updated models in the 200 series. It's funny to admit this, but using some of the higher end versions has actually made me like this model more. Sure, this doesn't have the 4.3 inch widescreen of the 600 series, or the W models like the Garmin nuvi 205W and Garmin Nuvi 255W. And it doesn't give you Bluetooth like the 600 series and others. But what it does give you is a GPS unit that covers the basics very well, is very affordable, and has been updated with a LOT more features than entry level models from the competition. So if you need a starter GPS, this is probably the daddy of them all right now.
Pros:
+ Great performing unit for a starter GPS unit
+ Comes with all the things you need, GPS, window mount and car power adapter
+ Updated Garmin features including HotFix to speed up satellite acquisition
+ Included compatibility with MSND traffic service (though not great in all areas)
+ Improved pedestrian mode
+ Improved interface with slick look and feel
+ Cool extras like photo navigation and cool web features
+ Nice pricing
Cons:
- Still some software issues to be worked out with updates
- 3D view still needs some work
- Not the least expensive starter unit on the market
- Garmin still overcharges for map updates
- Traffic services not great in all areas
Pros
The updated interface is very nice, though many of the changes are subtle in terms of functionality. The look and feel are definitely slicker, but there are also extra directional markers. In order to really access all the extra info, you have to change your settings to display "most detail." Either way, those who've used the 200 will definitely notice the improvements.
The main complaint that all GPS units have to overcome is the dreaded delay in finding satellites. All models and all brands have this issue to one degree or another. Now with the Hotfix, the 205 and other updated models do find satellites a little faster than before. You will still have issues locating satellites indoors, but under standard use outdoors you will see it find satellites faster.
The other feature that is aided by the update is pedestrian mode. This feature is not used too often. In fact, it's somewhat hard to find in the menu settings. But the problem that was often encountered with the older generation of products was that in cities like NY with tall skyscrapers, it was very hard to find and hold a signal long enough to use pedestrian mode. Now, it can still take a while but is noticeably faster and more reliable.
Some of the newer Garmin features like photo navigation and send custom location info to your GPS unit are really slick. You can go to the Garmin website to access these things and more. Still, those are all true extras. You don't need those things to enjoy the main function of this guy, which is to give you directions via GPS navigation.
You will also need to consider accessories such as the Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for Nüvi Series. The included window mounting suction cup may not be enough for your needs.
Cons
There are some things you should know about the MSN Traffic Service. For some people, this is going to be a great service. For others, not so much. Garmin should be given extra points for integrating the functionality. This service has been offered with other models for a while I'm very familiar with it. The shortcomings are not totally the fault of Garmin. The bottom line is that the MSN traffic data may be stale depending on where you live. You need current data to reroute around rush hour jams or accidents. It's not ready for prime-time everywhere yet. And when the service improves, believe me I plan to use it full time.
The 3D terrain maps are the result of people clamoring for altitude data. Well, the data is now there, though it seems somewhat limited. These 3D maps are not very useful and it is difficult to display the information without zooming out to distances that are not ideal.
Certainly, Garmin isn't the low cost provider when it comes starter units, updated maps and POIs. But those cons are all minor. Overall, this is a nice improvement and a great starter unit.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an upgrade for your Garmin nüvi 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator, you are probably going to want to step up to the Garmin nüvi 660 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator or better. If you need a starter unit for yourself or as a gift, the 205 definitely needs to be on your list of models to consider.
Enjoy.
Not all changes are improvements January 5, 2009Spinolio (Kansas City, MO USA)
114 out of 116 found this review helpful
I've had the Nuvi 205 for about six weeks and use it several times a week. I also have a Nuvi 200 that I've owned for a little more than a year. I opted to buy the new 205 instead of upgrading the maps in the 200 because the 205 was available for only $118. Since I have both units, this will be something of a comparison review.
For the most part I like the Garmin interface, and they've made a few improvements in the 205. The speed limit information is very handy, and it's nice that the zoom in/out "buttons" are now placed next to each other. I love having a constant display of the street I am currently on. It also finds satellites faster than does the Nuvi 200. The suction cup mount is much improved, with the rubber cup itself being softer and tackier. The mount for my 200 would often lose suction and fall off the windshield.
The Garmin literature touts the 205's new faster processor as being able to redraw the map more smoothly. This appears to be true, but this also appears to be a case of technology for technology's sake, and it has actually made the unit more difficult to use. This applies primarily to situations where a destination has been entered. Anytime the car approaches a turn along the calculated route, the display begins to zoom in, presumably in order to show more detail. Unfortunately the zooming is done in such a way that the upcoming turn remains at a fixed distance out ahead of the current position (on the screen). It almost appears as though the car has stopped moving, especially when there are few details on the map to provide a visual cue that the display is zooming. Once the zooming in stops, the map rapidly rushes by. When I first used the 205 I missed several turns because I thought I wasn't very close to the intersection and then suddenly the intersection was behind me. Even now that I've grown accustomed to it, I still find myself double checking the map with the distance-until-turn reading. I never had to do this with the Nuvi 200.
Other nit-picks
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* The Nuvi 205 gets lost more often when I'm downtown. The buildings seem to confuse it whereas the 200 has no problem.
* The rerouting is sometimes baffling after I've missed a turn. It once sent me two miles along a couple of roads to turn around in a cul-de-sac and then retrace my route. I don't know if this is the case with the 200 because I didn't miss turns with it.
* The LCD display is not as good as the Nuvi 200's, with lower contrast and viewing angles.
* Battery life is not quite as good as the Nuvi 200's, presumably because it now has a faster processor.
* It does not display the compass heading when following a calculated route. It displays the current speed instead. Every car has a speedometer, but not that many have compasses. I really don't need validation of my speed, but I would like to know my current direction.
* Searching the POI database is often so slow that it's unusable. This is not new to the 205. As an example, yesterday I had some extra time after running an errand and wanted to find a Toyota dealer to look at a new car. There are quite a few Toyota dealers in KC, but I didn't know what dealers were in the immediate area, so I just entered 'Toyota'. After five minutes it had returned no results. If you know the exact name (Superior Toyota, for example), the search speed is reasonable, but that limits the usefulness.
My feedback to Garmin:
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* When displaying turns on calculated routes, just zoom in once or twice when approaching a turn rather than in a longer continuous zoom that sometimes makes it appear that the vehicle is not getting closer to the upcoming turn.
* Use a better LCD screen.
* Improve the POI searching or make more categories.
* When displaying a calculated route, make the bottom left button/readout user configurable. It currently displays the speed, and when you touch that area of the screen it displays all sorts of navigation info (including the compass heading). The user should be able to touch any item on that screen and have that be the new value displayed in the lower left corner of the main screen.
* Draw major roads with thinner lines. Sometimes the highways are drawn with such thick lines that useful details are obscured.
Improvements over Nuvi 200 appreciated October 9, 2008J. Morris (Austin, TX United States)
24 out of 24 found this review helpful
I had to give the Nuvi 205 a 5-star rating because it's better than the Nuvi 200, which has an average of 4.5 stars at Amazon. All in all, I'm glad I got the 205 vs. the 200. Not in any order are the following improvements I appreciated most:
The faster screen refresh is noticeable. There's a YouTube video where the 205 is compared with the 200. You can see a huge difference.
The redesigned display is more intuitive with arrows vs. "left"/"right". Personally, I think the screen design looks better, too.
The ability to import addresses on the computer from Google map is very nice since entering the address via the touchscreen is a bit cumbersome.
BTW, the documentation is very, very light. There was no mention of how to use the map importation feature so I appreciated the Amazon product page including the link to download the plug-in. Also, I didn't know I could download more vehicles till I dug around the Garmin website.
About text-to-speech, which this unit does NOT have, I don't think I'm going to miss it. Usually I have the radio or iPod blaring, and my car is pretty noisy anyway, so it would be hard to hear the street names called out. In fact, I keep the volume down and rely on the very intuitive display. You clearly see the upcoming street name to turn on and even if there are a bunch of streets bunched up together, the main map would show them all and it would be easy to differentiate the one you want.
Great entry level GPS May 29, 2009Ken (Dallas, TX)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
When researching a new GPS, you have to concentrate on what features you want, and then pay attention to how the unit functions as a whole. The maps will occasionally be wrong with any unit, and locals will likely disagree with some of the routing in areas they are highly familiar with. But you aren't buying this to help you navigate your neighborhood. In my research I've found Tomtom, Magellan, and Garmin all share similarly high reviews depending on the product.
That said, the Garmin Nuvi 205 is a fantastic entry level unit. It is incredibly easy to use, very quick to acquire a signal, immediate re-calculation, and accurate placement and position updates. This unit does not speak street names, but I find the verbal updates adequate enough. "In one mile, turn left" etc. gives plenty of notice on what you need to do without continually harassing you. Enterting destinations is easy. It will guess the city / street names after only a few letters, and it has a large preloaded database of locations to search.
In addition to the map, during your drive it will display your current speed, the local speed limit (most of the time), distance to destination, ETA, and your next turn and which direction it will be. If there are no other turns prior to your destination, it will display which side of the road you need to be on and mark the spot with a checked flag. So far it has been 100% accurate on "side of street" placement.
It has multiple settings if you need to adjust any part of the programming or features. You can have it avoid tolls, highways, u-turns, etc. You cannot edit the main interface, or what it shows you where, I would not make any changes even if I could though. This unit is compatible with the optional traffic receivers, however I have not used any of them. I love the small size as well, it fits well on the windshield with the included mount but does not get in the way, and is still very easy to read.
Updating your maps online seems easy enough, I was able to connect to my computer with a standard mini-usb cable (not included) and load the website quickly. I also downloaded voices and icons directly to the device with no trouble.
If you are looking for a low price GPS for casual use, and can live without bluetooth, spoken street names, and multi point routing (you can have 1 destination + 1 extra stop at once) then the nuvi 205 is perfect, and a great price. I am very satisfied with my purchase.
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