Garmin launches new range of automotive GPSs
New nüvi 1000 series
Garmin, the number one GPS brand in South Africa, has launched a new range of automotive GPS devices to the local market, which boast new design features and functionality that will build on the already solid reputation for quality and reliability that Garmin devices possess.
According to Walter Mech, Sales and Marketing Director at Avnic Trading, apart from the new range being 25% slimmer than previous models, the nüvi 1000 devices have been packed with new features that will make automotive in-car navigation even easier and more convenient for motorists to use.
The latest nüvi units offer bright sunlight-readable screens and text-to-speech voice navigation for every turn, which will not only tell you to “turn right” but also add the street name you’ll be turning into. For example: “In 100 metres, turn right into Main Road”.
The revamped user interface and operating system on the new nüvi series make utilising these devices even easier than before. With a new touch-and-slide menu option, users can now navigate menu options in a very similar manner to navigating a touch-screen phone, by dragging a finger across the screen to scroll up and down or left and right.
“Garmin has also given users the ability to add additional information to the map data layout in wide screen models, such as elevation, estimated time of arrival and distance to destination,” Mech points out.
Branded Points of Interest (POIs) mean that it is now easier for users to identify restaurants, hotels, shops and petrol stations (to name a few) on the map itself, and the introduction of photo navigation means that users can download geo-tagged photographs to their compatible nüvi device and navigate by selecting a photograph as opposed to entering a POI name or address.
Garmin ecoRoute, which was previously only available on a limited number of nüvi devices, is now standard across the nüvi 1000 series and gives users the ability to measure their car’s carbon footprint and fuel efficiency, thereby giving them the choice to be more eco-friendly.
ecoRoute also gives users a “less fuel” option allowing them to navigate to a destination with greatest fuel efficiency, as well as providing detailed petrol usage reports that can easily be downloaded in Microsoft Excel format and incorporated into log books for tax purposes.
The Garmin nüvi 1200 is the entry level automotive device featuring a 3.5” touch screen. The nüvi 1300 and 1310 are the mid-range devices and feature a wide 4.3” screen, while the nüvi 1410 tops the range, featuring a massive 5” touch screen and Bluetooth connectivity.
“The launch of the new nüvi 1000 series represents one of the most significant product launches for Garmin, not only with a total revamp of the design of our devices, but also additional features that make navigating simpler and safer than ever,” Mech says.
The New Garmin nüvi 1000 series will be in stores from 01 December 2009. |
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