Take the nüvi 1390T for a Test Drive

Whether you’re looking for a new nüvi or considering an upgrade from an older unit, we’ve got something just for you - an online demo so you can try it before you buy it! Our recently launched nüvi 1390T loads lots of great features in a sleek and stylish ultra-thin design. Portable and affordable, this savvy navigator comes standard with a large color display to help you find your way around your own town or a new city. It’s made for life on the go and comes standard with free lifetime traffic, Bluetooth® connectivity and lane assist with junction view. And with optional cityXplorer map data for pedestrian navigation, you’ll have all the information you need whether you’re behind the wheel or out on foot. Interested in learning more? Plan a trip to our interactive demo. You’ll be able to interact with the unit and see some of the great new features that are made to help you navigate with ease.

Manage your pics with myPhotos, now part of dashboard on my.Garmin

So you have an Oregon 550T touchscreen handheld with built-in digital camera, and you've snapped pictures of that vacation you squeezed in before school was back in session. Now what? With a to-do list longer than ever, you need a simple way to see, store and share your pictures. That's where myPhotos will save the day. Part of the feature-filled dashboard on my.Garmin.com, myPhotos helps you upload to an online photo sharing community, where you and your friends and family can enjoy the pictures that were automatically geotagged when you snapped the photo with Oregon 550T's 3.2MP camera. Through automatic geotagging, the location of the photo was saved as part of the file so that you or people you share the image with can see where it was taken - and even navigate back to that spot. To learn more about Oregon 550T, check out the product page and watch this quick video.

While you're exploring my.Garmin, you'll see that myPhotos is just one of many helpful features that makes this dashboard a one-stop-shop.


The upgraded myGarmin.com website is home to the following services:

Map information –
Customers are notified when new maps are available and can determine which maps are best for them – nüMaps Lifetime, nüMaps Onetime, or other accessory maps that will help them find their next adventure.

Software update –
Garmin regularly updates and improves existing products. Customers can download free software updates for the life of their GPS device.

Support –
Customers can find answers to their GPS questions through an online library of frequently asked questions.

Registration –
Customers can register their product so they can keep tabs of their device, warranty status, and access product-specific services and software.

My.Garmin.com is a free service for Garmin customers and users can register immediately to access these new features.

A day for a Personal best...

Garmin Blog update....









Like many of my running buddies and friends at Garmin, I’m currently training for a fall marathon. With my workouts and mileage ramping up, I’ve not been doing many races, but last weekend it was time to kick out the cobwebs at a 5k. Apparently, I was due, since I sliced a fat 40 seconds off my PR. Shortly after arriving at the race venue, I chatted with the day’s emcee, BJ the DJ, and he told me “it’s a day for a PR.” Why not? The temp was in the 60s, my legs felt fresh and the course included the hilly trail I’d been training on lately. After a thorough warm-up, I made sure my Forerunner 405 was set up the way I like it for race day, showing time, average pace and distance. To learn how to customize your Forerunner training pages to show average pace or other data, check out the training video titled “customizing screens”. Displaying average vs. current pace was helpful since this course started with some significant climbs. After churning through those hills, I kept an eye on pace through mile two so I could gradually make up the time difference and meet or beat my goal of 22:30. I crossed the finish line in 22:24. All credit to my 405 minding my pace plus the speed work I’ve being doing the last six weeks with Coach Eladio Valdez and his Runner’s Edge group. Read on to find out about my next adventure with the 405.

With a 5k behind us and a long run before us, I agreed to meet my training partners — Fred, Wilma and their dog Dino — at 4 a.m. Sunday with headlamps at the ready. We’ve done several of these early morning “beat the heat” runs, but last weekend, it was more of a “beat the whelming flood” workout. After checking weather radar and eyeing the sky for distant lightning flashes, we decided to head out and if the weather turned too nasty, we’d make it a shorter out-and-back instead of a 22-mile loop. That's Fred on the far right in the photo, and Wilma's in the middle, next to her son. We took this pic with some of my other Garmin friends and training partners at a 5k last fall.













I just love Fred and Wilma. They are true marathon masters who earn their spot at Boston every year and routinely win age group and sometimes overall awards at local races. And they let me tag along on many of their training runs, often adjusting the start time so I can make it back home in time for family obligations. While I trusted Fred and Wilma’s judgment on the weather last Sunday, I was at best uneasy for our first 11 miles when the sprinkles turned to rain and puddles became small ponds covering low spots on the trail.

Once we hit our halfway point, the skies were still dark and we were thoroughly soaked, but at least we were now heading back toward our goal. By mile 18, I determined this was no longer just a long training run. More like an adventure race complete with water crossings and the desolate feeling that can only come from being out in the middle of nowhere or being “somewhere” when no one else is around. In our last couple of miles, we had two water crossings where Wilma and I each had to grab one of Fred’s arms and plant our feet, one after the other, to work our way across the rushing water. I’m convinced that Wilma, who’s not even 90 pounds dripping wet, would’ve ended up somewhere in the Gulf if she’d lost her grip. In the end, we were grateful we’d gotten our miles in when we did since the skies around KC continued to pour for the next several days. Follow our adventuresome run in Garmin Connect.

Garmin launches its first Windows Mobile smartphone

Garmin-Asus, the mobile phone joint venture between GPS device maker Garmin and electronics vendor Asustek Computer, launched its first smartphone with the Windows Mobile operating system in Taiwan.

The Nuvifone M20, which has a 2.8-inch touchscreen and runs Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, will be sold in by Taiwan's largest phone company, Chunghwa Telecom, the companies said. The smartphones are also currently available in Hong Kong and will soon launch in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, with a debut in Europe later this year.

The M20 is aimed at business users and will cost around NT$17,900 (US$544), but the price will depend on the service contract a customer signs with Chunghwa Telecom. The phone network operator also sells the iPhone and two smartphones from High Tech Computer (HTC) with Google's Android mobile operating system.

Garmin-Asus first announced the smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in February.

The M20 sports a 3.0-megapixel camera as well as 4GB of flash memory to store photos, songs and more. The handset also carries mobile versions of Microsoft's Office software and includes push e-mail. It offers a variety of wireless connections, including 2G and 3G as well as Wi-Fi 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.0.

Garmin-Asus debuted its first smartphone product last month in Taipei, the Nuvifone G60, which has a 3.55-inch touchscreen and a Linux operating system developed by Garmin-Asus. The G60 is designed more as a personal navigation device inside a smartphone.

The two smartphones have been designed with location-based services via GPS in mind and use navigation software from Garmin, one of the most popular GPS device makers in the U.S.

Location-based services on both handsets include Garmin maps and software that display information including points of interest, friends' homes and the best route to take to avoid traffic. They are also designed to deliver locally relevant information to people, including movie times, nearby restaurants and more. The company expects one of the most popular features in Taipei to be the locations of nearby parking lots, which are difficult to find in the city.

The new handsets also have geotagging for photos. Pictures taken using the onboard digital cameras of the two Nuvifones will automatically be tagged with date, time and location data.

Garmin mulling cash offer for British navigation firm

Garmin Ltd. issued a brief statement this morning, saying it had not yet made an offer for a British company that makes electronic navigational equipment for boats.

On Monday, Raymarine Plc said it was in preliminary discussions with "a number of parties, including Garmin, which may or may not lead to a sale of the company."

Garmin responded Tuesday saying that "at this stage, there can be no certainty that an offer will be made nor as to the terms of which any offer might be made."

The Olathe-based company acknowledged, however, that "any offer it might make for the shares of Raymarine is likely to be solely in cash."

Garmin recently reported that at the end of its latest quarter it had more than $1.5 billion in cash and marketable securities, including $246 million in free cash flow generated in the just-completed quarter.

Navigational equipment for the marine industry is one of Garmin's major divisions.

Raymarine primiarly supplies electronic products to the leisure boating market. Its products include radar, chart plotters and auto pilots.

It generates about $130 million in sales annually. Raymarine also acknowledged Monday it was pursuing various options to raise capital. Its shares have lost about 40 of their value this year.

Shares in Garmin closed Tuesday at $29.04, up $1.09.

Garmin & Raymarine, A Defensive & Strategic Opportunity (GRMN, AAPL, VZ, GOOG, T)

Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) may still be the leader in its space in the U.S., but the company has become very ‘yesteryear’ for investors. The company recently performed much ‘less-worse’ than expectations and shares soared after earnings, but then it received a key analyst downgrade from Goldman Sachs. Now the company is ready to throw in an acquisition into the mix. All the reports from the weekend and early this week have Garmin making a cash bid to acquire a troubled and much smaller Raymarine, a GPS navigation solution system maker for the recreational boating and light commercial marine markets. Because of the growing competition in this GPS space, we wanted to see if this would be a deal brought by need or brought by convenience.


The Portsmouth, UK-based company has been said to be in search of a partner after warning earlier this summer that it was close to the operational limits of its bank credit facilities. If you think that Garmin has fallen from grace as a stock, it pails to the drop seen here. Raymarine shares in London were north of 400 pence in 2007 and briefly hit 500 pence. Today’s level after a 7% gain is a whopping 17.70 pence. That comes to a loss of more than 95%.

The Sunday Times originally had the story, but the issues here go above and beyond just an international merger. Garmin is exponentially larger in size and the need for anything ‘friendly’ might not be present. While Garmin is used on some boats, this would broaden out the company’s boat and marine offerings. Those markets are in the toilet right now, but that is the time for a larger company to buy up smaller rivals.

Raymarine may need to raise capital, find a new partner, or just take a buyout. Falling outside of credit facilities is something that US investors and British investors do not exactly greet with any cheers.

It would be very easy to pan any notion of the merger. Frankly, there is no point on panning a buyout of Raymarine. Garmin has been under pressure and the new Android and GPS systems are going to give the company deeper competition from free offerings and from lower-priced offerings. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) either has or is soon to have an application from Tom Tom for its iPhone. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) now offers many of its mobile phones the VZ Navigator service for $9.99 per month or $19.99 per month for the global edition.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) is encroaching in the GPS space by triangulating a cellphone’s position via the cell towers. So far that has been limited in reception and ratings, but Google is far from giving up there for its Google Maps and its AdSense programs to have another aspect of business. Some GPS-sector contacts are noting that Google’s entrance here is effectively driving the costs down in a race to zero. Whether that market can be solely ad-supported is yet to be determined.

Garmin’s ‘nuvifone’ is now available in certain Asian markets but is not yet out in the U.S. We have read that AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) will offer the phone, although our prior information was that the ‘nuvifone’ in the U.S. would be available from more than one carrier. One of the key complicating issues in this space is also that while companies are competing, they are frequently using each others’ technology or technology from the same third party providers.

Raymarine is simply a small strategic deal that also acts as a bit of a defensive merger as well. It makes for only a small dent in what could be at risk as its overall model is concerned. But the deal keeps a competitor from getting that much further in and would at least help Garmin to get a little better foothold in the marine market.

Garmin wins Copa del Rey

Sailing regattas don't come any bigger or with more kudos than the Copa del Rey - the race based in mediterranean waters around Majorca, celebrated its 27th year with a win by cruiser "Garmin" a DK46 in the RI class.

The regatta, which took place under a blue sky and choppy waters saw varying wind conditions from 20 knots to a gentle breeze of just under 10.

Garmin took full advantage when the wind made an appearance and took first position comfortably.

The skipper of the Garmin proudly received his trophy from HRH King of Spain and HRH the Prince of Asturias in front of the Catherdral at Palma.

Middlesbrough FC fix their travel problems

Garmin sponsored Middlesbrough football club enjoyed their first away victory since November 2008 as they enjoyed the hospitality on offer from Swansea City. With goals from Adam Johnson, Martin Emnes (pictured above) and Tuncay, Middlesbrough remain unbeaten after the opening two rounds of Championship fixtures.

This seasons travels will also see the lads dressed in Garmin blue as they take on the might of what the Championship has to offer. Pre-order yours today at mfcofficialdirect.co.uk ready for delivery in September.

Dont forget to download the Garmin Stadium App for your nuvi. Every ground in the league are covered so you'll be lost without it as you travel the country following Boro.

Garmin Triathlete Alistair Brownlee makes it 4 out of 4 in London

As a dress-rehearsal for 2012, yesterday could scarcely have gone better for Britain’s triathletes on the Hyde Park course that will be used for the London Olympics.

Alistair Brownlee won the men’s event and Helen Jenkins, the reigning world champion, came third in the women’s in the Dextro Energy World Championship series.
The day was only blemished by Brownlee’s chief rival, Javier Gomez, Spain’s world and European champion, crashing out on the cycling leg and the two leaders after the same discipline, Bruno Pais of Portugal and Ruedi Wild of Switzerland, failing to stop at the end of the cycling and start the 10km run. They continued on their bikes for another lap, but an official of the International Triathlon Union insisted: “The bell was rung to signal one lap to go, after which it is the athletes’ responsibility to know that they are on the last lap.”

Away from the distractions, Brownlee produced another serene performance, his fourth win in the four races in the series that he has contested this season. He now goes to the grand final on the Gold Coast in Australia next month, where even a mediocre performance will ensure that he has accumulated enough points from the series to be crowned world champion.

He said: “I could not have expected this at the beginning of the season, not even after Kitzbuehel. I have had a fair bit of luck in my races, including Gomez crashing out today. It is not good to win a race when the person you want to beat has to drop out.”

The most impressive feature about Brownlee is that he has accomplished so much at the age of 21. Triathlon is a sport where most competitors peak in their mid-to-late twenties and he may not even have completely fulfilled his physical potential by 2012. During the 38.4km cycling leg yesterday, he was so frustrated that other competitors would not share the pace-making that he began waving his arms at some of his rivals, who allowed the field to bunch before the running section.

However, nothing could stop Brownlee on the run. By halfway on the 10km discipline, he had broken away from the field and he could afford to slow in the final few strides and salute a packed crowd in the finishing tunnel. His time was 1hr 41min 50sec, eight seconds ahead of the second-placed Steffen Justus of Sweden.

Brownlee comes from a suitable family and genetic background. His mother was a national standard swimmer and his father a talented cross-country runner. His 19-year-old brother, Jonathan, the European junior champion, was alongside Alistair for much of the cycling yesterday and eventually finished 27th.

“It helps to train together,” said the younger sibling. “We push each other. If it’s cold and raining, one of us will order the other out of bed for a session at 6am.”

In the women’s race, Jenkins, 25, from Bridgend, came out of the Serpentine in second place, just five seconds behind Australia’s Annabel Luxford. However, because the 1.5km swimming leg is relatively short in duration compared with the other two disciplines, they did not have a decisive lead and were quickly caught on the cycling, the second leg. A pack of 31 competitors began the 10km run almost together and Jenkins was always among the leaders. With 500 metres left, Nicola Spirig, the Swiss European champion, twice tried to break away but without success.

She said later: “There was a strong headwind and I just hoped my sprint would be fast enough.”

It was. With 150 metres to go she accelerated away and finished two seconds clear of Lisa Norden of Sweden in 1h 54min 24sec.

Jenkins, not the quickest of sprinters, was third in 1hr 54min 29sec. The Briton said: “I just did not have the legs for the sprint at the end. Still I learnt a lot from the course, which is really fast, and now I have three years before the Olympics to work out how to break away from the field.”


The unstoppable Alistair Brownlee again showed he is the real deal taking his fourth Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series win in four starts in front of an elated home crowd in London, Saturday. The 21- year old raced from the front over the entire 2012 Olympic venue, cruising home in front of an ecstatic home crowd in a time of 1 hour 41 minutes and 50 seconds. In second place was another up and coming athlete in Germany’s Steffen Justus, eight seconds back. In third was New Zealand’s Kris Gemmell, another three seconds back, just beating Sebastien Rank in a sprint across the line.

I can’t quite believe it, I never expected at the start of the season to get a win in Madrid, Washington or Kitzbühel or here,” said Brownlee. “I’ve had a lot of luck on my side, but you’ve got to make the most of it and I think I have. It’s been a great run of results and I hope it continues.”

Entering second transition was some 47 men, the largest bike pack seen this year. But despite his frustrations, out to the front immediately was Brownlee pushing the pace and although a small group was able to stay with him over the first six kilometres, it was not long until it was the series leader on his own, as per usual. The seemingly unstoppable Brownlee once again blew away the field to claim his fourth Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series race this season with a closing 28:43 run split. Tim Don came home 9th in what was his best finish of the season following a tough journey back from injury.

So with his win, Brownlee solidifies his lead in the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series rankings, maxing out his points total leading into the Grand Final on the Gold Coast of Australia in four weeks time.

Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series
Official Rankings
1st – Alistair Brownlee (GBR) – 3,200 pts
2nd – Maik Petzold (GER) – 2,493
3rd – Steffen Justus (GER) – 2,388
4th – Javier Gomez (ESP) – 2,368
5th – Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) – 2,276

If you missed the action catch up on the BBC iPlayer

Garmin Academy Mountain Bike trials...

Final prize up for grabs in Garmin MTB Academy (U.K. / England)


The Garmin MTB (Mountain Bike) Academy series heads to Queen Elizabeth Park, Hampshire this Sunday with the final space on the roster up for grabs. Following last months awesome event at Glentress in Scotland the challenge is set for those wanting to win a Garmin Edge or Dakota, as well as a £2.5k Commencal 4.1 Mountain Bike and the amazing opportunity to ride for the weekend with Downhill legend Steve Peat. There's still time to sign up for your chance to win simply visit www.bikeradar.com/garmin for more details.


Here's Bikeradar.com's recap of the events in Glentress as Gavin Ferguson claimed his place on the roster. "Heavy rain on Sunday morning failed to deter dozens of riders from signing up for the challenge – and with a Commencal Super 4.1 bike, a weekend riding with Steve Peat and a Garmin GPS unit all up for grabs, who could blame them?

The aim of the day was to navigate your way round a special loop of Glentress's world-class mountain bike trails in the quickest time possible using a route plotted on a Garmin Edge.

Participants ranged from 10-year-olds and teenagers on freeride bikes to semi-pro racers and even a national cross-country champion.

One of the first quick times was put in by Paul McInally, 35, who works at Rock and Road Cycles in Bridge Of Allan, near Stirling. He said: "The course is pretty slimy. It’s hard on the climbs on this big heavy bike [Trek Remedy]; the descents were good though. I've got my own Garmin but I’ve only used basic functions before. The chap from Garmin put the course map on it and it was really handy.”



Taking the event somewhat less seriously were Rod Mason and his mates from Manchester, who were in Glentress for his stag do. Rod, 33, had high hopes for success in the challenge after a strong finish at Mountain Mayhem. But minutes before he was due to set off, his friends announced that he would have to leave his normal On-One behind and ride a folding shopper instead.

The idea was that he would get a minute's head start and then they'd chase him down. But he was so busy weaving the flexy bike through the trees that he missed a turn and had to go back and start again.



His friend Michael Hitchmouch, 35, from

Warrington, said...

“Awesome fun – not sure about the stag do hangover though! Brought out the competitive instincts nicely!"

“Even with a serious hangover, the Garmin unit got us round the woods in one piece chasing the stag on a folding shopping bike," said Ian McKinley, 37, from Ramsbottom. "Thanks Garmin!"



Hangovers certainly weren't a problem for 10-year-olds Jack Fraser and Rory Millington, who took on the tricky course with vigour, including a particularly treacherous section which locals said was unofficially rated double black. Their verdict? “It was brilliant!”



Lesley Ingram, 27, who rides for Glentress Riders, was the fastest woman and won the spot prize – a Garmin Edge. She was delighted to hear that her time of 22min 9sec was faster than that set by her team boss the previous day.

Former World Cup downhill star Emma Guy, who runs The Hub bike shop and cafe at the foot of the hill, had ridden the course to check it out, but claimed she hadn't been going full pelt.

It was Lesley's first time using a bike GPS, which she described as “brilliant”. “I was working hard out there,” she said.



Lewis Kirkwood, 16, Tweedmuir, was another fast rider, completing the course in 19min 44sec. “It was good, but I went to bed at 1am so I didn’t expect much," he said. "It was quite handy having the Garmin because there was one bit where there was no sign, and it was really easy to follow.”



In the end, it was British youth national champion Grant Ferguson, from nearby Peebles, who set the fastest time of the day –17min 3sec.

The 15-year-old, who receives support from Dooleys Cycles, said: "It feels great to have won. It was good fun, a great mix of tracks – manmade and natural."



The course took in everything from twisting singletrack climbs and steep, slippery descents to part of Glentress's freeride area, with jumps, berms and North Shore ladders.

To see the stats for Grant's winning run on Garmin Connect, including the speeds he was travelling at and an overview of the course, click here

Make the Most of your Garmin® with my.Garmin.com™

A convenient online portal that helps users manage software and map updates and displays information that is tailored to a customer’s specific Garmin product(s). My.Garmin.com helps customers maximize their GPS experience at every phase – from registering their GPS device to downloading new maps.

“my.Garmin is a one-stop-shop for customers who want to take advantage of everything we’ve made available for their specific device, 24/7,” “Whether it’s a free software update or getting answers to questions, my.Garmin helps customers keep up with the latest and greatest for their GPS. By simply attaching the GPS to a computer using a USB/mini USB cable, my.Garmin and the device can automatically interact and present the user with available software downloads, map updates, and other important information.”

The upgraded my.Garmin.com website is available immediately and is home to the following services:

• Map information – Customers are notified when new maps are available and can determine which maps are best for them – nüMaps Lifetime, nüMaps Onetime, or other accessory maps that will help them find their next adventure.

• Software update – Garmin regularly updates and improves existing products. Customers can download free software updates for the life of their GPS device.

• Support – Customers can find answers to their GPS questions through an online library of frequently asked questions.

• Registration – Customers can register their product so they can keep tabs of their device, warranty status, and access product-specific services and software.

My.Garmin.com is a free service for Garmin customers and users can register immediately to access these new features.

Garmin Reports Improved Second Quarter Results on Sequential Growth in Revenues and Margins and Announces 2009 Annual Dividend

Results in a PDF (Portable Document Format) click the link below...
Garmin Earnings Press Release

Garmin® G500 Receives FAA Certification for Nearly 600 Different Aircraft Makes and Models

July 30, 2009/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it has received FAA Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certification (AML STC) for the G500, a new avionics suite announced earlier this week at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The FAA’s approval allows the G500 to be installed in nearly 600 different makes and models of normal and utility category Part 23 Class I and Class II aircraft, which are defined as single and twin-engine piston and turbine engine aircraft under 6,000 pounds.

Garmin’s G500 displays critical flight data in a digital format on dual LCD displays, and allows pilots to quickly and efficiently scan the data so that they can stay ahead of the aircraft during all phases of flight. It incorporates two individual displays – a PFD and MFD – in a customized package designed to take the space that is currently occupied by the instrument six-pack (attitude, airspeed, altitude, vertical rate, turn coordinator and directional gyro). The G500 integrates with Garmin’s panel mount WAAS GPS products, and replaces traditional mechanical gyroscopic flight instruments with Garmin’s solid state Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) that has superior reliability and accuracy, and features rapid alignment while moving, including in-flight dynamic restarts. The PFD display increases the pilot’s attitude indication by over 50 percent over a traditional 3-inch attitude indicator.

A scaled version of Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT™) software and the new GAD 43 autopilot interface are available as options for the G500. With SVT, pilots will see a 3D depiction of terrain, obstacles and traffic on the PFD so that the avionics panel replicates what pilots would see outside the cockpit on a clear day. The GAD 43 adapter is an autopilot interface that allows the AHRS to provide attitude information to the autopilot in place of a gyro-mechanical attitude director indicator (ADI) or remote vertical gyro (VG). The G500 provides course deviation, vertical deviation, heading bug, course pointer and ARINC 429 GPS roll steering information to the autopilot, as appropriate.

The G500 is available now at an introductory suggested retail price of $15,995. It includes the GDU 620 display/control unit, GRS 77 AHRS, GDC 74A digital air data computer, GMU 44 tri-axial magnetometer, and GTP 59 temp probe. The optional SVT and GAD 43 are available for $4995 and $2995, respectively.

Garmin® Celebrates the Delivery of the 100,000th GNS 400/500 Series Product

July 27, 2009/ BUSINESS WIRE — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today it is celebrating the delivery of over 100,000 GNS 400/500 series products. It is estimated that Garmin’s 400/500 series avionics have been installed on approximately half of all U.S. single and twin-engine piston and turbine aircraft, which makes it among the most popular avionics of all time. This announcement was made in conjunction with EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 27-August 2, 2009.


“We are thrilled and humbled that we’ve delivered over 100,000 GNS 400/500 series products,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “Since our inception 20 years ago, we have endeavored to design quality products that are known for their innovation and reliability. We are very thankful for every loyal customer who has helped us reach this tremendous milestone, and we are committed to serving them for years to come.”

When first announced in 1998, Garmin’s GNS 400/500 series products revolutionized the aviation industry by being the first general aviation products that integrated GPS, COM, VOR, LOC and glideslope into an affordable, compact package with full-color moving map. The aviation industry took another gigantic leap forward in November 2006, when Garmin received Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) certification for the GNS 430 and GNS 530. Today, the WAAS-enabled GNS 430W and 530W are highly sought after avionic upgrades, and they increase safety of flight while making it possible for pilots to operate to and from airports that would otherwise be unavailable to them in marginal weather.

In order to commemorate the delivery of the 100,000th GNS 400/500 series product, Garmin is donating the 100,000th unit, a GNS 530W, to the EAA Young Eagles, a non-profit organization designed to give young people interested and involved in aviation. The 100,000th device will be auctioned at the EAA Young Eagles Dinner at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on July 30, and all proceeds will benefit the EAA Young Eagles. Since 1992, more than 1.3 million Young Eagle participants have experienced a free flight, which have been flown by more than 41,000 volunteer pilots in 90 countries.

Garmin is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary. Throughout its history, the company has pioneered navigation and communication devices that enrich people’s lives. Garmin’s market breadth in the GPS industry is second to none having developed innovative products and established market leadership position in each of the markets it serves, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation and wireless applications.

Garmin® G600 Upgrades Add Synthetic Vision and Autopilot Interface

July 27, 2009/ BUSINESS WIRE — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced major enhancements to the G600, and new standard equipment features include synthetic vision technology (SVT™) and the new GAD 43 adapter, providing autopilot attitude reference. The enhanced G600 features were announced at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 27-August 2, 2009.


“The G600 has been available for approximately one-year and many customers have started flying with the system and asked that we certify it with SVT,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “With the addition of SVT and the GAD 43, the G600 takes another step forward by giving pilots the benefits of flying with 3D virtual reality and enhanced autopilot reliability.”

Garmin’s SVT has been scaled for the G600 and now comes as a standard feature. It uses sophisticated graphics modeling to create a virtual topographic landscape from the G600’s terrain-alerting database. This enables the primary flight display (PFD) to display a clear 3D depiction of ground and water features, airports, obstacles and traffic – all shown in relative proximity to your aircraft. Instead of a flat blue-over-brown flight display, pilots will see an in-depth perspective view of realistic terrain features rising into the sky. Therefore, the avionics panel replicates what pilots would see outside the cockpit on a clear day.

Also now standard on the G600 is Garmin’s GAD 43 adapter, an autopilot interface that allows the AHRS to provide attitude information to the autopilot in place of a gyro-mechanical attitude direction indicator (ADI) or remote vertical gyro (VG). The G600 provides course deviation, vertical deviation, heading bug, course pointer and ARINC 429 GPS roll steering information to the autopilot, as appropriate. In addition, if the autopilot does not support ARINC 429 roll steering, the G600 can act like a roll steering converter via the heading input. The GAD 43 can emulate the many existing gyro interfaces and uses far more reliable AHRS data to provide the required attitude, heading, yaw input and baro correction information to the autopilot. This typically allows the system’s costly ADI to be replaced on the panel with a far more affordable attitude indicator as the required backup instrumentation.

Other major enhancements to the G600 includes support for the optional Garmin’s GWX™ 68 weather radar system. Active weather depiction and control of the radar array can be done via a dedicated page on the G600’s multi-function display (MFD), and allows important tactical information to be in the pilot’s primary field of view while freeing up valuable panel space for other avionics.
In the near future, Garmin will make available a TAWS-B compliant terrain awareness system option, which utilizes accurate 3D aircraft position information from the interfaced Garmin WAAS receiver. No additional hardware is required for TAWS-B.

The G600 is a certified avionics system designed specifically for FAR Part 23 Class I, II or III aircraft and is ideal for those wanting to transform their panel from gauges to glass. It shows critical flight data on two six and a half inch diagonal flat-panel displays. These screens are mounted side by side in a single bezel that fits neatly into the “six pack” slot of the instrument panel. The G600’s PFD shows attitude, airspeed, climb rate, altitude and course/heading information over a virtual terrain image, and the MFD displays detailed moving-map graphics of the aircraft’s current position in relation to ground features, chart data, navaids, flight plan routings and more.

The GAD 43 and SVT are being incorporated into the G600 immediately, and the price will currently remain the same, starting at $29,995. The G600 received an Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certification (AML STC) that allows it to be installed on over 800 different makes and models of normal and utility category aircraft, which typically includes single and twin piston and turbine engine aircraft with a certification weight up to
12,500 lbs.
Between now and December 31, 2009, existing G600 customers can upgrade to SVT at no charge from Garmin (dealer installation costs may apply), and have the exclusive option of purchasing the GAD 43 for $1,495. Customers should contact an authorized Garmin dealer for additional information.

GAD 43 Autopilot Interface Thinks Like an Autopilot, Without Iron Gyros or High Maintenance Costs

July 27, 2009/ BUSINESS WIRE — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the GAD 43, a new adapter unit that offers enhanced autopilot interface capabilities for the G500 and G600 flight display systems, allowing attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) to provide attitude information to selected autopilots in place of a costly-to-maintain attitude direction indicator (ADI) or remote vertical gyro (VG). The GAD 43 was announced at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 27-August 2, 2009.


Providing analog attitude information for use with third-party autopilot systems, the GAD 43 adapter interfaces with the Garmin G500 and G600 for configuration and alerting, and with the GRS 77 remote AHRS unit for attitude, heading, and yaw input information. For attitude-based autopilots, the GAD 43 can emulate the system’s gyro interfaces with far more reliable AHRS data. This typically lets aircraft owners remove the existing ADI or attitude gyro, such as the familiar KI-256, and replace it on the panel with a smaller and more affordable attitude indicator as the backup instrumentation. The GAD 43 also includes analog RADAR stabilization signals, bootstrap heading output, and a baro altitude correction interface.

Garmin has already received FAA approval for use of the GAD 43 to replace the Honeywell/King KI-256 and Collins 332D-11. Additional STC amendments are underway so that the GAD 43 will be able to replace several other popular ADIs and VGs. The GAD 43 is specifically designed for use with the G500 and G600, and it is standard equipment with the newly announced version of the G600. Early G600 adopters, who installed a G600 in their plane prior to the GAD 43 being announced, will have the exclusive option of purchasing the GAD 43 for $1,495 between now and December 31, 2009. The GAD 43 is an option for the G500 and it is available at an initial list price of $2,995. For additional information visit www.garmin.com.

Garmin® G3X™: An Affordable, Customizable Glass Cockpit for Experimental and Light Sport Aircraft

July 27, 2009/ BUSINESS WIRE — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the features of the G3X, a non-TSO’d glass cockpit for retrofit installation in experimental/kitbuilt and light sport aircraft (LSA). The G3X is a customizable PFD/MFD combination that features one, two or three all-glass displays; magnetometer; ADAHRS (combined air data and AHRS unit); engine monitoring; and temperature probe. Thanks to its building block design, customers can create a high performance panel that is tailored to their aircraft. The G3X features were announced at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 27-August 2, 2009, and the system is expected to be available by the end of the year.


“Customers in this market segment are unique because their aircraft are often custom-made,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “Customers can adapt the G3X system so it suits whatever is needed for their plane, and since it’s a Garmin, it has the ease-of-use, quality and reliability pilots know and expect. The G3X brings tried, tested and proven G1000-like features to the LSA and experimental aircraft markets for a fraction of the cost.”

The heart of the G3X is what’s behind the scenes: GSU 73 ADAHRS and engine interface, GMU 44 magnetometer and GTP 59 air temperature probe. These components are based on Garmin’s industry leading G1000, so G3X customers will have the advantage of flying a robust system that is unlike any other on the market. As the GSU 73, GMU 44, and GTP 59 work together, they provide the data that will drive the primary flight display (PFD) and multi-function display (MFD). The GSU 73 ADAHRS design, sophisticated algorithms, and robust integrity monitoring are derived from the G1000 AHRS, which includes the ability to align itself in flight.

The face of the G3X is the GDU 370/375, a large, seven-inch portrait screen display that resembles Garmin’s GPSMAP 695/696 portable. Since the G3X is customizable, customers can choose to install one, two or three GDU 370/375 displays. In a single-display G3X system, the GDU 370/375 offers a split-screen mode with PFD information on the display’s top half and MFD information on the display’s bottom half. Pilots who choose to install more than one GDU 370/375 display will have full reversionary capability, similar to the G1000, allowing all flight-critical data to transfer seamlessly to a single display for added safety during flight.

The GDU 370/375 has a high-resolution, sunlight readable screen that uses Garmin’s latest technology to ensure that pilots will be able to read the vibrant display day or night. The bezel that frames the bright screen has multiple keys on the bottom and right sides. The soft keys at the bottom of the display control the most commonly used features of the current page, such as turning the weather products on/off. The dedicated keys on the display’s right side have specific functions such as nearest, direct to, flight plan, zoom in/out and menu. Also on the display’s right side is a rotary knob/joystick that looks similar to the G1000’s joystick, and it lets pilots enter airport identifiers, pan the map, or scroll to page and sub-page groups.

The back of the GDU 370/375 has connection ports for external GPS and XM antennas (GDU 375 only), and a 50 pin connector for power/ground and interfaces. These rear connectors make it possible for customers to install the display easily and elegantly, without unsightly wires protruding from the panel. Customers may choose between interior and exterior antenna options. The GDU 370/375 also has a built-in VFR GPS receiver.

The GDU 370/375 has many of the same capabilities found on Garmin’s other high-end aviation products such as obstacles and terrain data, IFR map mode, FliteCharts®, SafeTaxi®, and AOPA Airport Directory data. The GDU 375 includes XM WX Satellite Weather that gives NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, TFRs, winds aloft, echo tops, precipitation type at the surface, lightning strikes, storm-cell data, AIRMETs, and SIGMETs, PIREPs, icing forecast information and several other important weather products. The weather data may be laid directly over the unit’s moving map. XM WX subscription data is available from XM WX Satellite Weather. The GDU 375 also provides a user interface for the more than 170 channels of XM audio. Weather and music requires an XM subscription. The GDU 370 does not include XM WX Satellite Weather and is not upgradeable to include weather support.

The full G3X system is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2009 starting at a street price of $9,995. The GDU 370 and GDU 375 MFDs are currently available from Garmin dealers for $3,295 and $3,995, respectively. For additional information visit www.garmin.com.

Garmin’s Three New Aviation Traffic Systems Lead the Way to FAA’s NextGen System

July 27, 2009/ BUSINESS WIRE — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the GTS 800 and GTS 820 traffic advisory systems (TAS), and the GTS 850 traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS I). These systems combine active and passive surveillance data to pinpoint specific traffic threats. The systems use Garmin’s patent-pending CLEAR CAS™ technology and correlates ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) and radar targets to provide pilots with the most accurate picture of the sky. The GTS series was announced at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 27-August 2, 2009.



“The GTS series incorporates ADS-B In technology, which is one of the cornerstones of the FAA’s NextGen program and worldwide airspace infrastructure,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “As ADS-B coverage improves worldwide, the expanded capabilities of the GTS system will be realized. We’re ready for the NextGen system.”

There are three distinct system configurations for the GTS series, and each model creates a 360-degree zone of detection around the aircraft so that pilots can see and identify targets in their airspace that may pose a collision hazard. The GTS 800 TAS is a lower-cost system offering 40 watts of transmit power and a range of up to 12 nautical miles. The GTS 820 TAS delivers 250 watts of transmit power and up to 40 nautical miles of interrogation range. The GTS 850 TCAS I features the same 250 watt performance as the GTS 820, and also meets the FAA’s TCAS I certification criteria. The GTS 820 and
GTS 850 are installed in conjunction with a Garmin Mode S transponder.

All GTS series products include Garmin’s new CLEAR CAS (Correlated Location Enhanced ADS-B Receiver Collision Avoidance System) technology, a hybrid system that provides real-time information that is totally independent of radar-based air traffic control. CLEAR CAS combines active and passive surveillance data, including 1090 MHz Extended Squitter ADS-B data (ADS-B Out required). In the future, the system can provide enhanced information about a target aircraft including flight ID, altitude, velocity and direction on select displays.

Traffic information from the GTS series is displayed on the map page or traffic page of Garmin’s panel mount aviation products and integrated display systems using TAS/TCAS symbology. Additional traffic symbology can be displayed on Garmin SVT equipped PFDs. When the GTS product receives replies to its interrogations, it computes the responding aircraft’s range, bearing, relative altitude, and closure rate. Then, it enhances location data with data received from ADS-B Out equipped targets, plots the traffic location, predicts collision threats, and depicts the information on the traffic display. The system also includes expanded audio traffic alerts in an ATC-like format. For example, “Traffic; Eleven o’clock; High; Less than one mile.”

Unlike competitive systems, the GTS series also offers flexible antenna configurations that ensure optimum system performance for specific types of aircraft. Customers with fixed gear airplanes and rotorcraft may choose a single directional quadrapole antenna on top of the aircraft, with or without a bottom mounted omnidirectional antenna. For optimal performance on retractable gear aircraft, customers may select a top-and-bottom dual directional antenna configuration.

The GTS 800, 820 and 850 are expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2009 for an expected list price starting at $9,995, $19,995, and $23,495, respectively.

Garmin® Reveals G500 All-Glass Cockpit for Part 23 Class I/II Aircraft

July 27, 2009 / BUSINESS WIRE — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the G500, a new avionics suite designed specifically for Part 23 Class I and Class II aircraft, which are defined as single and twin-engine piston and turbine engine aircraft under 6,000 pounds. The G500 is similar in design to Garmin’s G600 and incorporates two individual displays – a primary flight display (PFD) and multi-function display (MFD) – in a customized package designed for easy retrofit installation. The G500 communicates and integrates with Garmin’s other panel mount products, and provides essential information such as attitude, air data, weather, terrain, and traffic. The G500 was announced at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 27-August 2, 2009.


“The G500 is an affordable way for customers of Part 23 Class I and II aircraft to transform their avionics to all-glass,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “We believe many who purchase a G500 are already flying with WAAS-enabled GNS 400/500 systems, so using the G500 will feel like second nature. Plus, the G500 will be a quantum leap forward for their situational awareness and safety of flight.”

The G500 system displays critical flight data in a digital format on dual LCD displays. The bezel framing the G500’s PFD and MFD (10”w x 6.7”h) allows for easy installation into the existing instrument panel, and is designed to take the space that is currently occupied by the instrument six-pack (attitude, airspeed, altitude, vertical rate, turn coordinator and directional gyro). Thanks to the G500’s large glass PFD and MFD, pilots can quickly scan the data so that they can stay ahead of the aircraft during all phases of flight. The MFD provides pilots with a clear, concise picture of where they are relative to terrain and airspace, as well as weather and traffic with optional equipment. Garmin’s popular SafeTaxi® is a standard feature displayed on the MFD, and it features detailed diagrams of over 900 airports so pilots can navigate unfamiliar taxiways with ease. Garmin FliteCharts® is also available and it allows pilots to quickly find and view all NACO Departure Procedures (DP), Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs), approach charts, and airport diagrams on the MFD (FliteCharts disables when data is six-months out of date). Pilots may also select the optional ChartView, an electronic version of Jeppesen’s extensive library of charts and airport diagrams.

For the ultimate situational awareness, G500 customers can also install a scaled version of Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT™) software as an option. With SVT, pilots will see a 3D depiction of terrain, obstacles and traffic on the PFD so that the avionics panel replicates what pilots would see outside the cockpit on a clear day. Land, water, sky, obstacles, and traffic are clearly differentiated with shading and textures, and they are shown in relative proximity to the aircraft. SVT is scaled specifically for the G500 and it works seamlessly to alert pilots of potential ground hazards by displaying terrain and obstacles which pose a threat to the aircraft with appropriate TAWS-like alert coloring, as well as voice alerts.
Garmin’s new GAD 43 autopilot interface is available as an option for the G500. The GAD 43 adapter is an autopilot interface that allows the AHRS to provide attitude information to the autopilot in place of a gyro-mechanical attitude director indicator (ADI) or remote vertical gyro (VG). The G500 provides course deviation, vertical deviation, heading bug, course pointer and ARINC 429 GPS roll steering information to the autopilot, as appropriate. In addition, if the autopilot does not support ARINC 429 roll steering, the G500 can act like a roll steering converter via the heading input. The GAD 43 can emulate the many existing gyro interfaces and uses far more reliable AHRS data to provide the required attitude, heading, yaw input and baro correction information to the autopilot. This typically allows the system’s costly ADI to be replaced on the panel with a far more affordable attitude indicator as the required backup instrumentation.

The G500 also optionally supports Garmin’s GWX™ 68 weather radar system. Active weather depiction and control of the radar array can be done via a dedicated page on the G500’s MFD, and allows important tactical information to be in the pilot’s primary field of view while freeing up valuable panel space for other avionics.

Near real-time weather is also available as an option via XM WX Satellite Weather™ (U.S. and Canada only) through Garmin’s GDL 69 or GDL 69A. Graphical weather depictions of NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, TFRs, winds aloft, echo tops, precipitation type at the surface, lightning strikes, storm-cell data, AIRMETs, and SIGMETs can be received and displayed on the G500 so that pilots can make informed navigation decisions. The weather data may be laid directly over navigation and topographic map databases. The G500 also provides a user interface for the more than 170 channels of XM audio. Weather and music requires an XM subscription.

The G500 is expected to receive the FAA’s Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certification (AML STC) in the third quarter of 2009 and it is approved to be installed on over 600 different aircraft models. The G500 includes the GDU 620 display/control unit, GRS 77 AHRS, GDC 74A digital air data computer, GMU 44 tri-axial magnetometer, and GTP 59 temp probe. The G500 is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2009 for an introductory price of $15,995. The optional SVT and GAD 43 are $4995 and $2995, respectively.

Iphone & Ipod can download Pilot My-Cast by Garmin

July 27, 2009/Business Wire — Digital CycloneSM, Inc., a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that iPhone and iPod Touch users can soon download Pilot My-Cast by Garmin, a premier cell phone application that provides critical aviation weather data, flight planning and flight filing services to U.S. and Canadian based subscribers. Pilot My-Cast is already compatible with many popular phone models, such as BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices, and is available from all major wireless carriers in the U.S. including AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Alltel, as well as Handmark® and Handango®. This announcement was made at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 27-August 2, 2009.


Compared to other aviation-specific cell phone applications, Pilot My-Cast is unique because it receives aviation data directly from the foremost providers, such as the National Weather Service, Environment Canada, and Federal Aviation Administration. Because the data comes directly from prominent sources, pilots can be confident that the weather and flight planning information is up-to-date and accurate.

The core element of Pilot My-Cast is its robust aviation weather offerings. Pilot My-Cast’s newest weather feature is a METAR and TAF bubble map that displays current and predicted weather in a pictorial format. This enhancement is in addition to the weather information already available such as NEXRAD Radar, METARs and TAFs displayed in text and graphic formats, panable weather maps, infrared and visible satellite loops, lightning data, SIGMETs, AIRMETs, PIREPs, NOTAMs, winds aloft and more.

In addition to seeing the weather, pilots can create routes and see the weather in relation to their planned flight path. Pilot My-Cast also now includes standard terminal arrival routes (STARs), standard instrument departures (SIDs), and victor and jet airways, which are designed to aid pilots when planning their flights.

Pilot My-Cast has also greatly expanded its airport data and it now includes airport diagrams. These diagrams are in addition to the AOPA Airport Directory, which pilots already have access to through Pilot My-Cast. The AOPA Airport Directory is one of the most comprehensive sources of airport information and includes information for over 5,300 public-use airports and more than 7,000 FBOs, such as pilot services, ground transportation, lodging, restaurants, and local attractions.

After a Pilot My-Cast subscriber checks the weather and plans their route, they can take the next step and file a flight plan through an easy-to-use flight filing feature. Pilots can file their flight plan with a few taps, and the information is automatically sent to the DUAT(s) providers. Using Pilot My-Cast to file a flight plan is often faster than traditional flight filing methods because it stores the most recently filed plan, so pilots will only need to alter information that has changed from the last time they filed.

The Pilot My-Cast application for the iPhone is expected to be available in September. The initial download will incorporate Pilot My-Cast features such as U.S. and Canadian weather briefings, flight filing, AOPA Airport Directory and more. Pilot My-Cast will continue to be available on other popular handsets, such as the BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices, for $9.95 per month. The majority of these handsets support the new Pilot My-Cast features including airport diagrams, STARs, SIDs, victor and jet airways, and METAR and TAF bubble map.
To order Pilot My-Cast or to see a list of wireless carriers and phones supported visit www.digitalcyclone.com/pilot. For a demonstration of Pilot My-Cast by Garmin at EAA AirVenture, visit the Garmin booth at Hangar D.
About Digital Cyclone, Inc.
Founded in 1998, Digital CycloneSM has established itself as a leader in providing personalized weather intelligence for wireless devices. In January of 2007, Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) acquired provider Digital Cyclone, Inc. in an effort to broaden the LBS product offerings and expands capability in the area of wireless application development, marketing, and distribution. Digital
Cyclone has been an early mover in the emerging location based services market offering weather solutions for consumers, outdoor enthusiasts, and pilots on a subscription based model that are delivered to customers in partnership with top national wireless carriers as well as regional carriers. The company is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and operates as an independent subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin is a registered trademark, and Digital Cyclone and My-Cast are registered service marks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

Cayman Islands and Taipei, Taiwan/July 24, 2009/Business Wire — Garmin-Asus, a co-branded alliance between Garmin® Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) and ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (TAIEX: 2357), announced that the Garmin-Asus nüvifone G60 will go on sale in Taiwan on July 27, and in Singapore and Malaysia by the end of August. Also in August, the Garmin-Asus nüvifone M20 will go on sale in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.


“We can’t wait for our customers to start using a nüvifone,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “Our lives are all about location. The nüvifone is designed around that premise and that’s what differentiates it from the myriad of other phones on the market.”

“Whether it’s talking and navigating simultaneously, geotagging a photograph, or navigating to an address on the web, the nüvifone seamlessly links navigation with other commonly performed activities,” said Benson Lin, Asus Vice President and General Manager of Handheld Business Group.

The Navigation Phone
The Garmin-Asus nüvifone series is a breakthrough product line that integrates navigation and location based services (LBS) like no other phone in the market today. It is ideal for those seeking an all-in-one, LBS-centric touchscreen phone, mobile web-browser and personal navigator. The nüvifone G60 and M20 have touchscreen displays that feature three primary icons – “Call,” “Search,” and “View Map.” Customers can easily scroll through the other icons by swiping their finger across the displays, and a built-in accelerometer allows every screen to be viewed in either portrait or landscape orientation.


Navigate Wherever, Whenever
The nüvifone G60 and M20 come with preloaded maps of North America, Eastern and Western Europe, or specific Asia-Pacific regions. Since the maps reside on the nüvifone, customers will receive turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions to millions of destinations without accessing their carrier’s data plan. The nüvifone G60 and M20 utilize a real GPS receiver with hotfix, in addition to A-GPS(assisted GPS), so that customers always have directions at their fingertips, regardless of if they are in their provider’s coverage area.

Just as with Garmin’s acclaimed nüvi® product line, the nüvifone series has millions of preloaded points of interest (POIs) including hotels, restaurants and street addresses. The POIs can be easily accessed for turn-by-turn voice prompted directions. If a turn is missed along the route, the nüvifone G60 and M20 will automatically recalculate a route and get the user back on track. The nüvifone also offers a “Where am I?” feature so that users will know their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, nearest address, intersection, hospital, police station and gas station with one touch of the screen. And to help them find their car in an unfamiliar spot or crowded parking lot, the nüvifone automatically marks the position in which it was last removed from the windshield mount. The nüvifone comes with a unique suction cup mount cradle that fastens to the windshield and will also charge the device while it is being used.

Connect and Communicate
Although navigation is a key component of the nüvifone series, the devices do more than “just navigate.” Both the nüvifone G60 and M20 incorporate top-of-the-line phone capabilities with premium features such as 3.5G data connectivity, SMS text messaging, email, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more.

The nüvifone G60 and M20 have a full HTML browser that customers can easily zoom in or pan with their finger, and pages may be viewed in either portrait or landscape. Users can surf the web on their phone via Wi-Fi or 3G networks, and the pages are presented similar to a PC browser.

Everything You Need
Customers will also enjoy the benefit of location-based services seamlessly integrated with nüvifone’s intuitive user interface and turn-by-turn navigation. Users can supplement the preloaded POI data with internet enabled local searches and automatically navigate around traffic congestion while seeing the estimated traffic delay along their route. Other services include weather, gas prices, flight status, local events, movie times, Ciao!™and more (content pricing and availability may vary by country).

The nüvifone G60 and M20 include a built-in camera with auto-focus. The camera automatically geotags images with an exact latitude and longitude reference of where the image was taken. The user may then save the image so they can navigate back to the location, or email the geo-tagged image to others. The nüvifone also provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs available through select picture sharing site, which are searchable and are sorted by the distance from the current location.


Price and Availability
The nüvifone G60 will be available in Taiwan on July 27, and in Singapore and Malaysia by the end of August. The nüvifone G60’s distribution strategy for the Asia-Pacific market will differ by country. In Asia, it will be available through carriers and retail channels. The nüvifone G60 is on schedule for delivery in Europe and the United States in the second half of 2009, and additional details about pricing, availability and carriers will be announced in the coming months.

The nüvifone M20 will be available in August in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The nüvifone M20’s distribution strategy for the Asia-Pacific market will differ by country. In Asia, it will be available through carriers and retail channels. The nüvifone M20 is on schedule for delivery in Europe in the second half of 2009, and additional details about pricing, availability and carriers will be announced in the coming months.

Additional information about the nüvifone product line is available at www.GarminAsus.com.

Garmin announces next gen Digital Scanners

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced its next generation of open-array digital radar scanners – the GMR™ 1204/1206 xHD and the GMR 604/606 xHD – setting the standard for high-definition performance and target detection, transmitting with 12 and 6 kilowatts of power respectively.


“These new open-array scanners transmit more power than before, making them the ideal solution for today’s mariner who demands a high-power, high-performance radar that will deliver incredible target detection and detail,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Whether it’s a yachtsman entering the harbor on a foggy evening, or a sport fisherman looking for birds in the distance, those on the water will see what’s out there sooner, and with more confidence.”

The powerful 6-foot GMR 1206 xHD and GMR 606 xHD feature a 1.1-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, which offers outstanding clarity, precision and target definition. The GMR 1204 xHD and GMR 604 xHD boast a 4-foot antenna that focuses energy with a 1.8-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth. All four open-array scanners have a maximum effective range of 72 nautical miles and offer selectable rotation speeds from 24 RPM to 48 RPM for rapid target updates.

These new xHD scanners provide up to eight times more sampling data than Garmin’s current open-array offerings, so mariners won’t miss a thing. And for the ultimate in situational awareness, these new radar units also incorporate a Dual Range feature that allows a Garmin network-compatible multi-function display (MFD) to display two ranges simultaneously, so users can see both close and distant targets on one display. Like other Garmin radar devices, these new units also support MARPA (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) collision avoidance capability, which allows mariners to track the course, speed, and predicted closest approach of multiple targets (with optional heading sensor).

Each new four and six-foot open-array scanner features automatic and manual sensitivity and tuning controls, including gain, sea clutter, and rain clutter – which allows users to spend less time tuning the unit and more time navigating. Mariners will also benefit as these units transmit data over the Garmin Marine Network™, a 100-megabit plug-and-play proprietary network that allows the user to expand the boat’s system as needed. This network can provide important situational awareness data like GPS, radar, sonar and weather directly on a GPSMAP® 4000 or 5000 MFD.

The GMR 604 xHD has a suggested retail price of $4499.99, and the GMR 606 xHD is available for $5299.99. The GMR 1204 xHD has a suggested retail price of $5499.99, and the GMR 1206 xHD is available for $6299.99. All Garmin radar units come standard with a full two-year warranty. These new xHD units are expected to be available in August 2009. For more information, go to www.garmin.com.

Garmin Release new Marine Radio.

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today the VHF 300 – the company’s flagship marine radio with premium features like multi-station support, a space-saving black box configuration, and options like an integrated dual-band AIS receiver.


“With the VHF 300, Garmin is targeting larger, high-end boats that can be installed at the OEM level,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Since the unit’s industrial design complements the rest of the Garmin Marine Network, boat builders will find Garmin an increasingly attractive option when outfitting their helms.”

The VHF 300 has 25 watts of transmit power and has both NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 connectivity. Because the black box can be mounted anywhere out-of-sight, the VHF 300 saves important real estate on the helm.

Boaters operate the unit via the GHS™ 10 microphone. This handheld mic features a crisp 2-inch LCD display, dedicated rotary key for frequent tasks, and three soft buttons for dynamic controls. The VHF 300 supports up to three GHS 10 mics which have built-in speaker for vessels with multiple stations, and uses either the supplied four-inch active speaker with volume knob, or an optional third-party passive speaker. With multiple stations, the system can be used as an on-boat intercom.

The VHF 300 also features NOAA weather alerts, Class D Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capability, and Position Tracking, which allows a mariner to locate and keep tabs on up to three other boats. The radio is equipped with a two-way 30-watt hailer compatibility for communication with other boats or deckhands. The helmsman can also replay up to 90 seconds of the last incoming voice transmission at the touch of a button.

For those wanting to take advantage of the Automatic Identification System (AIS), Garmin has the new VHF 300 AIS, which combines all of the features mentioned above with four built-in receivers: one dedicated for VHF communications, one for Class D DSC transmissions, and two dedicated AIS receivers. The VHF 300 AIS receives both Class A and Class B signals simultaneously, ensuring that no critical information is lost.

AIS gives recreational boaters mariners a new way to identify and avoid other large sea vessels at long range in virtually any visibility. AIS provides detailed information like ship identification information, position, course, and speed for vessels equipped with an AIS transponder within range. Users can make the AIS target’s position appear on their electronic chart for a variety of ranges. Boaters may also select an option that draws a heading line from the target in the direction of travel, as well as graphic representation of turn direction and rate of turn (when applicable).

Garmin and BMW introduce next generation GPS.

Garmin announced it has expanded its relationship with BMW Motorrad and the companies have developed the next generation BMW Motorrad Navigator, the Navigator IV, a motorcycle-friendly GPS navigator that is based on Garmin’s zūmo™ 660. The BMW Motorrad Navigator IV takes the best of Garmin’s navigation technology and adds exclusive, BMW specific features such as a customized mount, preloaded BMW dealer database, unique audio and Bluetooth handling capabilities, and more.

Garmin and BMW are known within their respective industries for providing high-quality, high-end products with superior customer satisfaction and support.

This portable, 4.3-inch navigator has a bright touchscreen display that is glove-friendly and comes preloaded with detailed street maps with millions of points of interest that include locations like restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, hotels and specific street addresses. After the rider selects a destination, the system calculates the best route and gives turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions to the final destination. This feature can also work with a compatible Bluetooth enabled helmet or headset. The BMW(A2DP) Bluetooth wireless technology makes it possible for riders to pair their phone to a Bluetooth enabled helmet or handset, so that they can safely talk on the phone or listen to MP3’s without having to remove their gloves or helmet.

The BMW Motorrad Navigator IV comes with a BMW exclusive, four-button motorcycle mount that enables many quick-key functions for extra control and usability. The mount and GPS device are vibration-tested, waterproof (IEC 529 IPX-7 standards), and designed to withstand fuel sprays and UV rays.

While riding, it is easy to access trip information directly from the BMW Motorrad Navigator IV’s trip information page like speed, heading, altitude, and a customizable fuel gauge that can be modified to the motorcycle’s maximum fuel range. It also has sophisticated routing capabilities so that riders will never have to wonder if they are in the correct lane, because the device will guide them with arrows to the appropriate lane for approaching turns or exits ( Lane assist ).
In some major metropolitan areas, surrounding buildings are displayed in a 3D transparent view.

If a rider wants to share rides with others or keep a detailed log of trips, it’s easy to do. Routes can be shared between Navigator IV units via Bluetooth, or by connecting the device to a computer and logging on to a free online community of routes specifically for motorcyclists. In addition, owners can also plan routes online through Google or MapQuest and send the routes or points of interest to the device before they begin their journey.

The BMW Motorrad Navigator IV is expected to be available in around september from authorized BMW Motorrad retailers in North America and Europe.

Garmin Dakota GPS

Latest Garmin GPS news

Garmin have recently announced a new range of outdoor handhelds called the Dakota range. Dakota comes preloaded with a world basemap and is compatible with Garmin City Navigator NT for the city streets, and TOPO U.S. 24K and 100K map software for incredible detail.

They have a 2.6 inch color touchscreen these handhelds are labelled as entry-level devices with a recommended retail price of around $300 for the named Dakota 10, and $350 for the Dakota 20.

Dakota handhelds have 850 MB of memory, which equals a 1,000 waypoints, 50 routes,
2,000 geocaches and a tracklog of up to 10,000 points and 200 tracks, These devices are waterproof and the batteries can last up to 20 hours non stop.

Dakota 20 has a couple more hardware features than Dakota 10 with a compass, barometric altimeter, a microSD card slot for increased mapping and memory storage,
and wireless unit-to-unit connectivity to share data with compatible Dakota, Oregon,
Colorado and etrex devices.


June 16, 2009/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the Foretrex 401 and Foretrex 301 GPS navigators, integrating a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver and USB interface into a lightweight, waterproof device for light hikers, skiers, campers and military personnel to wear comfortably on their wrists.


“Whether you’re on a leisurely hike or in the toughest conditions imaginable, you need navigation that’s simple to use and easy to access,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Our new Foretrex models help you keep your hands free and your focus on the path ahead, all while ensuring you make it to your destination as easily as possible.”

Rugged and waterproof, Garmin’s new Foretrex 301 and 401 models boast a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFixTM that quickly acquires and maintains satellite reception – even in heavy tree cover or deep canyons – and accurately monitors and stores your routes, tracks and waypoints. When the day’s activities are done, just turn on the TracBack® feature, and Foretrex will retrace your path right back to where you started. With Foretrex, you can always find your way back to any important place, like your campsite or vehicle, using the breadcrumb trail, data fields and compass screen on the easy-to-read LCD display. The new Foretrex models feature dual-position readout so that you can view your current location in multiple formats, including latitude/longitude and an alternate position format of your choice, simplifying navigation for professional, military, search-and-rescue and recreational uses. Foretrex 301 and 401 also incorporate a trip computer, sunrise/sunset and hunting and fishing information and can connect to your PC or Mac via USB connection.

Adding even more features to the mix, Foretrex 401 has an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter. Foretrex 401 allows you to wirelessly share routes, tracks and waypoints between certain Foretrex, Oregon and Colorado devices, and it is also compatible with Garmin heart-rate monitors and cadence sensors.

Weighing about 3 ounces and powered by 2 AAA batteries, Foretrex won’t weigh you down while enduring a day’s adventures with up to 18 hours of battery life in the 301 and up to 17 hours in the 401. And you can chronicle your activities by storing up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes or a tracklog of up to 10,000 points and 10 saved tracks.














Foretrex 401 and Foretrex 301 are the latest breakthroughs from Garmin, which has spent 20 years using technology and innovation to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about features, pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/jakesjournal.

Latest Garmin News.

There have been a few reports of problems with the 7X5 unit's firmware updates, Garmin have released the 3.60 software update,
( through their web updater services ) the unit's were looping while updating and causing them to be un-usable, also losing their satellite pickup, this has now been resolved with the newest firmware updates, There have been a few reported problem's and unit's been sent back to Garmin, but when there is a problem in the masses, you will get the odd device that falls foul to the problem, Garmin are replacing and repairing those units, so if you find your 7X5 unit it having problem's or playing up, I suggest an update from Garmin A.S.A.P. This will remedy any current problem. Garmin have issued the patch very quickly and offered to fix or replace any units for all customer's units, you cannot ask for more than that.