Review: Garmin Nuvi 755T GPS

When I started this blog 3 years ago, one of my first articles that got a bit of traffic was my take on the iDrive from a 2007 BMW 335i. I have finally decided to pickup a portable GPS unit and the tried and true Garmin Nuvi looked good. Keep in mind that I've had, in the past, purchased different Garmin GPS and gave them out to relatives as presents. This is the first time I am acquiring one for personal use.

Preface:
Since I am not a professional GPS reviewer (there are so many good websites for that), I will keep this review purely based on my user feedback. I was debating between three different Garmin models with free traffic support: Nuvi 265T, 755T and 1350T. In short, I went with the 755t as it was pitched as top of the line model from 2008 which offered slightly more features and GPS Magazine's solid review/recommendation. Garmin's GPS line up is quite big but not as complex as it appears, the way I see it is that each model typically has one incremental feature over the previous or lower tier version. So simply go up to the unit with the features you'd like.

Review: The Good
I am very pleased with the 755t with its large and intuitive 4.3" LCD touchscreen interface. The display is sharp and bright and I find the single speaker ample for directions. The 4.3" screensize is actually comparable to many OEM screen size and its ability to adjust color for night and day makes it rival some of the best OEM GPS integrations. Text to Speech is really good on this unit and route recalcuation is quite fast but at times I find satelite acquisition as well as detection of my location (if I didn't follow its direction) a bit slow. Free FM Traffic and Lane Assist were two huge factors that convinced me to buy this unit. Traffic information is pretty good in the NY/Tristate area but only works if you keep the unit plugged into the auto/DC charger since the FM receiver is part of the cable; in exchange for free traffic alerts, you do have to put up with some sponsored text ads. The text ads are non-obtrusive and do not hesitate in buying this if you are in the market... its pretty good deal considering you get valuable traffic information for FREE! The Lane Assist feature should be amazing but for whatever reason, I have not seen one shown up just yet; I know its only available in limited freeway intersections but I am a bit upset that around the Jersey turnpike I have not been able to see one (leaving me wondering if its worth it or did I not configure a setting correctly). Other noteworthy items are: 4 hr. battery life, power cable connects to the dock making it easy to remove and attach and 4GB memory (2GB available) allowing for MP3 or photos to be stored on board (which I have been customizing POI logos for my frequent visits adds a bit of personalization). Garmin also has nuMap guarantee which removes any doubt about buying a model that is one year or older so long as you register your GPS within first 60 days of getting a satellite sync (it even supports Mac in addition to PC to upgrade maps, I tried it and it works great!)

Review: Area for Improvement
Since I park inside a large garage, the 755T is usually turned on inside the garage thus prompting lack of Satelite; the problem is once I get to the street, it takes around 1-2 min. to get satellite signal. I guess that is already fast but this is where I find the OEM GPS one ups the portable units. Same thing can be said for when I enter a tunnel, my iDrive GPS can use the speed I am traveling to keep a emulated GPS signal until I exit said tunnel whereas the nuvi 755T would have to reacquire satellite read. Occasionally, I'll notice the map redrawing can be a little slow for a map tile or two (such as when you just finished merging to an on ramp), again I am just comparing to my experience with BMW's OEM iDrive and noting the difference in performance. The 755T has a lower profile design with black front facia but its trim around the top and sides are silver which can add a little bit of reflection into the windshield; I think the entire unit should be painted in a matte black finish and I plan to apply some black tape to cover up the silver trim thus minimize reflections. The lack of bluetooth (which I know is not 755T's fault) was a shocker for me as I was reviewing many Garmin GPS offerings that I got to a point where I thought it had come with bluetooth. Their product matrix is so intense that I was literally numbed from processing so many features (US/Euro/Canada Maps, screensize, text to speech, traffic, MSN direct, lane asst., MP3, photo, internal memory, etc...).

Overall: I am very pleased with the 755T as a portable GPS. Garmin does an amazing job providing drivers with confidence such as zooming in the map as you get closer to a turn and zooming back out once completed. The learning curve is very low and I think it comes very close to an OEM system with 1/10 the price. Given that it was their premium lineup a year ago, if you buy one today, you can save significantly.

Google Maps Navigation on Android 2.0 Kicks Ass

Its news like this that really excites me and makes me proud of being part of the mobile community. It turns out Verizon/Moto's upcoming Droid phone will be the first to feature Android 2.0 OS update which will provide a full on GPS navigation with 3D street view as you get closer to your destination. This is huge because telecoms usually like to offer turn by turn GPS as a feature but this one seems to be purely based on the smartphone's capabilities and data plan. These are the kind of warm and fuzzy feeling I used to get when learning about new iPhone features... could I be more certain that Android is going win the mobile war?

More info at PC World
More info at Washington Post
More info at Engadget (w/ video)

Smartphones as GPS Navigation Still LONG Way to Go

Whenever friends or family ask me to recommend a good smartphone w/ GPS for navigation, my general response has been "don't use your smartphone as a full-on GPS". I know this sounds a bit against the usual mantra of "smartphones are meant to do everything" but there is just no way a smartphone can replace dedicated full time devices (ie. GPS, Computer, Camera, etc...). Please don't get me wrong, I am definitely for using my smartphone for everything possible, for the most part, as fillers. On serious tasks, I still pull out the dedicated devices.

When it comes to driving, I prefer to have a dedicated GPS unit. Considering what iPhone's App store charges for voice guided navigation (usually $10/mo or $100 for lifetime), you can afford to buy a dedicated GPS unit for your automobile. Of course one could argue that a low end GPS w/o subscription doesn't offer real time traffic, but I'll take the better GPS experience from dedicated unit anyday and can still answer calls and look up traffic info from my smartphone. You'll find this USA Today review helpful in explaining why I would pass on using my iPhone as a GPS navigation solution. Another good reference is from Autoblog on why iPhone 3G GPS navigation is inadquate.

So what is GPS good for on a smartphone you ask? Well, for one, it is great to have it to know exactly where you are on foot and/or provide basic driving instructions in the event if you do not have a GPS unit. GPS combined with internet/search function makes it easy to look up for a store or restaurant nearby. There is also the Geo-tagging function with GPS when used with your smartphone camera. My argument is simple, you probably won't take your smartphone as a dedicated camera at a wedding or ceremony (thats what your dedicated point-n-shoot or DSLR is for) so why would you think you can get by with your GPS navigation with only a smartphone?

Cellphone Examination and Myths

Cellphone Examination and Myths.There are still, surprisingly, many who still promulgate myths by unwittingly conducting examinations in a particular way or use a product/device for cellphone examination to combat a particular perceived problem..I am launching this discussion thread, which will be updated from time to time, to identify cellphone examination myths. In doing so, it is not aimed at

Mobile Experience and the Sport of Golf

Lately, I've been bitten by the Golf bug again. I was really into this sport years back when I lived in the Golden State. This time around, I am surprised to find how this sport has advanced with technology, especially with the gadget market. The biggest gadget for this market must be the GPS-based rangefinders. Lots of hardware makers offer a dedicated GPS units with preloaded course maps to help you determine the distance between your ball and the flag. Big GPS players such as Garmin even has a serious go at this market as well.

I was more interested in the mobile applications for Golf enthuaists since most new smartphones now come with GPS already. So I took a look around the Apple App store and was able to quickly find a handful of Golf Range applications. The price range went from FREE to $34.99. Most of them will offer some form of course map (using Google Maps or else) and provide your distance to the flag. This is very cool for two reasons: 1). You can't beat the price, even for the most expensive application, its still a fraction of what you'd pay for a dedicated device and 2). You'd already have your iPhone 3G with you and you can avoid having to carry another dedicated GPS device.

For those interested, log on to the App store and search for "Golf GPS" and start to enjoy your game.

Unlocked Nokia E63 Bargain $149 Shipped

What if I told you that for $149, you can have a pretty darn good smartphone w/ 3G US, WiFi and GPS support along with a full QWERTY keyboard. I'll even toss in the good name of Nokia along with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support, quad-band world phone, 18 day standby and has the look to impress in your next boardroom meeting?

Take your pick, $149 after a $50 rebate. Free Shipping included!

Nokia E63 Ruby Red or Nokia E63 Ultra Marine Blue

How to Turn on GPS on Tmobile G1?

The Google G1 can be very intuitive at times but there are other features that just bugs me. (ie. the information bar doesn't always pull down when need to, lack of on screen keyboard, no file manager or video player by default. etc.). The biggest gripe I have is how hard it is to find GPS on/off switch. For me, it was completely non-intuitive. Instead of keeping it in Settings/Wireless Controls, they have a dedicated menu under Settings/Security & Location.

Searching the web wasn't very helpful for me so hopefully this post can help anyone looking for GPS switch. PS - by default, GPS is deactived, so My Location feature is based on IP/Cell Tower proxmity.

Google Latitude Installed on G1

I dusted off the G1 phone from the drawer and decided to give it a go again because of the recent news on Google Latitude, an update to GMAP 3.0+. Basically, it gives away your position via GPS or GSM network and allows you and your friends to see each other (kinda like Loopt on the iPhone,... actually just found out Loopt is available on Android Marketplace as well, pretty cool actually).

I haven't played with this a heck of a whole lot, but in short this is what I know and seen:
1). To install it, wait for your G1 to signal you for an update. As for me, it was a 2-part update. The update process was poorly organized. It can't be manually triggered in settings for system update. You just have to play with your phone until suddenly you are prompted with said update. After part 1 has been completed, my phone didn't automatically start part two. Again, after playing with it for a bit, it prompted me for part 2 of update. (Note: I have a developer Android firmware so my experience may be different than T-Mobile G1 customers).
2). Latitude resides within GMAPs on G1. You'll see a new icon in the middle of the menu bar with GMAP. Clicking on it allows you to invite friends and see friends who are already in your list. Those with a Google account will be tied seemlessly (you can IM and see their status, etc...).
3). Those with G1, BlackBerry and WinMo should be able to get on Google Latitude. iPhone guys may have to wait a while until this gets pushed out in a new firmware release. If you have non of te above, you can still use your PC and hookup via iGoogle gadget. I'll continue to play with this for a few days and report back.

If you'd like more info, visit:
http://www.google.com/latitude/intro.html or point your mobile browser to: google.com/latitude

iPhone 3G GPS and Apps

I've been back to the west coast for the past few days. In SoCal, driving and car ownership is a lifestyle. With the greater Los Angeles area spanning across a vast desert plain, I was a little rusty with the roadways to trek in between cities like San Diego, Irvine, Walnut, Cerritos, Anaheim, Rowland Heights, Orange, and Diamond Bar. To my surprise, iPhone 3G GPS works pretty quickly. Using Google Maps, I can quickly cold-sync up with the satelites vis AGPS and know my whereabouts.

The real cool mobile experience was this: since I often travel in groups of three vehicles or more. Instead of giving directions to other friends and family members. I simply turn on Loopt and have my location updated automatically. Other friends and family would use Loopt to find my whereabouts. No more "hey, text me your location and directions".

Mobile Phones and GPS Forensics & Evidence

Mobile Phones and GPS Forensics & Evidence.Mobile telephones are the predominate wireless telecommunications device throughout the world and most certainly in the UK they predominate other technologies, where ownership has reached well over saturation level when compared to the population number and mobile phone usage is embedded in UK culture. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) falls into the

Scion XB Release Series 6.0 Limited Qty

Folks at Scion just informed me a limited edition Scion XB (named Release Series 6.0) in red will be produced with gadgetry and electronics in mind. According to the website, 2,500 Red XB Release Series 6.0 will be produced. The big deal is that is uses Pioneer's latest audio/video head unit similar to the ones announced at CES this week which features:

Navigation System: Touch screen Audio Visual Navigation (AVN) headunit with flash memory, voice recognition, MSN Direct, and Bluetooth® capabilities
Connectivity: Advanced AVN headunit comes with USB, SD card, and iPod® connectivity
Entertainment: The Pioneer AVN headunit is satellite radio and HD Radio® - ready and will play DVDs and iPod videos when the vehicle is in park
Customization: User can customize the 5.8 inch high-resolution WVGA LCD touch-panel display and choose from over 32,000 colors

For more information visit here or checkout their Flickr gallery.

Garmin Nuvifone, Smartphone with built-in GPS

Ok honestly I wonder why the iPhone has become the standard for all the cool smartphones in the market? I know its got some quite awesome features like the touchscreen and big monster size display but I don’t think thats all which makes it the best smartphone ever. The iPhone hype is so high that now companies have started marketing their phone products with the “iPhone-Like Smartphone”

Better Mobile Experience Thru Geo-Tagging

The progress in smartphone technology has definitely improved the overall mobile experience; take my recent travel arrangements, for example.

Over the weekend, I've taken my mobile experience to new heights in convenience when we were scouting out a potential neighborhood to eventually move to.

We drove up to Westchester region in White Plains NY without any particular communities in mind. We figured we'd get some ideas on a couple of neighborhoods first then do some research on them later on. Normally, I'd take some photos and write down the cross streets on a paper; this time, however, I turned the GPS on my Nokia N95-3 on and launched both Location-Tagger application on along with the built-in camera. For each photo, I am now capturing the neighborhood along with its GPS coordinates. Back at home, I uploaded this via PicasaWeb to allow me to review the neighborhoods along with photos to remind myself. Just to be on the safe side, I even saved some locations as favorites on Google Maps application so I can revisit later.

Needless to say, these are the types of mobile experiences that can help one manage and enhance tasks. I am very pleased with these new technologies in action!

How to Shop for a Smartphone

We live in an exciting time right now, as we are at the cusp of an explosion of innovative smart phone technologies. Smart phones are finally smart, with less bugs and more functional operating systems as well as applications (or Widgets). But if you are about to buy a smartphone, what should you be looking for. The mobile experience will put some basic rules down for you to avoid any mistakes. Please take a look at our smart phone buyers guide below, 1st edition:

Three Absolute Must: 3G, WiFi and GPS
There are three absolute requirements for any smartphones today. I would personally avoid a phone that is missing any one of the above. Many people would argue that they don’t need all of the above or why have WiFi when you already have 3G support. I don’t really care what they say. Just remember that you are paying for a high price for a mobile device and you better get every mileage out of it; its better to have every important feature and not use it, then not having it when you need it in a hurry. In the event you are traveling to a foreign country, having free WiFi and GPS navigation can be a very nice thing to have. Regarding to 3G, you’ll have to decide between a GSM (AT&T, Tmobile) or CDMA (Verizon, Sprint, Helio, etc.) carrier. Most of the phones sold exclusively through Verizon or Sprint are less confusing, so long as it supports EV-DO Rev A spec, you’ll have a blazing fast 3G connection. If you are buying a GSM network phone, make sure it supports WCDMA 850/1900 to use AT&T’s 3G network or WCDMA 1700 for Tmobile’s latest 3G network coverage.

Niche functionalies: Email, Media, Camera, Touchscreen, Mobile OS etc…

Email: Every smartphone will provide the basic functions of email either via the browser or through built-in mail program; however, non of which can perform like the way BlackBerry(s) do. Their reliability and ease of use trumps everything else. BlackBerry now comes with 3G, WiFi and GPS integrated which makes it a very appealing option for those in the market for a super email communicator. There are other communicators on the market designed to compete with BlackBerry; the Nokia E90 communicator is a great example, however it costs about twice as much and I would still argue it doesn’t really compete with the Push-Email integration BlackBerry offers not to mention it is quite big.

Media: Some smart phones are uber strong media players. iPhone is the epitome of such. When shopping for a smart phone capable of media support, ask yourself what you are looking to do. If you have a huge library of MP3s and Videos, an iPod may be your best choice. If you are looking to stream TV or YouTube, the AT&T LG Vu or Verizon phones supporting V-Cast may be better for you to get content on the go. Nokia’s up and coming N96 will support the new DVB-H broadcast standard. I will briefly touch on Internet as it is assumed that mobile browser is part of the standard package within any smartphone. Some things to keep in mind are: is the browser a full browser like Safari Mobile or Nokia Browser or is it a WAP browser like Mobile Internet Explorer which strips web content down to a minimum? Do the handset/os support 3rd party browsers like TeaShark, Opera Mini or Skyfire? Check the vendor websites first to make sure your phone is supported. To me, mobile internet is the most important element of a smartphone!

Camera: Again, almost every phone today will come with some sort of camera/camcorder function. The minimum standard is 2 megapixel. Some smartphones will go above that with a 5MP camera (ie. Nokia N95, LG Viewty, Sony K850i, LG KG920, etc.). I’ve seen phones go up to 7MP+ (ie. Samsung SCH-V770). Cameras are one of the most under-appreciated functions today because of all the buzz are around “3G”. Ironically it is probably the most functional feature. In a James Bond-like fashion, your camera phone can take snapshots of anything on the go, for research, for documentation and for those special moments in life that are priceless. I would recommend going with at least 3MP on any smartphone and the more manual control the phone offers, the better. I personally prefer to have a phone with a secondary camera on the front of the phone. Its designed for video conferencing if your network carrier supports that function.

Touchscreen: Since the beginning, touchscreen goes hand to hand with PDAs and Smartphones. It gives users an extra level of precise input to command the tiny screens. Some people can’t live without touchscreens. Personally, it took me a while to go from a Windows Mobile OS using touchscreen to Symbian S60 which uses only a D-pad to navigate the phone. The iPhone has one of the best touch screen I’ve ever seen. While we are on the topic of screens, VGA resolution (640x320) and SVGA resolution (800x600) are on the rise. They offer much finer pixel display than the tradition QVGA (320x240) which is popular on most of the phones today. I’ve already decided my next phone will have to be VGA or better, for higher productivity.

Mobile OS: There are currently four major mobile os at play: Windows Mobile, BlackBerry 4.6, Symbian S60 and Apple OS X Mobile. As mentioned by the features above, each OS kind of ties to the unique feature set and user experience. This is why I talk about OS last because going by the functions you want, for example, email, you’ll be forced to live with BlackBerry OS. The only thing to keep in mind is Windows Mobile and BlackBerry are more enterprise/wor- friendly. Whereas Symbian and OS X are more multimedia driven. Of course, both Symbian and Apple are going to work hard to make their OS more enterprise friendly in the upcoming months. Finally, there is the highly anticipated Google Android OS which should show up by end of 2008 on some handsets. It offers true open-source which yields a lot of promises to reshape the entire mobile industry.

Nokia Maps 2.0 Officially Released

Nokia Maps 2.0 which has been in the beta labs for a couple of months has finally been released as a full application update for most Symbian S60 3rd edition handsets. I have been using Maps 2.0 beta for a few weeks. There doesn't appear to be any significant difference going from Beta (2.0_1803_3.1) to full 2.0 release (2.0_2102_3.1).

Installation on my N95 took a solid 10 minutes to complete (which is by far one of the longest installation time I've ever seen). Everything went smoothly as usual. The application launched as usual recognizing the previous downloaded maps off of my MicroSD card. I will give it a test tomorrow morning while walking to work. (Nokia: Maps Info, Download Maps 2.0)

Nokia N95 vs iPhone GPS Shoot-out

Ever wonder how accurate your iPhone's faux GPS function (from firmware 1.4 update) in Google Maps "My Location" would hold up against a real GPS receiver? Better yet, how does it stack up against another smartphone with integrated GPS like the Nokia N95? I wanted to find out for myself so I took both devices out for a shoot out.

iPhone - in its typical fashion, performed quickly via AT&T EDGE network to provide my location. Regardless of where I stood nearby my NYC apartment (in the courtyard, by both sides of 23rd street), it would locate me at the corner of 24th and 10th Avenue.

Nokia N95 - I had the internet connection defaulted to turn off, relying purely on the integrated GPS. In an open space, I can normally get a good fix on the satellites within 2 minutes. This afternoon, however, I cannot even get connected; its possible that the buildings are too tall on my street which blocked partial satellite signals. I sampled it in the same three locations as mentioned above (courtyard, both sides of 23rd Street) and I can't rely on the integrated GPS alone to pick up my location. So I activated Nokia Maps to go online via AT&T 3G network which engaged the Assisted-GPS function (ie. using data network to help getting a location fix assisting integrated GPS receiver). Within 30 seconds, I got a fix. It showed me as if I were on the other side of 23rd Street. See the 3rd image for exact location test results.

There you have it. iPhone's simulated GPS works faster with lesser accuracy. Nokia N95's integrated GPS is slow (which is a known fact, and I've seen better GPS phones) but offers a bit more accuracy and obviously helps you track your location no matter where you move around once you have a fix.

Nokia GPS Location Tagger

I got a chance to test out Nokia's Location Tagger application from its Beta Labs. This app can be used in conjunction with compatible phone's GPS and camera to record the geographic location (longitude/Latitude) for each picture taken from Eseries and Nseries phones like the E90, N95 and N82. According to Nokia, this should work with all Symbian S60 3rd edition phones w/ integrated GPS or external bluetooth GPS. Geo-Tagging will be an important meta-data for photography in the future; and currently, smartphones with integrated GPS is a convenient way to start such implementation. I foresee future point-n-shoots and DSLRs to come equip with some form of Geo-Tagging feature.

Nokia's software is pretty cool and simple to use. To get started, simply launch Location Tagger app and let it find a fix for satellite signal (on m N95, I kept the slider open, since thats how it is for me to use my GPS normally, once I got a lock on Satelite signal, I can close the slider down to shoot photos). It took me about 30 seconds before getting a full satellite read. After that, use the "hide" command or just launch your camera. You'll notice a small green logo on your camera/LCD screen which indicates the Geo-Tagger in action.
After taking each shot, the application will tell you that it has been tagged. If you upload your 'geo-tagged' images to an application like PicasaWeb, Google Earth or Flickr, it will show you the location each picture has been taken from automatically. Please find a couple screenshots of PicasaWeb Google Maps integration using a picture I took this morning.

Mitsuwa Supermarket, a popular Japanese Market Chain, this one is in Edgewater, NJ.

Garmin Nuvifone to be $500 at AT&T?

Engadget reports a story that the Garmin Nuvifone may end up costing you $500 through AT&T with a 2-year contract. In my opinion, this will make Garmin Nuvifone lose its competitive edge. Considering that there are plenty of phones available with GPS; this phone really does not offer much beyond whats already available. Its largest pull is the fact that Garmin has built a reputation on ease of use GPS and a loyal fan base. At $500, however, people will likely think twice as the sticker is in the premium phone range. If they would cleverly position this device at $200-300 range, it would give the market a good run for its money. Just my humble opinion.

Mobile Experience Asia: GPS via Nokia N95

Prior to my Asia trip, I downloaded Nokia Maps of Taiwan and Indonesia (including Bali) to test out the GPS functionality on my Nokia N95-3. With the maps installed onto a 4GB MicroSDHC card, I can rely on the GPS without having to connect to a foreign network and avoid costly data fees.

At the balcony of my in-law's apartment in Jakarta, I successfully got a fix on the satellites. Nokia N95 does require you to keep the slider open and be exposed in a static, open space for about 1-2 minutes to get a read, but once you have a fix, it does a great job tracking in moving vehicles.

Overall, I am very pleased with N95-3's GPS functionality and want to give Nokia mad-props for making all of their maps available to customers free of charge (although the maps are a little out dated, I found a few small streets missing in Jakarta). Streets in foreign metropolitans can be intimidating, with the N95-3 GPS leading the way, it helped me understand my whereabouts like no other trip I've taken in the past.

Garmin Nuvi 200 for $149

My father and mother in-laws live throughout Southeast Asia. Their main residence is in the capital of Malaysia, KL. On the weekends, they love taking their beloved Mini Cooper S on road trips to Singapore or up to Peneng. As the mobile go-to guy in the family, they've come to me for their GPS solution. You see, companies like Tom Tom and Garmin are not investing money to develope maps and POIs in smaller markets. So even if a car in Malaysia is equipped with GPS Navigation, there would be no DVD maps to run it with.

Thanks to the fine folks at Malsingmaps.com and their contributing members for coming up with their own customized Garmin maps w/ POIs for most of the GPS devices on the market today, I was able to setup a Garmin C320 for my in-laws to enjoy. They've since really enjoyed having a full working GPS to use throughout that region and be the envy of their friends. Lately, they've been complaining about not being able to get a fix on the GPS location so I am now checking out what is available economically from Garmin for purchase as a replacement.

I came across the Garmin Nuvi 200 from Amazon.com. I remembered this being in the $350 range when it first came out on the market about 1 year ago. But the price I found today is $150 shipped (no tax for me, NY resident). This is a great price for a nice little 3.5" Garmin GPS about the size of a deck of cards. Once I know the C320 is broken for sure, I will pickup this device for them as replacement.