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Not one to rest on its laurels, Garmin is in constant innovation and usually comes up with products that are not only better looking, but functions better as well. A good example is this new range of nuvi 3700 series GPS devices. These Portable navigation devices have gone through a lot of design engineering and they will definitely cause a stir in the industry for their defining looks. They are totally flat, well built and slimmer than anything we have seen. In fact it look very much like the ubiquitous iPhone!

These new nuvi 3700s are sleek and sexy. Like the iPhone you can use it vertically or horizontally and the screen will turn accordingly. You can even tap, swipe, or pinch the screen with your fingers to get to the desired view. This feature is a first in a SatNav device. The Garmin nuvi 3760T comes preloaded with comprehensive street maps coverage for USA, Canada and Mexico and detailed City Navigator NT street maps and nearly 6 million POIs. The step-up model Garmin nuvi 3790T adds 3D terrain maps and voice activated navigation.

TomTom recently released a slew of new GPS units to target those looking for GPS that caters to specific uses like traffic functions. Some of these new GPS devices include the 4.3-inch widescreen TomTom XL340T, the TomTom XL 335T and the extra large 5-inch TomTom XXL 540T.

It was a great past year for TomTom as they continue to do well with TomTom XL models that were well received for their large detailed displays. Now this year, TomTom goes to work in adding significant improvements that makes these new models more useful for frequent trips around jammed packed cities. All these new GPS units feature “Lifetime Traffic Updates” which delivers traffic events to users in real-time to cut down on travel time. Turn-by-turn instructions are also included as well as US, Canada, and Mexico maps with enough points of interest that will guide you to any place you desire.

Plus with the new TomTom HOME software application you can now customize your GPS with personal icons and messages and do map updates right from your home desktop PC. Check out these new TomTom GPS units now.

TomTom 740 is a portable navigation device that provides the industry’s best routing and helps drivers control their daily drive via helpful features. The TomTom GO 740 LIVE device enables users to drive the most efficient routes, whenever or wherever they go. The device comes pre-programmed with a new and extended version of TomTom’s innovative IQ Routes Technology, which calculates routes based on the time of day.  Over the past two years, more than 1.8 trillion miles of roads have been recorded by the TomTom community.

In addition the GO 740 LIVE automatically receives real-time traffic speed and incident reports every two to five minutes. Traffic delays can be heard on the device as well as displayed on the screen. The driver can choose to remain on their current route or can take advantage of a faster, alternative route suggested by the device. Drive time minutes saved and the new arrival time are displayed on the screen.

In addition to real-time traffic, the TomTom GO 740 LIVE also comes with a range of other relevant services delivered directly ‘over-the-air.’ All LIVE Services work right out of the box via a built-in SIM card and GPRS modem. One free year of service is included in the box.

The Magellan Maestro 3100 Portable Auto GPS System delivers the best navigation experience at an entry-level price point. Pocket-sized, powerful, and re-engineered for easy use, its fresh graphics, intuitive interface, and friendly voice will guide you turn-by-turn as you enjoy the drive. If you don’t like reading directions, you’ll love the Magellan Maestro 3100. It’s simple to use and ready to guide you to virtually any destination in the 48 continental United States. Just turn it on and go. Its thin, sophisticated design and attractive, intuitive touch-screen graphics make driving a pleasure. Enter an address or select from 750,000 preprogrammed points of interest (POIs) with just a few screen touches. Magellan 3100 Features the SiRFstarIIIâ„¢ gives you the fastest GPS position accuracy in the industry.

Read the full magellan 3100 review

The Magellan RoadMate 1430 has a 4.3″ wide-touch-screen, though it does not have the largest screen on the market, but it is also not the smallest. This RoadMate has maps of the entire U.S. and Canada with about 6 million Points of Interest.

The text to speech also reads out all the names of the points of interest, streets, addresses. The RoadMate 1430 does not have any buttons on the front, which leaves a lot more room for the screen. The dimensions of the 1430 are 4.57″ x 3.27″ x 0.73″ and it weighs 7.1 oz.

The top of the RoadMate 1430 is where you will find the only button on the whole device. This button is the power control for turning the RoadMate on and off. However, you will not need to use it very much because it turns on automatically when it gets power and off when power is lost. On the back of the RoadMate is a speaker. The icons and other graphics have been upgraded to make things look better.

TomTom 720 has a function where users can add or make changes to mistakes in the onboard maps and upload them for other users to benefit from. This is to prevent users from ever blindly following wrong instructions.

On the top is the power button, and on the back is the speaker and a newly designed way for the mount to connect. The size of the mount is reduced and makes it easier to pack away. The mount has just about the right amount of tension so that it does not move around too much or vibrate on rocky roads.

On the bottom is the SD card slot, USB/power port, a reset button, a port to connect a traffic receiver, as well as a headphone jack. The end of the USB port now has a angle at the very tip, so you now can mount the 720 just as low on the dash as you would like. It never loses its signal and proved extremely accurate in many tested environments. Battery life is reported to be about five hours.The maps of the USA and Canada come pre-installed on 2 GB of internal flash memory. The SD slot remains free to add maps of other countries or to install MP3 files. There is also Bluetooth for data connectivity as well as hands free calling.

Read the full TomTom 720 Review

Garmin’s nüvi 255W adds many useful features such as FM traffic updates or MSN Direct content to an entry-level line. Garmin’s interface is an important part of what makes their devices such a success.

You can buy an MSN Direct or FM/TMC traffic receiver as an add-on. This is a really good deal, since the add-ons come with one whole year of subscription, rather than the 3 month trial included with a high-end nuvi. Ultimately, you end up with the same receiver.

Read the full Garmin 255W Review.

The Garmin 785T portable navigator will help to get you from point A to point B anywhere in the United States. The nuvi 785T offers full coverage mapping for the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The preloaded map data features nearly six million points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and attractions. The map data is provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. It features 3D buildings, lane assist and lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ. Garmin 785T features are simple to use even for the beginner.

Read the full Garmin 785T GPS Review

The Garmin 200W, with the W indicating that the portable navigator is a “Widescreen” device, features a slim design with a sleek look that surrounds an easy to use, high quality display that comes with an equally attractive price tag.
Garmin 200W features include a JPEG picture viewer, calculator, Garmin Lock, which is a patented anti-theft feature, and vehicle icons that you can configure to select car-shaped graphics to show your location.

Read the Full Garmin 200W GPS Review

Award winning software coupled with an incredibly easy to use interface makes the TomTom 330S GPS Navigator is a premium choice for travelers driving throughout both the United States and Canada. It simple for users to find their way wherever they need to go without worry, regardless of future traffic conditions or surprise detours as there are turn by turn directions along with a traffic ready system. TomTom 330S features makes it ready to use right out of the box.

Read the full TomTom 330s GPS Review

The Garmin nuvi 260W is a member of Garmin’s popular entry level nuvi 200 series. A 4.3″ wide screen version of the smaller nuvi 260, the 260W is identical to it in all other respects. The 260 and 260W are the only two models in the first-generation 200 series to feature text-to-speech, the ability to call out street names. That way you’ll get “turn left on Highway 128 in 200 feet”, rather than just “turn left in 200 feet.” This Garmin 260W features will make it a rather interesting GPS for users.

Read the full Garmin 260W GPS Review

Easy to use and rather affordably priced, the Garmin 270 personal travel assistant by Garmin will help you get to where you’re going with its many Garmin 270 Features which includes preloaded maps, premium navigation features, and bright screen display as well as an array of useful travel tools that are all housed neatly within a stylish, compact design.

Read the full Garmin 270 GPS Review

Those in the market for a GPS unit should consider the benefits offered by the Magellan 3250. One of the most exciting features of this unit is the Voice Command interface that makes it highly usable and instantly accessible to the driver.The Maestro 3250 features also includes providing Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone use and live traffic info. It also has text-to-speech, so you’ll get “turn right on Oak Street in 200 feet” rather than just “turn right in 200 feet.”

Read the full Magellan 3250 Review

Many GPS users these days want a solution that can do more than just basic GPS capabilities. This is why most people switch to GPS-enabled mobile phones so that their money is well spent. However, the TomTom 730T Features quite a punch by combining accurate GPS features with some fun networking elements as well. The “T” in the nomencalture mean that this TomTom GPS device adds traffic services that allow subscribers to collect traffic information.

Get the full TomTom 730T Review

The newly enhanced Magellan 4350 GPS, originally designed to replace the Maestro 4250, is said to have taken the world of personal navigation systems by storm as it has given a whole new meaning to the phrase, “easy to use” with a larger keyboard via Magellan’s OneTouch technology and a completely customizable drop down menu, among several other notable benefits and user friendly features.

Designed with the driver in mind, the Maestro 4350 features a 4.3-inch widescreen anti-glare touchscreen, Bluetooth, Real-Time Traffic updates, and 2-D and 3-D maps of the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, all packed into a streamlined design that will add a bit of flair to any interior.

Read the full Magellan 4350 Review.

New to the nüvi 7×5 lineup is Garmin’s HotFix satellite prediction (which locates your position quickly and precisely), Lane Assist (which provides lane guidance and junction views when possible), automatic time zone transitioning, and 3D Building views as well as Garmin Connect Photos to help you visually ascertain your position. Additionally, the Garmin 785T includes Bluetooth connectivity to your cell phone and real-time traffic updates via the included GDB 50 traffic receiver with access to enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. The bright, 4.3-inch touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views. The widescreen format gives you 70 percent more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.

See the full list of Garmin 785T specifications here.

The top-of-the-line Garmin 880 adds Bluetooth for hands-free phone calls, an integrated traffic receiver and enhanced MSN Direct content with traffic data, reas-time gas prices, movie times and many great features.

Garmin adds smooth speech recognition and a gorgeous display, detailed NAVTEQ maps that let  you search by name for more than 6 million points of interest like stores, restaurants or hospitals, and an easy, intuitive interface. The Garmin 880 features also consists of a rich array of features including spoken directions in real street names, integrated traffic receivers, MP3 player and photo viewer, and an FM transmitter. It certainly makes a great gift this Xmas for the car lover.