Ever wonder how Google collects street photos for Google Maps?
This is not a green ice cream truck. This is a Google employee doing his job for Google Maps. Plus getting a bonus workout. Along with some giggles and lots of pointing and hollering at the slightly dorky looking contraption.But Google, of course, will get the last laugh as they map out every square inch of the universe so that we can find the nearest pizza joint or massage parlor in 30 seconds.The bike itself is a nerd hobbyist dream: on-board GPS, 9 HD cameras, a computer, generator, and accorGoogle maps fun places with Street View “trike”
With Google Maps, you can use a feature called “Street View” to take a virtual drive across town, or pretty much anywhere there are public streets. But until now, some of the funnest places aren’t accessible by car, and so Google’s Street View car hasn’t captured them. So now Google is blitzing through all kinds of more private, inaccessible places such as scenic running trails, private universities and zoos with a new tool: a 3-wheeled bicycle it calls a “trike.” And it’s asking users to submPDA Navigation Software: An Overview
GPS technology has revolutionized all our lives in the last quarter century. Where once people had to rely on bulky and often outdated street maps and road atlases in order to find their way around, nowadays they can get door to door directions from their PC, from in car navigation devices or via their PDAs. In fact, PDA navigation software is one of the most popular applications for PDAs and Smartphones. This article looks at a few of the myriad PDA navigation software titles available on theGarmin nuvi 200 3 5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Garmin nuvi 200 3 5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Navigate without breaking your budget with nüvi 200. This affordable entry-level personal travel assistant comes with preloaded maps for the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. For even more mapping options, nüvi 250 features preloaded maps for all of North America, while the transatlantic nüvi 270 includes preloaded maps for both continents. Like all nuvi 200-series members, the 200 features an easy-to-use colorful touchscreen and ultra-slim design–perfect for everyday navigation.
The nüvi 200 comes preloaded with maps for U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, and features an easy-to-use touchscreen and ultra-slim design. |
Which nüvi is Best for You?: Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators.
Smart, Powerful Design
The nüvi 200 is built with a high-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS receiver for extreme accuracy, as well as an SD card slot for storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB interface for loading data. All this is wrapped up in a package that measures 3.8 x 2.8 x .8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs just 5.2 ounces. The nüvi 200’s 3.5-inch (diagonal) display is touchscreen-enabled, making it a cinch to control the device with your fingertips. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to five hours of battery life depending on use.
Navigate with Ease
nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, including a hefty database of more than 6 milliong points of interest (POIs), such as hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more, that are searchable by name or category. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. In addition, the nüvi accepts custom (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.
Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.
Easy To Use Interface
Garmin’s interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.
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Beyond Navigation
 Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer. |
 nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger. |
Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi features travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map.
This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs.
Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.
Trick Your GPS Ride
 Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS. See more icon option |
All nüvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle’s position on the map. |
What’s in the Box
nüvi 200, preloaded City Navigator NT for the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico (no Alaska or Canada detail), vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, dashboard disk, and set up and go guide
Note: Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.
Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
| Screen Size inches (w x h) |
Included Maps | Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names) |
Traffic | Bluetooth | Media | FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system) |
Multi- Point Routing |
Battery life (hours) |
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| Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico |
AK and Canada |
Europe | |||||||||
| nüvi 200 | 2.8 x 2.1 |
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Photos |
up to 5 | |||||||
| nüvi 200w | 3.81 x 2.25 |
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Photos |
up to 5 | |||||||
| nüvi 250 | 2.8 x 2.1 |
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Photos | up to 5 | ||||||
| nüvi 250w | 3.81 x 2.25 |
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|
Photos | up to 5 | ||||||
| nüvi 260 | 2.8 x 2.1 |
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|
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Photos | up to 5 | |||||
| nüvi 260w | 3.81 x 2.25 | |
|
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Photos | up to 5 | |||||
| nüvi 270 | 2.8 x 2.1 |
|
|
|
Photos | up to 5 | |||||
| nüvi 350 | 2.8 x 2.1 |
|
|
FM (with opt. receiver) |
Photos, MP3s |
up to 8 | |||||
| nüvi 360 | 2.8 x 2.1 |
|
|
|
FM (with opt. receiver) |
|
Photos, MP3s | up to 8 | |||
| nüvi 370 | 2.8 x 2.1 | |
|
|
|
FM (receiver included) |
|
Photos, MP3s | up to 8 | ||
| nüvi 650 | 3.81 x 2.25 |
|
|
FM (with opt. receiver) |
Photos, MP3s | up to 7 | |||||
| nüvi 660 |
3.81 x 2.25 |
|
|
|
FM (receiver included) |
|
Photos, MP3s | |
up to 7 | ||
| nüvi 670 |
3.81 x 2.25 |
|
|
|
|
FM (receiver included) |
|
Photos, MP3s | |
up to 7 | |
| nüvi 680 | 3.81 x 2.25 |
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MSN (receiver included; 1-year free); FM (with opt. receiver) |
|
Photos, MP3s | |
up to 7 | ||
| nüvi 750 |
3.81 x 2.25 |
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MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) |
Photos, MP3s | |
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up to 5 | ||
| nüvi 760 | 3.81 x 2.25 |
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|
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MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) |
|
Photos, MP3s | |
|
up to 5 | |
| nüvi 770 | 3.81 x 2.25 |
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MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) |
|
Photos, MP3s | |
|
up to 5 |
| nüvi 780 | 3.81 x 2.25 | |
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MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free) receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) |
|
Photos, MP3s | |
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up to 5 | ||
| nüvi 850 | 3.81 x 2.25 | |
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MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) |
Photos, MP3s | |
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up to 4 | |||
| nüvi 880 |
3.81 x 2.25 | |
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MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free); FM (with opt. receiver) |
|
Photos, MP3s | |
|
up to 4 | |
| nüvi 5000 |
4.5 x 2.7 | |
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MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver) |
|
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external battery only |
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User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Garmin 3.5-Inch screen GPS
my wife has one and its great. simple and easy to use. perfect size. not big or small. so i recommended my friend to get one for his wife as a gift. i placed the order for him. i received the package early from the shipper. no complaints. good deal with the 2 added accessories from the shipper.
5 Stars No more driving in circles
This item was shipped and delivered much faster than estimated. Works great, very user friendly!!
4 Stars Garmin nuvi 200 GPS systems
I am very happy with this product. I have named “her” GYPSY because she’s such a great traveler. Sometimes her voice is annoying but otherwise I have no complaints! I don’t hesitate to go to new places now. Great little invention!
5 Stars Superb devise for Sales
If you are in sales and it involves driving, this is awesome. If you are still using online mapping, you will find this insanely more efficient. I have used it for over 6 months, and 99.5% of the time it is exact; the other .5% it gets me close where I can figure it out. Saves me tons of time and fuel!
5 Stars Great GPS for the $$$
I purchased the Garmin NUVI 200 for about $125.
This is a great GPS for the money. Does what it is supposed to do and does it very well. Not sure what bells and whistles this unit doesn’t have but gives me great directions.
I would recommend GARMIN over all others based on my experience.
Garmin 010 00517 05 StreetPilot 2820 GPS Navigator
Garmin 010 00517 05 StreetPilot 2820 GPS Navigator
With preloaded street maps and built-in Bluetooth wireless capability, Garmin’s StreetPilot 2820 is the ideal road companion for your car or motorcycle. Featuring hands-free calling, real-time traffic capabilities, MP3 player, audio book player, and an extensive points-of-interest database - this deluxe navigator has it all.The StreetPilot 2820 integrates wireless technology with a microphone and speaker that lets you make hands-free calls on a compatible Bluetooth phone. Motorcyclists can connect a Bluetooth-enabled headset or helmet simultaneously with a Bluetooth phone to the StreetPilot 2820 to talk hands-free on the road or receive wireless navigation audio prompts to their destination.In addition, easily look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone’s call history log. Don’t know the phone number for your destination? Simply find and dial it from the StreetPilot 2820’s extensive points of interest database - including hotels, restaurants, stores, and attractions.The StreetPilot 2820’s MP3 player, audio book player and optional XM Radio keep you entertained on the road. The MP3 player allows you to browse music by artist, album, and/or song.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars An excellent product - and just in case - also excellent service
Until a week ago I owned the 2720. Unfortunately a map update failed and I had to send the unit to Garmin. The service folks from Garmin just sent me their latest streetpilot 2820 (free upgrade, just great). So, from being unhappy due to the failed update, I am now quite happy. Also, that took place within 4! work days. Dropped it off at the post office on Friday, got it back on Thursday moring the week after. Really quick.
It is a great unit, just like the predecessor 2720, but now also has bluetooth and an audio book reader and MP3 Player (things I will likely not use). Bluetooth is great, though, for mobile phones in cars even though you will need to connect a speaker and micro.
The unit does what it needs to do - get me where I want to go. Especially on a motorcycle. Waterprrof, with enough room to save half of the US and CAN (mine is a european unit).
I used the previous version for 3 years and never has it failed to get me where I wanted to go. It is fast, has excellent routing, is VERY easy to use, the screen is large and very easy to read even under unfavorable lighting conditions and as I said - support is great and is located in the US or Europe, exactly where you are. No call centers in inner Mongolia or other such nonsense. Whoever had to contact a call center other than in your own country knows what I am talking about. But you will likely not need tech support, since it just works reliably and every day.
If you need to have a unit for an MC this is the unit I would recommend. Even more so, since you can use it your car and on business trips, …
It does not come with a picture viewer, but that is useless from my point of view to begin with. The only drawback is the somewhat flacky reception of the GPS signal in difficult areas - namely skycrapers all over the place and narrow roads for example in Spain. Still I always arrived with minimum stress. Far better than what you would get built into cars at a far better price.
4 Stars Are we there yet?
Nice GPS and Great price - - - A huge leap forward from my previous unit (Street Pilot 111). Maps and directions update quickly with plenty of options. It comes ready to use -fully loaded. The Bluetooth connection (phone) works well, but I’ve had complaints of sounding distant. May need to try a different mic??? Can not comment on Sat radio as I did not add antenna.
5 Stars Excellent motorcycle GPS
After spending a few days researching GPS receivers that were good candidates for motorcycles I narrowed my list to the Garmin Zumo 550, Garmin StreetPilot 2820, and TomTom Rider.
Although the Zumo 550 seems to be the more popular choice lately, I decided upon the StreetPilot 2820 because it has more features (ex: multiple via points on a route and a higher resolution screen).
It is an excellent choice for a motorcycle –it can easily be operated with gloves on, it’s waterproof, it’s easy to read, and it can pair to two Bluetooth devices (in my case a Bluetooth helmet and my Blackberry).
The maps that come with this unit are outstanding –I can fairly reliably tell the difference between paved and unpaved roads (something you can’t do with Google Maps, for instance).
I have found one bug with the device: If you’re using the music player and attempt to voice dial a phone number, the Bluetooth connection gets flaky and I need to reboot the unit –I’m hoping a future firmware update will fix this issue. At least I’ve found a work around to this annoyance –if I manually pause the music and then make (and complete) the call and then unpause the music everything seems to work okay.
Garmin technical support while I was trying to diagnose this issue was outstanding.
I highly recommend this unit.
4 Stars Garmin 2820 Works well with Bluetooth
I bought this item several months ago and recently took it on a motorcycle trip to New England and Canada. I managed to hook it up with Bluetooth with my helmet and my cell phone which hung on my belt. Amazingly, it worked for cell phone calls going down the road in Toronto. The only drawback is that one needs to do a “reality check” for routes it may decide on. Some routes were out of the way or no longer in existence. A bonus was looking up the weather on areas I was planning to go to.
5 Stars Great for Motorcycle Touring… Loaded with features.. But a bit big
Going on my third season with the 2820, I can’t imagine touring without it. Easy to use with gloves, big enough to see without reading glasses, accurate guide, and more. The connectivity can’t be beat either, plus it is a very rough and tumble sturdy unit. I was very happy with the XM radio, and in the car I plug it into my auxiliary jack. I’m happy to report that there has not been one glitch or problem over 8,000 mile of bumpy twisties and harsh riding through the elements on my motorcycle. I had the Garmin Quest before upgrading to this unit. There is no comparison. The Quest was way too cumbersome in controls and directions and screen display to be very useful on while moving fast on the road, espically if you wanted to make changes to it on the fly. My only wish with this 2820 unit is that it wasn’t so big. You don’t want to leave an expensive unit like this on the bike when you stop, and, although it does fit in my jacket pocket, it’s very bulky. Overall, I have been very happy with this unit and highly recommend.