Tag: #satnav

Tech Review – Garmin Drivesmart 76 Sat Nav.

Not so long ago we reviewed one of the other Garmin sat nav greats which was the Campervan where we showed you how the device works with a live drive of the unit and we also went through the features and we do the same here as stock image reviews with maps of another country on it just doesn’t cut it and is just lazy. From our feedback our viewers like to see a hands on experience as it gives them better context and this is what we do here.

The Drivesmart 76 is another slab one could say and comes in several variants the 66,76 and 86 which means 6 ,7 and 8 inch in size basically.These versatile sat-navs can guide the way for family weekend adventures thanks to detailed maps of Europe, while making the weekday commute a breeze with noteworthy features like environmental zone routing, hands-free calling, and built-in Garmin voice assist to ask the device for directions. You also have Alexa integration too which is fun and gives you on the fly information on the go which is excellent.

If you are a Garmin fan and own an older model you will be familiar with the UI which is simple to navigate and use, we of course go through this in our video review below as we did on the Campervan model and it is simple overall and a nice UI and not that difficult at all to set up.

Once set up you can input the data that you wish to have pop up on screen and like the campervan model you also have the speed zones warnings which is really handy and this will keep your driving in check too. You can connect this to your smartphone via the Garmin drive app and also allow social notifications come through on the screen not only this you can set this up in a way you can play via your car’s stereo system which is really cool.

Features

  • Access to real-time traffic, photoLive traffic cameras, weather and fuel prices when the sat-nav is paired with a driver’s compatible smartphone using the Garmin Drive app
  • Alexa Built-in3 enables asking for music, listening to audiobooks, hearing the latest news and more (on Alexa-version only, available in English and German languages)
  • Built-in Wi-FiÒ allows for easy map and software updates without the need for a computer
  • A USB-C vehicle power cable equipped with two USB ports (on Alexa versions only) to charge the compatible Garmin sat-nav and a second device

You can now buy the Drivesmart 76 from most leading retailers in Ireland and further afield

Video Link

 

Tech Review – Garmin campervan Sat-Nav review

I have been testing this piece of kit out for a few weeks now and one thing people say is this not redundant and I do get their point with our mobile phones doing everything from weather to music calls and traffic but this is on a smaller scale and phones are not specifically designed for the aforementioned.

Garmin are well known in the industry and also have dash cams and smartwatches too some of which we have reviewed in the past but today we take a closer look at the Campervan Sat-Nav, we also have a real hands on look at the unit in our video review below so you get some context over stock image reviews. We show you the features, the unit in operation and more so you get to get a better idea of what exactly you get from the product.

Build and set up

Basically it is a big tablet and it is a well built one at that however it can be placed nicely in your window or where suits you best and it is a simply suction cup and cable to get things going and you are good to go, you might be better off walking through the menu first to change any settings that suit your need though. You should also download the Garmin Drivesmart app to get extra features, I did once snub the app but it has much improved and now includes really cool weather features too, live traffic and much more

The display is bright and clear and one thing I love is the voice navigation it is pleasing which some might find odd but I love it it is clear loud and not really robotic like some systems are. You can also make calls on this and again clear and concise.

Who is this for

It is aimed at those who like camping which has seen a huge rise in recent times but anyone can use it including van drivers that want that bit more and you can see yourself what is on offer via the menu and if like me you like hotels, food and the likes there is a tripdavisor suggestion tool along with many others which you can select from to suit your own personal requirements. Having said all that this can be used by anyone in fairness and it is a nice piece of kit to have.

Features

The Campervan Sat-Nav has many features on board which basically covers you all round, you have Bluetooth, WiFi big clear screen loud clear navigation prompts, warnings for your speed which is vital for how things work today with the fish in a barrel approach by the speed detection vans and pop up windows for turns where applicable to give you a better view of the lanes you might be approaching, again all this is seen in the video review..

Price

This might put some off for a standalone kit, even for me I was kind of leaning the same direction but the pros outweigh the cons as you keep your phone to yourself and you have everything else at your fingertips here on a big screen and the feature I love most asides the navigation is the weather feature which is really cool.. The price of this unit will set you back 299 euros

BUY HERE

Video link 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Look – Garmin Drivesmart 76 with Amazon Alexa

Recently Garmin announced a few new devices to their portfolio and one of them has dropped in to check out and we have a review of another member of the Garmin family dropping this week so stay tuned for that, the Drivesmart 76 is the middle of the trio announced last week and is a 7 inch slab that offers you more more than just navigation.

The new Garmin DriveSmart series comes loaded with road trip-ready functionality to help bring driving freedom to every trip. Drivers can depend on TripadvisorÒ traveller ratings to recommend restaurants, hotels and attractions along the way. In addition, all Garmin DriveSmart sat-navs arrive preloaded with millions of popular points of interest from Foursquare.

Garmin DriveSmart 66, 76, and 86 series

 

The Garmin DriveSmart 66, 76, and 86 sat-navs boast a legacy of industry-leading features, including:

 

  • Access to real-time traffic, photoLive traffic cameras, weather and fuel prices when the sat-nav is paired with a driver’s compatible smartphone using the Garmin Drive app
  • Alexa Built-in3 enables asking for music, listening to audiobooks, hearing the latest news and more (on Alexa-version only, available in English and German languages)
  • Built-in Wi-FiÒ allows for easy map and software updates without the need for a computer
  • A USB-C vehicle power cable equipped with two USB ports (on Alexa versions only) to charge the compatible Garmin sat-nav and a second device

 

Available now, the new Garmin DriveSmart 66, 76 and 86 series has suggested retail prices ranging from £189.99 to £319.99.

Any questions of course feel free to ask below or on our You Tube channel and we will gladly answer all comments as we always do so check out the unboxing and first look below and stay tuned for the full real hands on review soon..

Video link 

New Garmin DriveSmart GPS sat-navs bring simplicity to the open road with larger displays

Garmin International today announced the Garmin DriveSmart 66, 76, and 86 series – a fresh lineup of portable car GPS sat-navs designed to bring a new level of simplicity and freedom to drivers. The Garmin DriveSmart series revs onto the scene with crisp 6, 7 or 8-inch high-definition displays allowing drivers to clearly find the best route. What’s more, the 8-inch display model can be easily mounted in both landscape or portrait mode to show more of the road ahead. These versatile sat-navs can guide the way for family weekend adventures thanks to detailed maps of Europe, while making the weekday commute a breeze with noteworthy features like environmental zone routing, hands-free calling, and built-in Garmin voice assist to ask the device for directions.

“The new Garmin DriveSmart series accomplishes so much more than navigating to a destination thanks to new larger display options,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “Whether drivers choose the 6, 7 or 8-inch display, they can very clearly follow the recommended route while also seeing relevant information like environmental zones and traffic notifications along the way to truly simplify their driving experience.”

Drive confidently

Drivers will get peace of mind with the new environmental zone routing feature. After setting up the car’s environmental profile, drivers will receive warnings and guidance about environmental zones on their route. During hectic commutes or inspired road trips, the Garmin DriveSmart series excels with driver alerts to help encourage a safer driving experience and boost situational awareness. Drivers can receive warnings for upcoming speed changes, sharp curves along the route and other potential hazards to stay up-to-date on all upcoming road conditions.

Garmin DriveSmart™ 66, 76, and 86 series

Love the drive

The new Garmin DriveSmart series comes loaded with road trip-ready functionality to help bring driving freedom to every trip. Drivers can depend on TripadvisorÒ traveller ratings to recommend restaurants, hotels and attractions along the way. In addition, all Garmin DriveSmart sat-navs arrive preloaded with millions of popular points of interest from Foursquare.

The Garmin DriveSmart 66, 76, and 86 sat-navs boast a legacy of industry-leading features, including:

  • Access to real-time traffic, photoLive traffic cameras, weather and fuel prices when the sat-nav is paired with a driver’s compatible smartphone using the Garmin Drive app
  • Alexa Built-in3 enables asking for music, listening to audiobooks, hearing the latest news and more (on Alexa-version only, available in English and German languages)
  • Built-in Wi-FiÒ allows for easy map and software updates without the need for a computer
  • A USB-C vehicle power cable equipped with two USB ports (on Alexa versions only) to charge the compatible Garmin sat-nav and a second device

Available now, the new Garmin DriveSmart 66, 76 and 86 series has suggested retail prices ranging from £189.99 to £319.99.

Review – TomTom Go premium sat nav. It will get you there. #satnav #maps #tech

I love this kind of tech as I have personally worked on several instances of maps over the years and like to see how this technology is progressing over time and it is a fight and with sat nav and mapping companies now with who gets into your car too but we have our native mapping apps such as Google and Apple in our devices people often ask do we really need standalone options like this and personally I think we do.

Being feature rich is what people like to see by that I mean not only a map to get your from A to B there is other things to consider here like POIs, garages,roads, speed limits, EV charge points in which today is vital and much more and this has you covered for the most but it does also give turn by turn navigation which is great should you fear getting lost.. I found though turn by turn can work better on motorways or by using the unit itself typing in an address it sometimes did not come through for some reason when I sent the directions from my phone but worked fine apart from that.

 

On the screen you have your map and from here options galore in the settings and it is fully customizable too with a sidebar giving you snippets of info like points of interest,current time,distance and time of arrival and if any delays it will be highlighted in red under the current time it will also re route you with faster routes as you go and I found this feature working quite well and akin to Google Maps too as I have tested this side by side with Google maps on my smartphone, However sometimes you get different route options but this is common and who is to say who is right and who is wrong.

For instance I have been doing a project with google maps and it has in some cases sent me the opposite direction and roads have been missing also some roads that leave your straight to the door on your route are ignored as if not there for some odd reason and I have reported this to google as some are really quite odd indeed. On some instances you might find the speed limit different to what shows on the sat nav but you can edit this in the settings which is useful but here is where it keeps your speed in check which is great and helpful.

This is where I find TomTom oddly better than Google and it hurts to say it but its true but in fairness it can be said for all map apps but Google seem to have dropped their game with updates, I have not seen one of their cars around in along time yet see Apple and I have seen a TomTom Car go around recently too. I was offered a job with Apple maps recently and declined which I now regret as I wanted to more on how they approach this and see their way of thinking with the competition.  See how this company works HERE

I find here searching on the device is quite useless depending on what you want, If it is a business forget it its much better with an address but if you use the my drive app you will be fine though how the list is populated needs much work as it throws up random distances and names not organised like googles search is for example but over time that can be fixed I guess and the great thing is you can send direct to the unit from your phone which is great.

You can also use the unit with voice assistants although shady so I just type in via the app for my directions, You can also use the unit for calls which is cool you can choose between this ,your car your phone or its speaker and calls are loud as well as the directions coming from the speaker on the unit itself.

Overall it is quite good once you get the hang of it and have the app, sometime it is laggy on even touch response keying in information and when driving it can be behind but I take that as a signal problem but overall it will get you there and has a nice big screen which is fully interactive with much more on offer than some rivals when it comes to extras.  Finally is it worth the price? Personally I dont think any standalone sat nav is worth more than an entry level smartphone  because we have maps on our phones for free built in and a few to chose from but this offers more and you have lifetime updates free.

BUY HERE

 

First look at the TomTom Go Premium Sat Nav. #Navigation #Tech

With a wide option of sat nav equipment out there today we are not stuck for choice when it comes to getting around, Be it using our mobile phones which is popular or built in kits in our cars there is still a market for standalone products and again a huge variety to pick from. Tom Tom would be more familiar in the UK market more so than here and from having tested and worked on several mapping instances I look forward to seeing how this kit works out..

I have been a huge mapping fan for years and have been involved in several mapping projects over the years and a rather large one last year and will continue to keep at it as I have a keen interest in maps and the tech behind it and what is to come down the road. Today we check out the Tom Tom Go Premium and take a quick first look and tour and will have a full review soon.. As usual any questions feel free to hit us up.

Features include:

  • Wi-Fi® Updates for both World maps and software
  • Lifetime* Traffic and Speed Cameras via built-in SIM
  • Last Mile Navigation and Find My Car
  • IFTTT Integration – syncing agendas, connecting to smart home devices, interacting with virtual assistants and sending notifications
  • Trip Planning with TomTom MyDrive and Road Trips
  • Share ETA, Location and Notifications

BUY HERE