Garmin nuvi 880 ups the ante

[CES 2008] Garmin really knows how to make you drool, announcing the nuvi 880 that occupies top spot where portable navigation devices are concerned. Some of the features include advance speech recognition, dynamic MSN Direct content, a 4.3″ color touchscreen display at 480 x 272 pixels, a music player, an audio book player, an alarm clock, and maps of the US, Canada and Puerto Rico among others. To get an idea of just how advanced its speech recognition is, you can just say “find nearest Starbucks” and it will automatically direct you to the nearest Starbucks joint for your caffeine fix. Some of the next-gen dynamic content available include :-

• Traffic conditions: receive up-to-date traffic incident and flow information for most metropolitan areas across North America, and let nuvi select a route that avoids traffic accidents, road closures, and construction.
• Fuel prices: receive gas price data from over 100,000 gas stations across the nation. Drivers will always know where to get the best prices
• Save time and fuel by using their unit to navigate directly to the station of their choice
• Weather reports: features current weather conditions (including high/low/current temperatures, chances of precipitation, humidity, pressure, wind, and weather alerts) as well as three day weather forecasts.
• Enhanced movie listings: search for movies by title or by theater and receive show times, ‘star’ ratings, genre, actors, and more — and get driving directions to the theater.
• Local events: receive special notices on festivals, concerts, and sporting events in your area, and navigate to them.
• News and stocks: the latest news headlines and financial market updates are always at your fingertips.
• Send to GPS capability: plan trips and look up destinations from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and then wirelessly send locations to your nuvi 780.

As with the Garmin nuvi 780, the nuvi 880 also comes with three months of free MSN Direct service with each purchase. Once that time period expires, you can re-subscribe for $49.95 annually, or pay a one-time charge of $129.95. The Bluetooth-enabled nuvi 880 also comes with a built-in FM transmitter, front-firing stereo speakers and a removable lithium-ion battery. The Garmin nuvi 880 will hit the streets in Q2 2008.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Transportation
Tags: GPS