Garmin 885T GPS Navigator
The Garmin 885T was recently revealed at the CES in Las Vegas this year. It combines the speech recognition introduced in the 800 series line with the 7x5 lane assist feature that has done well for the company. Available starting the first quarter of 2009, the 885T will retail for $799.99 and feature Bluetooth and three months of MSN Direct service.
Garmin nuvi 885T GPS Navigator
Product Overview
The combination of the lane assistance with speech recognition allows the driver to safely operate their vehicle while dealing with traffic and navigation. In fact, the speech recognition that Garmin has developed is critically acclaimed with respect to clarity and accuracy. Speech control is push activated from the steering wheel, and commands are issues in intuitive ways corresponding to button on the screen. Driver do not even have to look at the unit, everything can be performed by speech. Right now, speech recognition works with French, Spanish German, Italian, Dutch and both forms of English.
The Garmin 885T's lane assist feature gives the driver a clear picture of what is coming up on the road ahead. This includes road signs and lane arrows to ensure that the driver does not end up in the wrong lane. With the MSN Direct subscription, additional information such as traffic conditions, gas prices for the nearest stations and more is additionally shown. If the driver is in need of some direction, the command "Where am I," will direct the driver to their location in GPS coordinates, street information, the closest fire station, police station, hospital, gas station and any other structure that may be required at the time.
The MSN Direct content provides drivers with a multitude of information that assists travelers. Flight information is provided so that the driver will know if the flight has arrived before starting to circle the arrival gates. Doppler radar is provided so that the driver is kept aware of the impending weather and potential road conditions. The will also know if the weather will heat up or cool down. The traffic conditions that are provided give up to date information on traffic flows and provides detour assistance in order to avoid accidents or slow parts and make you way around them without losing time.
For the on the road traveler, the MSN direct service will inform them of the prices at each and every gas station so that it is guaranteed that the best price is found without having to shop around and spend more fuel. Movie goers will enjoy movie listings that show theaters, what's playing, movie times and directions on how to get there before your movie starts. Local event too are listed along with driving directions. Business people have a direct line to head lines and financial market information, ensuring that they are always on top of things.
The one MSN direct feature that I personally enjoy is the ability to do all of your planning on your computer, and then beams the information to your GPS unit, allowing you to not waste time programming routes or anything else when you set out to drive. With the GPS unit, the owner will enjoy three free months of service, after which a subscription costs $49.95 each year, or a one time ever charge of $129.95.
Three months of free MSN Direct service is included with the purchase of the Garmin 885T. Owners can subscribe for $49.95 a year, or a one-time charge of $129.95, some restrictions apply. For more information on MSN Direct services and coverage areas, visit http://garmin.msndirect.com.
If you have a mobile phone that is equipped with Bluetooth capability, then it can connect to the Garmin nuvi 885T and enable the drive to enjoy hands free calling and voice dialing. An integrated FM transmitter will allow voice directions, mp3s and ebooks to be read through a car's stereo system. The unit also features a USB 2.0 high speed connection, allowing audio and media to download in minutes to the device.
As you would expect with any nuvi 800 unit, the integrated speakers are forward firing and the unit itself features a removable lithium ion battery. Not like its cousins however, the unit features a brilliant 4.3" touch screen display along with preloaded US and Canada maps. It will even store information on the satellites with Garmin's HotFix technology, enabling the unit to find its satellites much more quickly than other units.
Overall, the Garmin nuvi 885T is a GPS that may be on the expensive side, but provides the owner with the features that more than make up for the price.
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