Garmin slips info on nuvi 1690, 1820, 1860
updated 12:55 pm EDT, Tue August 18, 2009
New Garmin GPS units
Garmin has let slip more details on three upcoming nuvi GPS units, beginning with the 1690. The model is described as having a 4.3-inch WVGA display, along with North America maps, text-to-speech conversion, and Bluetooth support for hands-free phone calls. The centerpiece is an EDGE data connection, which can retrieve data relating to traffic, flights, weather, fuel costs, movie times and local Google searches.
The unit is expected to launch towards the end of the third quarter for $500, a cost which includes two years of data service.
The nuvi 1820 is noted to share features in common with the 1690, but also include things like a 4.8-inch screen, and a Linux-based operating system. It is also equipped with traffic and Wi-Fi receivers, the latter of which can be used for web browsing, or streaming Internet radio and video. In the absence of Internet access, media files can be played locally.
The 1860 is a minor variation on the 1820, equipped with a three-megapixel camera and geotagging software. Prices of the 1800-series units are unknown, but are expected to be significantly higher than for the 1690.
