Garmin nuvi 1690 ReviewGarmin's existing lineup of GPS devices for vehicles is very impressive with the entry-level devices sporting an easy interface for first timers to get into while higher-end devices have advanced navigation features that work quickly and accurately. With a good selection of entry-level devices available, Garmin decides to add to the selection of the feature rich devices with the new Garmin nuvi 1690 which has plenty of new connectivity features along with the same clean interface and familiar features to frequent Garmin users.
DesignThe design of the Garmin nuvi 1690 looks a bit different in the way the frame was designed with the chassis more curvaceous, but bears a similar glossy appearance to the nuvi 1390T. It does not have the 5- inch display that the nuvi 1490T proudly has, but the 4.3 inch display should be good enough for most drivers to see their surroundings in the different map views. The size of the microSD slot has been reduced as well. New Features
Services include a powerful local search that is powered by Google that lets you key in any search phrase location and then utilizing Google's search features to locate any relevant results that are within the area. The search is smart with accurate results to Google-like queries. Choosing the result automatically calculates the route and switches to the map view where directions are presented in the usual Garmin nuvi fashion. It also includes a real-time traffic
feature that is far more reliable than the previous traffic
services as it includes route optimization to calculate the
quickest available route so the destination is reached in the
shortest time despite the traffic interferences. Other special
connectivity services include the Gas Prices
service that shows an updated list of the best gas
prices in the area. Choosing that price will select that
particular station and then calculating a route to that
station. There are even some handy additions that are normally not found in GPS devices like the social network integration with the Ciao! Service that helps tracks the location of others. Other nice services include updated weather reports, movie times, flight updates, local events, and white pages search. As long as you are in the US, you can take advantage of all these features. Other FeaturesOld Garmin nuvi models boasted millions of points of interest, but now this model claims that there are virtually unlimited points of interest with the preloaded maps more updated than ever. All of the navigation features present in the previous top models are found in the Garmin nuvi 1690 including the easy interface consisting of just two simple options with the first letting you decide where you wish to head to and the other that leads to the map in 2-D or 3-D view. After the route is planned with ease through the touch-screen interface, the rest of the technologies take place. When on highways, the Lane Assist feature helps keep track of the planned route by displaying visual cues on which lane to be in before that upcoming turn. In addition, all the important road signs that are found on the highway are brought to detail as they come into view to help decide the lane. Multiple routes may be planned using the multi-point routing feature when several errands need to be done in an organized sequence. With the aid of HotFix Satellite Prediction, location tracking is much faster when on long routes as it saves the satellite location and predicts the next location of up to 3 days in case the device is turned off. The ecoRoute also makes an appearance that helps save fuel by choosing the most fuel-efficient route. Bottom LineConnectivity features are what define the Garmin nuvi 1690 and the Bluetooth connectivity couples with it nicely adding hands-free mobile phone interaction as well. Although a subscription for the Garmin nüLink! services are required, navigation is a whole lot easier overall giving users easy access to up-to-the-minute data for safety and convenience. Product Features
Technical Details
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The nuvi 1690 basically
takes the same features of the previous top models and
coat it with greater connectivity features to make
navigation more convenient. On the hardware side,
the nuvi 1690 is souped-up with a special wireless
functionality called the Garmin nüLink!
that grabs certain online content that is up-to-date in
real time. The nuvi 1690 will be the first device
that will take full advantage of these services.
