Garmin nuvi 1690 Review

Garmin'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.

Design

The 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. The 4.3 inch widescreen display is clear and bright and is good enough for viewing the various map displays.

New Features

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.

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 Features

Old 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.

Actual user review:
• I have been using the 1690 for about two weeks now and I am really impressed. The routing is solid and the nulink services are very useful. I find that I never use the built-in POI database, because the Google Local search is so much better. I also like the send to GPS feature that allows you to send an address from Google Maps down to your GPS wirelesly.

I have also found that the traffic information is far more accurate and real-time than my Garmin 755T. As an experiment, I had both running for two days while commuting from Northern Virginia into Washington, DC. The 1690 traffic was leaps and bounds better than what I was getting on my 755T.

I also purchased the new Ecoroute HD device which wirelessly feeds engine data from your car's OBD port into the GPS. It gives you an amazing amount of data on fuel consumption. It can also read diagnostic codes and reset warning lights. - M.Hoak (VA,USA)

Bottom Line

Connectivity 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

More user comments:

• On first look at the Nuvi 1690 I didn't feel the newer model had any significant benefits or reasons for me to upgrade. Over a period of two weeks I read product reviews such as this one and researched the competitors to Garmin. The Nuvi 1690's two features that had me doing specific research was it's ability to provide gas prices along major roadways and it's ability to provide weather and road conditions. (I guess that's three features). I found just enough online reviews that made me believe that if these features worked as advertised it would be worth it. I travel alot and I have had to guess when I needed fuel if I was getting the cheapest gas prices when I stopped for refueling. It was not unusual for me to fill up at one station, get back on the highway, and see gas prices 20 cents/gallon cheaper as I flew past the next station. So if the gas station prices displayed in the Nuvi were current and accurate it might help me save gas money. I purchased the 1690 in Florida and two days later left for my home in Michigan. At the time I left there were severe snow storms sweeping the Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and northern Alabama area so weather reports would be an important safety concern for me. The gas price alerts and weather information worked perfectly...when it worked. Near as I can tell it seemed when I was under thick cloud cover, I went long periods without access to the information. When the sun was shining or when I had a clear night I had access to current fuel prices, weather reports, and motel accommodations. In fact, on our first day on the road I had hoped to drive to Louisville, Kentucky but a big farm machinery convention had every hotel room within 35 miles booked. Using the "Lodging" feature on the GPS I called ahead to a Seymour, Indiana motel and reserved my room for the night. So I am impressed with those features on the 1690 and feel my money to upgrade was worth the price.

Other features I enjoy include the "junction view" which is extremely helpful when approaching a mega-intersection with multiple lane exits and entrances; the speed limit indicator which matches the changing speed limits with uncanny accuracy; the "Bluetooth" feature which allows me to have handsfree access to my cell phone; the ability to use my index finger to scroll the map to view what is coming up ahead; and the most important reason for buying a gps - the accuracy of it's map database.- Bhloscaidh (Michigan,USA)

• We purchased the nuvi 1690 just before a trip to Disney World and was very impressed at the Traffic warning system (although I didn't listen to it the first time and paid dearly!) and the NuLink system worked just as advertised. (This came into play when looking at gas prices ahead BEFORE exiting!) This will be a keeper! - P.L.Chastain (GA,USA)

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