Laverne

If you are in the market for a Global Positioning System (GPS) and are interested in consolidating some of your electronics tools (my girlfriend says electronic "toys") you might want to look into the Garmin nuvi.

In this Garmin nuvi review I will attempt to point out a number of very interesting and useful features in the Garmin nuvi that might interest you.

The Garmin nuvi is not just a GPS by any means. It includes the following features not found in "just any old" GPS.

Navigation

Obviously, navigational assistance is one of the basic features that anyone will be looking for in a GPS. The Garmin nuvi 360 comes with preloaded maps of Europe or North America. In addition, it includes automatic routing, 2D or 3D map perspective, turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names, and a fingertip touch screen interface, making navigation easy.

But that's not all. It also supports configurable vehicle icons - fun, customized car-shaped icons in a variety of colors that show your position on the map.

Hands-free calls with Bluetooth wireless technology

The nuvi 360 along with its counterpart the nuvi 310 integrate wireless technology with a microphone and speaker that lets you make hands-free mobile phone calls. Simply dial numbers with the nuvi's touch screen keypad to make a call on a compatible Bluetooth phone. To answer calls, just tap nuvi's screen and speak directly into its built in microphone.

In addition, easily look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone's call history log. Don't know the phone number for your destination? Simply find and dial it from nuvi's extensive points of interest database - including hotels, restaurants, stores, and attractions.

Enjoy Travel Kit full of entertainment and useful tools

Navigation is just the beginning. Nvi includes many "must have" entertainment and travel tools including MP3 player, audio book player with optional content from Audible.com, JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converters and more. In addition, optional software packages such as the Language Guide and Travel Guides can be added for language and content support.

Customize with Optional Software Optional software available on plug-in SD cards, lets you instantly add new features to your nvi without connecting to your computer.

* Language Guide - contains five bilingual dictionaries and a multilingual word bank and phrase bank that support nine languages and dialects. Even get a spoken pronunciation of each word or phrase

* Travel Guide - gives you helpful and thorough reviews and recommendations for restaurants, hotels, shopping, nightlife, sporting events and tourist attractions. Travel Guide for the United States and Europe are currently available for purchase.

* Savers Guide - a "geo-coded" coupon book of local businesses that notifies you of nearby discounts on restaurants, hotels, shopping, and more at thousands of participating Entertainment businesses throughout North America.

John Mann has been an aficianado of "really cool gadgets" for over thirty years. "Champagne living on a beer budget" is his mantra. Checkout his new website http://www.TheRefinedGentleman.com.

Interested in learning more about Garmin's Nuvi 360? Read his Garmin nuvi review at his site and signup for his Newsletter to keep abreast of all sorts of interesting topics that Refined Gentlemen (and Sophisticated Ladies) want to know about.

Garmin nuvi review