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Garmin nüvi 360 2.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

I used iGuidance 1.0 for the Pocket PC for over 4 years before I got the Garmin nüvi 360. I loved the iGuidance but the Garmin nüvi 360 blew me away!

Accuracy
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The nüvi is very accurate; it has yet to fail to bring me to my destination. However, I've encountered a few instances where an address or road wasn't in the nüvi database - and I have the most current (2009) maps. In such cases, your best bet would be to simply enter an adjacent or nearby location into the nüvi.

Directions
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The software lets you know how far ahead your next turn is when you're within between about .1 to .5 miles. It says something like "In .1 miles, turn left onto Broadway" and a few hundred feet before your turn, it omits the information on the distance before your turn and simply says "Turn left onto Broadway." I wish it used feet instead of miles when specifying distances .2 mile (1056 ft) or less but it's a minor complaint.

The software gives you the directions for two successive turns that are very close together (say, 300 feet apart) all at once to make sure you have ample time to respond to the second turn that immediately follows the first. For example, "Take exit 70, then keep left", or "Turn right, then immediately turn left."

However, it may occasionally notify you of a turn a little late, which results in you missing the turn. Thankfully, this doesn't happen very often. If you do miss a turn, however, the software recalculates a new route very quickly (within a couple of seconds)!

Auto-Off/Resume Function
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My Garmin is a permanent fixture in my car. I leave the car adapter permanently hooked up to the unit. What I really love about it is it automatically turns off when the external power supply is lost. What this translates to is whenever I turn off my car engine, the unit automatically shuts itself off. When I start my car, the unit automatically fires back up. It gets better - it remembers your set destination when it turns back on and resumes giving you directions to your destination. This feature is handy for when I need to fill up on gas midway to a destination. After I'm done filling up my tank, I start my car, at which point the GPS unit fires back up and immediately resumes giving me directions to my destination. Very cool! This makes the Garmin nüvi the perfect In-Car GPS solution!

Data Entry
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The keys for entering addresses into the nüvi are arranged alphabetically from A-Z, not in a QWERTY format. Personally, I find the tedium of having to hunt for letters in the A-Z format a real inconvenience and annoyance!

Lock It
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You can lock your nüvi with a 4-digit PIN. The package comes with 2 decals that state that your GPS unit is secured with a security code to deter would-be thieves from stealing the unit.

Text-To-Speech
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The text to speech still sounds like it comes from a synthesized voice but it's perfectly intelligible.


Multi-Point Routing
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Even though Multi-Point Routing is NOT an intended feature on the nüvi 360, it doesn't mean the nüvi isn't _capable_ of Multi-Point Routing. Here's how it's accomplished: Say, you want to go from point A to point D via point B and point C.

(i) You want to first set the destination to point D.

(ii) Then, once again, you set the destination a second time, this time to point C. You will receive the following prompt from the software asking "Insert as via point?", which essentially means: Do you want to overwrite the destination you've set in step (i), i.e. the point D destination or do you want to go to point D VIA point C. Answer YES.

(iii) Yet again, set the destination a third time to point B. Answer YES when prompted whether you want to "Insert as via point?"

There you have it, the nüvi is going to take you from point A to point D VIA points B and C. It's a clumsy roundabout way of getting the nüvi 360 to do Multi-Point Routing, but it can be done.


Nice Extras
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- SD card Slot
Since the unit can serve as an MP3 Player and a photo viewer, it has an SD card slot allows you to load mp3 and photos (JPEG) onto the unit.

- MP3 Player
The MP3 Player is very basic. It has shuffle and repeat track/playlist. The unit will only read mp3 files in the root directory of the SD card; it will not read mp3 files that are in a folder. It will, however, read playlist (pls) files, which can have their source from one or more folders / sub folders. There are other limitations to the mp3 player:
(i) you cannot delete tracks
(ii) you cannot arrange/edit your playlists

To edit/delete your tracks or playlists, you will need to do so in your computer, mobile device, or music device.

- Picture Viewer
You can load your photos via the SD card slot and view it on the screen.

- Bluetooth Phone Hookup
I'm, unfortunately, still using a cell phone that's doesn't have Bluetooth (it's one of those antiquated phones reminiscent of the cell phones from the 90's) so I'm unable to test this feature. But I'm able to tell you it's a feature that allows you to hook up your phone to the GPS unit via Bluetooth so you can use the GPS unit as a handsfree console. Now, that's pretty nifty.

Conclusion
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The Garmin nüvi 360 is a very affordable In-Car GPS Solution. Apart from the cumbersome interface (A-Z keys) for entering your destination, I really don't have very much else to complain about it. Highly recommended!

Garmin nüvi 360 2.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Feature

• High sensitivity integrated GPS receiver by for improved performance and reception
• WAAS enabled; flip-up antenna - includes MCX-type connector for optional external GPS antenna connection
• Bluetooth wireless Technology − enabling hands-free connectivity to mobile phones
• SD memory card expansion slot
• Text-to-speech – unit prompts you to “Turn right on Main St” instead of “Turn right in 500 feet”

Garmin nüvi 360 2.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Overview

The nüvi 360 will incorporate a handsfree Bluetooth wireless technology interface in addition to the features offered in the nüvi 350. The nüvi 360 is also compatible with Garmin’s new GTM 11 FM TMC traffic receiver, which allows users to avoid traffic tie-ups by simply pushing a button to calculate a new route. This new traffic receiver installs with ease by simply connecting to the unit’s mini-USB connector and mounting the GTM 11 using the hook-and-loop fastener or permanent adhesive tape. nüvi’s Bluetooth wireless technology capability with integrated microphone and speaker enables users to make hands-free mobile phone calls. Users simply tap nüvi’s screen to answer calls, then speak directly into the unit’s built in microphone. The easy-touse calling feature allows users to dial phone numbers through nüvi’s touchscreen keypad. In addition, customers may also look up and dial numbers from their personalized phone book or from the phone’s call history log. If a user needs a phone number for their destination, they can easily find and dial it from nüvi’s points of interest database, which includes hotels, restaurants, stores, and much more. The nüvi 360 comes preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT maps containing detailed road maps throughout the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. The map data is provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.

Garmin nüvi 360 2.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Specifications

Amazon.com Product Description The Garmin nüvi 360 GPS Navigator and Personal Travel Assistant isa GPS navigator, personal translator, multi-media entertainer and tourguide all wrapped into one. In addition to all the advanced features of the Garmin nüvi 350 -- including automatic routing, turn-by-turn voice directions, an MP3 player and audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, and much more -- this pocket-sized personal travel assistant comes with hands-free Bluetooth wireless technology, making it the hands-down go-anywhere travel companion.

Which nüvi is Best for You?: Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators

The nüvi 360 comes with hands-free bluetooth wireles technology. See side view.

Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.

The device sports a handy MP3 player, letting you play songs stored on SD memory cards.

Make Hands-Free Calls
The nüvi 360 integrates wireless technology with a microphone and speaker that lets you make hands-free mobile phone calls using your compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone. Simply dial numbers with the nüvi's touch screen keypad to place a call, and to answer calls, just tap the screen and speak directly into its built-in microphone.

In addition, you can 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 nüvi's database of more than six million points of interest -- including hotels, restaurants, stores, and attractions.

Navigation and Entertainment with Ease
For starters, the nüvi 360 includes a high-sensitivity integrated GPS receiver that offers exceptional performance and reception. The unit's flip-up antenna includes an MCX-type connector for optional external GPS antenna connection. Preloaded software features maps of Europe or North America, and 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 as easy as it gets.

But navigation is just the beginning. Like the nüvi 350, the nüvi 360 also includes many entertainment and travel tools including an MP3 player, audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, travel alarm, and currency converters.

The nüvi 360 features a bright, 2.8 x 2.1-inch TFT display with white backlight for easy readability. At 3.87 x 2.91 x 0.87-inches (WxHxD) and just 5.1 ounces, the unit is small enough to be placed on the dashboard with the included suction mount, or into your pocket for easy transportability. The unit also features Garmin Lock -- an advanced anti-theft feature that disables the unit from performing any functions until you type in a specific four-digit PIN or take the unit to a predetermined location. A built-in lithium ion battery will give you up to eight hours of power, and an included 12/24 volt adapter cable will let you run the navigator off your vehicle's power. An AC battery charger is also included.

A built-in Travel Kit that includes sample MP3s and audio books will get you started with entertainment, and with the unit's SD memory card expansion slot you can add optional software, such as language and travel guides. A USB port is also included for loading and updating data.

What's in the Box
Gamin nüvi 360, Preloaded City Navigator NT North America or Europe (full coverage), vehicle suction cup mount, AC charger, 12/24 volt adapter cable, dashboard disk, USB interface cable, carrying case, owner's manual, and quick reference guide.

Which nüvi is Best for You?

Screen Size inches (w x h)

Included Maps

POIs

Directions in Real Street Names

Traffic

Bluetooth

Media

FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)

Multi- Point Routing

Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico

AK and Canada

Europe

capable

included

nüvi 200

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 200w

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 250

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 250w

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 260

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 270

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 350

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 360

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 370

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 650

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 660

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 670

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 680

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 750

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 760

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 770

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

• Garmin nüvi Vehicle Power Cable
• Garmin nüvi 360 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Text-To-Speech
• Garmin Portable Friction Mount
• Sony BDP-S360 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

Customer Reviews

nuvi 360 is the ultimate - yaya_60611 - chicago
This is the first review I post for any product but I had to leave word. Nuvi 360 has it all: ease of use, thin, bluetooth, bright screen, accurate within a few feet. Optional traffic receiver sounds good but does not offer analysis of detour. Overall, I am extremely pleased and haven't left home without it.



Great tool for travel - Thomas P. Mackin - Milford, CT.
VCery happy with this purchase! I bought the 360 over the 350 for the Bluetooth. So far it is a great unit: very accurate and fast. At Pricegrabber.com I found the best prices delivered. I would recommend this unit to anyone who travels. It is very easy to operate and attaches easily to the windshield or dash with a sturdy suction mount. It can also be set to play MP3 files and audio books.



nuvi360 - Bill Farthing - stockbridge, ga usa
It is a valuable tool and has already saved me time. It comes in handy when you are in a new area or need an alternate route idea.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Oct 08, 2010 23:25:23

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