Garmin Releases New Nuvi 1690

Garmin has just announced the new Garmin nuvi 1690, a portable navigation device (PND) with a built-in wireless module that lets customers tap into Garmin’s nüLink! service that provides direct links to certain online information like Google™ local search, traffic, weather, fuel prices, movie listings, flight status, local events, white page telephone listings and Ciao!™, Garmin’s exclusive location-based social networking system that connects multiple networks into a single portal for Garmin users. The U.S. version of the nüvi 1690 comes with two years of free Garmin nüLink! service, which makes it the first PND to offer an extended period of online features included in the purchase price of the device.

Garmin nuvi 690

According to the press release, the nüvi 1690 with nüLink! has the most comprehensive set of POI search capabilities offered by any PND thanks to the implementation of Google local search and white page telephone listings. Google’s local search brings online points of interest (POIs) to customers’ fingertips and lets them search for destinations by name or key words just like they are accustomed to doing on their personal computer. In addition, Garmin has created a “quick search” feature that lets users search via categories like food, lodging and fuel, rather than typing a word or phrase into the search box. Detailed search results are displayed for many POIs including a location description, business address, phone number and popularity rating. Customers can also use the nüLink! white page telephone listing feature to search for a person’s street address by their first name, last name or phone number.

Product Features

• Widescreen ultra-slim GPS design with 4.3-inch WQVGA
  touchscreen display
• Enjoy access to Garmin’s nüLink services like weather
  forecasts, flight status, white pages, and more
• Pre-loaded with City Navigator NT Maps for North
  America, including more than 6 million name-searchable
  points of interest
• Bluetooth wireless technology enables hands-free
  calling with a compatible phone
• Pedestrian navigation capability enabled through
  optional CityXplorer maps
• ecoRoute suggests fuel-efficient routes to save drivers
  money and fuel
• Turn-by-turn directions with spoken street names
  (text-to-speech)

A Few Weeks With My Oppo BDP-83

After having used the OPPO BDP-83 for a couple of weeks I can say that it really lived up to its reputation and hype. It worked flawlessly. Did not do any firmware updates yet. Will do that in due course. At the moment I am just enjoying this player too much.

Picture quality is amazing. The Anchor Bay video chip is definitely one the the best out there. It is even used in the 9 times more expensive Denon flagship player I believe.

My Home Theater with Oppo BDP-83

I am running the Oppo into the Denon AVP-A1HD. It is placed just below the turntable on the right. I normally watch blu-rays on the JVC HD100 with the image projected on a motorized Stewart Blackhawk screen and the picture is just awesome! Blu-ray images were crisp, colors natural. Sound through my 7.1 system just blooms. Enjoying every minute of it.

Here’s a Oppo BDP-83 review that delves more into the details and performance of this amazing player. At this price there is no equal.

It’s About Time to Get a Blu-ray Player

Exactly a year ago, the chairman of Blu-ray disc association (BDA), the organization that coordinates the development of Blu-ray format, said he would not expect affordable BD players to emerge shortly since the market for them still had to be created. Yet he did also say that BD players will become more affordable eventually, but only after the volumes will increase and Consumer Electronics makers will be able to afford a substantial price-drop on the devices which are pretty expensive to make.

Considering the fact that in the past year, high-definition televisions have been the center of attention in households all over the world and that the list of blu-ray discs featuring blockblusters has been growing at an exceptional rate, Blu-ray players have been garnering more attention from consumers. Also, we must not cease to mention that blu-ray discs featuring movies have gotten cheaper over the past year, allowing the market for Blu-ray to grow further.

With all the above factors to consider, you would think it’s almost the perfect time to get a blu-ray player for your home, without appearing outdated or having to pay through your nose for new technology.

But with the large variety of players available in the market, all of which look similar but probably differ slightly in terms of functions and performance, potential blu-ray buyers like you tend to get extremely confused and put off.

For now, just sit back and let your fingers do the work by checking out great bluray player reviews to help aid in your decision making.

The New Nikon D5000 Causes Some Confusion

Nikon launched its new entry level DSLR, called the Nikon D5000 recently. Nikon’s recent strategy of inexpensive, simplified models caused a lot of confusion. The D40, D40X and D60 removed the autofocus motor, making them smaller and less expensive but limiting the choice of lenses that could be autofocused. Despite this oft-criticized move, the cameras sold very well, prompting the major third-party lens makers to create versions of their popular budget lenses that would focus on these baby Nikons. However, it appears Nikon has again decided that simply replacing models isn’t the best way to address the market.

Nikon D5000

Like the baby Nikons, the D5000 doesn’t have an autofocus motor built into the body but does gain a tilt-and-swivel LCD. The D5000 offers the technical image quality of Nikon’s best DX cameras like the D300 and D90. The D5000, like the D40, D40x and D60, lacks most of the D90′s extra control buttons that make the Nikon D90 such a masterpiece.

Media Server Audio Playback

I have just started incorporating a media server playback into my sound system. Currently I’m using a Logitech Sqeezebox Duet to stream music to my system. The Duet is connected to my router via ethernet and all my music is stored on a 1TB external hard drive connected to my iMac and streamed wirelessly to the Squeezebox Duet. Sounds complicated, but it works. Music is glorious. CD playback for me is history. The convenience is just addictive. And the sound just trumps the CD playback.

Logitech Squeezebox Duet

Problem is I am getting buffering issues on some days when the wireless network is not at its peak throughput. Music stops half way and continues. Irritating  especially when in the middle of a movement of a classical work.

Need a better solution than that. Now looking at an NAS to house the files. Apple’s Time Capsule and Ready NAS are possible solutions.

Nikon’s New 70-200 Zoom Lens

Nikon just announced the new Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VRII lens. I already own the first version and most keen to see hoe this new version performs against the already excellent 70-200 zoom.

With the release of this lens, Nikon has structured an incomparable NIKKOR zoom lens system that also includes the current AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED and AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED for complete coverage of focal lengths from 14mm to 200mm with support for a maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire range.

Magellan Maestro 4370 Might Just Be a Winner For Magellan

Magellan has finally decided that it is time to revamp its dated line up of GPS units and deliver something that will have the edge and increase its market share. The company has come up with its latest auto GPS, the Magellan Maestro 4370. The device is a step-up model based on the Magellan Maestro 4250, and is designed to provide you with hassle-free navigation through your preferred locations. It has been fitted with a new and more practical interface that showcases an advanced feature called OneTouch. This is designed to facilitate quick and easy access to different destinations. I love the fact that it saves precious time while navigating through frequently visited locations.

The design of the device has really managed to attract a lot of eye-balls and would make a real feature enhancement to any car interior. The 4.3-inch touch screen is nice and bright. A backlighting option is there as well, but there is no option to tailor colours of maps and have to make do with the day, night, and standard or automatic modes.

Convenience and flexibility seems to be the main focus of the unit as it has a host of many navigating features as well apart from the new OneTouch interface. The GPS feature is loaded with an amazing 6 million points of interest covering many prominent places of the world. The trip planning process is not tinkered much and is similar to most other PNDs and follows a simple procedure. I like it that once I have saved a location I can get back to it at anytime via the OneTouch menu. Good stuff!

Much Anticipated Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player Now Shipping

At long last the much anticipated OPPO BDP-83 blu-ray player is now shipping after 2 long Early Adoption programs where user feedbacks were gathered. 

Finally received my player 2 weeks ago. After putting this player through its paces with all possible video and audio formats including SACDs and DVD-Audio, to say I am delighted with its performance is an understatement. Here’s a view of the player sitting in my rack:

 

It is a unversal player in every sense of the word. It supports all known video and audio formats at this point in time. Here is the full list of formats and codecs supported:

BD-Video, DVD-Video, AVCHD, DVD-Audio, SACD, CD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD, CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD±R DL, BD-R/RE

Video playback on blu-ray is slightly better than the Sony PS3 I was using a Sony PS3 before this. But the most astounding improvement came with the audio. Outputing the full uncompressed bitstream audio to the Denon 4308 receiver and having the Denon decode the pure digital stream is an audio feast to behold. DTS HDMA discs like the excellent ‘Taken’ blu-ray was mouth watering.

Using it for SACD and DVD-A audio playback I am able to pass along the full uncompressed digital stream through it HDMI outputs to the receiver. The sound is indeed gorgeous, especially well recorded multi channel SACD. With high resolution 5.1 channel blu-ray audio discs produced by Norwegian 2L I was able to come real close to audio nirvana.

Garmin Announced New Large 5-inch nuvi 1490T

Garmin recently announced the large 5-inch nuvi 1490T, describing it as a “premium automotive GPS device”. Although large diagonally it is only 0.6″ thick making it 25% slimmer than previous nuvi models.

Garmin nuvi 1490T

Exclusive to the 1490T is a rather cool feature that lets you easily scroll between screens just by sliding your finger, like the ipod Touch. With lane info and the ability to save 10 routes, there’s also safety camera info and an integrated traffic receiver for NAVTEQ traffic info that’s subscription free. 

The nuvi 1490T is Bluetooth-equipped for handsfree phone hook-up with the unit offering phone book functionality. Just pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free through the 1490T while staying focused on the road.

Other features include ecoRoute for “fuel-efficient” navigation, and support for not included CityXplorer maps for certain destinations.

The suggested list price for the Garmin 1490T in the US is $499.99 where it will go on sale end Jun 2009. The device will launch in the UK at around £300.

Here’s a short Garmin nuvi 1490T review.

New GPS units from Garmin

Garmin recently introduced a new line of nuvi GPS navigators. They are now the most popular GPS devices with frequent road trippers and their nuvis outsells GPS from other brands.

Garmin nuvi 1260T

They introduced a total of 8 new nuvis:

Garmin nuvi 1200, Garmin nuvi 1250, Garmin nuvi 1260T, Garmin nuvi 1300, Garmin nuvi 1350, Garmin nuvi 1370T, Garmin nuvi 1390T, Garmin nuvi 1490T.

 The Garmin nuvi 1200 series are 3.5″ models  and the nuvi 1300 series comes with 4.3″ widescreen. Garmin says these new models are 25% slimmer than previous models and are designed for walking as much as driving. They are designed to fit in a purse or pocket.

The new nuvi 1200 GPS navigators are reported to start at $200 and include top-of-the-line features features like text-to-speech, free lifetime traffic and lane assist. All the 1200 and 1300 models also feature a new “Enhanced Pedestrian Mode”, and something called “Public Transit Mode”.

The list price of the nuvi 1300 navigators starts at $250. All 8 new models are expected to be available in the June 2009.

Here are some reviews I found on the new nuvis: Garmin nuvi 1260T,  Garmin nuvi 1370T and Garmin nuvi 1390T.