Garmin announced today the release of the nuvi 3500 series - Garmin's newest flagship GPS.
The nuvi 3500 will feature the same ultra-thin form factor of the previous nuvi 3400-series, but will sport a larger 5-inch display, and will include more or less every feature Garmin has to offer:
All nuvi 3500 models will have:
- 5-inch display
- Guidance 3.0 navigation engine (which provides a faster, more intuitive user interface to enhance the speed and accuracy of searches and routing)
- Lane Assist with photoReal junction view realistically displays road signs and junctions along the route with photographic detail to clearly mark the correct lane to be in for interchanges and exits (Garmin claims the nuvi 3500 will have 25-times more photo realistic junction views in the US & Canada)
- the ability for the nüvi to automatically remember frequent favorite route destinations and predict the destination without the user needing to activate a route
The nuvi 3590LMT ($399.99) will include free lifetime map updates, Bluetooth, digital 3D traffic, voice activated navigation, as well as compatibility with Garmin's new Smartphone Link - an Android App that provides live services to the PND.
The nuvi 3550LM ($369.99) lacks the Bluetooth and traffic features.
Both units are expected to be available in February 2012.
Good to see you active. Your articles have been missed.
Yeah, glad to see you back!
I'm still within my 30 day window at Best Buy for my 3490. I'm going to CES this week and will have a look at this. I find the 4.3" screen too small for my eyes so this may do it.
If you just purchased a 3490 I'd probably go ahead and return it. You'll be able to pick up the new 3500 units on Amazon within the next 5-6 weeks. The larger screen is nice, and Guidance 3.0 is a nice upgrade too.
Fletch: I agree 5 inch screen is nice if you don't mind having twice as heavy as well as 50% thicker.
Also as you know 3490 comes with Guidance 3.0 as well.
(Garmin nulink service is good if you have a smart phone, 3490 comes with it for free for only 3 months)
Great to have you back...By the way, who won the free Iphone app?
Saw the 5" model first hand at CES. I've decided to stay with the 3490LMT. The 5" model was in fact 50% thicker but the screen looked a bit washed out and the resolution not as sharp as compared to the smaller 3490LMT. Probably this is because the specs are the same on the 5" model as the 4.3" model so in order to compensate for the difference in size, they should have up'd the resolution a bit to make them look the same. I put my unit side by side to the 5" and it really wasn't that much of difference for me so I'm going to stick with what I have. The guy at the booth told me to update to the latest firmware and that will give me all the fixes as well as the new features that the 5" model has which really doesn't apply to me since I don't have an Android phone.
Saw the 5" model first hand at CES. I've decided to stay with the 3490LMT. The 5" model was in fact 50% thicker but the screen looked a bit washed out and the resolution not as sharp as compared to the smaller 3490LMT. Probably this is because the specs are the same on the 5" model as the 4.3" model so in order to compensate for the difference in size, they should have up'd the resolution a bit to make them look the same. I put my unit side by side to the 5" and it really wasn't that much of difference for me so I'm going to stick with what I have. The guy at the booth told me to update to the latest firmware and that will give me all the fixes as well as the new features that the 5" model has which really doesn't apply to me since I don't have an Android phone.
Saw the 5" model first hand at CES. I've decided to stay with the 3490LMT. The 5" model was in fact 50% thicker but the screen looked a bit washed out and the resolution not as sharp as compared to the smaller 3490LMT. Probably this is because the specs are the same on the 5" model as the 4.3" model so in order to compensate for the difference in size, they should have up'd the resolution a bit to make them look the same. I put my unit side by side to the 5" and it really wasn't that much of difference for me so I'm going to stick with what I have. The guy at the booth told me to update to the latest firmware and that will give me all the fixes as well as the new features that the 5" model has which really doesn't apply to me since I don't have an Android phone.
Sorry guys. Not sure how that got posted three times.
That is a great news; it also means that the 3490 will have a major price reduction...can't wait for 3490LMT price to drop.
There are only two difference between the two I see are:
1. five inch screen, 2. Garmin nulink service
Sounds good. But does it still not allow route avoidance like all other Garmin's?
Was just looking at Garmin's web site. It states that route avoidance is included! The specs on this thing are incredible. It is going to be a beast. If only there was some place on the internet where someone could get one and perform a comprehensive test of it....
Looking forward to a review Fletch!