Garmin Announces the GPSMAP 600 Series

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Garmin announces the GPSMAP 640 – an ultra portable and rugged touchscreen navigator that comes preloaded with a comprehensive set of street maps and marine charts. Garmin also introduces the GPSMAP 620, which shares the same intuitive interface and is designed for markets outside the United States.

The GPSMAP 600 series features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver and boasts an intuitive, waterproof (IPX7) super-bright 5.2" WVGA touchscreen display (800 x 480 pixels) that reacts as users tap or drag through intuitive menus and options. The GPSMAP 640 comes preloaded with comprehensive street maps of North America and worldwide shaded relief mapping in addition to detailed U.S. coastal BlueChart g2 charts. When placed in its included marine mount, these new portables will automatically start up in marine mode, presenting chart features such as shaded depth contours, port plans, wrecks, restricted areas and more.

With optional BlueChart g2 Vision technology, the GPSMAP 640 provides a true 3-D "mariner's eye view", for a navigation perspective above the waterline, and a "fish eye view" for an underwater 3D bathymetric contour perspective. Mariners will also benefit from the auto guidance technology the g2 Vision data card enables that suggests the best navigational route. In addition, photo references give detailed aerial views of points of interest (POI) such as ports, marinas, waterways and landmarks.

When boaters are ready to pack up and hit the road, the GPSMAP 640 effortlessly snaps off its marine mount and, when placed in the automotive mount, quickly transitions into a robust automotive navigator. On the road, this device gives voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, advising you to "Turn right on Main Street." In planning a route, users can search for a local bait shop or the best resorts around town and the GPSMAP will lead the way. With the GPSMAP 640, users can also create custom POIs and set up proximity alerts for the ultimate in driver awareness.

Additionally, with the GXM 40 antenna (sold separately), the GPSMAP 640 can graphically display XM WX Satellite Weather data directly on the unit's display. More than 20 different types of weather attributes – information such as NEXRAD, wind speeds, visibility, severe weather storm tracks and more – deliver location-specific data, in chart-overlay form, directly to the device. With the GXM 40, motorists and mariners also have the option of receiving nearly 200 channels of commercial-free music, news, sports talk and entertainment with XM Satellite Radio. To steer clear of traffic backups, XM NavTraffic is also available to motorists with the GXM 40 antenna.

For international boaters, Garmin is also offering the GPSMAP 620 which provides a worldwide basemap with shaded relief. The GPSMAP 620 supports optional street map and marine chart data through an SD card slot.

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