Garmin | Ask Garmin

Jake's Journal: Click here to learn about your new Garmin

Garmin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:05:21 -0600

I often talk about my favorite parts of this job - there are many - but I was reminded these past couple weeks of one of the absolute best aspects of the holidays: Hearing so many of you talk about your excitement over new Garmin gifts on Twitter and Facebook. First of all, we can't express our appreciation enough that you put us on your wish list to begin with, but then to hear you thanking loved ones and going all OMG and FTW and such - I even saw at least one "Best present ever!" - is simply amazing. And the second post is often something like: "How do I use it?" Fortunately, we pride ourselves on the ease of use of our products. But when questions do arise, we want to help. One of the easiest ways we've found is through the tutorial videos at our learning center. So if you're sporting a new Forerunner or exploring your outdoor handheld, visit our learning center and click on the product of your choice. Videos can teach you about topics ranging from initial setup to uploading data, virtual partners to paperless geocaching. And we just gave YouTube.com/Garmin a facelift, so snoop around there as well for tips, tricks and some that are just fun. Here are a couple of our playlists - for Forerunner 610 and GPSMAP 62st - to get you started (click the left-most icon in the lower right corner to see more of the playlist.) Enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Peg’s Posts: Foot podology

Garmin — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:20:44 -0600

Recently, I’ve had several coworkers and running friends ask me questions about our foot pod, so I thought it was time for a quick overview of the pod’s purpose. First and foremost, you ought to know what this tiny tool is — an accelerometer. And what it’s not — a pedometer. The primary purpose of the foot pod is to gather precise speed and distance data when used with a non-GPS fitness watch like the FR60 or when used indoors with a compatible Garmin sport watch like Forerunner 210, 410 and others. In the second case, the built-in GPS on Forerunner is giving you speed and distance data when used outdoors, anywhere in the world. But since your watch can’t receive GPS signals indoors, the foot pod gives you the option of capturing your data from indoor treadmill or track runs.

The secondary purpose of the foot pod is to track your running cadence, or foot strikes per minute. Certain compatible Forerunners like the 310XT, 405 series and 410, can even display cadence on the watch if you customize the data fields to show that data. Other watches, like the 210, will simply collect the cadence data and show it when you upload to Garmin Connect. Some runners use cadence training to help optimize their speed or stride length. Beginning runners sometimes fall prey to overstriding, which can lead to injury. To avoid this and to sharpen foot turnover for speed, some sources recommend runners aim for a “sweet spot” of 180 steps per minute. So, if you’re using the foot pod for cadence training, you could aim for a cadence around 90 since it’s counting the number of steps taken by one foot.

How it works: It’s a little bit of magic (ANT+ wireless technology) and a lot of high-tech wizardry. I’ve seen the charts and heard a high-level explanation direct from the developers and I’m not fit to even recap it beyond this: the foot pod is 98 percent accurate out of the box for most users. And its accuracy comes from the fact that it’s tracking the entire movement of your foot stride — not just forward motion.

Where it goes: This tiny tool can snap onto your shoelaces or fits in the sole of certain running shoes. Make sure the arrow on the foot pod bracket points outward, to your toes. This is to ensure the best accuracy. When I ran the Rock’n’Roll Arizona half back in January, I did a little on-the-spot tech support in the porta-jill line. I noticed a woman had her foot pod positioned the opposite way, so we got her pod pointed in the right direction and she was grateful for the tip.

To learn more about the foot pod, watch this video showing how it works with the FR60. And stay tuned for a more in-depth rundown in an upcoming fit tech blog post.

Ask Garmin: help for holiday shoppers

Garmin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:00:00 -0600

Today’s Ask Garmin question comes from Sharon, who wrote: “What does the L, M and T mean on all your nüvi devices? I need a quick and easy explanation so I know when I am looking in the store." We’re happy to divulge the code that denotes some of the “extras” that come with your nüvi purchase. The “LT” stands for lifetime traffic, which means that nüvi provides subscription-free traffic alerts for the life of the unit. This option is standard on most of our units and it’s a great sanity-saver for commuters or anyone who doesn’t care to sit idle in traffic jams. “LM” stands for lifetime maps, which means if your nüvi comes with this, you can download the latest maps for your unit up to four times a year, with no monthly fees. And, for those who want a truly an all-in-one product offering, devices with “LMT”, such as nüvi 3790LMT, come with lifetime maps and traffic.

Happy shopping. Be sure to check out the Garmin gift guide for more holiday ideas plus details on our Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials.

Garmin Connect: Inside the latest update

Garmin — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:32:06 -0600

In the latest update at Garmin Connect, we introduced several improvements to our free online community that is home to more than a million users and their activities. Here are just some of the highlights from this week's update (for best results, we suggest clearing your cache):
1. Ability to manually delete entries in the Health Tab
2. Improvements to the Calendar Page
3. Streamlined RSS feeds
4. Improved use of 'embedded' activities without location data
5. Enhanced map availability and Player function availability
6. Transitioned to Bing maps

Garmin has a rich history of collaborating with many industry leaders, and using Bing maps with Garmin Connect provided an opportunity to build upon our existing relationship with Microsoft. Garmin Connect users will continue to enjoy all of the familiar mapping features and functions that bring more than 40 million saved activities to life, and working with Bing will lead to more exciting developments in the future.

Ask Garmin: Sync your Garminfone and iTunes

Garmin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:49:41 -0500

Want to port your iTunes library into your Garminfone so that you can listen to your favorite tunes on the go? Whether you're using a Windows-based computer or Mac, it's possible. And even better than that, it's quick and easy to do. The "iTunes Agent" for Windows users and "iTuneMyWalkman" for Mac users is all you'll need. Here's the step-by-step process for Windows-based computers.

1. Download and install iTunes Agent (or iTuneMyWalkman if on a Mac). You'll now see it in the system tray.
2. Plug the Garminfone into your computer's USB port and select transfer files
3. Create a folder in the Garminfone called Music

Next, you'll need to configure iTunes. Learn how to do that here so that you can successful transfer your files to your Garminfone.

Garmin.com is your one-stop shop for browsing, learning, buying

Garmin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:37:29 -0500

Finding the perfect Garmin product has never been easier at Garmin.com. Now you can sort and compare your various options in one spot, and then learn about many of them at our online learning center. And you can even buy certain Garmin devices directly from Garmin.com - just look for the "Add to Cart" button on the specific product page. And of course, you can purchase accessories, maps and other downloadable content through Garmin.com.

To get started with your search, choose the type of activities in which you'll be using your Garmin - On the Trail, Into Sports, On the Water, etc. - and then start narrowing down your options from there. Once you're on a page that lists various products, you can even select a couple that catch your eye and compare the specific features and characteristics. As you scroll down through the specs, certain features will jump out through differences in shading if they differ from one product to the other.

A few helpful links on the product pages will help you learn even more about all of these features. Many products are showcased in online demos, interactive minisites or Training Videos, and you'll find these links on the right side of the product pages. The Training Videos link will take you to our online Learning Center, where we bring the devices to life through brief and informative tutorials. Watch the videos that best relate to how you'll be using your Garmin, and it's as if you're getting help from one of our product experts in person! Finally, when you've done your research and landed on the ideal product for your favorite activities, go back to the product page and click on either "Add to Cart" or "Find a Store," which shows you a list of area retailers most likely to have it in stock. Happy shopping, sorting and learning!

Ask Garmin: Will the Garminfone sync with Outlook?

Garmin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:00:00 -0500

Today's Ask Garmin question comes from Judy. "I cannot find the answer to my question anywhere. Maybe, you can help. I want to pick up a Garminfone, but cannot find out if it will sync with Outlook. This is a deal breaker for me."

Thanks for the great question, Judy. The really short answer to your question is yes. The Garminfone has on-device sync with Microsoft Exchange for Outlook email. If you're using a personal, non-enterprise version of Outlook, you can sync your email by first downloading the free sync software from the GarminAsus.com website. If you're on your company's enterprise server, you will need to contact your network administrator to obtain the necessary information about your network prior to being able to sync your Outlook email, contacts and calendar.

Garmin Connect: Changing privacy settings

Garmin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:22:19 -0500

Garmin Connect gives you options when it comes to activities you upload and whether they’re open for public viewing or your eyes only.

Currently, when you create your Garmin Connect account, the default setting for activity uploads is public. That means you’re able to share links to your activities with anyone (even if they’re not a Garmin Connect subscriber) and your activities show up in searches when someone uses the Garmin Connect Explore feature to search by keyword.

If you don’t want your Garmin Connect activities viewed publicly, here's how to change your default privacy setting to “private”:
1. Click the Settings link located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen (next to Help and Sign Out).
2. Select Default Privacy
3. Select Private.
This change will only affect future activity uploads. Once an activity is marked as private, you won’t be able to share it with others unless you change it back to public on that activity.

To change past activities to private:
1. Choose the Activities tab at the top of the page.
2. Locate the activity or activities you would like to change.
3. Choose Quick Edit at the top of the page
4. Click on the open padlock next to the activities you would like to be private.
5. When the padlock is closed, your activity is now private.
6. Once complete, choose Finish at the top of the page.

Ask Garmin: Which GPS is best for a long walk? (A really, really long walk...)

Garmin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:10:18 -0500

Today's Ask Garmin question was sent to @JakesJournal on Twitter by Lindy G (or @formerfatmama), who describes herself as "A deaf 37 yr old single mom on a weight loss journey. I plan to walk across America." Lindy asked "Which GPS device would you recommend for someone who's planning to walk across america? Preferably a handheld or wristheld." Not a typical question as Lindy's goal is pretty remarkable, but the answer(s) can apply to many hikers/walkers/runners. Meanwhile, another cross-country endeavor is tapping into Garmin's technology, as Move For ALS cyclists are currently using an Edge 605 to pile on the miles for ALS awareness.

As for Lindy's trek, Jake's condensed reply (the 140-character limit on Twitter is the only way we can keep him from rambling) was: "@formerfatmama Great goal to walk across US! I'd suggest either Oregon (geotagged photos), Dakota (light navigation), Forerunner (mileage)"

So here's where we elaborate on the strengths of each:

Oregon 550 (or 550t, which adds preloaded U.S. topography in case Lindy goes cross-country): In addition to super-simple touchscreen interface and robust variety of features, the 550 series features a built-in 3.2 MP camera so that Lindy can snap pictures of her journey along the way. Because the pictures are automatically geotagged with her location, her friends, family and supporters can see where each was taken.

Dakota 10 or 20: Lindy can save a little money (and a few ounces in her backpack) by going with Dakota, which features the same touchscreen ease of use in a little smaller package. Like Oregon, the Dakota can use City Navigator microSD cards to add turn-by-turn directions and millions of points of interest.

Forerunner series: If Lindy just wants to track mileage and be able to upload her routes each day for friends to see on Garmin Connect, any of the GPS-enabled Forerunner watches will do the trick while sitting comfortably on her wrist. For a long battery life of up to 20 hours, she could turn to the Forerunner 310XT. Also, 310XT, the 405/405CX or older 305 or 205 could help with breadcrumb navigation and waypoint management. And for simple start-and-stop tracking of pace, time and distance, the Forerunner 110 is a great bargain.

Foretrex series: Lindy can get key features from both our outdoor recreation and fitness products by turning to a Foretrex for wrist-worn navigation with breadcrumb trails and easy waypoint marking. As with all of the devices listed above, she'll be able to easily upload her progress to Garmin Connect.

Whichever Garmin she goes with, we wish Lindy all the best on reaching her goals and continued success to the Move For ALS cyclists for supporting a great cause.

Map Update Season: Stay up to date before going down the road

Garmin — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:11:07 -0500

With the school year winding down and temperatures warming up, we find ourselves in the middle of Map Update Season. This time of year is a great time to update your maps, because there's no good reason to travel with outdated maps on your Garmin GPS.

Our periodic map updates give you the most accurate, most detailed map data available from NAVTEQ with more than 8 million miles of road coverage and nearly 6 million points of interest. Updating your maps is quick and easy, and we offer two great update options from which to choose. And if you're within the first 60 days since first acquiring satellites with your Garmin, check out our nüMaps Guarantee to see if a free map update is available.

nüMaps Lifetime: This single purchase lets you download the most up-to-date map information available...for the lifetime of your Garmin device. No monthly fees, no maintenance costs. You can update every time a quarterly map update is released and not pay again. Visit our nüMaps Lifetime page for plan details.

nüMaps Onetime: Just want the most recent update available? nüMaps Onetime lets you buy only the most current update for maps and POI data for your Garmin GPS. Visit our nüMaps Onetime page for plan details.