Garmin nüvi 680 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
Amazon.com Product Description
Travel throughout North America without loading any more maps with the Garmin nüvi 680 Personal Travel Assistant with MSN Direct. Plus, you can receive door-to-door directions while staying on top of local weather, traffic, and more with nüvi 680. The device features a colorful widescreen, hands-free calling, and an FM transmitter, then takes it up a notch by adding dynamic content from MSN Direct, as well as a convenient digital travel kit that includes an MP3 player with sample MP3s, audio books, a picture viewer, a world clock, currency and measurement converters, a calculator, and more.
This pocket sized personal travel assistant has a super bright, sunlight-readable color screen. See side view. |
Easy control via the simple touch screen. |
Weather reporting available with bright, colorful graphics. |
Despite being loaded with features, the nüvi 680 still allows you to navigate with ease. This unit comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded NavTeq City Navigator NT street maps for North America, and includes a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel stops, ATMs and more. Simply touch the super-bright, sunlight-readable color screen to enter a destination, and the 680 takes you there with either 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. This navigator voice even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road, and can concentrate on your driving to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. In addition, the 680 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras, and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs that require your special consideration such as speed zones and safety cameras.
Speaking of keeping you safe, the nüvi 680 lets you make hands-free calls so you can talk freely during your worry-free driving. By integrating Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker, you can pair your nüvi with any compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free while staying focused on the road. You no longer have to fumble with your phone’s handset to answer a call or dial a number, just tap the 680’s screen and you’re instantly connected. And with 1-touch dialing for your POIs, you can quickly and conveniently call ahead to make reservations or get needed information.
Simply insert a memory card to enjoy pictures, songs, and audiobooks. |
You can also use the mini-USB port for tranferring files directly to the memory card. |
The new nüvi 680 lets you get localized information with dynamic content from MSN Direct, making it one of the most resourceful navigators available. Using the included receiver and free trial service to MSN Direct, you can check your local weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, and even check movie times and locations, all while you travel. Easy and virtually fool-proof to use, the MSN Direct receiver is plug-and-play portable so you can quickly connect to your navigator unit when you are out and about. All of which can be customized with configurable vehicle icons that let you choose individual car-shaped icons in a variety of colors that show your position on the map.
In additional to all this functionality, the nüvi 680 includes many must-have entertainment and travel tools such as an MP3 player, an audio book player (subscription to Audible.com required), and a JPEG picture viewer so you can take your favorite music and pictures with you wherever you go. This unit also features a world travel clock with time zones, a currency converter, a measurement converter, and a calculator so that wherever you travel it will be easy to know what you are getting and keep track of your costs. The MP3 player lets you browse music by artist, album, and/or song, while the optional audio books may be purchased from Audible.com which features over 70,000 hours of audio programs. What’s more, the nüvi 680 allows further customization via optional software such as a travel guide, savings programs and language translation on plug-and-play SD cards for all your travel needs.
The Garmin nüvi 680 comes with a built-in, high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, and lets you view and operate it via its bright, LCD TFT touch-screen, wide-screen display that measures 4.3 inches (diagonal) and has a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels with 64,000 colors and a white backlight. As a whole, the nüvi 680 measures 4.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D), and weighs only 6.2 ounces for easy portability. This unit provides you with from three to seven hours of battery life (depending on use) via its rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and comes with Garmin Lock, which is an anti-theft feature to protect your investment. While you can add software via the SD card slot, the Garmin nüvi 680 also lets you interface via high-speed USB for loading data, though users should note that, like most USB mass storage devices, this unit is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.
The nüvi 680 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel stops, ATMs, and more. |
What’s in the Box
Garmin nüvi 680 with MSN Direct, City Navigator NT maps for North America (preloaded, full coverage), MSN Direct receiver with integrated vehicle power cable, 1 year of free MSN Direct service, vehicle suction cup mount, an AC charger, vehicle power cable, dashboard disk, a USB cable, leather carrying case, quick reference guide, and owner’s manual.
Product Description
Travel throughout North America without loading any more maps with the Garmin nüvi 680 Personal Travel Assistant with MSN Direct. Plus, you can receive door-to-door directions while staying on top of local weather, traffic, and more with nüvi 680. The device features a colorful widescreen, hands-free calling, and an FM transmitter, then takes it up a notch by adding dynamic content from MSN Direct, as well as a convenient digital travel kit that includes an MP3 player with sample MP3s, audio books, a picture viewer, a world clock, currency and measurement converters, a calculator, and more.Despite being loaded with features, the nüvi 680 still allows you to navigate with ease. This unit comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded NavTeq City Navigator NT street maps for North America, and includes a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel stops, ATMs and more. Simply touch the super-bright, sunlight-readable color screen to enter a destination, and the 680 takes you there with either 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. This navigator voice even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road, and can concentrate on your driving to keep yourself and your loved ones safe./or song,
Buy Garmin nüvi 680 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator at Amazon
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September 5th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dangerous to use on roads
Garmin 680 is just dangerous to use.
1. For strange reason, Garmin decided not to give any intruction about the next turn until 0.7 mile ahead. WHY?
September 5th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
The latest Garmin is very impressive. However, I don’t like the fact that finding some of the accessories is so challenging. For example, I purchased this GPS because I was taking a trip to California. Unfortunately, the laws in California prevent you from attaching the Nuvi directly to the windshild, so you’ve got to purchase a separate accessory, which I did, the Garmin Portable Friction Mount. It works great in terms of not sliding around the dash. I was on San Francisco streets and if it was going to fly off – it would have, but it was rock steady. The problem is that I didn’t know that you need more than just the friction mount. There is another accessory that goes between the Nuvi and the friction mount. Because I found out about the California law just before I left, I had no time to figure out what that extra part is – so I just used a series of rubber bands to affix it to the Friction Mount base.
It would have been easy for Garmin to spell this out, but I could find no information to let me know which part to purchase to go with the “Universal” Friction Mount or even that you needed an extra part. I still don’t know what that part is. The rubber bands worked OK, but it’s lame.
As far as the MSN Direct, it works pretty well for the Weather & Traffic, and it does let you know about some movie theaters – not even close to a complete list – at least not in the NYC area, and then the gas prices…. At one point, when my rental car gas indicator was on E, I thought No problem – I’ve got the Nuvi. Well, it took me to a non-existant gas station, which was harrowing considering I was about to run out of gas and didn’t know the area. It gave me a ghost gas station two different times and locations. So I’m on the fence about renewing. Also, I know of some local stations that have better gas prices that don’t even show up on MSN, so it hasn’t got a complete list of stations/prices.
Even though, I purchased this right after it came out – it has come down in price over $160 since I purchased it less than a month ago – I am happy that I bought it. It was invaluable in getting me around S.F. and the Wine country. But, I could have been just as happy with the 660 had I known about the hiccups with MSN Direct. So, I learned that I can’t totally trust the MSN, but it does still give some information. It also would have been better if you could download the MSN info without having to plug it into the car cigarette lighter.
A big plus is the Bluetooth. It’s invaluable – the only way to make phone calls in the car – it couldn’t be easier, and a great connection. Of course, you get that with some of the previous versions of the Nuvi.
All told, the 660 would have been the better purchase for me. You could take a chance that the MSN will get better in accuracy on the 680, now that the price has come down so much from when I purchased it – it might be worth the extra $.
UPDATE:
Since I first posted this review in May, Garmin wised up. The only Garmin Portable Friction Mount I could find when I purchased mine, does not go with the 680. At least not without 2 parts. From what I can glean from other reviewers, I could purchase another item to go with what I already have, but my total cost for both would be over $50.
Garmin now has the correct Friction Mount in the accessories section for the 680 on their website. List price: $40.00 (#010-10908)- Amazon price: $28 (at this point).
Don’t be fooled by the CUSTOMERS WHO BOUGHT THIS ITEM ALSO BOUGHT section on Amazon.
Check the Garmin website to be sure.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:30 am
3.0 out of 5 stars
It’s OK
I feel it’s a little too slow and also take me to the wired direction… The calculation system hang pretty often… take more than 2minutes to search the places…
September 6th, 2009 at 5:51 am
I have three hand-held GPSs and two cars with factory installed GPS. The Nuvi 680 beats them all.
Once you get hooked on using a GPS, it becomes indispensible.
I like the 3D cartoon-like display on the Nuvi 680. It is much easier to read at a glance. The 2D displays on the other GPS units cannot display the names of all of the cross roads because there is not enough room on the display and they are written along the road at odd angles. The Nuvi 680 gets around the problem by showing the name of every road as you approach it on the banner bar at the top. That way it does not need to show every minor road, only the major ones. This is a great improvement.
The other features on the Nuvi 680 are: Bluetooth hands-free cell phone (my factory-installed GPS units have this also – a great feature), MP3 ( I have over 300 hours of music recorded on the SD card), JPEG ( I have not used this, and I am not sure this is a safe feature anyway), POI ( These are easier to access on the Nuvi than on other units and are very helpful), and MSN Direct( It displays storm warnings automatically- this was helpful in Chicago while I was there), Sound output on the car’s speakers (this is good, but you must select an unused frequency and it is is very hard to find one in large cities. I would like to see Garmin extend the frequency range below the FM band like my car is capable of to get highway messages).
If it was not for the fact that GPS is bundled with many other good features in factory-installed cars, I would opt for the Nuvi 680 as the preferred GPS unit.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:13 am
2.0 out of 5 stars
Mediocre Routing, Map Updates A Nightmare
Garmin nüvi 680 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
I can’t really mention any positives of this GPS over others.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
This is a nice little unit. I used to program GPS applications so I have used a few. The software running this unit is great. The GPS algorithms for finding the shortest or the longest route work excellently. I tested with 4 separate routes. When you deviate from your route the unit is a little slow to pick up on it, 2 or 3 seconds depending on how far you have moved, but then it starts recalculating and gets you back on track.
The maps are easy to read and the views (2d and 3d) are easily switched and zoomed.
The MP3 player works great. It plays music and when it needs to give a voice command it pauses the music and tells you what it needs to tell you. The FM tuner works well too. Although if you come in range of a station the station takes over.
The hands free calling works great. As soon I as I get in the car it finds my phone. If music is playing, it is puts it on pause until you are done on the phone and then turns it right back on.
The user interface is very intuitive and user friendly. I have hardly needed to use the manual or help.
The MSN direct features work good also. They take some time when you first turn it on to download all the information. The traffic feature has worked well. The data has been up to date so far. If it tells you a road is closed, LISTEN TO IT!!!!! We decided not to and sat in 4 hours of traffic because we thought “No way could the turnpike be closed.” We could have totally avoided it.
The movie data in my area have all been up to date and have included some theaters I didn’t know existed. The gas feature usually has data (prices) that is a day or 2 old, but it did list all the gas stations in my area.
At first when I used the suction cup mount I thought it was defective because it kept falling off. After reading the directions, I discovered that I need to clean all the dust of the window before trying to use it. Since I have discovered that little trick it has worked great. We have used it in our 2 cars and truck.
We do yard sales on Saturday and my girlfriend had to make maps with MapPoint every week. Now we just put the addresses in as we go.
Having a GPS like this definitely changes the way you travel. Running errands is great. I type in the name of the store I want to go to and go to the closest one. Then type in the next one. I have discovered a lot of store locations I didn’t know about.
Over all the purchase was definitely worth it.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Product
I have been using a Mio C220 for almost two years now and it is a piece of junk compared to the Garmin 680. My unit came with 2008 maps even though 2009 maps are avalible.
September 6th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Impressed
I recently purchased the Garmin Nuvi 680 GPS for my fiance as a Christmas gift. We just used it on a trip to Rhode Island and we were both very impressed with it.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nuvi 680
I purchased two for Christmas gifts for my son and daughter. They love them. I have a Nuvi 660 and would not go anywhere without it.
September 7th, 2009 at 12:15 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Garmin nuvi 680
This is a good value for what you are getting. The audio sometimes is hard to understand, but you can change the voice to one that is more understandable.
September 7th, 2009 at 5:42 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great gadget. But a few frustrations.
The NUVI 680 is leaps and bounds beyond our beloved c320 which was stolen. I got this unit specifically for the combo of the mp3 playerand the fm xmitter and for the bluetooth…
September 7th, 2009 at 7:51 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Product but beware, Garmin may not honor free MSN Direct trial
I bought mine used and the reseller was great. I like the product too but there was supposed to be a 1 year free trial of MSN Direct.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Referb Garmin is Excellent
The Garmin is in excellent condition. No issues with the referb. Not even sure what was wrong with it in the first place. No scratches or screen issues.