Garmin StreetPilot c550
With 16 years in the biz, Garmin knows a thing or two about making GPS devices, and the Garmin StreetPilot c550 is proof of that fact. The c550 offers the same great navigation features as its more economical cousin, the Garmin StreetPilot c330, but adds a number of great improvements, such as Bluetooth integration, text-to-speech functionality, and traffic information.
The Garmin StreetPilot c550 won’t take up much room in your car. At 4.4 by 3.2 by 2.2 inches and 9.5 ounces, it’s easily transportable for multivehicle use and comes with an easy-to-install windshield mount. Garmin also keeps things simple, with minimal controls. There’s a volume dial, a USB port, and a power button on the right. We especially like the external volume control since you don’t have to fiddle with the menus to change this setting; we did notice, however, that it’s a bit sensitive and jumps several volume levels if you’re not careful. On the left side, you’ll find an SD expansion slot and an external antenna port, while the power connector and the mic-in and audio-out ports are located on the back.
StreetPilot c550 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, ATMs and more. Simply touch the super-bright sunlight-readable color screen to enter a destination, and the c550 takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. In addition, the c550 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. The European version even includes a preloaded safety camera database containing the location of safety cameras for parts of Europe.
The rest of the functions are handled through the StreetPilot c550’s 3.5-inch-diagonal responsive touch screen. The antiglare display is excellent, with a sharp 320×240-pixel resolution and bright colors, and it’s even readable in bright sunlight. In addition, the c550’s menus are easy to navigate, thanks to large icons and an intuitive interface.
Aside from the aforementioned windshield mount, Garmin packages the c550 with a carrying pouch, a 12-volt adapter/FM Traffic Message Channel receiver, a USB cable, and an adhesive disk to attach the mount to your dash instead of your windshield.
Garmin packages the StreetPilot c550 with a handful of goodies, including a carrying case, a windshield mount, and a car charger/traffic receiver.
Steer clear of traffic with the c550’s integrated traffic receiver. The FM TMC traffic receiver notifies you of upcoming traffic delays. Simply touch the screen to view traffic details or recalculate your route to avoid traffic Take It With You
The Garmin StreetPilot c550 offers many of the same great navigation tools found on the Garmin StreetPilot c330. Maps of North America with 2D and 3D map perspectives are preloaded onto the device. You get text- and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, as well as text-to-speech functionality, automatic recalculation, and a comprehensive points-of-interest (POI) database.
Talk about worry-free driving. The c550 integrates Bluetooth? wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker, so you can pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free through the c550 while staying focused on the road. Now there’s no more fumbling with your phone’s handset to answer a call or dial a number — just tap the c550’s screen and you’re connected. With 1-touch dialing for POIs, you can conveniently call ahead for reservations or information.
Adding to the c550’s value as a vehicle aid are the new traffic capabilities. Garmin smartly integrated the traffic receiver into the included car charger, so you no longer have to buy an optional unit. It receives traffic information from Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network, and you get three months of free service with the purchase of the c550; afterward, it costs $60 a year to continue. (Also, be sure to check the coverage map to make sure the service is available in your city.) Once connected to the unit, a Traffic icon appears onscreen and alerts you to the road conditions–traffic, accidents, closures–then plans a new route around the affected areas.
Also new to the StreetPilot c550 is integrated Bluetooth. This allows you to pair your Bluetooth-enabled phone with the c550, then make hands-free calls through the unit’s microphone and speakers. You can transfer your phone book to the c550, and the device alerts you to incoming calls; just tap the screen to answer. You can also dial any number listed in the POI database (check for your phone’s compatibility on Garmin’s Web site). After a couple of failed attempts, we were able to pair the Nokia N91 with the c550, and we successfully transferred our contacts and conducted phone calls. Audio quality also wasn’t bad, thanks to the unit’s dual-speaker system.
There are two other additions to the StreetPilot c550: MP3 playback and an antitheft lock. The c550 supports only MP3 files, and you can either store them on the device’s internal memory (about 700MB) or keep them on an SD card. The c550 will even display album art, and it automatically mutes music during voice prompts and phone calls. It does not, however, offer iPod compatibility like the TomTom GO 910. Finally, Garmin Lock prevents the unit from performing any functions until you enter a user-defined four-digit PIN or take it to a predetermined location.
Tags: 3d maps, camera database, city navigator, expansion slot, external antenna, external volume, garmin streetpilot c330, garmin streetpilot c550, GPS Device, gps devices, navigation features, power button, power connector, street maps, voice directions, volume control, volume dialRelated posts
Posted on July 19th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: GPS Device
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