Garmin - Nuvi 350

If you have ever wished for a GPS device that worked more like a travel companion than just a navigation device, your wish is fulfilled in the Garmin Nuvi 350. Just like a tour guide, this model can not only give you driving instructions in all of North America and Europe (Nuvi 370), it will also speak in nine languages, will play music and read books and show you pictures. What more could you want from your travel companion?

The Garmin Nuvi 350 like the other popular Nuvi predecessors is a highly portable GPS device with powerful navigational tools which include detailed maps of North American and Europe (Nuvi 370), automatic routing once the destination is specified, quick touch-screen interactivity and the unique feature of being able to call out street names, not just show them. The rough size of the model is about that of a deck of cards, which means that you can drop it in your travel bag or in your pocket or if you are just walking around, carry it in the palm of your hand. This model also boasts of a highly sensitive SiRF GPS receiver known for its ability to pick up signals even in difficult locations.

However, more importantly, the Garmin Nuvi 350 also acts as a great traveler’s reference with a digital entertainment system also thrown in. It has an internal memory of about 700 MB, which is used to store additional maps, music in the form of MP3 files and audio books. The model allows for optional software like the Language Guide and Travel Guide (which are available on separate SD data cards) to be installed, which will provide more support while traveling.

Language Guide software – in brief

The data in the Language Guide software (available as optional software) is made available by the Oxford University Press. It contains an extensive, multilingual word bank as well as phrase bank. These include common words and phrases from about nine languages and include American English and British English, Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese, European Spanish and Latin American Spanish, to mention a few. The database runs to an amazing 17000 words and 20000 phrases per language with more being added every day. The unique text-to-speech feature of the model also means that you do not have to just read the meaning and usage of the word, you get to hear the correct pronunciation of the word along with its use in a part of speech.

Travel Guide software – in brief

All the reference material in the Travel Guide software (also available as optional software) is made available by Marco Polo. This provides not just listings but detailed information in the form of reviews and recommendations for hotels and restaurants, main tourist attractions and so on.

The Garmin Nuvi 350 thus puts integrated technology to great use and comes up with not just a standard, run of the mill GPS device but a powerful travel companion that will help you every step of the way, whether you are on the road or off.