December 10, 2007

Garmin Colorado Handheld line

Garmin is readying the Garmin Colorado Handheld GPS unit, most likely for a CES 2008 announcement. With introductions from just about everyone else, the Garmin Colorado is expected to be a pretty big addition to the last family of handhelds to get downloadable satellite imagery. The new layout and format shows a “Rock n’ Roller” input pad on the top of the unit and a rather large 240 x 400 pixel display down low.

Like I have talked about and dreamed of before, the new Garmin Colorado will offer the ability to exchange routes and data points wirelessly with other compatible devices through their ANT technology. This is also used on the Edge 605 and 705 units, and is a result of their recent acquisition. Too bad they can’t come out with an SD memory/ANT combination card to allow those of us with SD card compatible eTrex devices to exchange data with the new big boys on the block.

I fully expect a whole line of these units, and apparently Bass Pro Shops has prematurely put the Garmin Colorado 400 up for sale.

From BassPro.com:
Make navigation simple with Garmin's Colorado 400 Bluechart GPS Unit. This full-feature, high-sensitivity Garmin GPS unit is pre-loaded with detailed, up-to-date Coastal U.S. marine charts including charts for the Great Lakes, Hawaii and Alaska.

Pre-loaded with detailed Coastal U.S. marine charts including Great Lakes, Hawaii and Alaska

Unique ''Rock 'N' Roller'' input device

65K Color TFT display

240 x 400 pixels

16 hours on AA batteries

Accepts SD cards for optional downloaded maps

2-axis electronic compass

Altimeter

Temperature sensor

Waterproof

ANT™ Communications to wirelessly exchange routes, tracks, waypoints, and geocaches between two units

Paperless Geocaching supports display of detailed geocache information