The Garmin nüvi 3490LMT 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
While priced a little higher than other models from Garmin nuvi, the Garmin nüvi 3490LMT 4.3 inch portable GPS navigator is well poised to become one of the best selling devices from the family because it combines stunning navigational power with aesthetic design.
Garmin nüvi 3490LMT navigators provide the most comprehensive navigation capabilities available today. A quick summary of the technical specs might read: 4.3″ – Touchscreen – Speaker, Photo Viewer – microSD Card – 3D Landmark, Junction View, Lane Assist, Speed Assist, Text-to-Speech, Voice Command, Voice Prompt, Advanced Pedestrian Mode – Bluetooth – USB.
With its innovative speech recognition, you can control Garmin nüvi 3490LMT 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with your voice allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel. Simply wake up nuvi with a customizable voice command and begin speaking menu options that are clearly displayed on the screen. When you stop, you can still control the nuvi using its 4.3 glass touchscreen.
Garmin’s website describes the device in great detail. Here is a part of what they say:
“The large screen nüvi 1490LMT comes with FREE lifetime maps and traffic and offers multiple-point routing and lane assist with junction view to help you manage busy highway interchanges. It announces streets by name, has hands-free calling compatibility and pedestrian navigation options. The ecoRoute™ feature calculates a more fuel-efficient route.”
Read the full spec sheet at Garmin’s website here
Garmin’s press release gives some more specifics about the Garmin nüvi 3490LMT 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.
“Prestige: The nüvi 3400 series, Garmin’s premium line of PNDs, features Guidance 3.0 and the award-winning design of the popular nüvi 3700 series that reinvented the look and feel of personal navigation. At less than 9mm it’s the thinnest navigator in the world. The design features pinch-to-zoom touchscreen interaction and automatic dual-screen orientation. With the most robust features available on any device, this product series is perfect for people who want top of the line electronics.”
The GPS Store has an elaborate review of this model, which is overwhelmingly positive. It begins with this ‘executive summary’, saying:
“The Garmin Nuvi 3490LMT is a sophisticated, attractive, and easy to use car GPS system. The slim design and industrial housing of the Nuvi 3490 makes the feel of the unit exceptional and the high resolution glass multi touch display is eye catching. Voice ActivatedThe Garmin 3490 display lets you use two fingers to pinch and push to zoom out and in, change from 2D to 3D views and rotate the map 360 degrees. The display will automatically switch from landscape to portrait which is ideal for navigating on foot. Voice activated navigation lets you operate the Nuvi 3490LMT with your voice rather than touching the display. LMT means Lifetime Map updates and Traffic alerts are included with the 3490 allowing you to update your maps 4 times a year and receive live traffic alerts for the life of the GPS.”
GPS Tracklog did an overview review of the entire product line of Garmin nuvi models, and includes this about the Prestige series.
“These models will have a capacitive 4.3” glass screen, and feature all the above 2.0 goodies plus Guidance 3.0, which gives you the following (depending upon model):
- Digital 3D Traffic provides updates every 30 seconds
- InstaSearch for faster spelling searches
- InstaRoute loads maps faster than ever
- Pinch-to-zoom multi-touch interaction
- Automatic dual-screen orientation (horizontal/vertical)
- Bird’s eye lane guidance highlights proper lane with overhead perspective
- myTrends™ anticipates your destination based on your driving habits
- SafeText reader – receive and hear texts without taking your eyes off the road
- Voice-activated navigation for hands-free operation (nüvi 3495)
- One Shot address entry (nüvi 3495)
- One Shot point of interest searches (nüvi 3495)
“
CNET didn’t review this particular model, but has some advice in general about car GPS, including this:
“In-car navigation isn’t for everyone; the price alone will cause many people to forgo this technology in favor of the good old paper map. However, if you drive for a living, or like to visit different places on the spur of the moment, GPS can make the driving more enjoyable, leading you to major attractions or guiding you through quiet, scenic back roads.”
And to read more user reviews and comments, click this link here
Experts and regular users on the forum at GPSReview.net shared their opinion on Garmin nüvi 3490LMT 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator in a hot discussion, and one reviewer said:
“Both the 3790 and 3490 look similar in size (the 3490 is a touch slimmer, but barely noticeable). They both have the same screen resolution. They share a lot of the same features (accelerometer, voice commands, nuRoute technology, photo-realistic junction views).
“The 3490 has features not found on the 3790, including Exit Services (essential POIs found along your route while on interstates or other limited access highways, available for at least the first five exits), the ability to receive texts-by-voice, the ability to customize your menus and maps, and a new interface which puts more emphasis on the actual address, and not the city where it may be.”
He ended, however, by adding that both models were feature-rich, and promises that any buyer will not be disappointed.
One more Garmin nüvi 3490LMT reviewer was positive, but bemoaned Garmin’s habit of taking away familiar features. Sbukosky wrote:
“Looks like the 3490 has the better traffic but drops Garmin Lock and Ecoroute. Neither are important to me but it seems like this is a game that Garmin plays. I’d like one that does it all.”
The same note was struck on other discussion forums as well, such as on GPS Passion boards where one reviewer said:
“The 3490 also sees the return of the Audiobook player, not sure how useful that is when many people have extra mp3 players/iPod’s/Smartphones hanging around.
Seems pretty incremental overall, and I don’t really see why Ecoroute has been removed…and who would pay for it separately? It’s not like it’s proven to be a game changer in terms of route optimization!”
Another cautions about why the high end features of the Garmin nüvi 3490LMT 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator may not be relevant to everyone, pointing out that
“The fancy digital 3d traffic won’t be of much use if there isn’t enough coverage for the HD radio broadcast signals. I would wait for them to post a coverage map before I got too excited about this feature.”
Features and Specs
- Lifetime Map & TrafficUpdates
- Voice activated navigation
- Lane assist with photoReal junction view
- Make hands-free calls and texts
- Less than 9mm thick
What’s in the Box:
- nüvi 3490LMT
- Preloaded City Navigator® NT North America (U.S, Canada and Mexico)
- Lifetime maps¹ and traffic² (indicated by “LMT” after model number on the box)
- Digital 3D traffic receiver with vehicle power cable
- Quick release powered mount³
- USB cable
- Quick start manual
Another detailed review posted on Zimbio.com focuses on other specific features and benefits of the Garmin nüvi 3490LMT 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator, stating that:
“Point-to-point navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 3490LMT features a microSD™ card slot so you can store and use detailed cityXplorer™ maps or download custom voices and vehicles for free from the Garmin Garage It also comes with a powered mount that charges while you drive while dual-orientation functionality lets you hold nüvi vertically or horizontally for added convenience driving or walking. And for added convenience and safety, built-in Bluetooth® connectivity lets you make and take hands-free calls and texts.”
And to read more industry expert reviews and comments, click this link here
Where Can You Get The Garmin nüvi 3490LMT 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator For The Best Price?
That’s one of the very important questions you ask yourself. You want to be sure of finding the very best deal. While there are many places where you can order this from, the most trusted and reliable is Amazon.com
Many times, you’ll find a special deal running on this model, though typically they don’t last long – so hurry if you find one. You could even be eligible for FREE shipping to your doorstep! So if you’ve decided to get the Garmin nüvi 1450LMT 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map & Traffic Updates, then click here to lock in your special price!
