With the unofficial beginning of summer behind us, it’s officially time to break out the sunscreen, fill the inflatable pools, and finish those dreaded spring cleaning chores. But if I may, might I suggest adding to your list for spring-related chores?

This time of year is a great time to update your avionics, both certified and portable. Our flyGarmin website offers a whole host of supplemental databases that complement your flying needs, whether they include regularly flying for business or attending the occasional weekend fly-in.

Jeppesen’s navigation database is available on flyGarmin for our entire aviation product line. NavData is the database utilized when inputting your flight plan into your Garmin GPS. Information such as airport identifiers, navigational aids, intersections, and airspace information are all included in this important database.

Garmin FliteCharts are also available for purchase and download on flyGarmin.  FliteCharts allow pilots to display the government instrument procedure charts right on their Garmin avionics. An updated charts database also has the technology to geo-reference your aircraft position right on the approach chart, enhancing situational awareness in unfamiliar environments. It is important to note that depending on the size and display of your Garmin navigator, FliteCharts are not available for every unit.

An obstacle database is available as an optional download for many of our aviation products. Simply put, the obstacle database may be loaded to your GPS and will display man-made obstacles 200 feet AGL (above ground level) or greater.

Terrain is also available and enhances the safety of any flight. The terrain database consists of all non-man made features such as mountains. Alerts may be set up on many of our aviation products, which notify pilots of potential threats as they relate to either obstacle or terrain.

Airport Directory may be uploaded to many of our avionics which is just as good as having the Airport Facility Directory on board! The airport directory database offers information such as ATC tower hours of operation, traffic pattern altitudes, pertinent communication and navigation frequencies, as well as names and phone numbers of thousands of FBO’s at airports around the world.

SafeTaxi features a geo-referenced airport diagram right on many of our Garmin aviation GPS devices. This is helpful at busy and unusual airport layouts, as SafeTaxi will aid in your awareness and offer an additional level of safety.

Just in time for the summer flying season, these updates may be performed on any PC operating Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 or 8. Adding to the convenience of the database update process, flyGarmin has also been Mac compatible for over three years! The latest database pricing is listed by product on our database price sheet along with the database cycle, which can both be found on flyGarmin.

While I hate to add to your list of spring-cleaning chores, you’ll be thankful you have a fresh update in your avionics next time you receive an odd departure procedure or taxi clearance. And when you do, don’t forget to thank Lucy!

Source: Garmin
Read more here:
Lucy’s Logbook: How to freshen up your avionics

“We’re pleased to extend our
partnership with MINI to provide an integrated,
next-generation portable navigation device for MINI vehicles around the globe,”
said Matt Munn, Garmin managing director automotive OEM. “This new device makes
it easier than ever to follow directions with Garmin’s new Real Directions and
Active Lane Guidance features. It also integrates seamlessly with the interior
of any MINI.”

Learn more here.

Source: Garmin
Read more here:
Upgrade Your MINI with an Integrated Garmin Navigator

The Amgen Tour of California got underway this past week and world class riders, many whom train and ride in much cooler European climates, were greeted with temperatures well into the 100 degree range. Teams have been going through 150-200 water bottles during the stages to keep their riders hydrated and to keep 
them safe. One team, who ran out of water during stage 1 had to make a stop at a gas station along the course to buy out their water supply. Teams have also been handing ice cold sponges, out car windows, to riders to place in their jerseys– to attempt to regulate body temperatures.

Garmin's Lachlan Morton, using the NEW special edition Edge 510, recorded a max temperature of 111.2 degrees and an average of 102.1 degrees over the 126 mile, 9,000 ft. of elevation gain stage 2. Even in these brutal conditions, Morton managed to average close to 24 mph and had a max speed of 56 mph! (see full stats below)

The boys in argyle are using the special edition Edge for the first time in
California and I'd have to say they look pretty sweet on their Cervelo bikes! Some riders are choosing the standard stem mounts while others like Morton are opting for the out-front-mount.
Action continues in California today and the Team has its eyes set on Friday's time trial, where specialist Dave Zabriskie will look for a stage victory in his home race.

Source: Garmin
Read more here:
Edge 510 Records Scorching Temps At The Tour Of California

We’ve come to use the phrase “new” quite a bit these days at
Garmin. Most commonly we’re referring to
new product, but just last week we installed our new summer windows. Ok, so the temps don’t exactly feel like
summer, but we’re just as eager as the rest of you, not only for sunny skies
but for new products like the nuvi 3597LMTHD and Oregon 600 series.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the windows – and
products!

Drive- Drive
around this summer with our new 2013 nuvi line-up with Garmin Real Directions
and Garmin Real voice. Our nuvi 3597LMTHD just hit the shelves and is sure to take your breath away with a 5.0” high-resolution display and pinch
to zoom capability.

Golf- The stylish and comfortable Approach S2 golf watch gives you precise yardage to the front, back
and middle of greens.  Be one of the
first to own this new watch, now available in three different colors. 

Ride- Designed by
bikers for bikers, the zumo 350’s glove friendly interface and waterproof
casing is a great choice for life on the road. 
If you’re thinking about cycling, then you’ll want to track every detail
with the new connected Edge series. 

Run- It
fits! Forerunner 10, our lightest, most comfortable
watch yet, is now available in two exciting new colors; violet/white and
black/orange.  You’ll be ready to run
with this easy to use watch that starts with the press of a button.

Maybe you have summer plans to fish, fly or hike.  Whatever your lifestyle, Garmin has a product
for you.   

If your plans bring you to Chicago, stop by
the corner of Michigan and Erie where you can see, touch and interact with the
latest Garmin products. 

Or give us a
call at (312) 787-3221 and we’ll be happy to answer your questions and take
your order over the phone.  

Source: Garmin
Read more here:
Garmin Chicago: An Abundance of “New” Along Michigan Avenue

Fuel Selector: Both
Mixture: Full Rich           
Free Electronic checklist: Check!
 
Ever wish you had the ability to turn your paper checklist into an electronic, easy to read format? Or maybe you just wanted to add a back-up electronic checklist to your cockpit? Luckily, Garmin has you covered and the best part? It’s free!
 
Garmin offers a free, easy to use Checklist Editor that enables pilots flying with a G300, G3X, GPSMAP 695/696, and aera 795/796 to develop their very own checklist on their PC, transfer it to an SD card and utilize it on their Garmin GPS! Using a PC with Windows XP, Vista or 7, simply download the Checklist Editor software and launch the program. The option to select “Add new group…” will be available under the “Edit” menu which allows you to add specific categories such as “Normal” or “Emergency” specific to the type of operation. Once a category has been added, the option to add various checklists such as “Before Takeoff” or even “Ditching” procedures can be added. Furthermore, the ability to add text to indicate a specific warning or level of caution is available as well!
 
Adding an additional resource for your checklist needs in any cockpit environment whether you’re flying a Cessna 172 or Phenom 300 is great for redundancy and looks pretty cool on your Garmin, too!  

Be sure to check out my post next week. I am taking off for Sun ‘N Fun using the latest release of Garmin Pilot and the GDL39 and look forward to sharing my trip with you!

Source: Garmin
Read more here:
Lucy’s Logbook: Free electronic checklists from Garmin

Our NAVIGON app provides the most comprehensive navigation
feature set available for Windows Phone 8, and we’re excited to add even more functions
with a free update that we released this morning. The app now automatically
remembers where you parked your car and switches to a pedestrian mode to guide
you to your final destination by foot. Additional features include Google
Street View, Bing Search as well as an EnergySaver mode.

Here are some more
details about the new features in NAVIGON for Windows Phone 8 version 4.7:

• Last mile and clever parking: The new Last Mile function automatically saves the position of the
  parked car and can help you find your way from a parking spot to your
  destination and back. The app now also provides parking
  options. When approaching the destination, a “P” icon appears in the map view,
  providing access to a list of available parking options close to your
  destination.
• Google Street View: Google Street View provides you a
  street-level view of your destination before starting a route and shortly
  before arriving. You can even look at a full-screen 360°view to get a better
  understanding of your destination.
• Bing Search: The app now integrates Bing Search, providing an easy way to search for locations nearby.
• EnergySaver: The new and optional EnergySaver mode allows
  you to save battery while navigating.  This
  mode will reduce the frame rate of the map display and switch off the display entirely
  when there aren’t any upcoming turns. The display will switch back on as soon
  as you approach a turn.

The NAVIGON USA app for Windows Phone 8 from Garmin is
available in the Windows Phone Store. Just in time for spring travel season,
the app is on sale for $29.99 instead of $49.99 until April 8, 2013.

Garmin’s NAVIGON app provides the most comprehensive
navigation feature set available for Windows Phone 8. It turns your Windows
Phone 8 into a mobile navigation device with a range of premium functions, such
as live traffic information, junction views and lane assistance. On-board
navigation saves the maps on the phone, providing full navigation capabilities
without a data connection. The app also lets you plan trips ahead of time and
warns you of speed limits.

Source: Garmin
Read more here:
Garmin Updates NAVIGON for Windows Phone 8, App Now Remembers Where You Parked Your Car