- Sleek, ultra-slim design fits in a pocket; High-sensitivity GPS receiver for fast satellite lock
- Pre-loaded with City Navigator NT maps for North America, including more than 6 million points of interest
- Speech recognition allow you to speak menu options and keep your eyes on the road; Bluetooth-ready for hands-free use of compatible phones
- Features text to speech for spoken directions with real street names, MP3 player, photo viewer, multi-destination routing, "Where am I?" and "Where's my car?"
- NOTE: Model number on the box is 885T because the traffic receiver is included; however, the model number on the device itself is 885 as the "T" in 885T refers to the additional component
- Visit Garmin.com to get the latest firmware updates for your nüvi to keep it current and performing at its best.
Positives: Voice recognitions, lots of POIs, on-line sites like POI-Factory to add custom POIs (easy to do), and a very good set of features. I have tried (it works) but not extensively used the bluetooth hands free and mp3 player yet (8GB microSD card ordered) but I think it will be useful. MSN Direct is the way to go and works very well. I am getting helpful traffic updates in Louisville.
Negatives: I have to say the volume on the unit should be higher. I realize the FM radio option is there, but sometimes you are listening to the radio or a CD and it is hard to hear the Garmin. On a trip do they expect you to only listen to the Garmin? I figure if I use the mp3 option on an FM channel that maybe that is a way around the CD because I assume it will give voice prompts through the music audio (have not tried). Also the few hands-free calls I have taken have given very poor sound on the Garmin speakers making it not useful (maybe a software update? Not sure they are using the A2DP or a good profile.). They must fixe these two issues. They should already have this perfected. One other small potential issue. The band for the voice recognition button barely fits my steering wheel (last notch), on some others that are larger it could be an issue (but I think this may be minor)?
I will post more as I use it. I should give it 4 starts because of the sound issues. I will come back and re-review as I use it. It is worth buying. My brother and siter have Tom-Tom and another Garmin (780) and this is definitely better. The voice command and satellite lock really distinguishes it. When you are driving you don't want to have to reach and push buttons on it. Garmin, please improve the audio ASAP.I would have given the 885t five stars, but, it is disappointing that the 885t (flagship) is not really the top of the line as its name may insinuate. I considered many reviews and reluctantly, for the voice-recognition feature, decided on the 885t. Looking back I am pleased with the decision, but still troubled about some of the futures of the 7X5t series not included with the 885t. Hence, it gets only four stars.
The voice-recognition feature works well and it is safer to use while driving as it allows one to operate the 885t while your eyes and concentration remain on the road. To tap around on a GPS screen is the same as texting while driving. However, to make voice-recognition work you need to say the words and phrases EXACTLY as they are in the manual. That takes practice and you have to get so familiar with the commands that you can speak them intuitively and precisely when you are in heavy traffic. If you have to think what to speak, or try to "figure it out" while under pressure, it is not helpful. But, if you know and practiced the commands well it works properly, is convenient and one of the main reasons why I will buy the 885t again.
I tested the 885t next to a Nuvi 360. The Bluetooth operation, navigation engines and sound (loudness and clarity) of the two are exactly the same (I used Jill on both). Both had their firmware updates and it seems that Garmin uses the exact same maps and navigation logic in both units. That is to Garmin's credit as the 360 has been discontinued. Consequently, I am confident that, when the 885t is discontinued, Garmin will keep on updating the firmware for the 885t to whatever the "best" navigation logic becomes in the future.
Therefore, it is considering the other features (not navigation logic) that will determine which model is most suitable for you. I struggled to choose between the 7X5t and 8X5t models. After hours of research I made the following list of features (in order of importance to me) that the 885t lacks and the 7X5t have:
* Unlike the 7X5t, one cannot customize the "Arrival" data field of the 885t. One can get the same information from the 885t, but has to hit the green bar at the top and then the "Show Map" at the bottom to read the travel time and distance at the bottom of the following screen. That is a pity as I am sure I would have found the 7X5t's customizable "Arrival" button useful.
* Although the 885t is a later design, it lacks the faster screen refresh rate of the 7X5t series. Consequently the "flagship's" screen jerks down as you progress along your way instead of the smooth glide the 7X5t has. Not too serious, just substandard.
* Unlike the 7X5t the 885t does not have icons on the screen to allow you to switch between 2D, 3D, rotate view and 3D buildings or landmarks view. One need to go through a long process to switch between 2D and 3D and the 885t totally lacks the rotate, 3D building or landmark capabilities.
* It is strange, but you cannot turn the 885t off. Apparently it is to assure that the 885t is almost immediately ready for use. No real "off switch" saves "wakeup" time. The 885t does not have to go through the boot up sequence. Sliding the power key to the left only puts it in suspend/sleep mode, to turn it "really" off one has to remove the battery. Hence, there could be a problem with battery drainage if one uses the 885t infrequently. Surely, even if this is sensible, it should have been an option for the user to decide on. I would have preferred turning it "off" and let it reboot when I need to use it. The wakeup/sleep switch on my 885t is hard to operate. You have to get your nail in on the side of the switch to slide it to the left.
* I don't understand exactly what the use or value is, but the 885t cannot connect to an A2DP Bluetooth headset. The 7X5t series can.
* The 7X5t series have a second microphone hole on the side of the screen to improve microphone reception quality. The 8X5t has the second hole at the bottom to the back of the unit. I don't know if that is equally efficient. If it is, this point is mute.
* For what it is worth, the 885t lacks the ecoRoute function of the 7X5t.
If any of the above is a deal breaker for you, don't consider the "flagship" and get a 7X5t. Else, wait until Garmin, with any luck, brings out a "9X5t" or something that hopefully will be a real flagship and include all the attributes of both 7 and 8 series. If these are not deal breakers you can read on and consider what the 8X5t have and the 7X5t lacks.
Keep in mind that the 865t is only available in Europe, there is no "free" lifetime TMC receiver option in the 8X5t series in the USA. (Apparently the FM transmitter off the 865t is too powerful to be legal in the USA.) Therefore, one needs to compare the 885t with the 785t and not the 765t.
Why then did I decide on the 885t? Here are the unique functions the 885t has in order of how useful they are to me:
* Voice-recognition. On almost every trip I find it necessary to make adjustments to my travel plan/route, or need additional information, i.e. traffic, gas stations, restaurants, etc. The voice-recognition works well and I use it all the time. In fact, after having hands-on experience with it I am hooked on the feature and will hate to be without it again.
* Avoidances In addition to the normal "Avoidance Choices" all the Nuvis have, the 885t can (similar to the Nuvi 5000) define Custom Avoids. With that one can customize the 885t to avoid a specific road or area. I find it very practical and it allows me to define roads (that the Nuvi would normally choose) to avoid. You can likewise exclude bad areas of town, construction zones, correct map errors, etc. I love it and have it programmed all the time.
* The 885t has a better touch screen (more sensitive and precise) than the 7X5t. As it has voice-recognition, who cares about the screen? Well, most route planning is done on the screen before you get into the car. A sensitive and precise screen is desirable.
* Prompted Detour To set a prompted detour for a specific distance or a particular road on the route gives one more control over the choice the 885t will make for a route. It is a practical feature I turned on permanently and use whenever I desire to manually divert from the 885t's suggested route. In short, it allows you to manually exclude specific roads from your route.
* Show or hide points of interest (POIs) on the map. I have "gas stations" turned on. That is very helpful as one can always see where gas stations in your vicinity are. You can do it for any or all points of interests you want to be able to see while driving.
* Removable battery The reviews indicate that the 885t's removable battery is stronger and lasts longer. I am still to form an opinion. However, my consideration is that I only have to buy a $30 battery and not a whole unit should the battery fail.
* The 885t also has two other unique capabilities I don't consider important, yet, to be complete, they are:
o Alarm clock
o Backup camera capability so you can view what is behind you on the 885t's screen.
If any of these features are essential to you, you are committed to the 8X5t series.
That brings us to the "free" TMC traffic receiver on the 765t model versus the MSN Direct Receiver on the 785t and 885t models. Is the MSN services worth $50/12 = $4.17/moth? What I gathered from the reviews I researched, the MSN and TMC services are about equal (poor) as far as traffic is concerned and that the choice depends on where you are. My experience supports that conclusion. Therefore, the $4.17/month must be for the other services MSN provides that are not available on TMC. The once that I am using are:
* "Send to GPS" capability let you look up destinations from a computer and wirelessly send them to the GPS. That is not only convenient, but it allows one to call your office and ask them to research and send you locations you did not know you would need/want to visit. They can send it to you while you are on the road. I already used that a few times.
* I travel often and it is convenient to check flight status on your way to the airport.
* I got spoiled and find that I do regularly look at the weather forecast.
* Although a practical need is yet to come up, I find the Weather Doppler radar intriguing. Just the other day I was in Nashville and there was a tornado warning on the radio. Unfortunately, as I don't know the counties and suburbs, I had no idea where the area is the warning was for. I hope that the Weather Doppler radar view will in the future give me an indication from which direction a storm comes so I can divert into a directions where things are hopefully better. It is reassuring to have a picture of what the weather ahead could probably be. However, it seems that the image you receive is of the situation about 20 minutes earlier and not as is.
* I never thought I would use it, but find that the gas prices are helpful and discovered that there is usually at least 10 cents/gal difference in gas prices around us. You can therefore easily save a dollar or two per tank. Over a year that may pay for the MSN Direct service.
TAKE NOTE: MSN Direct is leveraging unused FM radio spectrum to broadcast data, however, many choices today including WiFi, Cellular, FM RDS and other digital networks are readily available and are continuing to grow in popularity. Microsoft has made the decision to focus future U.S. and Canada investments on these existing network connections and discontinue the MSN Direct services business 1/1/2012. The new Nuvi 1XXX is AT&T based and one wonders if TMC will soon make the same decision and abandon its FM based service?
So much on the 885t's unique features, comparison with the 7X5t line and MSN versus TMC services. How does the 885t operate on the road? I have a Nuvi 360 and am very satisfied with it. For getting from A to B it is the best and, as stated above, gives the same navigation results as the 885t. The 360 is reliable and I used it with great success from Florida to New York, Texas to Nebraska, California to Alaska, Canada and anywhere in between. It is the excellent performance of the 360 that sold me on Garmin. I still have the 360 and have no intent to sell it. It is small, fit in my shirt pocket and is always ready to work. The 885t will have a long way to go to earn the same trust with me. In addition to what was mentioned above, the other important functions of the 885t I am using on the road that made me move the trustable 360 from the dashboard to my shirt pocket are:
* Lane Assist with junction view. When travelling in unfamiliar cities I regularly have to press the next turn icon on the 360 to see what the next junction is going to be like. In heavy traffic that distracts attention and occasionally I missed a complicated turnoff. The 885t's lane assist takes care of that.
* Multi-destination routing with route optimization. Although reliable, the 360 could only take me from point A to point B with the option of one via point. Often I have to visit a number of locations and had to look on a map to decide what I think the most efficient route would be. The 885t does that for you.
* Speed limit information. Not decisively important, but in an unfamiliar area it is convenient to have the speed limit on the 885t instead of having to look out for the next speed sign and risk a speeding fine.
The 360 has never frozen up or let me down. In contrast, if I use the voice-recognition feature in a certain sequence in combination with the "Music Player" or "Show Flight Status" commands I can freeze the 885t up every time. Once frozen, due to the lack of an on/off switch, you have to take out the battery so that it can reboot to recover. I sent the information to Garmin and we can just hope that they will bring out a firmware update to cure the problems.
In general I am satisfied with the 885t and considering everything I know now, will buy it again. The voice-recognition is convenient and safe. However, it remains disappointing that Garmin did not include all the features of the 7X5t line.
UPDATE: Probably due to the discontinuation of the MSN Direct service on 1/1/2012 Garmin has discontinued the 885T. Hence, if we want the information we now receive from MSN we will have to replace our 885T at that time, or buy a TMC traffic receiver if traffic is the only information we are interested in. (That is on condition that TMC don't decide to move away from FM too.)I recently purchased the Garmin 885t after having owned the Streetpilot C340. I felt that I wanted an upgrade for a couple of reasons. First, I liked the idea of being able to be more "hands-free" if I needed to make changes to my routes while driving and second I was hoping that the blueooth was good enough that I could also use my phone through the Garmin. The purpose would be to streamline what I need to hook up in my car.
I own an iPhone original and have tried a couple of FM transmitters for hands free calling in the car. Though they worked partially with my phone, none were completely compatible. I was so pleased to see how the Garmin immediately recognized my contacts and they are all up on the Garmin screen. Second, even though the iPhone does not support voice dial, I am able to verbally navigate through the Garmin to make calls. This for me is important so I don't have to fiddle with the phone in my car.
After having used the Garmin for a couple of weeks, I can say that I so far am very satisfied. The Garmin's navigation works as expected and as I was accustomed to with my older Garmin. There are many POIs and I am amazed at to what you can find just by saying the place by name (the more popular places). I do appreciate the lane assist feature, which works well in my area. It gives you arrows in the upper left corner telling you the direction of your next turn. Very handy. Be aware, however, that the Junction View does not work with Lane Assist in every area. This is not a problem for me as this is only an "extra whistle" from my perspective.
The voice commands work wonderfully. I am amazed at how well it understands me. This function makes entering information so much easier. I also love how you can use Google Maps to directly send favorite places to the Nuvi, as well.
In regards to the Bluetooth, I find that the Garmin's speakers are better than the nuvi 360 that I tried a year ago. I sent it back because the speaker and sound were awful on it. On the Nuvi 885t, I am able to hear the people speaking well but was told that there was an echo on their end when I spoke. I purchased Garmin's external microphone and people I talk to now say that it sounds much better. I've talked several times on it with no problems.
The FM transmitter works just fine for me, especially if I am just tooling around town. As a matter of fact, I found a station in my area where the music that I downloaded to my Garmin sounds just like I'm listening to the FM radio. No static at all. I like using the FM option because I like having the ability to listen to my callers and Garmin commands through my car stereo. I will admit that when I travel distances, I will probably opt to use my aux. cable with my iPod due to the fact that the FM stations would change frequently on longer trips (which would be a pain).
The suction cup has been great. It hasn't fallen once and I've taken it down a couple of times. If you do have problems, though, put a little moisture on the suction cup and it should stay put!
I haven't had the chance to experience the MSN direct or the picture viewer (doubt I will ever use that) so I can't comment on those features. I would like to add that customer support at Garmin is wonderful. I had to call a few times with questions and they were extremely helpful, kind, and supportive. (My Garmin was originally shipped in the Russian language).
I have been experimenting with this unit and learning how to use the Garmin in the house while I don't have to concentrate on the road. Though it is user friendly, there is still a lot to learn. I also took it with me even if I knew where I was going to "practice" the features. I'd rather get a handle on how to use it when I know my route. As silly as it sounds, it does help!
Kudos to this unit! NO regrets, even though I felt it was more than what I wanted to pay for a GPS.I have had my 885t for about a month and found it have very impressive features. MSN traffic works great, use it every morning going to work to avoid jams. Bluetooth also works very well, even though it has a weak fm transmission it does have the jack you can plug directly into your cars MP3 input if equipt.
The one major probem that makes this almost not worth the price is the street detail. My I5 would show the name of every side street and intersection as you passed by. This unit only seems to show 20% of the street names and intersections. When I called Garmin tech support I was told this was by design to unclutter the screen and there is no solution. I never considered the I5 screen cluttered even though it was only 1/3 the size. I think they need to reprogram this unit before it is worth all the money I paid.
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