Garmin's dropping four new models to the higher-end 7x5 lineup with the nüvi 755T, 765T, 775T and the 785T. All models will include lifetime traffic alerts via NAVTEQ Traffic and Bluetooth connectivity, but the updated 7x5 series will include the most exciting new features: a 4.3" touchscreen, a 3-D transparent view of buildings, and lane assist. Garmin is also dropping their budget friendly 2x5 series with three new models: the nüvi 265T, 265WT and 275T. I'd probably opt for the high end line with lane suggestions, but take the 765T with Bluetooth and skip the fancier models. Parsing Garmin's huge lineup is always challenging, but the differences are detailed here:

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Garmin has just made a announcement stating that the much-hyped Nuvifone GPS/mobile phone product is going to be delayed until the "first half of 2009." Apparently "meeting some of the carrier specific requirements will take longer than anticipated," so it's going to miss its previously mentioned slot at the end of this year. Sounds like bad news for a phone that's entering an increasingly populated multi-purpose handset market. [GPSTracklog]

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A few months back, some troops driving a Humvee in Iraq got hit. The troops evacuated before a blast blew the doors off of the vehicle; only one of the soldiers sustained a shrapnel injury. As you'll see, the Humvee didn't make it, but a Garmin eTrex left behind in the wreckage still worked.

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Garmin has just announced a new member of the Nuvi GPS range, the 500 series. In a first for Nuvi, the rugged, waterproof 500 units are specifically designed to be multipurpose, with maps for driving, walking, cycling and boating built in. For out-doorsy types, there's a shaded digital elevation map option, and a dedicated compass page and tracklog. Plus the battery is a swappable 8-hour Li-ion type, so you can carry a spare for extended trips away from a power source. The 500 comes with City Navigator, and topographic maps of the US, while the 550 has highway coverage of the US and Canada, but no topographic data. The units are on show at the British International Motor show in London form today, and go on sale soon in the US for US$499. Press release below.

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Monday's leak of info about Garmin's upcoming Oregon touchscreen GPS line has now been followed by some images and screenshots. And though the mapping functions pretty much follow the earlier Colorado line, the units look very different—apparently being pretty buttonless indeed. For walkers, the 200 is a simple basemap unit, the 300 has worldwide maps with shaded relief, while the 400t adds in preloaded U.S. topographic maps and a 3D view. The 400i has maps for US inland lakes and the worldwide basemap, while the 400c has BlueChart® g2 coastal charts for sea-farers. When on sale in the Fall, the 400 units will cost US$639.99, the 300 US$533.32 and the basic 200 US$479.99. Press release below.

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It appears that retailers have leaked Garmin's upcoming GPS line. Amazon had listed relatively blank pages of the new 200, 300, 400c, 400i and 400t while Buy.com got even more specific with complete details on the Garmin Oregon 200 (US$450) and Garmin Oregon 400C (US$600). Apparently the Oregon is very similar to Garmin's Colorado (pictured here). The 3-inch, 240x400 pixel screen seems identical with the most noticeable upgrades coming in form factor--as GPSTracklog points out, the Oregon is one inch shorter and 14 grams lighter than the Colorado. For the Garmin fans in the audience, here are the full specs on each model:

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Sure, a Knight Rider GPS system is cool if you're in your 40s and remember watching the show when it was first on, but what about people looking for a GPS navigator with a more contemporary cultural reference? How about GLaDOS from Portal, one of the best games of the last few years?

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Garmin has just announced a successor to their original Astro GPS dog collar. With a new more rugged and flexible design, the Astro DC 30 can track your best friend for up to 30 hours at a time, depending on the variable update rate. And while it still needs to sync with the Astro pocketable base station unit, that crazy mutt can run up to seven miles away and still show up on the map. That's enough to crap in the whole neighborhood's lawn without ever missing a beat (while your dog is safe in your yard). US$199. [Garmin]

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Garmin's super-hyped GPS-focused nuvifone will be made by Asustek, according to "sources in the industry". The move to outsource is a first for Garmin, who usually keep all manufacturing in-house. Expect to see it in Q4 of this year. [Digitimes via Unwired View]

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