NEW FEATURES:

• Automatic sorting of multiple destinations to provide an efficient route.
• Tracklog recording.
• Speed limit display for many interstates and highways.
• The newer internal antenna found on the nuvi 200 series.
• "Where am I" safety feature.
• "My Data" to manage Favorites, Routes, and Tracks.
• Enhanced Traffic Presentation
• Last Position (when removed from mount)

Where tapping the 660 power "button" allowed for a quick adjustment of brightness and sound volume, the 760 requires one to go into the Tools Menu, Settings, Display, Brightness, before the brightness is adjustable.  However the volume can be set by touching am icon on the Main Menu page (above).  The screen brightness is quite adequate for sunlight driving, but the speakers aren't quite as clear as those in the c550.

The major differences are the addition of tracklog recording and solving the best route for the "Traveling Salesman" multiple destinations to the 700 units.  It has the newer internal antenna found on the nuvi 200.  The lack of an 'external' flip-out antenna has little adverse effect on sensitivity.

The new "Where am I" feature gives your current location, nearest address, nearest intersection, along with quick access to POIs for the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations.  The 660's GPS receiver is turned off when the flip-out antenna is closed.  To turn the 760 GPS receiver off, use Tools, Settings, System, select GPS Simulator On.

Both come pre-loaded with City Navigator NT for street-level detail and addresses, plus listings of nearest restaurants, hotels, ATMs, etc., throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico in 1.87 GB of internal storage.  (There is about 540 MB left for other maps or data.)  Also supported are SD cards to hold MP3 music, personal pictures, travel books, and other maps.  The units have the new SiRF Star III high-sensitivity GPS receiver, are small enough to fit into one's shirt pocket, and contain an internal re-chargeable battery,

Preloaded:
City Navigator North America NT data, Sample language guide content, Sample travel guide, Sample MP3s,
Sample audio books,  3-month free TMC Traffic trial.  The 760 comes with no CD manual, so you have to download it from Garmin's site (HERE).  However, the 760 has a Help icon on the Tools page, which gives basic help instructions.  The 660/680 come with a recharging power pack, which is missing in the 760.  However all the units can be recharged thorough the USB cable.

FM TRAFFIC SERVICES:
There are two FM traffic services.  The TMC (Traffic Message Channel) and MSN (MicroSoft Network) Direct.  The 680 and 780 come with a GDB 50 FM receiver cigarette adapter.  The significant difference is the while the TMC traffic service only displays Traffic, the MSN Direct service in the 760 displays Traffic, Weather, Gas Prices, Movie Times (however, see update below).

nüvi 660/760 Integrated Traffic Receiver*:
A unique feature to these units are their integrated traffic capabilities.  The units includes a GTM-20 FM TMC traffic receiver installed in the 12vdc power plug (with lights for Power-on and Traffic reception) which notifies you of traffic, construction, weather delays, and automatically suggests alternative routes.  The traffic receiver comes with a free 3-month free trial subscription (US).  To extend the initial service, visit (HERE).  Subscription cost is $60 per year.
*Traffic services available in select cities are noted (HERE).

nüvi 680/780 Integrated MSN Direct*:
In addition to integrated traffic capabilities, MSN Direct also provides Weather, Gas Prices, and Movie times.  The GDB50 MSN Direct receiver comes with a free 12-month trial free subscription (US).  To activate, re-activate, or extend the initial service, visit (HERE).  Subscription cost is $50 per year.
*MSN Direct services available in select cities are noted (HERE).

MSN RECEIVER UPDATE:
A firmware update for GDB50 MSN Direct Receiver software version 2.50 as of Jan. 23, 2008 is available at:
 http://www8.garmin.com/support/agree.jsp?id=3717   This update adds four features to the original four features that were: Traffic, Weather, Gas Prices and Movie Times.  Now they have added: News, Stocks, Local Events, and Web Favorites (Send to GPS).

WebUpdater (http://www8.garmin.com/products/webupdater/) is required for this update.  After updating the nuvi, connect the MSN receiver to the unit, and the unit will update the firmware in the GDB50 receiver.

Menus:

Main Menu
....
This is the Main Menu when a route is active.  Touch Stop to cancel the route or touch Detour.
Press the Sat. Strength bars for about 5 seconds and the Satellite screen comes up (22 Foot Accuracy here).
The third shot is from a 660 in the same location where the flip-out antenna seems slightly more accurate and sensitive.

760 Tools Menu (with TMC Traffic)
....
New here are: 'Where am I?', 'Help', 'Routes', and 'My Data'.  'Traffic' is TMC Traffic °  'Where am I?' Screen
 The 'Where am I' screen is a new safety feature.

780 Tools Menu (with MSN Direct)
....
The second screen shot is with the original MSN Direct and the third is with the Enhanced MSN Direct

....
Gasoline Prices                              Stock Market Quotes                   News Stories
Examples of the features added to MSN Direct

The 680 and 780 Traffic Maps are similar, but considerably different from the 660/760 maps
....
nüvi 680/780 (MSN Direct)

....
nüvi 660/760 (TMC Traffic)

  The MSN Direct Traffic shows all roads with available traffic information in green, where the TMC Traffic shows only roads with traffic problems.
It appears that MSN Direct uses more of the traffic speed sensors than the TMC Traffic.

Enhanced Traffic Presentation :

....

Courtesy Anders Persson:  With the new firmware v. 2.20, the "Details" button has been replaced by "View by Road."  Tapping there, you get a list of roads, for which traffic info is available. Scroll through that list and select the road you are on.  You get everything that has to do with that road all in one continuous list by distance.  This replaces "Details" which sorts by distance from present position, which contains multiple roads not listed together..

When the route has been computed, the list of traffic info details by roads now also includes "Along My Route".  Thus you can press that one, and see everything that's along your route.  Then you'll not be bothered with roads you  aren't on.  On the other hand, you'll get things along your route, even if it uses several interstates, or other roads, for which traffic info is broadcast.

The detailed information display has also been improved. Now you'll always see the stretch of the road where the problem is, regardless of the zoom level, as well as which direction it concerns, when applicable.

Mounting:

Click on Thumbnails
.....
760 Mount                                                                   660 Mount

The suction-mount ball joint is hinged and slightly longer than the one for the c550.  Attached to the ball joint is a handy quick-disconnect adapter.  The 760 mount includes two sturdy posts on the bottom that mate with the unit.  In the 660 mount are locking/release tabs. The tabs only have about a half millimeter of engagement surface (arrows).  That, along with being made of plastic, may have a limited life cycle.

The 760 is slightly harder to mount and un-mount than the 660, but seems sturdier.  The 760 and 660 include a 12vdc cigarette power plug/Traffic-receiver and cable -which connects to the quick-disconnect adapter.  The 760 connection on the side seems more practical.

• Activate the new Automatic sorting of multiple destinations by selecting several End Points (actually vias).
• Next, Edit the route to Optimally Reorder Points.
• Custom road preference are: Faster Time, Shorter Distance, and Off Road.
• Routes are automatically calculated with turn-by-turn instructions from a text-to-speech (TTS) feature which identifies turns by street name.
• Automatic off-route recalculation shows how to get back on track, if you miss a turn or exit.
• A detour function enables routing around traffic problems or road construction.
• 10 routes can be stored in the unit, and an unknown number of vias are allowed.

OTHER MENUS:

Waypoints, Track, and Route (Data) to a PC:
To upload any of these from Mapsource to the Unit:
If you have MapSource it can recognize the 760, and any data loaded into a MapSource map can be uploaded to the unit directly.  Favorites will be ADDED to any favorites in the unit.  Data can also be downloaded to MapSource, but not erased from the unit with MapSource.

When uploading a route from MS to the unit, it becomes a "file".  To actually use this route file, you have to access My Data (above), Import Route from File, and select the desired route.  nuvi 760 data can also be downloaded to MapSource and displayed on a PC.

The nüvi 760 does not come with any MapSource capability.  One would have to purchase a MapSource map or Trip & Waypoint Manager in order to create, upload, or view data in the unit on a PC map.  We understand Garmin Support will supply a copy of City Navigator NT v8, if one asks for it.  (There may be a small charge).

Waypoint and Route Management:
Garmin has complied with one of our 660 suggestions in the nuvi 760.  A new page has been added, "My Data".  Here one can delete all the waypoints or just a few selected ones.   To do this, access the My Data button.  There is a provision to 'Select All' and delete all, but deleting a particular waypoint, you must scroll down a list alphabetically -a long list if you have the full complement of waypoints.  Also on that page are: Set Home Location, Delete Favorite(s), Delete Route(s), Import Route from file, Clear Trip Log.

The "Go Home" Feature:
Under "Where To" is an icon "Go Home".  This feature, first noticed in the c550, is very useful.  It allows one to return to a frequently visited place with one touch of the screen.  There is no need to search for or spell the name.  The unit will create a waypoint "HOME" (from two options) the first time you touch the icon.  However, if you want to change the location of Go Home, you must first select HOME from the Favorites list and delete it.  Then one can create a new "Go Home".  (This is not explained very well in the .pdf Owner's Manual).

Last Position (Where is my car?) Feature:
One must remove the unit from the mount WITHOUT first turning it off.  Once removed, the unit can THEN be turned off or let it time out.  To 'find your car', select Where to?, Favorites, and look for Last Position.  (One may have to select the Navigation, Route Preference, Off Road, if they are near a road the unit can lock on to.)

Personal POIs:
You can use Garmin's POI Loader (or G7ToWin, which can save waypoint data to .gpx files that can be read by the POI Loader).

WAAS:
You can select WAAS on the 660, but I see no evidence of WAAS on the 760.

Other Features:

• Unlike the c550, touching the moving map allows one to pan it.
• One can enter a four-digit security code that requires anyone without (or forgets) the code to return to the "Secure Area" to unlock the unit.  Otherwise, it must be returned to Garmin to get it unlocked.
• Avoid Traffic Tie-Ups and Steer clear of traffic with nuvi's integrated traffic receiver. You can receive alerts about traffic tie-ups and road construction that lie ahead on your route.  Touch nuvi's screen to view traffic details or detour around the problem area.
• Wireless FM Audio Transmission will allow you to hear audio, including voice prompts, MP3s, and audio books through the car's stereo. The FM transmitter (not available in the European model) seems too weak to avoid static.
• The trip computer includes a resettable odometer, timers, average and maximum speeds.
• Bluetooth wireless technology allows hands-free calling capability when paired with your compatible phone.  Just tap the screen to dial or answer a call, then speak into the nüvi 660's built-in microphone.
• In addition, easily look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone's call history log. Don't know the phone number for your destination? Simply find and dial it from nüvi's extensive points of interest database -including hotels, restaurants, stores, and attractions.
• Built-in support for travel and enjoyment tools, including: an MP3 player, audio book player (for Audible.com media), JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, and calculator.
• Additional audio and content support is provided for optional Audible.com and Travel Kit plug-ins (sold separately).
• Antenna: Internal with external antenna jack.

 

 

Other Screens

....
            MP3                           °                  Picture Viewer                   °                      Trip Computer

....
World Clock                  °           World Map (Sunlit Areas)        °                      Calculator

Physical Size:  The 760 is 4.8"W x 3.0"H x .8"D (12.2 x 7.6 x 2.0 cm), as compared to the 660, 4.9"W x 2.9" H x 0.9"D (12.4 x 7.4 x 2.3cm).  Weight: both 6.2 oz. (190 g).  Case: Not waterproof or IPX0.  Headphone jack: standard 3.5 mm.  Power Input: 12/24 Vdc.  Usage: 10w.  The battery rundown time was 3 hours and 52 minutes with the backlight set to 50% -somewhat less than 5 hours and 40 minutes for the zumo and 8 hours for the SP c550, probably because this unit is lighter than those units and has a larger screen.

Joe's FAQs:
  1) Does it have a trip computer?  -Yes, by tapping the Map Page lower-left box.
  2) How many waypoints can a user put in?  -500.
  3) Can a user create a waypoint?  -Yes by touching the map either before or after panning.
  4) Is there a MARK key or similar?  -No, but you can use the "Where am I" feture by tapping the present-position icon.
  5) Can the unit do the "traveling salesman problem" solution?  -Yes.
  6) Does it have a GPS info screen?  -Yes.
  7) Can it display altitude?  -Yes.
  8) Are tracks displayed? -Yes.
  9) Are POIs displayed? -Not on the navigation map; however, they can be seen on a Favorites, Show Map.
10) Are street names pronounced? -Yes.
11) Does it have proximity waypoints to go with the POI loader?   All of the attributes of the POI appear to be supported, including proximity distance, speed, and icons for the POIs loaded.
12) Will it play music?  -The MP3 format for audio is supported.
13) Do you have to press screen buttons on the screen to get to the maps?  -No, if you start driving, and the map eventually appears.
14) Is there a computer connection? -Yes, USB to upload additional maps, MP3, Custom POIs, Waypoints, and Routes.  Also, Tracks, Waypoints, and Routes can be downloaded to MapSource.
15) How do you update the maps when the time comes?  -It appears that you can replace the existing map in Mass Storage.
16) Does it have a Security Code? -Yes.
17) Can you delete all the waypoints at once? -Yes.
18) Can you change the waypoint symbol? -Yes.
19) Is it rain proof? -No.
20) Does it have NMEA out? -No.
21) Does it have bluetooth? -Yes.
22) Does it turn On/0ff when the power from the car goes On/Off? -Yes
23) Can routes be stored? -Yes, 10.
24) Does it have a battery? -Yes, internal and rechargeable through the cigarette lighter plug or USB connection.*

*Procedure for charging the Battery from a USB Connection: Turn the unit off.  Plug in the USB. (That turns the unit on). Turn the unit off before the maps load and before you get the 'computer picture'.  Otherwise, you can't turn the unit off.

Features We Would like to Have:

• Include a MapSource map DVD of the map included in the unit.
• Better signal strength to the car radio.
• Provide a recharging power module.
• Be able to reverse a calculated route.

Now don't get lost out there -you all!
-jack yeazel