Overview
The Garmin nuvi 3590 LMT is the "Prestige" Garmin 2012 model and
offers all of the Garmin navigation options, including the new
Smartphone Link, which uses your Android phone to gather various data.
(The LMT
denotes that included in the package includes lifetime map updates and
free traffic). The 3590 has a 5 inch screen, while the smaller
4.3
inch
screen 3490 LMT offers all of the same features, but is the very thin
model. The 3590LMT
lists for a somewhat reasonable $379. It also has cell phone bluetooth
hands-free calling, along with much improved voice activation.
Scaled back models without the premium features are available
such as the 24x5/25x5 series. The 3590 LMT package includes the
unit, a suction cup
mount, which has a built in speaker and a vehicle power cable/traffic
receiver.
I had been using a 3790 LMT for about 18 months which I had
enjoyed and didn't think the 3590 had much more to offer me. But
I quickly found that this newer model has many improvements. The
voice activation works very well in the 3590, including the ability to
speak an entire address at once, instead of the steps of entering house
number, street, city, state, etc. It also is more accurate and I
have not had to 'yell' my instructions to the 3590, as I often had to
with the 3790. The ability to get real time weather data, even
traffic cameras, via your Android smartphone is also a major upgrade.
The unit is not perfect, but brings back some navigation features left out of previous nuvi units, such as custom avoidances, and adds speed
limit corrections, more flexibility in data fields and custom
dashboards.
The 3590 includes all of the standard Garmin features, but also includes what Garmin calls Garmin Guidance 3.0.
It also brings back a few favorite ones that had been phased
out, including the ability to browse/pan the map and
real time data, via your Android smartphone. The lifetime traffic
does NOT include ads.
2012 Lineup
Garmin introduced several units labeling them part of the 2012 lineup.
It is divided into units that are categorized as "essential"
(economy units nuvi 30, 40, 50) "advanced" (mid-range 24xx/25xx) and
"prestige," which is where the 3490/3590 fits in.
SmartPhone Link
The 3590 and 3490 are compatible with Garmin's new Smartphone Link,
which uses bluetooth to transfer data between the GPS and Android
phone. There is a free app available from Google Play
and then premium services
are available for a yearly subscription, which for what you get is very
reasonable. It brings back the same type of features that use to
be in the nuvi connected units 1695, etc which had a built in cell
transceiver for the data. The GPS and Android phone automatically
connect in most cases, after the two are paired. The range is
anywhere in the vehicle. You can click on the app on your phone
to connect, if it does not automatically. Recent firmware
updates appear to have improved the automatic connection, although some
users are still complaining in the forums, I have found it to be
working better. The Smartphone
Link icon in the upper right corner of the 3590 screen or the icon
turning blue on the Android represents a connection.
PhotoLive
This is a feature which can allow you to bring up real time traffic
cameras on your unit, so you can see what is ahead. It is a $9.99
yearly fee, with unlimited use. However, you must live or
travel in a state that has a transporation system which has the cameras
available.
Weather
The weather
feature gives you current temperature, humidity, barometer, etc via the
nearest airport which provides weather data. You can also see
weather radar, which shows you approaching storms, etc. You
also get weather warnings, such as thunderstorms, flash floods, etc, as
issued by the National Weather Service
Gas Prices
If you want to be
able to check the nearest gasoline prices, you can subscribe for $9.99
a year. This can show you the current price and also allow you to
navigate to the station of your choice.
Live Traffic
This is a $19.99 a year subscription for traffic data, that is
transmitted to your unit through the Smartphone Link. If you
already have the LMT model with traffic via the power cable, you
probably won't want this. According to Garmin.com: What
benefits will I have purchasing the Garmin Smartphone Link Live Traffic
services versus the Lifetime Traffic I already receive on my device?
Both
services provide very similar traffic information from NAVTEQ. The main
difference is the delivery method. Traffic received through a Garmin
traffic receiver is received through an FM radio broadcast while
Smartphone Link traffic comes through the phone’s data connection. In
some cases you will likely expand the coverage area using the Live
Traffic service through Garmin Live Services. Initially
there were issues with the Smartphone Link traffic not working well
with the free HD traffic that apparently have been worked out. I
didn't buy this subscription, but I have had good experience with the
HD traffic, which is discussed below.
Garmin Tracker
This
allows you to post your current location and a brief message to others
via email, Facebook or Twitter. You can also track other
users of similar Garmin units with the Smartphone link,
to see their location. One disappointment for me, is that it
does not allow you to track anyone with Garmin's GTU 10, which I have
two of-- This can only be done through your myGarmin account or through
the free Garmin Tracker app. The information is specific of your
location, even your speed, so be advised you are giving out a lot of
data, especially via social media. I would hope Garmin
would provide support for the standalone GTU models to be tracked on
the 3590 in the future.
HD Traffic
If
your 3590 is a model with a T, (i.e. 3590T) then you get free
traffic updates.
The traffic is now delivered via HD Radio broadcasts and it is ad
free. The traffic updates much more frequently and from what I
have seen is more accurate. This of course depends on where you
live (metro areas only) and the type of traffic data from the local
transporation agency, where NAVTEQ the traffic provider gets the data. The data
is downloaded through the power cord and must be connected to the power
cable, to get the data. (No pedestrian use) I have found
that
leaving my cable constantly powered, allows me to get the updated
traffic, as soon as I place my 3590 into the mount. If you
don't use the T model or the 3550 with no Bluetooth, you can still get the traffic via the
Smartphone Link, but this requires the $19.99 yearly subscription.
Junction View and Lane Assist
These
are two very nice navigation features which have been available
in Garmin units for the past year or so. The new models also add
3-D view, for complicated interchanges. Lane assist will come up
when you are about two miles away from making an exit, or needing to
get into a new lane where there is a freeway junction. In the
upper left hand corner you will see several arrows. The ones
which
are highlighted are the lanes you need to be in. I have found
these to be accurate and very helpful, especially in heavy traffic.
Lane assist is available in all areas. Junction view brings
up an image to show you what your upcoming turn looks like.
This is very nice, but not available in all areas, only high
traffic areas in major cities. But if you are in unfamiliar
territory, it will be a welcome feature to help you easily get through.
Below are screen shots.
Voice Commands
The
voice command feature in the 3590 is a HUGE improvement from the 3790.
First, there is the ability to speak a "Saved Place" or waypoint, which
is great. You can also just speak the name of a business and it will search for
it. You speak an entire address at once and the unit has done a good
job of accurately recognizing what I am speaking. This is very
helpful in traffic, as you can navigate to a location without ever
taking your hand off the wheel. You can also
adjust the volume, in addition to the searching options shown below.
You can customize a "wake up phrase" so the unit will ask you for
a command. The default is "Voice Command"
Points of Interest
The nuvi 3590 is loaded with 6 million points of interest, lodging,
restaurants, stores, etc. There is a new interface for searching
which I like better. Screenshot examples below.
myTrends
According to Garmin: "With myTrends, when you save your regular destinations in your “Favorites,”
your nüvi 3590 will, over time, begin to figure out where you’re going even
without your telling it! It provides time of arrival and relevant traffic
information. So whether you’re driving to and from work or a regularly scheduled
weekly event, your nüvi 3590 will help you get there on time." From
my experience, it will predict the time of day when you go home or
to work and provide a couple of route options for you and show you which routes have traffic impacts ahead.
trafficTrends
This is a feature that is included with the map data. It seems to
calculate a historical speed for the road and use that in factoring the
route. I have noticed it adds about four minutes to my typical 15
minute commute. You can switch this feature off in the map
settings and it will
calculate a time I have seen in previous units. I do find it
helpful to have this factored in the route, because I know it's a good
average of when I will get there. This feature only works on
freeways and major highways as near as I can see. If you do have
this feature enabled, Garmin will anonymously upload your tracklog
data, to help in calculating these traffic trends. It will
collect the information, when you connect your unit to your myGarmin
account. You can restrict this data from being uploaded, by
adjusting settings in your myGarmin account.
Here's Garmin's take on trafficTrends: With trafficTrends, your nüvi automatically learns daytime trends for
traffic flow to improve your routes and better predict your estimated time of
arrival based on time of day and day of week.
Additional Features
Shortcuts
You
can add a specific waypoint or category you like to search, that is
accessible through pressing just one icon. You can customize this
and add several pages of shortcuts. I have my office along with the cities option on the main page.
Map Layers
This is a simplified way to change what you see or don't see on the map
page. Traffic delays, trip log, POI icons, 3-D buildings or 3-D
terrain are all determined by the user. You can access this right on the map page (left side)
Where I've Been
This
keeps track of recent locations you have been routed to, showing date
and time and the location on a map. It is more than just the trip
log, which shows your location, but does provide some data about when
you were there. You can also clear this data, if you don't want
someone checking where you have been.
Last Spot
This is where the unit was last pulled from the mount, to allow you to return to the location where you parked.
EcoRoute
This has been a feature in the nuvi line for awhile, allowing you to keep track of your gas mileage,
etc. For another $99 Garmin now sells EcoRoute HD which allows
you to plug a device into your car's diagnostic port and get real time
data on your car's performance, etc. You can read more from Garmin here.
Other Features
The units also has previous non-navigation features including an Alarm
Clock, Calculator, World Clock, Language Guide, Unit Converter, Picture
Viewer, and Audible Book Player.
Trip Planner
This feature has been around in previous models, but easily allows you
to build a route along the way and optimize the stops to shorten the
miles driven.
Help Option
If you have a question about the unit, you can access basic information
on the feature, in the built in help section. This is a great
feature that really helps when you first get the unit.
Other Improvements
The
map screen now includes a mute button, for one touch muting of
voice, which
is helpful when you need it to be quiet. Previously it would be several
steps to mute the speaker. There is also a Stop Route
button, to stop navigating also with one touch on the map page.
The unit will go to sleep by pressing the power button. It will
wake up if you put it in the mount. It appears to use very little
battery while in the sleep mode-- I use mine too often to know how long
it holds a charge but believe it is several days in sleep mode.
Dashboards
You can change the layout of the data on the unit, through a few
different dashboards preloaded in the unit. You can also add novelty
dashboards, such as Star Wars or Sesame Street themes. These are
free and can be downloaded from this link.
Lifetime Maps
The 3590 LMT comes with preloaded street maps of the USA, Canada AND Mexico.
If you bought the 3590 LMT, it means you get lifetime map updates,
which are suppose to be released every 3-4 months. Don't be
confused, this isn't for your lifetime or using a Garmin GPS,
it is the life of the specific unit. If you didn't get the LMT
version, you can buy a lifetime map update license for
$90. These lifetime map updates
however, have come down to what I now consider a reasonable price,
after paying more than $100 for just one update in the past. However, you are entitled to one free update, as long as you download the update with 60 days of first use. Connect
your unit to your computer and register it at garmin.com to be
taken through the map update process. It is very easy now to do.
Pedestrian Use
The newer Garmin units including the 3590 work well for walking or taking public transit in a big city. The unit
will automatically switch between a portrait or landscape view,
depending on how you hold the unit. The pedestrian mode can
easily be switched in the upper left hand corner of the Where To page.
Switching to pedestrian will keep it from routing you on
freeways, highways, etc. You can then get a route, distance,
time, etc. Overall it is a very nice feature for getting around
in an unfamiliar city on foot. You have to
purchase the City Xplorer maps
if you want help using subways, public transit, etc. Each
city
runs you about $10. But if you are walking to your destination,
the preloaded maps will help you get around just fine. The
3590 has approximately a 3-4 hour battery life during handheld use.
Speed Limits
The 3590 allows you to adjust the included posted speed limits
on the map page. This change is kept in the unit's memory.
You will get a red indicator, if your current speed
exceeds the posted limit. While for the most part these limits
are accurate, be advised some are wrong and so it is best to verify
with the actual speed limit signs posted, as you travel. The
speed limit now also shows up on the Junction View page, which is a
nice improvement.
Connecting to Computer
The unit is not recognized as a Mass Storage Device like previous nuvis, but is a portable media device.
Touchscreen
The 3590 touchscreen looks good and has a bright, shiny look. It includes what Garmin calls a multi touch
interface. You can
easily zoom in, out, etc, by using two fingers. Garmin has
produced a good demonstration of these features, which you can
watch on You Tube by clicking here.
Overall, the resolution on the touchscreen looks beautiful,
compared to the economy models, such as the nuvi 30, 40, 50 models.
Help
I have seen the help option in the last few Garmin nuvi's. Garmin deserves some praise for
this. You can access many answers to common questions you may
have about the unit as you need a question answered. It is just as good as a paper manual and is
actually quite helpful, not only to learn about your unit, but anytime
you have a question. The help section includes several
categories and sub categories.
Glitches, Bugs, etc.
The
3590 in my use over the past three months and about 4500 miles, appears
to be free of glitches and bugs. Software
updates continue to make improvements. However, I did suffer a
catastrophic incident with the 3590 related to the Smartphone
link. While using the radar feature in the subscription Weather
option, I attempted to animate the radar, which is an option. The
unit shutdown and then attempted to restart for hours on
end. In the past with all of the other Garmin units, I have
been able to reset, restart, reload, etc and get it to work
myself. In this case, it would not work. I had to send it
back to Garmin. They did give me the typical great customer
service and I had a new unit back to me, one week after sending the
original to Garmin. We have made them aware of this issue and one
software update showed the only change was "improved software
stability." I have not been brave enough to try to animate the
radar as of this writing, but we suggest you do not try animating the
radar until we get better confirmation this serious issue is
fixed. Other than a few random restarts in my use,
I have not encountered any other issues with the 3590. I have had
a few Favorites or Waypoints seem to disappear from my unit. I
have not been able to determine the reason for this.
Satellite Page
A Satellite Page is available in the 3590. You can access
it by holding the signal strength meter in the upper left hand
corner of the main menu, but it takes some effort usually before it appears.
Trip Computer
The Trip Computer has two separate trip odometers that can easily be reset. It also has a second page of data
available. You cannot customize any of this data however, which is a disappointment.
Pros
Great touchscreen visibility
Improved map browsing options
Offers several features from previous nuvi units, (custom avoidance, etc)
Improved voice command capability
Improved Traffic data
Smartphone Link capable
More flexibility in customizing options
Cons
Smartphone Link app not compatible with iPhone, only Android
Unit can be difficult to secure into mount (Has a nice release button though)
Cannot turn off the beep when you touch the screen
No GTU tracking ability
Requires a 4GB microSD card for map updates, as of 2013.20-- due to expanded junction view files
Waypoints don't always show up on map-- inconsistencies with what is shown, depending on map scale
Satellite page is difficult to access-- pressing signal strength
meter in upper left hand corner can take time to activate and is
inconsistent
Carrying case is not included in package, but can be purchased for $20. It does help to protect your unit from scratches.
Summary
The 3590 is a good GPS navigator and as of this writing is the top of the line Garmin unit. It brings back features phased
out in the past. The Smartphone Link is a needed feature,
especially in this day and age of smartphones that can navigate for
you. I still prefer a standalone GPS instead of my phone, but
appreciate the options for extra data. The screen is very nice to
look at, the traffic is better and the voice command option is very
good. Again, the 3590 is the top of the line unit and you will
have to pay more $ for it, but if you are serious about getting around,
you won't be disappointed. To
see the official product page click here. Here is a direct link to the online owner's manual.
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