Ultra Cool Gadgets

The Escort Passport 9500ix is an intelligent and effective radar detector. It detect all bands of speed enforcement radar (X, K, Ka, and Ku) from both front and rear, and its programmable GPS-enabled circuitry ensures you won’t be caught off-guard by hidden speed traps or pesky speed cameras. It even eliminates annoying false alarms. The Passport’s GPS system takes advantage of the same satellites used for GPS navigation to pinpoint your exact location and compares it to the detector’s on-board database of red light and speed camera locations. As you approach a potential threat, the detector provides an instant audible and visual alert. Distinct audible, visual, and voice alerts provide a separate warning for each band of radar, as well as laser, and traffic safety warnings. The brilliant blue LED alpha-numeric display is easily read in direct sunlight, and features five selectable levels of brightness for optimum night or evening use.
- TrueLock/GPS Filter: The False Alert Eliminator.
- AutoLearn: Artificial Intelligence Protection.
- Mark Location: Speed Traps, Red Light Cameras, Speed Cameras, and More.
- Variable Speed Sensitivity.
- Alerts and Audio.
- Mute, AutoMute, and AutoVolume.
- Windshield Mount and Smart Power Cord.

Technical Details

- Crystal-clear voice alerts and high resolution display.
- Variable speed radar performance.
- AutoLearn intelligence and user-selectable preferences.
- Safety warning system and brightness controls.
- Comes fully equiped with a Comprehensive owner’s manual, quick-release windshield mount, coiled SmartCord, quick reference card.

Customer Feedback

As someone who has used several other brands and grew accustomed to false alarms, let me assure you this one is different. Better sensitivity without the constant beeping. I’m not sure why it took me so long to try a Passport, but I will say that I will not be driving without one ever again. This detector is absolutely incredible.

Get street smart with the TomTom XXL 540·T–complete, 5.0 inch widescreen navigation featuring Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates. Outsmart traffic and minimize delays with Lifetime Traffic Updates. Based on incoming traffic events, your device will suggest alternate routes. And, with Lifetime Map Updates you’ll always drive with the latest and most accurate maps. On average, 15% of the road network changes each year, so it is important to have the most up-to-date maps. With the XXL 540·T you’ll always stay current.
Switch on and go right out of the box. Spoken turn-by-turn instructions including street names will guide you to any address in the US, Canada, and Mexico–including more than 7 million preloaded points of interest. The TomTom XXL 540·TM is complete, widescreen navigation.

Only TomTom has IQ Routes Technology* which shaves time off even the shortest trips by calculating the fastest route based on time of day you are traveling. You’ll always drive the smartest, most efficient route and save time, fuel and money. Advanced Lane Guidance** uses photorealistic images to bring even more clarity to complex multi-lane exits so you can be more confident on the road.
TomTom has the most accurate maps and with TomTom Map Share technology you can instantly modify street names, street direction, POIs, road speeds and turn restrictions on your own device.
The “Help Me!” menu provides added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers. The award-winning Fold & Go EasyPort mount folds flat against the device, making it easy to take it with you from car to car.

Technical Details

- Preloaded with maps of the US, Canada and Mexico with Lifetime Map Updates.
- Lifetime Traffic Updates included–outsmart traffic and avoid delays for life with real-time information via your TomTom.
- Preloaded with more than 7 million points of interest in over 60 destination categories–gas stations, restaurants, hotels, ATMs and more.
- IQ Routes Technology calculates the fastest route possible based on time of day, saving you time, fuel and money.
- Advanced Lane Guidance indicates exactly which lane to use, so you can go confidently.

Customer Feedback

The GOOD:
+ Screen size met my expectations. Easy to see everything on the screen.
+ Startup time (including time to lock onto satellites) seemed fairly quick.
+ Roads were up-to-date and labeled properly. Didn’t find any errors.
+ Allowed me to customize just about everything I wanted to.
+ It functioned perfectly as a Navigation device.
The BAD:
- Internal memory not expandable. 96% used up without any ‘extras’ installed?
- When browsing maps (dragging my finger) it is a bit ‘laggy’.
- Windshield mount seemed to ‘pop off’ too easily.

OVERALL, I’m happy with the device. Happier than I was with Sync, Alpine, or Garmin. I consider myself an ‘Average’ navigation user (not a beginner, not an expert) and will update the review after using it more.

Garmin’s nüvi 265WT improves upon its 200-series predecessors by adding free real-time traffic updates from Navteq (for the life of the device) as well as Bluetooth connectivity to your cell phone. Other significant improvements in the 2×5 series include a predictive technology that provides faster satellite lock, a redesigned screen with more information, terrain maps, and an exciting new photo navigation feature. The 265WT provides complete maps for North America and the handy Text-to-Speech feature, so you get turn-by-turn spoken directions with the real names of streets (e.g. “turn left in 50 feet at Nebraska Way”, rather than merely “turn left in 50 feet”).
The nüvi 2×5 models all sport the slim design that Garmin introduced with the 200-series last year, so they all fit comfortably in your pocket or purse, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that makes them convenient for navigation by car or foot. All of the models include useful travel tools like a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. The 265WT also offers a wide 4.3-inch (diagonal) screen that displays 70% more of the road around you.
Important Product Information: This device features a “screen lock” feature. This is a standard feature on all nüvi 2×5 and 7×5 Garmin units. If you slide the “Power” key to the right, it will lock the screen and prevent any accidental touches. Once the screen lock feature is engaged, the screen will go black/gray after about 15 seconds to save power on the device.

Technical Details

- Bright 4.3-inch diagonal color touchscreen; 480 x 272 pixels, WQVGA TFT display with white backlight.
- Sleek, ultra-thin design fits easily in pocket.
- Preloaded with City Navigator North America NT.
- Supports Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling when paired with Bluetooth-enabled cell phones.
- NOTE: Model number on the box is 265WT because the traffic receiver is included; however, the model number on the device itself is 265W as the “T” in 265WT refers to the additional component

Customer Feedback

I have owned quite a few GPS units all including Phone, Laptop and Dedicated. Flat out before I even get started the Garmin Nuvi 265WT is the best I have ever owned.
Good response to finger input, and while the unit is overall much better quality than the MIO, I really do miss the MIO’s ability to have an info pane down the last third of the screen and the map on the first two thirds of it when desired. But there’s some of that info available in the data bubbles on the bottom and top so I’ll survive.

Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 305. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn’t just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 305 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we’ve ever tested. Yes, it’s that good. While no device this compact can do everything (yet), the 305 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. The 305 model includes wireless heartrate monitoring and it can also be connected to Garmin’s wireless bicycle speed and cadence sensor.
The big news about the Forerunner 305 is that it features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 305′s ability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, the tester had the 305 on his wrist and was tracking speed and distance with GPS satellites within 3 minutes. The next time we used the 305, satellite acquisition was nearly instantaneous. A run through dense trees didn’t faze the unit either; tracking remained true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally impressive. Whatever witchcraft has been cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it!

Customer feedback:

1. I use mine for cycling and running, the direct link to see your workouts mapped on GOOGLE EARTH is FANTASTIC!!!! (the included software is far more stable than the junk Polar included with their HRM’s. Heart rate strap with replaceable battery is coded and comfortable. It’s better in my opinion than the Polar products (of which I’ve owned three)
This is much better than the Forerunner 201 which I previously owned (locks on satellites 10 times faster) and I’d avoid the 405 unless you really want to use this watch as a normal day to day wristwatch (check out the 405 reviews)

2. I have enjoyed using this product so far. I have not used the heart rate monitor attachment yet. I have found the Garmin to be very easy to use and it seems to be amazingly accurate. The instructions were very easy to follow and implement. I look forward to exploring more of the features as I become more familiar with the Garmin.
The ordering process was very simple and efficient.