Garmin Heads-Up Navigation Facing Near-Free Alternatives
Portable GPS navigation device manufacturer Garmin has released a new product that projects directions directly onto the windshield in order to create a 'heads-up' type of display. The feature allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road and not get lost at the same time.
The Garmin technology wirelessly connects to a smartphone and sits on the dash of the car. The smartphone connection allows the system to update maps on a regular basis, but there is a cost involved: in addition to the $130 device, it's necessary to subscribe to one of Garmin's navigation software packages, which costs an additional $30.
Even more of an issue for Garmin is the fact that there are already smartphone apps that do exactly what this new product is doing, but at a much lower cost - in fact, less than $5.00. These apps project an image from a portable phone's screen up onto the windshield to create a similar heads-up display effect, and they do not require buyers to pay for maps, as they use Google navigation or similar free services.
