Verdict: Sets the New Standard for GPS Navigation

REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Functionally identical to the more expensive 3790T, less voice command, 3-D building view, and topographic maps
• More than a mere cosmetic overhaul, the 3760T represents a significant upgrade over previous nuvi models
• New capacitive multitouch display is almost twice the resolution of older Garmin GPS units
• nuRoute technology with trafficTrends and myTrends finally brings a new level of intelligence to GPS routing
• Multitouch display, and less than 9 mm thick
• A few minor issues aside, the 3760T is very close to a perfect GPS

Verdict: Sets the New Standard for GPS Navigation

REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• More than a mere cosmetic overhaul, the 3790T represents a significant upgrade over previous nuvi models
• New capacitive multitouch display is almost twice the resolution of older Garmin GPS units
• nuRoute technology with trafficTrends and myTrends finally brings a new level of intelligence to GPS routing
• Multitouch display, voice command, and less than 9 mm thick
• A few minor issues aside, the 3790T is very close to a perfect GPS

Well, there you have it. The top 10 brands accounted for about 86% of all sales in this sector, with Garmin, TomTom, and Kenwood taking the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, respectively. This midyear report measures sales for the 6-month period of November 2009 through April 2010.

*Source: NPD Group, as reported by TWICE

WFSB recently ran a piece on GPS tracking devices for children, and interviewed yours truly to find out which ones are worth buying, and which ones should be avoided. Read on to watch the full interview.

Verdict: If I'm Ever Shipwrecked, This is the GPS I Want By My Side

REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Highly capable, rugged, and versatile GPS that's a good fit for novices and experts alike
• Has an integrated 3.2 Megapixel Digital Camera
• Waterproof and Rugged
• Comes with profiles for Recreation, Geocaching, Automotive, Marine, Fitness, and Camera

According to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), 814,957 persons were reported missing in 2007. About 80% of those were juveniles (persons under 18 years of age), the overwhelming majority of which were girls.

While most missing persons return home safely, that statistic shows that over 2,000 times per day, parents or primary care givers felt the disappearance was serious enough to warrant calling law enforcement. Even more troubling, the number of missing persons reported to law enforcement has increased almost 500% in the past 20 years.

What if, instead of sitting at home in a terrified panic that harm has come to your child, you could instantly locate him or her on a map, pinpointing their exact whereabouts?

GPS tracking technology continues to improve, and for the first time in years, I can enthusiastically recommend several devices as viable solutions that will help parents keep their children safe.

I thoroughly tested 12 different tracking devices in various real-world scenarios. Prices range from the inexpensive to the extravagant. Interestingly, price doesn't always equate to better performance.

Here they are, ranked in order from the best to the worst:

Verdict: Not Recommended

REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Small enough to be worn by young children
• Available in black, pink, or blue
• Watch costs $180, plus monthly service (starting at $9.95/month)
• Child locator GPS watch simply didn't work most of the time

I wanted to upgrade the aging factory stereo on my 2004 Audi, and get all the goodies that come with a 2010 car: built-in GPS navigation, Sirius Satellite, Bluetooth, MP3 playback, and multi-media capabilities. But buying a new car seemed a heavy price to pay for what amounts to a few creature comforts.

Basically I'm still quite happy with the car. I just wished there was a simple way to upgrade the electronics while still keeping the Audi factory look. Turns out there is. I upgraded my car, and you can too. And it's not as difficult as you might think.

You can have the Audi dealer do it all for around $3.500. Or you can do it yourself for around $1,400.

Verdict: Delightfully Old School

Review Highlights

• Generation 5 of Hertz's legendary NeverLost system
• Brings 2-way GSM connected services
• Still offers best of breed navigation with unmatched ease of use
• Could do a lot more with wireless connectivity than just weather and flight status data

This year, Hertz will begin deploying the 5th generation of its popular NeverLost GPS navigation system. Already available in select U.S. markets (for $12.99 per day, or complimentary in Hertz Prestige Collection cars), the Gen 5 NeverLost system brings real-time two-way connectivity, and advanced features such as online trip planning services, weather, and flight status data.

I had the chance to spend a week with a Gen5 NeverLost equipped car, and put the GPS system through its paces. How does the NeverLost Gen 5 stack up against previous NeverLost versions as well as stand-alone PNDs? Read on.