GARMIN StreetPilot 2820

Screen

Display 3.3" W x 1.7" H (8.4 x 4.4 cm) 454 x 240 pixels Bright automotive-grade 8-bit color LCD w/automatic dimming backlight and touch screen; compatible with polarized sunglasses
WQVGA color TFT
Photo sensor: Senses lighting conditions for automatic backlight dimming
User can calibrate the touch screen.
Backlight : there is a backlight available. The unit also has an automatic sensor on the back of it, which will dim or brighten the screen depending on night conditions. User can also set this setting to manual.
Screenshots : the 2820 is compatible with xImage, which allows to grab screen images and make modifications and customize splash screen. User can’t create custom waypoints symbols and send them to the 2820, as he can with other Garmin handheld units.
The brightness : the brightness can be switch control to Automatic or Manual. Automatic uses the built in sensor to adjust the brightness levels.

Audio

Voice: Navigation instructions and warnings
announce the name of exits and streets

Map

2D or 3D maps
The map options include choosing the map detail, ranging from 'most' to 'least.' User can select a 3-D bird's eye view or the more traditional 2-D flat look.
The map options is also where he can select if he want the screen to be 'day' which is light or 'night' which is a dark or negative style screen. The default is for 'Auto' which means the unit will automatically switch when the GPS senses it is either sunrise or sunset.
“Browse Map”
This allows user to browse the map and even save locations he see as a favorite. However in this mode there is no lat/long shown, that is only available in 'My Locations' under 'Coordinates.'
“View Map”
Pressing the "View Map" option will bring up the map. The default is the 3-D "bird's eye view." It is set for auto zoom, but user can use the + and - symbols to zoom in/out to the perspective he want. He can also browse the map in this mode. Touching the map will automatically throw it into 2-D (flat screen) and allow user to pan the map around with his finger.
Once user has selected a route and then used another feature such as the MP3 player, he must get back to the main menu and press "View Map" on the touch screen or the "Map" button to the right of the screen to bring the map screen back up.
When user is navigating, if he press a navigation field on the right hand side of the screen, it will bring up the pop up list of future turns.
When he is not navigating, he can press the speed key to bring up the trip computer.
User can choose 3D or 2D view

3D                                                                   2D

View of 3-D map above with wide navigation fields, which are user specific. The yellow square signifies a traffic issue ahead and a better route is available. Pressing this icon will bring up the traffic page and allow to take the better route. The yellow underline indicates a traffic issue on this road. The blue line shows the current route to take.
User can customize the color of the active route, options include: Magenta, Red, Blue, Orange. He can also select if he want all other roads except for the one he is navigating dimmed out. He can also customize text size, geographic areas, streets, favorites, and map zoom level in this section.

Buttons

There are both external controls as well as touchscreen controls in the 2820. On the exterior there is the power button, a rocker switch on the right side of the unit. On the right front there are the following buttons: Find, Menu, Map and Speak. These buttons will get you to the main areas, although in most cases use of the touch screen after accessing these main pages is required. I did find the external buttons helpful, instead of having to navigate through the touch screen exclusively.

Main menu page

The main menu page is where all of the controls are.
Pressing the signal meter in the upper left hand corner will bring up the satellite page.
The bluetooth icon is visible if the unit is connected to a bluetooth phone and headset.
The "Where To" is where user select where to navigate to.
The "View Map" brings up the map page in 3-D.

Settings

Settings are accessible from the main menu by pressing “settings”.
There are six options and they include : General, Navigation, Screen, Map, Traffic, Bluetooth.
Pressing "About" will allow to see which software and audio version the unit is running on.

Settings -> “General” menu

This is where the main basic settings are and there are several categories. GPS allows to select WAAS on or off as well as to set simulated position if user is indoors and set the GPS function to off.

Language lets select both text language as well as voice.

Audio has several options, such as if user wants spoken directions, the attention tone, touch screen tone and key press tones to sound, as well as a feature known as speed adjusted volume. This is a good feature that will automatically increase the sound of the unit, when user is at highway speed and reduce it when he’s going slower. Audio is also where user specify if he want the audio jack to send out headphone level or "Line Out" if he’s plugging it directly into a stereo system.
Other features available include, Proximity Alerts, Tour Guide, Time, Units of Measure, and Safe Mode.

Voice for navigation

The default voice for navigation is "American English Jill." There is also a male voice known as Jack. The 2820 will give 'text to speech directions' (TTS), meaning it will speak whatever is on the screen. This includes built in Points of Interest as well as favorites (waypoints) saved. User can select "American English” if he does not prefer to have the speech directions giving the names of streets, etc. It's vocabulary is very limited, but will still give basic navigation directions.

Speak Button

The Speak Button will always give the next navigation point. For instance, pressing it will give a verbal direction for example of "turn left in X miles" and also bring up the next pop-up screen. This is helpful when user is wondering how much longer he need to stay on the road or when next turn or maneuver is approaching.
When user is not navigating somewhere it will give him a "Ready To Navigate" message.
Holding in the 'Speak' button will also bring up the adjust volume level page.

Tools

The 2820 features several GPS related options as well as other features. They are listed in the "Tools" on the main menu and include the following options:

My Data

This is where most of the GPS functions are accessed.

“Routes” page will allow to create, edit and also navigate a pre-determined route.
“Favorites” is the same favorites as in the find button.
“Custom POI's” in this area only allows to completely delete all of the loaded Custom POI's. “The track log” is where user can turn the log on or off, reset the log, specify at what zoom level on the map you see the track points and see what percentage of the track log is already full. The tracklog capability is one of my favorite features in a GPS, which will log location (lat/long) speed, heading, elevation, time of trip. The tracklog has been expanded to up to ten thousand points, which will easily log more than 1,000 miles.
“Home location” allows to review user home location and edit the information such as find from the find menu, find on the map or use his current location. The mileage log is a nice feature if user have several people driving the same vehicle, such as a delivery truck and each driver wants to keep track of their mileage. There are up to four different mileage logs that can be used.

“My Locations”

This is where user access his saved Favorites. User can enter lat/long coordinates in 'Enter Position" or he can Browse Map and see the lat/long on the screen.

Volume

The volume control allows to customize the levels of voice navigation, XM Radio, the MP3 player and book player as well as the cell phone calls. These are found in the advanced area of the Volume control. Again, if user mutes the music player, it will NOT mute the voice navigation directions.

Other information

“Safe mode” : When the 2820 detects user is driving, it prohibits him from making adjustments to the 2820 as a precaution to keep him from being distracted while driving. User can also set the 'safe mode' to off.

Menu navigation

This is where user can access the satellite page for current GPS Information, including lat/long and altitude. He can also get to the Trip Computer, and the Turn List, which will feature the current active route and turn by turn directions.

“Find” menu

The 2820's find menu gives numerous categories to choose from.
This is accessible by pressing the 'find' button on the right side of the screen or 'Where To' on the main menu.

“Recent finds”

It will list recent finds, to make it easier to navigate them again. There are also categories user can save them or delete them in.

“Address”

Pressing 'address' will allow to input a street address and be routed to it.
User is prompted to enter the city first, followed by the street name and then the house number. User don't enter in N, S, E or W. If he’s selecting an address outside of the state he is currently in, he can select the state before inputting the city.
He will be prompted for the direction.

“Streets & Cities”

User can select a City, Street Name, Intersection, as well as Freeway Exits.

“Go Home”

This will automatically route to user home (or another location he save in his favorites as 'home') with the single push of a button or two quick presses of the Find key will also automatically route user to his pre-selected 'home' location.

“Food, Hotel, Etc.” - POI

This is where user accesses all POIS, including Search All. There are several categories and then sub-categories to help user narrow down the search options. For example in food, there is 'All Food' followed by American, Chinese, Fast Food, Mexican, Seafood, Steak and many more.
Most of the options are from the included six million Point of Interest database for businesses, found under "Food, Hotel..." But there are some important custom find options.

“Extras”

If user load Custom Points of Interest, this is where he access them to either navigate them or view them on the map. However with Custom POI's, he cannot edit the information, this can only be done on the computer before they are sent to GPS receiver through Garmin's POI Loader. He can save them as a favorite though in 'My Locations."
Custom POI's show up on the screen in the 3-D mode and in the 2-D mode.

Proximity Points

The 2820 supports Custom POI's. In this area of the options, user can enable whether he can an audio alert for only POI's that are speed cameras or for all of his custom POI's. He can also select the type of alert he want. He can also set proximity radius in his waypoints stored in his "My Favorites”. For example if he want to be alerted if he gets within one mile of his favorite restaurant or want to stay away from something else and be alerted if he gets
The 2820 allows to load in Custom points of interest, speed and redlight cameras and school zone warnings.

This screen shows some of POI's loaded in. They include all airfields in the U.S., as well as the Major League Baseball ball parks and the arenas for every NBA team.

This shows the nearest MLB ballparks. Pressing one would allow to navigate to it.

This screen shows Target Stores loaded in for the U.S.

“My Location”

This option allows navigating, editing or saving favorites. User save his own favorites, view his recent selections, see his current location (in latitude longitude format) as well as his own created custom Points of Interest (POI's) which are saved in the "Extras" category.

Use navigation

There are several options in Navigation. User can select the type of vehicle, including Car/Motorcycle, Pedestrian, Bicycle, Truck (delivery) or Bus.

In the bicycle mode it would not route on interstate freeways, only medium sized highways. User can decide if he want a route calculated for a faster time, shorter distance or even off road.
He can set up the next turn pop up, and if off route recalculation is automatic or prompted first.
The 2820 will automatically re-calculate a route if user miss a turn

Screen example of Active Turn List. Shows data about current route on the top line, such as distance, ETA and a countdown to arrival.

Screen example of 'View All' in Active Route list, user can also scroll down and see every planned maneuver. Pressing a specific maneuver will bring up a map page, showing what the turn looks like. A helpful feature when user is in an area he’s not familiar with.

Trip computer

The 2820 has a built in trip computer. User can log his current trip and averages. He cannot change the data fields however. User can access the trip computer by pressing the speed in the data fields of the map page, or pressing "Navigation" in the "Tools" section.

Recalculation

When user is navigating, a stop and detour field will show up on the screen on the bottom of the main menu.  If he want to stop navigating, he press stop.  If he is stuck in traffic or hear of an incident ahead he want to avoid, he press the detour key and the 2820 will give him options of how he want to detour by distance and automatically re-calculate a new route for him, taking he off his current route at the next available option.  User can also hit 'Detour By Roads' and the unit will bring up road options and he can choose which road he want to take.

Route avoidance

User can also select which 'avoidances' he want to avoid, including traffic (if he is using the optional traffic receiver), U-turns, Highways, Unpaved Roads, Toll Roads and Car Pool lanes.

Favorites

This page shows what a 'favorite' or waypoint looks like when select it.  Pressing “Go To” will create an autoroute and give navigation instructions.

Tour Guide

The 2820 is compatible with Garmin's new Tour Guide.  It works as a Custom POI file, and uses audio files to announce certain areas of interest.  Basically when user get within a certain radius of a location, it will trigger the audio file to play through the 2820 and for example offer information on a historical area.  While the 2820 is compatible with this new feature, so far there is little information from Garmin to actually use it, but at some future date, there should be third party MP3 files to download into your 2820, which will alert user to points of interest as he gets within a certain distance of the location.