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.
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