The latest Black Friday ads to hit the deal blogs comes from Kmart. While the store has experienced a mini-renaissance in years past, they sure haven’t bothered to upgrade their electronics department. Most of the deals in the Kmart ad have nothing to do with electronics, and the ones that do are a little sad. Basically, it boils down to this: The Sony Bravia L Series 32" Class 720p LCD HDTV is available for $379.99, which is a decent deal; the Magellan Roadmate 1220 GPS System is going for $84.99 and the TomTom ONE 130 GPS navigator for $79.99. Other than that, it’s basically all clothes and household accessories. There are a few game deals, but they’re mediocre...

Google takes a lot of flack for getting involved in so many different aspects of our daily life, but frankly it seems like this should have happened sooner. Google announced a new phone app, called Google Maps Navigation, that provides turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps street view, voice controls and constantly updated traffic data. Oh, and did I mention the price? It’s free. You’ve got to love the classic Google pricing model, which should also cause a little anger among competing app developers. There are similar navigation apps out there for your phone, but none approach this level of features without charging $50 per year or more (in the iTunes App Store, for...

It’s obvious the personal GPS device is already outdated, what with all the phones and other devices coming with GPS capabilities built-in. That’s probably why Garmin is trying to stuff more functionality into their new GPS units. The latest, the Garmin Nuvi 1860 and 1690, has a camera and a Web browser built-in, to try to make it more attractive. Basically, this makes the Nuvi 1860 dangerously close to fitting into the MID category of devices, though it seems Garmin is content to call it a simple GPS device. The Nuvi 1860 runs a special Linux OS and will be able to stream videos, access email and view media. The device works via Wi-Fi, with no word on whether it will have 3G...

Garmin's newest Oregon series GPS device finally has an official announcement. The Garmin Oregon 500 and 550t will be available at an REI near you soon. In fact, it was REI that leaked the details of the device before they were supposed to.As speculated earlier, the new models appear to be identical to the other Oregon series devices except for the built-in digital camera. The digital camera isn't going to win any highest resolution awards any time soon at only 3.2 megapixels but you should still be able to shoot decent quality photos at that resolution. The GPS device will automatically geotag each photo allowing for easier organization later.Strangely Garmin's press release didn't mention...

Costco is selling the Garmin nuvi 855 portable navigation device for $299, after a $200 instant rebate. You must be a Costco member to order one, but at this price, you can afford to buy a membership if you don't already have one and still save a wad of cash.The nuvi 855 features voice activated commands, auto re-route, and lane assist. The 4.3 inch LCD touch screen makes operation a breeze. The device also features an FM transmitter and a built-in MP3 player letting you play your favorite tunes Hannah Montana tunes through your car's stereo. The device can even remember where you parked your car, assuming you didn't leave it in your car!The deal is good through the end of May, while...

There are a few simple guidelines to follow when choosing a Navigation GPS unit. Fortunately the process is simple and the choices are broad so you are sure to get what you need as long as you the time to assess exactly what that is.By Car or By FootThere are three types of Navigation GPS units categorized by their portability. Two for your car: installed and portable; and one for you: handheld. First, decide if you will be primarily using your Navigation GPS unit in a vehicle or on foot. If you need it for your vehicle, Navigation GPS units are usually bigger, with a larger screen that is easier to see from the driver’s seat. Handheld units can be used anywhere you go whether...

It may appear at first that Recreation GPS units are all the same, but you’ll want to consider a few key differences before choosing one. Think about the activities you will be doing with your Recreation GPS unit. Activities will determine features.Outdoor UseRecreation GPS units are generally designed to be more rugged than navigational GPS because Recreation units are used for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and many other outdoor activities. But if you are going boating or fishing, be extra careful to find GPS units that are waterproof and that float in case you drop them. Look for a Marine GPS unit. Some units are designed specifically for boating and are simply mounted on the...