05 February 2010
	GIMME See it all, know it all By Kate Thompson

Garmin's new top-of-the-range automotive GPS, the Nuvi 1410, is a sleek and smooth upgrade on previous offerings. The first thing you'll notice when you crack the 1410 out of its box is its huge screen. Measuring 11 cm (excluding casing), the screen is one of the widest on the market, providing space for extra contextual map information at a high zoom level. This is what sets it apart from the compact, entry-level units. Another new feature is the option to see additional information. You get a countdown of kilometres to your destination and an elevation measure along with the usual estimated arrival time and speed. The touch screen is responsive and easy to read even in bright sunlight, and automatically switches to night mode after sunset for reduced glare. One minor complaint is that the protective rubber backing scratches readily, but a larger concern is the battery life, which is just a few hours. Don't go driving off without your battery charger. The range comes with SA street maps loaded. Updates and traffic warnings can be downloaded to the console via a USB connection (not tested for this review). The maps held up well in drive tests in Cape Town and Jo'burg, but crucial updates are needed - for example, about the Oxford Road/Bolton Road detour in Rosebank.