1) After a route is calculated, press the horizontal green bar at the very top center of the screen.
2) An route overview list is shown.
3) Click on the menu icon in the upper left of the screen.
4) Click on the word MAP.
Here you will see an overview map of the calculated route.
One of my continued critiques of Garmin is that their devices never seem to be completely done in terms of functionality. They never seal the deal. As the industry leader who still tries to push devices at the $399 price point, I expect the devices to be done. Here is a perfect example of being almost-done.
So, here we are shown a nice route overview map. It is relatively easily accessible in 3 clicks from the main navigation screen. Some Garmin devices, this being one of them, includes the ability to be shown multiple routes to your destination. That is a nice feature. But in typical almost-done style, Garmin doesn't connect the dots. What if I don't like the chosen route above?
It would make perfect sense to invoke the multiple route selection feature from this screen. With a simple menu icon in the upper left corner of this screen, we could be provided with a multiple route selection screen complete with ETA, miles and traffic delay on each of the chosen routes. Select one and go!
In fact, no where on a Garmin GPS, once you are navigating a route, can you ever initiate an overview screen of route choices to your destination. Take the example above. There are three perfectly good options to get from Des Moines to Dubuque. There are all within 10 miles and 15 minutes of each other on this 3.5 hour trip. But once you commit to a route, there becomes multiple ways to traverse a portion of your route after that. Let's say that I commit to the route above. Once I am near Cedar Rapids on I-80, there becomes three legitimate ways to get from there to Dubuque. As I approach Cedar Rapids, I'd love to regenerate route options quickly to select my preferred route for the remainder of the trip.
The multiple route option feature can only be selected on the initial activation of a route. So to be presented with those options again, you essentially have to select your destination again and start over. Hint: if you select your destination from the History list you can do this quicker.
From the screen above it is 9 button clicks in order to see route options other than the route shown on the screen. It could be done in 2 mouse clicks from the screen above if implemented correctly.
Garmin: have the courage to go all the way with your devices. Finish it.
