Why would you want Garmin map capability for RTW? Their content is very limited and I doubt if they'll ever catch up. I wouldn't be surprised if they throw in the towel by ditching their own platform like Archos and go with Android in future. They've already tested the waters with their phone, but noting to serious.

I would prefer Oziexplorer capability, which already has a beta android app out. Androzic allows for existing commercially available maps like Hema maps in Oziexplorer format to be viewed which is brilliant for Aussie outback trips. Those maps tend to be the most detailed.

The ability to us any topo map is much more appealing to me. Gives the out of work cartographers something to do as well. There are already plenty of apps with OSM and Mapquest maps which allow zooming to increase detail.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Cause 3rd party providers like OSM that are free and have the BEST coverage of the non developed world are garmin compatible.

Its like microsoft and PCs ... its not about being the best, its about having the universal format.

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Fair enough. Not sure if the Garmin platform is a good base though. I thought it was closed source. Looking around the traps a little bit it seems that the oziexplorer format is very popular for the ability to georeference. This is obviously not for the same target market as zoomable mapping like OSM.

Interesting development, but I can't help but think it's half-hearted as was their phone attempt in partnership with Asus. A colleague had one and it was rubbish.

It's understandable to not want to make a complete shift in software platform when you consider this company as a workplace. Not easy to say to long term staff that designed and developed the base software to either move into Android/linux platforms under the supervision or guidance from newly recruited staff with those skills or face retrenching. But they could end up missing the boat like Nokia.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

So, back with the hardware, Garmin do have a phone and it is using Android:-
Garminfone - Specifications ~ Garmin-Asus
Is this the one that is "nothing serious"?

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Dave

You got me looking for more about this aspect:- Garmin Smartphone Link Helps Android Users Provide Live Services to Their Garmin Nuvi Devices

Two aspects struck me about this:
1. Garmin seem to be selling additional services that can be obtained for free via a smartphone in any case.
2. You end up "owning" two screens which sort of ties in with earlier comments in here, if you happen to own a Garmin anyway, and all as per the title of this thread - what goes around, comes around!!

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Dave

The biggest negative for me would be - lose one, lose all.
Not yet seen a robust smartphone/PDA either and most of them don't seem to that good at being... a phone.

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Yes, that is one of the factors for where this thread originated, talking with various folks in a different thread about the best value Garmin on the market.
I have never been keen on multi-tools, whether it be that it gets lost, or broken or simply that they tend to do all jobs but none of them particularly well.
But, when it comes to electronics then other facets appear; in this case, Android seems to be a really well regarded "multi-tool" (i.e. loads of apps) operating system. Time will tell.
Even though the OP doesn't like Garmin (I think primarily for its' software, but he can speak more on that) he still carries quite a few tools in his bag - (see earlier posts for his) = smartphone, laptop and, yes, a Garmin!

But, one gets the sense that smartphones are in their infancy for developments regarding navigation apps/software, and who knows where they are going in this regard.

Hardware ruggedness; Yep, needs more development, but I would think that will happen - it did for standard mobile phones with rugged models aimed at farmers (at least one of the vids in an earlier link here is from Farmers Weekly, or some similarly titled source), builders, climbers etc etc.
For the farming video, they drive a tractor and a 4x4 over the various phones on test with no significant distress to the phones.

There are smartphones that don't make calls??

ps Don't have a smartphone, nor a Garmin, but I do have a Tom Tom (but no one talks about them!!)

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Dave

Spent the weekend in Tokyo ,,
All of above performed well.

Hi,

Tom Tom is out of discusion because there are hardly any good and free maps available for real travel in third world countrys and also the company is selling there cusomers to the police:

TomTom: Navi-Daten der Kunden an Polizei verkauft - News - CHIP Online

Im shure everyone who allready did a real offroad trip knows that Smartphones will not stand the hard vibrations and the dust but my old Garmin Nüvi 250 for US$50 surwifed Africa and Southamerica...

Greetings, Tobi

Tobi,
I haven't gone to Google translate so I will take your word about the information in your link.
Can we be sure that Garmin are not doing the same?
After all, they are tracking their customers which, in itself, is a good argument to revert to old fashioned paper map and compass!

Yes about the availability of maps for them; I have just been reading a GPS thread in the 4x4 section where it is stated that Tom Tom has poor map coverage outside of Europe (which I take to include North America in the context of the theme of that post).

ps, Here's that 4x4 thread
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...inefield-57224

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Dave

Garmin don't track their users, in the same way that Apple don't track you - despite the fact that a file containing your location data is bounced around servers but is not stored - it's used for figuring out which data to send you on devices that display traffic alerts etc....

For dumb terminal devices nothing is sent back... more importantly when you turn these services on you're warned your location data is sent to Garmin.

My 660 doesn't send anything back to the server, ever, because when I was first asked I said no. That also means I don't get any traffic alerts, software update alerts, or any other nonsense from them.

However, your phone carrier is storing your location data and there's nothing you can do to stop them doing so. They store it for three years and it can be called upon by the police to prove your location in court. So when using an Android or other smart phone that is in any way connected to a mobile network.... you're being tracked, like it or not - another reason why I prefer a dumb GPS to a smart Phone.

m

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