Hey, remember the
Nuvifone? Sure you do -- it's Garmin's entry into the wide world of smartphones. You know, the company's Linux-based, proprietary OS phone that's heavy on GPS integration? Well according to a recent report, plans to launch the device in the
first half of 2009 have stalled, with the company stating that it will be pushing the window back towards something closer to Q3. President and COO Cliff Pemble expounded on the difficulties of building a smartphone from scratch during a conference call with analysts, noting "Smartphones are complicated and bringing one to market that's built totally from the ground up on a custom Linux platform is not an easy task." If you'll recall, the original announcement of the Nuvifone was way back
in January of 2008, with a planned release in Q3
of that year -- placing this new launch a full 12 months out from the intended street date. We're all for competitors in this market, but it seems like maybe the folks at Garmin jumped the gun with all these dates they've been dropping on us -- missed launches don't exactly promote confidence.
[Via
PMP Today]
posted May 10th 2009 12:09PM
now THIS is vaporware.
not all the other stuff that people constantly throw the term at.
Their own app for the iPhone will be out before their own phone. /facepalm
Seriously. Manufacturers need to stop unveiling products well before they are ready for full scale production. This device was hot last year but all the hype has deflated and potential customers now have their eyes set on other products. Plam committed the same offence with the Pre and it's not long before Apple take the wraps of an updated iPhone which might be available immediately.
You mean the updated iPhone that its fans have been hyping for the past SIX MONTHS?! The one whose OS has already been detailed over and over again for weeks?
You act as if Apple's phone is some super-secret device at this point.
I agree that announcing too early is something that should be avoided. Apple has done the same thing, though.
Look_Around_you
Have you seen the specs of the new iphone? Because no one else has. The newer 3.0 OS is public, yes, but that is not really tell you anything about the actual phone. Additionally it is not being paraded around like the big Pre-let_down
Actually Apple hasn't announced a new iPhone. Everyone expects it, but that's different from promising a release a year in the future, and then still missing the mark by a mile.
The problem is, the Nuviphone features and hardware specs were probably decided a long time ago, so it'll be outdated as soon as it comes out.
I love my Nuvi 350 and the idea of integrating a phone into a GPS receiver is pretty cool. I'm just afraid it won't be well-executed.
How did Palm commit the same offense? They announced a product in January and promised a release some couple of months after. Hmm, sounds familiar to what another company with the fruit logo did. I guess when apple does it, it's all ok isn't it?!
actually, more like whocaresware!
Their eager fans are both deeply disappointed at this news.
They crashed xorg
LINUXSUX!!!
WINMO7FTW!!!
no thats a bad mr kitty, no!
On a similar note...
you can derive a proprietary OS from Linux? I'm not versed in the GPL, but I thought that wasn't allowed.
Not the best looking UI in the world, looks like something from the 90's.
will most likely be a terrable phone. but awesome GPs unit.. sort of... TomTom always gets my vote though
I used to be interested in this phone, but now it's getting old.
Still, I'm sure it'll appeal to some people.
I mean, it'll still be a great, if not the best GPS/Phone hybrid.
(Since this one atleast has a nice screen)
Nuvifone is NOT a smartphone. Not by any stretches. It's an excellent phone/navigator and a mediocre "internet communication device" as Jobs would call a phone with a browser.
@ Look_Around_You,
Have you seen the new iPhone yet?! No, In didn't think so. There's a big difference between rumour/speculation and actually unveiling a product.
First, there's a reply system here.
Second, there is a different between announcing and rumors. Apple has announced things and then taken a long time. I don't feel the need to compile a list for you, but if you want to do some research, you can start at notifications.
What we're talking about here is hardware not software. And the fact that almost everyone here is labeling this handset as old news, just proves the point that announcing hardware too early can be a very bad mistake.
Just wait.
If it launches it will be the best phone ever!
Do you know why?
BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE FRIGGIN DUKE NUKEM FOREVER!!!!
Super secret source deep within the underground super secret bunker uunderneath the garmin headquarters have told me that this is the reasoin it gets delayed again and again. they are wating for the duke to arrive.
this will never see the light of day....
No iphonekiller here.!
Doubt will be a major success due to so many smartphones have an ok gps.
It will only appeal to a small market, not blowing up. Agree?
Can someone tell me why in the world Garmin would try to build ANOTHER linux-based phone OS from the ground up when they could easily just modify an existing system with a custom GPS application/interface layer??
Seriously, we are up to a half-dozen different mobile Linux implementations, and many are already production ready with all the necessary libraries and components integrated and tested.. Look at this list:
- Android
- Access Linux
- LiMo
- Mobilinux
- OpenMoko
- QTopia
- Maemo
Not interested anymore, taking too long.
Garmin products are garbage, and are getting more and more gimmicky as time goes on. I own a Garmin Nuvi 780 GPS (roughly $500 when I bought it around christmas) and the terrible interface, buggy software and innaccurate maps never cease to amaze me. They release GPS models the same way Nvidia releases video cards...20 different variations of the same card, with different "features" for different retailers, and no support for any of their products. My Nuvi 780 is so full of bugs but there hasn't been a firmware update for months. And no, I can't return it...the "new" 780 model was "discontinued" a few weeks after I bought it...
I'll buy a phone with GPS capabilities (from a different manufacturer) but I'll never buy a GPS with phone capabilities, especially from Garmin.
They have gotten too big and cocky for my tastes.
"Smartphones are complicated"
Proof that they should work on software to sell on someone else's hardware.
Now that most of the major smartphone OSes have an app store, I suspect it will become increasingly difficult to sell devices with custom OSes that do not. I understand Garmin has plans to offer Android-based devices, but they really should do it sooner, rather than later.
I don't think most companies realize the time and effort it takes to build a good production grade Linux based mobile OS, instead they think the "hard stuff" is done for them already so its just going to be a bit of clean up work and a fancy UI. Its not, it takes lots of work and if you don't give it enough time lots of delays as well. just ask Palm.
they are afraid to launch this thing... GARMIN stays with GPS please..
put an iphone next to that thing you guys will cry.
Garmin has lost all creditability at this point. The phone was interesting at the time, a LONG time ago. But so much else have come out, been improved, and announced since then. If and when they ever get the thing out it will already been outdated. They'll have to sell it as a $99 phone just to get ANY market share.
I like how the OS looks. I believe this will still appeal very well to people regardless of how long it is delayed. If the phone can provide an adequate Media player along with a web-browser on the same level as opera, it will sell. The largest problem for them to overcome will be the lack of applications since its proprietary OS, if they could "borrow" an App store that would save this phone.