Garmin-ASUS nuvifone G60 spills loads of Linux-laced screenshots

Yeah, we've seen our fair share of glimpses at Garmin-ASUS' nüvifone G60, but with the Linux-based phone just weeks away from shipping over in the Far East, these last minute looks are becoming all the more tantalizing. A reviewer over in Malaysia managed to spend a bit of quality time with the handset, and while he's still waiting for his official review unit, he managed to snag a litany of screenshots that gives us a fantastic idea of what to expect from a user interface perspective. We have to say -- we kind of dig the whimsical look at a glance, but it makes us wonder just how serious of a smartphone this thing really is. With Android already out, does this UI look like it has the chops to compete? Hit the read link and let us know.

[Via GPSTracklog, thanks Rich]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 5:59PM]

Seriously don't like the looks of this system... The HTC Hero, Palm Pre and iPhone is really a bag of hurt for the Garmin phone... Don't quit your day-job Garmin...!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 7:22PM]

Wow. Just wow. In the world of iPhone, Pre, and HTC's Sense UI for Android, that interface looks like utter amateurish trash.

There's still time to save yourselves from this money pit, Garmin.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 7:29PM]

And I assume by "whimsical" Engadget means "horrific?" :(

[Ethyriel Posted Jul 23rd 2009 7:58PM]

I could care less how it looks if it's highly functional.

[NickDG Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:01PM]

The UI looks boring to me. If it came out 3 years ago it would be great.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:06PM]

Well...they did start working on it 3 years ago...

[Hydra Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:01PM]

Looks good, like a regular garmin gps OS made into a phone. But, I feel it will really have a lot more gps features than most GPS phones. So will wait and see what happens

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:04PM]

Ew, gross. I want to throw up. I seriously dislike this UI

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:06PM]

Wow, I didn't know the 2009 UI trend is to have a GLOWING button. Great!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:07PM]

I believe it was released in Taiwan last Saturday.... I don't think the phone is really trying to steal much marketshare from the iPhone, Pre, and G1/Hero... It's more GPS-centric, probably targeting tech savvy soccermoms who want to combine their nav unit and cell phone and look cool doing it.

[saintdavid Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:33PM]

That makes winmo look gorgeous

[Andir Posted Jul 23rd 2009 7:40PM]

That's impossible...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:33PM]

Wow, that is a ton of ugly!

[Jacob1 Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:39PM]

looks downright Windows 3.1ish haha. Actually not really, but it doesn't have the shine of the HTC Hero or SE Rachel UI.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 6:59PM]

Looks lame...they should've probably hired some designers.. lol

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 7:01PM]

They lost my interest when they said it's the last linux phone they'll make. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

[Ethyriel Posted Jul 23rd 2009 8:00PM]

I thought they said it was their last phone based on their own Linux system, not their last Linux based phone. It would be pretty silly to rule out Android, or WebOS if Palm ever licenses it.

[poyo Posted Jul 23rd 2009 7:35PM]

Really!!!!

so long in the making and this is the clunker they come up with? lol

having android out there free and open source and you choose to develop this? hehe, ok im done now

[daseff Posted Jul 23rd 2009 8:02PM]

Hm.. Guess I'm the only one who really, really likes it.

Everyone acts like the iPhone is Jesus, ummm.. have you seen it's UI? It's more simplistic and boring than this. Just has a nice browswer. I'm looking forward to this phone making it to the states.

[JONNNathannn Posted Jul 23rd 2009 8:21PM]

Go google some pictures of the iPhone's weather widget, texting screen, iconic menu screen, etc and tell me that it looks "more boring than this."

The iPhone hate is so lame here. "People like it so I have to hate it using things I make up!"

[daseff Posted Jul 23rd 2009 9:44PM]

Um, I happen to have an iPhone and I also happen to love it. But thanks for your concern!

[JONNNathannn Posted Jul 23rd 2009 8:20PM]

This UI is hideous and looks atleast 8 years old. It is so boring, bland and basic. Gross.

Pass.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 8:41PM]

I'm pretty sure those icons came from a Win XP icon set circa August 2001.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 9:31PM]

It's odd people are complaining about the "UI" or user interface and not the GUI. It's the "graphical" aspect of GUI you people are whining about, not the "USER INTERFACE" since you don't know how well or poorly it works.

Another one of those oddities when people shorten words and phrases unnecessarily and lose all meaning in the process. Sort of like calling a "Hermaphrodite" a "herme"

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2009 10:12PM]

This is exactly what I'm looking for. I don't need android, minimal browsing, or all the bloat that comes with modern smart phones. I guess I'm what another poster called "a soccer dad" who needs a good gps, phone, hopefully a music player, and maybe a camera. (I have a really good point and shoot and DSLR already).

If I can make calls, get directions to a north beach restaurant, some pic of the wife, then I'm happy. Bring it on.

Goodness knows I've been waiting.

[PEZ Posted Jul 23rd 2009 10:21PM]

None of you have ever seen the UI in action. You are all 12 year old losers.

[KEROLiUKAS Posted Jul 24th 2009 1:09AM]

That UI as eyecandy is fail. Though it could be usable, who knows. I would say I've made/can make better UIs, but that would not be fair as i'm a graphic designer.

[riku Posted Jul 24th 2009 2:16AM]

Is this screenshot a joke? C'mon, look at the fonts!

[Flix C Posted Jul 24th 2009 9:01AM]

Kinda looks 2005 to me...