http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/ Engadget Comments for Garmin spits out new handheld, touchscreen GPS devices http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/Dec 29th 2009 7:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
They took the map out of Pokemon Red]]>Dec 29th 2009 7:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
Obviously, you know nothing about gps devices. The map shown is a topo map, that shows elevations, trails, etc. NOT your route to the nearest bowling alley.]]>Dec 29th 2009 10:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/Dec 30th 2009 1:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/Dec 29th 2009 7:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/lol. if you're concerned with how "sleek" your GPS is, i think you just outed yourself as "not the target audience for outdoor gear"...]]>Dec 29th 2009 7:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
The only other update may be one to the UI, but I would expect that to be available as a firmware update for the 300 anyway.

However, REI (at least the store near me) just put the 300 out at $100 off, so at least this may help lower prices.]]>Dec 29th 2009 7:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/Dec 29th 2009 7:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/Dec 29th 2009 7:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
Garmin are also one of few companies that make decent handheld GPSs. The common argument is "oh, but my phone does it" - yeah, it does, but it rapes your batteries doing it. You simply don't get 16 hours battery life from a G1 or an iPhone in GPS mode. This isn't just a gimmick like finding the nearest hotel or fast food store either, the people who buy handhelds are outdoor types (like myself) who want to go hiking without needing to take maps with them and want reliable navigation.

This also has base maps and elevation data built in (or added with cards). If you're in the middle of a trail, at sea or at 25,000ft you might not get a signal on your phone which means no maps.

Garmin sell devices for very specific markets. They are the major caterers for Aviation GPS devices and that's still a massive seller for them - there are few rivals to the G1000 for consumer glass cockpits. They sell marine GPS's too and similarly make a fair amount from that.

The only market where they are likely to struggle is turn-by-turn, a market that is now rather saturated with devices and there are more established companies like TomTom.

I agree with the interface though, it looks a bit cartoony. You can buy Ordinance Survey GPSs here in the UK, but they're pretty expensive.]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
Dude, they are getting their arses kicked in aviation by all the upstart handheld providers there, and it is only a matter of time before competitors start kicking them off their g1000 positions with the next best thing

Marine is a tiny not so profitable market for them

Auto OEM has crap margins

And they are getting creamed on mobile devices and their attempt to get into phones makes us all LOrespectiveA'sO !

Do you work for them ? sheesh]]>Dec 29th 2009 10:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
Agreed, and high fives to the comment. One more thing, where you might be using this type of GPS, you very well may have no cell coverage, therefore, no maps on most if all of the phones. Not to mention, topo. Pure gps devices need NO cell coverage, as you obviously know.]]>Dec 29th 2009 10:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/Dec 30th 2009 9:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
I'm using Viewranger (www.viewranger.com) on my Samsung i8910 phone. I don't agree that it 'rapes the battery', I've had a good 8 hours plus constant use of the GPS and Topo software while out hiking. Similar results on my Nokia E90 previously.

I also use Memory-Map on my Winmo devices (Qtek 9100 and a Touch Pro 2) with acceptable battery life.

OK, not the claimed 16 hours of a standalone device, but then i don't have the ability to go 16 hours of walking either! I walk approximately 50 miles per week, spread over every other day plus a longer one at weekends.

I do have a spare battery (the i8910 has a 1500MaH battery), plus 2 small but powerful portable chargers (2800MaH and 3400MaH), assuming i will be miles from anywhere. More than enough power for at least a couple of days without mains power. At a cost much less than a standalone, single purpose GPS unit.

As you are also from the UK, you'll know that most rambling/hiking trips often result in either a pub lunch or supper. Often with friendly landlords and 3 pin sockets. Similarly, you can't walk in any direction in the UK without eventually bumping into a rural church, equipped with a 3 pin socket and a charity collection box (for contributing to their electric bill).

So my phone doesn't 'rape it's battery', or have a lack of power options. On to the software.

Viewranger's maps are kept on the device. Both 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scales are available. If you have a lack of storage, you can just store the maps that you think you will need. If it turns out you need any others (and didn't bring them with you on an external media), you can download them from the web. (you'll have 3g web access. a) because you're in the UK, b) because you didn't wander into somewhere wild that didn't have 3g coverage without having a map first, right?)

Once the maps are stored, you don't NEED any sort of phone coverage, the GPS chip will work fine by itself (10-15 second lock time from cold on mine). However, IF you are somewhere with a signal, Viewranger can upload your position every X minutes to a website. So if you don't come back, people can find you from your last position (try it, go to http://www.viewranger.com/portal/vrbuddybeacon.php. user name 'ukjeeper', password '5859'. The push pin is my last reported position).

You can import/export GPX, LOC, etc files, add waypoint's, track your routes, import routes, take geotagged pictures. In fact, there's nothing you can't do (as far as i know) with a good topo map software like Viewranger (on Symbian) or Memory-Map (on Windows Mobile) that you can do with a standalone, single purpose GPS device. In fact there's a lot more you CAN do.

As to resilience, i haven't (yet) killed a phone out there. The Samsung is essentially a slab of toughened glass and rainwater runs off the side (while it's in my hand) then it goes back in my waterproof pocket. The E90 got damp on several occasions, but didn't die. The Touch Pro 2 is another slab with few places for rainwater to sneak in. As with any other electronic device if i want more protection there are plenty of bags, cases, options out there.

I'm not discounting standalone GPS unit's. I just think that modern smartphones, with good software (like Viewranger or Memory-Map) do everything a single purpose device can do, plus more besides (power issues notwithstanding as that is easily rectified).

BTW, your comment about going out without maps is troubling. No-one should go out without a real, physical map to back up an electronic aid. The more remote the trip, the more this is important.]]>Dec 30th 2009 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/HTC's Hero offers 4 or 5 totally free GPS services the best of which in my opinion are Nav4all and AugSatNav, but they are a bit slower than OVI on the N97 (after all firmwares , updates, 2.0 ROM and factory hardware fixes)
For the outdoor type all these devices offer a lot more functions or installable apps than a dedicated device and if you use an android device the free apps for outdoorsy freaks are in the 100s.
For those who need GPS just for driving, now nearly all cars come with infotainement systems that are quickly taking the place once occupied by the car radio / stereo.
If you own Garmin or TomTom stock it's high time to unload it.]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
Was typing something similar when I read your post - great summation. Who needs this? Really? For 399? Really?

From late Oct. till now, Garmin went from 40 to 30 dollars; overpricing like this will be the death-knell for Garmin. You cannot make huge revenue by trying to squirm into ever-narrowing niches...

they should make a singular product that does its job flawlessly with great battery life, and charge a small premium with it, knowing that if they are not competing with free now, they soon will be.]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
And all of the devices you mentioned, need cell coverage to continually download the maps. Try navigating in North Dakota, when you are on back roads, without cell coverage. Only phones that have complete mapsets downloaded to the card or internal memory, have the pure GPS advantage that standalone GPS devices have. Otherwise, you only have maps from where your last cell reception was.]]>Dec 29th 2009 10:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
People that constantly talk about the demise of dedicated GPS units in favor of cellular phones are missing the point. I know a whole lot of people personally that do not have cellular phones and will never get one as there is no need for the expense when they only talk on the phone two or three times a month.

Many people get up every day, go to work and come home to their family without ever having to call them and talk to them just to let them know they are ten minutes away and whats for dinner. I use my phone quite a bit for work, but my personal phone gets mainly used for talking to the wife and teenage son about things that could wait till later when we could talk face to face. Like reminding him to do his chores, when he doesn't go to bed until six hours after I get home. So why call at all? Because people that have cellular phones always look for reasons to make use of something that has such a high monthly bill.

People talked about the demise of Garmin and Tom Tom when the Google application was announced. Yet for this Christmas the third highest selling gadget was a GPS unit. I would be willing to bet that out of say 30 to 40 different units that Garmin offers, they probably have at least 3 models that have sold more units in 2009 than all the android phones combined. And that is just Garmin alone. You factor in all the different companies that make GPS units these days and it will be a very, very long time before cellular phones replace dedicated units.

Same with new car infotainment systems replacing them. Whats the percentage of the driving public in the US that buys a new car each year? I would guess 5% or less myself but maybe the numbers would surprise me. ]]>Dec 29th 2009 11:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/Dec 29th 2009 9:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/Dec 29th 2009 11:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
Yes, the 60CSx is now FIVE years old but it is still selling for $285-$300 brand new and people are gobbling them up.

Garmin is naturally trying to branch out into touchscreen devices with the Oregon series. However, their core navigation products are second to none.

And for the record, I use my TomTom for car navigation, my 60CSx for hiking and Geocaching, and my Blackberry (with a dedicated GPS chip, no less) for communicating.]]>Dec 29th 2009 11:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
Why Garmin can't take the best of what they do on dedicated handhelds and port that to phones is the real mystery here. When you can make the same margins, and not have to produce, ship, and store the hardware, why would Garmin (and Tom Tom) pretty much give up on the phone market?]]>Dec 30th 2009 9:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/garmin-spits-out-new-handheld-touchscreen-gps-devices/
You might want to read my reply above (the really long one!). Then look at Memory-Map for Winmo. The only things you might still finding lacking on a phone/topo solution would be power (addressed above) and individual waypoint icons (though i haven't looked at the newer versions of Memory-Map recently).]]>Dec 30th 2009 11:23AM