Garmin Nuviphone - Set to Compete with the iPhone [Archive]

paa79594

01-31-2008, 01:27 AM

Story:
http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/01/30/garmin.nuviphone/
Hands on:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/30/hands-on-with-the-garmin-nuvifone/
UI Images:
http://www.engadget.com/photos/garmin-gets-official-with-its-nuvifone/
Discuss:
I don't endorse this thing. Just thought I would bring let everyone discuss it.

psylichon

01-31-2008, 02:32 AM

Competition is good.

This will be competition. Anyone who says that doesn't look attractive isn't being honest with themselves.

hexonxonx

01-31-2008, 02:39 AM

acosmichippo

01-31-2008, 03:09 AM

the copies are getting better...

...still not quite there, yet.

Hondamaker

01-31-2008, 03:59 AM

This is the best 'copy' yet. Nicely done, not created in haste like the Voyager.

psylichon

01-31-2008, 05:17 AM

I know this thread will bring out the "lovers" and the "haters", of which I am neither....

... but I must say, I do miss a matte finish in my phone. Shiny is impressive upon first glance, but matte finish looks best over the lifetime of the phone, and it's much easier to hold on to.

iCreep

01-31-2008, 05:30 AM

This is the best 'copy' yet. Nicely done, not created in haste like the Voyager.

Which is a total piece of junk. I went into the Verizon store with my girlfriend, because she has Verizon, and pulled out my iPhone and as soon as I did there were the customer assistant people from the Verizon store walking up to me saying "Oh, is that the iPhone?". I actually got to talk to the actual head guy at the Verizon guy at the store and after I showed him all of the available features for the iPhone he leaned into me and said, "To be completely honest with you, our new phone the voyager or whatever it's called, has absolutely nothing on the iPhone." And I actually had some people saying they were going to switch from Verizon to AT&T just because they had seen what the phone can do haha.

It was totally awesome.

iCreep.

KeKe

01-31-2008, 06:41 AM

the phone is probably the best copy I've seen but I personally think the look of the phone isn't all that :/

gcvt

01-31-2008, 08:20 AM

Doesn't look too bad to me at all. But, it's no iPhone...yet :)

chris

01-31-2008, 08:39 AM

wrhutch

01-31-2008, 09:02 AM

I like it. But Garmin tends to be pricey on their products. But so does Apple :wink:

tyoung

01-31-2008, 10:04 AM

Now that actually looks like some real competition to the iPhone. Looks good.

Scottshotz

01-31-2008, 10:41 AM

I'll buy if I can. Guess I'm locked into iPhone for another year.

kylegod

01-31-2008, 10:46 AM

Not bad. iPhone is still better looking in my opinion pphysically and software wise. Pretty cool though.

greenjbhsd

01-31-2008, 11:01 AM

I've only looked at it briefly, but Garmin will bring big time GPS experience to the table. I had a Garmin Nuvi 650 and it was pretty awesome. This announcement will just light a fire under Apple to offer a complimentary GPS product. Wasn't there a rumored Garmin GPS accessory not so long ago?

I will have to look back at threads but there was a company, not Garmin, that was supposed to release a GPS device that plugged into the 30-pin bottom the phone. I don't recall if it used a jailbroken phone or if if even mentioned it.

As for this Garmin, I will be looking into it. I would need to see how the phone part works, which is my major gripe on the iPhone. Frankly I am getting tired of the ATT/iPhone combo for phone service - highly unreliable. Features on the iPhone are alright, the release of the SDK and what comes of that will determine if I cancel my iphone plan.

The thing with the Voyager is that, while selling like hotcakes, is very cheap feeling. If I never picked up the iPhone I wonder if I would have felt that way as the iPhone has always felt very solid on hand (other then the occasional fear that I will drop it which I never felt with a phone before). The voyager is also locked into the software from Verizon which is something I really hate about them, even though in my experience the phone service from the in Salt Lake City is vastly superior to ATT.

MundoGrande

01-31-2008, 01:06 PM

The voyager is also locked into the software from Verizon which is something I really hate about them, even though in my experience the phone service from the in the whole country is vastly superior to ATT.

Fixed for you. :laugh2:

greenjbhsd

01-31-2008, 01:10 PM

Fixed for you. :laugh2:

Haha, thanks!

greenjbhsd

01-31-2008, 01:18 PM

I am going to watch this one closely. If this will deliver what it promises I might be tossing my iPhone aside. Obviously there needs to be more information released on this, Garmin already started a site for this, looks very promising!!!!!

http://www8.garmin.com/nuvifone/

iCafe

01-31-2008, 01:32 PM

i already have a tom-tom one GPS so this phone serves no purpose to me
i guess its good for people without a gps though
but still id rather iphone -gps then this

JW22

01-31-2008, 01:51 PM

It's a really good thing this wasn't announced before I bought my phone last month, it probably would have made me wait. That phone is just about the perfect phone...I didn't look closely enough, so I didn't notice if it had anything to compete with the iPod portion of the the iPhone.
Like iCafe states, I'd rather have an iPhone with the same type of GPS software. With any luck this will spur Apple to get GPS into the next gen phone and/or offer a GPS add-on.

iCafe

01-31-2008, 02:04 PM

Like iCafe states, I'd rather have an iPhone with the same type of GPS software. With any luck this will spur Apple to get GPS into the next gen phone and/or offer a GPS add-on.
Actually what i meant was the iphone minus the gps is still superior to this garmin phone imo

JW22

01-31-2008, 02:13 PM

Well, then I can't say as we agree, lol. For me, it would be a very difficult choice between the two. As far as I can tell the Nuvi-phone does not look like it comes with any MP3 abilities. I don't have another iPod, just my iPhone, so the lack of such a feature would be an issue for me. I guess my main point is this: put Garmin Nuvi-like or TomTom-like GPS navigation features into the iPhone and you have the be-all/end-all of smart phones (and MMS and C&P, but who's counting ;) ).

MundoGrande

01-31-2008, 02:19 PM

Looks pretty cheap compared to the iPhone. And JW22's right, it doesn't mention much about MP3. I seriously hope that Garmin's "iPhone killer" has MP3, lolz.

wrhutch

01-31-2008, 02:25 PM

My Nuvi 660 has mp3 and audio book capability with SD card storage. The more I read about the Nuvifone the more I want one. This may be the iPhone replacement phone for me.

JW22

01-31-2008, 02:32 PM

My Nuvi 660 has mp3 and audio book capability with SD card storage. The more I read about the Nuvifone the more I want one. This may be the iPhone replacement phone for me.

My wife has the same Garmin, which is why I was a bit surprised I didn't see anything noting MP3 capability on the nuvi-phone. Still too early to tell, I'm sure.

I'm newly under contract, so this could be the best phone ever and it wouldn't change anything for me (other than possibly getting the wife one and stealing her GPS! :wink:). That being said, if between now and then Apple doesn't come out with true GPS cabability in one form or fashion they will lose people.

I know, I know, everyone here "loves their iPhone just fine, thank you very much," but I'm speaking from a business stand point. Apple truly has the ability to destroy the smartphone market with this phone. Adding GOOD GPS capability (competitive to a true GPS system like the nuvi) would allow them to dig into the GPS market as well.

MundoGrande

01-31-2008, 02:39 PM

Nuvi doesn't come out till Q3. Apple has that long to make iPhone v.2 better. I hope.

wrhutch

01-31-2008, 02:58 PM

My wife has the same Garmin, which is why I was a bit surprised I didn't see anything noting MP3 capability on the nuvi-phone. Still too early to tell, I'm sure.

I'm newly under contract, so this could be the best phone ever and it wouldn't change anything for me (other than possibly getting the wife one and stealing her GPS! :wink:). That being said, if between now and then Apple doesn't come out with true GPS cabability in one form or fashion they will lose people.

I know, I know, everyone here "loves their iPhone just fine, thank you very much," but I'm speaking from a business stand point. Apple truly has the ability to destroy the smartphone market with this phone. Adding GOOD GPS capability (competitive to a true GPS system like the nuvi) would allow them to dig into the GPS market as well.

From the official Garmin Website: "Other multimedia functions of the nüvifone include a built-in video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC."

JW22

01-31-2008, 03:23 PM

From the official Garmin Website: "Other multimedia functions of the nüvifone include a built-in video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC."

Well, there you go then.

aknightstale41

01-31-2008, 03:25 PM

I think itunes and the iphone are a good fit for music/video/itunes store/rentals etc. Im not sure garmins mp3 could stack up to the iphones ease of sync/music purchase ability.
And even though an sd slot sounds like a plus, from my experience with some mobil devices, they tend to be spotty and unreliable, to me just another moving part with the potential to break down.
Interesting though.

JW22

01-31-2008, 03:33 PM

Ummm...another moving part? SD cards are flash memory, no moving parts. Unless you are talking about the slot to receive the card?

And no, there is no way the nuviphone will compare to the ease of use of the iPhone/iPod and itunes. It's STILL competiton however.

hexonxonx

01-31-2008, 03:33 PM

My Nuvi 660 has mp3 and audio book capability with SD card storage. The more I read about the Nuvifone the more I want one. This may be the iPhone replacement phone for me.
So does my 680. The available storage space left on my Nuvi is about 600 or so MBs. I can then add an SD card but that is only limited to so many gigabytes now. Also, the Nuvifone won't be able to play iTunes DRM songs when the iPhone can as well as all the other things the Nuvi can play. Allot of differences.

coyotedeb

01-31-2008, 04:02 PM

BIG BROTHER is really WATCHING you with this gadget.

JW22

01-31-2008, 04:28 PM

BIG BROTHER is really WATCHING you with this gadget.

How's that tin foil fit?

Runamuck

01-31-2008, 04:37 PM

My Garnin Nuvi 680 already pairs with my iPhone so I can make calls right from the GPS screen. I also get my contacts and I get the option to ignore or answer the call just like they show on that screen. It will be a nice phone for sure but I already have two 680 GPS units and 2 iPhones. I don't need anything else.

Nuvi 680 user here also. Very good GPS unit, but one of the absolute, most HORRID updating schemes known to mankind when it comes to updating maps and such.

Good hardware is often devastated by dracononian service, support and after-sale product updates. Garmin doesn't have a clue how to deal with simple map updates....do you honestly think they will know how to deal with updating these things at the consumer level?

Doubtful....cool device, I'll admit. But I'll bet good money that Garmin will cripple it terribly when it comes to implementation.

lman

01-31-2008, 04:41 PM

i already have a tom-tom one GPS so this phone serves no purpose to me
i guess its good for people without a gps though
but still id rather iphone -gps then this

Same situation for me except i have a garmin gps unit

wrhutch

01-31-2008, 05:01 PM

Nuvi 680 user here also. Very good GPS unit, but one of the absolute, most HORRID updating schemes known to mankind when it comes to updating maps and such.

Good hardware is often devastated by dracononian service, support and after-sale product updates. Garmin doesn't have a clue how to deal with simple map updates....do you honestly think they will know how to deal with updating these things at the consumer level?

Doubtful....cool device, I'll admit. But I'll bet good money that Garmin will cripple it terribly when it comes to implementation.

Garmin did release a lot of various Nuvi models over the past year. Just imagine how many phone models will be available 12 months after the initial Nuvifone release.

Indy

01-31-2008, 08:55 PM

Like others have said in the past, hopefully with all these new "iphone killers" starting to actually look more promising and offering a bit more in certain areas this will light a fire under apple and force them to look into other interest of buyers. Let's just hope they don't go RUSHING into anything to fast and not get it right, of course we havn't had to worry about that yet now have we?

:wink:

ADDam

09-23-2008, 12:36 AM

Bump :2cool:

Youngbinks

09-23-2008, 02:13 AM

According to this article (http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobile-phones/news/2008/09/01/IFA-2008--Garmin-NuviPhone-Release---Sat-Navs-Updated/p1) the release has been pushed back into 2009.

ADDam

09-23-2008, 02:23 AM

If Apple doesnt come out with MMS and a nicer camera by the release of the Nuvi, I will be Switching! I hope Steve reads these! :gasp:

samy

09-23-2008, 02:27 AM

Wow, they really are getting close on the copy cats!
Looks good but still not an iphone!

Audiocave

09-24-2008, 09:58 PM

Wow, they really are getting close on the copy cats!
Looks good but still not an iphone!

Yeah, it has real GPS. :laugh2:

I love my iPhone 3g but the idea for me is to slowly reduce the number of electronic objects. I'm down to 2... the iPhone and my TomTom One.

If the Nuvi is priced right, can sync to Outlook, and has other attractive features to go with it's sweet *real* GPS, I'll probably sell my 3g and my TomTom and get on board.

The Apple OS is gonna be hard to let go but darn... that thing looks darn convienient.

I'll probably give Apple until next spring to encourage someone to put realtime turn by turn GPS on the iPhone. After then.... I'll be 'a looking at the Nuvi for the summer vacation trips.

Youngbinks

09-24-2008, 10:04 PM

I'd rather have a phone that can function as a GPS unit than a GPS unit that can function as a phone.

Audiocave

09-24-2008, 10:11 PM

I hear you. :laugh2: Me too.

I hope our phone does one day soon, that would be my preference. Funny thing is... the thing I do the *least* on the iPhone is actually talk on it.

Texting, email, surfing, Google maps... lots of that. I don't spend a lot of time on the phone. Do what I need, say what needs saying and I'm off. Not a big "phone talker".

iPhone was Apple's first phone and it worked ok. I suspect the Garmin will also work just fine... as a phone that is. It's the other stuff that the iPhone does so well that will be the difference though.

kdarling

09-24-2008, 11:46 PM

Yes, it depends on what you need.

My wife, for example, has no need of most of the iPhone's major features. She doesn't surf the web, nor does she want to answer emails on anything but a desktop.

However, she's very ummm... location impaired. And the Garmin has some cool features.

Like whenever you take it out of its dashboard holder, it remembers... so you can always find your way back to your car. Without having to remember to mark it.

Or if I were to look up a restaurant to meet at, I could just click to send its address to her while we were talking, and it would become her new GPS destination with directions.

So for some, it's a perfect phone.

psylichon

09-25-2008, 12:48 AM

I'd rather have a phone that can function as a GPS unit than a GPS unit that can function as a phone.

I would ammend this by saying I'd rather have an iPhone that pretends to do GPS than a GPS unit pretending to be an iPhone. That's just me, though... maps works fine for me without turn-by-turn.

Audiocave

09-26-2008, 12:23 PM

I would ammend this by saying I'd rather have an iPhone that pretends to do GPS than a GPS unit pretending to be an iPhone. That's just me, though... maps works fine for me without turn-by-turn.

Hehe... :laugh2: ... I hear you too. The iPhone has become more than just a phone to many, it's a way of life. But as time goes on and the novelty wears off a bit, functionality starts to play more into it for some.

Apple has a business motto of "Eating our own lunch..." which means to outdo themselves before the competition does. I feel it came up a bit short this time.

When you start to list the things the iPhone can't do out of the box, that list becomes rather long when you consider you have to mod the phone or go searching for third party tools to do the simplest of things, like file storage. It doesn't take away from the joy of using one though... until you start to look at it comparitively in a purely practical manner.

But the iPhone isn't a practical device in many ways, it's fun though and it's physical design and OS are second to none.

ADDam

09-27-2008, 12:43 AM

Hehe... :laugh2: ... I hear you too. The iPhone has become more than just a phone to many, it's a way of life. But as time goes on and the novelty wears off a bit, functionality starts to play more into it for some.

Apple has a business motto of "Eating our own lunch..." which means to outdo themselves before the competition does. I feel it came up a bit short this time.

When you start to list the things the iPhone can't do out of the box, that list becomes rather long when you consider you have to mod the phone or go searching for third party tools to do the simplest of things, like file storage. It doesn't take away from the joy of using one though... until you start to look at it comparitively in a purely practical manner.

But the iPhone isn't a practical device in many ways, it's fun though and it's physical design and OS are second to none.

Agreed. 100%. While the iPhone looks VERY slick and the OS is beautiful, it lacks some of the best features that some base model phones can perform. A lot of the the little apps that I used to think were pretty cool at first, now seem so pointless and have been deleted from my phone. I couldn't have said it better than you, that the novelty of the iPhone is wearing off. Apple better do one hell of a software upgrade (feature-wise), or I wont be buying another iPhone.

Hondamaker

09-27-2008, 12:09 PM

dturner

09-27-2008, 12:32 PM

Same here...Turn-by-turn may yet come, but if not, oh well.
Philip just posted this (http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/06/10/tomtom-announces-iphone-gps-app) and a few other supporting links in another thread.
There may be hope yet.

jarofclay73

09-27-2008, 05:53 PM

kdarling

09-27-2008, 10:44 PM

Didn't Apple go with A-GPS because it's faster but not necessarily always pinpoint accurate?

A-GPS is quicker to get a first fix each time, but not necessarily more accurate.

A while back, A-GPS meant having dedicated carrier equipment and using signaling channels, but nowadays a lot of A-GPS implementations simply go over TPC/IP data connections to a global server. In other words, any device with a 1G/2G/3G data path can use it.

jarofclay73

09-27-2008, 10:57 PM

A-GPS is quicker to get a first fix each time, but not necessarily more accurate.

So I take that as a "yes." :smile:

Audiocave

09-27-2008, 11:08 PM

Didn't Apple go with A-GPS because it's faster but not necessarily always pinpoint accurate? I wonder how much juice is the Garmin GPS phone going to use? And can it price itself within $199.

It's faster to initially lock but not necessarily faster tracking, it seemed slower tracking to me. The TomToms are very fast to lock if you keep them updated, the software downloads the current or expected position of the sats and it locks much faster.

If you don't update it regularly sometimes it takes a LONG time to lock... like 2-3 minutes which is a long time and distance if you're actually driving. You store it out of sight to keep people from stealing it but then you have to wait for it to lock if you don't know where you're going.

A phone based A-GPS shouldn't have that issue as it will be outside with you as you approach the vehicle. It should be locked already when you go to mount it in the car.

Any iPhone turn by turn GPS is gonna suffer from one major problem used as an automobile GPS though... the very poor speaker volume. You'll never hear the instructions with normal radio use unless you have an earbud or bluetooth earpiece. I have no idea why the iPhone speaker volume is so low compared to other phones.

So "turn by turn" with arrows is fine by me. It doesn't have to actually speak. Just show me where I should turn, that's all I need.

Then of course it's behavior when the phone rings while GPS is being used is critical. Will it do both at once? If not you could easily get off track or miss a freeway exit etc, etc. It should probably come up minimized across the top like call waiting or an IM box you can click to answer?

Leaving the map and directions on screen at all times?

BigCiX

09-27-2008, 11:35 PM

kdarling

09-28-2008, 09:26 AM

So I take that as a "yes." :smile:

*laughing*

Actually, it's a yes and no. A-GPS is faster for first fix.

When I said "not necessarily more accurate", I should've said it better.

A-GPS is usually at least as accurate as standalone GPS. It can be more so, depending on the assistance.

AT&T's developer website gives the following numbers:

GPS: 5-30m accuracy, 30 secs to 15 mins lockon.
A-GPS: 5-15m accuracy, 5-10 sec lockon.