I kid. Seriously though. WTH are they thinking? 3.5 inch screen, NO 3.5 mm headset jack, Android 1.6, 3MP camera, and a Garmin GPS UI? If this was a cheap phone I'd say, yeah, okay, maybe. But they're charging $199 for this thing!!! The same as our gorgeous black slab Evo's! Anyone planning on going for one of these June 2 via T-Mobile instead of rocking an Evo?
While I like the concept I much rather Garmin (or any GPS maps provider) just issue an app that can be downloaded. The biggest problem with the EVO (and other smartphones) is that once you get out of coverage you loose your ability to pull up maps, and chances are if you are in an area without coverage you are really going to wish you had a GPS to guide you back to civilization. ;P So yeah, if I could store all the map data on my phone that would be great. Maybe Google can come up with a way that we could store just specific maps. Like say you know you only need 3 states so you download those to your phone and don't have the other 50 taking up space.
The Garminphone is cool because it has a real GPS unit inside and doesn't rely on a cell tower, so you'd always be able to use GPS. Not my cup of tea, but I'm sure it will have it's niche.
I'd rather just have a real GPS for that. They're cheap enough these days. I've read horrible things about the Garminphone. Apparently its touch screen isn't much better than what you get with most GPS units.
Now I need someone to make an app that will allow the Evo to read my Garmin heart rate strap and I can kick the watch to the curb I seriously love my Garmin Forerunner 305 though, there's no better workout watch on the market Eagles and Friends, Maple Valley Half by sam.stratton at Garmin Connect - Details
Barmin vs Evo - not even. Garmin just tries to add anything to their GPS, but they don't do it where it makes sense. The GP will never compete with a phone like Evo. Instead, they should have made it a multi-GPS device that handles driving, hiking/outdoor, and golf. Instead, they try competing with Evo - whatever. And delivering with Android 1.6 - that's so laughable even the people at Garmin can't say it with a straight face.
Android 1.6? My goodness. Android is a free OS, what is Garmin thinking!? Its like picking the scrawny kid out of the group to be on your team instead of the 6ft football player.
No, it's like picking my 102-year old aunt to play on your team instead of an All-Time player like Dick Butkas or Lawrence Taylor.
what needs to happen is google needs to say you cant use any version of android more than 1 behind the mainstream. meaning since 2.1 is the constant now the oldest you can install is 2.0
I'm ok with Google letting them choose older versions. Garmin just has to pay the consequences. Going to be funny to see if any retailers even pick this phone up. Can you imagine letting this thing take up store display space? Might sell on QVC or something, but not any place people actually pick it up and try to demo 2.1 or higher's features.
The average consumer is ******ed and I doubt they could tell the difference between 1.6 and 2.1 on a heavily skinned android. Half the posters here probably couldn't either.
