I may be naive in my belief, but I will not let my android phone connect to the Garmin, just to keep the torrent of my personal data passing to their bottom lines to a minimum.īeing a new XT owner, I've been scouring the forum for little tid-bits to help with the learning curve moving from the 660 to the XT. You will not be able to go to a public toilet with Garmin, Google, and a menagerie of other anonymous companies keeping tabs on you. > TADAAAA destination sent to the device, just click "go"Īnd the Garmin spy hook is now well dug into your rump. > look for the destination on my phone with Google maps
> set the Bluetooth connexion phone/XT (first time setting then automatic) screen size smaller than GPS (actually, a small tablet might be the best)Īlso, to get the best from Google and Garmin, what i am doing now :
screen degradation ( at full brightness they tend to ''pixel burn") heat resistance (direct sun on a summer day, my phone is overheating, samsung s9plus) The phone solution is okay, but still not perfect Giving it wifi should be enough to keep it up to date with map info.ĭownload your music and play it direcly from your device to your bluetooth headset if you like Then rooting it and installing a non google version of android and setting it up to only run a dedicated navi app like waze or OsmAnd. I have toyed with the idea of taking an older android phone I got that has a pretty good display and hot wiring it to be powered directly from my motorcycle instead of only charging a dying battery pack trapped inside.
I guess we have been spoilt by Google in this regard, but then again they have milked us for billions with our private data in return.Īll we would need is a ruggedised water resistant smartphone with a nice hotshoe connector and mount and very bright larger screen.Īfter all the phone function of the average smart phone is but a fraction of its capabilities. And I was quite disappointed at its lack of search capabilities when I wanted to navigate somewhere.Īddresses were not always understood, and often searches came up with no results. I agree that smart phones do navigation way better in general than dedicated GPS devices like the Garmin zumo XT. All looking rosy at the moment.hope it stays that way. Now, all that remains is to change the mount on the bike.a little moan to Garmin “why keep changing the mounts?” and get out and use it. This, to me, is what I’ve been wanting from Garmin for years.I’m over the moon! And there it is as a track on the device. Phone gives me the option to open it in Garmin Drive which then asks me if I want to send it to the XT. So, into MyRoute App on the phone, pick a route and save it to the phone. Now, would the wireless allow me to transfer routes/tracks to the XT. All without any connection to the computer. Made a cuppa, bimbled around and it finished in about 30 minutes.
The XT prompted me to do a map and software update, giving me the usual two hours or more waiting time. The wireless connection was there as soon as I entered the network password. I’ve been out in the garden in bright sun and the XT screen is clear and bright whereas the 595 is its usual invisible self.Īll connections to the android phone and Scala G9 headset were made without any hassle and I also installed Garmin Drive to the phone. Running my finger over the 595 screen is like the difference between chalk and cheese. Finger to the settings icon, to the display options and I’m totally impressed by the smooth feel and responsiveness of the screen. So, straight out of the box, I switch it on and am immediately dazzled by the brightness of the screen, which I have to turn down. Have Garmin at last come up with a device that, without actually road testing it, I am at a loss to pick holes in. 4.xx.It was delivered earlier today and I’ve spent a few hours getting to know it and I am feeling that it is light-years ahead of the 660 and 595 that I’ve used for years.