A Halloween voice for your Nuvi

I had a blast with the Dr. Nightmare and my skeleton hand as the "car". My friends took a s%$# when they heard it as we went around town.

But now that the day is gone I am back to "Jill" for now. Can't wait to see what other holiday stuff they come up with.

I used the Halloween voice yesterday on a 60 mile trip on the PA Turnpike where I normally don't get any voice prompts - sometimes I wonder if the unit is still alive. This time, about every ten minutes or so, I would get a random comment in that deep voice - kept us laughing and wondering what would be next. My unit is a nuvi 200W. Maybe there will be a Christmas voice.

"I consulted my magic book" and determined this voice was a winner and the price was right too.

wish it worked on my 660

After seeing that my problem seemed to be an individual thing, I contacted Garmin support for assistance. The problem was that I got my 205W unit very soon after they went on sale, and was on rev 2.8 and it needed a higher rev of software to support the voice. Once upgraded, then it worked fine.

One other learning from Garmin support that I'd like to pass along: If you go to the download page and the all-downloads page and look for your unit, it might not have the latest version on that webpage. Support told me that not every upgrade is offered as a stand-alone download, and that the WebUpdater is required for some (most?) updates.

thanks for sharing. I had fun with it.

That voice is cool,Loud too!!

I'm thinking Garmin dun gud with this Halloween voice, and many of us have had fun with Dr. Nightmare. It was too bad that the file was not compatible with 3xx and 6xx Nuvis. Mr. Doom and Gloom was really the only one who resorted to slamming Garmin once again on the first page, but then I think we're all pretty much accustom to that. A few others were unhappy that their units didn't work with the Halloween voice, but that's understandable.

A support group, or maybe another class action suit? But you have a 750 I see, and not a 3xx or 6xx? I wonder, does ANYTHING in life please you?
It's apparent to me by now that even if you were hung with a brand new rope, you'd still piss and moan.

Try puttin on a big ole happy face someday soon
People will notice.

I'm not itching for a fight, I'm not pointing fingers, I'm just trying to make a point. I have noticed that the site is great for providing support for users, and is always a great place to get information. I happen to know that Garmin techs are recommending this site, as it was for me from Garmin, but this is NOT a Garmin owned/run/supported site. The help that we give each other is amazing, and generally the feedback is great. The people on this site are generally great, and I have actually made some pretty darn good friends on this site.

I am not usually one who points out or singles out one user. However when someone is being a bit egotistical and overly critical, about EVERYTHING, it becomes a distraction.

Most of the posters on here are positive, and when there is an issue, it is discussed in an adult fashion (with exceptions) and help is provided by other members, and done so with dignity and without making nubes feeling bad, and without being unsympathetic to the company we purchased our GPS units from.

The voice was a wonderful treat for Halloween, and I have no doubt we'll be seeing more, as this seems to have been a major success. I've read a lot of other sites that users spoke regarding the voice, and the overall reaction was extremely positive. No, it didn't work on all units, but then again, I have software that won't work on all computers. Processors change, software improves, and Garmin is the ONLY electronics company I know that will still support a unit that is as old as the Street Pilot III, still has parts for it, and still offers updates. Not as often as the newer units, but for a company to support a discontinued unit for as long as Garmin does is IMPRESSIVE!

There seems to be one person who consistently wants to be the center of attention, and will jump on the negative bandwagon the minute it starts, whether he has the unit or not. Is he a Garmin tech in here that has access to all the units, or is he someone that needs the attention so he can validate his opinion. Whatever it is, we need to remember that we are here to support each other, and while venting is a good thing, it would make more sense that if you are going to vent, you'd be better served to vent on what you know. I don't know GadgetGuy, but I have rarely seen anything positive. Haven't seen anything regarding service he's received from the awesome techs at Garmin, didn't see anything saying the voice worked great on his newer Nuvi, only that he was mad because it didn't work on the older units, that it seems he doesn't even own.

Garmin has to make sure they make a profit, it's their responsibility to the stock holders. Their stock was not stellar this year, and taking the coders time to write the voice software for Halloween was a huge cost to them, financially and time. Yes, it is unfortunate that not all units supported this, but then again, not all units even support TTS, so I think they did a great job, and I am VERY appreciative for what they did. I personally contacted Garmin and thanked them for the voice, asked the tech what he thought of it, and had a great conversation, talked GPS for a bit, adn felt pretty good about the product.

I guess what I am trying to get at is we need to be grateful for the things they do give us, and not complain at ever opportunity, not to whine because the new voice doesn't work on older units, and especially so when it doesn't affect you.

GadgetGuy is probably a fine person, but it seems he is not happy unless he's not happy. I am not trying to single him out, although he seems to like that, but am trying to remind the group that it is important to give respect to those who are trying to help. Garmin has a 51% market share, which in my thinking means the techs are getting a LOT of calls. My understanding is that there are about 150 "automotive" techs, and with wait times on Monday of 15-30 minutes, these folks are taking a LOT of calls. If everyone called up acting like GadgetGuy adn just harped about how ridiculous it is to not have a voice for a discontinued GPS unit, it would make the job horrid. Every time I have called, I've talked to someone who is knowledgeable, friendly, and sometimes even fun to talk to. I've had one or two experiences that could have been better, but i am one who is chatty and tend to be verbose (this post is a good example),but 99% of the time, the conversation was great, not just good.

I've called other manufacturers, and did not have the same experience. I've talked to India, Philippines and "techs" that read directly from a script adn if you interrupted, they had to start the script over. At least at Garmin, they have Americans, they don't appear to read from a script, and the ones I have talked to seem to be genuinely concerned about my problem.

Let's take a minute and think about how good Garmin has been supporting us, and help GadgetGuy get over his depressive mood swing and get back on the "happy GPS", navigating to reality. Garmin is not perfect, they've made some mistakes, but they have also admited the mistakes and diligently fixed them. Could it have been faster? Absolutely, but did it get resolved...yes and very well resolved with friendly voices that wanted to gice support, adn they did NOT read, they actually listened adn heard the problem.

Maybe I posted this in the wrong place, maybe I've rambled too long, but I just got worn out with GadgetGuy's posturing and being a know it all, complaining about units he doesn't own (according to his own profile). I just want to get back to a site that helps each other, and quit having one person showing off...constantly. Come on folks, let's be real, discontinued units are not going to have the new toys, the processors are different, so it would take a LOT of coding to fix it, and this was just a fun little freebie.

Thanks for putting up with this long rambling email.

.... I think not! Yes you did single him out!

Re-read GadgetGuy's comments, I did, in this thread he is just stating what those not receiving feel. GadgetGuy is the modern day Lone Ranger, champion of what is right. I personally like to read GadgetGuys most helpful comments.

Do I expect Garmin freebees, no! I'm glade they are made available.

I'm sorry Miss POI for using your forum negatively, perhaps you could ban hautedawg and I for 30 days.

after all the "real" problems are solved maybe they can put an "ignore user ......." feature in.

It would save me having to skip all those "sell Garmin now" message headers or whatever similar wording it is

That feature is already built in, it called being able to control yourself and not click in to a thread you don't like to read or want.

That problem has already been addressed many times, it's up to you, when you see the header don't click it, especially if you don't own Garmin stock I can imagine it would be boring to you.
So from now on when you see "sell Garmin now" message headers or whatever similar wording, take a deep cleansing breath and then skip over it, then you won't be troubled by it and best of all not even know what going on in the tread.

So all you have to do is implement the feature and we all can be happy.

Bob

Email Miss POI!

1)You where Itching for a fight, or you would have never wrote the post in the first place,especially as a newbie as you call yourself.
2)Looks to me you not only singled him out but threw a bag of xhit at him as well. May I suggest you read this thread from front to back:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/17208

3)You rambled over a valued member of our community without adding any constructive knowledge of your own, except that maybe your a Doctor and can make a diagnosis of his mental state. I look forward to your posts in the future, of what we need or don't need. Your stand on censorship of anyone because you don't agree with them is crazy.

4)GadgetGuy is a fine person!
Not probably, like you stated, however for you newbe the verdict is out!you will have to prove yourself after that rather slanderous post, that I took the liberty to highlite above.

Bob

Ok guys, step back, take a deep breath and let it go. There really is no reason to turn this into personal attacks.

Miss POI

Very nice

This firmware update may not work on or be available for all units (minds).

I just got done wiping the $&#* off my face.

Thanks Bob and Phillyguy for standing up for me. I realize some people may not like what I have to say, and I'm sorry if I come off as a negative person. I just say what I feel. If people view it as negative, so be it.

And for those who may feel that I have some hidden agenda, let me set the record straight. I DON'T. I am simply a guy who likes gadgets. I don't work for any GPS company. I am not a blogger. I am not out to destroy Garmin. I am only trying to give my input in return for all of the great things I have learned from this site.

it's "Just the facts, ma'am"

I’m sure there are more sophisticated answers to dealing with anger, when someone says something you don't agree with or their personality rubs you the wrong way.It begins with a recognition that our perception of ourselves and others could be wrong.

Then we need to instill the correct perceptions recognizing we can only control ourselves, we cannot control another human, especially in this anonymous media (Community type forum).

So what causes it?
I read and saved this article about a year ago.

a psychologist at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., suggested that several psychological factors lead to online disinhibition:
1) The anonymity of a Web pseudonym
2) Invisibility to others.
3) The time lag between sending an e-mail message.
4) Getting getting feedback to what you wrote.

I myself believe, that the best way to defuse a problem is through conversation. If you brood over a subject or a person sooner or later it spills over, and makes a big mess.

Life is way to short to get pissed in a forum and spill your anger out on someone, if you don't like what he or shee is saying, then say something to them. COMMUNICATE this is the real reason we are here, The poi's are secondary.

Bob

Bingo!

No problem, I don't always agree with every thing you say, and when I see something that I want to speak up about I jump in and say it. On the the other hand I don't let things fester till the pot boils over either like I believe might have just happened.

As I stated earlier in the thread you are a asset to our community and only make it better by showing up and giving us input, and I for one thank you for that. So don't change a bit.

OBTW you missed a spot behind your left ear.

Bob

I like this one... I hope Garmin comes out with more that actually say the street name and such.

Does anybody have any idea why it won't work on my Nuvi 200? When I turn the Nuvi on, it doesn't even register that the voice file is there in the list. Is it not compatible, even though it says it is?

Did you open your voice file on your unit and make sure the voice file is there?

Connect your Nuvi 200 to your computer and check the VOICE folder on the unit. You should see DrNightmare.vpm there. If not, you must have put it in the wrong folder. Works fine on my Nuvi 200W.

Yes, it's there. DrNightmare.vmp. I don't know why it won't show up in the voice options.

Yes, it's there. I don't know why it won't work.

You say "it's there", but exactly where is there?

It should be on the Garmin, under Garmin\voice. It won't work from an SD card. And it works perfectly on my 200.

Yes, it's under voice. It's where all of the other voice files, and I can remove them and they'll leave the gps, and then add them back, and there they are, but Nightmare never even registers on the gps voice options.

How many voice files are on your unit? The Dr voice is 5MB. I have only a couple of voice files on mine as I didn't need Russian or really anything other than English. The other thing to check is the software version you are running on the unit. I'm running the current version which came out before the voice file did.

Well, I even took out ALL of the files except the Nightmare one, and the Nuvi simply said "none found" in the voice option. And how do I check the software version, and how do I know how to get the newest?

Haha, I feel stupid. But, this is my first gps, after all. I didn't know I had to update the software version. But that worked -- thanks!

Excuse me, but could you give some information on the world-wide base map? This is the first reference I've seen to one.

settings -> system -> about