List the missing features please

I'm not going to waste time trying to list all missing features for you. But how about the biggest "missing" feature on newer devices - map detail!!!

Oh, and you can't compare gps prices from 3 years ago to gps prices today. Why? Because the price of gps devices (like most electronic devices) has gone done. So the $500 device from 3 years ago is probably equivalent to a $250 device today.

Hey Gadget. Not wanting to start an argument, or wanting to "waste" anyone's time. If you feel the time is a waste, don't post. The point of my post is to get interested people who say there is a loss of features to show examples of this.

I compared my two year old map on my 260 with the current map on the 1490T. At the same zoom level in several locations, not exhaustive I admit) I find more detail in the new map, not less.

Could you post somewhere some screen shots showing the lack of detail from one map set to the other? If you feel this is a waste of your time too, no problem, Maybe someone else will instead.

Agreed that electronics drop in price, which is exactly why you compare them at price point when released. That is why I asked for this. Electronics are targeted at a price point and the only way to compare feature sets over the years is at price points. Using a different price invalidates the comparison. I'm not interested in a $250 device today compared to a $500 of three years ago. I'm interested in what features are missing from today's unit at whatever price compared to a unit from the past at the SAME price.

Again, I'm not looking for an argument, I'm looking for a realistic discussion on features that have been lost.

I guess small towns have been removed... Only reason why I learned they were removed was by posting a thread that the 660 couldn't find a place that I put in as a destination. There was other posts where others couldn't find small towns as well... and Garmin in a Droid CAN FIND THEM.... So I think we are well past the point of claiming it didn't happen!

I Do use MP3 files, but the fidelity on speaker is poor, so I used FM.... But the FM signal is weak and keeps getting overridden by local FM stations in Chicagoland, seemingly no matter What Frequency I put it on..... So I only use speaker and Garmin directions.... But I'd love to start hearing my custom music on SD cards again!!!

IF I could increase Power of FM transmit, or improve coupling between Garmin Antenna and Car Receiver (The power "Crack" doesn't work on the 660 that I can tell).... Or, make an antenna that I could put closer to the Car FM antenna (on front hood in one car, back corner of other car)...
Then I'd gladly go back to using the MP3 Player....

I hear there's a Bug in POI's or TourGuide and MP3 audio Level or muting.... But I've never personally encountered it, as by the time I used TourGuide, I'd stopped using the FM modulator due to co-channel interference.....

So.... If you can assist with the following:

1. My being able to search for ANY town (I'd be willing to delete un-used Announce voices, demo sounds, pictures, and Vehicles to gain space for a more accurate database --- That would be GREAT!!)

2. Since there are FCC Transmitter laws.... How about an external connection that can improve reception of the Garmin FM transmitter.... by the car radio, to reduce co-channel interference?

3. If rumors of a software bug with MP3 music and POI's or TourGuide's are true... Convince Garmin to fix that.... once and for all!!!

Then... I can use my existing Garmin to the fullest... MP3 music via FM Transmitter, and a more precise Database!
(In other words: Use 100% of the features that were sold me in the 660)
Along with the customizations that I've learned to do here at POI Factory, and the Lifetime Maps and Lifetime Traffic........ WOW would that be nice!!!

I actually Love my 660. But It could be better -- With fixes applied to the 3 items listed above!

My nuvi 760 displays the next cross street in the top bar when not navigating. I have heard here that the newer models don't have this feature no matter what price.

dobs108

I do not have written support for this statement, but I think I have read that the removed display of the cross street was due to a patent dispute with another GPS company.

I think that rocknicehunter has made an interesting observation about people saying that a feature has been removed. I would suggest that a "feature" is something that has been listed in advertising material. Having spent a lot of years in programming, I know that there are trade-offs that must be made when adding new elements (note I do not call them features) to the way the display operates.

I must admit that I do not understand the 'small towns" issue, but remember that Navteq provides the maps; Garmin turns the maps data into a display.

I'm not going to do your home work for you. Your argument is that nobody uses the features they complain about not being there anymore. HELLO...why are they complaining?????

Not exactly, the 37xx models have this "feature".

I don't need the FM transmitter or the mp3 player so I love my 1490T with all the new things it incorporates...speed limit, lane assist with junction view, lifetime traffic eco route, etc. etc.etc. I think there are enough different models that should appeal to everyone. Pick one out that has the features you want...I personally have never used the FM transmitter, mp3 player or jack out so I don't miss them at all...

Let's see. I know of no feature at any price point that is not available in current models at that same price point. I asked people who have noticed lost features to say what they are. I'm not arguing anything. I am asking a very simple question.

I guess you mean to say "doing my homework" is to read minds and figure out what other people are talking about?

You ask rhetorically "why are they complaining?????"

I don't know. THAT is why I'm asking.

So I'll ask for at least the third time, can anyone list ONE feature that has been removed at a given price point?

That was an opinion by forum participants at one time. Related to that was the opinion that the firmware updates had removed the feature from a nuvi which originally had it.

In the end all forum participants agreed that these theories had been disproven. DorkusNimrod had the most authoritative conclusion that certain models have this feature and others do not. He listed all units available at that time, about 8 months ago, and whether each model had this feature or not. Generally, older units tended to have it and newer did not.

Since then other models have come out and I don't know whether the pre-sale info presented by Garmin includes every detail of how the software behaves. We rely on the reports from forum participants for that.

dobs108

My 340 used to bing before it announced a street name. My 265wt does not.

So.... If you can assist with the following:

1. My being able to search for ANY town (I'd be willing to delete un-used Announce voices, demo sounds, pictures, and Vehicles to gain space for a more accurate database --- That would be GREAT!!)

2. Since there are FCC Transmitter laws.... How about an external connection that can improve reception of the Garmin FM transmitter.... by the car radio, to reduce co-channel interference?

3. If rumors of a software bug with MP3 music and POI's or TourGuide's are true... Convince Garmin to fix that.... once and for all!!!

Then... I can use my existing Garmin to the fullest... MP3 music via FM Transmitter, and a more precise Database!
(In other words: Use 100% of the features that were sold me in the 660)

I think this is an interesting question, but I'm not sure it is easily answered, for several reasons. One has to do with the price point criteria. I'm sure you're familiar with the StreetPilot series. I owned a 2610. That was a feature packed device, but at the time I purchased it also expensive. They just tended to be more expensive back then. I don't even know if there is a current Garmin that would be at the same price point. Second, using the Streetpilot example, it is my impression that you would be hard pressed to find a device containing the same feature set as the 2610, or its kin. I don't know enough about all the models, but I suppose it is possible that all, or most of the features of the 2610 exist, just not all in the same device. Third, not true of the entire series, but the 2610 did not have traffic, or text-to-speech, an MP3 player, could only be used when connected to the vehicle (not portable, no battery), and maybe more. So, while the 2610 was loaded with great navigation features, it lacked in other features. I'm not even sure when some of these features, like text-to-speech, or traffic became mainstream, so some options may not have been available. It is my impression, never did a study, that as the StreetPilot series was replaced the subsequent units tended not to have all the features we had become accustomed to. Whether they were necessary could be argued. But now we were having to choose from a wider array of models for one that most closely matched our StreetPilot. In that sense I think people were disappointed because they weren't finding it all in one place. For example, the 2610 had the ability to delete a road segment from a route, and you could also select an area to avoid. Are there any models that do that? Probably. But what do you give up in those models? So, I could probably find a list of the 2610 features for side-by-side comparison, but to what end? It would be a lot simpler if there were fewer models. IOW, the 2610 had been replaced by a specific Nuvi that now had fewer features. Just some thoughts.

Model,Price,Feature
StreetPilot2610,$930,Road Segment and Area Avoidance
StreetPilot2610,$930,Adjustable Road Class Preference
Nuvi760,$250,MP3
Nuvi760,$250,3.5mm stereo jack
Nuvi760,$250,Traffic reciver
Nuvi760,$250,10 routes

Wouldn't this be a function of the mapset rather than the GPSr?

Agreed that in the case of price point this may be too hard a question to answer, but I appreciate the answers you've both given.

I think one of the problems with feature comparison on different nuvi models is that there is not a clear model hierarchy in the nuvi lineup or model replacement history; no consistent upgrade path, or model replacement strategy when Garmin brings out new nuvis. When they went from the 2x0 to 2x5, 7x0 to 7x5 and 8x0 to 8x5 it was easy to identify comparable models and see what features were added or removed. But with the 1xxx and 37xx series, it is unclear how they fit with the older models. If you replace a 765T with a 1490T, is that an upgrade or downgrade? It is easy to make a case either way.

As was mentioned, you can't really do a fair comparison between say a Street Pilot of old to a nuvi of today.

I think where most people get annoyed (myself included) is when users lose existing and well-liked features that they've grown very accustomed to when upgrading to a newer, better model. Garmin uses what's been referred to as "feature peppering" where features are added and taken away at will between model numbers with no way to know until you either purchase the unit and experience the changes yourself or read about the changes in forums.

I'd say the baseline reference is the nuvi 3x0/6x0 series and the 7x0 series which created a known set of well-liked features that Garmin now keeps in a "pool" and as mentioned above, gives and takes, even between high-end models.

Some of those features in the pool (off the top of my head) are:

1. North Pointer (moving map)
2. Map zoom scale indicator (moving map)
3. Attention tone (bong before verbal instruction)
4. Autozoom enable/disable
5. Map detail
6. Favorites icon (moving map)
7. Favorites icon including favorite name (moving map)
8. Green info bar showing next upcoming cross street (moving map)
9. Satellite constellation/signal strength screen
The list goes on...

The problem is that Garmin peppers these features between models at will. You never know what feature(s) you'll be getting/losing, even with a very costly, new unit upgrade.

For example, "upgrading" from the nuvi 7x0 series to the 7x5 series, users gained:
1. 3D Buildings
2. Lane Assist/Junction View
3. ecoRoute
4. etc

But at the same time, users lost:
1. Map detail
2. Favorites names displayed with the favorite icons (the icons are displayed but not the names)
3. Next upcoming cross street on the green info bar (now shows street currently on)
4. etc

Even the top-of-the-line (at the time) nuvi 8x5 series (compared to the lower-end model 7x5 series) omitted the 765's 3D Buildings feature along with the configurable data field on the moving map display. Granted, it did give you Voice Activation and retained the named favorites with icon...

As I mentioned before, you never know what feature(s) you'll be losing when "upgrading" to a "newer, better" model.

I appreciate the time you took to post. I'm seeing that this is a much more complicated issue than just "what's missing". Obviously no unit can incorporate every feature and certainly not even most of them.

I guess what it boils down to that no matter how many features one model has, it will ever satisfy everyone and someone will always be unhappy that one feature or another was not included.

The new 3790T (and it's lower-end siblings) which I've been testing has of course some nifty new features along with being a virtual masterpiece of engineering and quality. When my testing is done, I am buying a unit of my own...it's a remarkable GPS.

This unit again has favorite icons along with their names displayed on the moving map, shows the next upcoming cross street (which had both been omitted in the xx5 and 1xxx series) along with the much welcomed North pointer...wonderful! But, why has Garmin again omitted the map zoom scale indicator on the moving map display? It's on the map panning screen. It was on the 7x5 series on the moving map...why remove it (yet again) from a top-of-the-line unit? It's not like there is no horsepower for the feature as the unit is plenty powerful and fast...

Feature peppering, once again.

Why do you say that? Because its absolutely incorrect. If Garmin wanted to they could easily make a gps device which incorporates every feature from prior models.

Processors are becoming faster and cheaper every day. Just because Garmin decides to put weak processors in their units doesn't mean we should excuse them for removing features.

Just textbook marketing strategies.

I for one specifically chose the NUVI 350 for the MP3 player option (among others). If I ever replace my 350 it would have to have an MP3 player. Oh yeah, I paid $450 for my NUVI 350 over 2 years ago (but I have no regrets)

-jgracey

Quite true. Cell phones have 1 gHz processors these days, not just a lousy 330mHz like my 775 does.

Too many companies are following the WalMart mentality: supply cheap crap for excessive profit margins. To paraphrase an old saying, "the bitterness of low quality remains long after the sweetness of low price". Truer words are seldom spoken.

It's a race to the bottom.

PS: what ever happened to the "Made in the USA" and "Made in Canada" pride campaigns? Oh yea, the Global economy!

Your talking the spread among Nuvi's
You have to go back before the Nuvi's, now lets get on the same page.
we are not talking about technology advancements, such as SiRF chips. we are talking features.

Here, read this early street pilotI5 review:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/garmin-gps/garmin-i5/garmin-i5.h...

I still have one of these!

One feature I think Garmin needs to add to the 'Faster, shorter, less gas etc.' list is 'Direct'. Get me there on a major route; no side roads, etc.

I came to this conclusion after playing with my unit, and Mapsource. I set Mapsource for a one 'tick' bias towards highways, and it stayed to the main highways. It's better, and safer if you have a vehicle breakdown.

Edit - Off topic. This is a wish-list item. Sorry!

If I understand you correctly, this feature, or similar was available on the 2610. You could adjust preferences for the type of roads you prefer, major, minor, and I forget what the middle one was, medium maybe. It had three slider bars to adjust. And, if I remember it could also learn your preferred road type from your driving.

No... Each of these are features that were REMOVED or Never Worked Correctly in the first place!!!

So.... If you can assist with the following:

1. My being able to search for ANY town (I'd be willing to delete un-used Announce voices, demo sounds, pictures, and Vehicles to gain space for a more accurate database --- That would be GREAT!!)

2. Since there are FCC Transmitter laws.... How about an external connection that can improve reception of the Garmin FM transmitter.... by the car radio, to reduce co-channel interference?

3. If rumors of a software bug with MP3 music and POI's or TourGuide's are true... Convince Garmin to fix that.... once and for all!!!

Then... I can use my existing Garmin to the fullest... MP3 music via FM Transmitter, and a more precise Database!
(In other words: Use 100% of the features that were sold me in the 660)

One feature that was lost that I can say I miss on a regular basis is the "use habits" feature. Whereas, it learns which way you like to go on a particular route, and after driving it for a few times, it routes the way you normally would go. Or if you liked US highways over interstates, they would route you that direction. They have apparently brought it back with a feature called traffic trends and myTrends™ (predicts routes based on user's navigation behavior). However, I shouldn't have to upgrade my unit to have this feature brought back.

Another feature I miss is mode selection, it used to be a standard feature on most units, now it's only available on certain units. My old unit had delivery mode, emergency vehicle mode, bicycle mode, pedestrian mode, etc.

How about the recalculation settings which allowed you to choose how far off your route you got before it would recalculate. I used to have this set at 1/2 mile or so. Now I get off the interstate and drive less than a block to get gas, and the stupid thing is already telling me how to get back on. That is extremely annoying.

On my 765 I can change the arrival time to a number of things, such as time to destination(ex. 2 hours 12 minutes), elevation, time of day, etc. It appears they have done away with this feature that I use regularly.

Now with the newer units, they have swapped the speed and arrival times around, so I'd have to get used to my speed and times being reversed. Why do they constantly feel the need to re-invent what was already working?

There have been features that have been removed for whatever reason that the end user may like and rely on, or use regularly. You also had the ability to turn these features on and off.

In my opinion, it's these features that keep a user sold on a particular brand. If you start removing the features the user likes and are used to, they will either not upgrade to a newer model, or may go with another brand altogether. I plan on keeping my 755 & 765 until something with the same PLUS better features comes along.

I use phone dialing, MP3, and FM. I consider ANY GPS without these features a considerable downgrade. FM without MP3 or MP3 without FM, IMHO, would be foolish. That being said, I would not purchase any Garmin other than the 765.

I've NEVER had an issue with my 765, except for a bad firmware update. I bought it when it was first released.

Your mileage may vary.

The camera feature in my 750 is the reason I still have and use it. I do wish that it was a feature on the main navigation screen and always on. I always turn the camera feature on before leaving and then when I want to record information regarding a particular location, I poke the vehicle icon, then poke the camera icon. I later go back and copy the .bmp picture(s) to my computer and look the location up using google earth or whatever. If the newer units that use commands included the camera and the ability to say "picture" or "photo" and record the information that would be displayed when you poke the vehicle icon, I would buy it in a minute. I know that without the camera, the information can be saved, but you have to interact with the GPS keyboard while driving.

Curt

I don't think so, but I'll let you know when I get my 3790 in 2 weeks . . . as to it being being due to a patent issue, NO ONE has even documented this, nor have the replies I've received from senior Garmin management used this as a reason.

Then there's the removal of the display of secondary streets at zoom levels between 500 meters and 1.2 km - that's just unacceptable.

My third most serious complaint relates to the poor implementation of the Motorola Bluetooth chip they are using. The Parrot was much better coded.

Then there's the general proliferation of bugs - I am truly tired of playing the role of Garmin's Beta Tester - and one they don't listen to, at that!!

It took me a minute to realize that the comment was about the "screen shot" (on a few models, "screenshot") feature of Nuvis, zumos, and a few street pilots.

with screen shot enabled, you can press the camera icon that appears when screen shot feature is enabled to capture what is on the screen at that moment. The screen shot is saved as a .bmp file for later use.

Well, I really don't need you to let me know as I've had my 3790T for 2 weeks and know what it shows.

It indeed shows the next upcoming cross street in the green info banner.

I get the upcoming streets on the map, and the street I'm on in the banner. Works great for me!

I have a StreetPilot 2730, which has a remote control. When it comes time to buy a new unit, this is one of the main features that I will miss, as it appears that none of the newer units have remote controls.

-Dave

...because except for the 295 they don't have it, but I'd really like wi-fi and a decent browser in all NUVI line-ups. Or at least in the 1400 series and any subsequent 5" or greater offerings. A high quality GPS and mobile internet device combo would be awesome. Much more useful add-on than a run-in-the-mill camera or mp3 player...

One item missing from many of the newer Garmin units is an audio jack. Unfortunately I can't tell you which units have the feature and which don't because the 'look up' choice for the jack has been removed from the Garmin website.

The audio out feature is absolutely essential to me (along with Bluetooth) because it allows POI announcements to be made through my car audio system. In a convertible that's important because the audio from the GPS unit itself is often unintelligible at highway speeds or with other traffic close by.

The audio out and Bluetooth combo allow me to use my phone hands-free while listening to the person I'm on the line with through the car audio. Again, far easier to hear than from the tiny (tinny) built in speakers.

Take a look at this thread. Is it a bug or lack of a feature in the 3790T?

I think I'll stick to my 760.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/29737

and also...

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/29936

dobs108

The one feature that has disappeared that I really liked was teh audible books.....I could download a book and play it on longer trips or at night. I know some will suggest using car CDs but they require changing and are sometimes problematic at night.

audible feature through the GPS, with Bluetooth and FM makes sense to me as when listening to a book - if a call come in teh book stops and the calls goes through. once over the book restarts. Same applies to turns and other directions - like the MP3 player. Also I can load any number fo books on an SD card and I'm good to go-

We're used to each other!