Garmin financial discussion, not much for cars moving forward

 

I know that this is the

I know that this is the perception. I think it may be wrong / changing.

When smart phones first came on the scene the changed a lot of how we use things:
- watches went away
- I can use my smart phone for a GPS!

Watches, as we all know, have come back.

I've also started noticing more and more dedicated GPSes on dashes in my travels.

I think there's a slow realization happening that: Google Maps aren't all that great. They'll tell you where the pizza place is and how to get there but there's much more to taking a trip than getting from point A to B.

I've been surprised by the number of GPSes I see in cars on the highways, at rest areas, etc.

I, too, went "phone only" a few years back and even purchased the, no longer available, Garmin North American GPS (you could download the maps instead of streaming them). That worked for years and then I tried Google Calendar before I finally landed back on the Garmin GPSes.

Perception vs. Reality

Watches have come back? Not here. I don't see many people wearing them nowadays.

GPSs in cars on the road? I see them very, very infrequently here. And none of my 30-40 year old kids have ever owned one. They all use their in-car navigation or their smart phones.

That said, I can see growth in the four categories mentioned in the article. Though, I have never run across anyone using a Garmin product in those areas. Perhaps their technology gets licensed by others?

Automotive would seem to be a huge opportunity but I can imagine that car companies prefer to control their own destiny. That said, I do not get quarterly map updates in my 2019 Dodge RAM!

Marine and aviation don't seem like large opportunities for navigation devices of any kind. The percentage of private boat and airplane owners is quite small.

Just me thinking out loud...

Subject field is required.

Sixeye wrote:

Watches have come back? Not here. I don't see many people wearing them nowadays.

~snip~

Automotive would seem to be a huge opportunity but I can imagine that car companies prefer to control their own destiny. That said, I do not get quarterly map updates in my 2019 Dodge RAM!

~snip~.

Funny, my wife just got me a Galaxy Watch3 from Woot for a pretty good price. Not something I would have bought for myself. Interesting toy with some useful health type apps, but my old eyes can't see it without glasses, that I only need for reading, so when I want to look at stuff on the watch I have to pull out glasses, I have a 45mm screen, it's the largest they had, can't really see it being useful for a driving map assist, maybe walking though.

I've only had it for a few days now, I do like the watch part, I haven't worn an actual watch in some time now, pulling the phone out when I need to see the time. I can see it growing on me, mainly because it's a new gadget, I like gadgets.

As for the in dash GPS for vehicles, they are nice for instant on in a situation where you need to detour around something and wouldn't have already had your stand alone GPS out and running. The updates for mine come out once a year and between $99 to $150, not worth it either as they are a few maps versions behind by the time you get them. I only bought an update once. You can buy a stand alone for the same money with free updates for life. No brainer for us here on the factory, shame it appears Garmin doesn't think so.

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

always running

soberbyker wrote:

As for the in dash GPS for vehicles, they are nice for instant on in a situation where you need to detour around something and wouldn't have already had your stand alone GPS out and running.

In my case, if I am in a car, whether at home or in a rental on a trip, the Garmin is up on the dashboard running any time the car is moving.

now if only it actually had real-time traffic that worked everywhere, could not pry it out of my fingertips without a knife.

--
personal GPS user since 1992

Subject field is required.

archae86 wrote:
soberbyker wrote:

As for the in dash GPS for vehicles, they are nice for instant on in a situation where you need to detour around something and wouldn't have already had your stand alone GPS out and running.

In my case, if I am in a car, whether at home or in a rental on a trip, the Garmin is up on the dashboard running any time the car is moving.

now if only it actually had real-time traffic that worked everywhere, could not pry it out of my fingertips without a knife.

I do that at work, I drive for a living, construction tri-axle dump truck, because I am often going to areas I'm not 100% sure about. On my own time though, 99.5% of my driving is within 15 miles from home, an area I've been in for 62 years and really don't need a GPS. Unless there's a detour off of a main road that sends me into the heart of a neighborhood I know my way through, but not around. That's when the instant on feature of the in dash comes in handy.

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

Agree on this...

Brad Bishop wrote:

I think there's a slow realization happening that: Google Maps aren't all that great. They'll tell you where the pizza place is and how to get there but there's much more to taking a trip than getting from point A to B.

The ability to pre-load waypoints for specific stops in between using a standalone GPS is a key point for me. While that may be available in phones or even map apps, I just like knowing that a routine road trip of mine will have the waypoints saved and ready to go.

I also like to discover what's around me when in an unfamiliar area, and the POI files here are what I use to explore with. So as long as POI Factory is maintained, it will always be relevant to me to have a PND.

BTW, my 2020 Subaru Legacy has a TomTom nav built-in, but I haven't had much chance yet to experiment with it and compare it to my 2639.

--
NEOhioGuy - Garmin 2639, MIO Knight Rider, TomTom (in Subaru Legacy), Nuvi 55, DriveSmart 51, Apple CarPlay maps

For me..

I can not imagine a better setup for me than a Garmin placed on the dash to give me a heads up as to where I am and what streets are ahead. I have mine mounted semi-permanently next to the left side pillar (base is glued to dash)where it does not obstruct my view but is still in my line of sight. As a volunteer driver continuously picking up and driving seniors to various parts of the city my setup is absolutely necessary.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GG7XOxmJJbh56cYgTO1dunrpVJC...
Edit: Can anyone tell me why my comment does not fit properly? At least it does not when viewed on my Macbook

--
Lives in Edmonton AB A volunteer driver for Drive Happiness.ca and now (since June 20 2021) uses a DS65 to find his clients.

OK on PC.

Ralph6410 wrote:

I can not imagine a better setup for me than a Garmin placed on the dash to give me a heads up as to where I am and what streets are ahead. I have mine mounted semi-permanently next to the left side pillar (base is glued to dash)where it does not obstruct my view but is still in my line of sight. As a volunteer driver continuously picking up and driving seniors to various parts of the city my setup is absolutely necessary.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GG7XOxmJJbh56cYgTO1dunrpVJC...
Edit: Can anyone tell me why my comment does not fit properly? At least it does not when viewed on my Macbook

Fits perfect on Windows & PC & Chrome.

--
Nuvi 2460LMT

Subaru (TomTom)

If you get used to it, the TomTom GPS in the Subaru isn't horrible. It's not great, but it's not the worst GPS I've seen. I'd put it firmly in the "OK" category.

It's definitely not as nice as a Garmin GPS.

My main point before was that watches nearly went completely away once the smart phones hit. Then, after the Apple Watch, they have seemed to make a return with:
- Apple Watches
- Samsung Watches
- Garmin Watches
- Fitbit / etc.

All seeming to have made a strong comeback in recent years.

I was translating that to GPSes which, about 10 years back, nearly disappeared with everyone using their phones for GPS. This was when you saw the major players put their GPS software on the smart phones (Garmin definitely did this but you also had TomTom, as I remember, and the company that Garmin eventually bought - "Navigator" - or something close to that).

While your frugal millennials will use Google Maps for everything, and then wonder why it's not working when they're in the middle of nowhere (yes - I've experienced this multiple times with, "How is your (Garmin) GPS working and my phone GPS isn't???") I was merely pointing out that in my recent travels across the USA, a few states over, and even in and around my metro area, that GPSes seem to be making a comeback.

It's not that a majority of cars are using them. This has never been the case, but I see more and more actual GPSes (usually Garmins, definitely not phones) on people's dashes as of late and I think that stems from a few things:
- The slow realization that Google Maps really isn't all that great and, as any app goes, I think people grow bored with it.
- A slow realization that a dedicated GPS actually is pretty good with features that aren't in Google Maps
- Local laws preventing using / touching phones

I think we may have swung from the days of, "There's an app for that," to a point where people have realized the phone can be a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Simple things like pulling your phone out to look at the screen to see the time vs just lifting your wrist up to glance at it casually.

You can use Kindle on your phone! It doesn't make it a great place for reading books.

Smart phones are still great - just not great at everything.

The embedded GPS in our

The embedded GPS in our Escape was never what I'd call 'acceptable'...
Would occasionally lose itself (It has a real "Thing" for the Ohio River!!) which might be good for GPS, but I'm in NC!!!
Hard to program, and seeing that Garmin's pre-date the Embedded Ford units, you'd think they would follow example by Garmin, instead of heading out in their own direction....

End Result... I ignore the Ford GPS and have, and use, a Garmin instead....

Being in a mountainous area, It's needed!!!

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

We certainly think alike...

Brad Bishop wrote:

If you get used to it, the TomTom GPS in the Subaru isn't horrible. It's not great, but it's not the worst GPS I've seen. I'd put it firmly in the "OK" category.

It's definitely not as nice as a Garmin GPS.

My main point before was that watches nearly went completely away once the smart phones hit. Then, after the Apple Watch, they have seemed to make a return with:
- Apple Watches
- Samsung Watches
- Garmin Watches
- Fitbit / etc.

All seeming to have made a strong comeback in recent years.

I was translating that to GPSes which, about 10 years back, nearly disappeared with everyone using their phones for GPS. This was when you saw the major players put their GPS software on the smart phones (Garmin definitely did this but you also had TomTom, as I remember, and the company that Garmin eventually bought - "Navigator" - or something close to that).

While your frugal millennials will use Google Maps for everything, and then wonder why it's not working when they're in the middle of nowhere (yes - I've experienced this multiple times with, "How is your (Garmin) GPS working and my phone GPS isn't???") I was merely pointing out that in my recent travels across the USA, a few states over, and even in and around my metro area, that GPSes seem to be making a comeback.

It's not that a majority of cars are using them. This has never been the case, but I see more and more actual GPSes (usually Garmins, definitely not phones) on people's dashes as of late and I think that stems from a few things:
- The slow realization that Google Maps really isn't all that great and, as any app goes, I think people grow bored with it.
- A slow realization that a dedicated GPS actually is pretty good with features that aren't in Google Maps
- Local laws preventing using / touching phones

I think we may have swung from the days of, "There's an app for that," to a point where people have realized the phone can be a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Simple things like pulling your phone out to look at the screen to see the time vs just lifting your wrist up to glance at it casually.

You can use Kindle on your phone! It doesn't make it a great place for reading books.

Smart phones are still great - just not great at everything.

Based upon your subject line I was simply going to comment on the Subaru TomTom GPS version, but the rest of your post seemed relevant to me also.

I have found the 2020 Subaru Legacy GPS to be "okay" also. It certainly appears that it will get me from point A to point B, with few frills. Interestingly, the car also has Apple CarPlay and in that case you end up using the Apple maps to navigate. I can't seem to invoke the built-in TomTom when connected to CarPlay. So I wonder what the rationale was for that.

Regarding the other points in your post, I use a Garmin VivoSmart 4 for my fitness data--and do check time on it--but, I prefer a traditional analog watch when I go out and as a result it looks like I'm wearing two watches when I do!

The smartphone has replaced more than 100 other things that we've used in the past, and many are real convenience improvements. I'll give it that. As you mentioned though, it may not be the "best of breed" in every case. Just my humble opinion.

--
NEOhioGuy - Garmin 2639, MIO Knight Rider, TomTom (in Subaru Legacy), Nuvi 55, DriveSmart 51, Apple CarPlay maps

Agree with Brad

If Apple watch counts, yes watches are back. My wife still reaches for a regular watch with hands when she goes out.

As for Garmin GPS, I still prefer a dedicated GPS with a larger screen vs iPhone. Every time I use my phone, I am dissatisfied with the directions I get.

We have a Jeep Grand Cherokee with GPS and that is nice, but we don't drive it all the time. We have an RV and a van, so the Garmin and the Rand McNally still serve well.

I also have a backup cam connected to my Rand McNally. iPhone wont do that.

I hope Garmin survives into the future.

--
rvOutrider

Agree

that TomTom in Subaru isn't great. It's always a toss up on a long trip as to wether I plug in the phone and use CarPlay and Apple Maps of the built in Tom Tom. But it is still much better to have the built in screen in the car doing the map instead of mounting the phone and looking at it.

--
TomTom built in and Garmin Nuvi 1490T. Eastern Iowa, formerly Southern California "You can check out any time you like...but you can never leave."

Odd formatting

Thanks mmullins98 Your "paste" (because it shows the background) shows 7 spaces and the margin past a normal post.

--
Lives in Edmonton AB A volunteer driver for Drive Happiness.ca and now (since June 20 2021) uses a DS65 to find his clients.

Agree ^2...built in TomTom only as a last resort

capst wrote:

that TomTom in Subaru isn't great. It's always a toss up on a long trip as to wether I plug in the phone and use CarPlay and Apple Maps of the built in Tom Tom. But it is still much better to have the built in screen in the car doing the map instead of mounting the phone and looking at it.

Over the weekend we went on a decent length roadtrip--about 3 hours. So I decided to test the Apple Maps against my Garmin 2639. According to Apple, their maps include realtime traffic, red light cameras, and speed cameras. So that would have been a bonus over the Garmin. While I don't recall any of the cameras coming up, it did provide alerts for bad weather up ahead--again a bonus. A disadvantage was that I haven't figured out with the Apple Maps how to include waypoints. So...the Garmin was used for my saved trip information with waypoints, and the Apple Maps for the realtime info. So, I guess it's suspenders and belts for me...

--
NEOhioGuy - Garmin 2639, MIO Knight Rider, TomTom (in Subaru Legacy), Nuvi 55, DriveSmart 51, Apple CarPlay maps

GPS in car

I am the same. When I am in the car, my Garmin is always running.

Somewhere

In my dark sorted past (15+ years ago), I saw a report that stated the goal was no one would own an individual private vehicle.

At that time, the basic thinking was the g'muck would own a "fleet" of these vehicles and you would need to schedule a ride ( with a "tax" ) and the vehicle would collect, transport and deliver you to your destination.

I think it's called "UBER" now..

In all seriousness, it was a legitimate report to remove from private ownership almost every form of multi-passenger transportation vehicles from private ownership.

So who needs GPS's for vehicles

--
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!

Both

I use both. When driving locally I use Waze that comes up via Carplay on my vehicles built in screen, but on road trips the Garmin is always running, satellite reception never fails, but sometimes I get the "no cell signal" when using Waze in the wilds.

--
Nuvi2797LMT (2) Nuvi260,Ford Sync3 Navigation. Captain Cook was a Yorkshire man too.

Watches

soberbyker wrote:
Sixeye wrote:

Watches have come back? Not here. I don't see many people wearing them nowadays.

~snip~

Automotive would seem to be a huge opportunity but I can imagine that car companies prefer to control their own destiny. That said, I do not get quarterly map updates in my 2019 Dodge RAM!

~snip~.

Funny, my wife just got me a Galaxy Watch3 from Woot for a pretty good price. Not something I would have bought for myself. Interesting toy with some useful health type apps, but my old eyes can't see it without glasses, that I only need for reading, so when I want to look at stuff on the watch I have to pull out glasses, I have a 45mm screen, it's the largest they had, can't really see it being useful for a driving map assist, maybe walking though.

I've only had it for a few days now, I do like the watch part, I haven't worn an actual watch in some time now, pulling the phone out when I need to see the time. I can see it growing on me, mainly because it's a new gadget, I like gadgets.

As for the in dash GPS for vehicles, they are nice for instant on in a situation where you need to detour around something and wouldn't have already had your stand alone GPS out and running. The updates for mine come out once a year and between $99 to $150, not worth it either as they are a few maps versions behind by the time you get them. I only bought an update once. You can buy a stand alone for the same money with free updates for life. No brainer for us here on the factory, shame it appears Garmin doesn't think so.

That was kind of my point. Most people here just use their smart phone for time and don't wear watches. Apple Watches and the rest are too small for older eyes (like mine) and the younger crowd doesn't seem to wear watches mostly. Email on a watch? The novelty wears off pretty quickly.

I'm not saying there is zero market for watches but just saying that it's like buying cassette tapes for music. Some still do it but most have found other avenues.

Your mileage may vary and I don't mean to diss anyone using watches. The great thing about our world today is that there are so, so many options available. All of our varied tastes in technology can be filled.

GPS & Maps

The younger crowd certainly seems to embrace Waze on their phone but become lost easily when they lose their cell signal.

I wonder how many drivers today have a map in their car?

I expect to have a dedicated GPS with me whenever I travel long distances.

“The younger crowd”, some are lost period...

sydric wrote:

The younger crowd certainly seems to embrace Waze on their phone but become lost easily when they lose their cell signal.

IMO, many of the the younger crowd are just lost. The other day I was to get $0.60 change. The young lady started with a quarter, then started counting out nickels. When I said I’d rather not have seven nickels she was puzzled. I had to actually tell her I preferred two quarters and a dime.

--
John from PA

I'm not sure about watches

I'm not sure about watches coming back. Maybe smart watches which currently is a niche market. I have 2 contemporary watches that I wear occasionally. Sitting in frigid south texas with power at the moment. Never thought the energy capital of the world would not be able to handle a cold snap.

Future Smartphone Apps?

It seems to me someone could create a navigation app that would allow for mass input & storage of POI's along with on board maps. Using such an app on a larger screen device, like an iPad Air or Mini, would go a long way toward eliminating the need for a standalone Garmin device.

$2

John from PA wrote:

IMO, many of the the younger crowd are just lost. The other day I was to get $0.60 change. The young lady started with a quarter, then started counting out nickels. When I said I’d rather not have seven nickels she was puzzled. I had to actually tell her I preferred two quarters and a dime.

Wanna have some fun? Get $50 worth of $2 bills from your bank and use them, watch how many folks have to ask the manager if they are real and if they can take them.

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

Said, isn't it?

John from PA wrote:
sydric wrote:

The younger crowd certainly seems to embrace Waze on their phone but become lost easily when they lose their cell signal.

IMO, many of the the younger crowd are just lost. The other day I was to get $0.60 change. The young lady started with a quarter, then started counting out nickels. When I said I’d rather not have seven nickels she was puzzled. I had to actually tell her I preferred two quarters and a dime.

Several years ago, my wife purchased some items. After the young lady rang up the sale, I reached in my pocket and pulled out the right change. It would have been a simple matter to give me back $10.00 since my wife gave her a 20 dollar bill, but since the register said that she was supposed to give me back $10.60 she couldn't comprehend the difference. There were 8 teenagers there behind the counter and they all had the deer in the headlight look. Apparently, they are not being taught simple math in school these days.

--
With God, all things are possible. ——State motto of the Great State of Ohio

Sad. They only know what is put in front of them.

maddog67 wrote:
John from PA wrote:
sydric wrote:

The younger crowd certainly seems to embrace Waze on their phone but become lost easily when they lose their cell signal.

IMO, many of the the younger crowd are just lost. The other day I was to get $0.60 change. The young lady started with a quarter, then started counting out nickels. When I said I’d rather not have seven nickels she was puzzled. I had to actually tell her I preferred two quarters and a dime.

Several years ago, my wife purchased some items. After the young lady rang up the sale, I reached in my pocket and pulled out the right change. It would have been a simple matter to give me back $10.00 since my wife gave her a 20 dollar bill, but since the register said that she was supposed to give me back $10.60 she couldn't comprehend the difference. There were 8 teenagers there behind the counter and they all had the deer in the headlight look. Apparently, they are not being taught simple math in school these days.

--
Nuvi 2460LMT.