Thread: Garmin Discontinued Items

Probably time for them to get out of Hardware based devices and develop a phone app that is not so $$$ pocket hungry.
Gee, still have 2 Etrex yellows from 2004 and the newer Etrex 30x and I still use OziExplorer on PC & the Android version phone/Tablet, and the TT NDS for fun.
The main App I use when Bush is "Trilobite" a Geology based app for Prospectors and Geologists and is developed in Australia and also used in Ontario, Canada + of cause my OziExplorer.
There are a lot of Aussies that use the Hema Maps units. They also support OziExplorer.

How many are you ready to pay for saving of your ass? That is a question!

Only standalone GPS navigator give you assurance in the positive result. The modern phone is perfect, but not for use in crisis situation.

Discontinuing is cheaper than finishing incomplete devices, fixing known bugs and supporting failed hardware

@ Giomen
GPS batteries don't last as long as phone batteries my GPS lasts 22hrs running continuously and my phone with an App I use and forget to close the GPS app brings the battery down from full to 50% is 3 days.
I have 3 Etrex, 1 PDA, and my phone to get me back to my car safely out in Aussie bush, if I don't then I have a PLB, I go where Old Timers' prospector have walked.

With my GPSMAP 66 I can extend battery life up to 21 days in Expedition Mode.

Plus I have a backup power bank 10000 mah with a solar window on it so I always have a fully charged in my backpack.

If I need to charge it I just hang it on the back of my backpack and let the the sun do it's thing.

As for using a smartphone doing a hike not so good.

Reasons:

You have it in your hands all the time.
(Not good climbing up on rocks)
(You drop it you break it)
(Or it falls in to the water as you slip on a rock)

As for the handheld I have it hook to my backpack and my hands or free.
If I need to look at the GPS screen I stop unhook it from my backpack or my belt clip.
They can handle a drop or a slip in the water and still work.

The phone stays in my backpack I do not need to call or have someone call me while I am hiking.
So it put in airplane mode.

If there is a emergency it is here to use.....

Yep that's OK too, the app I use for my prospecting I need the phone for that to make sure I am on the lease I have permission to be on, the GPS is on me on my belt and is tracking as well and has Camp & where ever I park the troopy, to find my way back with the app is not easy for others to get back to the vehicle, but I know this app very well as I have been in discussion with the developer for couple-3 yrs now, the phone has slipped out of my top pocket a few time when I am bending down to dig a nugget out . As for falling in water, that is hard because there is very little of it around, BUT it could fall down a mine shaft so long as I'm not with it.

Originally Posted by Magnetron

As for falling in water, that is hard because there is very little of it around

But some of us be surrounded a water from heaven in each second trip. In most of cases the phone was absolutely useless in this situation.