Garmin Adds Palm OS Support for GPS 10

[Reggie]

Add navigation to your Bluetooth enabled Palm OS device. Garmin now adds support for Palm OS devices (formerly only for PCs and Pocket PCs) on its $250 Bluetooth GPS. [details (http://www.1src.com/?m=show&id=1386)]

[dragonsgames]

$250. Crazy... :p

[aspidoras]

I sent an e-mail to Garmin about 6 months ago inquiring if they were going to have a Palm version of the GPS-10. They said that because they were a publicly traded company they could not make a comment. So I suspected they had it in the works. Well here it is 6 months later and it's available.
Too Late. I got the PalmOne GPS Navigation package for Christmas. This package is first rate and the Tom Tom software is AWESOME :D

[javispedro]

Does anybody have a review of how Garmin's Que mapping software works on non-Garmin PalmOS devices?

[French]

I am also very interested in this. Can't seem to fine much information on it.

I have a friend who has a stand alone Garmin unit and hers will tell her what side of the street her destination is on. I would love to have that feature (TomTom doesn't).

[lkj]

Buying of Garmin GPS10: I thought I was smart not to buy it from Amazon.com, because it did not say anyting about supporting Palm. I went ahead and bought it direct from Garmin. I was disaponted after I received it from Garmin. The package lack the support of the Palm OS. I had to call techsupport (30min wait). They send me a new GPS10 setup CD, which has the setup for Palm. It don't have printed instruction to come with it. It is easy enogh to install it w/o the printed instruction.

The GPS10 is well built. The only complain that I have with it is it takes 5 to 10 min to establish a satellite lock.

While I was waiting for the Palm CD. I had a chance to play with the PC nRoute Software and the Pocket PC version of Que. The PC version is nice and fast because you are taking advantage of a large screen and a fast processor (Vaio T150). Both the PPC and PC version let you plot a route from Waypoint-A to Waypoint-B. I have yet to find a way to do it on my Palm LifeDrive. On my LD, I can only plot a route to a Waypoint from my current location. The Palm software is easier to setup though. I found that the connection between LD and the GPS10 is very solid, while I freqently get disconnected from the GPS10 from my PPC (Dell Aximx50v). I guess I'll need to set up the x50v not to auto power while I am using the GPS.

Now the bad thing about using it on the LD; actually I should say, when I'm not using it. My complain is when I am not using the GPS function, the GPS's Que software keep accessing the harddisk every 30 seconds and disable the LD for 2-3 seconds the yellow HD light flashing). Your music and movie play back got interrupted every 30 sec. Buttons and touch screen won't respond when the yellow light is flashing. I have yet to find a way to disable the Que program from running in the background when I don't what it to. Awaiting respond from Garmin.

I would think the TX would be a better choice for this Garmin unit.

[French]

I have purchased it and ran into EXACTLY what lkj did...the package didn't have the Palm software. Kudos to Garmin, though...I bought my package from Ebay and called Garmin and they overnighted me the Palm installation software for Saturday delivery!! It wasn't a real install CD, though...it was a burned copy.

I had installed everything but the Palm software from the original set up CD...it included MapSource. I didn't install Nroute because I don't have Bluetooth on my laptop. MapSource allowed me to plot a course, etc.

To attempt to make a long story short, I am not able to get the darn maps to sync to my Palm (TX). I keep getting a lost error connection, and it doesn't matter if I use WiFi or cable. I'm very frustrated. So I uninstalled and reinstalled everything, except now MapSource is gone and I can't figure out how to get it back. I liked being able to plot the route on my PC, and theoretically I could then upload that to to the TX (think planning vacations).

I'm beyond frustrated at this point. Why won't my maps sync? Where is MapSouce? Grrrr.

lkj: Does it tell you what side of the street your destination is on? This was the sole reason I bought it. I actually already have TomTom, and despite that TomTom was no breeze to install, so far it's been easier than the darn Garmin!

[javispedro]

You may try to move the maps to SD Card: /GARMIN/. Garmin standalone GPS receivers with SD work that way. But I don't really know which files you have to move on City Navigator maps.

[French]

I thought about that but the file it generates is a .img file and the maps are a dot something else.

For lkj: What size SD card are you using, and how long did it take for your map to hot sync? I'm noticing that it immediately disconnects from my 4 Gig card, but it's seems to be trying to install to my 1 Gig. But it is taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

[javispedro]

I thought about that but the file it generates is a .img file and the maps are a dot something else.The files that contain map data are .img files too, at least on MetroGuide 7. Do you mean that City Select maps do "not" contain .img files?
I though IMG was the standard Garmin format for map data.

[French]

When I'm in MapSource and selecting the map area, I can save the file but it saves as a .gdb file. These files are only 32 kb (for the entire east coast), obviously not the real files I want. Moving them to the SD card wouldn't be an option. MapSource generates a .img file that it then attempts to install on next hot sync, which leads to another set of issues...if it doesn't sync correctly (as is the case with my 4 gig card), it errors out...not even finishing syncing my other information. And each time I sync after that it happens again. I don't have any idea where to look for the installation part of it so I can delete it. It's not in the quick install launcher. And searching for the .img file on my computer turns up nothing except the smaller individual maps.

It also appears I can only have one map installed at a time? This surprises me. As long as it takes to sync them, I would far prefer to be able to keep my main map and then know I could upload a map if I were traveling to another city or something. But it looks like any time you need a different map it will simply overwrite the one on the SD card.

I did get a map installed on another card but I bought a 4 gig card so I would have everything in one place...I really want a resolution to the syncing error. At any rate, driving around yesterday it did get me to my destinations (I looked up homes for sale in the area where I wasn't that familiar with the roads). I honestly think in some ways TomTom is superior to Garmin...TT's voice navigation is better, I think. It tells you to turn in 300 yards and then tells you again when you are top of the turn. Helpful if you are approaching a highway exit, for example, where you might take the wrong one.

The volume on Garmin is not loud enough. TT definitely has Garmin beat on that. With TT, I can't even have the volume up 100%...it's too loud. With Garmin I not only had it up 100%, but we had to have the radio turned off and then I STILL had to point the speaker at my step son (he was driving) so he could hear.

I do like that Garmin can be set up to say it is rerouting...TT automatically reroutes but doesn't tell you and the only indication is a brief orange line at the bottom of the screen. If you were in the midst of traffic, bad weather, and had no idea where you were going, you might not even realize you went off course with TT. With Garmin you can have it announced. Also, Garmin does tell you what side of the street your destination is on, something I really like. In fact, yesterday we were approaching a house for sale and Garmin said it was on the right, but the sign for the house for sale was on the left. As we got closer I realized...there were 2 houses for sale directly across from each other...the one on the right just didn't have as noticeable of a sign. And it was a $900,000 house compared to the one on the left that was $400,000 (I was trying to figure out how it was listed so high). So what I'm saying is that Garmin was right and I had gone the exact same route the day before with TT and assumed the house on the left was the correct one.

I'm still experimenting with it, obviously...and honestly I wish I could take the best of both and wrap them up together (but who doesn't). I think TT has an overall better look and right now I think TT has better voice instruction...but I need to give Garmin a little more time. I like that TT can have different color schemes...Garmin you are stuck with either day or night and that's it. I think TT's overall look is just better...even when in 2-D mode.

[javispedro]

The gdb files are waypoint & route files. You'll have to take a look at your Garmin setup folder to search for the img files, they will be there.

Each map zone has got a unique IMG file, so you'll have to try to "guess" which IMG file is the map zone you want to upload, then search your MapSource folder for it.

I would like to buy the GPS 10 cause I have lots of Garmin map CDs, even some home-made ones I would like to use on the go.

[French]

I finally found the large .img file that MapSource was rendering...so I tried copying it directly to my SD card via CardReader. It still won't work. I am now at the point that it must be Garmin isn't compatible with a 4 Gig card. I've had virtually no other issues with this card, and I even took everything off and reformatted it and still the Garmin software doesn't recognize there is a map loaded. Very irritating. So I need to have a dedicated card for Garmin. I really wanted to avoid that.

Oh well...such is life I guess.

[lkj]

French,
I did not try putting map to a SD card. I transfered the map to the internal harddisk (LiveDrive). I did not try to transfer the .img map via the Drive-mode; I sync it after I selected all the areas that I wanted from MapSource program. Under Transfer--Send to device--, I selected LiveDrive (instead of Internal Storage or SD card).

Upon transfer, a folder named Garmin was created, and the .img file was placed into this folder.

I also found that at times the GPS10 and my LifeDrive link has to be establised, otherwise you mighgt get a "map not authorized" (or something of the kind) and no map will show up on the Que program (only GPS coordinates will be on screen instead).

[lkj]

Selecting areas on the Mapsource program: I did a click-and-drag to do multifple selections. I coved the whole Bay area in just a few clicks.

[French]

I'm using a TX so I don't have enough Internal memory for the maps. I don't know why it's being so quirky with this card...I was able to move maps on to two different cards...it's just this one. But it's close to a deal breaker for me. It's a huge PITA switching out the card and I'm worried I'm going to accidentally lose my 4 gig with the switching.

On the 4 gig card I made a directory called GARMIN and then copied the map in there, but Garmin software just doesn't recognize it as being there at all.

ETA: I did eventually find the large .IMG file...I'm pretty sure that's evident from this post but thought I better mention it since you all are trying to help me.

[lkj]

I set my LD in drive-mode. Copied the whole folder to my PC's desktop (about 45MB). I then copy the whold folder to the SD card, still using drive-mode. I then delete the whole folder from the LD's internal hard-disk. The Que program has no problem finding the gmapsupp.img file. The other file in the folder is GRMN_LOG.txt. I don't know what's that for; I moved that along with the .img file.

My SD card is a 512MB SandDisk Ultra II.

May be you can try to copy the whole folder instead of just the .img file???

[lkj]

French,
Would you comment on the condition of the TX while you are running other apps other than the Que. It is quite irritating to me with the ever 30 sec. interruptions on my LD. I'm thinking about a TX.
Thanks

[French]

French,
Would you comment on the condition of the TX while you are running other apps other than the Que. It is quite irritating to me with the ever 30 sec. interruptions on my LD. I'm thinking about a TX.
Thanks

I'm not sure what you are asking me. Are you asking if I have interruptions while doing things on the TX? The answer to that is no. I'm finding the TX to be quite stable. Yes I have the occaissional soft reset, but those I can live with and they don't happen that often. I have everthing but the kitchen sink on this thing.

[lkj]

French,
That's a good thing if you don't know what I'm talking about. I think only a LiveDrive user would understand. You probably did not experience the every-30-second interuption from Que running in the background.

After Que was installed on my LD, every 30 sec. the yellow light goes on, indicating that the internal drive is being read, for 2-3 seconds. During this 2-3 seconds my LD will be in a frozen state, including touch screen, buttons and audio. If I am reading a, I can't advance to the next page until the yellow light is off. If I am listening to music the play back will be paused until the yellow light is out.... just irritating.

[lkj]

Just like to add it here that Dmitry's Uncache solved my problem.

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106938

I do have to activate/inactivate Uncache to turn off/on the background processing.

[kevinpn]

I'm thinking of getting the GPS 10 for my Palm TX. One feature I want is the ability to record and transfer track log to my PC. I read a review for GPS 10, but it's for Pocket PC. (http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=reviews&id=627). According to the review, the track log feature is under menu / utilities. Please confirm that track log feature is available in the Palm version and you can download it to your PC. Thanks for your help.

[lkj]

I am not able to find a transfer track log feature for Palm version.
It does let you save your route and for you to activate when needed.