zumo 550 paperweight

bmwrider88 said:

can't you also stream Sirius/XM with an app from your iPhone as well... ?

i have yet to be able to justify shelling out major dosh for a GPS. never used my iPhone on my bike but there may come a time... i use it in the car often, but only the *GPS* that comes with the phone. 50.00 for a real GPS app seems FAR better than 250.00- 900.00 for a GPS that will eventually crap out on you.

Click to expand...

You think the iphone won't crap out ?

Wouldn't ya just know it!

All this talk about the Zumo and here I am, planning a weekend trip and my 5 mo 660 starts to act up. It does random shutdowns as I try to delete routes. HMMM Talked to a good guy at Garmin and will send it back on Monday. Glad I have my 765T and my iPhone as as backups. OBTW, when getting the latest updated maps, Garmin will try to get you to use the "Garmin Lifetime Updater" software: Option 1 (Recommended) on the My Maps page after selecting 'Download' under your device(s). While it will update your GPS unit, this will not put the latest map into BaseCamp on a Mac. Use the old 'Garmin Map Update application' and click on Advance, as before.

Acejones said:

You think the iphone won't crap out ?

Click to expand...

It may, but I have a better warranty on it.

A Nuvi 550 is waterproof, battery operated if you wish to unplug and comes loaded with the North America map. It does not play music or Bluetooth to the helmet. I have never had the directions pumped into my helmet but then again was using GPS before I had Bluetooth. I have never wished I could hear it because I can see it. The only reason I bought the 550 is for the waterproofing. I was tired of putting a ziplock around my regular Nuvi. At $249 it is not exactly cheap but it ain't $699. I can't imagine riding without GPS but I can imagine it without sound. Actually I ignore the exact directions half the time and take alternate side trips and don't want to hear two women squawking in my ear.

I thought I had a paperweight, turned out to be my wiring, all's good now.
I cut my wiring to run my 550 off the accessory pigtail at the neck - turned out to be the + & - were to closes in the heat wrap casing. I thought my kid got to it - my home was the North Pole, all the colors in the rainbow,#'s & multi screens.

bmwrider88 said:

can't you also stream Sirius/XM with an app from your iPhone as well... ?

Click to expand...

no, the iPhone has no satellite receiver.

i bet you're thinking of something like Pandora, which streams music via the cellular network.

ian

but there is an app that allows internet streaming of XM. I read the reviews and it does not look all that good. Plus it uses up bandwidth.

Android

Android phones come complete with a Google Maps app which seems highly regarded. It is a free utility, unlike the iPhone [a.k.a. "iPay].

I don't use a smartphone (yet) so have no opinion of it. Android phones with enough memory MAY be able to function as navigators without a tower connection, but I need verification of that. It would be a bummer to lose nav on half the two lane and gravel roads in the USA.

Also, Androids and other smartphones can use Trapster [look it up] to likely warn of upcoming speed traps. A BMW M-car owner-friend makes much use of that with apparent success.

No known Garmin can do that.

BTW: I just got a strange email from Garmin, teasing me about some "everything will change on August 24" upcoming release. Meanwhile, I don't think I'll update the maps on my Zumo 550 (my $150 replacement from last spring).

Jim Rogers said:

but there is an app that allows internet streaming of XM. I read the reviews and it does not look all that good. Plus it uses up bandwidth.

Click to expand...

there are applications arising using a satellite distribution model, hopping onto cellular and then streaming to your phone. the phone itself is not receiving a signal from the satellite.

according to its proponents DVB-SH is going to be big for mobile broadcasting.

there are efforts underway for mobility devices to receive streaming broadband content directly from satellites, too.

bmwrider88 said:

can't you also stream Sirius/XM with an app from your iPhone as well... ?

i have yet to be able to justify shelling out major dosh for a GPS. never used my iPhone on my bike but there may come a time... i use it in the car often, but only the *GPS* that comes with the phone. 50.00 for a real GPS app seems FAR better than 250.00- 900.00 for a GPS that will eventually crap out on you.

Click to expand...

I stream XM/Sirius on my Iphone 4 but you must be in range of a cell tower. Iphones are not satelite activated nor do they work off of satilites.

Jim Rogers said:

but there is an app that allows internet streaming of XM. I read the reviews and it does not look all that good. Plus it uses up bandwidth.

Click to expand...

I have it and it works great! $2.99 per month if you already subscribe with another device.