Garmin Oregon screen visibility issue solved

[Done]

Check this out:
http://www.gpstuner.com/en/

The downside is that cell phones don't use standard batteries. But otherwise, it turns your cell phone into a very capable GPS.

I'm sticking to a regular old GPS (Garmin Vista) for now though. Tougher, waterproof, cheap batteries...

[stevage]

>I'd love to see a link or 2 to. GPS for cell that alloweds for maps loaded to micro SD or memory.

What kind of maps are supported is just a software question. There is (according to a friend) plenty of map software that allows this.

>From what I've read for Blackberry this tech is just not ready for primetime...

Yes, you're still talking about pre-packaged solutions. I'm talking about open platforms like Android, where you can download whatever software you want onto them.

>And GPS chews through my cell battery - and I'm on a new BB model.

Yep.

>Unless I was doing some sort of data entry / plant recon / GIS work I wouldn't want my GPS to have to act like a small computer.

All GPS's by definition are computers. They're getting more and more powerful over time.

>The nice thing about a stand alone system is dedicated battery life for nav / maps - you never have to worry about your cell lock burning up juice aquiring towers - or have to decide between making 1 last phone call or having juice (and easy to find AA replacement batts) for navigating.

Well, any vaguely useful GPS/phone would allow either device to be turned off. Personally, I would find that option a benefit. I'd rather be able to choose phone or GPS for my last bit of battery life than be stuck with GPS and no phone, or vice versa.

[bmike-vt]

OK, good luck with your quest. When you have the ideal all in one device post up how it works and why you like it.

And a techinical note - most of the BBs OS is not locked down like an iPhone. There are several 'app stores' and if a developer can write the code (which is available in a dev kit from RIM) they can get it working on the device. There are security lines that RIM won't let you cross... but for most things 'app' you have access to the OS.

That GPStuner looks cool, but its not supported for BB or iPhone... so a large chunk of users is out of the loop.

[stevage]

>OK, good luck with your quest. When you have the ideal all in one device post up how it works and why you like it.

Ha, no, I think it doesn't exist...yet. I've just placed an order for the Oregon 550 It's frustrating to think that this ideal device is perhaps 6-12 months away. Oh well. I could have got something much cheaper. If I was in the US, I'd have grabbed a Delorme PN-20 with that killer "$30 all you can map" deal, from Amazon - $130 or so.

The Oregon 550 does everything I really want/need, and the only issue really was price. And with the release of the non-beta Custom Maps, I was nudged over the edge.

[DaveH]

Never mind - they make one for the Oregon:
http://www.boxwave.com/products/cleartouch/cleartouch-screen-protector-garmin-oregon_3282.htm

OK, this arrived and I've spent a day with it.  There isn't much to report - it isn't a miracle cure for visibility woes.  As far as I can tell it looks exactly the same.  Garmin must have toned down the gloss for the 500 models and this screen protector just emulates it.

If nothing else it's a great screen protector.  I wish it was installed when my bike ended upside down on the Munds Wagon trail near Sedona a month back...

[bmike-vt]

OK, this arrived and I've spent a day with it.  There isn't much to report - it isn't a miracle cure for visibility woes.  As far as I can tell it looks exactly the same.  Garmin must have toned down the gloss for the 500 models and this screen protector just emulates it.

If nothing else it's a great screen protector.  I wish it was installed when my bike ended upside down on the Munds Wagon trail near Sedona a month back...

hmm. i know a similar one knocked down the glare on my BB and before that my palm.
sorry it didn't help.
wonder if a search for glare reduction might turn something up. i know there are films for laptops that can knock out the glare and also add a privacy layer to it - so the guy sitting next to you on a flight won't be able to read your bikepacking.net responses mid flight.

my screen protector for my bb is nearing the end of its life - so when i replace (probably after the 1st of the year) i'll seek out a glare reduction version.

[Done]

OK, this arrived and I've spent a day with it.  There isn't much to report - it isn't a miracle cure for visibility woes.  As far as I can tell it looks exactly the same.  Garmin must have toned down the gloss for the 500 models and this screen protector just emulates it.

If nothing else it's a great screen protector.  I wish it was installed when my bike ended upside down on the Munds Wagon trail near Sedona a month back...

Thanks for testing, Dave.