Comments on: Garmin Begins Shipping the iQue 3600

Garmin International announced today that the iQue 3600 began shipping this week to leading electronics retailers and traditional Garmin dealers within the United States. The iQue 3600 is the first PDA with integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. It runs Palm OS 5 and carries a suggested retail price of $589.
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helf @ 7/24/2003 4:17:48 PM #
Finally..

Garmin iQue won't syn with Mac OSX
ByersJohnC @ 9/1/2003 10:51:20 PM #
If anyone has any tricks to get the new iQue3600 to syn with a Mac OSX computer I would really appreicate an email at jcb@oxfordweb.com.
RE: ....
David_Q @ 9/7/2003 2:27:34 PM #
This link has infor on hacking the Palm Desktop so that you can sync with a Mac OS X using the USB Cradle. Read the threads from 10 to 13 for info.

http://www.pdastreet.com/forums//showthread.php?threadid=22568&goto=newpost

Better Hurry up!

Bioco @ 7/24/2003 4:27:34 PM #
The first one to come to the game adn their product was going to be second. If they dont rush the Tungsten TT3 was going to get them first. If this thing sells Sony is going to make all your dreams come true and bring 320x480 to all of you.

Garmin does need to be way ahead of them to sell. They already got thier future costumersall pist of because of all this waiting. One month ago this would be great for them they had no competition, now they got to figth it with the TT2 and the shadow of the TT3.

RE: Better Hurry up!
Edward Green @ 7/24/2003 4:37:02 PM #
Translation?

Edward Green
--
http://www.khite.co.uk
RE: Better Hurry up!
Bioco @ 7/24/2003 8:19:37 PM #
TRANSLATION : THEY WON'T SELL NOW !

PALM III, PALM 150, VISOR PRISM, SONY CLIE SJ30 All of them working.
RE: Better Hurry up!
CaptMyCapt @ 7/25/2003 12:21:15 AM #
Translation or not, I'm confused by this comment. Is the TT2/3 going to be released with integrated GPS as well? I believe it is this combination that had folk chomping at the bit. Why would it not sell as a result of a delayed release consistent with many groundbreaking products? Sure I waited along with scores of others. Be that as it may I will still buy the iQue 3600. I'm a long-time user of both Garmin and Palm products and I will not let a delayed release change that. So, help me understand why I should wait for TT2/3, understanding that I, like others, desire that Palm w/GPS functionality.


Captain T

"You will never make progress trying to sail into the wind - chart your course!"

RE: Better Hurry up!
manekineko @ 7/25/2003 7:53:32 PM #
I think he's getting at the fact that a lot of people are interested in the iQue simply because it's the only reasonably sized Palm with virtual graffiti. That certainly has me interested. With news of the T3 with virtual graffiti in the pipelines, that takes a little of the wind out of the iQue's sails.

But, sadly, disappointing news for developers.

mikemusick @ 7/24/2003 4:32:24 PM #
Well, it's about bloomin' time!

From the tone of some new comments on their iQue developer page, either they've heard my gripes here, or I'm not the only one complaining... I suspect the latter. ;-)

Two specific disappointments:

Given their "pre-signup" of developers since January, I have heard SQUAT from them. Absolutely nothing. This does not bode well. It looks I'm going to have to exersize some "connections" to get a halfway decent price on development bucks, markers I would prefer not to call.

The second is more onerous - the new FAQ on the developer's page for the first time mentions what is going to be available from the Garmin API - and it's not much. The obvious Palm OS hardware issues are covered, such as screen control (soft Graffiti, etc.) and the thumbwheel. The disappoinment is that the GPS information is apparently limited to basic positioning data, and there is no access to the map rendering engine. Rats.

Garmin, you are missing your opportunity to be a bigger player in GIS. 3rd-party applications can be your salvation here if we had a decent mapping engine. Are you going to continue to cede this market to Trimble?

RE: But, sadly, disappointing news for developers.
coop @ 7/26/2003 12:25:51 AM #
Would this imply that other software would not be able to use the GPS data? No program accessible NEMS data stream?

If not, they may have lost a customer...

coop

RE: But, sadly, disappointing news for developers.
coop @ 7/26/2003 12:28:12 AM #
NEMS would of course be NEMA...

RE: But, sadly, disappointing news for developers.
G M Fude @ 7/26/2003 7:07:25 AM #
I thought I knew a bit about GPS but I had to look up NEMA, and I think I learned something (if anyone else is interested):

"Most boaters are quite familiar with the term NMEA, the acronym for the National Marine Electronics Association. This is the organization that established the NMEA 0183 data standard used by marine electronics manufacturers worldwide. A very confusing coincidence is that the highly similar term NEMA is the acronym for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. NEMA is a self-regulating industry body that publishes standards for industrial enclosures. These standards identify the level of protection a particular electrical enclosure may provide. For instance, a NEMA 4 rating signifies an enclosure designed for indoor or outdoor use, and one that provides a degree of protection against wind-blown dust and rain, splashing water, hose-directed water, and damage from external ice formation. Autonav's new daylight and sunlight viewable LCDs are examples of products sealed to NEMA 4 standards."

------------------------------
- Steve Smith
A physicist is the atoms' way of thinking about atoms.

RE: But, sadly, disappointing news for developers.
mikemusick @ 7/26/2003 11:34:12 PM #
"Yes" to the access to GPS data. According to their FAQ, "Developers will be able to access GPS status, position, velocity and time." No mention at all of NMEA sentences.

Which does beg the question about other GPS information, such as altitude, DOP (dilution of precision), degrees from magnetic north, and so on and so on... things we take for granted from GPS systems. The Magellan Springboard API has access to all this data (or at least the information that can be used to calculate it). Incidentally, the Magellan's output is *not* in NMEA format, but presented as Palm OS database structures.

Anyway, what I was griping about was apparent lack of access to the map rendering code - the low-level efficient stuff they use to draw their maps on the screen. I wrote my own many years back, but, frankly, it stinks in both appearance and performance because of the rather poor drawing tools available in Palm OS. With the Garmin, I'd rather concentrate on the GIS portion of the applications than spend yet more time reinventing a wheel that's already there. I already know that clients are going to immediately compare my maps to the high-quality maps that work with Garmin's internal software, and from the way things seem to be developing I'm going to have to throw my hands up with a "I'd love to use theirs but they won't let me".

:-(

Possible Garmin smartphone on the way?!

gfunkmagic @ 7/24/2003 5:16:59 PM #
There's an interesting quote below from a Cnet news article about the iQue release:

"As it plans new devices, Garmin is also shifting its research and development efforts from CDMA and follow-on GSM handsets to open mobile technologies such as Bluetooth, according to the company."

http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-5053592.html?tag=cd_mh

If Garmin can add BT or cdma/gprs functionality to future iQue's, I would be extremely impressed!!

Visit http://goodthatway.com/
-better living through better technology.

Addenum:
gfunkmagic @ 7/24/2003 5:53:48 PM #
Well, perhpas not. According to an article from Brighthand:

Quote:
"In a statement released today, the company said it is dropping plans to create mobile phones with integrated GPS receivers. Instead, it will develop products like the iQue 3600 with built-in wireless networking technologies, such as Bluetooth.

At the initial announcement of this handheld, Garmin representatives said the company had dropped plans to integrate Bluetooth into this model when ran into difficulties with it interfering with the GPS receiver. Still, it believed the problems could be overcome with more time."

Well...wireless handheld can still mean integrated BT or cdma/gprs IMO. It obviously will be more pda-centric than phone-cenric, but that's OK when the main purpose is to have GPS functionality...

Visit http://goodthatway.com/
-better living through better technology.

bluetooth probs can be overcome
MobileMitch @ 7/24/2003 6:28:37 PM #
there are 2-3 bluetooth GPS recievers that can send data to a bluetooth enabled palm. Obviously GPS and Bluetooth signals are not mutualy exclusive. It can be done, Garmin will figure it out.

Personaly I am excited to hear some head to head reviews between the integrated Garmin solution and a one of the 2-3 bluetooth solutions mentioned above.



Sweet!

jbeedham @ 7/24/2003 6:46:44 PM #
I can't wait to pick up one of these little bad boys. Wish I had it last weekend when I almost got lost in Arizona & Nevada.

So does anybody know what the best deal is out there to get one of these?

-------------------------------------------------------
currently using Palm m125 and waiting for Garmin iQue.

RE: Sweet!
Admin @ 7/24/2003 7:04:05 PM #
Check this out for the best deal:

http://tinyurl.com/hz4k

RE: Sweet!
I.M Anonymous @ 7/25/2003 3:10:39 AM #
That page says eCost's price is $433.36, but when I go to eCost, and add the iQue to my cart, the price is $474.99. What gives?

RE: Sweet!
edyaw @ 7/25/2003 8:35:28 AM #

mmm virtual grafitti

arielb @ 7/25/2003 1:39:42 AM #
here's the VG tablet that everyone wanted beating Palm and Sony (which still doesn't get it) even despite the delays. oh and it has GPS!

the software

gijsraggers @ 7/25/2003 1:41:29 AM #
I have my Tungsten|T and Emtac BT GPS running for a while, it's perfect. But how about using the Garmin software on my set?

Anyone?

Review?

palmhiker @ 7/25/2003 9:44:13 AM #
When can we expect a PIC review of this PDA?

SDIO?

mikeyts @ 7/27/2003 11:24:23 PM #
I still haven't seen any clear answer to the question of whether its SD slot is SDIO or not. Anyone hear and if so, where?

"began shipping this week" - uhh... to whom?

mikemusick @ 7/29/2003 4:03:39 PM #
Has anybody actually seen one yet? My dealer has been told "backorder, four weeks".

I *must* have one for my business because GPS/PDA is my professional specialty (like you can't figure this out from previous postings!), but tell you what - Garmin is not making any friends among anybody who is dealing with them for the first time. It has been one excuse after another.

>-(

RE:
robglee @ 7/30/2003 3:40:00 PM #
I received mine on monday. Only problem so far is the cradle does not charge when ac plugged in. Using a palm 505 cradle for now. Haven't had time to really play with gps as I am going out of the country tonite. There may also be a audio problem, as that stops every so often. Requires reset to get audio back. Haven't figured out yet if this problem is software or hardware related.

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