GARMIN 010-11034-00 Garmin Mobile Xt For Smartphones Reviews

• DRM Dead End: Beware of severe limitations of use

  
  By A1X0T9ONVAFCY2 on 2007-12-01
  When you buy this set of maps, you should be aware of its severe limitations of use. This set comes loaded with the maps on a 2gb micro SD card. The maps are loaded onto a LOCKED micro SD card. The maps CANNOT be moved over to your "normal" SD card. If you attempt to move them, they will not work. There is a one to one correspondance between the maps and the individual numbered card. Moreover, on a practical basis, they use your "hard drive" pocket PC slot EXCLUSIVELY.
  
  For example, if you have an AT&T Tilt pocket PC Phone and you previously bought e.g., a SanDisk 6gb Micro SD card to hold your programs, music, videos, etc. you are out of luck.
  
  YOU CANNOT LOAD THE XT MAPS TO THE 6GB CARD.
  
  The maps are LOCKED into using only the 2gb micro SD card.
  
  So, whenever you want to use the XT maps, you must remove your 6gb (or whatever micro SD card size you normally use for your files, programs, etc.) and insert the XT micro SD card.
  
  The problem is that these micro SD cards are so tiny (the size of a pinky finger nail) that inevitably you will lose or misplace either your XT maps (sorry about the loss of an $85 micro SD card and all your maps) or you normal programs-music-videos-etc. card (sorry about losing your $70 micro SD card and all your music, video, etc.).
  
  Garmin understood that these maps would need to be subject to DRM restrictions but chose to lock them to an individual card rather than an individual user. The result is that the maps require you only to use the Garmin micro SD card AND NONE OTHER.
  
  Moreover, if the micro SD card on which they are loaded gets damaged or corrupted, you are out of luck. Your $85 are gone; go buy another set of maps. YOU CANNOT MAKE A BACKUP SET OF MAPS THAT WILL WORK. THE MAPS ARE LOCKED TO ONLY ONE micro SD card.
  
  My conclusion: this method of using these maps may be useful to some persons who want only to put Garmin maps (AND NOTHING ELSE!) on their pocket PCs.
  
  This is the silliness of the Garmin DRM method.
  
  For most users, Garmin's DRM method is a complete dead end. Imagine if every application file on your PC required a separate hard drive.
  
  
  
  

• You *CAN* transfer the map data to your own memory card

  
  By A1WBIIZ5KF7D6H on 2008-01-26
  Guys, in case you've never heard of it, there is this useful little website called 'google' that lets you search for all kinds of information. Including how to transfer the map data from Garmin Mobile XT onto your own memory card and use it without any problems. Here's one of those threads that details how to do it (not for the computer-shy though):
  
  http://forums.wireless.att.com/cng/board/message?board.id=samsung&message.id=48856
  
  

• Perfect for my PDA

  
  By ARLBS41N2QMQB on 2008-03-17
  A few months ago I purchased a HTC Advantage, which is a large PDA that was advertised as having TomTom software included at the store I visited. *This claim was from the retailer--not HTC.) TomTom was NOT included, and the retailer never made good on their promise to send it to me. Just as well--TomTom asks you to enter street name, then street number, which I find awkward.
  
  My PDA has an internal GPS, so I ordered this software, expecting to be underwhelmed vs. a Garmin dedicated hardware device. On the contrary--it's awesome! Everything I'd expect from a dedicated device, including voice turn-by-turn directions. It even overrides my screen saver settings, so that the map is always visible while navigating. Once I exit Garmin's software, my screen saver goes back to the way I set it up for normal use.
  
  I travel on business quite a bit, and until purchasing this package I had been using Microsoft Live Mobile, which fetches maps in real time over your mobile carrier data connection. But without voice prompts it was dangerous to look at while driving. Garmin's software gets me where I want to go without any issues around stealing a glance at the screen in heavy traffic.
  
  A few weeks ago I wnet to New Zealand and Australia, and discovered that base maps for those two countries are also included. Not good for turn-by-turn, but got me out of a jam or two. BTW, at least in New Zealand the base map is out of calibration by a quarter mile or so.
  
  The voice prompts are available in quite a few languages. I've only tried American English, British English, and Spanish.
  
  Anything I don't like about it? Not really. Only annoyance has been email notifications that pop up while trying to enter addresses, or while navigating. Once under way, the voice prompts continue even when an email notification pops to the foreground. I just need to dial back on email. Right...
  
  Make certain you order a cigarette lighter charger cord for your PDA, if you don't already have one. Running a PDA with the GPS and screen backlight on really eats power.
  
  Oh, and the review trashing Garmin for locking the SD Card? I have a 8 GB hard drive on my unit so leaving the card in my PDA has never been an issue. However there are hacks available if you want to work around it.
  
  And shopping around, others had better prices until I calculated in shipping. Amazon Prime got it to me for free.
  
  

• Wonderfull product, beats everything else!!

  
  By AIAT0Z0K8Y184 on 2008-05-08
  I used this product with my the HTC touch cruise and worked perfectly well. I could transfer all my waypoints from a previous Garmin product in seconds using the latest Mapsource version. Just plugged the 2.0 GB plug and play SD card and the software was ready to use in seconds. Garmin also offers free traffic and weather updates with this product!
  
  

• Locked to supplied card makes product useless

  
  By A359T9R7B5QU10 on 2008-01-31
  The Garmin Mobile XT comes on a 2GB micro SD card with adapters for mini and the full size card included. The software is locked to the supplied card. This is very convinient if you do not plan to use your SD card slot on your phone for anything but the Garmin Mobile XT. It proofes the product useless if you actually want to use it in order to save for instance pictures, videos, email or music on your SD card since then you need to swap those tiny cards each time you want to use the Garmin Mobile XT. Unfortunately if you do this too often the little contacts will break and you cannot use either card. Or you do not have the card handy when you need it. Garmin customer service refuses to give out an unlock code, which would make it possible to move the files from the to 3/4 full 2GB card, which ships with the Garmin Mobile XT, to something like a 4GB or 8GB card.
  
  Bottom line, this product for all practical matters is uselss. I recommend using your mobile phone provider's subscription GPS service or another GPS software such as Tomtom.
  
  
• Works great on Treo 700P
  By A2XCYQKP1AUHIO on 2008-02-21
  I don't use my card slot for any other purpose so I just inserted the card and left it in. Music on a Treo is a joke so why worry about it.
  
  You plug in the card and off you go. Works just like my Nuvi 350. The only down side is that if you use the phone the mapping software closes, one thing at a time. That is due to the lack of processing power in the Treo not Garmin's fault.
  
  Some of the folks on here seem upset that you can't copy the card. Can you imagine the clones for sale on eBay. Part of life. This is much better than the $10 per month service you get from Sprint. The card is paid for in less than a year. Works out in the county with no cell phone service, a big deal to me... I love it.
  
  
• Works great with AT&T phones
  By A2JZE8BLKTUF08 on 2008-03-12
  I initially ordered this product for use with an AT&T Tilt. Love the way it works and the fact that it allows me to carry one less piece of equipment. I recently switched to the Motorola Global Q9h and it works with this phone also.
  
  
• ***Beware of Map Version***
  By A3TQ1QD94G0E81 on 2008-06-11
  I purchased this item for my HP rx5915 in May of 2008. Love the software in spite of SD card limitations. The map on my card was City Navigator NT2008. The 2009 map version is out now. I asked Garmin if I could get the newer map since I just bought it through an authorized retailer (Amazon). I was told NO. I had to return the unit I just bought here and buy the new one from Garmin direct for $20 more. There is no way to tell what map version you will get as it is not marked on the packaging or by part number.
  
  
• Great addition to a great phone
  By A3KI0BSKBE73H7 on 2008-03-08
  I have a Samsung Blackjack II phone that i installed the mobile XT card into. Installation is simple, taking only a few minutes to do. I was up and running in no time. I tested the GPS last night on a 60 mile drive involving side streets and freeways. It worked flawlessly, plenty of turn warning commands so it made the drive very stress free. The gps - mapping function alone would be worth the price paid ( under $85.00 ) but when you consider the access to Garmin online for all kinds of useful area information I think it's a bargain. I might just buy one for my wifes Blackjack II also considering the price and ease of use.
  
  BTW my cell provider charges about $10.00 a month for their gps map service this card will pay for itself in under 8 1/2 mos
  
  
• Garmin XT vs Nuvi
  By A3QXS31H66XFDX on 2008-04-28
  The software is very similar to the Nuvi units, which is why I purchased it. There are some small differences, and they can catch you out. There are also many many problems with the software. I am running on an AT&T Tilt (HTC TyTN II). Problems include:
  - Can't fing GPS device, which is built in. The only way to correct this is to reboot the phone.
  - Software locks up while redrawing a map. To minimise this I have turned off autozoom, and don't zoom in and out.
  - upcoming roads don't sho on the map at certain zoom levels. If you zoom in one level they are there, also zoom out one level they display, but a given zoom and the map just shows the road you are on. This is in 3d mode, not sure about standard map mode.
  - When trying to access some of the tools, like gas prices or POI's the software crashes, and requires a unit reboot. I just don't use tools any more.
  - Takes a long time to open, and even longer to acquire satellites.
  
  I still use the software, but after the flawless Nuvi unit that I have, this was a letdown.
  
  
• Garmin and my Nokia N82
  By A27DMUBAVWKU00 on 2008-08-26
  I bought the Mobile XT system to use with my Nokia N82 phone which has an integrated GPS unit. I have had absolutely no problem with the software. It navigated me easily through two major US Cities (San Antonio, Houston) and on long Interstate trips. Cues were right on time.
  
  Since all of the maps are on the mini SD card, the unit continued to work even when my cell phone was out of range of a tower. Nor was I using any data network. Any updates could have been made with WiFi.
  
  Just looking now for a European version of the same thing.
  
  
• Mobile navigation for smartphone
  By A23SS2M77MRO74 on 2008-04-28
  THis product work fine in my windows mobile 6 phone. I have a samsung blackjack 2. If you are looking for a portable GPS this could be the right choise.
  
  
• Great navigation, but...
  By A1EK3613DXSBIH on 2008-05-27
  I bought this for my Dopod D810 (HTC) running WM6 with a built-in GPS.
  
  Pros:
  - Easy setup, just plug in the SD card and you're good to go.
  
  - Navigation works great, POI's seems comprehensive enough, in other words the standard GPS functionality works fine.
  
  - I like the turn preview option, which zooms to the turn, until you've made the turn and then zooms back out.
  
  - I believe a product review should always consider the price. Under $100 seems fair enough for what you get.
  
  
  Cons:
  - CANNOT COPY THE DATA TO YOUR OWN SD CARD. This has been discussed in other reviews in detail. Depending on your usage this can be either an inconvenience or the reason to not buy the software. The data card has around 800MB free, so I copied all my programs and data (~600MB) to the garmin supplied SD. This worked fine, so I don't need to swap data cards all the time. However, this does not leave me with much free space for additional data or programs. I was seriously considering penalizing 2 stars for this limitation alone, but since the software works well and I managed to copy my data to the garmin card, I am feeling very generous (I wish the option of 3.5 stars was available).
  
  - The house numbers down the lane where I live was a bit messed up on the map which is a bit annoying (my house is 324, but the map shows it as 341). Not a big issue since I can always stick my neck out and read the number on the mailbox. I didn't notice this for any other areas (so far), so hopefully it's just my lane.
  
  - It would really have been nice if the on-screen keypad was QWERTY, and not arranged in alphabetical order.
  
  
  In conclusion, if you don't have too much of your own software/data to store on the SD card, then I would highly recommend this product. If Garmin really insists on using their own data card, perhaps they could have the option of a bigger data card.
  
  
• Great product, when you can get it to run.. 512Mb card (UK) useless
  By A2NFCCNDUOFS90 on 2008-07-09
  512Mb MicroSD Card? You've got to be joking.
  Yes, it's only a 512 MicroSD suplied in the UK (US appear to get 2Gbs as I write).
  
  I bought this assuming I'd install it on my TyTn II, remove the card and put my 4Gb card back in the phone.. but nope.. it's locked to the card and Garmin tech support say they can't unlock to put on another card..
  
  Oh, and it wouldn't run for ages .. receiving exception codes - Mobile XT crashing on the splash screen.. until I wiped loads of files from the phone's internal memory. Garmin didn't have any idea how to solve it.
  
  So.. it works, but you can't have too much on your phone. If you're thinking of copying files from your existing SD card to your phone when you use Garmin's 512Mb supplied card.. don't bother .. Mobile XT won't run at all and Garmin Tech Support won't know how to help you ;)
  
  ..mind you.. all credit to Garmin.. there IS a UK phone number.. but in reality I had more answers from the US email support team. .. mind you, none of the answers worked, with the exception of 'Reset Device back to Factory default.. which probably would have, but I'd solved it myself by then.
  
  
  
• excellent product
  By A14LC9HIJ32G1A on 2008-07-20
  excellent product. definitely makes the smart phone much smarter and useful. has helped me see so many places which i could not even dare to go to without its guidance.
  
  

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