Garmin finally announce Zumo 660

[ebbo]

Ideal for a weekday ride or weeklong trip, the zūmo 660 has features motorcyclists will appreciate like a 4.3” sunlight readable and customizable touchscreen display, glove-friendly design with left handed controls and oversized touchscreen buttons.

The zūmo 660 speaks street names so riders will receive turn-by-turn, voice prompted directions, such as “turn right on Main Street,” via the built-in speaker or through a compatible Bluetooth helmet or headset.

More to read here in the Garmin news room, but really I'd like to see the tech spec
http://garmin.blogs.com/pr/2009/01/garmin-zmo-660.html?activeBranchId=newsroom

 

[John Armstrong]

Only slightly more than the 550:

The zūmo 660 is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2009 at $799.99

So that'll be £800 here then

No remote for in car use either from what is said in the link

Wont be upgrading this year to it I think. Anyone who is and has ands to sell their TT mount, locking or not, let me know

 

[Yellow Peril]

Hmm interesting, as some one who doesn't keep up with the "Jone's" am quite happy with my Nav 3 but the function that shows more detail of lane lay out on approach to more complicated junctions would be very useful.

Also as it is so bluetooth enabled, will it loose the abliity to be hardwired? via the good old fashioned 3.5mm jack?

Look forward to more spec.

 

[Howard Millichap]

Also as it is so bluetooth enabled, will it loose the abliity to be hardwired? via the good old fashioned 3.5mm jack?

Look forward to more spec.

The 550 is Bluetooth and that has a 3.5mm jack.

 

[markie_wales]

Comparing the 660 with the 550 the only down side of the 660 I see is 10 routes compared to the 50 of the 550. I have around 20 - 30 odd routes in mine when I go away for my annual bike trip so will need to think about how to manage that if I get one. All the rest looks great

It may be a typo as the 660 has 1000 vs 500 WP's of the 550.


Also see they have announced "maps for life of the unit" which at ~$140 (even if that's £140) is a good offering IMHO.

cheers

Markie

EDIT: Ebbo - tech spec is off the product page:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=135&pID=15000

 

[cookie]

i've held off buying a 550 as it never really seemed "right" for me. hope this one's the one.

 

[Bumpkin]

Also as it is so bluetooth enabled, will it loose the abliity to be hardwired? via the good old fashioned 3.5mm jack?

Tech spec above says:

Headphone jack/audio line-out: yes

Comparing the 660 with the 550 the only down side of the 660 I see is 10 routes compared to the 50 of the 550. I have around 20 - 30 odd routes in mine when I go away for my annual bike trip so will need to think about how to manage that if I get one. All the rest looks great

As it takes an SD card can't you just load routes onto that as GPX files?

 

[shedracer]

Multimode (switches modes to drive, hike, bike or boat): No.

Geocaching-friendly: No.


That's a shame, so I guess the new OS maps that brother has on his Oregon 300 wont be compatible!!!

Will have to wait and see when Garmin support know more about it and the 10 routes is a disappointment as well.

 

[chasr]

It looks like a development of the Nuvi, and therefore quite a different beast from the 550. The 10 routes is definitely a Nuvi thing.

 

[EVO]

Those very nice people at Garmin have just upgraded by old BMW Nav II to a 550. Having dropped the old one for the second time I sent it off for repair, they informed me they were not able to supply another for 8 weeks, so would I mind having a 550 instead. They sent the bike mount and lead, It took me all of a few seconds to agree as no extra cost.

They win my vote of approvel any day and the sun light idea must be a plus if it works, not that I am in the market to upgrade.

 

[LiquidLAN]

is it just me or does that seem like incredibly poor timing?

maybe I just thinking that as I got a 550 for Christmas, but it seems like a bit of a poke in the eye to release a new product not long after Christmas?

I know they've got to release it sometime, but it seems like an odd time to do it.

That said, I'm more than happy with the 550 and looking forward using it.

 

[ebbo]

Can't see any mention of tracklogs on the spec or elsewhere, that’s a tad worrying

Anyone seen mention of em...

 

[Snoopy]

I don't know why people bother with this. I had a Zumo 500 and sold it.

I replaced it with a HTC Touch Diamond on Orange contract. I stuck on Garmin XT (amazing) and Europe 10 for it. The software is expensive (unless you search isohunt )

Stick in a small otterbox and you've got a device that is fully waterproof, plays mp3's, built in GPS, 3mpx camera, 4gb storage, is far faster (550Mhz processor), handles the phone, not to mention WIFI and a superb VGA resolution screen. Link it to a Camos-BHS-300 and you've got a full bluetooth stereo into your helmet AND bluetooth communication to a PMR bluetooth radio. I operate mine with gloves and it's more sensitive/accurate than the Zumos screen.

Zumo = not fully waterproof
Zumo = no stereo bluetooth
Zumo = outdated interface

It's a no brainer when you consider you'd have to buy an autocom kit as well.

Here's the otterbox: http://www.gpsw.co.uk/details/prod2829.html
Here's the phone: http://www.htc.com/www/product/touchdiamond/overview.html
Here's the software: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=11413

 

[ebbo]

bluetooth communication to a PMR bluetooth radio.

Completely but I still have to ask, how's the Bluetooth PMR (Midland 445?), does it have PTT, how’s it perform?

 

[Steve the Kiwi]

I don't know why people bother with this. I had a Zumo 500 and sold it.

I replaced it with a HTC Touch Diamond on Orange contract. I stuck on Garmin XT (amazing) and Europe 10 for it. The software is expensive (unless you search isohunt )

Stick in a small otterbox and you've got a device that is fully waterproof, plays mp3's, built in GPS, 3mpx camera, 4gb storage, is far faster (550Mhz processor), handles the phone, not to mention WIFI and a superb VGA resolution screen. Link it to a Camos-BHS-300 and you've got a full bluetooth stereo into your helmet AND bluetooth communication to a PMR bluetooth radio. I operate mine with gloves and it's more sensitive/accurate than the Zumos screen.

Zumo = not fully waterproof
Zumo = no stereo bluetooth
Zumo = outdated interface

It's a no brainer when you consider you'd have to buy an autocom kit as well.

Here's the otterbox: http://www.gpsw.co.uk/details/prod2829.html
Here's the phone: http://www.htc.com/www/product/touchdiamond/overview.html
Here's the software: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=11413

I've got a touch Diamond too. Can you give me a clue on how to go about this...which torrent did you use? etc I'm fine with downloading torrents but software type stuff eludes me...

 

[Fanum]

I don't know why people bother with this. I had a Zumo 500 and sold it.

I replaced it with a HTC Touch Diamond on Orange contract. I stuck on Garmin XT (amazing) and Europe 10 for it. The software is expensive (unless you search isohunt )

Stick in a small otterbox and you've got a device that is fully waterproof, plays mp3's, built in GPS, 3mpx camera, 4gb storage, is far faster (550Mhz processor), handles the phone, not to mention WIFI and a superb VGA resolution screen. Link it to a Camos-BHS-300 and you've got a full bluetooth stereo into your helmet AND bluetooth communication to a PMR bluetooth radio. I operate mine with gloves and it's more sensitive/accurate than the Zumos screen.

Zumo = not fully waterproof
Zumo = no stereo bluetooth
Zumo = outdated interface

It's a no brainer when you consider you'd have to buy an autocom kit as well.

Hold on, let's just have a quick look at that again shall we and see if we can cut through the

We're talking about a new unit and you're talking about an old one......

1) You complain that the Zumo isn't fully waterproof so it's a no-brainer, yet you have to stick your HTC in an otterbox to make it waterproof.

This new Zumo appears to be IEC 529 IPX-7 by the way....you can't get any more waerproof than that

2) Doesn't this Zumo have SD card slot? So no difference between it and the HTC- In fact, the Zumo may even be able to handle SD's larger than the 4gb limit as on the HTC.....We've yet to see.

3) You Bemoan the software on the Zumo, yet happily admit that the software needed for the HTC is so expensive that you have to steal it

4) The HTC Touch diamond screen is considerably smaller that that on the Zumo, which is specifically designed for use with gloves, unlike the HTC.
I've used an HTC and I doubt that it is possible to use it as easily as the Zumo...if you can , you are surely a superhero with dextrous powers far beyond those od us mere mortals

5) How much is you're paying for the HTC?? £35 a month maybe? on an 18 month contract?? Adds up, doesn't it

6) You scoff that you have to link the Zumo up yet you also say that you link your HTC up with a Camos-BHS-300...make your mind up, is it ok to have to use another bit of kit or not??

7) No stereo bluetooth?? Read the spec again. (A2DP)

8) Outdated interface??? again, what's the point of comparing a newish phone with an old GPS?? this is the 660 people are talking about, brand new interface

To be honest with you I can't be bothered to loook up all the other things I was going to shoot you down with as I read your post, but you're right......and that old 286XS is rubbish compared to that brand new Mac

 

[Snoopy]

Downloading the maps isn't illegal ...

http://thepiratebay.org/search/garmin NT/0/99/0

I'd only trust the 3.6GB one.

Garmin XT can be downloaded from Garmin and isn't illegal ...

As for the unlock files ... well ...

 

[Snoopy]

Sorry Fanum you are most certainly correct, the 660 fixes many of the issues with the original unit, I was referring to the older one.

1. this is true.
2. the HTC has 4gb built in. The never HTC model has an SD slot. Personally I find 4gb to be enough.
3. this is true. Problem with the Zumo was the software was shite. I had a Quest before that and it was far better.
4. this is true. But the HTC Touch has VGA resolution so you get more on the display. And I dunno if they've fixed the crappy screen on the 500 in sunlight. Did I mention the HTC Touch screen auto dims when dark?
5. £24 on orange. All txt's free and 600 mins call time for 18 month. I'd spend £15 on PYG so £9x18 =not that much money for such a belter of a device.
6. The 500/550 doesn't link up to stereo so you have to buy adapters, autocom bollocks and wires etc. You are correct that the 660 fixes this issue but ffs they could have given us A2DP in the 500.
7. this is true for the 660
8. not true. The 660 uses Garmin XT V4 interface. Latest Garmin XT for PDA is V5.

I've had the Zumo and now the HTC Touch. Despite a smaller screen it is far more accurate to touch. It's still not too hot on the road (on the Zumo you use the buttons) but with the Camos 200 you just touch the side of your helmet.

Hold on, let's just have a quick look at that again shall we and see if we can cut through the

We're talking about a new unit and you're talking about an old one......

1) You complain that the Zumo isn't fully waterproof so it's a no-brainer, yet you have to stick your HTC in an otterbox to make it waterproof.

This new Zumo appears to be IEC 529 IPX-7 by the way....you can't get any more waerproof than that

2) Doesn't this Zumo have SD card slot? So no difference between it and the HTC- In fact, the Zumo may even be able to handle SD's larger than the 4gb limit as on the HTC.....We've yet to see.

3) You Bemoan the software on the Zumo, yet happily admit that the software needed for the HTC is so expensive that you have to steal it

4) The HTC Touch diamond screen is considerably smaller that that on the Zumo, which is specifically designed for use with gloves, unlike the HTC.
I've used an HTC and I doubt that it is possible to use it as easily as the Zumo...if you can , you are surely a superhero with dextrous powers far beyond those od us mere mortals

5) How much is you're paying for the HTC?? £35 a month maybe? on an 18 month contract?? Adds up, doesn't it

6) You scoff that you have to link the Zumo up yet you also say that you link your HTC up with a Camos-BHS-300...make your mind up, is it ok to have to use another bit of kit or not??

7) No stereo bluetooth?? Read the spec again. (A2DP)

8) Outdated interface??? again, what's the point of comparing a newish phone with an old GPS?? this is the 660 people are talking about, brand new interface

To be honest with you I can't be bothered to loook up all the other things I was going to shoot you down with as I read your post, but you're right......and that old 286XS is rubbish compared to that brand new Mac

 

[Snoopy]

As for the screen size the Diamond isn't that much smaller and it's higher resolution anyway, but the solution is available ...

http://www.htc.com/www/product/touchhd/overview.html

 

[Padge]

The list price seems about 20% cheaper than 550 List price so I guess they'll level out cheaper in a few months.
They've just seemed to have pimped up a Nuvi with some waterproofin so I guess the shared components will just make it cheaper to produce for em.

I'd like to see the mount as this is one point where the 550 is troublesome but they have no photos or manual on the webpage yet.

As for the unit and features..They havn't really bothered, have they?
They could have easily added some features mentioned on the Zumo Forum's wish list.. Favourites being:
Using the Bluetooth as a short distance walkie talkie (already done on Scala rider)
Send your location to someone's unit using a connected mobile (or live tracking with GPRS?)
Recieving Text messages (if only just to wind up the safety nazis)
And a radio would be nice..

I bet some other manufacturer will get up off their ar$e sometime and make an effort (still love my 550 though... one of the best things I've bought for the bike)