Garmn satnavs operating systems

[Tramp]

Hi all..

A question ive had for a while but unable to answer is regarding all garmin sat nav models with touch screen interfaces..

Computer operating systems and phones constantly have software or operating system upgrades without having to buy a new phone or pc etc...

But satnavs require new models surely a update to operaring system to have new device funtions should be possible...yes 4_5_6 screen size and waterproof cant be changed but my old nuvi550 has a huge internal hd same as montana and is waterproof and long battery life ...just lacks sceeen size and some software tweaks..samenas new nuvi 55,56 upwards range...

Garmin make a fortune off highee spec function satnavs...over to the real techys on this one eh?

[V_King]

Hi all..

A question ive had for a while but unable to answer is regarding all garmin sat nav models with touch screen interfaces..

Computer operating systems and phones constantly have software or operating system upgrades without having to buy a new phone or pc etc...

But satnavs require new models surely a update to operaring system to have new device funtions should be possible...yes 4_5_6 screen size and waterproof cant be changed but my old nuvi550 has a huge internal hd same as montana and is waterproof and long battery life ...just lacks sceeen size and some software tweaks..samenas new nuvi 55,56 upwards range...

Garmin make a fortune off highee spec function satnavs...over to the real techys on this one eh?

welcome to embedded devices world. sat navs like garmin uses MCU's (microcontrollers), not generic MPU (microprocessors with peripherals) and either the embedded windows or embedded linux, which are run on those devices are highly optimesed and compiled for that IC ("chip"). It needs the same amount of man power hours to design "new" design interface for "new" model range as to update the old models- hence your software update will cost the same as the new device.
that is why even with garmin there are generations of devices, as garmin seem to unable to stick with one IC manufacturer, but constantly switches between whichever one offers the chepest price.

so the old nuvi will have different MCU, screen driver (hardware) etc (depending which IC manufacturer gives best price and new features) compared to the new 55/56 range and their software will completely be imcompatible. What is more, they sometimes come "hard" programmed from the factories, eg the IC is straight programmed at silicon level, because it is cheaper and saves pennies for garmin.

I can carry on....