Garmin VIRB iPhone APP ???

Yep it looks like very similar functionality as the GoPro 3.

Basically they have a couple of options to connect to the cameras using smartphone apps, Bluetooth or WiFi. Both Garmin and GoPro have opted for WiFi - I guess it is probably quicker for video transfer.

Anyway back to the point, yes the Garmin will act as a WiFi hotspot (just like the GoPro 3), then you will have to join that network using your smartphone before running the App - THAT IS OF COURSE IF THE APP EVER GETS RELEASED !!!!

PS: The reason for the hotspot mode is so you can connect the devices when away from home and other WiFi networks - the negative you point out is having to swap WiFi networks at home to get the connection the App requires.

I don't have a smartphone; my phone is very dumb and I'm happy with that and my iPod Touch. My daughter has an iPhone 5s, and we have it set so that if it's near a WiFi network that it can connect to, it uses it rather than cellular for data. So are smartphones smart enough so that when you connect it to a WiFi network that doesn't go anywhere, it uses cellular instead to get to the Internet, or have you just cut your phone's Internet connection by connecting to the VIRB? I can understand that when you're out in the wilderness you can connect the VIRB to a smartphone, but that would work anyway if the VIRB were just a WiFi client, wouldn't it? Phones can be set to be WiFi hotspots, right? My MacBook Pro certainly can. My iPod Touch probably can't.

As for video transfer, is the upcoming iOS/Android app supposed to do that? All I've seen is that you can control the VIRB from the phone. Useful if it's mounted on your head (I'm going to use my Fenix for that).

Speculation ...

I don't have a smartphone; my phone is very dumb and I'm happy with that and my iPod Touch. My daughter has an iPhone 5s, and we have it set so that if it's near a WiFi network that it can connect to, it uses it rather than cellular for data. So are smartphones smart enough so that when you connect it to a WiFi network that doesn't go anywhere, it uses cellular instead to get to the Internet, or have you just cut your phone's Internet connection by connecting to the VIRB? I can understand that when you're out in the wilderness you can connect the VIRB to a smartphone, but that would work anyway if the VIRB were just a WiFi client, wouldn't it? Phones can be set to be WiFi hotspots, right? My MacBook Pro certainly can. My iPod Touch probably can't.

As for video transfer, is the upcoming iOS/Android app supposed to do that? All I've seen is that you can control the VIRB from the phone. Useful if it's mounted on your head (I'm going to use my Fenix for that).

Lots of questions there, and I will give my opinions ... but please remember most of it is speculation because I am as much in the dark as you when it comes to Garmin's plans because of their complete lack of communication regarding the availability and functionality of the non existent Virb App ... rant over ....


When I talked about smartphones, it is equally applicable to smartdevices i.e. any Android or Apple iOS device.

So if the Garmin VIRB is going to work the same way as the GoPro and act like a WiFi network then you have to disconnect from the home WiFi and connect to the VIRB WiFi network all the time you use the App. This is only temporary and when you finish using the App you connect back to your normal network.

So the VIRB is acting as a WiFi network and your smartphone / device is acting as a client. Yes technically smartphones can act as personal hotspots / WiFi networks and if the VIRB had a WiFi client it could connect that way - but that is not how it has been implemented.

As for Video Transfer, again I am just speculating on the upcoming features and comparisons with the GoPro app. If they just wanted to implement remote control and settings then bluetooth could have been used - look at The Garmin Edge series. So I am guessing they will want to add a load of extra features like live view, transfer of recorded files much like the GoPro app ... but as the app does not exist ... who knows????

I remember over when GoPro 3 was released they too promising an App. It wasn't delivered until a couple of months after the release, so nothing new here.

Yep agreed, but I do seem to remember it was advertised as coming later and there was communication about when it would be available and what features it would contain ... something I am not seeing from Garmin.

Garmin VIRB App

Isn't that the oddest thing about the Elite? When I got mine last week and started setting it up, I got to the WiFi section and expected to have to go through a tedious time with a virtual keyboard getting it connected to the house WiFi network, but then it'd be done and I wouldn't have to do it again. I could see using the WiFi on occasion. Instead, I'm met by an SSID and a password! So the VIRB itself is a WiFi "hotspot". Except hotspot isn't the right word because the VIRB isn't connected to the Internet, so any WiFi only device that you connect to it is cut off from the Internet! Very odd. I can't think of a single reason to do it that way, but maybe I'm not thinking hard enough.

Well, I may be confused but this is kind of what I was hoping for. I was hoping I could mount the camera outside of the cockpit and turn it on and off with my smartphone from inside the cockpit. Is that what this app is supposed to do? Or is there another way to do that. Anyway, since the iPhone app isn't available and I've got an android anyway (who knows when that would be available), I think I'll just stand by.

Well, I may be confused but this is kind of what I was hoping for. I was hoping I could mount the camera outside of the cockpit and turn it on and off with my smartphone from inside the cockpit. Is that what this app is supposed to do? Or is there another way to do that. Anyway, since the iPhone app isn't available and I've got an android anyway (who knows when that would be available), I think I'll just stand by.

Yes, but they could have used Bluetooth for controlling the VIRB, just like they use ANT+ if you have any of the several Garmin devices that have been updated to control a VIRB. However, as others have pointed out, the difference between WiFi and Bluetooth or ANT+ is bandwidth. It's feasible that they could have either real time or after the fact viewing of the video over WiFi on a iOS/Android device in mind.

What surprised me is the WiFi host aspect, since I had expected to be able to connect my VIRB Elite to my home network. After thinking about it, I can see why they might have done it the way they did. People are used to connecting to WiFi hotspots, and doing it the other way would certainly make some tasks harder to do, since you'd have to discover the VIRB's IP address somehow.

I was hoping I could mount the camera outside of the cockpit and turn it on and off with my smartphone from inside the cockpit. Is that what this app is supposed to do?

I guess the Future App will allow you to do that, but If you want a simple remote control solution then Garmin should have a remote in the new year (using ANT+) ...

As it is ANT+, hopefully it will be a small unit that works off a little button battery so the battery drain of WiFi won't be an issue.
And if it is waterproof as well? - then perfect - if not a little pricey.

http://www.gpscity.com/garmin-virb-and-virb-elite-remote-control.html

The Android and iOS VIRB apps are to allow users to control their device (on/off, recording mode, etc), see status (battery, connectivity, etc), and to preview live video before recording. I've seen both apps working and they should be very close, but apparently there are a couple of last minute issues being resolved now.

The main reason for the VIRB to work as its own WiFi hotspot is there won't be a network in most places you are using the application to record video. Obviously WiFi is necessary for the video preview for bandwidth reasons.

The Android and iOS VIRB apps are to allow users to control their device (on/off, recording mode, etc), see status (battery, connectivity, etc), and to preview live video before recording. I've seen both apps working and they should be very close, but apparently there are a couple of last minute issues being resolved now.

The main reason for the VIRB to work as its own WiFi hotspot is there won't be a network in most places you are using the application to record video. Obviously WiFi is necessary for the video preview for bandwidth reasons.

Tell Greg to hurry up! ;)

It looks pretty nifty from what I have seen of it.

The Android and iOS VIRB apps are to allow users to control their device (on/off, recording mode, etc), see status (battery, connectivity, etc), and to preview live video before recording. I've seen both apps working and they should be very close, but apparently there are a couple of last minute issues being resolved now.

The main reason for the VIRB to work as its own WiFi hotspot is there won't be a network in most places you are using the application to record video. Obviously WiFi is necessary for the video preview for bandwidth reasons.

It says "VIRB Elite integrates Wi-Fi for remote control/review with a smartphone or compatible devices..." on the box; and the app is not ready:mad:

Yes, could the Garmin software developers speed things up a little ....