Lost trackpad control in v. 3.1.1

The methods Garmin uses for user testing are SERIOUSLY Flawed.

A bunch of GPS newbies off the Street do not have any clue what these applications can do, nor the most efficient ways to use them.

My guess is that there were a high percentage of WINDOWS/MapSource USERS in the user testing focus group and they carried the day. Remember, this application comes in both Mac and Windows flavors.

We, OS X users, are the odd guys out who are being brought into the Garmin tent even though we are only a small percentage of their target user base. I think that they have been both innovative in the basic design of Basecamp and pretty successful in working to accommodate us and include OS X-like interface functionality while not alienating their Windows user base.

The methods Garmin uses for user testing are SERIOUSLY Flawed.

A bunch of GPS newbies off the Street do not have any clue what these applications can do, nor the most efficient ways to use them.

I wonder how long Garmin would be in business if they did not sell GPS's to newbies or how much they would cost if the could survive.

A bunch of GPS newbies off the Street do not have any clue what these applications can do, nor the most efficient ways to use them.

We've recently made usability changes to the app, chiefly in Find and the default app toolbar, to make the application easier for the first time user to get into, and this was part of those changes. Our usability changes will ideally make the app easier to use for everyone, especially "GPS newbies".

I don't know that was the case for this change, but I'd appreciate some input to narrow down the beef:

1. Is this something you miss because you're trackpad users, or is it something you miss on your four-way scrolling mice, as well?

2. Would an option in app preferences to switch the default (non-alt) mouse scrolling behavior back to map panning suffice?

A technical detail: This "multitouch gesture" two finger swipe is actually just the default scroll on a trackpad, so it overlaps with the scroll we receive from a mouse. Behaving differently for touchpads vs. mice could confuse users that are aware of this.

I don't know that was the case for this change, but I'd appreciate some input to narrow down the beef:

Thank you for asking. For me it was a case of "it's not broken....don't fix it."

1. Is this something you miss because you're trackpad users, or is it something you miss on your four-way scrolling mice, as well?

Mainly trackpad for me with BaseCamp. I do still prefer the action with a standard mouse (vertical scroll) as it was what I was used to. This is the way MapSource worked until recently, and MapSource is what I've been using since, well, day one. ;)

2. Would an option in app preferences to switch the default (non-alt) mouse scrolling behavior back to map panning suffice?

This would work for me. During route planning I pan far more than I zoom. The perfect zoom tool is the dropdown scale in MapSource that lets me quickly pick the scale that corresponds to the task at hand.

A technical detail: This "multitouch gesture" two finger swipe is actually just the default scroll on a trackpad, so it overlaps with the scroll we receive from a mouse. Behaving differently for touchpads vs. mice could confuse users that are aware of this.

Hmmmm. Other than some web based mapping sites, I'm not aware of any Mac apps that zoom with the scroll wheel by default. The default setting for the Logitech mouse I'm using right now is to hold "control" to zoom with the wheel.

Several of my Co-Workers bought GPS units shortly after I bought mine.
It's nearly 4 years later. Not one of them has ever loaded any MapSource, RoadTrip or BaseCamp on their home computers. They all have brought their GPS units to work when they received the error message stating that the maps are out of date. I had to update the maps for them. Surprising they trusted me to use their credit card to buy lifetime updates from Garmin.

They never plot any Custom routes, they never backup their favorites. I think their units were so far down on the Nuvi food chain that they did not even receive a DVD with the unit.

These are the people that I consider typical GPS Newbies.

Not only do they not Know about the desktop software, they are not interested in anything except type in an address and hit go. It's very handy for that in a strange City.

So I figure typically the folks who use the desktop software are more interested in using the GPS for things like GeoCaching, Hiking, or plotting custom routes or using Tracks to navigate unmapped dirt roads.

Apple has recently included some very useful trackpad, and magic mouse gestures. Anyone who uses a Macintosh Expects those gestures to be supported.

Garmin did a good job of supporting that, then took it away. Mac users have a good reason to be upset about that.

An option in option in preferences would be welcome, I am sure of that.
Anytime a feature is removed an option to re-enable it in preferences should be included.

I see no reason to emulate Web based applications with a desktop application. Web based applications have a limited feature set, simply because of the nature of that interface.

Desktop users expect more from a desktop application than the typical web application can deliver. The kind of newbie that I pointed out above will never have any handle on using the desktop application to do any kind of productive work. They will oooo and ahhh over things like "view in google Earth" and "Birdseye Images" but they will not use that for much to help them to navigate.

I bought a GPS to help me navigate secondary and minor roads. To help me find places that are not on usual paper maps. And to do it with a device that is much more compact than 48 Delorme State atlases. I can sit down and plot out my trip on the Computer in advance. I can include options for myself to visit interesting places. I can choose to travel on minor roads. That is where the United States of America is located. Only thing along the Interstates is Corporate fast food and motel/hotel accommodations. I drive past those places every day on my way to work. Why do I want to see that while I am on Vacation??

I am not the typical GPS newbie. I am one type typical USER of the desktop application. Geochchers have some different desires.

No one can ever convince me that the future INTEGRITY of Garmin will be enhanced by the sales of stripped down low dollar GPS units. The hardware is not that much different, Many of the not included features are disabled via software. That can be proven if you scour the web a little. You will find it is possible to hack some Garmin units to enable TTS spoken directions, simply with some software hacking. Garmin spends considerable time thwarting the efforts of those kind of hackers. They always disable those kind of hacks with a firmware update.
Low dollar units generate support calls because the user wants to send a route to a GPS unit that does not support that feature, and the desktop software does not tell them "your unit does not support that feature".

I still believe the future INTEGRITY of Garmin rests in their ability to deliver on their promises that are published in the press releases..... on time.

Consider this:

http://www8.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/011006.html

It will soon be 5 years since Garmin made that statement. It was promised by the end of 2006.

Nothing even close to nRoute on the Macintosh has been shown in beta format.

Some other promises in that press release have yet to see the light of day.

I know the Developers have no control over what the Marketing department releases. But it is those releases that is Killing Garmin's INTEGRITY.

Some one within Garmin needs to accept some responsibility for communication and fix that. These kinds of things are the food for Class Action suits.

And we all can be sure that would not be a good thing for Garmin.

Denny,

Are you aware that you can hold down on option to get the old trackpad behavior back in the current version? It's definitely not easily discoverable, which is why we're considering fixes, but the feature's still there.

I am aware of that.

I think the complaint is mostly because it now requires 2 hands instead of one.

EDIT: and that is very awkward for a left hander when using a laptop.

[edit: Killtimer's post made my previous text unnecessary.]

In user testing, desktop users expected scroll to zoom, likely because of previous use with other apps . As a trackpad user myself, I do miss scroll to pan being the default quite a bit. The hand tool is now selected by default, so the map can still, generally, be manipulated solely with trackpad input.

We'll consider what we can do to keep both camps happy.

I hope the scroll function can be returned to normal. In trying to do some planning for the summer I've discovered another annoyance. When route planning, after selecting a starting point, if you hit the "Option" key to facilitate scrolling with the mouse wheel, your route terminates. Oh well, back to MapSource. :(