This discussion has been locked.

You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Change to Bing maps disappointing

Former Member over 14 years ago

Hello,

I'm disappointed in the switch to Bing maps. The "far" view in both map and ariel is much more distorted than the previous version with google maps. It also seems that the terrain view has disappeared. I assume this was done as a cost saving measure, but from a user perspective, it's a loss of functionality.

However, I still love my garmin as a training tool, and has been helpful in my quest for my first full marathon in early december.

Chris

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

WTF GARMIN, THIS IS TERRIBLE.

BRING GOOGLE BACK:eek:

I look at the terrain part alot in google for CORRECT elevation.

WTF THIS IS WAAAAAY WORSE. :mad:

WHAT A CHEAP UPGRADE !!!!!!!!!!! :mad:

0 bonobonohu over 14 years ago

we want back google maps!!!

Please allow users to chose their own maps if you must incorporate Bing. At least have the courtesy to let us switch back to Google Maps if we find Bing lacking as a map option.

i agree!
Bing is a %&#%!!!
we want back google maps!!!

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Another unhappy customer

As a Garmin user and shareholder for several years, I was very disappointed to log in to Connect this morning and discover Bing. All of my hiking, trail running, and ski touring tracks (which are all of my tracks) are now useless without a terrain view. They are just big green blobs.

This was clearly a business decision, not a user decision. What kind of company proactively REMOVES functionality from its product? With all of the feature requests out there (merging tracks, comparing tracks, etc), I am so disappointed that Garmin chose to spend resources on this.

I know I should have sold my Garmin stock a while ago, but now I'm realizing I should use a different GPS device altogether. I assume this outrage was anticipated and it won't make any difference, which makes it that much sadder.

Put me on the list of customers ready to jump ship and help a competitor eat Garmin's lunch.

0 cmajewsk over 14 years ago

...

I long for the days of MotionBased.

Me too! You can use the MotionBased app on FaceBook and they are still using Google Maps :). Yeah, I know it's not the same thing...

...

Can anyone recommend another site to use with my Garmin GPS?
thank you all.

Regards from Mallorca, Spain

ERNESTOGALEANO, check out my posting here for another site that uses Google Maps.

As a Garmin user and shareholder for several years, I was very disappointed to log in to Connect this morning and discover Bing. Nearly all of my hiking, trail running, and ski touring tracks (i.e. all of them) are now useless without a terrain view. They are just big green blobs.

This was clearly a business decision, not a user decision. What kind of company proactively REMOVES functionality from its product? With all of the feature requests out there (merging tracks, comparing tracks, etc), I am so disappointed that Garmin chose to spend resources on this.

I know I should have sold my Garmin stock a while ago, but now I'm realizing I should use a different GPS device altogether. I assume this outrage was anticipated and it won't make any difference, which makes it that much sadder.

Put me on the list of customers ready to jump ship and help a competitor eat Garmin's lunch.

Wow, a very excellent and well thought out posting, unlike Garmin's execution and response to their customers on GC.

This is just a guess but, I think this may be due to Google's move away from map/satellite imagery strictly supplied from NAVTEQ and TeleNav. Google crowdsources all their imagery while Bing pulls from the big boys and I my thought is since Garmin already pays for that data - they may HAVE to use it.

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

One of the things that brought me to Garmin was Mac support(still waiting for that 64bit ant client) and Google maps. I would have never bought my 310xt and edge 500 if connect was using BING.

Count me as one of the users that misses the terrain layer, I like visualizing my rides to see how tough my climbs are via topo maps.

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Bing Maps Are No Maps

I couldn't tell what I was looking at when I uploaded my activities. The map looked almost blank because it had none of the streets but a couple of major highways.

It's not that surprising that Microsoft released a half baked product but it's absolutely disappointing that Garmin made such a poor decision to switch to it.

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

look at the difference

Okay so here are some areas I hike, camp, and mountain bike. Enjoy Garmin

Google Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=35.602489,-81.62845&spn=0.006089,0.008905&t=h&z=17
Bing Crap
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=35.60247076401714~-81.62825322085564&lvl=17&sty=h

Google Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=35.85087,-81.908698&spn=0.003035,0.004452&t=h&z=18
Bing Crap
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=35.85087808684364~-81.9080559008712&lvl=18&sty=h

Google Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=36.012189,-81.834315&spn=0.006058,0.008905&t=h&z=17
Bing Crap
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=36.01179398392643~-81.83434343272393&lvl=17&sty=h

Google Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=35.213388,-81.293389&spn=0.00153,0.002226&t=h&z=19
Bing Crap
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=35.21330848757514~-81.29347866707985&lvl=19&sty=h

Even on the last one where Bing was at least close to matching Google it still fails.

0 BRIANLUNDLARSEN over 14 years ago

Not only is the resolution of the aerial photo extremely crappy where I live and run, I also don't have much use for the distance reference in the bottom right corner being in miles. Metric should at least be an option.

0 RVDowning over 14 years ago

You all have to remember that most of Garmin's better software developers quit a few months ago rather than be relocated out of the Bay area. They may have replaced some of them with former Microsoft employees.

I've been uploading my data to RunningAhead.com as well as GarminConnect in order to protect myself from just such a move. RunningAhead uses Google, and the map is on its own screen so can be much larger. I also like the fact that the average and max heart rates appears right next to the pace column when viewing one's splits. Also, you can keep track of the mileage on your shoes. It also has essentially an unlimited-length comments area. I've put my marathon race reports in there.

So, vote with your feet.

0 georg-l over 14 years ago

This is going to be interesting: I wonder if Garmin listens to its user base and reads the threads about that their users want GoogleMaps back or if they just put mind over madder for the $$$.

This "Gretchenfrage" will show perfectly were Garmin will be heading: To their users or away.