Updates to inReach devices?

I have noticed some curious language being used on this support forum that characterizes the inReach Explorer/Explorer+/ and Mini devices as being 'legacy' devices? There doesn't seem to be much in the way of development of the Earthmate app or Garmin Explore website. Does anybody know if there are new devices on the horizon?

I have owned an Explorer+ since 2018. I am considering an inReach mini but not if the platform is due for a revamp.

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+1 twolpert over 3 years ago

There is no way to know what new devices may be in the offing. I would characterize the existing devices as follows.

Legacy: Explorer+ and SE+. These were originally developed by DeLorme before Garmin bought DeLorme. They pair with the Earthmate app. The Explorer+ uses the old DeLorme cartography. They do interface minimally with explore.Garmin.com web site. F/W updates via wired connection to the Sync desktop program.

Transitional: Mini. Pairs with the Earthmate app. Interfaces minimally with the Explore web site. F/W updates via wired connection with Garmin Connect. Not sure about OTA updates.

Full members of Garmin ecosystem: GPSMAP 66i, GPSMAP 68i (marine), Montana 7x0i. Able to use any Garmin cartography. Pair with GCM and the Explore mobile app. F/W updates via wired connection with Garmin Connect or OTA. Capable of OTA download of Birdseye imagery. Capable of live Geocaching. Can be connected to a PC as a removable USB “drive”.

The legacy term is not meant to be disparaging. Each increment in functionality comes with increased complexity and lower battery life. So there are good reasons for any choice.

0 Pipster over 3 years ago in reply to twolpert

Thank you! the Mini would be perfect if it had more flexibility in the desktop software it could interface with. Earthmate seems like it might be dying and explore.garmin is just so clunky and limited.

+1 twolpert over 3 years ago in reply to Pipster

I doubt that you will see any significant enhancements to Earthmate - or any enhancements at all. From the outside, it appears that Garmin is fixing bugs in legacy devices and software, but that’s about it.

0 Pipster over 3 years ago in reply to twolpert

Yes it seems that way. I guess I'll hang on to the Explorer + for now.

0 Bob_qx over 3 years ago in reply to Pipster

Thanks twolpert for clarifying your use of "legacy", I think not everyone understood your meaning.

Pipster, the explorer+ is I think still the overall best device of all of them for maps + usability + battery life when considering all of these uses together in one package (see a couple of other recent threads on this topic). As said above, Earthmate will prob. not see significant changes/improvements, although I have it from Support that they do make map updates from time to time (this includes the maps downloaded to explorer+).

The Explore website showing maps, waypoints, tracks, etc. underwent a radical revision some 2 years ago and, in my opinion, usability took a huge dive for most users. Many parts of it are unintutive and some functions are broken; my interaction with support indicate there is little effort to update of fix the issues, unfortunately.