D2 Echo Release Date?

Garmin has so many different Watch-Models, that the the time between new releases has become very disappointing to customers.

Maybe sometimes they will adopt the way Apple does things, a smaller number of different devices and the rest is Software you can buy in addition. Then you don‘t need a different model for flying or golfing.

I would have updated to the Fenix 6 already for two years ago, if the D2 Software would available for Fenix.

In the meantime we keep waiting and spent our money with on products of other companies....

Cheers 

Martin

Well, Fenix 7 and Epix 2 are just announced. There are significant hardware changes from the previous versions. Does anyone else think Garmin might release D2 Echo? Epix looks great with an AMOLED display while F7 has a significant improvement in battery, including the solar version compared to Fenix 6. Which one would Garmin use as the base if they release D2E?

It has been a very long time for the Delta follow up. I really hope the Echo will be based on the fenix 7 and.will be released soon, otherwise i do not think I will buy one based on the fenix 6. The Air is nice, but it has limitations (maps and robustness).

I purchased a D2 Air when it first came out to replace my D2 Delta. But while I liked the lightweight feel of the D2 Air, I missed the maps and VIRB control. And I'm ever so tired of the slow release cycle (and shorter end-of-life) for the D2 series compared to the base model. So I've now traded up to a Fenix 6 Pro for day to day use with my METAR/TAF widget installed and continue to use my D2 Delta for flying. I am currently alpha testing a D2-like watch face and a custom Flying activity app I'm coding is starting to really come together (albeit slowly).

Speaking of my METAR/TAF widget, I just pushed out a new version.

I will definitely be posting on this forum once I feel like everything is in a state that it's usable. That said, if you are comfortable sideloading then I might have something in the next week or so worth looking at.

In other news, I am confident that the next D2 watch will NOT be the Echo based on the fēnix line but instead another Air, using the Venu 2 Plus as the base model. I am on the fence as to whether or not this is good news or bad news. It's good that they aren't abandoning the D2 line but I wasn't all that impressed with the original Air's base model Venu. And while the Venu 2 Plus has some neat new features (voice activation/assistant) the move to the Venu/Vivoactive line only solidifies the short lifespan of the various D2 models.

The lifespan of the fēnix line is well over two or three years whereas the Vivoactive line, with its lower price point, can't be expected to enjoy that same length lifespan. As it is, the D2 Air hasn't been updated in over 5 months and the base model Venu has had at least 3 updates since then.

Continuing with the Venu base model also means that there will be no access to the Garmin VIRB devices. However, since all the VIRBs are now listed as discontinued on Garmin's site I suspect that they are getting out of the portable camera game so this is likely less of an issue, unless, like me, you have one or more VIRBs that nicely autostart recording when you start an activity.

As for the other core D2 functionality, I now fly a Seneca with a Garmin panel but find I use the D2 functionality less and less. I've used Connext to send my flight plan from Garmin Pilot to my watch but given that 50% or more of the time I get a route change, lately I have not bothered changing the route on anything by the panel FMS/GPS. I have all the airport information I could possibly need on my tablet so at the end of the day, I am really only using my watch to track the flight so it can be viewed/shared/etc after the fact via Garmin Connect.

I was already looking at getting a Venu 2 Plus for use as a testing platform for my ConnectIQ development so I might shift gears and pickup the D2 Air (Gen 2) but if I do, it will likely be my last D2.

Yes, that makes sense that they continue the Air line. Sounds like they are abandoning the Fenix-based D2. I hope they continue the Marq Aviator line.

What to do? give up o the Echo? hope the Air 2 is significantly? eventually upgrade to a Marq?

Actually, I take that back; I don't think I would get the new D2 Air (Gen 2). The Venu 2 Plus doesn't have maps and the one thing I do like for all my non-flying activities (especially hiking and skiing) is the maps.