Just my opinion:Coros is the best thing that happened to Garmin

4241327 said:

I agree. I should probably add: competitors that don't use Google Wear OS or an Amoled screen.

Competitors offer differences or features that might or might not be available to Garmin. It matters little what those features are or which OS  they implement. It's those features and OSs that influence buying decisions. But they are still competitors. They are still products that can be chosen in preference to Garmin.

It could be argued that the biggest competitor to Garmin is Garmin. The product range and choices are overwhelming with a tremendous amount of overlap. 

The Vertix 2 costs as much as a Fenix 6 and isn't as good in a slew of ways.  Read the DCRainmaker review.  Plus- Coros doesn't have a web site.  I find that Garmin Connect web site much easier to deal with when plotting courses, creating workouts, setting up pace-pro, adding equipment and the like than doing everything through a phone app.  (which Garmin also has).  So- there's more to it than just the watch.  That said- if battery life is your priority (and everyone's needs are different)- the Coros might be a great option.

In the DCR review, he points out that the ECG only shows up as a graph, but isn't saved - still a cool feature. Maps are underlayed, but don't have labels or support routing - this is still cooler than no maps, but yes, some way to go. Not supporting ANT+ seems like a wrong hardware decision. And mp3 files should be transferable via Bluetooth.

My experience with Garmin's ecosystem is mostly negative. Using Explore and Connect Android without Play Services means no GPX in- and export, it simply doesn't work, and Garmin are not interested in changing that. The reviews for Garmin Explore in Google's Play Store are around 2,5 stars.

For any serious offline / no cloud work, in 2021 you are still forced to use BaseCamp and USB. That is a total joke. Not everyone wants to share their hiking routes with Garmin. And then, when you upload larger tracks via BaseCamp, my watch, the Instinct Solar, often crashes - but I've read the same thing happening to Fenixes. Many people want BaseCamp for mobille and offline - Garmin wants people's data in their cloud for harvesting.

So in my opinion, there are many things out there that Garmin should correct, and, yes, I think they have become complacent.

One thing Garmin could learn from Coros is that a satellite tool screen as Fenix/Fenix 2 had, and Coros now has, is totally awesome and worth bringing back! In color, please.

4241327 said:

Using Explore and Connect Android without Play Services means no GPX in- and export, it simply doesn't work, and Garmin are not interested in changing that. The reviews for Garmin Explore in Google's Play Store are around 2,5 stars.

For any serious offline / no cloud work, in 2021 you are still forced to use BaseCamp and USB.

The lack of play services being an issue is, by my guess, the fact you’re using a huawei phone? Then you can look at Google/huawei for that.

And for off cloud use, you can generate a GPX file from multiple sources (I have Router on the Mac and a few others), and copy direct to the watch and cut Basecamp out entirely. Saying that mind, I find Basecamp quite a good tool. Especially for satellite imagery and local backup.

But I will agree it really benefits us all if Coros can pick up their game here. Good competition often raises the bar of all concerned and the consumer becomes the winner

4241327 said:

My experience with Garmin's ecosystem is mostly negative. Using Explore and Connect Android without Play Services means no GPX in- and export, it simply doesn't work, and Garmin are not interested in changing that. The reviews for Garmin Explore in Google's Play Store are around 2,5 stars.

Just thought, have you checked out Gimporter on the CIQ store. Apparently it can transfer GPX files without needing connect.. https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/search?q=gimporter&device=&deviceLimit=fenix6p&appType=&sort=&start=0&count=30 Should show GImporter and another app that does similar

That is such a cool app, thanks for the suggestion. It would be exactly what I need. However, the Instinct Solar (I know, wrong forum here) is not able to use IQ apps and widgets. So I am totally dependent on Garmin software.

I posted to the Garmin Android Explore forum about this weeks ago, not even a single reply. And from what I read in many places, and from my own experience, suggesting features to some email is totally futile. Seriously, there is about *one* entry to the Garmin Explore Android forum each week. If the developers don't even care about that, why should they about an email...

I don't use a Huawei phone. I could use Play Services, but for job and personal reasons, I don't want to be controlled by Google cloud, nor by Facebook uploading my phonebook onto their servers. There is so much software out there that doesn't use or need Play Services, even most Google Maps versions work fine without it.

So why Garmin Explore on Android doesn't enable loading and saving GPX tracks and waypoints with a simple menu is totally beyond me. To me, it's just laziness and 'my way or the highway' thinking, which basically boils down to complacency.

4241327 said:

That is such a cool app, thanks for the suggestion. It would be exactly what I need. However, the Instinct Solar (I know, wrong forum here) is not able to use IQ apps and widgets. So I am totally dependent on Garmin software.

Ah - fair enough.

Yeah Basecamp isn't ideal, but it works. I actually like it, but mainly because it does what I need it to :) :)