Transfer Screenshots

I agree it would be very cool to append the screenshot to the data in Garmin Connect and automatically then inserted into Strava. Not holding my breath, especially on the Strava thing. Not sure there is a mechanism for it, if the will even existed.

Garmin! I would like there to be an option for screenshots to be automatically sent to the phone's memory via garmin connect

The device has bluetooth, so why can't Garmin make the screenshots available via Bluetooth connection? Easy and wireless

iJustRide said:

Is there any way to transfer screenshots without having to manually connect the 1040 to a computer? 

Why?

iJustRide said:

I was going to try writing something myself, but I don't see any examples I can use to start writing such an app to put in IQ Connect.

IQ connecting apps don't have access to the file system. It's a very sandboxed environment.

Microkid said:

The device has bluetooth, so why can't Garmin make the screenshots available via Bluetooth connection? Easy and wireless

Doesn't the 1040 have bugs that affect a fair number of people?

The screenshots are provided for debugging (and education). It's not something anybody would use regularly and not many people use it anyway (*). We are fortunate that the screenshot facility even exists.

This "easy" thing would require Garmin to update their website (and the database supporting it) and allocate space for the images. For something that not many people would use and for which most them would end-up copying the image files to a PC anyway.

The Edges (including the 1040) are fairly limited devices. Garmin can't add everything random people might want. They have to pick the things that are going to be more valuable to more people (and/or help them sell more units).

I've taken hundreds of screenshots (on various Garmin devices) and I think it would be a waste for Garmin spend time on this.

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If you disagree with this, you would have to provide some sort of "evidence" for it. Rather than taking it for granted. (There's a very good chance I've use the screenshot facility much more extensively than anybody here!)

sites.google.com/.../grouteloaderiq

This "easy" thing would require Garmin to update their website (and the database supporting it) and allocate space for the images.

why such strange solutions? additional option in Garmin Connect -> download screenshots (downloads screenshots to a folder on the phone).
In my opinion, it's more convenient than connecting to a computer.
Even a simple "open folder with screenshots" option in Garmin Express would be a plus. Not to mention editing the message when turning on the device in this software or Garmin Connect.

Garmin has a lot of outdated functionality and a lot of strange solutions. I am surprised that some things that seemed obvious to me in Garmin do not exist.

At the same time, it is a phenomenon for me how many people are uncritical towards this company and accept every solution, even if it is lame and crude.
In addition, I feel like a tester of their solutions, even though I'm not in the "beta" program

Deba said:

why such strange solutions? additional option in Garmin Connect -> download screenshots (downloads screenshots to a folder on the phone).

You are looking at it too narrowly. This wouldn't be enough for some of other people in this thread. 

Deba said:

In my opinion, it's more convenient than connecting to a computer.

What are you using the screenshots for?

Very few people use the screenshot feature. It's not worth while to make if "more convenient" for a few people.

I'm a heavy user of screenshots (I use for documentation/education) and this feature would not be more convenient for me.

Deba said:

Even a simple "open folder with screenshots" option in Garmin Express would be a plus.

It doesn't seem like you know what's involved in making all this work.

Sure, it's a "plus" but not enough a "plus" to be worthwhile.

Especially, compared to higher priority things like fixing existing features that are broken or adding features that many more people care about.

Again, very few people would use the feature.

Deba said:

Not to mention editing the message when turning on the device in this software or Garmin Connect.

That's an interesting thing. It's a good example of how creating a feature can end-up leading to more demands for changes.

Your narrowly-imagined feature might lead to additional work if people complain that it isn't enough.

Deba said:

Garmin has a lot of outdated functionality and a lot of strange solutions. I am surprised that some things that seemed obvious to me in Garmin do not exist.

(No one has any idea what you mean by "outdated functionality".)

Garmin isn't perfect (no one is). But, it's almost certain that Garmin knows a lot more about building and selling devices than you do. It seems likely they have considered the things you think are "obvious" and determined that it either can't be done or it help to sell the device. ("Screenshots" aren't a feature that would help to sell the devices).

The Edges are kind of weird devices. They are clearly based on an "legacy" platform. They are slow, limited computers, which means there are a lot of compromises. Though, they compensate for that by being small and having very good battery life.

Garmin has two choices: enhancing the existing legacy platform or going through the huge risk/expense of creating a new platform. The first choice appears to be working reasonably well for them. The second choice is something that would take years and they'd still have to enhance the existing legacy platform.

Given that it appears that more people are using phones instead of dedicated devices, it's possible that, by the time Garmin created a completely-reengineered replacement, the market for dedicated devices might be much smaller. This is what happened with car navigation units.

Deba said:

At the same time, it is a phenomenon for me how many people are uncritical towards this company and accept every solution, even if it is lame and crude.

No one is being "uncritical" (you have no evidence of that). Pointing out that a feature suggestion doesn't make much sense isn't being "uncritical".

It would be safe to guess that Garmin knows much more about engineering/selling these devices than you do. If that's the case, your criticisms don't necessarily mean much.

Deba said:

In addition, I feel like a tester of their solutions, even though I'm not in the "beta" program

As I implied, Garmin should be spending time on fixing things (that people care about) rather than adding features that are only useful to a small number of people.

Adding the sorts of features you want increase the likelihood that other things will break and take longer to fix.

Of course, extending screenshot functionality doesn't help improve sales.
In addition to the numerous bugs encountered with basically every update, such as the inability to update the speed sensor software, which requires removing it from the steering wheel and turning it in your hands to complete the process, or unstable connection with the Inpeak power meter, where the topic on this forum has several pages . You will probably write - that it is an external company and they do not have to cooperate well - but it is one standard of communication, so in my opinion they must. That's what standards are for.
Or missing functionality:
- the ability to easily import points - you have created a solution for them, but it does not look convenient, it should not look like this.
- the ability to add laps after saving the activity and their further analysis (this option was provided by the application of my previous bicycle computer - Sigma)
- the ability to upload a new course during the activity
Such things mean that when someone asks me "do you recommend it" I answer - not necessarily and certainly not at this price.
But if you already buy a Garmin, there is a very good chance that you will buy another device of this brand to synchronize everything and have as few problems as possible. This drives sales.
I will add that my edge1040 broke down after 24 hours of work, a software error and the need to replace the device with a new one.
Thanks for such an extensive discussion and I wish you many happy rides!

Deba said:

Of course, extending screenshot functionality doesn't help improve sales.

That's kind of an important consideration, isn't it?

I suspect that Garmin has to do a fair amount of work shoehorning features into limited memory. If so, they have to be very careful what features they add.

Your long list should be way, way ahead of a feature that doesn't matter much and that few people would care about.

Which is one of my main points.

Deba said:

- the ability to upload a new course during the activity

apps.garmin.com/.../6b770e92-2cc6-437e-8de2-0efae208a455

It won't work for courses on Garmin Connect (Garmin no longer allows it (there's a criticism!)).

It works great for courses on RWGPS.

Deba said:

I will add that my edge1040 broke down after 24 hours of work, a software error and the need to replace the device with a new one

Unfortunate but this seems very unusual.

Deba said:

Thanks for such an extensive discussion and I wish you many happy rides!

You're welcome.

My issue with the "so-and-so should add this obvious feature" is that it assumes that so-and-so don't have good reasons for excluding it.

Keep in mind that these are suggestions from "regular people". Even though so-and-so aren't perfect, they are (almost certainly) much more of experts and (very likely) have put a fair amount of thought into it.

Basically, it's nonexperts "second guessing" (being "armchair quarterbacks") experts.

It's fairly common that regular people think adding features is "simple", when they have no idea of the work involved. Any feature added has a cost forever (it has to be tested and updated).

If people can think of "pros", they should also be thinking of "cons".

Deba said:

I am surprised that some things that seemed obvious to me in Garmin do not exist.

This assumes that so-and-so doesn't really know what they are doing. And that they haven't considered them (and figured it doesn't make sense to implement them). It seems that there is a fair amount of evidence that indicates that isn't true (no one is talking about perfection or not having room to improve).

I work in a software company, I know that not all good ideas are implemented for various reasons. I also know that things that seem simple may not be so.
But as a user, I have the right to report my needs and ideas!
Garmin wouldn't exist without users!
If there is a "workaround", why invest in a full-fledged solution? - I have encountered such a case many times.
You've created another app that should be made by Garmin. Which has its user requirements (I don't use RWGPS), which doesn't seem to be easy to use. Yes, the problem is solved, but is the UX at a good level?
Even if there was a created solution for every such problem, it won't install all of them - the memory is large, but the amount of "IQ" is limited (ok ok, I know it's probably about RAM, CPU and overall performance, hence the limit)