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Tag Archive | Venu
September 15, 2019  

Garmin’s ‘Vivomove Luxe/3’ & Vivosmart 4 Now Get ‘Connected GPS’ — Provided You Have Your Smartphone Handy.

by Anura Guruge

Click Images to Enlarge.

All images from garmin.com

What I find here is that these watches did NOT have ‘Connected GPS’ from the get-go.

I have only ever bought Garmin, Fitbit or Amazfit watches with GPS so I have never required ‘Connected GPShttps://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/fitness/connected-gps-now-on-vivosmart-4/‘.

I know that it has been available with Fitbit for a number of years. I have heard people talk about it. Thus, I had just assumed (incorrectly, of course) that Garmin must also have this capability by default.

The ‘Vivosmart’ is a $130 band. I can just about fathom why it doesn’t have GPS. For $40 more, you can get a ‘Vivosport‘, with GPS and a color display. That is what I got my wife.

The hybride ‘Vivomove’ with fixed hands and hidden color touchscreen is a $350 to $550 watch. You would think Garmin would offer GPS — maybe even as a $50 option. Guess not.

I love GPS on my watch. I use GPS, near daily, if I am doing a serious walk/run or hike. I do it to get (hopefully) a better distance measurement, i.e., GPS rather than accelerometer and gyroscope. Yes, GPS still leaves much to be desired, especially if you double back on yourself or walk in circles. But, I convince myself that the milage it shows is within +/- 5%. Yes, I have tested distnace with multiple watches (given that I have had at least 12 over the last 2-years) and vehicles.

Using the phone GPS is not the same. Yikes. I feel bad.

Garmin!

Very frustrating. And I am a Garmin shareholder to boot. Yikes.

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by Anura Guruge

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September 10, 2019  

Garmin’s New Vivoactive 4-Based ‘Legacy Hero Series’ Seems A Bit Mickey Mouse To I.

by Anura Guruge

Click Images to ENLARGE.

All images from garmin.com

Not my cup of tea — BUT I am 66-years old and wear a Garmin MARQ Expedition. Maybe if I was 40-years younger and had $400 to burn on a novelty watch (and thinking back, I probably could have afforded such if I wanted (SMILE)).

Nice bezels and nice straps. Not sure about the watch faces. And the price $400.

Also, they don’t each come in both sizes, i.e., 45mm (standard) and 40mm (small). That surprised I. The 45-mm is the ‘First Avenger’ & the smaller is ‘Captain Marvel’. I am too old to know the difference or those superheroes BUT does that size distinction make sense. I am from the Superman era. So, will Garmin make more of these? The mind boggles and as a long-term Garmin investor this kind of bothers I. Not sure what the market is. Can’t be huge. Pretty sure that by Christmas 2019 these two watches will be available close to $300.

Both based on the new Vivoactive 4 — 45mm & 40mm. But, unlike the Vivoactive 4 it is not available as yet. As with the new Garmin Venu Garmin is quoting 5 – 8 weeks. Think: “just ahead of Black Friday”.

Yes, even Garmin Connect has been updated to cater for these watches.

I am sorry, but I am skeptical. Can you … will you wear this to work … in an office? Can you … will you wear this to the gym? Can you … will you wear this to a fancy restaurant? I wouldn’t. But, then again … (SMILE).

So, what do YOU think? Would you buy one? Would you wear one if one was given to you for FREE? [No, nope … I am not making an offer or any promises.]

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by Anura Guruge

August 21, 2019  

Garmin Partners With Amazon PRIME For Music — Download Music To Your ‘M’ Watches From Prime.

by Anura Guruge

Click to access Garmin.

You need a new Garmin APP
from the Garmin ‘Connect IQ’ Store.

Click to access the APP.

This is BIG, especially IF you are already an Amazon Prime member (and I am, though I am not into music on my Garmins).

Thanks to Amazon you can even have a 30-day FREE trial — Amazon hoping to snare you into Prime.

I am NOW a believer in Prime. I wasn’t for the longest time. I always ordered enough (e.g. $25) to get free-shipping. Then, maybe, 6-years ago, maybe earlier I finally signed-up.

Now I am a Believer.

Full disclosure. I am also a long-term Amazon shareholder. SMILE.

But, I watch a fair amount of Prime Video. That, in my book, pays for itself.

Anyway, this is BIG. Worth looking into.

BIG DAY … a week from today. August 28, 2019. Fenix 6, Vivoactive 4, Venu, etc. SMILE.

Stay tuned.

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by Anura Guruge

August 19, 2019  

Fenix 6 Has 1.4″ Display, Vivoactive 4 Might Do So Too — But What Is The ‘Garmin Venu’ About?

by Anura Guruge

The Garmin Venu, with a 43mm case, is YET ANOTHER watch that is supposed to debut next week — on August 28, 2019.

With two buttons it looks very much like the Vivoactive 4 — and there is a Vivoactive 4S for smaller wrists, so the Venu just can’t be just a smaller version of the VA4.

I get a feeling that it is a lower cost, i.e., $150, range competitor against Fitbit — with less sports functionality than that on a Vivoactive 3 or Vivoactive 4.

I (as a Garmin shareholder and owner) think that Garmin has TOO MANY MODELS. It is crazy. It cost real money for Garmin to introduce, maintain and support models — but it is also confusing for consumers and for retailers!

Yes, the Venu puzzles me. Do you have any ideas?

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by Anura Guruge

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