We told you in an earlier post about our larger offices around the world, but did you know Garmin also has a small office in Tempe, Arizona that's doing some big-time work?  This office is charged with the exciting task of developing Mac applications for Garmin customers by the end of 2006 -- the first major GPS designer and manufacturer to announce direct support for Mac OS X.  Many in Tempe are long-time Mac users... so watch this blog for more updates on our Mac progress.

Tempe also develops and maintains Windows applications such as MapSource™, nRoute™ and Garmin Training Center™. We strive to make the lives of our Garmin customers better by providing free software like WebUpdater™, POILoader™ and gStart™.

Blessed with a sunny climate and challenging topography, Arizona is also an ideal place for us to test and use Garmin devices while biking, hiking, and geocaching.

Comments

[DrNotta]

Dave & Morgan: The latest beta to Parallels - Build 3150 - works with the Forerunner 301! Yee-ha! It's not the Garmin drivers, it was that last little tweak to Parallels' USB capacity.

[Morgan]

I have a Garmin Edge 305 running 2.80 firmware. I have a MacBook Pro 2.33GHz (Intel) running OS X 10.4. I've installed the latest Parallels Desktop virtual machine and Windows XP so that I can run the CyclingPeaks software to get data from my SRM (road bike) and Garmin Edge 305. (mountain and cyclocross bikes and running) The Garmin USB Drivers and Training Center and WebUpdater are installed, but neither can see the Garmin Edge in Parallels / WinXP, same for CyclingPeaks. Right now I'm using the MotionBased Safari plugin (THANKS!) to upload from the device to motionbased, then launching MSIE in Parallels so I can export to an .hst file (rather than getting the .cxs from Safari) then importing that .hst file in CyclingPeaks. I hope that you can fix either the Windows USB drivers, or release TrainingCenter for OS X. I may yet try VMWare's Fusion, I've heard the Edge works there, just hate to have to install a new VM, reinstall Windows, relicense CyclingPeaks, etc. Again, thanks for working on OS X support for Garmin devices.

[Dave Bassett]

I just tried to run the Forerunner 305 with Training Center under Parallels on one of the new Intel Imacs.

So close!! It loads the USB drivers for the Garmin but can't connect to the device. Any chance we could see an update to the driver so that it would work under Parallels on the Mac?

[Harrington1]

The planned Mac integration with Garmin GPS is GREAT news. Thinking the Streetmap 2730 will be the GPS for me.

Planning on dropping out and Kerouacing in style with an RV. Must do it with technology though and along with satellite internet, (Mobile Datastorm) me Mac portable and with Garmin now joining the party the excitement may send me into Fred Sanford "Its the BIG one!" land. If you have to ask then you're too young. Ha.

Is the Tempe "Mac Group" still on schedule for an end-of-year 2006 release?

Trust the whole range of Garmin software will be OSX'ed. Guess I'll have to modify my rallying call from "Mac's Rule" to "Gac's Rule!"

Cheers...

[C. Ho]

I'm considering purchasing a Forerunner 205 in the next few weeks. I hope that when the Mac software comes out it'll work with the Forerunner 205. I don't want to have to purchase a new edition of a GPS just so it'll work with a Mac.

Right now, I'm running a MacBook Pro which thankfully runs Windows XP very well via virtualisation software (Parallels). Please, Garmin Mac developers, consider putting out a public beta version of your software so that Mac folks can give you feedback!

[Bryan]

I'm all for Garmin blogging, and I enjoy the content on the blog, but it would be really great to see updates on some of the items that have appeared on the blog. Specifically I'm interested in Mac support. As someone anxiously waiting to use my eTrex Legend C with my Mac, I would be grateful for any development news. Thanks!

[Ashley Davis]

Just want to say a big thank you for agreeing to provide support for Mac. As soon as a Mac version of Training center is available I intend to purchase a Forerunner 305 to replace my (unsupported) Polar HRM.
I am also waiting for a GPSMAP60CSx as soon as a Mac version of Mapsource for Great Britain / Europe is available.

Regards,

A Mac fan & future Garmin Customer :)

[xtal]

Orlando: "After years of messing with softPC then virtual PC and countless cable/adaptors.
All mostly dead ends I might add."

currently i'm using the following combination on my PowerBook G4 in order to "talk" to my StreetPilot 2610:
Microsoft Virtual PC 7.0 + Windows 2000

you can "map" USB ports to VPC7, so the emulator can talk to the GPS directly!

hope this helps.

[Garmin]

Hi Paul..

All USB-compatible Garmin devices will be supported on the Mac, so I don't see any reason to deny yourself a 296.

[Paul Daley]

Am dieing, almost literally thinking back on Monday's flight, to get a Garmin 296 but wonder if I should buy it now or wait until you've finished the Mac upgrades so I can use the 296 with my Apple Powerbook.

I guess what I'm asking is; will previously purchased Garmin units be retroactively compabitable with the Mac updates you guys are working on and will the said updates be free for those who have already purchased Garmin units?

Keep up the good work!
I reckon Garmin GPS, Mac computers, and Piper Cubs are the best things in life :-)

[Jeff]

Hi there,

Keep up the good work! Any chance you could pass on a 'rough estimate' of when you plan on releasing the OS X compatible versions of the various Garmin programs? We wont hold you to it, but a rough timeline would be great. Thanks.

[Garmin]

Welcome to the world of GPS, Chris! There should be no issues in purchasing a unit now. Our plan is to post new apps that are Mac-compatible... current models will all be supported.

[Pete Prodoehl]

Garmin GPS + Mac OS X = Good!

Thanks for finally supporting the Mac.

[Chris]

I am new to the world of GPS and am considering the eTrex Vista Cx. Since I have a iMac running Tiger, is there any downfall to buying the unit soon, or should I wait until later in the year for the model to be fully Mac-capable? Is it the hardware that will be changing, or just that Map software?

[nikke]

Great!
Mapsource is the only software i am missing on my PowerBook

[Orlando]

Thank you, THANK YOU!!
I've been waiting for this since I purchased my first Garmin unit. (GPS III)
After years of messing with softPC then virtual PC and countless cable/adaptors.
All mostly dead ends I might add.
I can't wait.

Yt

Orlando

[maique madeira]

i can't wait.

working with a garmin in a mac is just too much trouble.
would you please come to our rescue ?

keep up the good work and we'll just keep on waiting until you're ready.

[Blake Seely]

I just bought a Forerunner 205 and have been doing some USB programming so I can at least download some of the raw data. But I can't wait until the Mac is officially supported! Count me in for beta testing!!

[Marc]

Very excited about Garmin Mac software. Make sure to release Beta versions early, we've been waiting for so long, we don't mind!

[Bryan Hughes]

Garmin's forthcoming support for the Mac was the most exciting announcement that came out of Macworld in my humble opinion. I can't wait to get my Legend C talking to my Powerbook! Looking forward to reading more updates here on the blog.

[Keith Mason]

Thanks for the intro. I'm looking forward to hearing about mac development... any idea what will be on the cards first?