We rely on our phone for everything that many seemed to have forgotten what Garmin does best
SMARTPHONES taking over our lives is probably the biggest understatement of the year. We do everything with our phones so much so that it is simply impossible to leave our homes without one.
I sometimes ride around old towns and villages around the outskirts of KL city just to take a break from the hustle and bustle. And the one commonality that I noticed is that almost everyone, young and old, will have their necks cramped over and their faces glued to their phones.
It is a pity that we have come to this, but it is also seems to be by design. Everything from our banking applications to our music and social apps are all downloaded to our phones. Even banks need us to scan a QR code with our phones to get a queue number.
I feel sorry for the elderly and the unsavvy who have no idea how that may work or don’t have a smartphone.
So, when I recently came across a post on reddit, it got me excited. We all rely on our phones for navigational purposes as well. Waze and Google Maps are great at providing real time traffic updates and turn by turn directions. But about a decade ago, it was Garmin devices that did that work for us.
These days, most people only use Garmin’s as a smartwatch and not much else. But did you know that if you have an old Garmin device, you can still use it today?
In that reddit post I mentioned earlier, a user showed how his 15-year-old Garmin GPS device still receives updates today and has current maps.
This is despite the fact that smartphones have made navigation devices obsolete.
The reason behind this is that Garmin offers free lifetime map updates for its navigation devices. So, it does not matter when you bought the device, it will always offer updated maps.
This is refreshing in an era where we often use devices for no more than a few years and discard them.
Why does this matter to you though? If you have an old car or motorcycle, you can still use an old Garmin device to get around, particularly if you are into off-roading or overlanding to foreign lands.
Garmin devices also offer excellent reception over all terrains, and you don’t need to rely on your smartphone’s data either.
So, the next time you come across an old Garmin device, remember that it can still be updated and used just as it was intended to as long as it is in working condition.
This is also great for those of us who are concerned about data privacy and where our navigation records are being stored. Or if you are into retro devices and classic cars, a Garmin device may be just what you need to “set the mood” right rather than using a suction cup to mount your phone.
Above all, I write this because it is refreshing knowing that in an era where nothing seems to be designed to last, there are still companies out there that prioritise users over profits.
Garmin offering free map updates for life is nothing new, we just forgot.
