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I just learned that the XT has a Garmin Powerswitch app
Posted: Tue May 09, 2023 11:49 pm
by Peobody
I received one of those Garmin Drive "Firmware update" notifications today. Express identified it as an update to the Garmin Powerswitch app. I had never heard of it. Now that I have researched it, I am wondering why it is installed on a satnav marketed for motorcycles. Is it realistic to assume that motorcyclists will add a Garmin Powerswitch switch box to their bike and then control connected accessories using that XT app? (rhetorical question) This should be an app that is made available with the purchase of a Powerswitch switch box. Everybody better hurry up and install this "Firmware update". You won't be able to live without it.
Re: I just learned that the XT has a Garmin Powerswitch app
Posted: Wed May 10, 2023 8:34 am
by Rofor
Sadly this has absolutely nothing to do with an motorcycle satnav - this bullshit, as same as the backwards camera(!), was introduced when Garmin decides to merge the Zumo XT and the Tread firmwares, starting with the jump vom version 2.90 to version 5.90!
On an four-wheel offroad vehicle this functions maybe make sense, but for the Zumo XT they are completely nonsense...
As i like to say - this was the day when the problems with the Zumo XT began, with version 2.90 where the most problems eliminated and the unit worked well. But than somebody at Garmin Software engineering had a 'good idea'...
Re: I just learned that the XT has a Garmin Powerswitch app
Posted: Thu May 11, 2023 2:11 pm
by cr0100
Maybe I'm a weirdo, but when I'm on a road trip in my car, I use the Zumo there as well, as it's a really nice-looking screen. A person might have gizmos and gadgets they want to control in there.... but I can't imagine wanting to bother!
Re: I just learned that the XT has a Garmin Powerswitch app
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2024 11:29 am
by colirv
The XT2 (which I don't have) is compatible with Powerswitch, the XT (which I do have) isn't. I quite like the idea of being able to control ancillaries such as running lights and heated clothing simply by pressing a button on the Zumo.
Re: I just learned that the XT has a Garmin Powerswitch app
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2024 12:19 pm
by Rofor
Hmmm - i don't think that this such a 'great' idea to include this in a motorcycle satnav!
I also don't think that everybody has his satnav every time on his bike - i for myself use the Zumo XT only when i'm on tour with my motorbike! The rest of the time i use my motorbike, the Zumo XT stays at home and if i don't know the exact address of a shop, street or so on, i use google maps and spoken advices through my headset...
As i said before - There are many (more or less - take the RUT problem!) big faults in the firmware of the Zumo, which Garmin is aware. But sadly they give a sh*t on the needs of 'normal' users, even if they pin those errors down and even get an easy solution to repair them (ask
@jfheath. Instead of repairing this faults, they gave us support for a backwards-driving-camera and a powerswitch unit.
Sorry - i can't see a need for such unnecessary things on a motorbike, and especially the Zumo XT is a 'pure' motorbike satnav - and i really think i'm not alone with this!
Re: I just learned that the XT has a Garmin Powerswitch app
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2024 1:36 pm
by rbentnail
Rofor wrote: ↑Sun Jul 14, 2024 12:19 pm
Hmmm - i don't think that this such a 'great' idea to include this in a motorcycle satnav!
I also don't think that everybody has his satnav every time on his bike - i for myself use the Zumo XT only when i'm on tour with my motorbike! The rest of the time i use my motorbike, the Zumo XT stays at home and if i don't know the exact address of a shop, street or so on, i use google maps and spoken advices through my headset...
As i said before - There are many (more or less - take the RUT problem!) big faults in the firmware of the Zumo, which Garmin is aware. But sadly they give a sh*t on the needs of 'normal' users, even if they pin those errors down and even get an easy solution to repair them (ask @jfheath. Instead of repairing this faults, they gave us support for a backwards-driving-camera and a powerswitch unit.
Sorry - i can't see a need for such unnecessary things on a motorbike, and especially the Zumo XT is a 'pure' motorbike satnav - and i really think i'm not alone with this!
One could carry this even further to consider how dangerous it is to have a headset and/or to conduct any kind of business whatsoever, business like using google maps. Sorry, but I just don't see the need for such unnecessary things on a motorcycle.
My point is- just because YOU don't use a feature does NOT mean others should be prohibited from doing so.
I'm the opposite- my XT is mounted on my bike every single time I ride. Here where I live and ride routinely, cell service (hence google maps) is too unreliable to be depended on. I've been places where there is zero cell service for 45-60 minutes in any direction.
Re: I just learned that the XT has a Garmin Powerswitch app
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2024 12:36 pm
by Rofor
To clear this out - i'm not against 'new things', i'm against adding things in the firmware, which are even not compatible with the Zumo XT (Powerswitch, officially only Zumo XT2) or make completely no sense on a motorbike (backwards-driving-camera) and not caring about known errors!
For me it looks more and more that we Zumo XT users where the beta-testers for Garmin Treat and Garmin Zumo XT2...
As i said a few times - the problems started, when Garmin chooses to 'join' the firmware of the Treat with the Zumo XT! The last 'real' Zumo XT firmware was v2.90 and than came the jump to v5.90, which gave us Powerswitch- and Backwards-Camera-Support....
Re: I just learned that the XT has a Garmin Powerswitch app
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2024 1:19 pm
by lkraus
The Powerswitch has always been
compatible with the XT. The Powerswitch app has been listed with all the other Apps since I received it in 2022. I don't know how the app could possibly be updated
without a firmware change.
If I wanted to rant about unrelated software updates, it would be about Garmin Express, which gets an update every time they release a new device. How about just providing a single, device-specific updater, which will not get broken when some unrelated product is released?
Re: I just learned that the XT has a Garmin Powerswitch app
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2024 9:27 pm
by Rofor
That's interesting - on Garmin Germany and Garmin Austria, the Powerswitch is only compatible with the Zumo XT2!
Garmin Germany -
https://www.garmin.com/de-DE/p/718849/
Garmin Austria -
https://www.garmin.com/de-AT/p/718849/
If you scroll down, Zumo XT2, Treat, Overlander, RV 895, RV 1095 are listed as compatible - and also the Garmin Powerswitch App...
- Screenshot of Garmin PowerSwitchâ„¢ _ Kompakte, digitale Schaltbox.jpg (68.92 KiB) Viewed 1384 times