Garmin entering the dive industry?

[Alastor]

Here: Descent, Garmin’s next Fenix4 model? there are interesting info and also link to attempts of putting diving oriented app in the previous Garmin model (that were discouraged by the Garmin itself to not incur in problems because the model was not designed for such use).
The next Garmin model could have bypassed such limitations just adopting a better pressure sensor and buttons that can be used under water).

 

[jlcnuke]

To sell chipsets & software. Economies of scale are critical in a business like theirs because significant costs are up-front in semiconductor and software engineering. Selling chipsets "could" relieve them of two of their next most expensive operating costs, marketing and tech support. The actual cost of producing chips is comparatively minor so additional sales would effectively carry very high profit margins.

Hint to dive computer manufacturers:
GPS would motivate me to upgrade my computer... too subtle?

Since the signals currently used for GPS have little ability to penetrate water (and not very far into it), it's unlikely you'll get one from them anytime soon. First, GPS technology would have to be changed to utilize a different type of signal which could reliably penetrate water.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Since the signals currently used for GPS have little ability to penetrate water (and not very far into it), it's unlikely you'll get one from them anytime soon. First, GPS technology would have to be changed to utilize a different type of signal which could reliably penetrate water.

There could be a market for a diveable device that includes GPS intended to be used on the surface. In any case, it sounds like Garmin has diversified itself from GPS products. I wasn't aware they produced a camera.

 

[Lorenzoid]

To sell chipsets & software. . . .

If their goal was to sell chips, why would they post a video on Facebook aimed at end users? If Garmin were to sell chips, we would likely see products from other brands that, if anything, market the products as "Powered by Garmin" or something to that effect.

 

[BoltSnap]

GPS integration would certainly be nice. It would save me the extra step of looking up lat/long based on site names.

The Ratio Computer iX3M GPS computers have integrated GPS and it works beautifully:

Ratio Dive Computers - Choose a model

 

[kelemvor]

The Ratio Computer iX3M GPS computers have integrated GPS and it works beautifully:

Ratio Dive Computers - Choose a model

Did you get one? You and I discussed the computer once in another thread. Please post a review or something!

 

[Akimbo]

If their goal was to sell chips, why would they post a video on Facebook aimed at end users?

Their goal is to make money. The already OEM technology in addition to their branded products.

 

[victorzamora]

Isn't their camera (or at least a housing) rated for dive use? I'm pretty sure I've seen dive video recorded on one.

I think the Virb XE is rated to 50m, which is honestly plenty. What I meant, though, was expanding into a dedicated dive camera. Everyone is thinking GPS because it's Garmin, and therefore thinking computer as well. I just threw out the idea of camera because they've been doing a lot of that as well in the recent past.

Of course, they've also been doing fitness trackers for a while...so they could be going into the computer market.

 

[BoltSnap]

Did you get one? You and I discussed the computer once in another thread. Please post a review or something!

Yes, I recently did. I will post a review once I have had the chance to make enough dives. So far, excellent!

 

[Lorenzoid]

Their goal is to make money. The already OEM technology in addition to their branded products.

I see. I had no idea they already did that. I also had no idea Garmin made cameras and fitness trackers. Like some others, I thought they were still only makers of GPS receivers.