Why does it need higher resolution? I already can't make out individual pixels at arm's length. Higher resolution doesn't change anything, other than that it'd take longer to repaint the screen, and that doesn't sound great given that some of you are already complaining about refresh latency during zoom-and-pan.
It'd be nice for it to have higher resolution and more brightness, because having a GDU immediately next to a GTN is incongruous. A bit. Maybe.
But that isn't a reason to justify an entire new product line.
Why? What does it do now that needs a faster CPU?
Flipping from page to page is almost instant. Repainting an entire map or chart takes less than half a second. The synthetic vision frame rate is smooth enough.
These are real time embedded systems. The CPU only needs to be fast enough to keep up with the stream of data that's triggering updates, and that comes in over low bandwidth RS232 and Canbus bit-pipes. Upgrading the CPU would be wasted; you're still only going to get 10fps out of the display if the ADHARS LRU is supplying a 10 Hz data update rate, so what does extra CPU grunt (cost) buy you?
Has anyone declined to buy a G3X Touch system because their space behind the panel is less than the 3.6" (plus connector depth) the GDU needs?
As someone who upgraded into G3X Touch from a steam gauge panel, I can tell you it occupies a LOT less volume behind the panel than a six-pack.
This is a perfect example of what I'm talking about: G3X Touch systems already have wireless connectivity (all installations support Bluetooth, some support WiFi, depending on the LRU mix)
If the wireless connectivity is already there, whether you can do over the air updates is a software feature, not a hardware feature. Garmin doesn't need to produce new hardware to support OTA updates.
They could announce Database Concierge for G3X Touch at Oshkosh. Software feature. I don't know anything about their internal software architecture, but I'd guess that it wouldn't even be a lot of effort to port the code from their other platforms.
They've made a business/product decision to not support that feature on the G3X Touch product line. We are not a market they're choosing to address with that feature.
So it's unlikely that they'll turn around and say, "Actually, we've changed our mind," if they had new hardware.
If you want them to support OTA updates, the best way to do it is to go to Dynon and say, "If you deliver support for OTA updates, I'll buy your product," and then do that instead of buying the Garmin product. If enough people do that, they'll probably release Database Concierge for G3X Touch in a heartbeat. No new hardware required.
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There's a feature I've wanted for five years: Outside North America, there's no 978UAT, no TIS-B, and no SiriusXM, so 0% of the connectivity features which enable you people to get NOTAMS, TAFs, TFRs, weather, freezing level, wind data, etc work. We don't get weather overlays on the map, none of the weather or NOTAM tabs on waypoint info have any data in them. All that situational awareness that everyone knows and loves from the G3X Touch platform is completely absent unless you're in the USA.
Now: With bluetooth connectivity, I know that Garmin COULD use my phone/iPad internet access to load all that data into Garmin Pilot, and squirt it live via Bluetooth into the GDUs so it'd show up on the displays. I know I COULD have the same set of connectivity and situational awareness visualization features you enjoy. Software upgrade, kerblammo, easy. It'd even convince me to pay for Garmin Pilot, which I'd never do otherwise.
Frankly I'd rather they put engineering resources into features like that than on coming up with new black rectangles. Customers are currently buying G3X Touch systems as fast as they can manufacture them; New black rectangles are unlikely to drive more sales, so why would they do it?
- mark
