Garmin's Bobcat Software For Mac

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2008 Garmin’s Project Bobcat for mac users has climbed out of the bag and revealed itself for. So what does it do?

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It “lows you to transfer waypoints, tracks, and routes between your Mac and Garmin device and manage your data using your Garmin maps”. You can also search for POIs and send those locations to your GPS, and backup your wayoints, routes, and tracks from your GPS. The software isn’t yet “official” and “note yet been released for production” so as they say use it at your own risk. So what does it look like?

Mac

Here is a quick capture. Disappointing is right. Despite the hype, there’s still no way to transfer Garmin maps to Garmin GPS units without using a PC as a stepping-stone. I’m thisclose to boxing up my new Vista HCx, case, useless maps, etc. And shipping it all back to Kansas with a demand for a full refund. Two years ago Garmin promised full support for the Mac.

They’ve been dribbling out various “beta” utilities (some of them admittedly useful) but the ONE KEY PIECE of software is still not available. Imagine if their aviation products had the same level of support: “I reckon there’s an airport around here somewhere”. To Frederick, Yes, but the map data must be converted from PC format to MAC format before MapManager can do anything with it. MapManager will not install the maps to the Garmin unit Garmin MapInstall does that. It will install the Map data from the CNNANT v2008 to a Garmin GPS. All other Garmin map products must be installed on a PC then converted before they can be used on a Macintosh. There is still no way to Install the Garmin maps to a Macintosh without using a PC first to convert the data to MAC format, And that conversion and installation process is not working properly for me.

So Bobcat is virtually useless for planning routes until I can get the map data loaded on my Macintosh in a format that Bobcat can read. Dave, what everyone is likely upset about is the pace of the availability of Mac software from their original timetable. January 10, 2006 By the end of 2006, Garmin intends to have made all its popular hardware and software applications Mac OS X compatible.

This includes the ability to load MapSource map data to Garmin units via a Mac, as well as waypoint and trip planning applications. Additionally, the Garmin nRoute application will allow Powerbook and iBook users to turn their laptop into a powerful street navigation tool with Garmin’s GPS 10 or GPS 18 sensors. June 27, 2006 expected to be compatible with Mac OS X version 10.4 “Tiger” by the end of 2006. Also at that time, we will announce the expected completion date for Garmin’s other hardware and software applications. We thank the Mac community for their support, understanding and patience as we work through these unanticipated delays December 29, 2006 Garmin announced Training Center software for OS X, but made no mention of any other software such as MapSource. January 15, 2008 Bobcat is released, still without the ability to create/transfer maps on the Mac without a PC. However they did say this: Garmin plans to include additional features to this application by the end of 2008 – such as route editing and find by address function.

  • OS X: GPS software for your Mac. By GNaschenweng Published May 21, 2008 Updated January 1, 2012. (POIs), create and organize waypoints, routes and tracks, and easily send them to your Garmin GPS. Bobcat is the Windows equivalent to MapRoute – just a lot prettier. MapInstall Allows you to install maps on your Garmin GPS device.
  • Finally, the central Mac support page also lists Mac compatibility for the Garmin Connect web service coming later this year (as early as March for some models). Both Bobcat and MapInstall are.

I was excited when I visited the booth at MacWorld SF and received the CD with Bobcat. I came home that night and converted my 4 map sets from the PC to the Mac. I then became quite depressed when I discovered the limitations of Bobcat. I was told as others were that Garmin would have a Mac version of MapSource by June of 2006. As we all know that didn’t happen. Now with Bobcat, there is a start but it really is not usable as a replacement for MapSource. Such simple things as elevation profiles are missing from the track data.

The inability of modify routes and find directions are very basic. Lets hope that Garmin puts more resources on this project so we don’t have to wait another 2 years before the get the next dribble of an update. While I completely agree that I wish Garmin had come out with Bobcat earlier, I am very happy that it is here. Bobcat isn’t just a rehash of a PC program. It looks and feels like a real Mac app and personally I would much rather have a true Mac app than a knock off of the PC app that I’m sure they could have forced out quicker. The first version was pretty basic, but it has had 3 updates in the last 3 months which has filled in much of the major functionality and made it much more stable for me.

Nov 03, 2008  Garmin and the Mac Khryz, I have a fairly old (in GPS years) Garmin StreetPilot 2610 which I use on a motorbike and sometimes in the car. I hated Bobcat to start with as the early versions were very unstable and constantly crashed.

Personally I find Bobcat to be a big step up from Mapsource. It looks better and is easier to use. Venting here is all fine and good I suppose, but if people want Garmin to listen, they should do what I did and use the Send Feedback feature built into Bocat. An engineer responded with questions about my requested feature.

Garmin's Bobcat Software For Mac Download

Or you could use Garmin’s competitors’ Mac softwareoh wait there isn’t any. Hi “Brian”, thanks for stopping. I suspect it is much easier for you to get the attention of a Garmin engineer and get them to listen to your feature requests because you are a Garmin employee yourself!

I think you will find that more of your competitors are offering Mac software to help manage their devices and plan routes. TomTom has had a Mac version of HOME for a couple of years that gives people the ability to create routes with their keyboard and mouse as well as handle application updates. Of course I’m looking forward to doing that in full screen on Bobcat. But in the interest of transparency you probably should have disclosed that you are a Garmin employee before touting Bobcat’s features and cricizing competitors. I’m going to append “garmin employee” to your post-name.

This fall, Garmin quietly released several Mac applications. Some are still in Beta, yet they seem to work. If you use Parallels Desktop to manage your Garmin GPS, this may set you free from Windows altogether. After a few downloads and a two hour map conversion process, I can manage my GPS on my MacBook. You will need three software packages:. The, released on Dec 19th and no longer in beta.

Not required, but nice to have., also released on Dec 19th., released on September 18th. Instructions for using MapConverter are available for download. The map conversion process can take quite a while - I converted three Garmin Mapping products in a bit over two hours on my MacBook in Parallels. An external drive helped simplify the process. I've been using Garmin GPS units on the Mac for a long time now.

Too long actually. Started using them pre-Intel on G3, G4 and G5 via VPC (pre-USB on the GPS) and Guest-PC (post-USB on the GPS). I'm now running it via Parallels on an Intel Mac. And, if you want advice, don't waste your time with any of the Garmin-based Mac releases at this point. They're garbage. The web updater (not listed in this hint) craps out 90% of the time. The POI loader is so-so but the PC version is way better.

Garmin's Bobcat Software For Mac Pro

And MapInstall (with MapConverter) is a total waste of time. Basically, after spending hours working with/converting your maps, you can load maps to your GPS via OS X. And that's it. This isn't a OS X port of MapSource — all you can do it load maps. What's the point of that when everything that is so great about Garmin and managing maps/GPS/waypoints/routes/etc. Isn't there and is still PC only? I mean, if all your want to do is load maps and not ever use any of the functions of your GPS and computer, I guess you'd like this program (kinda, though you'll be slamming your head on your table after the hours and hours to do it all.IF it doesn't crash on you) but if you really want to utilize your GPS and computer (ie.

Mapsource) then there's no point in using this program as you'll still need HD space for Windows, MapSource and all your Maps in the PC format for using with MapSource. Basically, stay away from this and don't waste your time. Oh, and if anyone from Garmin is listening.you announced Mac Support on January 10, 2006. Sure, we got the pointless Training Center app (though, for limited units.not really a flagship app here.) and you also said, I quote. 'By the end of 2006, Garmin intends to have made all its popular hardware and software applications Mac OS X compatible. This includes the ability to load MapSource map data to Garmin units via a Mac, as well as waypoint and trip planning applications.

Additionally, the Garmin nRoute application will allow Powerbook and iBook users to turn their laptop into a powerful street navigation tool with Garmin's GPS 10 or GPS 18 sensors.' Now, almost 2 years later, we're STILL waiting.

Theboyk Nailed it. Garmin sucks and lies. They have great hardware but 2 years dorking us around on waiting for a real App.Get your head out of the cornfield. I use Parallels desktop (windows XP)on my MacBookPro OS 10.4.11 and I use a USB card reader to load and unload maps. I DONT plug the GARMIN 60 CSX into the mac.

Garmin Bobcat Software For Mac

The card reader is much faster (but still takes for ever) but doesn't crash like USB into the garmin. Too bad that 2 years after the Press Release I have to buy Parallels and a copy of XP. Kenscott30, thanks so much for the tip about using a card reader instead of plugging the GPS unit in directly. I use XP via Parallels on my MacBook sometimes when I need to do stuff like this. Unfortunately, it was crashing (XP, not the Macbook) everytime I tried to update the map set in my little Garmin i3. I was thinking something was screwed up badly, until I read your hint. I tried a card reader and everything loaded flawlessly.

A big relief. I didn't even know using a card reader was possible. Thanks again! Efs, that's not really a good argument. First off, if you don't want to use Windows software, then there's no way your going to use these maps on your Mac because you need to run Windows, in one fashion or another, to convert the maps to a Mac format. So, you're running Windows.

Then, even if we ignore that point, I suppose you could use the Mac to upload your Windows-converted Maps (however crash-tastic that is, depending on your unit) to your GPS and Google Earth for creating your POI, but what about generating routes and all the other things you just can't do in Google Earth that you can only do in MapSource? I mean, sure, there's say 'if I wanted access to more software, I'd be using Windows, not a Mac', but that's not really the point. Being stubborn and limiting yourself as a result just doesn't make sense because The point is, if you want to.really use. your GPS unit, you gotta run Windows. If there was a Mac alternative, I'd be all for it, but there's not. And this software & Google Earth isn't an alternative either.

Just a small piece of the big picture. There have been some questions about other GPS units with more Mac-friendly software.

I've been using a TomTom One for about 6 months now, and while it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, it's solid, reliable, small enough to be easily portable, and HAS A DECENT MAC VERSION OF IT'S SOFTWARE. Granted, like the Garmin, and I imagine most other GPS makers, the Mac version isn't up to the Windows version in terms of version number and such, but it works! I don't know of ANY GPS maker that has full featured Mac software, but there are websites out there that may be able to answer this, like. As a TomTom owner myself I am somewhat disappointed with the Mac version of their software.

They have released a software update for their devices which includes a new feature called 'MapShare' which you cannot use with the Mac software. They also have a service which gives you a free map upgrade if your device shipped with an outdated version or close to another upgrade becoming available.

Mac users are excluded from that. Also from promotional offers which only work through the Windows version of the software. I think TomTom and Garmin users with Macs are equally hosed and are well advised to resort to VMWare and the Windows version. TomTom support has also made it very clear that they are not comitting to upgrades of the Mac version of TomTom HOME. Since Garmin has released their preview of Bobcat there is more need to do the Map conversion. Here are some caveats I've seen mentioned and experienced them myself. During the Conversion process on the PC several have received errors during the compression stage from bsdtar.

If you remove the bsdtar directory MapConverter will just create the.gmapi folder which can be copied to the MAC, eliminating the need to uncompress it. MapManager will be able to install it just fine. If your MAC hard disk is formatted with the case sensitive option enabled the Garmin apps will not be able to recognize them.

The maps are in Library/Application Support/Garmin/Maps Right click (control click) on the package file (.gmap) Choose view Package contents. The file Info.xml name needs to be changed to 'info.xml' Then the maps will be accessible by Bobcat and MapInstall. Garmin posted a new page with all MAC software here: There is a link there ot a.pdf with instructions for the conversion process.