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danham
USA
7347 Posts |
 Posted - 04 mars 2008 : 02:34:30
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This is an attempt to put all the Mac software in one place. Please feel free to contribute info and comments.
Here is a current list of Garmin Macintosh software for use with nuvis. Please jump in with additions or corrections/comments.
As of this date, all of these programs are free and available for download from Garmin’s web site (see below for links). Several (BaseCamp and POI Loader as of this update 16 Feb. 2011) are available through the Apple App Store, meaning you can track updates and download them from an easy-to-navigate site (if you run Snow Leopard or Lion).
RoadTrip was the mainstay of Mac Garmin software until BaseCamp came out. Its functions were to display maps on your Mac, plan routes (but earlier nuvis do not support route downloading), create, save and transfer waypoints (“favorites”) and manipulate POIs. Compared to its Windows cousin MapSource, the program lacks some features, but has one big advantage in that its map displays are a lot “prettier” and easy to read. It will not display maps that you do not own. You used to have to convert your unlocked maps using a PC and copy the converted files to your Mac. With release of the Mac City Navigator DVD and v2009 NT nuvi updates, there are now fully Mac-compatible maps. But Garmin is abandoning development of both RoadTrip (Mac) and MapSource (PC), replacing both with BaseCamp.
BaseCamp: An excellent upgrade in features and graphics from RoadTrip, this program used to be billed by Garmin as useful for off-road geo-tagging and advanced geo-caching. But it goes way beyond that and is now the official Garmin GPS software for all route planning, including "Activity" based routing for cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, trucks, and pedestrians, good display of Topos, 3D and satellite imagery, animated playback of tracks and routes, uploading and sharing of "Adventures" and plenty of data transfer and organization options. If you run Snow Leopard or Lion it is really the best/only choice, as RoadTrip is buggy, not updated for 10.6, and has reached its "End Of Life." BaseCamp will also display maps that are installed on your device or its SD card. The latest version is usually available in the Macintosh App Store. If you have an earlier version, the App Store may not indicate the update is available. Try this link. Here's a direct link to some Training Videos page on Garmin's site: http://www8.garmin.com/learningcenter/training/basecamp/#Mac
Map Manager: this reads converted PC-format maps and installs them into BaseCamp. Not needed with maps newer than approx. 2009.
Map Install: Installing only portions of a map on SD cards requires a separate program to pick map segments and install them. This is that standalone progam. It performs adequately, but offers fewer screen navigation options than BaseCamp, making it a bit of a chore to select segments in its smallish, non-resizable window. It handles SD cards just fine, BTW.
POI Loader: As the name implies, this program allows you to create custom Points of Interest and load them into your nuvi. See our extensive discussion, linked from the main FAQ, about how to create and use POIs. Available in the Mac App Store.
Web Updater: Once reviled as unstable and the cause of many “bricked” nuvis, both the PC and Mac versions of this software seem to have calmed down and do their job properly. It is used to update nuvi system firmware, voices, vehicles, and Bluetooth and traffic receiver firmware.
What have I left out?
-dan |
- Nüvi forum moderator -
Nüvi 760 in a '10 Jetta TDI Diesel SportWagen & zumo 660 on a BMW F800 ST
Guide to working with pre-programmed routes: >> details <<
Language Guide / US Topo / 350 & 680 / MacBook & Intel iMac with OS X & Win XP / BaseCamp / Cape Cod, MA
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Edited by - danham on 07 nov. 2012 17:16:00
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MacZr2
26 Posts |
Posted - 04 mars 2008 : 02:49:10
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The only thing I can think of is that the newer programs (bobcat, map manager...) seem to be universal (PPC/Intel) code.
A link to the Mac download page would also be helpful. All I can find is a page that has the Mac software and pc software, but I don't see bobcat?
http://www8.garmin.com/support/mappingsw.jsp
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danham
USA
7347 Posts |
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AndreTheGeek
Canada
174 Posts |
Posted - 04 mars 2008 : 04:36:26
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Thanks Dan. I've been booting up my old PC when I want to use my map software. The Bobcat program seems to work well. My North American maps and my Europe maps converted just fine!
Andre
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Nuvi 350 - BMW 335i (and no good mounting solution) |
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smiley1081
Italy
1269 Posts |
Posted - 04 mars 2008 : 08:40:49
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What about http://www.garmin.com/macosx ?
BTW, MapInstall is MUCH OLDER than Robert Felix. |
Edited by - smiley1081 on 04 mars 2008 08:42:02 |
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danham
USA
7347 Posts |
Posted - 04 mars 2008 : 14:26:14
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Thanks for that link - I guess I skipped it so we wouldn't have to read all the hype before getting to the software [grin].
You "made me" google Felix, so now I get the joke. He writes books about the day Garmin first promised Mac compatibility, right [g]?
-dan |
- Nüvi forum moderator -
Nüvi 760 in a '10 Jetta TDI Diesel SportWagen & zumo 660 on a BMW F800 ST
Guide to working with pre-programmed routes: >> details <<
Language Guide / US Topo / 350 & 680 / MacBook & Intel iMac with OS X & Win XP / BaseCamp / Cape Cod, MA
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Edited by - danham on 04 mars 2008 14:26:47 |
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MacZr2
26 Posts |
Posted - 04 mars 2008 : 15:35:02
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That's the link I was looking/thinking of.
I guess it should also be pointed out that you need osX. 10.4 for bobcat...
quote:
Originally posted by smiley1081
What about http://www.garmin.com/macosx ?
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jev7266
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 07 mai 2008 : 04:48:11
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Regarding Bobcat ...
I just did the 2009 North America update on my new nuvi 660, but I don't believe there are any maps installed on my Mac Pro.
Do I use Map Converter for Windows to extract the maps from the data in the 2009 update's .dmg file (after I mount the .dmg and transfer the files to my Bootcamp partition)?
Could someone maybe post a step-by-step how to do this?
Thanks a lot. |
Pennsylvania, USA
nuvi 660 in '06 Volvo s40 T5 6M / Mac Pro 2X-Quad 2.8, 6 GB, eVGA 8800GT, Mac OS 10.5.2, WinXP |
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danham
USA
7347 Posts |
Posted - 07 mai 2008 : 16:02:32
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What method did you use to update to 2009 (DVD or download)? Was Bobcat with v2008 already installed on your Mac before you ran the update app?
You should not have to do the awful, clunky Windows Map Converter thing as the 2009 maps are fully Mac-friendly.
I ran the updater from the downloaded dmg and it updated the maps on my 680 and my MacBook without using Boot Camp at all.
-dan |
- Nüvi forum moderator -
Nüvi 760 in a '10 Jetta TDI Diesel SportWagen & zumo 660 on a BMW F800 ST
Guide to working with pre-programmed routes: >> details <<
Language Guide / US Topo / 350 & 680 / MacBook & Intel iMac with OS X & Win XP / BaseCamp / Cape Cod, MA
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Edited by - danham on 07 mai 2008 16:04:08 |
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jev7266
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 07 mai 2008 : 18:38:24
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quote:
Originally posted by danham
What method did you use to update to 2009 (DVD or download)? Was Bobcat with v2008 already installed on your Mac before you ran the update app?
You should not have to do the awful, clunky Windows Map Converter thing as the 2009 maps are fully Mac-friendly.
I've only had the nuvi for a week, so this is my first experience with updating, etc. Basically I bought the nuvi, attached it to my Mac, it initiated a download from Garmin of the Garmin WebUpdater and did it's thing. I'm sure it didn't put the 2008 maps on my Mac because the update took all of 2-3 minutes and seemed to only update the firmware of the unit and I believe it unlocked the maps installed on the unit. The unit worked fine after this.
I should mention that when I inserted the CD that came with the unit, nothing happened. In a 'read me' file on the CD a link was provided to deal with this contingency, but the link only took me to the nuvi User Manual on the Garmin site. I never did figure out what the CD is for, and there appears to be a lot more on the CD than a User Manual.
The other day I used the free download option for the 2009 North America update. I did not have Bobcat installed when I performed the update. The file "rmu_cnnant2009.dmg" was downloaded to my Mac. I mounted the disk image and ran the included "Garmin Map Update" program which installed the 2009 maps onto my nuvi (took about 40 minutes). Again, as far as I can tell, no maps were installed on my Mac. If they were, I can't find them.
I still have the "rmu_cnnant2009.dmg" file on my Mac.
Thanks a lot for helping me with this. |
Pennsylvania, USA
nuvi 660 in '06 Volvo s40 T5 6M / Mac Pro 2X-Quad 2.8, 6 GB, eVGA 8800GT, Mac OS 10.5.2, WinXP |
Edited by - jev7266 on 07 mai 2008 18:47:06 |
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danham
USA
7347 Posts |
Posted - 07 mai 2008 : 19:11:41
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OK, I think I see what's happening. While I want to praise Garmin for (finally) getting with the Mac program, I'd have to say that their documentation (which doesn't win any prizes on the Windows side) is even worse on "our" side.
I'm surprised that a CD (DVD?) came with your 660, so not sure what's on it, but you shouldn't need it for this.
Web Updater, as you guessed, only does firmware, voices, car icons and related stuff, not maps. It has nothing to do with unlocking anything.
Though Garmin does not say this anywhere that I can find, it looks like you need to have Bobcat installed before running the update in order for the 2009 maps to be placed on your HD. Is Bobcat on there now? In the upper right corner, do you see a way to choose maps and does the 2009 CN NT map show up there? Can you look in (user)/Library/Application Support/Garmin/Maps and see if the "City Navigator North America NT 2009.gmap" file is there?
That full directory structure may not exist unless Bobcat is installed, so I would recommend installing Bobcat and trying the update again. Launch the udpater app contained in the dmg file you downloaded. It does it in two steps, one for the Bobcat files, then on your nuvi, so I'm hoping that you can run the updater again with Bobcat in place and it will do its thing without even having to plug in your nuvi. But if that fails, try it with your nuvi plugged in. Make a FULL backup of all files on your nuvi first, just in case. See our FAQ for details on that process - it's easy but slow.
Please let us know if the CN NT 2009 file is indeed already there - that would mean it's not strictly necessary to install Bobcat first and would save everyone some potential grief, given Garmin's non-documentation.
Thanks and hope this helps,
-dan |
- Nüvi forum moderator -
Nüvi 760 in a '10 Jetta TDI Diesel SportWagen & zumo 660 on a BMW F800 ST
Guide to working with pre-programmed routes: >> details <<
Language Guide / US Topo / 350 & 680 / MacBook & Intel iMac with OS X & Win XP / BaseCamp / Cape Cod, MA
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Edited by - danham on 07 mai 2008 19:17:44 |
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jev7266
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 07 mai 2008 : 22:02:47
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quote:
Originally posted by danham
Is Bobcat on there now? In the upper right corner, do you see a way to choose maps and does the 2009 CN NT map show up there? Can you look in (user)/Library/Application Support/Garmin/Maps and see if the "City Navigator North America NT 2009.gmap" file is there?
<snip>
Please let us know if the CN NT 2009 file is indeed already there - that would mean it's not strictly necessary to install Bobcat first and would save everyone some potential grief, given Garmin's non-documentation.
I'm such an idiot ....
Good news! After reading your last post, I looked in the location you gave me and the 2009 map files are there. So they did get installed to the Mac with the 2009 update 
I then installed Bobcat and it finds the 2009 maps just fine. And it's so good not having to boot Windows to convert anything. Big plus!
Thanks a million for the help. Now to figure out Bobcat and what I can do with it. |
Pennsylvania, USA
nuvi 660 in '06 Volvo s40 T5 6M / Mac Pro 2X-Quad 2.8, 6 GB, eVGA 8800GT, Mac OS 10.5.2, WinXP |
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danham
USA
7347 Posts |
Posted - 07 mai 2008 : 22:56:29
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You're welcome.
See the first post in this topic for a synopsis of what Bobcat can do.
And for the record, you're not an idiot. That map file is pretty well hidden in a place most Mac users would never look. Why Garmin installs it there instead of in a Documents/Garmin folder is beyond me, but those familiar with Adobe CS may see a slight similarity in the arcane file structure. Both companies are very touchy about anti-theft measures and you may have noticed that the Garmin unlock codes live in the same place as the maps.
-dan |
- Nüvi forum moderator -
Nüvi 760 in a '10 Jetta TDI Diesel SportWagen & zumo 660 on a BMW F800 ST
Guide to working with pre-programmed routes: >> details <<
Language Guide / US Topo / 350 & 680 / MacBook & Intel iMac with OS X & Win XP / BaseCamp / Cape Cod, MA
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danham
USA
7347 Posts |
Posted - 08 mai 2008 : 00:47:24
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There is a new beta version of Bobcat released today. (Warning, brag coming.) As I predicted, the Map Install function has been semi-rolled into Bobcat and after I get a chance to test it I'll report back.
Changes made from version 2.0.0.3 to 2.0.0.4:
Features and Fixes:
Added the ability to launch MapInstall from Bobcat with preselected maps based on user data
Added ability to select track points on the map
Added ability to delete track points
Added ability to join tracks
Updated track rendering to more clearly indicate selected and active tracks
Added ability to create custom smart folders
Added icons to find results and waypoints in the user data view
Added track elevation profile
Newly created waypoints now contain address information in their comment field
State and country information is now correctly handled when doing a find
Fixed issue where Bobcat could crash when creating a waypoint
Fixed issue where the find box would lose focus when the mouse was moved
Fixed issue where the route dialog would not recognize preferences changes until it was reopened
Fixed issue where routes may not be recalculated after it was previously aborted
Fixed issue where the statistics for track points were not correct
Fixed issue where data may be removed from all folders when undoing
Fixed other miscellaneous issues
Known Issues and Notes:
Auto update change text is not properly displayed
Track elevation profile features are still being developed
-dan |
- Nüvi forum moderator -
Nüvi 760 in a '10 Jetta TDI Diesel SportWagen & zumo 660 on a BMW F800 ST
Guide to working with pre-programmed routes: >> details <<
Language Guide / US Topo / 350 & 680 / MacBook & Intel iMac with OS X & Win XP / BaseCamp / Cape Cod, MA
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ChoirDad
23 Posts |
Posted - 08 mai 2008 : 01:22:13
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I have just recently installed Bobcat on my Mac, but it does not seem to contain any detailed map data. It just has the general level map. I looked in the folder where the map files should be and I do not see anything. My Nuvi 770 came preloaded with North American and European maps, but no CD/DVD with the map files. Can someone tell me how to get the map data from my Nuvi on to my Mac?
Thanks |
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danham
USA
7347 Posts |
Posted - 08 mai 2008 : 01:36:47
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Unfortunately, it can't be done.
Bobcat will only display maps that you have purchased. Because nuvis come pre-loaded with maps, that is not considered a map purchase and I don't know of a way to get them off the nuvi and onto your Mac.
However, depending on when you bought your 770, it may qualify for a free update to the 2009 version maps, in which case (or if you choose to buy the new maps) that update will install the new maps on both your nuvi and your Mac. I know this seems illogical, but that's how they do it.
-dan |
- Nüvi forum moderator -
Nüvi 760 in a '10 Jetta TDI Diesel SportWagen & zumo 660 on a BMW F800 ST
Guide to working with pre-programmed routes: >> details <<
Language Guide / US Topo / 350 & 680 / MacBook & Intel iMac with OS X & Win XP / BaseCamp / Cape Cod, MA
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Macintosh nuvi software listed, reviewed
