Troul 

Will or has any of the big brands soon offer a cycling computer that can be preloaded with mp3s or retain FM capabilities that'll connect to modern Bluetooth headsets?
it might decrease those that are distracted by the smart devices or give an opportunity to those that don't use a smart device & be able to ditch the separate mp3 player.

Elvo

You can sideload spotify or other android apps on some of them

veganbikes

Expand the tech to FM? Can it also fire up the Victrola or help shift my Boizot Le Montagnard derailleur. I mean the MP3 is neat but streaming is the new MP3s now. Honestly though I have music on my phone I really don't need it elsewhere.

mstateglfr 

I don't think there are many cyclists who use a GPS computer for riding but dont have a smartphone.

Troul 

it would make more sense to use a gps computer over the more costly, much larger, faster battery depleting, & delicate smart device. The quick mounts for a gps computer often hold up better than the bulky cumbersome smart device grip mounts.

Troul 

i wouldnt have use for it to aid in shifting. Opening the garage door could be a nice feature though.

mstateglfr 

That wasn't my point. I agree it makes more sense to use a GPS device for tracking rides..
But I imagine everyone with a GPS device has a smart phone. That smart phone which most everyone carries can just play music, so the interest in a garmin or wahoo being able to store music files or transmit an fm signal seems pretty limited.

Yes, there are always a few who make up the exception and in this case, that means they actively refuse to carry a phone when riding. If I were at a company and creating features, I wouldn't focus on the small sliver of users and instead focus on the overwhelmingly large section of users.

Troul 

i'm surprised a company has slapped a very noticeable reflective [yet color tone to blend in well] decal on the gps computers. As if they want you to lose it so you hurry out to replace it with another one...

I put some reflective decals on mine. Came in handy when someone moved the bicycle & was very careless in pushing it off the quick mount.

Chuck M 

I have a Chamberlain garage door opener and there is a Garmin widget for opening it. I wasn't impressed with it though.

Sy Reene

Why doesn't Garmin sell a GPS that has phone and text capability? Forget all the 'smart' stuff and ability to run apps, if there was just ability make a phonecall? Is there such a thing as a dumb phone any more that can only make phone calls and do simple texting? I imagine would have to built into a 1000 series form factor model though.

Ed Wiser

Hammerhead uses Android OS and you can lot apps on it. The other bike computers use their own OS

alcjphil

I use a Garmin 820 on the bike and do not have a smartphone. Zero interest in listening to music while riding outdoors

Orkun KnighTR34

Ability of mirroring apps and conversations on smartphones such as Android Auto or Apple Carplay should be very good for bike computers I think. Also for me, a SD card reader for additional apps or music, an integrated soundchip that can process 24 bit audio, ability of playing FLAC, APE, WAV files and 3.5 mm stereo jack to connect a speaker on a bike computer could be superior features. Integrated camera to record rides on the computer could also be a game-changer feature.

kahn

I can already open/close and check on my garage door from anywhere in the world with cell service. My phone can already be a gps and my gps is already, well, a gps. I can store files on the gps but I don't know if there's an app to play them.

Retro Grouch 

If they haven't already, they will soon.

I know that for sure because more electronics is something that I want to avoid on my bicycle so it's definitely coming.

Troul 

I'd rather not sync my phone nor actively link my account with my smart device. Whether I like to or not, I don't have a choice regarding employment. Some folks my do it & don't know it's against policy or just don't see the risks. Wish at times I was one of those that didn't know any better... lol.

Loading up the playlist, syncing the BT headset, & have a simple ability to open the garage door may not seem all that great to some, but for me...

Darth Lefty 

Is there going to be one that can play all those DVD-R's full of MP3's I downloaded with Napster?

Troul 

you can change the extension to not worry about that.

drlogik 

The Garmin Fenix wearable series can hold music, quite a lot actually. I can't attest to the sound quality but I have a Fenix 5X that I use for all my riding and it has taken a beating over the last 3 years and is no worse for wear. I'm looking at the newer models that hold music and I may flip for one over the holidays.

People often ask me how well my Fenix 5X works as a bike computer. Well, just about everything that a dedicated bike computer can do the 5X does also and it's simple to use, sync with Strava, monitors my heart rate and energy output and it's my wrist watch. This is my second Fenix watch and I love them. I get a full week to 10 days on one charge and that includes daily rides.

BTW, they are a dedicated true satellite GPS device. They don't require anything else to function.

unterhausen

I never thought about this, but would really like it. I suppose you have to hook up the internet gateway?
What was wrong with it?

Chuck M 

Let me clarify. I love the garage door opener and I can say “Siri open my garage door” from anywhere and it opens. Fiddling with the widget wasn’t worth the trouble.

WhyFi

So we're looking for a GPS/phone/high-res audio player, with an action cam and garage door opener? With great battery life and not too bulky, either, I assume?

Sure, why not?

Chuck M 

Would a beer bottle opener that doubles as a tire tool be too much to add to that list?

WhyFi

Heck no! The more the merrier, I guess. Along those lines, maybe an electric tire pump should be integrated, too.

Troul 

built in bidet & eye washer could be really handy.