Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin
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This comment on DCRainmaker sums it all for me:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/01/suunto-announces-decommission-plans-for-movescount-platform-impacting-some-watches.html#comment-3061899For a while we all supported Suunto because they are more stable than Garmin, even if with less features (from ambit 2 onwards). I think newer models are “as bad” as garmins are, so if suunto tells me to drop a 500eur watch to the bin, guess I will choose something else. Garmin may not be the best, but at least you can take out their data and change sports modes on the watch.
Quoting from DCrainmaker "Of course, the biggest issue here is how to handle the Ambit 1/2 units. One of the most overlooked aspects of the Garmin device world is the non-reliance for virtually all of their devices on a web-based service to access your recorded workouts. You can simply plug in your watch to your computer and offload it via USB like any other file or with local desktop software that exports to your computer (even a Garmin Forerunner 305 from 13 years ago!) . "
Hope suunto gets their identity and their focus sorted. For me this is the Nokia story repeated, they had good keypad feature phones, business models, ok the trend was touch, they simply didn’t do it right, and that is what is happening with suunto, even with some models less sophisticated, if they were stable we would buy it. When my ambit 2 sapphire dies I would buy a ambit 3 sapphire new if it was supported at 100%.
Those “techology moves fast” guys…just tell me what newer suunto watches have that Ambit 3 don’t? If you talk about fenix 5x yes…it has, but newer suuntos guess not.
Again, better suunto think again and see where they were and where they want to move. I think they are thinking that “apple watches” alike will be a mine of gold, but with the quality of suunto apps I guess it will fail in a hurry.
Hope I am wrong and that this all this shift turns the brand into something even better “Suunto…replacing luck”.
In the meanwhile I also bought a Garmin, but an etrex 30x. It will take me a while to switch to a Fenix…but…if things go on this way, it would be the only route I believe…or an amazfit stratos (considering it is 1/5th of the price). -
@Navigator - it seems to be a VERY common reaction (including that of my wife’s and mine). I believe they’re sinking the ship on purpose.
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After being bombarded by Suunto about these plans to dump Movescount and go to Suuntoapp, I’ve been reading as much as I can about how this is going to affect me. I have an Ambit3 Peak. The consistent message I’ve come across several times in various forms is, “Suunto doesn’t have a hardware problem, they have a software problem.” True to a point I guess. I didn’t have a problem with MC, none, zilch. Did everything I wanted it to do. Including movies which I could save and then text to friends that were along for the adventure.
I have not been able to get even half my data from my watch to SA, I have so much time into trying to get that to work, that if I was getting paid for it I could buy a brand new watch. Something cool, like a Breitling or TAG. A watch, something that tells time and lasts forever.Cheers, C
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@André-Faria said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
Quoting from DCrainmaker "Of course, the biggest issue here is how to handle the Ambit 1/2 units. One of the most overlooked aspects of the Garmin device world is the non-reliance for virtually all of their devices on a web-based service to access your recorded workouts. You can simply plug in your watch to your computer and offload it via USB like any other file or with local desktop software that exports to your computer (even a Garmin Forerunner 305 from 13 years ago!) . "
Thanks for quoting this comment. It sums it for me, too.
Four years ago I searched a sports watch, looked into the different brands and opted for a Suunto Ambit 2 Peak. Meanwhile we’ve three of them in my family. Working all day on the laptop there was no need for the BT connectivity. I use all my gear as long as possible, treat it well and I’m willing to pay for quality, and to buy new gear, if the old one is done. Now its battery lost a little of capacity - ok, that’s battery life. I expected to buy a new Suunto as soon as the A2 wasn’t able to cover my long tours, maybe in one or two years.
But now I’m in the situation I was four years ago: Looking into the different brands, checking pros and cons, discussing with Fenix users. I know, that I will be able to migrate my data into SA, and with buying a new Suunto in 1,5y everything would be fine. But then everything once more depends on Suunto - what, if they change teir roadmap again?
To be independet from such decisions becomes more and more important for me.
Suunto - please here the callings
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Does anyone know Suunto have said regarding the Ambit 1? I like Suunto and keen to stick with them but if my watch is going to be unworkable I may have to look elsewhere too. Do Suunto have a part-exchange program (i.e. can we exchange our old watches for a new model)?
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@Danny-Hill
there will be news about that next week i think.I like Suunto a lot and would not change head over heels.
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@TELE-HO Thanks. Where do these types of announcements get published? on this forum?
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@Danny-Hill
yes there are update threads but suunto also has a newsletter that i actually did not receive yet… -
@Brad_Olwin said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
@ESegerer said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
@Navigator said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
Cant believe what I just read in the email from Suunto are they MAD !!!
I’ve an Ambit and Ambit 3 Peak and consider them the best ‘adventure’ watches made and always recommended them to anyone that asks for my advice.
So now from next year in the eyes of Suunto the Ambit can be considered a piece of junk as wont be able to upload or download to it and with the Peak am expected to fiddle on some mobile device to hopefully upload routes and download tracks where now I can do it on my 17" laptop and charge at the same time.
So very very disappointing.
I certainly wont be buying anything branded Suunto in the future. Garmin here I comeThanks for this post. I had the same feelings and sent an email to support (which has not been answered yet).
Why am I disappointed?
I bought a new Ambit 3 Peak (with heart belt) in Feb 2018 after comparing it with Garmin products. I considered Suunto a good brand building lasting products. And yes I prefer having a large screen when looking at my tracks (running, mountaineering, skiing).
@Brad_Olwin stated that the Ambits are outdated in 1.5 years. Hopefully this is not the official opinion of Suunto. Otherwise I would be even more disappointed. I expect to use the Ambit at least 10 years.I did not say that, please don’t misquote me. The BLE connected watches will be supported and do work with SA. The features are just getting implemented.
THe Ambit 3 and traverse range BARELY work!!!
Ambit 3 Peak with HRM, Movescount on Samsung S6 Active,Android 7.1.2…Suunto app installed for test only…
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@Brad_Olwin said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
@Navigator The Ambit 3 is supported, albeit not for apps. Rather than complain loudly and bitterly here or buy a newer watch as seriously Ambits in another 1.5 years will be fairly out of date…go to another manufacturer but please quit wasting our time. Some of us here like our hardware and want to see the mobile app improve…bye…
If we don’t voice our concerns then Manufactures will simply drop/discontinue devices at a whim… When you have spent £300-500 on a device that runs circles round everything else out there you have a right in my opinion to complain LOUDLY… It is not wasting time at all… As to the ambit 3 support…it is only just supported…you can look at your data and create/upload a route…But thats all now compare it to movescount… Errrrrrrrrrrm you can do so much more… I for one with my ambit 3 peak want FULL functionality not 30%… And I am on the side of ALL ambit users…We all should get full functionality…
Ambit 3 Peak with HRM, Movescount on Samsung S6 Active,Android 7.1.2…Suunto app installed for test only…
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@lohtse said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
@Brad_Olwin said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
@ESegerer said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
@Navigator said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
Cant believe what I just read in the email from Suunto are they MAD !!!
I’ve an Ambit and Ambit 3 Peak and consider them the best ‘adventure’ watches made and always recommended them to anyone that asks for my advice.
So now from next year in the eyes of Suunto the Ambit can be considered a piece of junk as wont be able to upload or download to it and with the Peak am expected to fiddle on some mobile device to hopefully upload routes and download tracks where now I can do it on my 17" laptop and charge at the same time.
So very very disappointing.
I certainly wont be buying anything branded Suunto in the future. Garmin here I comeThanks for this post. I had the same feelings and sent an email to support (which has not been answered yet).
Why am I disappointed?
I bought a new Ambit 3 Peak (with heart belt) in Feb 2018 after comparing it with Garmin products. I considered Suunto a good brand building lasting products. And yes I prefer having a large screen when looking at my tracks (running, mountaineering, skiing).
@Brad_Olwin stated that the Ambits are outdated in 1.5 years. Hopefully this is not the official opinion of Suunto. Otherwise I would be even more disappointed. I expect to use the Ambit at least 10 years.I did not say that, please don’t misquote me. The BLE connected watches will be supported and do work with SA. The features are just getting implemented.
THe Ambit 3 and traverse range BARELY work!!!
Yes, as clearly stated by Dimitrios, these are in development. Remains to be seen how well they will work and what will be supported. I agree it would be best to maintain MC just for the Ambit/Traverse line for full functionality/
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@lohtse Garmin supports their watches without pushing them, I still have Fenix 2 which is 5 year old watch and still works with Garmin app and webpage. And 5 years ago Garmin app was awful web page looked different, but my point is that even big platform changes haven’t impacted watch support.
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@SlaSh said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
@lohtse Garmin supports their watches without pushing them, I still have Fenix 2 which is 5 year old watch and still works with Garmin app and webpage. And 5 years ago Garmin app was awful web page looked different, but my point is that even big platform changes haven’t impacted watch support.
I believe SUUNTO USED to be like that!!
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After 4 years of suunto I’m moving to garmin. Poor user experience, app and web prortal that do not speak to each other. Very unclear strategy. Poor user interface. And the new model looks more and more smartwatches rather than sport watches…this might be ok for a new client base but for endurance sport lovers it’s the end. Good luck…I wonder how long Kilian will stay with you…I am really sorry also because I’ll have a hell of a work to do to transfer data from suunto to garmin app
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@Luca-Passoni it is easy to migrate data with RunGap if you have iOS devices. Give it a try…
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@Luca-Passoni
The new model, suunto 7 “is not look more and more smartwatch”, IS a smartwatch, and it’s clearly not a watch for endurance. Suunto 9 is out there since more than 2 years, 2 years later Spartan Ultra. It’s just a personal thought, but I think a new suunto watch for us mountain lovers is not so distant.
Good luck and believe me, I’m honest, no irony, with Garmin.
Maybe we will you see again in the future … maybe -
Ok so i am one of the disgruntled masses who bought an Ambit 2 when it came out and have been left with limited functionality, cue cheap comments from the moderators on the post. I wont mention when my daughters Ambit 3 broke Suunto telling me they could not fix it but would send me a new watch for full price when the same watch was on sale on the website. Ok I had to mention it.
Using the new Suunto link to download my data and noticed it runs a file on my Mac called SDSapplication server, Now i would expect this to stop once closing the app but no it goes on using a lot of CPU time . Even after force quits it will not go away. Is this a ploy to make me upgrade my computer as well?
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@exilescot1 said in Goodbye Suunto, hello Garmin:
Using the new Suunto link to download my data and noticed it runs a file on my Mac called SDSapplication server, Now i would expect this to stop once closing the app but no it goes on using a lot of CPU time . Even after force quits it will not go away. Is this a ploy to make me upgrade my computer as well?
I am not familiar with that file or claim. What’s up with SUUNTO forcing you to buy a new pc ?
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