Garmin Oregon Beta 2.94 Available
New beta software was released for the Oregon this afternoon, making this release Garmin’s fourth beta software in about two months. Release 2.94 also includes new GPS firmware (2.80) and Garmin has published the following releases notes for beta testers:
- Added ability to see a list of points from the map when several points are at the same location
- Added ability to edit a waypoint from the waypoint review
- Improved render quality of GB Discoverer maps and maps with satellite imagery
- Improved Main Menu setup and added option to add and remove items.
- Improved readability of configurable data fields
- Fixed increased battery consumption and shutdowns in some units
Garmin is requesting that any issues with the release be reported to OregonBeta@garmin.com and included the following note:
Note: After updating, the first GPS acquisition will take longer than normal. After the Oregon has been on long enough to collect the necessary GPS data, acquisition times will return to normal.
I have downloaded the release and verified the installation works on my 400t without any issues. I spent a few minutes playing around with the new features although I have not tested the GPS receiver yet.
The first of the improvements is to Main Menu organization under Setup>Main Menu. Garmin has added a Trash button to allow users to remove buttons from the Main Menu — maybe there really isn’t a need for that Hunt and Fish button in your fitness profile after all! Selecting a menu item followed by pressing the trash button moves the button to the end of the list and grays it out to show that it has been removed from the Main Menu as shown with the Active Route button below. The other enhancement in this area is the ability to easily move buttons around the menu. To swap the position of two buttons you simply select both of them.
 Garmin Oregon 2.94 main menu trash button |
 Garmin Oregon main menu deleted item |
The second new feature in 2.94 is the ability to select from a list of features at any given point on the map page. As shown below, when you tap a location on the map page (think big red pin) and there are multiple objects at this point you get a new icon in the upper right corner which allows you to view a list and select the object you intended to inspect.
 Garmin Oregon map selection list |
 Garmin Oregon lists the objects at the selected map location |
The next enhancement (I really like this one) is the ability to edit a waypoint if you select it from the map page or a waypoint list. Prior to 2.94 this was a major pain on the Oregon because you had to navigate all the way back to the Waypoint Manager and return after completing your edits — way too much work. The last minor enhancement is that the data fields seem to use darker fonts and are set into an all white background which makes them a little easier to read.
 Garmin Oregon allows waypoint editing after selection |
 Garmin improves visibility of data fields |
This is a nice set of enhancements for a beta release but the real test will be whether the problems users reported with poor battery life and random shutoffs in beta 2.93 are addressed or not. Post here or over at 2.94 beta thread on the Oregon wiki to let us know your experiences with 2.94.
Related posts:
March 25th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Loaded it on a 200. Looks good! I didn’t even know there was an alarm clock… Abilities above are nice features, I like I could delete (hide) items in the main menu that I don’t or can’t use (3d View, Fishing, Calendar) with my current setup.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:35 am
I think, the coordinates input for a way point in route-planner is still missing in all versions up to date.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:38 am
[...] neue Firmware-Beta für den Garmin Oregon: Die Version 2.94 hat auch eine neue GPS-Firmware (2.80). Scott vom Blog GPSFix hat es installiert. ich habe die wesentlichen Änderungen mal [...]
March 26th, 2009 at 11:56 am
[...] Schon wieder eine neue Firmware-Beta für den Garmin Oregon: Die Version 2.94 hat auch eine neue GPS-Firmware (2.80). Scott vom Blog GPSFix hat es installiert [...]
March 26th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
[...] Links zum Thema: – Garmin Seite mit Versionshistory – Direkter Download – Blog-Eintrag bei ksmichel – danke für den Hinweis! – Erläuterungen auf GPSFIX.NET [...]
March 27th, 2009 at 11:15 am
The coordinates input has no preview for target, while the others have.
March 29th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I found a big problem about this software version. I crashes about 10 times my oregon and i know how to repeat the problem. When a waypoint is selected and we are on our way to this point, when im trying to see something else in the map and i click on the X after see this thing, the unit is closing. Sorry for my very bad english but i dont know how to say it right in english. If someone understand this, please try it and give me feesback about this problem.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:43 am
With 2.94 my Oregon crashed, too. In many cases, I scrolled the map. With the previous version, I didn’t monitored this attitude.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Thanks! The issues with the shutoffs on the map page have been seen by others and reported on the 2.94 wiki thread above.
-Scott
March 30th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Another small bug. In the french language, when you turn on a street, it saying ‘tourner a droite dans maple street’. It should say ‘sur’ instead of ‘dans’. This bug in present in every garmin. It could be good to change this french word.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Am i the only one who dont have bank in the where to menu?
March 30th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Jowel80,
It is pretty easy to fix this yourself by modifying the .gtt language files yourself. You might want to check out this page:
http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/OpenGTT
And see if you can provide some help on the French translation.
Interesting point about the WhereTo?>Banks button. I don’t have one either but they seem to be under “Community” (at least based on a quick check)
-Scott
March 31st, 2009 at 10:59 am
So Scott, do you recommend this update from 2.93?
March 31st, 2009 at 11:29 am
Kaylin,
If you are already at 2.93, I would recommend upgrading to 2.94. The main issue seems to be the shutoff that happens on the map page when you are moving. It can be avoided if you are aware of it. I have had very little time to characterize the GPS receiver in 2.94 but from what I’ve read it is similar to 2.93, maybe slightly better. If you are on 2.85, it might be worth waiting until Garmin fixes the shutdown issue.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:32 pm
So as long as I keep it on, say, the satellite or compass page when I’m walking around, it won’t shutoff on me? And what about the noise introduced in 2.93? Has it improved at all with this release? I ask because I’m working on a trail mapping project for my area.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:12 pm
That’s right. If you are in Automotive mode on the map page, are moving, select a point on the map and hit return you’ll see the shutdown. Pretty easy to avoid it!
My feeling is that the noise in 2.94 is similar to 2.93 although I haven’t had the time to get out and test much. Hopefully tomorrow.
What have other people seen in track comparisons with 2.94?
April 1st, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Garmin Oregon Beta 2.95 is available:
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4394
April 1st, 2009 at 5:28 pm
[...] another round of useful improvements as well as a bug fix for that pesky map page shutdown in beta 2.94. This release does seem to be based on the same GPS firmware (2.80) as available in beta 2.94. [...]