Garmin Speak Plus

raqball

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Dash Cam
BlackVue 750X Plus
This is an interesting unit. Garmin has added a 1080p @ 30 fps dash cam to their Speak and now call it the speak plus.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/591046#specs

Uses the same low profile mount as the Dash Cam 45 / 55 / 65 and the same micro USB connection for power.

Pre-order for $199 but Garmin lists the retail pricing at $229.

No information on if it offers parking mode though..
 
No Wi-Fi. All communication and updates delivered over your phone's data connection - may not be for everyone, especially for those with metered data plans.
 
It's an interesting unit, that's for sure.. No WiFi is a bummer and I don't see anything that states a parking mode. I would not buy one as I don't use Alexa and my car already has GPS but I can see it being an option for some.
 
My concern for this device is that the direction of the front (facing the driver) isn't necessarily the same direction as the back (facing the road in front of you). I suppose you could compromise and just have the screen of the unit facing the centerline back of the car.

Also, when two different products like this end up getting married, many times you get "a jack of all trades - master of none". Escort did this with their radar detector 7 or so years back by marrying it with a GPS and it was bulky and crappy on both fronts.

They may get it right. I'm just saying from past experience that it'd give me pause.
 
My concern for this device is that the direction of the front (facing the driver) isn't necessarily the same direction as the back (facing the road in front of you). I suppose you could compromise and just have the screen of the unit facing the centerline back of the car.

Also, when two different products like this end up getting married, many times you get "a jack of all trades - master of none". Escort did this with their radar detector 7 or so years back by marrying it with a GPS and it was bulky and crappy on both fronts.

They may get it right. I'm just saying from past experience that it'd give me pause.
I am a bit confused by the comment about the device direction. From the photos on Garmin's website the camera looks to be centered dead center of the unit which also lines up dead center of the display screen.

I think this unit is intended for someone who just wants a decent dash cam to record accidents or incidents but also wants GPS directions and Alexa. GPS and Alexa do not interest me in the unit and the dash camera is missing a few things I'd want like parking mode and Wifi. A data connection is needed and that's going to use a lot of data I'd assume. Really only intended for people with unlimited data plans I assume.
 
My concern for this device is that the direction of the front (facing the driver) isn't necessarily the same direction as the back (facing the road in front of you). I suppose you could compromise and just have the screen of the unit facing the centerline back of the car.

Also, when two different products like this end up getting married, many times you get "a jack of all trades - master of none". Escort did this with their radar detector 7 or so years back by marrying it with a GPS and it was bulky and crappy on both fronts.

They may get it right. I'm just saying from past experience that it'd give me pause.

I don't think you have to point the screen at your face since it's primarily a voice activated device
 
Sure, you don't have to point it at your face. It's the more natural position.

It's sort of like radar detectors. There are some that have the display mounted flat against the front, which provides for an odd viewing angle and there are some that take that viewing angle into account and actually angle the display toward the driver. So, in the latter example, the radar detector is as square as you can make it with the car and the display is angled just slightly towards the driver and it provides a better experience.

To me, the Garmin Speak Plus would be better with an angled display or an camera that could be adjusted which, from what I saw, it can't.

It's not a show stopper, just a minor annoyance.
 
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