Hardware: one of the big things that lets an Android smartphone down is mounting it to the bike, and you can understand why. Why? Because the market is small and the cost of tooling up for the huge and rapidly changing range of phones is massive. Look at the range of designs, all different sizes, thicknesses, with buttons and sockets in all different places. This is why decent, ruggedized cases and mounts are rare, and we're left to bodge together something from a soft bag, or roughly sized box, with a flexible, badly reflective over-screen, probably designed for city-centre cyclists rather than desert-riding bikers.

So even if Casio, or Samsung or whoever come up with a suitably rugged phone (which by the way you'll probably pay several hundred pounds/dollars for as the market is so small cellphone companies won't subsidise the cost) you still have to attach it to your bike. And you have to know it will stay there, with power running into it, rain or shine, day in day out.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an Android smartphone fan, I love their versatility, the wealth of constantly evolving software, the fact that I can have one device to do all things, reasonably well, and that I don't have to pay several hundred pounds for a dedicated device the benefits of which I may only rarely see.

But, as a serious tool for the serious adventurer, it think they have a way to go, and I think until someone designs a decent, waterproof, secure, easy to use mounting system, they will always be second best.

Maybe Garmin should make smartphones?

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I ,, totally agree with you ,, for us adventurers ,,, also when I go sailing , what a hassel to put the phone in and out of the waterproof bag,,,

You know what,, I will call friends at Sam Sung ,, next week ,, and throw the idea around ,,

Garmin make smart phones?
I wish them bon chance ,,

If the bag were well designed, and the attachment secure it wouldn't be a problem. Sadly it's not.

While you're there can you get then to throw me a Galaxy Note, to replace my battered Galaxy S, for evaluation purposes of course

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Wait till S3 comes out Alex ,,,,
It makes more sense ,, same and more function than the Note, but smaller. It will fit in your shirt pocket. The case can be replaced very easily,, if it's the exterior.

Apple going Galaxy ,,
Rumor: New iPhone to Have Larger 4.6-Inch Retina Display | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

Americana ,,,
A Thousand Dildos For The Military Wives | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

SeoulJoe, if your friends at Samsung can design a phone with a 4 inch display, thats vibration, dust and rain proof and can put decent GPS software in it, then I am sure people will begin to consider it.

Somehow you also want a software interface that can read Garmin map files ... because thats the format all the maps are in. You might be able to get away with google maps, but you will want to be able to download all the maps at all the resolutions for the areas you want to travel across and save them onto your SD card ... because data charges outside of home country. when using google maps, is very high.

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Walter , It is here ,, came out several months ago. 5 inch! With 32GB SD
Water proof ,, dust proof ,, impact resistant ,, 20mp camera.
Samsung Galaxy S5 review - CNET

Why bother with Google map ?
Tons of NON-DATA required OSM maps with GPS tracking and route planning !

And with this ,,
RAM Mount Water Resistant Universal Aqua Box Cradle for Mobile Device - Free Shipping!

You can go up to the Magadan ,, submerged in one of those terrible creeks ,, while listening to your music on the waterproof speakers ,, NO PROBLEMO !

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Submerging anything electronic in a water resistant box is... unwise at the best of time
Besides, the S5 will not fit joe-

Samsung S5 5.59" X 2.85" X 0.32"
Aquabox 3- 5.25" X 3.5" X 1.5"
A waterproof box of the correct size might be a better idea- no? or just use Garmin's Android powered Monterra- a bespoke navigating unit, all the apps you can wish for and waterproof too