Zumo User Forums

So this might be a dumb question, but is it possible to add a music player to the 390? I just purchased a NOS kit for my bike that includes a 390. I didn't realize until I had it all installed that the 390 doesn't have a music player like the 395 does. Is there any way to add that without getting a newer/better GPS unit? I use my headset for changing tracks, pausing, volume, etc. but it would be nice to have a screen showing song info. I know that I can buy a 395 or a 396 or a $100 Carplay unit that is better than a 10 year old GPS, but it's kinda neat having a "factory" accessory with Ducati branding and boot screen. Plus a satellite navigation if I'd get caught in an area with bad cell service

I haven't got a clue.

I had a 590 for a long while and experimented with using the 595 software. That worked with some restrictions (eg screen would not rotate) and the 595 had a Spotify App - which stopped working when spotify changed something and I guess Garmin didn't feel inclined to sort out the app.

A short while later, I bought a second hand 595. I wondered - can you make a 595 into a 590. No you can't. It loaded the software and something was there, but it wasn't a satnav that I could use. So I put it back to being a 595.

So the answer is - I don't know. I don't know how similar the hardware is. I don't know if it needs a hardware MP3 decoder or if it is doen by software. don't know if anyone has tried it. I know that you can give it a go but you need to research and get the appropriate files and techniques in hand. And from somewhere you need the system software for a 395 - just to see whether or not it works. There's a bit of juggling 3 things with two hands at one point, and you have to do it within a couple of seconds. It's easy when you have practiced it.

I do know that having messed around with the 595 and the routing, I put it back to being a 590. Garmin had started to introduce features and issues which were not improvements as far as I was concerned -some of which have been developed into bigger issues for the XT and XT2. I preferred the reliability and predictability of the 590. Except for the terrible battery issue.

And you also (I guess) have to be prepared for trashing your Zumo.

There is a difference between doing this with the 590/595 and with the 390/395. The 595 was an updated version of the 590.
The 390 is a cheaper version of the 395 with fewer features (or so I understand). There are probably hardware differences that would make it impossible. Like tryng to get a high quality colour image printed on a dot matrix printer with a ribbon cartridge.