I agree, and I am a great fan of iPhone and Android smartphone apps. I use my smartphones (Android and iPhone) for navigation, weather, entertainment (music), finding and booking rooms, etc. I use some dedicated, paid apps like Navigon for navigation and love it. I have tried some bicycle computer type apps and didn't really like any of them very much, they all work to some extent, but a dedicated cycle computer is still a good thing to have for my type of riding. I also like the 810's ability to sync with my smartphone and send live tracking and other social media information as I ride, it just makes it more fun for those back home watching me. I like this stuff. I like to ride, and I like lots of gadgets, so the large outlay of $$ is acceptable to me, Your mileage may vary.

I also like the convergence that is happening with ANT/bluetooth peripherals like heart rate monitoring, cadence and power meters on my smartphone.

I will point out that anyone planning to use their smartphone as heavily as I do for these types of applications have a source of power onboard, as all these do drain the battery. I have a dynamo hub that charges a battery pack and/or my phone direct. It works.

Again, I am not saying the Edge 800 series are worth the money, or better or worse than a smartphone with lots of apps.....What I am saying is that I found a place to buy one for $400 instead of $500, that's all. I am not interested in a religious war thread on the two alternatives. They both have their place and I will have both in my cockpit this year.