What it’s essential to know
- Garmin launched its latest beta software program for the Garmin Forerunner 165, 255, 265, 955, and 965 on Wednesday.
- Beta customers could have entry to a Jet Lag Adviser look, Garmin Messenger look, and misplaced telephone finder software.
- Forerunner watches will now auto-switch HR information between your chest and wrist for the “finest” accuracy.
- The replace additionally consists of some bug fixes and a brand new haptic suggestions possibility.
Sizzling on the heels of a considerably controversial Garmin Forerunner replace in March, Garmin launched a brand new beta replace, model 19.09, on Wednesday to its 5 newest Forerunner watches. And one bug repair cannot arrive in a secure replace quickly sufficient.
The primary beta replace because the Garmin Forerunner 165 launch, v19.09 helps you discover a misplaced smartphone throughout an exercise by saving the GPS location the place your telephone and Garmin watch disconnected. At that time, you should utilize the Discover My Cellphone function to trace it down by way of Bluetooth.
You additionally get a brand new Garmin Messenger app in your watch. Up till now, you possibly can solely examine Messenger in your telephone, high-end Fenix fashions, or InReach-compatible handhelds just like the GPSMAP 67i; with this replace, you can examine responses in your wrist and ship fast preset replies on Android (iOS blocks this perform).
Whereas the Forerunner 165 does not help Jet Lag Adviser, the opposite 4 Forerunners, just like the Forerunner 265, will now get a Jet Lag look to examine your progress acclimating after a protracted flight. It ought to come in useful should you’re a frequent world traveler for marathons.
The replace consists of “varied UI enhancements and fixes,” and one specifically that stands out “fixes persistent notification vibration for incoming calls.” This obnoxious bug will trigger your Garmin watch to proceed buzzing your wrist after you’ve got declined a name in your telephone for about 10 seconds. We’re past prepared for this to be fastened in a secure replace.
One repair unique to the Forerunner 965 and Forerunner 955 is a patch for the Lock on Highway function, which primarily makes your post-run map look extra correct than it truly is by dragging your GPS line onto the closest highway. All the Forerunners acquired a repair to forestall music management crashes.
One noticeably absent repair, nevertheless, is something associated to the center fee monitoring points launched within the March 18.22 replace. Many customers complained that this patch launched points with the wrist-based HR sensor information. With replace 19.09, Garmin added “coronary heart fee dynamic supply switching to pick out the perfect coronary heart fee information supply (watch or chest HRM) to enhance accuracy throughout working actions.”
We by no means heard again from Garmin about these consumer complaints, however this replace looks like a message in itself: When you’re coping with coronary heart fee accuracy points, attempt a coronary heart fee monitor strap with wrist-based information as a backup. Hopefully, a future replace will correctly tackle these points.
Past what’s listed within the Garmin Forum patch notes, the Garmin Forerunner v19.09 replace added haptic suggestions as you scroll by menu choices, one thing that is typically discovered on mainstream smartwatches. If you wish to take a look at these options for your self, you will must sign up for the beta software.
Get working
The Garmin Forerunner 165 provides extremely correct GPS monitoring with an altimeter, Coaching Impact and Restoration Time information, day by day recommended exercises and Garmin Coach, and a vibrant AMOLED show as an alternative of a boring MIP show. It lasts 11 days per cost, feels comfortably mild, and prices a lot lower than its fellow Forerunners.