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Garmin brings numerous changes and improvements to Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S smartwatches in Beta version 9.13 update

Beta version 9.13 introduces 40 changes from v8.64. (Image source: Eminetra)
Beta version 9.13 introduces 40 changes from v8.64. (Image source: Eminetra)
Garmin has released a new beta update for the Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S, bringing the pair up to Beta version 9.13. Arriving as the first beta update since v8.64, Beta version 9.13 includes 40 changes, including 13 new features and plenty of bug fixes. Beta version 9.13 should be available to download now on all Instinct 2 series smartwatches enrolled in Garmin's Beta Program.

Garmin has released a new beta program update for the Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S. For context, only a few days have passed since the company started rolling out Alpha version 9.12, an update that enabled Heart Rate Variability (HRV) status functionality on the Instinct 2 series. Understandably, Beta version 9.13 contains all Alpha version changes since the last Beta version update, which Garmin issued two months ago.

In that time, the company announced Alpha versions 9.08 through 9.12 with changelogs of varying lengths. Hence, it should come as no surprise to learn that Beta version 9.13 bundles forty changes from Beta version 8.63, including the addition of HRV status and Training Status 2.0, among other new features. Additionally, Garmin has introduced the option of tracking Pickleball, plus a reference point app and support for more golf club types.

Moreover, Beta version 9.13 introduces 23 bug fixes for the Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S. Outlined below, the bug fixes cover many areas for both the Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S that should improve the overall experience of using either smartwatch. Like Beta version 22.80 for Fenix 6, Enduro, Tactix and MARQ series smartwatches, Beta version 9.13 is available as an over-the-air (OTA) update. According to Garmin, the update will be delivered through GCM, which checks for new updates every 24 hours. Garmin warns that it could take several hours for Beta version 9.13 to be ready to install on the Instinct 2 or Instinct 2S once downloading commences, though. The full Beta version 9.13 changelog is as follows:

  • Added the Pickleball activity.
  • Added the Paddle activity.
  • Added Training Status 2.0.
  • Added Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Status.
  • Added support for more golf club types.
  • Added activity categories when going through first-time setup & adding an activity.
  • Added enhanced strength activities and workouts (Strength 2.0).
  • Added the action menu to Fish and Hunt activities.
  • Added the new post-activity maximum heart rate notification.
  • Added personal record support to swimming and strength activities.
  • Added native run power.
  • Added the reference point app.
  • Added a few missing data fields to elliptical and stairstep activities.
  • Improved Firstbeat HRM confidence.
  • Improved the HR and Power Zones menu layout.
  • Improved Incident detection by reducing false positives.
  • Fixed a potential bug that caused the VO2 max categorization to be incorrect for multisport on the post-activity page.
  • Fixed a bug in certain languages where the "Timer Done" text could overlap the timer time on the user timer alarm page.
  • Fixed a potential bug where elevation would not change during a jumpmaster activity.
  • Fixed a bug causing some swim workouts to not proceed correctly.
  • Fixed various UI bugs with the heart rate glance.
  • Fixed a potential bug causing battery saver to turn on unexpectedly.
  • Fixed a potential bug causing the watch to get stuck on the pairing page during the initial GCM pairing.
  • Fixed an issue when customizing watch face where the minutes could be hidden.
  • Fixed an issue where a null FTP value could be shown as a PR alert.
  • Fixed text spacing on the weather daily view page.
  • Fixed issue in Heart Rate glance where the value would not display correctly.
  • Fixed issues with swim distance units.
  • Fixed par text drawing over autoshot banner.
  • Fixed delay when discarding an activity.
  • Fixes a potential bug where the breathwork activity stats page could show and invalid value for stress change.
  • Fixed an issue causing solar settings to display in Connect for non-solar watches.
  • Fixed an issue preventing the device from acquiring GPS while in the Xero widget.
  • Fixes an issue causing pulse ox to stay disabled after night vision mode is turned off.
  • Fixes an issue causing the lap summary page for yoga and pilates to show and invalid time.
  • Fixed an issue where the device could crash when adding a glance from GCM.
  • Fixed a potential issue where the device could crash while sitting on the watch face.
  • Fixed an issue where the daily floors climbed goal alert would not display.
  • Removed inapplicable breathwork activity options.
  • Various Health Snapshot improvements.

Source(s)

Garmin via Tizen Help, Eminetra - Image credit

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 08 > Garmin brings numerous changes and improvements to Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S smartwatches in Beta version 9.13 update
Alex Alderson, 2022-08- 1 (Update: 2022-08- 1)