Garmin releases major update to high-end smartwatches with dozens of new features and improvements
Garmin has returned to its Beta Program for the Fenix 8 series, less than a week after the company introduced System Software 17.30 for the Enduro 3, Fenix E, Fenix 8, Quatix 8 and Tactix 8 (curr. $1,299 on Amazon). For reference, Garmin is keeping the Fenix 8 Pro on a different development branch for the time being, with System Software 18.51 landing for the device last week.
Now, the standard Fenix 8 and its counterparts have jumped from v17.xx to v20.xx software with the release of Beta Version 20.07. Please note that Beta Version 20.17 is the first build in a new round of beta development. As such, it could contain new bugs despite Garmin claiming to have fixed almost 30 from System Software 17.30. Moreover, Beta Version 20.17 has arrived with Dive and ECG features disabled.
Aside from bug fixes, Garmin claims to have added four new features, including a cycling Vo2 Max watch face complication. Moreover, the Fenix E, Fenix 8 and others have gained GPI files support. On top of that, Garmin has made other ancillary changes too, like the ability to change the sport within a multisport activity by long pressing on the lap key. The full list of changes between System Software 17.30 and Beta Version 20.17 are as follows:
- Added Automatic Touch Lock Unlock if Touch Is On for Strength Reps Screen.
- Added Cycling Vo2 Max Watch Face Complication.
- Added Support for GPI Files.
- Added Touch Access to Keyboard Layout Menu via Drag.
- Fixed Accessing Activity Status Menu With Buttons During Activity.
- Fixed Altitude Appearing As Jumpy at High Altitudes.
- Fixed Being Unable To See Headset Details Once Connected.
- Fixed Black Screen After Tapping Back Button From the Music Screen During an Activity.
- Fixed Choosing Walk in Multisport Workout Custom Option Causing Other Activity Types to Dissappear.
- Fixed Controls Menu Not Updatring When Phone Connection Is Lost.
- Fixed Course Points and Climb Pro Not Showing After Resuming an Activity When Navigating.
- Fixed Crash When Switching CIQ Music Provider.
- Fixed Down Key Not Dismissing Training Alerts During Activities.
- Fixed Folder Glance Preview Units Not Updating When Folder Contents Change.
- Fixed Incorrect Text on the Moon Widget Glance.
- Fixed Lag Caused by the Health Snapshot Glance.
- Fixed Lag When Starting an Activity.
- Fixed Lag When Swiping the Morning Report Greeting Page.
- Fixed Meditation Activity Button Behavior.
- Fixed MIP Back Light Not Turning Off After Using Weixin Pay.
- Fixed MIP Background Color Not Updating When Updated on the Navigation Course Details and Elevation Plot Pages.
- Fixed Morning Report Showing Old All Day Events.
- Fixed POI Search Showing As City Search in the Add Location Menu.
- Fixed Run Coach Plan With Strength Workouts Not Marking Completed Strength Workouts As Completed in the Plan Details.
- Fixed Running Performance Glance Showing the Wrong VO2 Max.
- Fixed Screen Turning Off When Doing a Down Gesture When Recording ECG.
- Fixed Smart Notifications Not Working When Connected to Android Devices.
- Fixed the Battery Icon Being Cut Off on the Enduro 2 Watch Face.
- Fixed Voice Not Stopping When Adjusting Volume.
- Fixed Watch Face Battery Field To Update Faster When the Flashlight Is Turned On.
- Fixed Workout Steps Possibly Showing the Wrong Equipment.
- Improved Watch Face Selection Menu Scrolling.
- Removed the Ability To Wrap From 0 to 999 in the Strength Reps Menu.
- Removed the Ability To Wrap From the Top of the Activity Pause Menu to the Bottom.
- Updated Activity Stage Menu Highlight Color To Match the Activity Type.
- Updated Flashlight Indicator To Turn Off As Soon as the Light Turns Off.
- Updated Multisport Activities To Allow Long Hold on the Lap Key To Change the Sport.
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