Garmin’s new smartwatches Fenix 7 series and Epix Gen 2 are regularly getting all the essential updates since launching. In the past, it has also received a stable version along with some other Alpha and Beta firmware. In every new piece of code, the company tries to stabilize the system and improves watch quality. Now, again Garmin has released new 9.31 beta updates for the new Fenix 7 series & Epix 2 smartwatches.
The previous version was 9.28, and now with the 9.31 version, it solves many problems on the watches. As we look at the changelog, then the list is now minimizing, which indicates we are near to seeing the stable version any time soon. When the new Alpha version started, there were over 100 changes to the watches. Now, in the latest 9.31 beta, it has fixed only 11 issues. This month, Fenix 7 series and Epix Gen 2 could get the stable version.
To know what changes came in the new beta firmware, refer to the list below.
– Fixed issue where stocks app settings were not persisting after a power down of the device.
– Fixed issue where weather subpages were no longer accessible.
– The fixed potential issue with the Primary Race feature where a race could not count for the event.
– Fixed potential missing settings in GCM for non-solar devices.
– Fixed potential shutdown in Primary Race widget glance if in the widget when a race is created or deleted.
– Fixed potential shutdown in Primary Race widget glance.
– Fixed potential shutdown with Primary Race widget glance if no races are set.
– Fixed potential shutdown with the cycling power guide mini-map.
– Fixed potential UI issue in Daily Suggested Workouts Plan Overview.
– Fixed transit card activation issue.
– Fixed UI issue when altitude or barometer data was used in widget glance folders.
Along with Fenix 7 series and Quatix 7 smartwatches, Garmin has updated Epix Gen 2 with 9.24 beta software. The changelog for Epix 2 shares similarities with Fenix 7 series, which launched on the same date. In the beta 9.24 version, the company has improved all the features that it has implemented in the previous few alpha versions. The recent Alpha 9.22 version was big among all of them that carries most of the weight. The new HRV status function is one of those newly added functions.
The HRV status has added training status and training readiness functions. The stock widget will now allow you to reorder stocks as per your requirements. The Cycling power guide has also received many options in its settings.
The race day feature and SatIQ support have also come to the new smartwatch along with eBike support. For the watch faces, it has fixed Connect IQ dials which were failing to load in power-saving modes when required. The fix will impact battery life, where users will see a positive impact.
Further, it has fixed a battery power saver enabled unexpectedly, and the Solar setting is showing in the non-solar watches like Epix 2. It has solved issues with VO2 Max, training status, widgets, and different activities & their settings.
In the improvements too, Garmin has enhanced VO2 Max value, stock app data, UI for primary race widget, race time prediction, and many more. The latest 9.24 beta update is now rolling out in all the countries. You should visit the Garmin Connect Mobile app to install it on the Epix Gen 2 smartwatch.
All the previous Alpha updates released after the 8.37 stable version have now entered the beta version. Garmin has now released a 9.24 beta update for Fenix 7 series smartwatches with all the new features. It is beta version means, users can automatically install it using a smartwatch, and the features are more stable than the Alpha versions. The new HRV status, eBike activity, acute load time, and many more features are now released on Fenix 7 series.
In the list of massive features, all eyes are on the HRV status feature, which will tell you more information about your body’s capability in health and other activities. The function has been added to most flagship Garmin watches in the previous alpha updates.
The HRV status has also come to Training readiness and training status. In newly added features, you will see SatIQ support, race day feature, stock widget glance, Cycling power guide support, and sleep score history page.
Compared to the previous alpha, HRV status has improved by Garmin. As changelog mentions, it fixes incorrect unbalanced sections and inconsistency in the HRV status glance view. The power mode issues with Connect IQ watch faces have also been fixed in the 9.24 beta version.
Along with it, there are many new features, fixes, and improvements in the latest update. In the new version, users will get all the features from the 8.37 stable firmware. As we can count, there are 17 new changes in the latest changelog. Download the new version using the GCM app.
The previous Alpha 9.15 firmware was released to tackle most of the issues on the smartwatch and to improve existing features. Now, Garmin has released major Alpha 9.22 firmware update for Fenix 7 series smartwatches. The new alpha version brings plenty of new features that will later reflect in a stable version. The list of the changelog is huge and you can understand with the jump from the 9.15 to 9.22 version.
As per the changelog, Garmin has added a total of 27 new features & changes to the watches. It mentions adding a trophy to be displayed when you win a race, and now you can reorder stocks from the widget. In the cycling power guides, users can now see the effort page, adjust gear weight, and adjust terrain options.
There is now a course map preview and course elevation page on the primary race widget. Further, it has added the main page to the HRV status widget and added HRV status to training readiness and training status.
The whole list for alpha 9.22 changelog has given below.
– Added a trophy to be displayed after completing a race.
– Added ability to adjust gear weight for cycling power guides.
– Added the ability to reorder stocks in the stock widget.
– Added adjust terrain option to cycling power guides.
– Added confirmation page after completing a race.
– Added course directional arrows to course lines on the map.
– Added course elevation page to Primary Race widget.
– Added course map preview to Race Widget.
– Added Cycling Power Guide support.
– Added Effort page to cycling power guides.
– Added follow a course and PacePro selection to the Primary Race widget.
– Added Heat Acclimation history page to Training Status.
– Added HRV Status to Training Readiness and Training Status.
– Added Load Focus access to Primary Running events.
– Added the main page to HRV Status Widget.
– Added Move/Copy prompt for adding individual glances to a Glance folder.
– Added option to adjust rider position to Cycling Power Guides.
– Added option to copy Glances back to the list if a folder is deleted.
– Added options menu to Primary Race widget.
– Added Plan Overview page to Daily Suggested Workouts.
– Added Sleep Score history page to Sleep widget.
– Added support for custom race icons in the Primary Race and Race Calendar widgets.
– Added support for the ‘Software Update Check via Wifi’ to now be accessible via Garmin Connect Mobile.
– Added ‘swipe to delete’ support to the Stocks widget.
– Added text marquee to Primary Race widget.
– Added the ability to adjust power guide effort.
– Added the ability to view specific splits within a power guide.
– Fixed HRV Status highlighting incorrect unbalanced section in the widget glance.
– Fixed HRV Status when in a glance folder.
– Fixed inconsistent VO2 Max value between the widget glance and Training Status.
– Fixed incorrect Load item in Training Readiness.
– Fixed issue causing Connect IQ watch faces to be stuck in their high power mode after palm touching to get back to the watch face.
At the end of last month, Garmin launched the alpha version 9.14 to the Fenix 7 series & Epix 2 smartwatches. Now, in the new month, Garmin is releasing an alpha 9.15 firmware update for both these watches. The changelog mentions, four newly added features. The software has added a race calendar and HRV Status widget glance. Further, users can now download the software updates manually using Wi-Fi from the Software update menu.
The ability to notify users of their next race has been added to workouts. The two improvements have also come to Training status and the What’s New page view. Along with this, the software has fixed the majority of features on the Fenix 7 series & Epix Gen 2. It has been fixed Glance folder, UI issue with workout list subtitles, potential shutdown in stocks widget glance, and many more.
You can read the changelog in the new Alpha 9.15 version for Fenix 7 series & Epix 2.
– Improvements made to Training Status – Improvements made to the What’s New page UI – Added Race Calendar widget glance – Added HRV Status widget glance – Added the ability to manually update software via Wi-Fi to the software update menu – Added a notification for the user when their suggested workouts have been updated to prepare for a race – Fixed UI issues with glance folders – Fixed a UI issue with workout list subtitles – Fixed potential shutdown in stocks widget glance – Fixes and improvements made to Training Readiness – Fixed some UI issues with the Stocks widget glance – Fixed potential intermittent shutdown on solar models – Fixed potential incorrect icon usage in some data fields – Fixed issue with European stocks in the stocks widget glance – Fixed issue with the stock closing price in the stocks widget glance – Fixes and improvements made to the Primary Race widget glance – Fixed UI issue with training readiness bar colors in the glance – Fixed UI issue with custom workout list when training is paused – Fixed potential shutdown with body battery graph on the watch face – Fixed stocks app not persisting tickers after a power cycle of the device – Fixed an issue where GCM could show 0 instead of 12 am in sleep window settings – Fixed an issue where using a Hot Key to open Timer from the Spotify library would return to an empty screen
All across the world, users applauses Garmin for its high-end products and advanced functions. With the premium products like Fenix & Forerunner series, the company has earned a huge fanbase. Still, some features are missing on Garmin smartwatches and other fitness trackers. Garmin still has to announce its products with ECG & blood pressure functions. Most of us think Fenix 7 series will fill the gap, but that didn’t happen.
Now as per the new patent filed by Garmin, it is one step closer to introducing ECG & blood pressure features. The patent was first spotted by the Gadgets & Wearable website in the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), which shows Garmin is near to launching these functions.
The patent describes a Garmin smartwatch that can track ECG measurements. The paperwork describes two electrical contact points. The one is located on a bezel or physical button, and the second one is on the back side that contacts with wearer’s skin.
Image Source: USPTO
The patent has also mentioned BP measurement on the smartwatch. There are not many details about the second one, but the source claims it is an on-demand service and may have two contact points. More clarification will come from the company in the coming weeks or months.
In a market, all the premium smartwatches have ECG & BP features in most of the major countries. Samsung first launched it on Galaxy Watch Active 2, Apple on Watch Series 4, Fitbit with Fitbit Sense, and now even Amazfit has these features. Garmin may launch it with upcoming smartwatches like Fenix 8 series or the wearables.
As per the sources, Garmin could launch the next Fenix 7 Series smartwatches this month. Though the company will announce new smartwatches, it hasn’t shifted its focus from older models. Garmin is releasing a public version of the 20.30 software version to its Fenix 6 series and Marq series. It is big firmware with several changes, improvements, and fixes to the existing features. Further, it has fixed known issues that have been notified by users in the beta versions.
In the Bike activity, you will notice additional support for eBike, eMTB, Cyclocross, Gravel Bike, Bike Commute, Bike Tour, and Road Bike. Also, the new activities have been added to the HIIT, Snowshoe, Tenis, Pedal, and Pickleball activity profiles and workouts. In the Pulse Ox measurement, it will popup-up an alert if hand movement is too high or enable to get accurate results. Further, the Fenix 6 series has received supports in other features.
Here is the full changelog for Fenix 6 Series watches.
Added ability to turn off recording activity during a golf round.
Added an alert to notify a user when a battery is critically low during a music sync.
Added HRV Support from chest strap for Yoga and breathwork.
Added pop-up to Pulse Ox Measuring feature if the device detects too much movement and cannot get an accurate measurement.
Added support for new biking activity profiles: eBike, eMTB, Cyclocross, Gravel Bike, Bike Commute, Bike Tour, and Road Bike.
Added support for the HIIT activity profile and workouts.
Added support for the Pickleball profile.
Added support for the Padel profile.
Added support for the snowshoe activity profile.
Added support for the tennis activity profile.
Added new tips to indicate which activities support Incident detection.
Improved Explore Sync app waypoint load times.
Improved Lactate Threshold and Altitude Acclimation algorithms.
Improved measurement loading UI when taking a SpO2 measurement.
Update the altimeter’s auto-calibration to be either be “On” or “Nightly”. Setting to “On” will set the device to periodically calibrate altitude throughout the day. Setting to “Nightly” will set the device to calibrate altitude at night and before the start of an activity.
Fixed issue with alarms intermittently not going off when the device is set in Max. Battery Mode.
Fixed display issues on the device after navigating to a point initiated by the Garmin Explore App.
Fixed issue where selecting a single point on a map that contained multiple items would not display the items properly.
Fixed issue that would corrupt open water swim activity files.
Fixed issue where PacePro bands would not be recognized by the device.
Fixed issue with activities reporting incorrect Activity Calories and Training Effect data.
