Garmin has just announced the rollout of its latest stable software iteration, version 9.20, designed to enhance the functionality and user experience of its popular Instinct 3 Solar and Instinct 3 AMOLED smartwatches. This update introduces a suite of new features, particularly beneficial for outdoor enthusiasts and tactical users, alongside a collection of important fixes and performance improvements.
Exciting New Features Across the Instinct 3 Range
Both the Instinct 3 Solar and AMOLED models benefit from several key additions in this update. Notably, a dedicated Rucking activity has been incorporated, catering to those who engage in weighted pack hiking. Complementing this is the new Pack Weight activity setting, allowing users to track and analyze their performance with added precision. Furthermore, Garmin has integrated support for Garmin Connect+, expanding connectivity options and social engagement for users.
Sleep tracking capabilities are also enhanced with the inclusion of detection of breathing variations during sleep, providing deeper insights into nocturnal rest patterns. Security is bolstered with the introduction of a passcode security feature with wrist detection, offering an extra layer of protection for personal data. Finally, the Weather glance now supports additional locations, ensuring users stay informed regardless of their whereabouts.
Tailored Enhancements for Tactical Users
For users of the tactical variants within the Instinct 3 series, this update brings specialized tools. The Timers and Stage Timer app now boasts interval support, a valuable addition for structured training regimes. Moreover, the Applied Ballistics feature gains a Delete all Targets option, streamlining data management for precision shooting scenarios.
AMOLED-Specific Improvements and Fixes
The Instinct 3 AMOLED variant receives a unique visual touch with the addition of morning report greeting page animations, adding a touch of dynamism to the daily summary. On the stability front, a potential freeze when viewing the daily summary has been resolved. Additionally, an issue concerning the activity power mode setting in Garmin Connect Mobile (GCM) has been addressed.
Several Gaming activity fixes and improvements are also included, promising a smoother experience for gamers. Other resolved issues include courses not appearing in the race widget, the Jump Mode missing from Jump Rope activity settings, and the persistent “Target Finished” alert after starting a Jump Rope activity. A connectivity problem preventing device connection to a PC after using the Gaming activity has also been rectified.
Finally, inconsistencies with Golf distance units and a missing done button on the coordinate entry page have been fixed, along with a crash in the pool swim activity and an issue with the watch face barometer trend data field. Display anomalies such as the battery saver watch face issue and flashlight controls flickering when using a CIQ watch face, have also been resolved, along with a crash when viewing the body battery widget at midnight.
Solar-Specific Enhancements and Bug Squashes
Exclusively for the Instinct 3 Solar, this update introduces Daily Suggested Workouts directly within the Workouts app, offering personalized training guidance. Stability improvements include fixes for potential freezes when viewing the daily summary and possible crashes during GPS activities. An issue preventing access to the HR glance when wrist heart rate (WHR) was disabled has been corrected, as well as a problem with accessing activities from the History glance.
Battery-related issues have also been tackled, including a fix for the battery estimate incorrectly displaying “Low” during indoor activities and the inaccurate adjustment of the battery estimate when editing power modes. Finally, crashes that could occur while the device was plugged into a computer or when disconnecting from a computer have been resolved, along with a correction to the watch face month abbreviation.
Similar to the AMOLED variant, the Instinct 3 Solar also receives the various Gaming activity fixes and improvements, along with fixes for courses not appearing in the race widget, the Jump Mode missing from Jump Rope activity settings, the erroneous “Target Finished” alert in the Jump Rope activity, the inability to connect to a PC after using the Gaming activity, and the inconsistencies with Golf distance units.
This comprehensive software update 9.20 underscores Garmin’s commitment to continually refining and enhancing the user experience across its Instinct 3 series smartwatches. It delivers new functionalities and crucial stability improvements, so users can expect a more robust, feature-rich, and reliable experience on their wrists.
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