Garmin is officially pushing out a significant new beta update, version 12.17, aimed at enhancing the functionality and stability of several popular smartwatch models. This update targets the Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct E, and the Crossover AMOLED smartwatches, bringing a wide range of new features, optimizations, and essential bug fixes across the board.
General Feature Enhancements for Instinct 3 and Instinct E
A core focus of this update is to deepen the health and user experience integration. A key addition for all Instinct 3 and Instinct E models is the highly anticipated Health Status support. This feature allows users to track comprehensive changes in their health data and overall well-being directly within the Garmin Connect app. Furthermore, users will now be able to edit custom and proximity alerts directly within the Garmin Connect Mobile (GCM) app, offering greater control over notifications.
The update also includes a crucial technical improvement: the ability to update sensor software over BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), streamlining the maintenance process. The Area Calc app UI has been enhanced for a better user experience. Several fixes address previous irritations, including an issue with interval alerts for the quick timer, correcting cases where the messenger glance could be added twice, and resolving incorrect or missing units in Messenger message details. For outdoor enthusiasts, a fix addresses a potential issue where the course elevation plot would appear flat. Finally, a fix ensures that the OHR (Optical Heart Rate) sensor can be successfully enabled by a power mode, even if the system setting was previously off.
Specific Improvements for Instinct 3 Solar and Instinct E
Users of the Instinct 3 Solar and Instinct E models receive additional data field options and important stability fixes. New data fields include the addition of a Steps data field, a Pulse Ox watch face data field option, and a Recovery Time watch face data field option, giving users more immediate access to key metrics.
The update also resolves several specific bugs for these models. A fix targets possible battery drain when using CIQ (Connect IQ) watch faces, and an issue where the software update would not immediately appear after using “Check for Updates” has been corrected. Problems with the Weather app when accessed from the app list are resolved, and the update fixes the DogTrack distance when using Metric units. Other visual fixes include addressing issues where watch face charts could show old data, correcting a calendar watch face data field that showed events from future dates, and fixing a potential graphical glitch on the Morning Report watch face.
Advanced Metric Support and Watch Face Customization
For those focused on advanced training, the Instinct 3 Solar and Instinct 3 AMOLED models now boast added support for HRM Pace & Distance over BLE, providing more accurate running dynamics when paired with a compatible heart rate monitor.
The Instinct 3 AMOLED model receives specific visual and data enhancements, including the addition of a UTC data field option to more watch faces and the inclusion of a barometer data field option to the default watch face. The update also fixes Morning Report and Workout animations for the 45mm version of the watch.
The Instinct 3 Solar model receives two targeted fixes: resolving a crash when viewing daily suggested workouts and correcting the load ratio graph indicator.
Crossover Smartwatch Adjustments and Fixes
The Crossover model offers its own set of improvements, including an additional watch face design and various UI fixes. Crucially, a fix addresses an issue in which the physical hands can become stuck after completing an activity. The update also resolves various issues within the sensor menu, fixes the golf club sensor info page, corrects a missed call animation, and adjusts the barometer chart scale. Finally, for the Tactical edition, the update fixes the Kill Switch countdown.
How to Download the Beta Update
Users can manually check for and download this software update once it becomes available by navigating through the following path on their compatible Garmin smartwatch: Menu > System > Software Update > Check For Updates.
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