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Is it true that Garmin Connect's API is poor quality

Former Member
Former Member
The name Garmin carries a lot of weight and it was probably one of the main reasons why I opted for this brand; they are (were) leaders in GPS and I assumed that the fitness solution would reflect this.

I was disappointed when I discovered that it does not link up to services such as Microsoft HealthVault and MyFitnessPal.

Some may claim that they managed to update a product by using a software middleware but why should this be the case when other products (Fitbit and Microsoft) can link directly with an app?

A search on the internet seems to point to a poorly designed Adobe Connect solution. If this is the case are there plans to fix this and what are the dates.

Thanks,
Alan
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    I tried to reply to scottmeup in context but the forum did not allow me. I am posting here:

    I very much doubt that the services you mention will make such a claim. They will simply not write for Garmin Connect and it is the users who will pick the tab.

    Hope Garmin reconsider their position.

    You can just use \
    something I said [/QUOTE\] without the '\'s if that's what you're trying to do.

    I'm not sure why you think Microsoft and MyFitnessPal can't connect to Garmin Connect because of a bad Adobe Connect API problem if they won't make that claim but if you've got some info I don't have I'd love to have a look-see.

    As I mentioned a free, open source project (which is run more or less by one person) can do it. I think it's within Microsoft's abilities if they chose to.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    You can just use \
    something I said [/QUOTE\] without the '\'s if that's what you're trying to do.

    I'm not sure why you think Microsoft and MyFitnessPal can't connect to Garmin Connect because of a bad Adobe Connect API problem if they won't make that claim but if you've got some info I don't have I'd love to have a look-see.

    As I mentioned a free, open source project (which is run more or less by one person) can do it. I think it's within Microsoft's abilities if they chose to.


    If I said Adobe that was a mistype on my part - I meant Garmin Connect.

    I would be interesting to ask why the likes of Microsoft link to their own and other third party fitness brands and not Garmin. Maybe someone will do it and share this info.
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    Woah, the winds of confusion are high here.

    A few random points:

    A) Any company can pay the $5K fee to Garmin to get access to the auto-sync capabilities. In reality, most larger companies get it waived these days.
    B) Most of the time the relationship is initiated from the 3rd party to Garmin. Meaning, all Microsoft would need to do is ask. Though quite honestly, I don't see why they'd bother? They've got the Microsoft Band which competes with Garmin wearables. Still, Garmin has granted API access to other competing services (see MapMyFitness/Underarmour, Nike, and others I'm forgetting).
    C) Microsoft Band sends data to a handful of other services, and folks can develop apps for it. Nobody actually does, because sales of the Band are so small that it doesn't matter (and the industry all knows that). But, there's quite extensive API support on Microsoft's side - probably the deepest out there. But again, a fart in the wind scenario.
    D) Auto-sync isn't really a true API though. It's basically a one-way highway for the original .FIT file to a 3rd party service
    E) MyFitnessPal (also UnderArmour btw), has a 'unique' relationship in that it sends calories to Garmin. But, as anyone here will tell you - that relationship is 'complicated', meaning that it doesn't work well all the time. Unclear if that's a Garmin or MFP fault.
    F) I've never heard of Adobe Connect being utilized in the Garmin solution. Perhaps it is, but not once in 2+ years has anyone mentioned that name in conjunction here. And honestly, it'd make little sense to. It's basically just spitting files out to a web server, no reason to really buy 3rd party products for something so simple.

    That's all.
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    In the end Garmin should offer a Strava like API and everything would be fine. Open, rated limited and well documented.
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    In the end Garmin should offer a Strava like API and everything would be fine. Open, rated limited and well documented.


    Totally agree there.

    (Though, I do appreciate that Garmin hands the native/untouched .FIT file to Autosync partners, versus anything tweaked.)
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    The following is the cordial reply I got from Microsoft Healthvault on the subject. I recall reading that some may have the impression that Microsoft will only support their band. The following seems to indicate otherwise. Besides other vendors of fitness bands have linked to Healthvault.

    Hope this helps.

    Good afternoon Valued HealthVault Customer,

    This is Beverly with Microsoft HealthVault Support. We understand your concern with wanting Garmin Forerunner connected to HealthVault. I have talked with our HealthVault Product Team and they have stated that they would love to integrate with Garmin; however you will need to contact Garmin as it is the manufacturer that would provide the integration with HealthVault. I have archived this service request at this time; as you will need to reach out to Garmin about being integrated with HealthVault.

    Thank you for using Microsoft HealthVault Support. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to respond to this email. Have a great day!

    Best Regards,
    Beverly
    Microsoft HealthVault Support

    Business hours:
    8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern, Monday through Friday

    My Working Hours:
    8:00am to 5:30pm Eastern, Monday through Thursday
    8:00am to 2:00pm Eastern, Friday

    We have documented this correspondence under Service Request 1332006274; please use this service request number if you communicate with us about this issue.
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    The following is the cordial reply I got from Microsoft Healthvault on the subject. I recall reading that some may have the impression that Microsoft will only support their band. The following seems to indicate otherwise. Besides other vendors of fitness bands have linked to Healthvault.

    Hope this helps.

    Good afternoon Valued HealthVault Customer,

    This is Beverly with Microsoft HealthVault Support. We understand your concern with wanting Garmin Forerunner connected to HealthVault. I have talked with our HealthVault Product Team and they have stated that they would love to integrate with Garmin; however you will need to contact Garmin as it is the manufacturer that would provide the integration with HealthVault. I have archived this service request at this time; as you will need to reach out to Garmin about being integrated with HealthVault.

    Thank you for using Microsoft HealthVault Support. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to respond to this email. Have a great day!

    Best Regards,
    Beverly
    Microsoft HealthVault Support

    Business hours:
    8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern, Monday through Friday

    My Working Hours:
    8:00am to 5:30pm Eastern, Monday through Thursday
    8:00am to 2:00pm Eastern, Friday

    We have documented this correspondence under Service Request 1332006274; please use this service request number if you communicate with us about this issue.

    The part about the opening hours was a rollercoaster of emotions. 10/10, would read again.

    If she's saying - to paraphrase - "We don't want to pay staff to write integration for Garmin. If you want that you'll have to get Garmin to do it.", that could well be true.
    If saying "It's impossible to integrate anything with Garmin connect unless they write the integration for 3rd parties", that's not correct. The APIs are available and well known. You pays your monies, you gets an auth token to work with said APIs. I can say without doubt that https://tapiriik.com/ (that service I've mentioned 3 times now that integrates with Garmin Connect) was written by Collin Fair, not Garmin.
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    I'm pretty sure she's saying none of the above. Instead, she's saying:

    "Take it up with Garmin, it's up to the individual companies to request integration with Health Vault."

    To which Garmin would likely reply:

    "Why bother? Nobody actually uses it."
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    DCRAINMAKER - I agree 100%!


    Does the MS HV thing tie into ANY 3rd party devices or just the MS band? This thread is actually the first time I've even seen MS HV mentioned in Garmin forums!
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    Either way, here's looking forward to seeing the thread on MSHV forums regarding the quality of their Adobe Connect solution APIs. :cool:
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