Some apps do not work while watch is connected to phone

Hi, guys. I have fenix 3 sapphire. Yesterday, i mentioned, that some of my Apps, installed from Connect IQ store, failed to run. When i'm trying to start an app, i just see the IQ! picture and that is all. It seems, that this happen when i'm connected with my phone via Bluetooth. When i switch off Bluetooth on phone and watch becomes not connected, these apps start working again. This kind of magic is very disappointing, because my watch is always connected to my phone.

Examples of apps are relatively popular Gym Timer (https://apps.garmin.com/en-GB/apps/93d358c4-53d3-4a9d-a7c4-e6f9a49c0e31) and Cycling App Professional (https://apps.garmin.com/en-GB/apps/9cbef7c8-9a7e-4f90-b4ef-42b11a11d8cd)

In the same time SkyWatch (https://apps.garmin.com/en-GB/apps/e531bb5d-56d1-4649-b790-adefa5adf04a) is working all time.

This happen only with Apps type of Connect IQ apps, widgets, watchfaces work properly.

watch firmware 6.50
garmin express version is the latest
connect app on Android phone - latest version

why this happen? thanks

UPDATE:
playing with this issue, i can even claim, that this kind of problem occurs randomly. sometimes apps start to work after sync with Garmin Connect App on phone, sometimes, after disabling bluetooth

geniuswrist over 9 years ago

257

Hi Joe,

I'm the Gym Timer developer and it's the first time someone reports this problem.

Its really weird!

I do not use communitations except when the user explicitly request it using the menu options,
and I don't use the app settings in the mobile phone.

It should not matter if your phone is connected or not when you start the app.

I could bet there is some kind of verification the watch itself (the firmware) does during app
startup regarding the app communication requirement.

Anyone using other watch model had the same issue?
I never saw this in my vivoactive.

Cheers.

Nikeow over 9 years ago

This is interesting. I can say that I have a user who reported the same thing as well. But he said that the connect app HAS to be running in the foreground for the IQ! To NOT happen.

note that I have report this https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?339791-IQ!-Without-any-error-logs-How-to-debug and yet to see any resolution nor response from garmin.

Do u see any LOGS at all?

roman_joe over 9 years ago

Hi, guys, thanks for your replies.

Just a little experiment, i have done just now. Gym Timer app did not work.

1. Switch watch on/off - still does not work
2. Turn bluetooth on/off on the phone - same
3. Started build-int app, then exit and started IQ app - same
4. Go to Device tab in Garmin Connect on the phone and started sync process - Gym Timer started successfully once, then i exit, start again - failed to run
5. hit "fenix 3" device in my devices list in Garmin Connect - Gym Timer started successfully, exited Garmin Connect app on phone - app failed to start again

robinsonmilani, i think, your idea, about verification of app by the firmware may have sense. maybe firmware does analysis of required/available resources for the app, did not see connection to phone, as a required resource for the app and thus failed to start it. (this is just a thought, as i'm not garmin iq apps developer yet).

roman_joe over 9 years ago

Hi, guys.

I recently have found a complain from another IQ app developer. Here is his app - https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/e8a4625a-847d-409a-9564-af1fcb964305

He claims, that "Seeing bugs in Garmin ConnectIQ SDK 1.2.2 software causing "!". " So his the walkaround was to use previous version of SDK.

What do you think about that. I could test an app, compiled with previous veriosn of SDK, if you'll be so kind to recompile it

many thanks

Nikeow over 9 years ago

Garmin - do you know what is happening and why there are no logs?

This is a CIQ bug defnitely?

geniuswrist over 9 years ago

Hi Roman My app is already compiled in 1.2.1,

I will try to compile in 1.2.4, released today to see what happens.

I tested myself on fenix 3 and the bug is really related to connectivity. The only thing that is sad is to see a large number of users suddenly frustrated with the app. I started to receive lot of complaints.

At least the vivoactive users seen to be unaffected.

Someone at Garmin can say something about this? I really would like to know why some apps where unaffected? (for example dwMap, it probably uses the same resources as my app). Memory usage could be the problem?

Well I will let you guys know about any findings.

Cheers

geniuswrist over 9 years ago

Hi Guys,

Changing the SDK made no difference. Got the same behavior, alternating the bluetooth connection on and off makes the app run or not (crash).

But I noticed that the connection does not need to be turned off.
If the app is crashing on start, it's just a matter of changing the bluetooth state to make it work again, so, if it's off you turn it on, or vice versa.

geniuswrist over 9 years ago

Hy Guys, I made a lot of tests and these are my findings.

I suspect the new firmare 6.5 uses more watch resources and has left less memory aviable to third part apps.

I think the randomness of the error is caused by the ammount of memory avilable when the app starts.

I noticed that using a simple watch face reduced the failures a lot (it's really simple, if the face uses less memory, more memory is avaiable when an app starts).

It's more common a crash to occur right after a connection state change (bluetooth connection)

I plan to relase a new version of the app that checks the system memory available and if it's not enouth will inform the user.

ONLY FENIX users complained about this. All other devices seem to be working properly,

Brandon.ConnectIQ over 9 years ago

@robinsonmilani Thanks for taking the time to look into this. I suspect that your conclusion about low memory being the cause is likely correct because the fenix 3 has pretty narrow margins for RAM, and Connect IQ runs in a shared memory space that could potentially be stomped on by the device's system. In order to confirm this, I'd like to see if I can collect some information from you (and anyone else experiencing this problem):

When a Connect IQ app crashes, you should have a CIQ_LOG.txt file written out to /GARMIN/APPS/LOGS on the device. This error log may give us some clues about what's happening.
It's possible to collect a memory dump from the devices that our fenix 3 team can look at to see if perhaps they are exceeding their memory limits. This procedure assumes that the device has not crashed, only a Connect IQ app. Do this immediately after the app crash occurs:
- Press and hold the Menu button to view the configuration menu
- Choose Settings
- Choose System
- Choose About
- Press the Power/Light button eight times (turning the back light on and off in the process) to display a Development menu
- Choose Force Crash
- Allow the device to reboot, then do the first five steps again to view the Development menu
- Choose Save RAM Region
- Once the regular about screen appears, connect the device to your computer via USB

This will write an ERR_LOG.TXT and ERR_RAM.BIN to the root of the device drive.

Send the CIQ_LOG.txt, ERR_LOG.TXT, and ERR_RAM.BIN to [email protected] along with the name of the app that crashed and a brief description of the circumstances of the crash (and any other information you believe may be helpful).

Thanks!

Nikeow over 9 years ago

This is fantastic. Will send directions to users if this happens.
What is the procedure for the other watches? I have reports from VA as well as 920 users reporting the same dreaded IQ! Issue.

However, in my case when the crash occurs - there is no ERR_LOG and no CIQ_Log at all!!

That's more perplexing and I've actually started a thread here but there wasn't any resolution nor comment from Garmin.