In Garmin's built-in activity apps, one can switch back to the watchface, then browse widgets, then return back to the activity app. Can this be done with custom 3rd party Connect IQ activity apps? If yes how?
In Garmin's built-in activity apps, one can switch back to the watchface, then browse widgets, then return back to the activity app. Can this be done with custom 3rd party Connect IQ activity apps? If yes how?
Thanks. I switch to the watchface. But how do I get back to the app? If I use the back button again or the START button, it looks like the app had exited and the app restarts anew.
On newer devices, like Fenix 7s, FR955, and FR965, CIQ device apps [*} will be terminated if you return to the watchface. (I have observed this on my own FR955).
[*] "Device app" = "App" / "A" in the CIQ store, aka CIQ app which shows up in the activity/app list and can completely replace a built-in activity, as opposed to watchface, data field, or music provider.
The exception to this behaviour is if the device app is literally recording an activity. In this case, the device app will *not* be terminated if you return to the watchface, but recording will continue. At least that's how it works on my FR955. Some Fenix 7 series users said that even device apps which record an activity will be terminated if you return to the watchface, and what you're saying confirms that.
I think one difference between the Forerunner 955/965 and Fenix 7 is that Fenix 7 has the recently used apps list (or "task switcher"), but Forerunners (of that generation) do not. The presence of the task switcher can affect the "lifecycle" of CIQ apps: https://developer.garmin.com/connect-iq/core-topics/application-and-system-modules/
Some devices have a task switcher that makes it easy to switch between activities and apps on the device. This can switch your app from active to inactive. To take full advantage of the task switcher, you need to utilize the full app lifecycle.
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There may be scenarios where the user has launched more apps than the system has resources to support. If your app is not active but is still running, the system may terminate your app to free up resources.
There's nothing in the docs which explains how an app could prevent itself from being terminated, even if it's still recording.
My educated guess is that it's the presence of the task switcher which accounts for the different behaviour in Fenix 7 series vs Forerunners of the same/similar generation (255, 265, 955, 965).
I don't think there's anything which can be done about this behaviour, it seems to be something that Garmin chose to implement.
Is the FW on your f7s up to date? Sounds like a bug there, as this works fine for me on other devices.
I don't think it's a bug, Fenix 7 series users have been complaining about this behaviour for a few years. At least it's not the kind of bug that you're suggesting, where it would've been fixed in a timely fashion with a firmware update. It seems to me that it's more like an intentional design decision / implementation which is not going to be changed.
(May 3 2023)
IQ bug: IQ activities/apps are aborted when switching back to the watch-face
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Especially problematic when using an IQ app to record an activity and you are used to a quick glance to your watch-face or widget from using stock activities. With IQ apps (like Inlineskating) they will end and store the activity, you can't resume it / keep it running in background when going back (like it works with older devices like F6 and F5 or native activity profiles).
On newer devices, like Fenix 7s, FR955, and FR965, CIQ device apps [*} will be terminated if you return to the watchface. (I have observed this on my own FR955).
With the ciq app I linked to, using the hot key to go to the watch face/glance loop while recording, and using back to return to the activity recording works on both the 955 and 965. Maybe a variable is what you try to run from the glance loop?
With the ciq app I linked to, using the hot key to go to the watch face/glance loop while recording, and using back to return to the activity recording works on both the 955 and 965. Maybe a variable is what you try to run from the glance loop?
I don't think you read what I said, but instead cherry picked the first sentence, while ignoring what I said next:
The exception to this behaviour is if the device app is literally recording an activity. In this case, the device app will *not* be terminated if you return to the watchface, but recording will continue. At least that's how it works on my FR955.
Here's the TL;DR:
- On current Forerunners (e.g. 955/965), if you return to the watchface while a device app is not recording, the app will be terminated. If you return to the watchface while a device app is recording, the app will not be terminated
- On Fenix 7 series, if you return to the watchface while a device app is running, it will be terminated, regardless of whether or not it is recording
I specifically said the behaviour is different for Fenix 7 (based on what users have said, not my own experience), and I guessed that the reason is that Fenix 7 has the task switcher (recent apps list) while Forerunner 955/965 do not.
This one dude who owns a Fenix 7 has been complaining about this behaviour for 2+ years, and he specifically said that a CIQ app which is recording an activity will be terminated when you return to the watchface.
(May 3 2023)
IQ bug: IQ activities/apps are aborted when switching back to the watch-face
...
Especially problematic when using an IQ app to record an activity and you are used to a quick glance to your watch-face or widget from using stock activities. With IQ apps (like Inlineskating) they will end and store the activity, you can't resume it / keep it running in background when going back (like it works with older devices like F6 and F5 or native activity profiles).
Also, I will say that older Forerunners (like FR935) worked differently than modern Forerunners in this regard.
- FR935 will not terminate a CIQ device app if you return to the watchface, whether or not it is recording. (However, if you subsequently open a CIQ widget, the app will be terminated - the watch gives you a full-screen warning to this effect)
- FR955 will terminate a CIQ device app if you return to the watchface, if it is not recording. If a device app is recording, it will not be terminated when you return to the watchface (and you can subsequently open a CIQ glance without terminating the device app)
^ this is from my own personal experience
Similarly, Fenix 7 owners noticed that Fenix 6 behaves differently than Fenix 7.
- Fenix 6 will not terminate a CIQ device app if you return to the watchface
- Fenix 7 will terminate a CIQ device app if you return to the watchface, whether or not it is recording
^ this is just my understanding based on what Fenix owners are saying on the forums
To be clear:
- FR935: CIQ device apps are not terminated when returning to watchface
- FR955: CIQ device apps are terminated when returning to watchface, unless an activity is being recorded
- Fenix 6: CIQ device apps are not terminated when returning to watchface
- Fenix 7: CIQ device apps are always terminated when returning to watchface, even if an activity is being recorded
My point is the fact that the behaviour also changed in Forerunner 955/965 compared to Fenix 935 (just not to the same extent as it did from Fenix 6 to Fenix 7) gives me additional reason to believe that the apparent change in behaviour for Fenix 7 is *not* a bug, but intentional on Garmin's part.
Even if it is a bug, doesn't look like Garmin is ever going to fix it.
I will also say I have no idea how Fenix 8 and FR570/970 handle these situations.
