Watchface: Countdown!

Hi!

A brand new, re-designed and highly configurable countdown watchface was released today!

Countdown! was inspired by my first countdown watchfaces, which eventually got pulled from the ConnectIQ store.

These older watchfaces were hard-coded in the sense that you couldn't configure your own event date.
It wasn't long before I found it impossible to keep up with requests for watchfaces for all sorts of events.
This forced me to stop any further development of countdown watchfaces.

For all the new Garmin owners, and those who wish to refresh their memory, the old thread can be found here: Watchface: CountDown 2 Event

Based on the short history lesson above, it is easy to understand and appreciate the need for user configurability.
With the advent of v1.2.1 SDK, Garmin provided developers with the capability to integrate user configurability into their apps.

And so Countdown! was born!

FEATURES:
  • Time in 12 / 24 format
  • Date
  • Battery level in %
  • Bluetooth indicator for mobile phone
  • Notifications icon and count
  • Alarm icon and count
  • Sleep mode icon
  • Step counter
  • Event count down
  • Fully configurable:
    • Colors
    • Time size (normal / bigger)
    • Hide / display event date
    • Hide / display Step counter!



IMPORTANT -- PLEASE READ !!
A few bugs exist in iOS and Android flavours of Garmin Connect Mobile app, specifically with regards to the setting of an event date.
These bugs have been reported to Garmin, but until a fix is available, you have to abide to some rules to ensure a hassle free experience.
Read through the section relevant to the platform of your mobile phone BEFORE YOU GIVE ANY BAD RATINGS / REVIEWS!
I am available on email ([email protected]) and will dedicate my time to provide assistance with any problems you may encounter with this watchface.

[----- iOS -----]
When opening the settings for this watchface, you will notice that the "Event Date" picker most of the times displays an empty value, or sometimes 1 Jan 1970.
Please ensure that you always pick your event date EVERY time you open settings, even if you only wish to change another setting like a color (valid date must be between current date and 18 Jan 2038).
Failure to set the Event Date will result in the counter on the watch to reset to "0 days".
If it gets reset accidentally, just enter settings again and pick the event date and save it again.

[----- ANDROID -----]
When opening the settings for this watchface, you will notice that the "Event Date" picker may display an old value, like "17 Jan 1970".
Please ensure that you pick an event date to override this old date. Next time you enter settings, it will correctly display your chosen date (valid date must be between current date and 18 Jan 2038).

[----- GARMIN EXPRESS MAC / WIN -----]
VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure your Garmin Express version is 4.1.11.0 or higher!
Older versions cause problems with all colors resetting to black, making the watchface appear blank and empty.
Once you have the latest version installed, configuring settings with Garmin Express is the RECOMMENDED way: It provides the most stable and reliable experience in configuring this watchface. If you experience any difficulties with your mobile phone, please first try Garmin Express before giving up.

Please email me at
[email][email protected][/email]
for further assistance.
Don't forget to provide the model of your watch and the firmware version. Help me to help you :)

TUTORIAL:
Follow this link for a quick tutorial on how to use Garmin ConnectIQ settings to configure this watchface:
(TIP: Use your existing Connect account to log into the forum to be able to view the screen shots. No need for you to create another account!)
How to: App Settings

  • Great watchface, thanks for making it.

    Regarding the dots used for step progress - couldn't you shift it to show move bar instead ? Or perhaps an option for those who like so ?
    I am thinking that the xx/yy already show the progress in numbers, so this is just double information, where we could have an extra info instead ?

    Regarding the countdown, I would like it to have a target time also, so that I can count down to the start of Le Mans - not the day only, but on the day it shifts to hours:min:sec left...
    Also for new years evening, I'd like it tomorrow showing the hours:min:sec left til year change, instead of just '1 days'.

    Edit: Just realizing that watch faces don't show seconds regularly - so how about only showing seconds left for the last minute :-)

    Kind regards
    Dennis
  • Great watchface, thanks for making it.

    Regarding the dots used for step progress - couldn't you shift it to show move bar instead ? Or perhaps an option for those who like so ?
    I am thinking that the xx/yy already show the progress in numbers, so this is just double information, where we could have an extra info instead ?

    Regarding the countdown, I would like it to have a target time also, so that I can count down to the start of Le Mans - not the day only, but on the day it shifts to hours:min:sec left...
    Also for new years evening, I'd like it tomorrow showing the hours:min:sec left til year change, instead of just '1 days'.

    Edit: Just realizing that watch faces don't show seconds regularly - so how about only showing seconds left for the last minute :-)

    Kind regards
    Dennis


    Hi,

    Thanks for your feedback.

    • Dots: This can definitely be done. Have received similar requests regarding a move bar. Will look into this.
    • Countdown: I will have to think how to fit this in. Can't promise anything yet :) The seconds might not be feasible because of the high and low power mode. Unless you gonna drop and lift your arm repeatedly to keep the seconds alive. I think it should just be hour and minutes.

    Regards,

    Hermo
  • Thanks for considering :-)

    Regarding 'fitting in', if you mean display space - at the moment mine shows "23 days", 23:59:59 is only one more character :-) and most of the time it would only be 23:59 - 5 characters...
  • Thanks for considering :-)

    Regarding 'fitting in', if you mean display space - at the moment mine shows "23 days", 23:59:59 is only one more character :-) and most of the time it would only be 23:59 - 5 characters...


    I agree, keep in mind however that this single watchface is aimed at 3 different watch shapes of varying sizes.
    Unfortunately the smallest display determines what gets included in all of them.

    But....I will most definitely have a look!

    Which watch do you have?
  • I have the Fenix 3 :-)

    - and I just tried - it can even show 231 days = all characters needed for 23:59, 23:58, ..., 00:00:59, 00:00:58 (only the last minute we need the seconds).
    And Fenix 3 has a shorter line in the bottom ;-)
    I would even throw away the seconds totally, if this is the last drop :-)
  • I have the Fenix 3 :-)

    - and I just tried - it can even show 231 days = all characters needed for 23:59, 23:58, ..., 00:00:59, 00:00:58 (only the last minute we need the seconds).
    And Fenix 3 has a shorter line in the bottom ;-)
    I would even throw away the seconds totally, if this is the last drop :-)


    You are lucky, that is the biggest shape. Spare a thought for our small screen brothers and sisters :p

    Yeah the 3 digits was the max I tested with to get the layout perfect for everyone.
    There are scenarios on the square watches where the event date and the countdown is displayed on the same line due to the option to show event date.
    Another is the event name and countdown showing on the same line.

    It is here where the challenges lie.
    But who doesn't love a challenge? :D
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 9 years ago
    Fixed!

    Thank you! Please uninstall first. I would like to make sure there are no leftover issues from the first version.

    No problem, did it - and now it is 4 minutes past midnight and the counter switched from 102 to 101 days till the Rotterdam Marathon, just as it should :) Thanks, you fixed it!
  • No problem, did it - and now it is 4 minutes past midnight and the counter switched from 102 to 101 days till the Rotterdam Marathon, just as it should :) Thanks, you fixed it!


    Ah, that is great news! Happy to end 2015 on this note!

    Thanks for your patience and support. :D
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 9 years ago
    Events

    Thanks for great watch face, is there any way to program multiple events such as appointments/time of appointments?
  • I have the Fenix 3 :-)

    - and I just tried - it can even show 231 days = all characters needed for 23:59, 23:58, ..., 00:00:59, 00:00:58 (only the last minute we need the seconds).
    And Fenix 3 has a shorter line in the bottom ;-)
    I would even throw away the seconds totally, if this is the last drop :-)


    I have a new years's gift for you!
    Your brilliant suggestion for the countdown in hours, minutes and seconds is available as an update!

    Enjoy! ;)