Creation of pay per use FIRSTBEAT metrics on F5X PLUS?

I would pay for it.

ConnectIQ doesn't support this type of activity.  It's a VERY limited API...and doesn't have access to pretty much all the internals required to implement something like this.  It would need Garmin to massively extend ConnectIQ and change the build/packaging processes.  The chances of this are pretty much nil I'm afraid.

I think we just need to be patient with regard to extended FirstBeat capabilities on the 5 plus series.  They've added stuff before so you never know. 

Maybe as a paid software upgrade on Garmin's site is a possibility?  They do it for maps. 

Still pretty tough...the maps are just simple files with DRM protection.  Firmware code is a different matter....it would need to be architected from the ground up to be that modular and it would be really hard to stop people just redistributing the code.  Not impossible though.

I'll admit I have no clue about what this would entail, but just as if Garmin would give users the features for free through a FW update, wouldn't they also be able to release a paid for update that activated features a watch is capable of performing? I'm unaware of anyway you could purchase better maps and then pass that on to me. Couldn't that be done with added features in the same manner?  For example, I have a Verizon phone. I can pay a one time fee to activate some kind of call blocking feature if I choose.  Wouldn't something like this work?  Remember, I'm old and stupid when you reply. Lol 

When Garmin give us new features they're built in to the software that makes up part of the firmware update.  This makes them available to all users of that firmware version.  It would be possible for Garmin to include capabilities in that code that could be turned on via some sort of monetisation configuration but they'd have  to explicitly build everything to do this.

This is what happens in mobile phone software....the processing is already in the code....it just gets enabled via some sort of configuration exchange with a remote server ( there are quite a few different ways to do this).

I'm not sure I'd like Garmin to start down this path!!!

peakrodent said:

I'm not sure I'd like Garmin to start down this path!!

It goes without saying that the Fenix 6 will have these new Firstbeat features. People will buy this new watch for several reasons, but those that do just to get the new Firstbeat features will be minuscule. It wouldn't benefit Garmin monetarily to add these features to the 5+ for free.  Let's face it, it's all about the money. But let me explain why I feel an add-on feature download would benefit both the consumer and Garmin. Again, it goes without saying more people would pay for a feature download than purchase a new watch. This puts money in Garmin's pockets and will appease those who want the added features. These watches have a limited lifespan. It's not as if Garmin will be losing money because they just released the new Fenix 8 and no one is buying it because we're still using the 5+ with all the add-ons.  Watches age and the hardware will change also. People will still be buying new watches. I see this as a win-win situation for both the consumer and Garmin. Maybe I'm not seeing things outside the box because I don't see a downside to this, so any opposing views are welcomed. 

I'm not sure I fully support monetization of features like this, but it's always better to give consumers a choice.

This isn’t a bad idea, unfortunately though in the business world they’d rather you buy a $800-$1000 product (the Fenix 6 is trending that way with the Plastic 945 being $600), than just spending a minuscule amount that does little to Garmin’s bottom line.

OT: The Fenix 6 will look from a software standpoint very similar to the MARQ watches, with some improvements. But the price tag will be insane. Enjoy your watches now, because you’ll be paying dearly for “newer” technology.