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Rite of Passage: Bad Garmin UI experience

8934622
over 4 years ago

I just purchased a Garmin Fenix 6x and wanted to learn how it could help me train. So I created a custom workout using the Connect web interface and clicked on "Send to Device". This launched Garmin Express so I plugged my watch into my computer so that it could find the watch.

After doing this, the watch face change to a screen showing a percentage. I thought this was showing what is being downloading given that was the reason I plugged in my device. This took a very long time for the the watch face to show 100%, well over an hour. But I didn't want to disturb the download because I figured this was some update from Garmin.

What I have since found out is this percentage was showing the battery being charged not a download. That meant I could have safely unplugged my phone and charged at a later time. Given that Garmin Express has god-like knowledge of the internals of their devices; it clearly understands that the device is being charged.

I really wish that Garmin would clearly state this in the UI for Garmin Express so that new users like me understand that they can unplug the device from the computer.

One idea would be to add a battery/charging status to the UI Ribbon at the top of Garmin Express that is shows the currently connected device.

thx

bob

  • +1 over 4 years ago

    if you were in Garmin Express then the screen there shows you when the sync is complete. There is a progress bar or a spinning icon depending on which view you have.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I once walked into a door because I didn't turn the handle before walking in. You can beat your ass I demanded they put a huge "Please turn handle before trying to push door open" sign on that door.  No way was I going to learn from my mistake!

    Ok so that didn't happen and I sort of get your point, but doesn't the manual say to charge it before using it?  If you'd done that you've have realised that charging it shows that percentage screen.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Hello Bob, The % charge shown on the watch when connected to the PC also shows the standard battery icon above it, so in actuality it shows it is the state of battery charge. I understand the icon beneath the time, the USB icon, maybe confusing but to me it seems obvious. As mentioned GCE shows the sync status

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to muppetman

    hum, looks like someone had a bad day:)

    Ya, the manual does say to charge it before using which I did before using. I have also used the phone for 4 days now so the battery has discharge some.

    While it may be clear to you by looking at the face of the watch that it is charging, it wasn't for me. But then that was the first time I ever saw that watch face

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to brookes2622

    Yes I can see the battery now, perhaps if it wasn't obscured by the greenish background or if it were blinking it would have been more obvious which is why I titled this rite of passage.

    With the inReach Mini I am able to navigate around the device via the buttons while it is charging; in the case of the Fenix the buttons are disable.

    My experience with Modal screens; i.e.  the Charging screen on the Fenix came from when I was working in phone development. When you update the firmware on a phone the device is locked. You obviously don't want the user changing the state of the device while the firmware was being updated. You also don't want the user disconnecting the device.

    thx

    bob

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

    Express does show the sync is complete but the UI in the watch is showing a change in state also. My post was really a suggestion to Garmin on how to improve the UI in the Express app; but I'm guessing from the feedback hear that is not needed.

    Appreciate your answer

    bob

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to 8934622
    8934622 said:
    With the inReach Mini I am able to navigate around the device via the buttons while it is charging; in the case of the Fenix the buttons are disable.

    You are able to use the device while CHARGING (eg. from a wall charger). However you cannot use the buttons when it has a data connection as well.

  • +1 over 4 years ago in reply to mcalista
    mcalista said:
    You are able to use the device while CHARGING (eg. from a wall charger). However you cannot use the buttons when it has a data connection as well.

    Correct. When the watch detects a USB data connection, the whole entire screen shows the battery %, and you can't use buttons. When you plug in a non-data USB connection, the watch just shows a little battery % at the top, and you can use the watch as normal.