Beta Software Program

The chances of anything like that happening is very small. Even more so now that the beta program is effectively release candidates and what was once the sideloaded beta program are now alpha releases. I've been using betas since the Fenix 3 and other than a couple of minor inconveniences there has been no real drama. 

 

I'm pretty sure that disclaimer is just something their lawyers made them put there. It doesn't mean that Garmin definitely will not ever help anyone out if their watch gets bricked by beta firmware.

My old 6X got bricked by a beta firmware when it was 2.5 years old. They replaced it for me for free without any hassle.

Not saying that will be true for everyone every time, just saying that in my experience, Garmin took responsibility and didn't make me pay for repairs/replacement of my watch that got bricked by beta firmware, even though I was way outside of warranty by that point.

Apple, and I presume others, have similar phrasing in their disclaimers. It's likely a legal requirement but would not be in any manufacturer's best interests to adhere to the letter of the law. Garmin have a good history of providing support, at least in my experience.

Of course it's your choice to participate or not in the beta program but remember to contact Garmin Support through the usual channels if you have any problems with the public release software.

thats good to know,

it was this passage below that had me concerned;

GARMIN AND ITS LICENSORS , including the licensors, service providers, channel partners, suppliers and affiliated companies of Garmin and its licensors, SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU: IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND OR ACTION, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NATURE OF THE CAUSE OF THE CLAIM, DEMAND OR ACTION ALLEGING ANY LOSS, INJURY OR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OR POSSESSION OF THE SOFTWARE; OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFIT, REVENUE, CONTRACTS OR SAVINGS, OR ANY OTHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, ANY DEFECT IN THE SOFTWARE, OR THE BREACH OF THESE TERMS OR CONDITIONS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR BASED ON A WARRANTY AND WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE, OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE OR FROM DEFECTS OR ERRORS IN THE SOFTWARE, EVEN IF GARMIN OR ITS LICENSORS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. GARMIN’S AND ITS LICENSORS’ TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE SOFTWARE SHALL NOT EXCEED $1.00.

As noted similar in the Apple disclaimer:

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BY INSTALLING SUCH PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE ON YOUR APPLE-BRANDED COMPUTERS AND/OR DEVICES, THESE COMPUTERS AND DEVICES MAY NOT BE CAPABLE OF BEING RESTORED TO THEIR ORIGINAL CONDITION AND THAT APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES MAY BE AFFECTED BY YOUR USE OF PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE.  FURTHER, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT DATA (INCLUDING DOCUMENTS) FROM SUCH APPLICATIONS OR SERVICES THAT YOU CREATE OR CHANGE WHILE USING THE PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE MAY BE INCAPABLE OF BEING RESTORED OR RECOVERED.  APPLE SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COSTS, EXPENSES OR OTHER LIABILITIES YOU MAY INCUR AS A RESULT OF YOUR TESTING, INSTALLATION OR USE OF PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY DAMAGE TO ANY EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE OR DATA OR ANY LOSS OF DATA OR INFORMATION ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF SUCH PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE.

I don't understand why people think RC builds are going to be the only betas. That would make no sense. There are going to be two channels. Beta where you get OTA updates and Alpha where you have to sideload