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Very low memory available for third part APPS

Ste
over 3 years ago

Hi,

talking with a Garmin App programmer we found a very big problem with the Instinct 2 series. He created an app that works perfectly on all the Garmin watches except on the Instinct 2.

Everytime I try to access the app it shows "IQ!" error. It happens because is exceeded the incredible low limit of memory available for the apps..only 98.304 Kb. 

He's trying to fix the app issue reducing the memory usage but it not possible to work a miracle.

Just to give an example, the Forerunner 55, that cost half price compared with Instinct 2, has 131.072 Kb, 33% more.

It doesn't matter if the Instinct hasn't a colored display, but if the memory limit is not increased it will not be possible to have good apps with good features for the Instinct 2 Series.

Please Garmin, could you please increase that memory limit? After years from the release of the Instinct, I'm sure Instinct 2 has enough memory and specs to run good apps.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    I have to delete tens of classes to reduce memory consumption

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to li2niu

    I can't believe that a device that costs 500 usd released in 2022 has such memory problems.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    I remember being shocked when I tried to install a few things from the store and saw how small the memory is :)

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    It reminds me of my old Nokia E71 and E72. The bean counters had reduced the amount of memory to a point where most Nokia apps couldn't run correctly.

    Some years later, Nokia went bankrupt.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    I've ported a number of my apps to the Instinct2/2s with little problem.  There are some I first wrote for early devices like the vivoactive and Fenix 3, but that means they were written with an eye on memory (and the current apps still run on those devices today).  Otheres, I wrote for devices that came out in the last couple years that need things like ciq version 3.2. and some watch faces that run on the fr45, which has less watch face memory than the Instinct 2.

    The thing that concerns me here is it sounds like someone published an app for the Instince2 that was never gone through even minimal testing in the CIQ Simulator.  The crash would have been clear as day before it was published. (and the OP would never have seen the IQ! if even basic tests were performed)

    There is no way that the memory for CIQ device apps on the instinct2 will go from 92K to 124k (what it is on many other devices).  You can't just plug in a microsim card.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Reading a thread about another app, the Glance Watchface, the dev wrote the same about the very low memory available.

    All the dev have to rewrite and create a dedicated app for the Instinct 2 Series, that means much less app and watchfaces available for the users.

    It would be better if Garmin increases the available memory for the Instinct.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Ste

    And in many cases the devs have to give up to some features in order to fit the ridiculous memory.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Ste

    It's actually not a record low amount of memory.  The fr45/Swim2, which are fairly new have 48k for watch faces.  The original Epix had much more memory for apps than many of the current watches.

    As far as functionality, based on the watch face, functionality can be the same with the limiting factor being, screen real estate with some changes made due to the subscreen - avoid it for some things, use it for others.

    I didn't need to have special I2 versions for the watch faces, widgets and device apps I've ported.