Connect IQ Widgets

The Edge 1040 is the first Edge device that supported CIQ 4+.  The implication is in CIQ4, widgets were technically removed in favor of apps with glance views, which on the watches functions nearly the same as the old widgets.  The edge glances are a completely different user experience and I believe the loss of widget functionality is a big usability step backwards.  Based on the documentation, it seems liker the intent was to still have some type of widget functionality but is living with the decisions to change things based on a watch first development/design focus.

On the other hand, developers don’t need to create both a widget and app version of their program. That is, Garmin removed the need for having both (which has usability and maintenance issues).

Ok, but then they could have made it possible to pin the application where the widgets are, i.e. after opening the top menu, or in some other simple way. I used to check the weather radar during activity in this way.

The reason to change was indeed valid, but they could have made this new type od app easier to display. Currently, instead of 1 click, I have to make 5 clicks (on EDGE), and during activity, it makes difference.

As a developer the switch to app with glances does open doors as you don't have the same memory limits on the newer devices.  The development environment is "smart" enough to build a widget for a CIQ 4 device as an app with glance views, so some of that is a bit transparent to a developer.

My main point is the switch to only apps with glance views is a much better experience on the watches as the single app behaves like a widget or a full app with a single install.  That same seamless user experience was not carried forward to the Edge devices.  I think the simple answer could be to allow CIQ apps to be added to the widget loop on the edge.  Several apps have been build for edge devices that don't record activities and I can think of no functional reason that those could not be launched from the widget loop.  It just may mean that Garmin has to have a different menu ribbon displayed when in a widget vs launched from the glance or app menu.

This is why I say the widget experience on the Edge x40 devices is step backwards.  It is also part of the reason I ensured the Glance view works in my radar app.  Launching from the glance on the home screen cuts out two taps.

I noticed another inconvenience. When an activity is paused due to lack of movement, when you open the app, the activity will automatically resume while the app is reading GPS data. As a result, the average speed is false. What is it even supposed to be? It worked much better on old devices...

Using widgets on a 1030/1030+ during an activity would stop the GPS briefly when you returned to an activity. So, there were issues with older units too.

I know, but at a pause it wasn't a problem on 1030. And on the 1040, I'm unlikely to click 5 times to open the application while cycling.

Ok, we won't do anything, as for me the applications are unusable at the moment...