Related

Venu 3 software development DEAD

PRK91
1 month ago

So I sent an email to Garmin support regarding the terrible software support/updates that the Venu 3 is offered, a 450$ watch. My initial message was lengthy and I even asked if they could convey the customer problems to the development team. I got the following response from them. 

This basically conveys that not even the support team wishes to pass on the customer feedback to the development team and the development team is probably never looking at these forums. So that again probably means no more updates to the Venu 3 series and all future updates are just going to be Connect IQ fixes. Never gonna recommend any Venu or Vivo or Lily series to anyone, they are better off not buying a watch rather than buying these expensive, zero support watches.

Anyone who considers to buy the Venu 3, should probably stop buying it, unless they need the wheelchair mode.

Edit: May not make a huge difference, but I would happy if you guys can reshare this post and other posts to anyone who wishes to buy the Venu 3. In that way, probably someone at Garmin will notice. I don't know of any other way. So pissed off for spending 450$ on this.

If you can pass this to the development team, kindly do.

  • 0 1 month ago

    Not surprised. Vivoactive and Venu watches were never developed further after release. What they have when released is what you get. This is how Garmin opearates, which is why I do not recommend Garmin watches anymore to people. 

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to Vizi
    Vizi said:
    Vivoactive and Venu watches were never developed further after release

    Venu 3 initial release - 8/30/2023
    Ver. 6.22 - 09/07/2023
    Ver. 7.07 - 10/10/2023
    Ver. 8.23 Beta - 10/30/2023
    Ver. 8.25 Beta - 11/09/2023
    Ver. 9.15 Beta - 01/11/2024
    Ver. 9.16 Beta - 01/17/2024
    Ver. 9.18 Beta - 01/25/2024
    Ver. 9.24 Beta - 02/26/2024
    Ver. 9.26 Beta - 03/22/2024
    Ver. 9.27 Beta - 04/15/2024
    Ver. 9.27 - 04/17/2024
    Ver. 10.08 Beta - 03/28/2024
    Ver. 10.12 Beta - 04/23/2024
    Ver. 10.20 - 05/04/2024
    Ver. 11.08 Beta - 07/22/2024
    Ver. 11.10 Beta - 08/05/2024
    Ver. 11.11 Beta - 08/12/2024
    Ver. 11.14 Beta - 08/28/2024
    Ver. 11.14 - 09/04/2024
    Ver. 11.16 Beta - 09/24/2024
    Ver. 12.06 Beta - 10/22/2024
    Ver. 12.08 Beta - 11/05/2024
    Ver. 12.10 Beta - 11/14/2024
    Ver. 12.10 - 11/20/2024
    Ver. 12.11 - 12/17/2024

    I do realize that much of this is for bug fixes and not feature updates. Nonetheless, it is not recommended to buy the watch hoping that it will someday have all the features you want. Best to buy using Garmin's Compare features on their main web site and see what is offered today. If it's not there in the Garmin lineup, shop another brand.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to 0x3D6139

    You are confusing maintenance with development.

    Software updates are not the same as adding significant features (which is what I consider software development). Bug maintenance is not software development. Whatsmore, many software updates that were supposed to fix bugs introduce new bugs. So, not only there is no development for Venu watches, but there are always some bugs that affect watch functionality.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to 0x3D6139

    The only major update it got was I guess 8.23, which introduced the Running Dynamics. The segmentation in Garmin is huge. A 450$ watch that behaves like a stupid watch (Venu 3) vs the same 450$ watch that powers the FR265 which is on a entirely different league. One can argue hardware differences, that is true, but the FR 265 has multi-band GPS, at the cost of ECG, microphone and speaker. At least give some features to the Venu 3. I am a Garmin user since 2017 and I know this segmentation exists, but it was not for a 450$ watch, maybe for a 200$ watch. 450$ is a huge money.

  • 0 1 month ago

    But which Garmin models are different in this? Fenix 8 is released, but previous generation will not get new UI.

    PS:I still did not lose hope to get better timers support (like FR 265) and voice recorder...

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to Gregory

    UI is different. Change in UI does not impact the functionality/feature usage of the watch. Venu 3 and FR265 are identically priced but the feature differences are so vast.

    For example, Courses feature can be introduced to Venu 3. We can use that to create our own Walk/Run/Cycle path and then use navigation to follow it. With Running Dynamics introduced to Venu 3, Courses would be very good and highly useful feature but it is not compatible with Venu 3, which means you can't use the watch for any kind of navigation purpose. I do cycling and sometimes running, I basically have to pull out my phone now and then to check if I am on the right path. That hindrance can be avoided if Courses are introduced and the basic breadcrumb style navigation.

    Nobody is asking all the features of FR265, that would of course be lame. Core running features can be retained to FR 265 and other features can make its way to Venu 3. 

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to PRK91

    UI was just an example how new features are not ported to to older model.
    And yes, I do not expect that all FR features to be added to Venu3. BUT Venu3 is described as a smartest model in the line and therefore it must have all smart features it HW allows. This includes timers which are better by FR265 and voice recorded which  had to be there from day 1 (since venu3 has a mic).

    Anyway, I have a feeling OP point is not very accurate - lack of new features is not Venu3 issue, but Garmin general strategy. Unfortunately. Let's see if pressure from AW, PW and GW wich become better and better in sport area and offer great software support for older models will help Garmin to change its mind.

  • 0 1 month ago

    Sorry, I didnt read all those misleading comments in support reply. Pay more money get more features. Happy with my Venu3.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to 6012915

    Then you have not read properly haha. FR265 and Venu 3 are priced the same, 450 US$. But FR265 has way more features than Venu 3, and Venu 3 is just neglected.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to Gregory

    I get it. Venu 3 is not smart by any means, connection to Voice assistant (I have a Pixel phone), takes a mighty 5-10 seconds of time, that is in no way smart. There is no way to read old emails in the watch, just read emails as they arrive in notifications. That is not smart haha. If Garmin wants to make Venu 3 smart, they need to make it really smart, introducing notifications on amoled screen, and adding a mic and speaker is not smart. To add more, the keyboard is messy, no prediction feature.

    I agree with your view of Garmin's general strategy, it used to work before, because FR series were priced higher than others. Venu 3 is identically priced to FR265 and it does not have anything that can be applauded as smart. Wheelchair users might be happy to have that feature, but I am not sure if that is bug free or working as advertised. And your point is right. Venu 3 is far more expensive than AW, PW, and GW, and they offer a lot more features than Venu 3. The only lacking might be battery life. I love Garmin, but for a 450$ watch, Garmin shows no love, that is quite tough to digest. My problem is not the lineup and features, its the money we spent on a product and expecting no love from Garmin.

    Edit: It's just not me. You must have heard of DC Rainmaker, he reviews watches and his reviews are excellent. He made a point about how confusing Garmin's lineup is and he told the Venu 3 should not exist, especially at this price point. It should basically be FR 265, FR 165 and Vivoactive 5. Venu 3 at 450$ does a lot of injustice, has less features compared to FR 165 (which is only 299$). That is a like a insult to all Venu 3 users.

    To summarize, the 450$ FR265 has more features than Venu 3 and even the 299$ FR165 has more features compared to Venu 3. Or if Garmin wants Venu 3 lineup, maybe 300 or 350$ would be better, not 450$.