APAC vs ROW Firmware

Why would it be hard to believe that you have no feasible way (and are not offered a way by Garmin) of doing what you want, even if one expects the hardware is fully capable of running either version of the firmware? 'Artificial' and/or arbitrary limitations are still limitations that can prevent you from getting what you want, and being offered or shown a way to get around them is not the expected norm.

For all intents and purpose, there is no way to install OS X on a Intel-based PC. Yes, I known there are Hackintoshes in the wild, but do you also expect Apple or any brand name PC manufacturer to support such and/or tell you it can be done?

Perhaps I am missing something but what benefit would this bring? I would not have thought any additional or different functionality.

Software release schedules can differ with the regional variants.

I think OnlyTwo is correct - only way round this to swop out your device.

Garmin prevent you from changing firmware like this because presume if you buy one thing you can't then be supportable if you then try and load on something else. That is of course even if you find a way and I have not heard of one.

what benefit would this bring?

1. Frequency of releases (APAC is now only at 4.10)
2. Possibility to install desired language
3. Wider choice of Apps

there is no way to install OS X on a Intel-based PC. Yes, I known there are Hackintoshes in the wild, but do you also expect Apple or any brand name PC manufacturer to support such and/or tell you it can be done?

Wrong example, I am afraid: in the 935 case we are talking about same maker and same hardware

I'm fully aware that it's the same manufacturer in this case, but all the same it's up to the manufacturer -- not you -- to decide on any arbitrary limitations on which software versions can be installed on which hardware models, so why is it so hard to believe you have no way of doing what you want that Garmin would offer, support or condone?

Garmin sell the different versions for a reason, largely I think do to the languages available. There was a post somewhere discussing the differences. Basically, you buy an APAC device then that's what you got. Unfortunately, if you wanted a ROW version, then that's what you should have purchased. Sorry, but you're stuck with what you've got, unless you can negotiate an exchange.

Hello:

I've tried to change the APAC PartNumber: 006-B2833-00 for the ROW PartNumber: 006-B2691-00 (I have taken that number from the Connect IQ SDK), in the GarminDevice.xml. Garmin Express thinks that my watch is the ROW version and asks to update to 7.00.

But instead of updating to 7.00, it seems that corrects the .xml file and does nothing else.

Also in the WebUpdater, if you change the version number from 600 to 550 in that file, it also detects there's a new version (but in the web updater if I change the PartNumber, does not detect the device).

So I presume there's something else that needs to be changed to flash the ROW version. It's really strange, since in the Fenix 5 you can flash ROW just using the manual method.

You need to change the PartNumber in 2 different strings inside the GarminDevice.xml . Both WebUpdater and GarminExpress, detect de watch as the ROW version and ask to update the watch to 7.00. Both programs do (apparentely) the update to 7.00 (ROW version), but when you disconnect the watch or reset the device, it still remains at 6.00 and APAC version.

So there's a protection between regions or something else that is not in the Fenix 5....

I'm not sure you can do it on the f5 either.I think there was some earlier betas that worked with both APAC and ROW devices, but I forget the specifics. What you see in garmindevice.xml is what the watch itself says, and it just in the garmindevice.xml for easier access. If you delete the xml file, it just gets recreated when it boots.