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Speculations about the long delay in updates and new features?

vdot64
over 4 years ago

Any thoughts on why Garmin is not providing any updates or patches recently?

5 months ago, myself and other identified a problem with Garmin devices not picking up run cadence properly when a smart trainer is near by. It was acknowledged by Garmin, both in these forums and during a support phone call. While the interim fix is to unplug my smart trainer when using my treadmill, this really is not a long term solution, and this problem never existed prior to the last HUB update.

I have been patiently waiting for Garmin to fix this, but I am not starting to get concerned with their lack up updates.

Many other are waiting/wanting feature updates and other fixes (Jaybird headphones as one example)

My only guess is perhaps they are focusing on a replacement model, but it sure would be nice if they would at least fix problems they have introduced.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Digeridoo
    Digeridoo said:
    Just facts.

    Well, 2 of the last 5 had 3-4 months (90-120 days.) separation.  April 2020 was right around time business shutdown or scaled back for covid too. That may or may not have something to do with it. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Digeridoo
    Digeridoo said:

    SW lifetime was increased from 1-2 month(s) to 3-4 months since 4.40 at 2020-04-07.

    .

    Only for that one instance. There is no clearly discernible pattern. Updates happen when they happen.

    Perhaps the question should be why, if as some suggest the 945 and the F6 are the same just in a different case, is the F6 on 16.10 while the 945 languishes on 6.20?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Dr Phil
    Dr Phil said:
    Only for that one instance. There is no clearly discernible pattern. Updates happen when they happen.

    Really only for that one instance?

    • Average lifetime increased in 2 times.
    • Lifetime of SW 4.40 is 4.5 months
    • Lifetime of SW 5.00 is ~2.5 months
    • Lifetime of SW 5.50 is 3 months
    • Lifetime of SW 6.20 is already 2 months, and at least 1 month we can add since there is no new beta SW, so in total 3 months or more.

    You are right that updates happen when they happen. But last year updates happen in two times rare then before and this is a fact / pattern.

    Why has the lifetime of SW been increased? We can't know. Just my assumptions:

    1. COVID? Here we need to compare the frequency of updates for Fenix series (or similar). If it is the same, then it can be the main reason. If it is not the same, then read options below.
    2. Garmin has lost some experienced employees in the Forerunner 945 development team.
    3. Garmin has decreased the priority of development for Forerunner 945.
    4. Aliens :)

    As for me, options 2 and 3 are most probable. For someone maybe option 4.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to road-run

    And what is your conclusion?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Digeridoo

    As I said in my post about VO2max, it's strange it didn't come in sync with fenix 6 deploy. Gathering info from various sources I think something new is coming.... 955?  
    That halted the 945 deployment for some reason. This is my best guess.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to road-run

    I mean the conclusions of your remark about the completeness of the table.

    In my table the following are absent:

    • beta SW
    • SW with hot fixes only and the lifetime of which is less then 7 days (5.20, 5.40).
    • SW earlier than 2.60 (2.30, 2.40, 2.50)

    Something is wrong with the table?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Digeridoo

    Nothing is wrong. But to evaluate Garmin dedication to firmware updates I think all iteration should be accounted for,

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Digeridoo
    Digeridoo said:
    SW earlier than 2.60 (2.30, 2.40, 2.50)

    I would guess these were version used before release. No watch that I can recall has been released with 1.00

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Digeridoo

    When data has an obvious outlier (134) it skews analysis, hence the median is often used instead of the mean. I can’t be bothered to work out the median (the number in the middle of a set of ordered numbers or the mean of the two middle in an even set of numbers) but feel free to do that.

    There are lies damn lies and statistics.