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Comment by christoph | Hacker News Reader

My Forerunner 935 is basically the same story today. I can't do anything on it via the mobile apps. I guess I probably could do something with their desktop app and the USB cable, but it's really struck me how crippled the device seems today with their servers down, basically nothing is available or works at all through either Garmin Connect or ConnectIQ mobile apps. The apps don't appear to have any recent data cached locally either.

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I'd consider my Forerunner 220 almost completely un-crippled. I went for a run this morning, tracked it and got pace and distance information the whole time. If I look at my wrist, it tells me correctly that the time is currently 9:49 AM. If I unlock the device and scroll to the History tab, my run, and all previous runs since last September and their details are visible there. It acquires the GPS satellites the same as it always has. If I push the start button, it starts a new run.

It's true that I can't open my phone or PC and view past activities, but that's a very small part of the way I use my watch.

What are you doing with the mobile apps that makes your watch crippled without the Connect apps?

I can't alter a watch face - i.e. alter the fields displayed. I'm not wanting to download a new face, just alter one already download and present in the app and on the watch, or alter any data fields around specific activities.

I get syncing to any 3rd party service is clearly totally out unless I manually transfer the .fit file via USB and I understand why this would need their servers, although it would be good if the mobile app allowed transfer of these files, without requiring a laptop and USB cable.

There's no reason for the entire mobile app to be totally and utterly broken because their servers are down. There's a huge amount of functionality in there that should just work locally without needing an internet connection. I can't even set an alarm via their app without it needing an internet connection!?

There is absolutely no reason for requiring an internet connection for basic features such as setting an alarm or the 12/24h time format. I contacted Garmin customer support and they replied with corporate PR stuff, not answering my questions. I sold the watch a couple weeks later, won't buy Garmin again.

On my Garmin 935 I can set an alarm directly on the device without using the mobile app.

I can do all of that directly on my 735.

I agree that the mobile app shouldn't be broken with the server down, but I've got a FR 935 and can alter my watch face and set alarms through the watch.

Watch Face

1. Hold down up/menu

2. Hit start

3. Select Watch face

4. Hit start

5. Select customize

Alarms

1. Hold down up/menu

2. Click down to select clock

3. Hit start

4. Hit start again to select alarm clock

5. Navigate down to add alarm

Unlike on fitbit, I can set an alarm directly on my Garmin watch. (Vivoactive 3).

I consider this a huge +

The inability to change settings or sync data from a local device connected via Bluetooth is a huge flaw. The inability to view historical data in the app is more understandable but still a major shortcoming, especially since mine appeared to be cached until the last cloud update timed out and the cached data disappeared.

I'm fairly certain memory isn't an issue for my devices to continue collecting data, but there's no good reason to prevent Bluetooth comms between phone and watch when the internet is unreachable.

source: I use a Forerunner 945 for fitness & all-day tracking, and a Vivosmart 4 for sleep tracking

That's how the higher end Forerunners work, too, for that basic functionality -- but the more advanced stuff that the 220 doesn't offer are the things being discussed here.

many people (I have no actual data to say whether it's "most" or not) buy these things and pay the related premium prices so they can use many more of the features they come with that the basic ones you list.

Try creating a relatively complex multi-step workout without garmin connect now that the old win 3.1 looking desktop app doesn't work anymore

> My Forerunner 935 is basically the same story today. I can't do anything on it via the mobile apps.

I also have a 935.

Today I've so far recorded two activities. I can see my heart rate, and RHR for the last 7 days, I can see my training status (including VO2 max, lactate threshold, etc), I can see footsteps taken today and over the last 7 days, I can see my calendar, I can see my calorie burn today and over the last 7 days and I can see details about activities recorded on the device all the way back to December 18th.

The device isn't at all crippled.

I could see all of that stuff (Garmin Instinct) until the app refreshed, and it all disappeared. Now only shows my steps and calories.

That said, I don’t care too much. I only use the app to track my weight and look at historical data for runs. Honestly the watch doesn’t lose much value to me

It's still there for me too on my Vivoactive 3.

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