The Newest Garmin Forerunners Now Have a Smart Wake Alarm, a Calculator, and More

The latest software update of the Garmin Foreunner 570 and 970 watches, and for the Fenix 8, adds an intelligent wake alarm, previously available only on the Vivoactive 6 and the Index Sleep monitor, which I examined here. The update brings some other new features, including the automatic rest count for force activities (even if you do not follow a structured training).

How to update

This is a regular update, not a beta version. You can update by going to the settings and then System,, Software updateAnd Update. You want to make sure you are up to 12.70 to get the smart alarm and other new features.

Here are the publication notes for the Precursor 570 And Precursor 970 Versions of the update. The Fenix 8 also obtains an intelligent alarm and other features in its update of 17.28.

Here are some of the other new features:

How the smart alarm works

Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Once you have updated, you will see some new options when you define an alarm. To define alarms, go to the settings of your watch (for a long time by pressing the button in the middle left), then select Clocks.

Now, when defining an alarm, you can activate a rocking for “smart wake”. When this is on, the alarm can wake you up at any time within 30 minutes preceding the defined time. (Thus, an alarm of 7:30 am would wake you up between 7:00 am and 7:30 am). The alarm will wake you up early if the watch detects that you have enough one full night And If this can detect you in a lighter sleep stage.

Intelligent alarms will have a yellow sparkle icon and will give time like a window (like “7: 00-7: 30”) in the alarms list.

Development methods

Credit: Beth Skwarecki

You can now adjust your watch settings according to a focus. We have already had the sleep mode, but now you can activate the theater mode, which deactivates movement alerts (thank you!), Mutates all sounds, defines the light brightness and deactivates the gesture that lights up on the screen when you move your wrist.

For the moment, my only options are sleep, theater and activity. I can change the settings of each mode from the Garmin Connect application, but I cannot add new modes. Instead, I have to enter the watch settings and select Development methodsScroll down and press Add. This option is not available in the watch shortcut menu, only the settings.

Automatic rest accounts for strength training

What it looks like after time has elapsed
Credit: Beth Skwarecki

I always liked the way I can schedule a strength training and get an automatic rest timer when I finish each set, so that it buzzes when I need to get up and do the next set.

Now you can get this functionality even on “free” training sessions – those where you do not follow a specific training, but simply doing your thing in the gymnasium and pressing the LAP button to start and finish the sets.

Before starting your training on force, there is now a menu element on behalf of rest counts. Light this and define it on the desired time – for example, two minutes. (Need help to decide? I wrote on rest times here. Most of you are not resting long enough.)

Now when you finish a set, a timer appears that starts at 2:00 and counts. Once he strikes zero, the watch warns you and it starts to count upWith a more sign and a red border almost time so that you have known for how long you have released.

You can change the rest time during training. Simply access the training settings (median long, press the left button) and change the time. If a rest timer is running, it will be updated immediately.

Calculator application

Punch at the cost of your meal and press “Tip” and you get this practical screen.
Credit: Beth Skwarecki

It took me a minute to find the calculator application, but that’s it! Go to the menu of your controls (press the button at the top left), then settings settings (press the left middle button). Tell it that you want to add a check and scroll down until you find the calculator.

There is even one Advice button. Enter the cost of your meal, press tip and you are taken to a screen where you can decide the percentage that you want to tip (by default 20%). This screen also displays the total and can automatically divide the invoice, saying how much each person should pay to cover the final amount.