Ugh, and so the enshittification begins…
Garmin adds AI and a subscription tier to its app
Submitted 2 months ago by moe90@feddit.nl to technology@lemmy.world
https://www.theverge.com/news/636211/garmin-connect-plus-subscription-wearables
Comments
zarlin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
It really sucks, they’ve been spared from noticeable enshitification so far but I guess the line didn’t go up enough anymore…
slaacaa@lemmy.world 2 months ago
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
The green mile. A great movie for those wondering.
Pogogunner@sopuli.xyz 2 months ago
I’ve bought Garmin devices explicitly because they didn’t do these things, and promised not to do these things. Since I know they’re not going to retract this decision, I am going to look into trying to get my purchases refunded.
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
This is taking it to heart for sure. Nothing wrong with your POV but it’s opinion and their tech has no comoarison currently.
daddy32@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Oh, for fuck’s sake. We just bought our first Garmin watches two months ago. I felt uneasy about our new relationship with yet another american corporation, but we loved the watches and the app… And now what?
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
Don’t worry. Nothing compares to their battery life and feature set for health data. They are a stand up company anytime I ever needed support.
AtariDump@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Don’t worry nothing has changed at all…
Yet
dmtalon@infosec.pub 2 months ago
Well, that truly sucks and could lead to me swapping to another brand if it adds ads to upgrade to my connect app.
I paid a lit IF freaking money for my watch and included services.
INFACT I am going to email them my opinion on this and warn them I will absolutely leave in a heartbeat
danciestlobster@lemm.ee 2 months ago
I also submitted feedback there. Probably amounts to nothing but you never know.
dmtalon@infosec.pub 2 months ago
If 100k people do, it will but ya low expectations for sure
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
Garmin feedback is taken seriously. You likely will get a response if you added contact info.
Their customer service are top notch. I’ve gotten new watches, bands and free shipping to and from for different issues.
This change is no different than any other company on the planet. Land grabbing for AI. It’s a paid tier. None of their free or core feature sets have changed at all.
AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
For fuckkkksss sake. Ill keep my garmin watch until it works but never buying another one. I was so happy to find a watch that had everything i needed. Actually huge shame…
Chessmasterrex@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Yay more shit that nobody asked for.
yessikg@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
Oh no, good thing gadgetbridge exists
ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
AFAIK gadgetbridge is not even close to a replacement WRT functionality? Last I checked it only supported basic data import, has that changed?
yessikg@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
It depends of how well supported a specific model is
refreeze@lemmy.world 2 months ago
My Forerunner 165 is well supported, nearly the same as the official app.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I just tried it with my Fenix 6 and it does not appear to work at all despite being listed as partially supported. My watch can’t even be discovered by the app, even after factory resetting it and removing all of the Garmin apps from my phone.
That’s a shame. I’ll go back to wearing my mechanical watch for a while, I think.
white_nrdy@programming.dev 2 months ago
For the android users, just gonna put this here
mattc@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Thank you. Installed for when I finally find my charger.
njordomir@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Also, don’t forget to donate if you can. Their liberapay says they’re getting ~120€/week in donations. I think freeing our wearable devices is worth a whole lot more than that.
circledot@feddit.org 2 months ago
I’m using a Garmin watch with Gadget Bridge from f-droid. Works well even though I don’t like the app’s look that much.
NotJohnSmith@feddit.uk 2 months ago
Sorry, what does that achieve please?
Cenotaph@mander.xyz 2 months ago
Enables use of watch features without using the garmin connect app
Hominine@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Thanks a million for this!
jeeva@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Just as I was saying to myself “I’m pretty happy with the Garmin I have, I don’t need a new Pebble,” here come Pebble’s marketing department with a reason!
… What do you mean this is an announcement from Garmin?
Kualdir@europe.pub 2 months ago
Uch, was already willing to get rid of my garmin but this just gives me more motivation
PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
It’s also not trustworthy. Would you want the united states to have access to your heart rate, pulse ox, gps location, and other health stats?
Kualdir@europe.pub 2 months ago
My main reason for wanting to get rid of it is indeed #BuyFromEU based, but tbh I’m also still using my google pixel (looking to install Graphene once I bought my appartement, don’t want to risk issues with my bank app right now)
Probably getting a withings watch soon™
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 2 months ago
A parallel comment to my rant yesterday, I see the pushback has already begun in Garmin’s reviews against this nonsense. All of the recent reviews of their Android app are now overwhelmingly complaints about the subscription addition, and I suspect iOS is the same. If you haven’t done so already, please be sure to blow Garmin up over this on any platform you can get your grubby hands on.
I know posting this here is probably more like spitting on a forest fire; I’m sure the seven or eight nerds here on Lemmy dedicated enough to care have already put Garmin on blast for this (myself included), but it never hurts to make sure.
RubberElectrons@lemmy.world 2 months ago
What’s crazy is I’m on the fence about a beeline moto because they have subscription for basic shit like traffic, thinking Garmin would be better.
Welp.
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
Garmin is at the top of the game for health tracking and fitness bar none but if your looking to monitor traffic a different type of smart watch would suit you better.
I loathe saying this but a pixel watch with Gmaps might be your best bet. Someone else could offer an open source option though perhaps.
MemmingenFan923@feddit.org 2 months ago
I agree to leave a review on the Appstores. However Garmin can censor the negative reviews if they want. So i recommend in addition to that leavkng comments on social media, review webpages, videos where Garmin can’t delete the comments.
madcaesar@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Of all the ais gemini is the worst lol
small44@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Will those features be as useless as strava summeries?
Pogogunner@sopuli.xyz 2 months ago
They’re AI so yes
Crashumbc@lemmy.world 2 months ago
JFC, is nothing safe?
I was just talking about dumping Fitbit as Google destroys it and jumping to Garmin…
oakward@feddit.org 2 months ago
Me too. What now?
pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
What now?
Some options:
- Gadget Bridge allows connecting most devices fully locally +PineTime simple, but cheap and free of corporate nonsense
- RePebble (coming later this year) - I just learned and it in this thread, but it looks promising.
Melvin_Ferd@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Maybe the problem is you
SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
Garmin makes toilet paper, right?
T00l_shed@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Don’t know about tp, but they are certainly making shit now.
grrgyle@slrpnk.net 2 months ago
There it is.
So glad I skipped out on buying one of these
turtl@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Yikes… Once my current Garmin watch dies I’ll just switch back to a regular non-smart watch
PerfectDark@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Easy fix:
Buy a fitness/smart watch - an older one is fine, why go excessive
Download GadgetBridge from F-Droid/Droidify and then use that instead of a proprietary app which is just harvesting your data and telemetry at every chance:
BeardedBlaze@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I wish that was the case, but it absolutely doesn’t even come close.
EugeneNine@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
For anyone else wondering, you can export all your Garmin data .Use the “Export All Garmin Data Using Account Management Center” option here support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=W1TvTPW8JZ6LfJSfK51… The output is json files so you can use any json editor or anything that can import json. I use a little tool called JQ jqlang.org to extract just things I need. Then I can analyze in whatever tool I want such as a spreadsheet
KingOogaBooga@lemmy.world 2 months ago
There is also a Python module to pull your data.
ProfHillbilly@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I have a Fenix 5x and was looking to get a 7 or 8 but now I will just stick to my 5X. I am so tired of all the enshitifacation of every fucking thing.
NotJohnSmith@feddit.uk 2 months ago
I recall an app called endomondo doing similar. I’d bought the Pro version for lifetime only to find them move to a Premium option.
That was fine as I still had what I had paid for… until take up wasn’t good enough and slowly key features moved behind the paywall.
Im fairly certain this is the direction this is going. I wonder if there’ll be a class action if so to force buy back of the hardware
Myro@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Oh yeah, Endomondo brings back memories. Let’s see what’s next for Garmin, though this is not a good sign. Unfortunately, there’s no real alternatives out there if you consider batters life.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Pebble, but neither of their upcoming revived models have the same spread of sensors shoved into them as Garmin does if that sort of thing matters to you.
I would happily buy something just like my Fenix without the stupid pulse ox/heart rate monitor, but I understand I am in the minority there. I’d keep the GPS, compass, temperature, altimeter, and barometer functions. But then, I’m probably the sole person on Earth who would be the first to buy a phone without a goddamned selfie camera on it, either.
LiveLM@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Not even Garmin can resist the temptation?
Oof, better hold out hope for Repebble I guesspinball_wizard@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Ooh. Thanks. Today I learned about RePebble. If it doesn’t deliver, there’s still also Gadget Bridge (connect most devices fully locally) and PineTime (another spiritual successor to the Pebble).
RiQuY@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Time to search for a new brand for my next watch 😓 (when I need it)
r4k00n@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
Pebble!
fushuan@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Google (which purchased Fitbit, which had bought Pebble) still owns PebbleOS - repebble.com
Right in their website.
refreeze@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Unfortunately they don’t include a GPS.
yessikg@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
Pinetime
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
For all those clammering to sell and throw away, stick on the shelf, I will keep, buy, or what have you all your Garmin watches so long as they aren’t trashed and are relatively newer models.
Yes I am serious. PM me so we can discuss further if your done with Garmin.
Bruncvik@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I just saw DC Rainmaker’s video on this, and I’m not impressed. In any case, I’ve bern using my Garmin watch mainly for running, and I’ve been more interested in spot data than history on Connect. Still, I’m on my last Garmin watch. The hardware itself seems to last for only 18-24 months before problems start piling up, so I decided that my next watch will be Coros. I’m under no illusions that the hardware would be more reliable, but it costs half of what I’ve paid for my Garmin.
sbv@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
All existing health data and features, however, will remain free.
Perfect!
Aux@feddit.uk 2 months ago
Garmin is being eaten alive by Apple and Samsung, it’s their last grasp for some air. They refused to change their business model for a decade and it’s a payback time.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 2 months ago
TL;DR: They lied to us, plain and simple. The temptation of Make Line Go Up was enough to make Garmin abandon their promise of no subscriptions and no paywalls.
Nobody outside of the idiots in the boardroom wants this, especially the AI garbage. It’s disgusting that $1100 for a Fenix 8 isn’t already enough for these greedy assholes.
I am on my second Garmin watch, a Fenix 6. Previously I had a 5x. My wife has a Lily. These will be our last ever Garmin devices, and I’ll be sure to let them know it. It’s getting to the point where no smartwatch maker can be trusted, unsurprisingly, and honestly the alleged benefits they provide are probably no longer worth it in the long run. Before smartwatches were a thing I amassed quite a selection of normal watches, which I will probably just go back to using when my current watch inevitably cacks it, or the software becomes so borked that it’s useless.
rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Moving previously free features of a product you’ve already paid for should be considered theft legally. Hopefully enough people in the EU complain about it for them to do something about it.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The problem with that is this is software. We’ve seen this before. If the EU complains they’ll stop doing it… only in the EU. They’ll continue the fuckery in the US because it’s legal here.
EugeneNine@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
If you read the announcement from them you will see that they are not moving previously free features to paid, all of the previously free features are still free, they are adding some new paid features.
neblem@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Hopefully things like PineTime, Bangle.js, and the return of Pebble can shake up the market. There’s always neat DIY hacks like the SensorWatch too that can still make the space fun even if the major players get enshittified.
njordomir@lemmy.world 2 months ago
If gadget bridge paired with a fully featured local analysis tool, I would love that and probably put them on my FOSS donation list too.
JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl 2 months ago
HealthyPi will be a too option too.
refreeze@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I also just deleted my Connect account. I have had it with these greedy American corporations. To anyone looking for an alternative, I highly recommend checking out Gadgetbridge, it still lets you use your watch with almost all the same features, only the data never leaves your phone.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Any advice for getting it to actually work with a Garmin watch? I just tried it with my Fenix 6 (solar) and it doesn’t detect the watch at all. In fact, even selecting “show unsupported devices” reveals that my watch’s bluetooth MAC address isn’t even seen by my phone. (Yes, I unpaired it and removed Connect from my phone. I also resorted to factory resetting my watch. No dice.)
At the moment I’m using it unconnected because it still shows the time and so forth with the watch face I want. But without any kind of connectivity there’s really no point to not just putting this thing back in its box for good and grabbing one of my numerous dumb watches.
ProfHillbilly@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Is this in the google app store? I can’t find it.
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
They haven’t paywalled anything that I have seen. This is a paid tier.
And009@lemmynsfw.com 2 months ago
I’m not putting down my fenix 6 anytime soon. If they’re half as smart and don’t want to kill their business, they’ll take that AI shit out or keep the free tier worth it.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Capitulation leads to these corporations refusing to change and believing they can weather out the complaints and still come out the other side profitably without changing their behavior.
I can live with a dumb watch until they announce they’re walking this back.
ProfHillbilly@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I love my 5X but I will be fucked if I buy another watch if this happpens.
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
Not true. Simply don’t get the paid feature. Everything works as it should. This is massively overblown. Everyone’s pushing AI this and that because it’s the hot thing right now.