Garmin has announced an extensive update to its Garmin Connect app and website. The brand has revealed that as of today, customers enrolled in the Garmin beta software program can try out the new beta version of the already excellent Garmin Connect app and website, before it is made available to all later in the year. Garmin says both the app and website have received a fresh new look, with a simplified design aimed to provide a more customizable user experience.
The Garmin Connect app already has loads of data insights that help bikers and gravel riders reach their health and fitness goals, and it works seamlessly with the best Garmin smartwatches and GPS cycling computers, which puts an absolute plethora of information in users' hands.
The new update comes on the back of Garmin adding ECG monitoring to its smartwatches and this long-anticipated function has seen Garmin catch up with one of the most popular Apple Watch features. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 recently added a ton of cycling-themed updates and saw Apple challenge to become the go-to cycling smartwatch, so does this update give Garmin the edge on cycling-friendly functionality? I had a look over the details of what's new...
User-friendly looks
The updated version of the app and website brings all the stats and information the user requires to their homepage and allows them to personalize their page and information like never before. The look is also improved with bigger individual windows and more information within them, for at-a-glance updates on health and fitness metrics, without the need to click through each window as before. You can still dive deeper if required but the customization allows for the specific information you want to be on your homepage for a much improved user experience.
Tailored to your goals
The customization of the new homepage also allows users to choose what they want to see and in what order, which was the same as the previous version, but this one just looks a lot better. So whether you're keeping an eye on overall well-being, sleep performance, or training for the next big MTB event or gravel bike adventure race, the new Garmin Connect homepage enables users to choose what they see.
For example, preparation for an upcoming race or competition now has all the race prep information like a countdown clock and even a race day weather forecast. Training plans are also easily tracked with an improved view of scheduled Garmin Coach cycling workouts plans, training progress and simplified view of week’s worth of scheduled and completed workouts.
Garmin Vice President of Fitness Joe Schrick gave his thoughts on the new update, “Since its inception, Garmin Connect has played an integral role in helping users track, analyze and share their health and fitness stats recorded by a paired Garmin device. With this new refresh, we are excited to bring a simplified design and more relevant insights to each customer to inform and inspire them as they continue to conquer their goals.”
Elsewhere, Garmin has also announced a brand new HRM-Fit heart rate monitor specifically designed for women that they say has a specially designed clip-on attachment for medium- and high-support sports bras, aimed to maximize comfort while delivering the same real-time heart rate and training data stats as the current Garmin HRM models. Of course not being a woman it's hard to comment on the functionality of this, but we'll look to get one of our female freelancers to put it to the test very soon.
The beta version of the refreshed Garmin Connect will begin rolling out to signed-up beta customers today with more information available at Connect.garmin.com.
