While I don’t always love what running BETA software on my Garmin devices does to me (clearly a self-inflicted wound; although they are generally very stable), I do love the way they structure the program. It’s open to anyone, no NDAs, and they are generally pretty good about documenting what’s in the release.
In this release for the EDGE530, they’ve introduced the ability to sound an all-clear (“green threat level”) tone when the fast moving objects stop being detected. While I’m not sure I would use this personally, I do think it’s a great option, although the thing I’m hoping to get out of installing this release is the “Improved bike light network stability”.
After installing the update, you will get prompted to have a play with it – which is fantastic. And, this is what the UI, and tone, looks/sounds like:
Changes made from version 8.20 to 8.63:
- Fixed device-to-device transfers
- Added new tone for radar that that plays when your radar transitions to the green threat level. Go to the radar settings in the sensors menu to enable this feature.
- Improved bike light network connection stability
- Improved course point display and added new types
- Improved Course ‘Always Show’ functionality
- Improved shifting sensor battery data fields
- Improved Physio True-up data recording
- Improved indoor trainer control
- Improved sensor search flow
- Fixed issue causing unnecessary sensor software update prompts
- Fixed power calibration prompt when waking from sleep mode
- Fixed history line color
- Fixed issue with left/right power balance recording
- Fixed issue with GPS not turning off in indoor mode
- Fixed the power graph during workout steps with no power target
- Fixed issue where on-device Training Plan would not allow riding one-step workouts
- Fixed issues with CIQ data field alerts and widget pages
- Improved general device stability
I’ve had a chance to do a couple hundred miles with the 8.63 firmware and have experienced far fewer (just one, in fact) sensor drops over this time, which is a huge improvement. I also have come to really like the all-clear tone that sounds when the last vehicle in a cluster has passed; I find that it allows me to look down at my computer less, which is great. I can see how it might be less useful where you ride, though, since you’d hear the all-clear only when you pull into the driveway at the end of a ride.