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Garmin Connect services were down

connect.garmin.com

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Re: Garmin Connect services were down

#11

Post by clarionbell »

mvdtnz wrote: post #4
0x000042 wrote: post #2

All Garmin Connect services are currently down. This affects most (all?) Garmin fitness products such as the popular Fenix watches. The Garmin Connect app seems to be completely useless without the Garmin Connect servers being up. It is not even possible to see local data on the phone. I guess this also means that at some point in the future when Garmin discontinues the servers an enormous amount of watches becomes u…

My Connect app (Android) still shows current steps, heart rate data, body battery etc. Only the online portions are affected.

Even my antique vivoactive is doing fine. I wouldn't know anything was off if not for the announcement.

Re: Garmin Connect services were down

#13

Post by maxerickson »

teleforce wrote: post #5

All wearable devices should implement local-host functionality and capability by default, failure to do so it's not acceptable from the perspective of Murphy's Law [1], [2]. [1] Local-first software: https://localfirstweb.dev/ [2] Murphy's law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law

The watches don't need the server to function (I'm wearing one), which seems to satisfy what you are saying.

I think the only major impact is that "coached" activities won't be available, but everything else in the watches works without a network connection. Data history isn't hugely available on the watch either, but that's just an inconvenience.

Re: Garmin Connect services were down

#15

Post by vincnetas »

hbbio wrote: post #8
teleforce wrote: post #5

All wearable devices should implement local-host functionality and capability by default, failure to do so it's not acceptable from the perspective of Murphy's Law [1], [2]. [1] Local-first software: https://localfirstweb.dev/ [2] Murphy's law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law

Unlike the Apple Watch, or Fitbit (Google), the Garmin watches function properly without being tethered to a phone. You can setup a watch without a phone and without ever activating the online services. They are here only for backup and additional features like social sharing. You can also backup locally with open source software if you want. That's why I chose one and it's one of the best products I ever had.

This makes me wanna buy from garmin. Do they embrace opensource tools or are they reverse engineered and Garmin just does not fight them?

Re: Garmin Connect services were down

#16

Post by briandear »

redleader55 wrote: post #3
0x000042 wrote: post #2

All Garmin Connect services are currently down. This affects most (all?) Garmin fitness products such as the popular Fenix watches. The Garmin Connect app seems to be completely useless without the Garmin Connect servers being up. It is not even possible to see local data on the phone. I guess this also means that at some point in the future when Garmin discontinues the servers an enormous amount of watches becomes u…

Last time this happened, there were two effects: on one hand people making fun of not being able to upload their activities to Strava and on the other hand, and more seriously, people not being able to use their aviation navigation systems. Can someone comment if the Garmin aviation devices are affected?

Garmin glass cockpits don’t depend on Garmin services at all. Perhaps updating charts but that’s a monthly thing generally and it’s not done while airborne.

The “not FAA approved” isn’t a thing — there are devices that go in uncertified (experimental) aircraft, but those also don’t depend on live connections to Garmin services.

Re: Garmin Connect services were down

#17

Post by iib »

teleforce wrote: post #5

All wearable devices should implement local-host functionality and capability by default, failure to do so it's not acceptable from the perspective of Murphy's Law [1], [2]. [1] Local-first software: https://localfirstweb.dev/ [2] Murphy's law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law

I use Gadgetbridge[1] exactly for this reason. It's a FOSS app (on f-droid as well) that tricks wearables into thinking that your phone is actually communicating legitimately with the server.

Garmin support[2] is not really good. Some commenters here mentioned that Garmin watches can work without servers, maybe that's why.

It's not local-first by definition, because you still need a phone with an app, but it's the best I got for now (apart from finally assembling my PineTime watch).

[1] https://gadgetbridge.org/

[2] https://gadgetbridge.org/gadgets/wearables/garmin/

Re: Garmin Connect services were down

#18

Post by jayelbe »

redleader55 wrote: post #3
0x000042 wrote: post #2

All Garmin Connect services are currently down. This affects most (all?) Garmin fitness products such as the popular Fenix watches. The Garmin Connect app seems to be completely useless without the Garmin Connect servers being up. It is not even possible to see local data on the phone. I guess this also means that at some point in the future when Garmin discontinues the servers an enormous amount of watches becomes u…

Last time this happened, there were two effects: on one hand people making fun of not being able to upload their activities to Strava and on the other hand, and more seriously, people not being able to use their aviation navigation systems. Can someone comment if the Garmin aviation devices are affected?

Try visiting their FlyGarmin services at - https://fg.garmin.com - certainly looks to be down.

Re: Garmin Connect services were down

#19

Post by truefossil »

teleforce wrote: post #5

All wearable devices should implement local-host functionality and capability by default, failure to do so it's not acceptable from the perspective of Murphy's Law [1], [2]. [1] Local-first software: https://localfirstweb.dev/ [2] Murphy's law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law

I remember that some Garmin employees gave talks on CRDTs at some event. That was 2015 or 2016, so I can not recall any details.

Re: Garmin Connect services were down

#20

Post by hoseja »

vincnetas wrote: post #15
hbbio wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unlike the Apple Watch, or Fitbit (Google), the Garmin watches function properly without being tethered to a phone. You can setup a watch without a phone and without ever activating the online services. They are here only for backup and additional features like social sharing. You can also backup locally with open source software if you want. That's why I chose one and it's one of the best products I ever had.

This makes me wanna buy from garmin. Do they embrace opensource tools or are they reverse engineered and Garmin just does not fight them?

From older experiences I'd expect Garmin to try and fight them, unsuccessfully.
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