Garmin is introducing Public Beta Version 17.18 for several Forerunner smartwatches, introducing a variety of new features and tweaks.
The patch will be available on the Precursor 255 And 955 from 2022, as well as the Precursor 265 And 965 as of this year. The most important update, as indicated by Gadgets and wearables, is the addition of nap tracking. As the name suggests, this feature allows smartwatches to record your sleeping habits during the day. It will even recommend the best time for a quick nap and how long you should sleep for.
Naps, according to the company, can actually be beneficial to your health and can improve your overall mood. This function first appeared on the Venu 3. It has since made its way into other lines, such as the Fenix 7 series. Unlike the Venu 3, the Forerunners did not receive a Sleep Coach that would have given you “personalized sleep advice”.
Only for your eyes
Then, people who own a Forerunner 265 or 965 can activate Red Shift mode to fill a watch face with more reddish tones. Blue light of devices can disrupt your vision at night and disrupt your sleep. Red light, on the other hand, is gentler on the eyes. This feature will not be made available for the Forerunner 255 or 955 as they do not have the AMOLED displays needed to support it.
The last major update revolves around Body Battery. As Gadgets & Wearables explains, the tool shows how “individual daily events” such as stressful situations or moments of rest affect your body’s energy levels. Everything will be color coded for easy reading.
Small inclusions
The rest of the beta mainly consists of a few tweaks to certain features for better usability. Smart notifications now show embedded images, inline skating has been added as an exercise mode, and users can choose to have larger font sizes on the screen. Android Central states that the Up Ahead tool will verbally alert people when they are “approaching an exit, hill or water station” on their route.
For those interested in trying the beta for themselves, they will first need to join the Garmin Beta Software program. We have a manual that explains the process in detail. Basically, you need to log into your Garmin Connect account and then choose the device you want to enter into the program. Once you’re in, go to the System section in your Forerunner’s Settings menu. Tap Software Update and then go to Check for updates. The beta should be waiting for you there.
If you’re looking for other options, check out Ny Breaking’s list of the best Garmin watches for 2023.