Garmin Beta 9.28 Update for Fenix 7/Epix 2/Quatix 7

On Aug 5, 2022, Garmin released a new 9.28 update for Garmin Fenix 7/Epix 2/Quatix 7. It is already in the Beta version and not and Alpha version. So if you are participating/enrolled in the Garmin Beta program, you should receive this update.

I previously wrote an article on how to participate in the Garmin Beta program and how to update a Garmin watch to the Beta software version.

What’s new on Beta Version 9.28 since v8.37?

Below are Garmin listed updates for Garmin Fenix 7/Epix 2/Quatix 7 from the v8.37 software version. This means that Beta 9.28 will contain all the updates that came with Alpha version 9.14, Alpha version 9.15, Alpha version 9.22, Beta Version 9.24.

A reminder of the difference between Alpha, Beta and Official versions from the article before.

Alpha Garmin software: This is an incomplete software version, which can only be written to the watch manually. This version usually has the most bugs and inaccuracies. There is a tutorial on how to install it.
Beta Garmin software: This software version is still in an unfinished form. However, it should be more stable than the Alpha version and can be saved to the watch by connecting to the Garmin Beta software program. There is a tutorial on how to install it.
Official Garmin software: This is the most stable and reliable version of Garmin software, which updates automatically on watches. Of course, if you are in Auto Update mode on the watch.

Added on Beta Version 9.28

Added a “What’s New” screen to call out new features in software updates.
Added a notification for the user when their suggested workouts have been updated to prepare for a race.
Added a power key control menu item for RCT.
Added a Reference Point app.
Added a trophy to be displayed after completing a race.
Added a watch face chart data fields for battery level and floors climbed.
Added ability to adjust gear weight for cycling power guides.
Added ability to disable temperature recording for an activity.
Added ability to manually update software via Wi-Fi to the software update menu.
Added ability to reorder stocks in the stock widget.
Added adjust terrain option to cycling power guides.
Added categorization to Activity setup.
Added confirmation page after completing a race.
Added course directional arrows to course lines on the map.
Added course elevation page to Primary Race widget.
Added course map preview to Race Widget.
Added Cycling Ability feature.
Added Cycling Power Guide support.
Added eBike support.
Added Effort page to cycling power guides.
Added elevation graph to cycling Power Guide preview.
Added elevation graph to cycling Power Guide preview.
Added ‘End Sleep’ prompt to App list access.
Added ‘End Sleep’ prompt to App list access.
Added follow course and PacePro selection to the Primary Race widget.
Added Golf Virtual Caddie support.
Added Golf wind speed and direction support.
Added Grit and Flow to eMTB activity.
Added Heat Acclimation history page to Training Status.
Added HRV Status to Training Readiness and Training Status.
Added HRV Status widget glance.
Added limit of 1 strategy per course and min/max course length for Cycling Power Guides
Added Load Focus access to Primary Running events.
Added main page to HRV Status Widget.
Added map option to Cycling Power Guide option menu.
Added missing data field label on Cycling Power guides data page.
Added Move/Copy prompt for adding individual glances to a Glance folder.
Added multicolor support to Climb Pro graphs for non-biking activities.
Added option to adjust rider position to Cycling Power Guides.
Added option to copy Glances back to list if folder is deleted.
Added options menu to Primary Race widget.
Added Plan Overview page to Daily Suggested Workouts.
Added Race Calendar widget glance.
Added Race Day features.
Added Race Day PacePro confirmation page.
Added Race Day PacePro confirmation page.
Added Run Power data fields as options for indoor running activities.
Added SatIQ support.
Added Sleep Score history page to Sleep widget.
Added Stocks widget glance.
Added support for custom race icons in the Primary Race and Race Calendar widgets.
Added support for Run Power when paired with a compatible accessory.
Added support for the ‘Software Update Check via Wifi’ to now be accesible via Garmin Connect Mobile.
Added ‘swipe to delete’ support to the Stocks widget.
Added text marquee to Primary Race widget.
Added the ability to adjust power guide effort.
Added the ability to view specific splits within a power guide.
Added Training Readiness widget glance.
Added trophy for completed Primary Race events.
Added trophy for completed Primary Race events.
Added Widget Glance folders.

Fixed on Beta Version 9.28

Fixed “No race” text in Primary Race widget glance.
Fixed a UI issue with workout list subtitles.
Fixed an issue in Daily Suggested Workouts where a cycling VO2 Max error message was incorrectly showing.
Fixed an issue where GCM could show 0 instead of 12am in sleep window settings.
Fixed an issue where using a Hot Key to open Timer from the Spotify library would return to an empty screen.
Fixed ‘As Of’ timestamp for Stocks for closing price.
Fixed daily Floors Climbed goal not alerting.
Fixed daily Floors Climbed goal not alerting.
Fixed golf Tournament mode Green View zoom scaling issue.
Fixed heat acclimation tip always being visible
Fixed HRV Status highlighting incorrect unbalanced section in the widget glance.
Fixed HRV Status when in a glance folder.
Fixed inability to access Segments during an Ultra Run activity.
Fixed inconsistency with HRV Status glance view and widget view.
Fixed inconsistent VO2 Max value between the widget glance and Training Status.
Fixed incorrect Load item in Training Readiness.
Fixed incorrect software version number showing up on wifi software download page.
Fixed incorrect Training Readiness feedback phrase
Fixed issue causing Connect IQ watch faces to be stuck in their high power mode after palm touching to get back to the watch face.
Fixed issue causing device to incorrectly report that it was out of storage space.
Fixed issue causing excessive Daily Suggested Workout prompting.
Fixed issue causing inconsistent sleep values in various widget glances after wakeup.
Fixed issue causing missing Training Status and Race Predictions.
Fixed issue causing potential empty glance folders.
Fixed issue causing sluggishness in glances when Connect IQ glances were present.
Fixed issue causing widget glance loop to not time out.
Fixed issue Cycling Power guide data field display was displaying average speed instead of current speed.
Fixed issue in calendar widget glance where all future events were being displayed as “tomorrow.”
Fixed issue where “sync failed” would show up on the watch after checking for updates via wifi.
Fixed issue where a Connect IQ watch face would be stuck in its high power display while watch was in low power mode.
Fixed issue where a solar setting was showing up in the Garmin Connect app on non-solar devices.
Fixed issue where a user could not advance past the daily suggested workout and into a running activity.
Fixed issue where activity summary would not always timeout back to the watch face.
Fixed issue where altitude acclimation would not return to the training status widget.
Fixed issue where battery saver could enable unexpectedly.
Fixed issue where copying an activity in GCM would only allow one copy
Fixed issue where Cycling Power Guides were not changing after edits were made.
Fixed issue where HRV status might not appear in Garmin Connect correctly.
Fixed issue where incorrect text could be displayed on the map download page.
Fixed issue where incorrect training effect could be shown in the post activity summary.
Fixed issue where power guide data fields would not properly update during an activity.
Fixed issue where power save would activate even if navigation was still calculating.
Fixed issue where RCT could disconnect while on the widget glance.
Fixed issue where recovery time would show “hours” instead of “days.”
Fixed issue where some course points could not be selected.
Fixed Issue where the “Off Course” alert was still alerting even if turned off
Fixed issue where the calendar widget would not update inside a widget glance folder.
Fixed issue where the title of a widget glance folder would not always display.
Fixed issue where Training Readiness widget was missing in GCM when initially creating folders
Fixed issue where turning on Night Vision altered Pulse Ox check mode settings (Tactix 7 only).
Fixed issue where user could be prompted to select which wrist their watch is on after already configuring this setting.
Fixed issue where users may need to click the start button twice to enter an activity.
Fixed issue where VO2 Max could be missing from Training Status while paused.
Fixed issue where watch would crash when syncing a new calendar race event.
Fixed issue where workout videos would not work properly
Fixed issue with auto lap pace alert showing 0:00 time.
Fixed issue with automatic golf course updates.
Fixed issue with Climb Pro graph coloring for some bike profiles.
Fixed issue with cycling power guides where changes were not being saved.
Fixed issue with ephemeris download via Wi-Fi.
Fixed issue with European stocks in the stocks widget glance.
Fixed issue with floor climb detection in multisport.
Fixed issue with hours field for Set Timer in strength workouts.
Fixed issue with incident detection alert on phone
Fixed issue with incorrect page being pushed for the Training Readiness stress factor.
Fixed issue with stock closing price in stocks widget glance.
Fixed issue with the Lock on Road feature.
Fixed issue with touch interaction when viewing a Climb preview.
Fixed issue with VO2 Max coloring in the Training Status widget.
Fixed issue with weight while creating a cycling power guide.
Fixed issue with widget glance folder creation when accessing via main menu.
Fixed issues with Jumpmaster wind entry.
Fixed issues with Plan Overview and Daily Suggested Workouts if missing a VO2 Max.
Fixed missing glance folder view for Stocks widget glance.
Fixed missing ‘long ride’ string in Daily Suggested Workouts.
Fixed missing page indicators on Training Status and Training Readiness widgets.
Fixed potential acclimation trend arrow overlap in post activity summary.
Fixed potential corrupted characters in Daily Suggested Workout.
Fixed potential display lockup.
Fixed potential incorrect icon usage in some data fields.
Fixed potential intermittent shutdown on solar models.
Fixed potential issue where Race Name was missing from Plan Overview in Daily Suggested Workouts.
Fixed potential issue where sleep data was missing from the watch but still present in Garmin Connect.
Fixed potential issues causing increased battery drain while an InReach device is paired.
Fixed potential issues causing increased battery drain while an InReach device is paired.
Fixed potential issues with Connect IQ app installs.
Fixed potential position drift for Open Water Swim activities.
Fixed potential screen flash when using a Connect IQ watch face.
Fixed potential shutdown after an activity.
Fixed potential shutdown after sending a Race to the watch
Fixed potential shutdown after updating an HRM device.
Fixed potential shutdown in stocks widget glance.
Fixed potential shutdown on exercise load page when accessing a blank information page.
Fixed potential shutdown on the Sensors’ About page.
Fixed potential shutdown when canceling a map manager map download.
Fixed potential shutdown when changing music during an activity.
Fixed potential shutdown when in a strength workout and transitioning from a jog step.
Fixed potential shutdown when receiving a tip while on a Connect IQ watch face.
Fixed potential shutdown when viewing the race event before the start of a run activity.
Fixed potential shutdown with body battery graph on the watch face.
Fixed potential shutdown, while powering down the unit, due to a Wi-Fi sync still in progress.
Fixed potential UI issue with Load Focus sub text in Training Status.
Fixed potential UI issues with the Acute Load History graph in Training Status.
Fixed sleep score history graph showing values in reverse order.
Fixed sleep score history graph when less than 7 days of data.
Fixed some localization/translation issues.
Fixed some UI issues with the Stocks widget glance.
Fixed stocks app not persisting tickers after a power cycle of the device.
Fixed UI issue on Training Status tips page.
Fixed UI issue with custom workout list when training is paused.
Fixed UI issue with training readiness bar colors in the glance.
Fixed UI issues with Cycling Power Guide data page.
Fixed UI issues with glance folders.
Fixed Xero widget not acquiring GPS.
Fixes and improvements made to the Primary Race widget glance.
Fixes and improvements made to Training Readiness.

Improved on Beta Version 9.28

Improve fonts on acute load page.
Improve virtual caddie rounds remaining to have a black background instead of white.
Improved alignment of sub-data in folder glance view.
Improved automatic altimeter calibration.
Improved automatic altimeter calibration.
Improved Flashlight to remember configured settings over a power cycle.
Improved Load Focus glance indication to make it dynamic.
Improved race time predictions.
Improved sensors menu by moving connected sensors to the top of the list.
Improved the automatic max heart rate notifications and associated settings.
Improved UI for Primary Race widget.
Improved VO2 Max graph to now show 4 weeks of data.
Improved/Fixed stocks app data.
Improved/Fixed Training Status and Training Readiness.
Improvements and fixes made to Green Contours support.
Improvements and fixes made to the Adventure Race activity.
Improvements made to Daily Suggested Workouts.
Improvements made to the What’s New page UI.
Improvements made to Training Status.
Increased ‘7D AVG HRV’ widget string size.
Increased the maximum Golf Club count to 30.

Removed and updated on Beta Version 9.28

Removed prompt for Cycling Power Guide course navigation as course navigation is required.
Update usage of alpha/beta status on About page.
Updated cycling power guide UI for pair power meter prompt.
Updated phone app pairing flow to now use PIN comparison.
Updated Training Readiness onboarding page.
WHR improvements.

Changes since Alpha v9.27 release:

Added support for stocks in China.
Fixed issue causing inability to edit sleep/wake time and sleep true up.
Fixed issue where Tide area name would not show up.
Fixed potential UI issue in HRV Status glance.
Fixed run/walk/idle splits for multisport.
Fixed UI issue with snowshoe icon when starting a snowshoe activity.
Fixed UI issues with Cycling Power Guides.
Improved Daily Suggested Workout plan overview.

Source: Garmin Forum.

The most important aspects of the update

HRV Status to Training Readiness and Training Status

This tool is different from Body Battery and is designed to give you more insight into your training stats. Information is obtained from these factors.

Factors:

Sleep
Recovery time
HRV status
Acute load
Sleep history
Stress History

It is still a new thing, so we need time to understand how accurate this feature is.

GPS

There is a new option called AutoSelect (Menu->System->Satellites->AutoSelect), which dynamically selects the best mode based on your environment, which is very accurate but drains the battery very fast. So if you don’t need precise accuracy, you can continue to use All systems mode.

Race day feature

From now on, you can add the expected running or cycling competition to your calendar, and Garmin will give you predictions and help you plan the upcoming competition.

Move/Copy prompt for adding individual glances to a Glance folder

When a watch has so many different functions, it can become challenging to find specific functions, and it can become a bit messy. Now you can create and add widgets to different related folders, making accessing various functions easier.

Related articles:

This time, we are waiting for the official version, which will probably appear soon.
If you have questions or other comments, please write them here or leave them in the comment section.