Garmin has released a new beta software update for its Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 smartwatches, introducing a range of refinements aimed at improving usability and addressing bugs on the newer devices.
Beta version 16.14 follows an earlier update in the 16.xx testing cycle and focuses mainly on incremental improvements rather than major new features. According to the update notes, the software introduces a new option allowing users to view seconds on certain always-on display watch faces, while favorite sports teams are now marked with a star icon for easier identification.
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Garmin has also adjusted the Morning Report experience for divers, refining how the Training Readiness section appears when no recent dive score is available. The company said the update includes improvements for golfers as well, enabling users to save custom targets on golf courses. As noted in the release notes, “your favourite sports teams are now marked with a star icon.”
The update removes haptic feedback that previously occurred when opening the volume menu, a change Garmin has not explained. Several bugs have also been addressed, including issues that could trigger device resets during swim activities or when switching music providers, as well as problems affecting Garmin Coach, strength training countdown timers and volume controls after muting.
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The beta update is available for manual download to members of the Garmin Beta Program using the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970, which currently retail from about $649.99. Users can install the software by checking for updates through the system settings menu on their devices.