Garmin Insider News

Garmin CIQ 6.2 – new features and a new name

Garmin CIQ 6.2.0

Garmin Connect IQ (CIQ) gets some love today with version 6.2.
This adds new features that I’ll cover in a minute but also changes the somewhat confusing name Garmin previously used. As of now, v6.2.0 means the following: version/system 6; quarter 2; first version (version 0)

Here are the new features

Scalable Fonts

Some newer Garmin devices support scalable fonts in addition to the Unicode fonts that all devices support. I’m assuming that a scalable font makes it easier for, say, a data field to generically work in multiple screen positions without the need for a developer to manually state the font for every screen position. A Backup font can also be created by developers which could handle now display sizes in the future.

Whilst this is clearly to make developers’ lives easier, it means that we should see less of strangely formatted data fields on our sports watches.

Bitmap Transformation

Literally, millions of Garmin owners have been screaming loudly, demanding two-dimensional Affine Transformation. Well, the world is now a happier place. We have it

Yeah, I don’t know what it is either 🙂 But one of the things we will now sometimes see is the ability of the watch/Edge owner to better define the colour. Perhaps this means that we can have more precise RGB colours. or simply custom colours on a data field?

Dc.drawBitmap2() is the ability to apply a tint colour to an asset

Requesting On-Device Reviews

Apps are now able to ask us to leave a review on the app store. This is generally a good thing as reviews help guide us towards useful free stuff. Developers are also limited in how often they can pester you for a review.

Red Shift

The new Red Shift light feature on watches like Epix Pro (Gen 2) now has that feature made available in the developers’ simulator.

 

Supporting Models

These System 6 features are now available for the following devices:

Scalable FontsBitmap TransformationOn-Device Reviews
epix(gen 2)
fēnix 7 Series
Forerunner® 265 Series
Forerunner 955
Forerunner 965
MARQ (Gen 2) Series		Epix (gen 2)
fēnix 7 Series
Forerunner 255 Series
Forerunner 265 Series
Forerunner 955
Forerunner 965
MARQ (Gen 2) Series
Venu 2 Series
Venu 2 Plus
Venu Sq 2 Series		Edge 540
Edge 840
Edge 1040
fēnix 6 Series
fēnix6 Pro Series
fēnix7 Series
Forerunner 255 Series
Forerunner 265 Series
Forerunner 955
Forerunner 965
MARQ Series
MARQ 2 Series
Venu 2 Series
Venu 2 Plus
Venu Sq 2 Series

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8 thoughts on “Garmin CIQ 6.2 – new features and a new name”

  2. Affine transformaion support for bitmap has nothing to do with colors.
    It’s simply means the bitmap elements of the UI can now be transformed in new ways.
    We can already do basic transformations such as enlarging or rotating of an element (say a 2D image of the hours hand). With affine transformations, the 2D elements (images basically) can be deformed to produce various effect, such as pseudo 3D. Imagine the time hands rotating on a plane that is not parallel with the actual screen.
    So, well, it’s a nice addition allowing fancier faces 🙂

    1. Wait a minute. The support is now for “Affine”. So no pseudo 3D effects to be expected here.
      You’ll only get a few weird deformation effects. So I guess this updates will just give a bit more freedom to UI designers.
      Scale and rotate are already affine transformations, and they are already supported (that’s why we can have hands based on 2D images).
      So not sure what new transformations will be supported if it really just is “Affine”. Because like I said in my previous post, the true game changer for me would be non affine transformations (projective transformations) support.

  3. Scalable fonts. Maybe eventually they enable bigger font in interface, notifications, etc. I’m really looking fwd to it. One word: presbyopia.

  4. Scalable fonts are like True Type Fonts that let you specify any size, and still have them look good. Currently you only have a handful of font sizes you can use. If the few built in ones don’t meet your needs, you need to have custom ones. But then you have to have different custom ones for every size display.
    This is actually a way bigger deal than you realize.

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