Key Takeaways
- Garmin has introduced the option to purchase premium apps in the Connect IQ store using Garmin Pay, making it more reliable and secure.
- Garmin’s new payment strategy will legitimize the payment process and encourage more big developers to create apps for Garmin devices.
- The GoPro Camera Control app is now available in the Garmin Connect IQ store, letting you control your GoPro from your wrist.
Garmin devices are already very capable and packed with features, but those features are usually limited to the Garmin ecosystem itself and nothing more. Outside of the Garmin ecosystem, there is very little you can control from your Garmin watch. But the company is looking to change that, announcing a new option to use Garmin Pay to buy premium apps in the Connect IQ store.
Previously, developers could only monetize their apps through what Garmin calls “external methods.” Essentially, if a developer wanted to charge for their app or a feature within the app, they left a link in the app description and took users outside of the platform to pay. This felt very unofficial and unsafe, which is why I couldn’t buy Connect IQ, and it’s likely why larger developers don’t create options for Garmin devices.
But being able to pay with Garmin Pay makes the payment process legitimate and much more secure, which means more major developers are likely to be interested in and eager to build apps for Garmin devices, which is great news. “This integration rewards developers’ innovative designs and hard work, and creates opportunities to attract new content and partners to the store,” Garmin said in the announcement.
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GoPro comes to Garmin
Control your GoPro from your wrist
GoPro was one of the first big companies to jump on Garmin’s new payment strategy, releasing the GoPro camera control app in the Garmin Connect IQ store at the same time as the payment announcement. The app has been available on Wahoo bike computers since spring, and I’ve watched with envy as cyclists have been able to control their cameras while riding without having to fiddle with them.
But now you can at least do the same thing on your wrist. The GoPro app costs $5.99 and lets you control your camera from your smartwatch. You can start and stop recording, take photos, and more. The app isn’t compatible with Garmin’s entire lineup, though. It works with the D2 Mach 1 Pro, all versions of the Forerunner 255, 265, 955, and 965, the Marq lineup, all sizes of the epix Pro, and all models of the fenix 7 and tactix watches. Unfortunately, the list of compatible devices doesn’t include bike computers, so you’ll have to wait for that.
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New Premium Watch Faces
Bring Disney and the Moon to Garmin
Garmin / Pocket Lint
While the impact in terms of features is small, Garmin’s updated payment structure also brings more premium watch face options to Garmin watches, including a Disney watch face that “celebrates all things Disney, Marvel and Star Wars with four unique watch faces, including a Grogu digital watch face with six rotating poses, a digital watch face starring Tony Stark and analog Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse watch faces that tell the time with hands.”
Of course, when it comes to luxury goods, many people think of Porsche, and there are currently three Porsche watch faces available. TaylorMade is offering a golf-specific watch face that “perfectly matches the dimple pattern of the TP5 golf ball” and displays your final round score. Finally, there are three new space-themed watch faces: the Moonwalker, Ad Astra, and All-Day Astronaut watch faces. All of the new watch faces are priced at $4.99.
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