Running watches and Linux
2 watchers
Feb 2020
9:38am, 8 Feb 2020
18,829 posts
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ChrisHB
I need to get a new running watch as I left my Garmin on the car roof recently. Replacing it seems to require a huge outlay as I need to buy a new phone or a new laptop to support it. I am looking for a less extravagant way forwards. In addition I'm not prepared to buy a Garmin that communicates with my phone as the Garmin s/w for phones demands permission to make phone calls and otherwise run up bills. (I find it very unlikely that any of the other apps I have on my phone have the same permissions, certainly none that I have installed myself). So it has to communicate with a laptop, or be from a less demanding manufacturer. My phone is in any case unable to install the relevant Garmin app. My laptop has no functioning GPS ports. It would cost £85 for a local computer shop to try to replace one of them. A second-hand Windows laptop seems to start at about £250, or the cheapest new one from Argos at £160. But even in this house there are several broken laptops (hard drive dead) that apparently could be made to work with Linux practically for free. What I want therefore is a running watch whose data I can upload to a Linux machine or to an old phone without demanding unreasonable permissions. (My phone runs Lollipop, I discovered yesterday). Anyone got any knowledge? Thank you. |
Feb 2020
9:45am, 8 Feb 2020
574 posts
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Sam Jelfs
Garmin watches will show up as a usb device and you can just copy the data files off and upload them, but you'll never get any software updates. Garmin connect on Android only needs access to your phone if you want to use smart notifications on the watch. You can just turn it off... Been using it for years and never had any unusual activity, if they suddenly started making calls without your permission it would be ridiculous... |
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Feb 2020
9:57am, 8 Feb 2020
18,830 posts
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ChrisHB
I'm sure they won't do it, but I do not want to allow it. I suppose you can program them to call home if you win the London Marathon. Anyway it's worth knowing things can be turned off. |
Feb 2020
4:47pm, 8 Feb 2020
447 posts
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oi you
There's an explanation of what permission the app requests, and why, on Garmin's support pages. support.garmin.com Some it will need to do its basic function, but as SJ says, the rest you can turn off. |
Feb 2020
5:04pm, 8 Feb 2020
3,328 posts
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K5 Gus
Can you not just get the same watch as before if you were happy with it ? If it's an old model and no longer sold new, I'm sure you'd still be able to pick up a 2nd hand one cheaply as people are upgrading watches all the time |
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Feb 2020
5:21pm, 8 Feb 2020
18,831 posts
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ChrisHB
that is a really useful page, thanks, oi you. I wonder why a running watch wants to call golf courses. K5, mine was a 410cx and I have no idea about its natural successor. There are a few on ebay at very good prices. The problem remains that I need a USB port to grab the data off it. I have found a device that will download to my Kindle. It's called a Mi Fit and only costs ~£50 while having all the features I want and more. Then I just have to get the data from the Kindle into Fetch. I believe that will be possible, but until I try I won't know. |
Feb 2020
6:27pm, 8 Feb 2020
11,966 posts
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Cerrertonia
You might want to have a look at GPSBabel (Open Source s/w that runs on linux and other OS) and see which watches are currently supported. You would need a USB port to connect the watch to though.
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Feb 2020
6:33pm, 8 Feb 2020
575 posts
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Sam Jelfs
If you care about security or privacy I wouldn't be buying any Xiaomi watch...
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Feb 2020
7:04pm, 8 Feb 2020
18,834 posts
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ChrisHB
Thanks, C. I can have a USB on a Linux m/c practically free, but the USB is the sticking point. I am not as poor as a church mouse but I am very mean. The only ways forward I can see are: investigate Kindle possibilities further new/repaired laptop more modern phone SJ, it's very hard to know what to be concerned about on privacy. Mostly the deal on the internet is, you pay for some service with your privacy. Security is a bit different, though. I'm all for it. |
Feb 2020
7:40pm, 8 Feb 2020
48,473 posts
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Dr PhFleecyD
The fetch app works fine on my iPhone 6. Or you could use 
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