Change is Inevitable

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Yesterday, when I logged in to Garmin Connect to make sure I had updated all of my runs for the week, I found that I had the option to see something new and very different from what I was used to seeing. So I decided to give it a shot.  Here are my first impressions…

1. It’s clean!
Here is a screenshot of my new dashboard under the Modern version of Garmin Connect.

The option to see the boxes in mini view or to even change the way your information is shown within the boxes makes for a more streamlined experience when using Garmin Connect

2. It’s much easier to see all of your information in one spot.
In the classic version, you could see your most recent run with a list beside it of all past runs. In order to see other content, you had to use the drop down menus to navigate around.

Now, most of your information is going to be readily available on your customized dashboard upon logging in to Garmin Connect.

3. It’s fairly easy to navigate.
I did the quick tour when I first logged in and unfortunately, it wasn’t super helpful. However, with sidebar navigation for the few things that aren’t already available on the dashboard, it was pretty simple to find the reports section and how to adjust my settings (including making a temporary switch back to the classic view if you decide you aren’t quite ready to make the switch to modern).

In addition, each of the boxes on your dashboard comes with individual settings.  These settings allow you to do things like change the view in your activities window to a list view, the most recent view, or minimize that box if it is a feature you don’t want to work with.

The list view in the activities window

4. It has “more” options. 
Okay, I should preface this by saying that this may exist in the classic version of Garmin Connect, but I had never seen it. When you click the search icon in the activities window it opens a view of a map with other routes on it.

For me, this was something that had been missing from my Garmin Connect experience. I love the idea that if I’m looking for a new route, I can look here to find one.  This may be even more useful when I travel!

In terms of my overall impression of the modern version of Garmin Connect, I’m happy with it so far. I feel like it has so much potential to allow me to analyze and plan my fitness in a much more thoughtful way.  With  the classic version, the potential may have been there, but it was never front and center like it is with the new dashboard feature. I’m excited to get in there and play around a little more!