May 30, 2025 • 25 mins
Lots of things to discuss this week - training, nutrition, tips and physiology...oh, and a bit of tech as usual ;-)
This week...
- watchOS 26 (!)
- watchOS 12 features (!)
- inReach subscription costs
- Komoot redundancies
- Wahoo Roam 3
- Zip upgrade
- Garmin watchface copyright enforcement
- Zipp wheels
- Assioma app
Resources & Links:
Main Channel: https://the5krunner.com
My other channels: https://linktr.ee/the5krunner
—Credits: Content in this episode was generated using AI tools (NotebookLM) based on original content from @the5krunner, and other sources as cited.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
OK, let's get into it. If you're following endurance,
sports, fitness, all that tech stuff, you know it's just a
constant flood of information, right?
New gear, software updates, opinions flying everywhere.
Oh yeah, it's definitely a lot. Trying to keep up, let alone
figure out what actually mattersfor your own training or
adventures, can feel like a fulltime job.
It really can, and that's basically why we do this deep
(00:22):
dive. We've gathered a bunch of
reports from key sites and voices in this space to try and,
you know, cut through some of that noise for you.
We're looking at the kind of analysis you get from places
like the 5K runner, the Five runner.com, you know, the other
triathlete runner, Jim Goer, whogets really deep into not just
gear, but sleep, Wellness, health span, the whole picture.
(00:43):
Exactly, so we pulled stuff fromhis site from DC Rainmaker
hiking guy 9 to 5 Mac. Just trying to see what the big
stories were this past week. And our goal here is pretty
simple. Unpack these stories, pull out
the key bits of info, and talk about what it all actually means
for you. So yeah, buckle up.
We're going to look at some potentially huge changes coming
to Apple Watch software. Garmin making a move on watch
(01:06):
faces. And we'll get into the details
of Garmin in Reach satellite plan costs, which can be
confusing. Plus, the big news about the
commute mapping app. Right, that's a significant one.
And we'll finish with a really detailed look at the new Wahoo
element Roam 3 Byte Computer. Sounds like a packed agenda.
Where should we start? Maybe with Apple?
Yeah, let's do Apple first. There's buzz about the next
(01:29):
Apple Watch software update likely landing at WWDC next
month, but things are a bit, well, murky on the naming.
Murky how? Well, one source the 5K runner
mentions reporting from Gurman at Bloomberg suggesting it might
be called Watch OS 26. That's 20. 626 Wow.
OK, that's unexpected. Usually it's sequential, right?
(01:49):
Like watch OS11 next. That's what you'd think, but
then another source 9 to 5 Mac is talking about Watch OS12
coming soon. So yeah, conflicting reports on
the number, but definitely pointing towards something new
coming very soon. Interesting.
Let's maybe start with that watch OS26 idea.
What's the thing thinking behindjumping all the way to 26?
The rumour is it's about aligning the OS numbering with
(02:10):
the year after release. So you'd get Mac OS26, Watch,
OS26 TV, OS26 all synced up. OK, I see.
So if you own a Mac and Apple Watch an Apple TV, it
potentially makes it much clearer which software versions
are current and compatible across your devices.
Exactly. From a user perspective it kind
of makes sense, doesn't it? Less confusion about features
(02:32):
and compatibility if all the numbers match up for that cycle.
Yeah, that could actually simplify things quite a bit.
Now, beyond the name, there's also talk about a visual refresh
right across multiple Apple OCS.Right, heavily rumoured could be
simple things like, you know, tweaks to colours or
transparency. But some reports suggest maybe
even a more fundamental revamp of menu logic, especially for
phone in the watch. And that revamp seems
(02:54):
particularly relevant for the Watch.
Definitely the source. The 5K runner really highlights
this challenge. Apple's Facing the Watch started
simpler, but now it's packed with features.
Squeezing all that onto a tiny screen the current interface
might not be sustainable long term if they keep adding more
stuff. It's a tough design problem.
Even companies like Garmin, who have more physical buttons to
(03:16):
work with sometimes struggle with making complex features
easy to find and use on a small watch screen.
And Apple relies so much on touch and gestures.
But the source does make the point that Apple usually puts a
lot more thought into usability than many sports tech companies.
They feel if anyone can crack this and come up with a
genuinely better interface, it'sprobably Apple.
(03:36):
OK, So that's the potential Watch OS 26 angle alignment and
maybe a significant UI overhaul.Yeah.
What about the Watch OS12 perspective from 9:00 to 5:00
Mac? What features are they
highlighting? They focus on three main things
expected at WWDC under the WatchOS 12 banner.
All right, what are they? First up, features powered by
Apple Intelligence. Now, crucially, this doesn't
(03:57):
mean the Watch itself is becoming some AI powerhouse.
Right, it probably means leveraging the paired iPhones
processing power. Exactly.
The watch acts more like an interface.
The rumoured features are thingslike a redesigned Siri with new
skills, maybe the ability to create those custom Genmojis,
and getting notification summaries presented via widgets
on the watch face. So bringing some of the phone's
(04:20):
AI smarts to your wrist makes sense.
What's the second feature area? Abraana redesign again, but
specifically mentioned as aligning with iOS 19, so aiming
for that cohesive look across platforms.
This could mean changes to the app view, maybe the Honeycomb
grid or the list view, plus updates to button menus, icons
to match the phone. Consistency across the
(04:40):
ecosystem. Okay.
And the third. Accessibility improvements Live
Listen and Live Caption Live Listen isn't new on iPhone.
It turns your phone into a remote mic, streaming to
headphones or hearing aids. Useful for people with hearing
difficulties or, you know, maybeaspiring spies.
Maybe, but with Watch OS12 the idea is you'd get controls for
live listen right on your watch,and even cooler, you could
(05:03):
potentially see real time captions of what the iphone's
mic is picking up displayed directly on your watch screen.
Well, it's a clever using the watch as both a remote control
and a remote display for an accessibility feature running on
the phone. Yeah, seems like a genuinely
practical use case. So whether it's called 12 or 26,
the takeaway seems to be expect interface changes, possibly
(05:25):
significant ones driven by the watch's growing complexity, plus
some AI powered features via thephone and accessibility boosts.
Got it. Quite a bit potentially changing
on the Apple Watch front. Should we pivot to Garmin?
Now there's that story about watch faces.
Yes, let's do that. This came via the 5K runner.
It seems Garmin is starting to crack down on 3rd party watch
(05:46):
faces that look too much like their own native designs.
OK. What's the specific situation?
Garmin apparently rejected some recent submissions from a
developer named Green Black for watches like the Forerunner 970
and 570. The reason given was that these
third party faces were using Garmin's original designs.
So Garmin's basically saying, hey, that's our look.
(06:06):
You can't just copy it on our platform.
Pretty much it boils down to copyright and intellectual
property. As the source points out, Garmin
owns the Connect IQ platform, sothey have the right to decide
what gets approved or rejected. And it's interesting because you
often hear accusations going theother way, like other brands
supposedly copying Garmin or any, you know, ultra human and
(06:27):
Aura here, Garmin's policing itsown garden, so to speak.
Right. And why now the thinking is it's
likely driven by a few things, maybe trying to reduce spammy or
low quality faces in the store, definitely protecting potential
revenue and asserting those IP rights more strongly.
And this timing seems convenient, doesn't it, with the
(06:49):
recent launch of their paid Connect Plus subscription?
Exactly. That connection is definitely
made. The fact that developers are
making faces that mimic Garmins and some are charging for them
shows there's a market demand even for older watches.
People want different looks. So if Garmin stops the third
party copies, how might they meet that demand themselves?
Well, the source lays out a few possibilities.
(07:10):
Garmin could start selling more watch faces individually, though
the reviewer's opinion is that many of Garmin's own standard
faces have historically been, let's say, less than
aesthetically pleasing. OK, what else?
They could bundle premium faces into that Connect Plus
subscription. That seems like a pretty logical
move to add value to the pig gear.
(07:31):
Or just keep the cool new faces exclusive to their brand new
watches. That's the other strategy, yeah.
Use desirable new faces as an incentive to upgrade your
hardware. New faces sometimes get treated
like new features. They don't always trickle down
to older models like the Aquatics 8 Face probably won't
work on Aquatics 7. It's a reminder that watch
faces, while seemingly simple, are actually quite important.
(07:54):
It's what you look at constantly.
Absolutely. The source makes a good point
that sports watch companies often lag behind smartwatches
and design quality here, although Garmin has been
improving, adding more aestheticoptions.
And there was a small example about revenue potential too.
Yeah, just mentioning a Lilo andStitch face that made around
$500. Not a huge amount, but it shows
there is money to be made even from niche designs.
(08:16):
So the bottom line seems to be Garmin's tightening control over
Connect IQ designs, likely for commercial and IP reasons, which
probably means we'll see more paid faces either sold directly
or as part of Connect Plus Meet.Sounds about right.
A clear business decision. OK, let's shift gears from the
wrist to satellite safety. The hiking guy put out a really
(08:37):
helpful breakdown of Garmin in reach subscription costs.
Oh this is super important stuff.
Those plans can be genuinely confusing and picking the wrong
one can cost you unnecessarily. He apparently has a calculator
tool on his website too. Yeah, that sounds incredibly
useful for figuring out your personal best fit, so let's walk
through the basics. There's an activation fee?
Yep. Around $40 usually.
(08:58):
Good news is you only pay it once for a device on a consumer
plan. You can switch plans later
without another activation fee, but only one device can be
active per consumer plan. Pro plans are different allowing
multiple devices. OK.
What are the main plan options for regular folks?
The cheapest is the essential plan.
It gives you SOS coverage, whichis key, and a set number of
(09:19):
messages, usually 50. The source mentioned he and his
hiking buddies generally find 50messages is plenty for typical
trips. You're not usually having
constant back and forth conversations.
Makes sense. What's the catch with essential?
The big one is location trackingcost extra.
Every time you're in reach sendsa track point showing your
location, you pay per point. Like $0.10 in the US.
(09:41):
So if you have it tracking every10 minutes, that's roughly $0.60
an hour. That could add up if you want
constant tracking for safety. It could, and the source really
emphasises how vital tracking can be as a backup if you become
unable to trigger the SOS yourself.
So essential is good for minimaluse, but be aware of that
tracking cost. What's the next step?
Up the standard plan. This seems popular for frequent
(10:05):
hikers or through hikers. It includes unlimited track
points so you can just leave tracking on and you get more
messages included. Better for regular communication
and Peace of Mind with the tracking.
And then there's a top tier. The premium plan Unlimited
everything messages track pointsdown to every two minutes.
The source kind of questions whoreally needs this suggesting
maybe folks living fully off grid or doing long blue water
(10:28):
sailing trips. He feels it almost defeats the
purpose of being out there. Are there any other notable plan
features or maybe a lesser knownoption?
Well, newer devices support Messenger Plus features like
sending photos or voice notes, but those have their own
potentially higher pricing structure.
More importantly, there's the enabled plan.
(10:48):
Enabled. What's that?
It's apparently not heavily advertised, but you can switch
to it. It's the absolute cheapest
yearly option under $100 a year in the US.
Its main purpose is just providing that critical SOS
coverage. So if the emergency button is
really all you care about. Exactly.
You can still use other featureslike messages or tracking, but
you pay for them on an ad hoc basis as you need them.
(11:10):
The source calculated that even with some moderate usage, the
enable plan could still end up being cheaper annually than the
essential plan. And the SOS isn't just for
wilderness emergencies, right? Crucial point Garmin's data
shows people use SOS for things like car trouble when they're
out of cell range, so that enabled plan might even make
sense for basic car safety or just carrying the device daily
(11:32):
in areas with poor service. Now the most critical
clarification. What does the subscription fee
not cover? Right, this is huge.
Your monthly or annual fee pays for Garmin response.
The 2417 that receives your SOS figures out what's going on and
coordinates with local search and rescue.
It does not pay for the actual cost of the rescue itself.
(11:53):
And those rescue costs can be? Astronomical potentially ground
rescue is why volunteers are often free thankfully.
But if you need a technical rescue, a helicopter evacuation,
especially an air ambulance withmedical crew, you could be
looking at 10s of thousands of dollars. 50K60K isn't unheard
of. Your in reach plan doesn't touch
that bill. Wow, that's a detail everyone
(12:14):
needs to understand. Does the source recommend ways
to cover that potential cost? Yes, Garmin offers its own SARM
100 insurance, but it's limited to US Canada residents.
Though coverage is global and price varies.
The source personally uses and recommends a service called
Overwatch and Rescue. What's that like?
Think of it like AAA or Roadsideassistance, but for outdoor
(12:36):
emergencies. It's an annual subscription
about $80.00. Covers multiple devices, it's
staffed by emergency service professionals who advocate for
you, and it covers more than just medical rescue.
Things like civil unrest, evacuations, weather issues,
even getting your car picked up if needed.
So $80.00 a year versus a potential $60,000 bill later
(12:57):
puts it in perspective. Oh definitely, he also mentioned
alternatives like European resellers with different pay as
you go models or just renting anin reach for a single trip if
you don't need one often. OK, so key takeaway on In Reach,
understand the plans, know the enabled option exists for basic
SOS and critically remember yoursubscription covers
coordination, not rescue costs. Get supplemental insurance for
(13:18):
that. Precisely.
Very important distinctions. All right, let's move to another
significant story, this one impacting the mapping app world,
especially in Europe. News about commute from DC
Rainmaker. Yeah, this was pretty big and
frankly quite sad news for the community.
The vast majority of the Commuteteam was laid off after the
company got sold. DC Rainmaker even shared a video
(13:40):
of their last team gathering. Oh wow that's rough.
Who bought Commute? An Italian investment company
called Bending Spoons. They paid around $300 million.
And bending spoons. They have a certain reputation,
don't. They they do.
Based on past acquisitions and commentary on the source
article, their typical approach is to acquire a company and then
very quickly lay off a huge chunk of the staff.
(14:02):
In Kamut's case, it was reportedly about 85% of the
team, around 150 people. 85% Good grief.
Yeah, their model seems less about investing in new
development and more about, well, maintaining the existing
product, maybe raising prices and focusing on profitability
over the long haul. The phrase long term gravy train
was used. So for people who rely on Kamut,
(14:24):
what does this likely mean for the apps future?
With such a massive reduction instaff, especially developers,
the consensus is that major new features or significant
innovation are highly unlikely going forward.
DC Rainmaker acknowledged that KOMU is still a great tool right
now, especially for European routing, but his future path
seems very uncertain. I can only imagine the reaction
(14:47):
from users. What were people saying in the
comments on the article? A lot of concern, naturally.
People worried about basic maintenance, keeping the app
updated for new Android or iOS versions, handling Garmin
firmware changes, even map updates.
New maps update automatically. The underlying map data often
comes from open street map and pulling that in might be
automated, but the curation the specific conute layer of points
(15:10):
of interest and route intelligence that might suffer
without the dedicated team. Are people cancelling
subscriptions? Oh yes, many commenters
explicitly said they were cancelling, wanting to vote with
their feet. There was a lot of anger
directed at Bending Spoons, calling the move arrogant and
tone deaf for firing the people who built the platform.
There was also criticism aimed at the original Commute owners
(15:33):
for selling to a company with this known track record.
Evernote's decline after being bought by Bending Spoons was
mentioned multiple times, along with concerns about things like
GDPR compliance under the new ownership.
So it's hitting on multiple levels, features maintenance,
but also corporate ethics. Are people talking about
alternatives? Definitely.
(15:53):
Apps like Cycle Dot Travel and Ride with GPS came up frequently
as alternatives. People were exploring.
There was also a strong sense ofhope, maybe a bit wistful for
the laid off commute employees. Hope for what?
That maybe they had some equity from the sale and perhaps they
could regroup and start something new.
A user focused mapping app builtfrom the ashes so to speak.
(16:14):
That would be quite a story. Any other interesting points
from the discussion? Someone brought up German
employment law, but the responsenoted that protections are often
weaker when offices are closed entirely or moved
internationally. And there was even a provocative
analogy comparing using commute now to the zip hookless wheel
situation, suggesting it feels like a product that needs a
warning light about its future. That's a harsh comparison.
(16:37):
It really highlights the user uncertainty.
Though to be fair, a few commenters did point out that
Commute hadn't released many groundbreaking features recently
anyway, mostly focusing on bug fixes, so for some the immediate
impact might feel less severe. OK so the Camus take away is
pretty stark. Bought by bending spoons,
massive layoffs, future development, highly uncertain,
(16:58):
significant user backlash and many looking elsewhere.
That sums it up well. A really significant shake up in
the mapping space. OK, let's transition to our
final story, a deep dive into new hardware, the Wahoo Element
Rome 3 bike computer. The 5K runner did a detailed
review calling it maybe the bestall round element.
Yes, this is Wahoo's updated midtier computer, sitting between
(17:22):
the smaller Bolt 3 and the larger newer ACE.
A key point right off the bat isthat the core software
experience is pretty much identical across all three new
models. So choosing between them really
boils down to physical differences.
Mostly yeah. Screen size, battery life, price
point, and touchscreen. The Rome 3 and Ace have touch
screens, the Bowl 3 is buttons only, and the Ace has that
(17:45):
unique airflow sensor. For someone coming from an older
wahoo, does it feel radically different the.
Review says that while it's a completely new device
internally, the feeling of usingit during a ride is very
familiar, which is probably goodnews for existing Wahoo users.
Refined, not revolutionary in use.
What are some of the standout improvement?
The display is a big one, it's now 16,000,000 colours TFT and
(18:08):
has that tap screen. The reviewer thinks the Wahoo
maps look prettier than Garmin's, but maybe slightly
less detail for pure navigation.Readability is generally great,
especially outdoors due to the transflective screen tech, but
can be tricky indoors without backlight or in certain shadowed
sunglass situations. Inch to zoom is there and works
(18:29):
well. And the touchscreen erformance
itself. Eems like a mixed bag.
Works well when dry, but responsiveness apparently DROs
off significantly when it's wet or if you're wearing gloves.
That sounds like a definite areafor imrovement.
It can also be a bit too sensitive, sometimes leading to
accidental page swipes. OK, what about audio?
They added a speaker. They did, so now you get spoken
turn by turn, directions turn right ahead, that kind of thing,
(18:52):
instead of just beeps like the older Bolt.
There's also this new digital Bell feature.
A digital bell? How does that work?
You double tap the screen, but it sounds a bit flawed.
Flawed how? Well, it's apparently disabled
on some crucial screens like themap page.
The alternative way to trigger it is confusing.
There's no volume control for it, and a big one.
(19:12):
According to the reviewer, you cannot assign the bell function
to a Shimano D2 button. Calls it a massive omission.
Plus it might go off in your pocket.
Yeah, sounds like a feature thatneeds some work.
Are the other audio alerts better?
Yes, the regular alerts for things like low sensor battery
or workout prompts seem fine, and you can adjust their volume.
These audio cues, along with thenew persistent status bar at the
(19:34):
top that changes colour for things like radar alerts, help
make up for the fact that Wahoo removed the physical LED
indicators from the older models.
Other useful additions are new map layers you could toggle on
off street names, Strava segments, the summit segments,
client profile, Pois, your savedlocations.
Having the climb profile as justa layer is seen as a nice
(19:56):
alternative to the full dedicated climb screen
sometimes. How's the setup before a ride?
The Ready to Ride dashboard is better, clearly showing your
ride profile, selected route, workout and connected sensors.
You can even see live data from paired sensors right there.
Some minor complaints about occasional slow GPS lock or
difficulties calibrating power metres were noted.
And sensor management? Any changes?
(20:18):
Pairing new sensors now happens only on the device itself, not
via the app anymore, though you still manage existing sensors
through the app. Some frustrations were
mentioned, like not being able to force ABLE or Ant plus
connection preference or temporarily disable a sensor
you're not using. And sensor management is OK for
typical users, but maybe limiting for power users with
(20:39):
lots of sensors or complex D2 setups.
The reviewer noted needing Shimano's own E tube app for
detailed D2 button mapping. Shifting focus a bit, how does
the review frame Wahoo's overallphilosophy and ecosystem?
Wahoo is known for focusing on usability and having a
relatively open ecosystem, good integrations with Strava
training peaks, their own kickertrainer system, and some third
(21:01):
party sensors like Core or SuperSapiens.
But how does that compare to something like Garmin's Connect
IQ? That's where the contrast comes
in. The review suggests Wahoo's
integration often requires significant direct collaboration
with sensor companies. It lacks a truly open
infrastructure like Garmin CIQ where any developer can
relatively easily create apps ordata fields for new sensors.
(21:24):
So it's harder for new or niche sensor brands to get deep
integration with Wahoo. Seems that way, and that could
limit Wahoos appeal for riders who like trying cutting edge
tech that might debut first on the more open Garmin platform.
What other major features does the review say Wahoo still lacks
compared to Garmin or maybe Hammerhead crew?
Two big area stand out. First, that lack of an open
(21:46):
third party App Store equivalentto CIQ.
Second advanced Physiology metrics.
Things like training readiness scores, real time stamina
estimates, recovery advice. Wahoo collects the underlying
data like training load TSS but doesn't seem to surface these
kinds of actionable insights yet.
Also integrated weather data. Things like forecast wind speed
and direction or estimated time until rain.
(22:09):
Even the top end ACE model with his air flow sensor doesn't
provide this predictive weather info.
Those feel like pretty significant gaps, especially for
performance focused riders. The reviewer agrees, suggesting
these missing pieces likely costWahoo sales against Garmin,
which offers all that. There's speculation Wahoo could
potentially use AI, maybe something like Oops AI Coach to
(22:29):
bridge some of those analytical gaps down the line.
So comparing the Rome Three directly to say, a Garmin edge
5:40 or 8:40. Garmin typically wins on sheer
feature count, battery life and that broader ecosystem.
CIQ, Physiology, weather. Wahoo's main advantages
highlighted are usability and reliability, the review
(22:50):
stresses. Wahoo devices are generally less
prone to crashing and are often perceived as easier and quicker
to use for core functions. The screen readability
trade-offs exist too. And comparing within the new
Wahoo line, Bolt 3, Rome 3. ACE again core software is
almost identical Bolt three smallest slightest button only
less battery storage Rome 3 mid size touchscreen speaker more
(23:10):
battery storage ACE largest heaviest most battery
touchscreen speaker plus the airflow sensor.
What's the reviewers personal pick?
Interestingly, for most everydayriding, training and racing,
their go to is the Bolt Three. They find the button interface
incredibly efficient and usable,but for rides involving more
complex navigation, especially off road, they prefer a larger
(23:32):
screen, whether that's a bigger Garmin Edge at Karu 3 or the
Wahu Rome 3. Or ace.
They mentioned that karu 3 theirstrengths and weaknesses.
Strengths noted were its own AppStore, though still small, a
visually appealing interface andgreat usability.
Main weakness seems to be battery life, often struggling
to meet claims. Other brands like Magine or
(23:52):
Koros are mentioned as lower tier options, but usually
involve compromises. So the overall take on the Wahoo
Rome 3. It's a solid evolution,
improving the display in audio while keeping Wahoos core
strengths and usability and reliability.
But it still trails competitors like Garmin and ecosystem
openness, advanced performance metrics and weather integration,
which might be deal Breakers forsome users.
(24:13):
Wow, OK, that covers a huge amount of ground for this week.
It really does. We've seen everything from
potential fundamental shifts in Apple's software strategy to
Garmin tightening the reins on its platform.
The nitty gritty of satellite communication costs and safety
Nets. The dramatic impact of business
deals on a beloved app like Comoot and a very detailed look
(24:34):
at Wahoo's latest bike computer.Trying to balance usability with
features. It really paints a picture of a
super dynamic industry doesn't it?
Fast moving tech, big corporate strategies playing out, and all
of us as users trying to navigate features, reliability,
cost, and maybe even the ethics behind the companies we support.
Hopefully diving into these sources this week gives everyone
(24:56):
listening a clearer perspective on some of these key
developments and what they mightmean for you.
Definitely. So maybe here's a final thought
to leave you with As these tech companies build out their
ecosystems, introduce paywalls, get bought and sold, how much
weight should we give to factorsbeyond just the features and the
price? Things like usability,
reliability, how open a platformis, maybe even how a company
(25:17):
treats its own people. What matters most to why you
when choosing the tech that fuels your passions?
Something to Mull over.
OK, let's get into it. If you're following endurance,
sports, fitness, all that tech stuff, you know it's just a
constant flood of information, right?
New gear, software updates, opinions flying everywhere.
Oh yeah, it's definitely a lot. Trying to keep up, let alone
figure out what actually mattersfor your own training or
adventures, can feel like a fulltime job.
It really can, and that's basically why we do this deep
(00:22):
dive. We've gathered a bunch of
reports from key sites and voices in this space to try and,
you know, cut through some of that noise for you.
We're looking at the kind of analysis you get from places
like the 5K runner, the Five runner.com, you know, the other
triathlete runner, Jim Goer, whogets really deep into not just
gear, but sleep, Wellness, health span, the whole picture.
(00:43):
Exactly, so we pulled stuff fromhis site from DC Rainmaker
hiking guy 9 to 5 Mac. Just trying to see what the big
stories were this past week. And our goal here is pretty
simple. Unpack these stories, pull out
the key bits of info, and talk about what it all actually means
for you. So yeah, buckle up.
We're going to look at some potentially huge changes coming
to Apple Watch software. Garmin making a move on watch
(01:06):
faces. And we'll get into the details
of Garmin in Reach satellite plan costs, which can be
confusing. Plus, the big news about the
commute mapping app. Right, that's a significant one.
And we'll finish with a really detailed look at the new Wahoo
element Roam 3 Byte Computer. Sounds like a packed agenda.
Where should we start? Maybe with Apple?
Yeah, let's do Apple first. There's buzz about the next
(01:29):
Apple Watch software update likely landing at WWDC next
month, but things are a bit, well, murky on the naming.
Murky how? Well, one source the 5K runner
mentions reporting from Gurman at Bloomberg suggesting it might
be called Watch OS 26. That's 20. 626 Wow.
OK, that's unexpected. Usually it's sequential, right?
(01:49):
Like watch OS11 next. That's what you'd think, but
then another source 9 to 5 Mac is talking about Watch OS12
coming soon. So yeah, conflicting reports on
the number, but definitely pointing towards something new
coming very soon. Interesting.
Let's maybe start with that watch OS26 idea.
What's the thing thinking behindjumping all the way to 26?
The rumour is it's about aligning the OS numbering with
(02:10):
the year after release. So you'd get Mac OS26, Watch,
OS26 TV, OS26 all synced up. OK, I see.
So if you own a Mac and Apple Watch an Apple TV, it
potentially makes it much clearer which software versions
are current and compatible across your devices.
Exactly. From a user perspective it kind
of makes sense, doesn't it? Less confusion about features
(02:32):
and compatibility if all the numbers match up for that cycle.
Yeah, that could actually simplify things quite a bit.
Now, beyond the name, there's also talk about a visual refresh
right across multiple Apple OCS.Right, heavily rumoured could be
simple things like, you know, tweaks to colours or
transparency. But some reports suggest maybe
even a more fundamental revamp of menu logic, especially for
phone in the watch. And that revamp seems
(02:54):
particularly relevant for the Watch.
Definitely the source. The 5K runner really highlights
this challenge. Apple's Facing the Watch started
simpler, but now it's packed with features.
Squeezing all that onto a tiny screen the current interface
might not be sustainable long term if they keep adding more
stuff. It's a tough design problem.
Even companies like Garmin, who have more physical buttons to
(03:16):
work with sometimes struggle with making complex features
easy to find and use on a small watch screen.
And Apple relies so much on touch and gestures.
But the source does make the point that Apple usually puts a
lot more thought into usability than many sports tech companies.
They feel if anyone can crack this and come up with a
genuinely better interface, it'sprobably Apple.
(03:36):
OK, So that's the potential Watch OS 26 angle alignment and
maybe a significant UI overhaul.Yeah.
What about the Watch OS12 perspective from 9:00 to 5:00
Mac? What features are they
highlighting? They focus on three main things
expected at WWDC under the WatchOS 12 banner.
All right, what are they? First up, features powered by
Apple Intelligence. Now, crucially, this doesn't
(03:57):
mean the Watch itself is becoming some AI powerhouse.
Right, it probably means leveraging the paired iPhones
processing power. Exactly.
The watch acts more like an interface.
The rumoured features are thingslike a redesigned Siri with new
skills, maybe the ability to create those custom Genmojis,
and getting notification summaries presented via widgets
on the watch face. So bringing some of the phone's
(04:20):
AI smarts to your wrist makes sense.
What's the second feature area? Abraana redesign again, but
specifically mentioned as aligning with iOS 19, so aiming
for that cohesive look across platforms.
This could mean changes to the app view, maybe the Honeycomb
grid or the list view, plus updates to button menus, icons
to match the phone. Consistency across the
(04:40):
ecosystem. Okay.
And the third. Accessibility improvements Live
Listen and Live Caption Live Listen isn't new on iPhone.
It turns your phone into a remote mic, streaming to
headphones or hearing aids. Useful for people with hearing
difficulties or, you know, maybeaspiring spies.
Maybe, but with Watch OS12 the idea is you'd get controls for
live listen right on your watch,and even cooler, you could
(05:03):
potentially see real time captions of what the iphone's
mic is picking up displayed directly on your watch screen.
Well, it's a clever using the watch as both a remote control
and a remote display for an accessibility feature running on
the phone. Yeah, seems like a genuinely
practical use case. So whether it's called 12 or 26,
the takeaway seems to be expect interface changes, possibly
(05:25):
significant ones driven by the watch's growing complexity, plus
some AI powered features via thephone and accessibility boosts.
Got it. Quite a bit potentially changing
on the Apple Watch front. Should we pivot to Garmin?
Now there's that story about watch faces.
Yes, let's do that. This came via the 5K runner.
It seems Garmin is starting to crack down on 3rd party watch
(05:46):
faces that look too much like their own native designs.
OK. What's the specific situation?
Garmin apparently rejected some recent submissions from a
developer named Green Black for watches like the Forerunner 970
and 570. The reason given was that these
third party faces were using Garmin's original designs.
So Garmin's basically saying, hey, that's our look.
(06:06):
You can't just copy it on our platform.
Pretty much it boils down to copyright and intellectual
property. As the source points out, Garmin
owns the Connect IQ platform, sothey have the right to decide
what gets approved or rejected. And it's interesting because you
often hear accusations going theother way, like other brands
supposedly copying Garmin or any, you know, ultra human and
(06:27):
Aura here, Garmin's policing itsown garden, so to speak.
Right. And why now the thinking is it's
likely driven by a few things, maybe trying to reduce spammy or
low quality faces in the store, definitely protecting potential
revenue and asserting those IP rights more strongly.
And this timing seems convenient, doesn't it, with the
(06:49):
recent launch of their paid Connect Plus subscription?
Exactly. That connection is definitely
made. The fact that developers are
making faces that mimic Garmins and some are charging for them
shows there's a market demand even for older watches.
People want different looks. So if Garmin stops the third
party copies, how might they meet that demand themselves?
Well, the source lays out a few possibilities.
(07:10):
Garmin could start selling more watch faces individually, though
the reviewer's opinion is that many of Garmin's own standard
faces have historically been, let's say, less than
aesthetically pleasing. OK, what else?
They could bundle premium faces into that Connect Plus
subscription. That seems like a pretty logical
move to add value to the pig gear.
(07:31):
Or just keep the cool new faces exclusive to their brand new
watches. That's the other strategy, yeah.
Use desirable new faces as an incentive to upgrade your
hardware. New faces sometimes get treated
like new features. They don't always trickle down
to older models like the Aquatics 8 Face probably won't
work on Aquatics 7. It's a reminder that watch
faces, while seemingly simple, are actually quite important.
(07:54):
It's what you look at constantly.
Absolutely. The source makes a good point
that sports watch companies often lag behind smartwatches
and design quality here, although Garmin has been
improving, adding more aestheticoptions.
And there was a small example about revenue potential too.
Yeah, just mentioning a Lilo andStitch face that made around
$500. Not a huge amount, but it shows
there is money to be made even from niche designs.
(08:16):
So the bottom line seems to be Garmin's tightening control over
Connect IQ designs, likely for commercial and IP reasons, which
probably means we'll see more paid faces either sold directly
or as part of Connect Plus Meet.Sounds about right.
A clear business decision. OK, let's shift gears from the
wrist to satellite safety. The hiking guy put out a really
(08:37):
helpful breakdown of Garmin in reach subscription costs.
Oh this is super important stuff.
Those plans can be genuinely confusing and picking the wrong
one can cost you unnecessarily. He apparently has a calculator
tool on his website too. Yeah, that sounds incredibly
useful for figuring out your personal best fit, so let's walk
through the basics. There's an activation fee?
Yep. Around $40 usually.
(08:58):
Good news is you only pay it once for a device on a consumer
plan. You can switch plans later
without another activation fee, but only one device can be
active per consumer plan. Pro plans are different allowing
multiple devices. OK.
What are the main plan options for regular folks?
The cheapest is the essential plan.
It gives you SOS coverage, whichis key, and a set number of
(09:19):
messages, usually 50. The source mentioned he and his
hiking buddies generally find 50messages is plenty for typical
trips. You're not usually having
constant back and forth conversations.
Makes sense. What's the catch with essential?
The big one is location trackingcost extra.
Every time you're in reach sendsa track point showing your
location, you pay per point. Like $0.10 in the US.
(09:41):
So if you have it tracking every10 minutes, that's roughly $0.60
an hour. That could add up if you want
constant tracking for safety. It could, and the source really
emphasises how vital tracking can be as a backup if you become
unable to trigger the SOS yourself.
So essential is good for minimaluse, but be aware of that
tracking cost. What's the next step?
Up the standard plan. This seems popular for frequent
(10:05):
hikers or through hikers. It includes unlimited track
points so you can just leave tracking on and you get more
messages included. Better for regular communication
and Peace of Mind with the tracking.
And then there's a top tier. The premium plan Unlimited
everything messages track pointsdown to every two minutes.
The source kind of questions whoreally needs this suggesting
maybe folks living fully off grid or doing long blue water
(10:28):
sailing trips. He feels it almost defeats the
purpose of being out there. Are there any other notable plan
features or maybe a lesser knownoption?
Well, newer devices support Messenger Plus features like
sending photos or voice notes, but those have their own
potentially higher pricing structure.
More importantly, there's the enabled plan.
(10:48):
Enabled. What's that?
It's apparently not heavily advertised, but you can switch
to it. It's the absolute cheapest
yearly option under $100 a year in the US.
Its main purpose is just providing that critical SOS
coverage. So if the emergency button is
really all you care about. Exactly.
You can still use other featureslike messages or tracking, but
you pay for them on an ad hoc basis as you need them.
(11:10):
The source calculated that even with some moderate usage, the
enable plan could still end up being cheaper annually than the
essential plan. And the SOS isn't just for
wilderness emergencies, right? Crucial point Garmin's data
shows people use SOS for things like car trouble when they're
out of cell range, so that enabled plan might even make
sense for basic car safety or just carrying the device daily
(11:32):
in areas with poor service. Now the most critical
clarification. What does the subscription fee
not cover? Right, this is huge.
Your monthly or annual fee pays for Garmin response.
The 2417 that receives your SOS figures out what's going on and
coordinates with local search and rescue.
It does not pay for the actual cost of the rescue itself.
(11:53):
And those rescue costs can be? Astronomical potentially ground
rescue is why volunteers are often free thankfully.
But if you need a technical rescue, a helicopter evacuation,
especially an air ambulance withmedical crew, you could be
looking at 10s of thousands of dollars. 50K60K isn't unheard
of. Your in reach plan doesn't touch
that bill. Wow, that's a detail everyone
(12:14):
needs to understand. Does the source recommend ways
to cover that potential cost? Yes, Garmin offers its own SARM
100 insurance, but it's limited to US Canada residents.
Though coverage is global and price varies.
The source personally uses and recommends a service called
Overwatch and Rescue. What's that like?
Think of it like AAA or Roadsideassistance, but for outdoor
(12:36):
emergencies. It's an annual subscription
about $80.00. Covers multiple devices, it's
staffed by emergency service professionals who advocate for
you, and it covers more than just medical rescue.
Things like civil unrest, evacuations, weather issues,
even getting your car picked up if needed.
So $80.00 a year versus a potential $60,000 bill later
(12:57):
puts it in perspective. Oh definitely, he also mentioned
alternatives like European resellers with different pay as
you go models or just renting anin reach for a single trip if
you don't need one often. OK, so key takeaway on In Reach,
understand the plans, know the enabled option exists for basic
SOS and critically remember yoursubscription covers
coordination, not rescue costs. Get supplemental insurance for
(13:18):
that. Precisely.
Very important distinctions. All right, let's move to another
significant story, this one impacting the mapping app world,
especially in Europe. News about commute from DC
Rainmaker. Yeah, this was pretty big and
frankly quite sad news for the community.
The vast majority of the Commuteteam was laid off after the
company got sold. DC Rainmaker even shared a video
(13:40):
of their last team gathering. Oh wow that's rough.
Who bought Commute? An Italian investment company
called Bending Spoons. They paid around $300 million.
And bending spoons. They have a certain reputation,
don't. They they do.
Based on past acquisitions and commentary on the source
article, their typical approach is to acquire a company and then
very quickly lay off a huge chunk of the staff.
(14:02):
In Kamut's case, it was reportedly about 85% of the
team, around 150 people. 85% Good grief.
Yeah, their model seems less about investing in new
development and more about, well, maintaining the existing
product, maybe raising prices and focusing on profitability
over the long haul. The phrase long term gravy train
was used. So for people who rely on Kamut,
(14:24):
what does this likely mean for the apps future?
With such a massive reduction instaff, especially developers,
the consensus is that major new features or significant
innovation are highly unlikely going forward.
DC Rainmaker acknowledged that KOMU is still a great tool right
now, especially for European routing, but his future path
seems very uncertain. I can only imagine the reaction
(14:47):
from users. What were people saying in the
comments on the article? A lot of concern, naturally.
People worried about basic maintenance, keeping the app
updated for new Android or iOS versions, handling Garmin
firmware changes, even map updates.
New maps update automatically. The underlying map data often
comes from open street map and pulling that in might be
automated, but the curation the specific conute layer of points
(15:10):
of interest and route intelligence that might suffer
without the dedicated team. Are people cancelling
subscriptions? Oh yes, many commenters
explicitly said they were cancelling, wanting to vote with
their feet. There was a lot of anger
directed at Bending Spoons, calling the move arrogant and
tone deaf for firing the people who built the platform.
There was also criticism aimed at the original Commute owners
(15:33):
for selling to a company with this known track record.
Evernote's decline after being bought by Bending Spoons was
mentioned multiple times, along with concerns about things like
GDPR compliance under the new ownership.
So it's hitting on multiple levels, features maintenance,
but also corporate ethics. Are people talking about
alternatives? Definitely.
(15:53):
Apps like Cycle Dot Travel and Ride with GPS came up frequently
as alternatives. People were exploring.
There was also a strong sense ofhope, maybe a bit wistful for
the laid off commute employees. Hope for what?
That maybe they had some equity from the sale and perhaps they
could regroup and start something new.
A user focused mapping app builtfrom the ashes so to speak.
(16:14):
That would be quite a story. Any other interesting points
from the discussion? Someone brought up German
employment law, but the responsenoted that protections are often
weaker when offices are closed entirely or moved
internationally. And there was even a provocative
analogy comparing using commute now to the zip hookless wheel
situation, suggesting it feels like a product that needs a
warning light about its future. That's a harsh comparison.
(16:37):
It really highlights the user uncertainty.
Though to be fair, a few commenters did point out that
Commute hadn't released many groundbreaking features recently
anyway, mostly focusing on bug fixes, so for some the immediate
impact might feel less severe. OK so the Camus take away is
pretty stark. Bought by bending spoons,
massive layoffs, future development, highly uncertain,
(16:58):
significant user backlash and many looking elsewhere.
That sums it up well. A really significant shake up in
the mapping space. OK, let's transition to our
final story, a deep dive into new hardware, the Wahoo Element
Rome 3 bike computer. The 5K runner did a detailed
review calling it maybe the bestall round element.
Yes, this is Wahoo's updated midtier computer, sitting between
(17:22):
the smaller Bolt 3 and the larger newer ACE.
A key point right off the bat isthat the core software
experience is pretty much identical across all three new
models. So choosing between them really
boils down to physical differences.
Mostly yeah. Screen size, battery life, price
point, and touchscreen. The Rome 3 and Ace have touch
screens, the Bowl 3 is buttons only, and the Ace has that
(17:45):
unique airflow sensor. For someone coming from an older
wahoo, does it feel radically different the.
Review says that while it's a completely new device
internally, the feeling of usingit during a ride is very
familiar, which is probably goodnews for existing Wahoo users.
Refined, not revolutionary in use.
What are some of the standout improvement?
The display is a big one, it's now 16,000,000 colours TFT and
(18:08):
has that tap screen. The reviewer thinks the Wahoo
maps look prettier than Garmin's, but maybe slightly
less detail for pure navigation.Readability is generally great,
especially outdoors due to the transflective screen tech, but
can be tricky indoors without backlight or in certain shadowed
sunglass situations. Inch to zoom is there and works
(18:29):
well. And the touchscreen erformance
itself. Eems like a mixed bag.
Works well when dry, but responsiveness apparently DROs
off significantly when it's wet or if you're wearing gloves.
That sounds like a definite areafor imrovement.
It can also be a bit too sensitive, sometimes leading to
accidental page swipes. OK, what about audio?
They added a speaker. They did, so now you get spoken
turn by turn, directions turn right ahead, that kind of thing,
(18:52):
instead of just beeps like the older Bolt.
There's also this new digital Bell feature.
A digital bell? How does that work?
You double tap the screen, but it sounds a bit flawed.
Flawed how? Well, it's apparently disabled
on some crucial screens like themap page.
The alternative way to trigger it is confusing.
There's no volume control for it, and a big one.
(19:12):
According to the reviewer, you cannot assign the bell function
to a Shimano D2 button. Calls it a massive omission.
Plus it might go off in your pocket.
Yeah, sounds like a feature thatneeds some work.
Are the other audio alerts better?
Yes, the regular alerts for things like low sensor battery
or workout prompts seem fine, and you can adjust their volume.
These audio cues, along with thenew persistent status bar at the
(19:34):
top that changes colour for things like radar alerts, help
make up for the fact that Wahoo removed the physical LED
indicators from the older models.
Other useful additions are new map layers you could toggle on
off street names, Strava segments, the summit segments,
client profile, Pois, your savedlocations.
Having the climb profile as justa layer is seen as a nice
(19:56):
alternative to the full dedicated climb screen
sometimes. How's the setup before a ride?
The Ready to Ride dashboard is better, clearly showing your
ride profile, selected route, workout and connected sensors.
You can even see live data from paired sensors right there.
Some minor complaints about occasional slow GPS lock or
difficulties calibrating power metres were noted.
And sensor management? Any changes?
(20:18):
Pairing new sensors now happens only on the device itself, not
via the app anymore, though you still manage existing sensors
through the app. Some frustrations were
mentioned, like not being able to force ABLE or Ant plus
connection preference or temporarily disable a sensor
you're not using. And sensor management is OK for
typical users, but maybe limiting for power users with
(20:39):
lots of sensors or complex D2 setups.
The reviewer noted needing Shimano's own E tube app for
detailed D2 button mapping. Shifting focus a bit, how does
the review frame Wahoo's overallphilosophy and ecosystem?
Wahoo is known for focusing on usability and having a
relatively open ecosystem, good integrations with Strava
training peaks, their own kickertrainer system, and some third
(21:01):
party sensors like Core or SuperSapiens.
But how does that compare to something like Garmin's Connect
IQ? That's where the contrast comes
in. The review suggests Wahoo's
integration often requires significant direct collaboration
with sensor companies. It lacks a truly open
infrastructure like Garmin CIQ where any developer can
relatively easily create apps ordata fields for new sensors.
(21:24):
So it's harder for new or niche sensor brands to get deep
integration with Wahoo. Seems that way, and that could
limit Wahoos appeal for riders who like trying cutting edge
tech that might debut first on the more open Garmin platform.
What other major features does the review say Wahoo still lacks
compared to Garmin or maybe Hammerhead crew?
Two big area stand out. First, that lack of an open
(21:46):
third party App Store equivalentto CIQ.
Second advanced Physiology metrics.
Things like training readiness scores, real time stamina
estimates, recovery advice. Wahoo collects the underlying
data like training load TSS but doesn't seem to surface these
kinds of actionable insights yet.
Also integrated weather data. Things like forecast wind speed
and direction or estimated time until rain.
(22:09):
Even the top end ACE model with his air flow sensor doesn't
provide this predictive weather info.
Those feel like pretty significant gaps, especially for
performance focused riders. The reviewer agrees, suggesting
these missing pieces likely costWahoo sales against Garmin,
which offers all that. There's speculation Wahoo could
potentially use AI, maybe something like Oops AI Coach to
(22:29):
bridge some of those analytical gaps down the line.
So comparing the Rome Three directly to say, a Garmin edge
5:40 or 8:40. Garmin typically wins on sheer
feature count, battery life and that broader ecosystem.
CIQ, Physiology, weather. Wahoo's main advantages
highlighted are usability and reliability, the review
(22:50):
stresses. Wahoo devices are generally less
prone to crashing and are often perceived as easier and quicker
to use for core functions. The screen readability
trade-offs exist too. And comparing within the new
Wahoo line, Bolt 3, Rome 3. ACE again core software is
almost identical Bolt three smallest slightest button only
less battery storage Rome 3 mid size touchscreen speaker more
(23:10):
battery storage ACE largest heaviest most battery
touchscreen speaker plus the airflow sensor.
What's the reviewers personal pick?
Interestingly, for most everydayriding, training and racing,
their go to is the Bolt Three. They find the button interface
incredibly efficient and usable,but for rides involving more
complex navigation, especially off road, they prefer a larger
(23:32):
screen, whether that's a bigger Garmin Edge at Karu 3 or the
Wahu Rome 3. Or ace.
They mentioned that karu 3 theirstrengths and weaknesses.
Strengths noted were its own AppStore, though still small, a
visually appealing interface andgreat usability.
Main weakness seems to be battery life, often struggling
to meet claims. Other brands like Magine or
(23:52):
Koros are mentioned as lower tier options, but usually
involve compromises. So the overall take on the Wahoo
Rome 3. It's a solid evolution,
improving the display in audio while keeping Wahoos core
strengths and usability and reliability.
But it still trails competitors like Garmin and ecosystem
openness, advanced performance metrics and weather integration,
which might be deal Breakers forsome users.
(24:13):
Wow, OK, that covers a huge amount of ground for this week.
It really does. We've seen everything from
potential fundamental shifts in Apple's software strategy to
Garmin tightening the reins on its platform.
The nitty gritty of satellite communication costs and safety
Nets. The dramatic impact of business
deals on a beloved app like Comoot and a very detailed look
(24:34):
at Wahoo's latest bike computer.Trying to balance usability with
features. It really paints a picture of a
super dynamic industry doesn't it?
Fast moving tech, big corporate strategies playing out, and all
of us as users trying to navigate features, reliability,
cost, and maybe even the ethics behind the companies we support.
Hopefully diving into these sources this week gives everyone
(24:56):
listening a clearer perspective on some of these key
developments and what they mightmean for you.
Definitely. So maybe here's a final thought
to leave you with As these tech companies build out their
ecosystems, introduce paywalls, get bought and sold, how much
weight should we give to factorsbeyond just the features and the
price? Things like usability,
reliability, how open a platformis, maybe even how a company
(25:17):
treats its own people. What matters most to why you
when choosing the tech that fuels your passions?
Something to Mull over.
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