Scosche unveiled its RHYTHM SMART + wearable at CES this week, an Innovations Award Honoree. This armband heart monitor optically measures blood flow and movement to calculate heart rate and calories burned more accurately than conventional heart rate monitors. It is a dual wireless band that operates on both Bluetooth Smart and ANT+, and allows it to be used with smartphones, sport watches and other supported exercise equipment from up to 100 feet. It is compatible with popular fitness apps including RunKeeper, Map My Fitness, Strava and all other apps that support Bluetooth Smart heart rate monitors.
In addition the onboard memory allows users to workout via a freeRUN mode without the need to carry another device.
Fitbug is making a big splash at this year’s International CES. The company has introduced its new Wow scale, which features Bluetooth Smart ready technology to allow those stepping on to wirelessly sync data in real time to their mobile devices. The data can be further integrated with the Fitbug Air, the tracking device recently launched by Fitbug, or from the fitbug.com website. This will allow users to track and work towards achieving their personal health goals.
While winter means hitting the training bike, spinning is something that can be done year round, and Madd Dogg Athletics have announced the updated Spinning app, v6.35 for iOS and 1.51 for Android. This app, powered by Digifit, provides a complete workout tracking system for those who want to get into the spin.
There’s activity monitors, and then there’s apps that track your activity. But then what happens with all that data? Polar created Polar Beat, a next generation exercise training app. While other devices will sync up to the app, Polar recommends the new Polar H7 heart rate sensor, which is the first device from the company to use low energy Bluetooth Smart technology. 
Cyclists of all levels use devices to track distance, time, calories burned and even altitude. But one aspect has largely been ignored – power! At Interbike this week Stages Cycling launched its new patent-pending power meter, the StageONE, which go on sale in January.
You may not realize it, but there’s a small war brewing in the sports and fitness industry. The combatants are ANT+ and the newer 
We’ll be interested to get a closer look at the Wahoo Blue HR Bluetooth heart rate monitor that will be officially unveiled at next month’s Consumer Electronics Sow. It will reportedly connect with an iPhone 4S as well as other devices that are Bluetooth Smart (4.0) ready.