Bluetooth Sets Standards for Sports and Fitness Device Market

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) this week finalized standards for sports and fitness equipment using Bluetooth wireless technology sensors. The guidelines are for Bluetooth v4.0, which is a low energy technology. These guidelines are geared toward sensors using Bluetooth that measure spead and cadence for running and cycling activity. The new standard dictates specification for applications that can include running cadence, stride length, total distance or cycling speed, distance and pedal cadence. Continue reading Bluetooth Sets Standards for Sports and Fitness Device Market

Garmin Swim Watch Makes a Splash

Most heart rate monitors are waterproof, and therefore you can track your heart rate while doing laps, but it’s difficult to track what you do in the pool. The new Swim training watch from Garmin is designed specifically for swimmers, and provides feedback on laps. The Garmin Swim training watch was announced ahead of the U.S. Masters Swimming Championships in Omaha, Nebraska taking place July 5-8. Continue reading Garmin Swim Watch Makes a Splash

BioLogic Makes Android Bike Mount

When cycling, I use the Strava app on my Android phone as a cycling computer. This is great to track distance, speed, and even where I bike. However it doesn’t help me so much when my phone is in my back pocket and I can’t access that information. Continue reading BioLogic Makes Android Bike Mount

Garmin Enters ANT+ Community with Garmin Fit App, Adapter

Garmin excels in the sports and fitness category with devices that track distance, speed, heart rate and other measures of a workout. Now it’s come to market with an ANT+ adapter for the iPhone, and companion app on iPhone and Android devices. We hope the Android adapter will soon follow so we can track our workouts on our device of choice.

The Garmin Fit app lets users track metrics such as speed, pace, distance, time, calories, heart rate and cadence. Some of these metrics require connectivity to devices beyond the phone. Cadence and heart rate, for instance, require a pod on the bike and chest strap, respectively. These are measured with companion Garmin devices, and sent wirelessly via the ANT+ adapter to the iPhone. Continue reading Garmin Enters ANT+ Community with Garmin Fit App, Adapter

Sportiiiis Gives Visual Feedback to Workout Stats

One of the drawbacks of adding a heart rate monitor, cycling computer and other devices to your workout is that you have to take your focus from the road ahead. With a heart rate monitor, you have to look at the watch for heart rate, calories and time. A separate cycling computer requires you to look at the screen by your handlebars to find out your speed, cadence and other measures.

(Video after the jump)

Continue reading Sportiiiis Gives Visual Feedback to Workout Stats