Heart rate monitors are great for keeping track of heart rate (obviously), time and calories burned. Some have added GPS as an add-on function, but now Polar takes it a step further by offering fully integrated GPS within the device. The Polar RC3 GPS is aimed at runners and cyclists who want a light weight heart rate monitor.
The water resister (IPX7) device offer GPS functionality for distance and speed recording without the need for an extra sensor. It features route mapping and a “back to start” option so you don’t need about worrying about how to get back home! Continue reading Polar Leads the Way With Integrated GPS
Wearable technology is expected to become a $6 billion industry by 2016, a minimum revenue projection that could be even larger. That’s according to the latest findings by market research firm IMS Research. Wearable technology currently centers on healthcare, medical, fitness and wellness, where products such as glucose monitors and heart-rate monitors are used to transmit vital information about the user or patient. 
Epson has entered the smart watch category with its new E200 wrist watch, which can allow users a lot more than just telling time. It can track pulse rate via contact with the wrist and even tell wearer’s how much they need to pick it up to raise the heart rate and burn fat.
We really love the Polar RCX5 Tour de France training computer that is ideal for cycling, running, swimming and other sports. But for those who simply want to stick to the wheel the RCX5, which costs more buck, probably offers more bang than is needed. So rather than buying a monitor and not use all the functionality, those riders should look to the RCX3 BIKE, which can measure speed, distance, cadence and heart rate.
The company that has made its business in helping people find their way is now looking at helping users find their way to better fitness. This week Magellan announced its new Magellan Active Website for fitness activity tracking. And to help users get there the company has released its new Switch and Switch Up crossover GPS watches.
This week we received the Polar RCX5 Tour de France GPS heart rate monitor, the “Official Tour de France Training Computer.” The box pretty much sums up our immediate first impressions, “Yellow is Everything.” Unlike other heart rate watches this one doesn’t try to go low key – it goes straight for yellow.
The Tour de France is still just over two months away, but yellow products are popping up with cycling tie-ins. Polar is offering a limited edition Polar RCX5 Tour de France training computer. 
There are many specialty sites, and this month saw the launch of Heart Rate Watch Reviews from Yakka, Inc. The company specializes in under-served information market, and the site was born out of Emil Yau of Yakka’s own enthusiasm for an active lifestyle.
Heart rate monitors can share a lot of information, but trying to read it while working out means taking the eyes off the road. While that can mean taking the eyes of the prize, it can also be dangerous. Now Heart Zones USA CEA Sally Edwards has announced the founding of ZONING Fitness, which will release four wrist-top heart rate monitors that utilize the ZONING fitness program.
Last week Polar announced that it will be the “Official Heat Rate Technology Supplier” for U.S. Soccer through 2013, and this will include this year’s London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. Polar will supply devices for nine national teams including the Men’s and Women’s National Teams, the Under-23, Under-20 and Under-17 Men’s and Women’s respective teams as well as the U.S. National Paralympics Soccer Team.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group formed the Sports and Fitness Working Group with the goal of participating companies to “work together to enhance interoperability between Bluetooth enabled sports and fitness sensor products and training computers (Bluetooth Smart devices) and hub devices such as smartphones, PCs, TVs (Bluetooth Smart Ready devices), gym equipment, watches and more to allow a new generation of functionality.”
There’s a number of activity monitors out there. They all have their own edge. But the Basis B1 band has the ability to track your heart rate from your wrist. You don’t have to wear a chest strap or touch sensors to get a heart rate from your pulse.