CES 2012: Magellan Switches it Up

This week at the Consumer Electronics Show Magellan announced it was switching things up, and is entering the fitness market with the launch of its first two products, the Switch and Switch Up. These new series promises to be powerful, adaptable, and customizable for those looking for GPS watches that can meet the needs of runners, cyclists, and multisport athletes.  And with a Magellan fitness website and third-party integration, users can easily analyze and share their activities.

For runners there is the Switch, which is packed with innovative features including nine customizable sport profiles, easy to read high-resolution display, eight hours of battery life, a high sensitivity GPS receiver, 50-meter water resistance, and compatibility with ANT+ sensors. The Switch Up offers the same features as the Switch plus additional features designed for true multisport athletes, including a barometric altimeter for precise elevation data, a thermometer to capture outside temperature, vibration alerts, and an innovative quick release mounting system to easily transition between sports. The Switch series will launch this spring. Press Release after the jump

Polar USA Rolls Out Suite of Technology Accessories With New Computer

There is no denying that training computers have typically had very specific uses. What is good in the water isn’t so good on the bike, but Polar USA looks to change the way the game is tracked with its new RCX5 training computer. It builds on the company’s decades of experience, and this new device combines Polar heart rate tracking accuracy with features that make it ideal in the water, on the bike and even on the pavement as you pound out each and every step.

The device, which is now available in “smart black” and will available in “striking red” later this year, is includes sport profiles that are essential for multisport and triathletes. It allows users to quickly switch between sports during training, so no time or training data is lost between swims, rides or runs.

“Triathlons are one of the fastest-growing sport segments in the United States, and we understand better than anyone in the market that multisport athletes demand data, whether they are training for their first regional event or chasing a lifelong professional pursuit,” said Jeff Padovan, President, Polar USA. “The Polar brand has been an established name among elite athletes for more than 30 years, and we are proud of the loyalty and knowledge we’ve built within the ‘tri’ market specifically. The RCX5 is the realization of everything we’ve been hearing that ‘tri’ users require to get to that next level, packaged in a new, sleek design.”

The RCX5 features a ZoneOptimizer that adjusts to personal heart rate zones based on the user’s current physiological condition to optimize just the right level of training intensity; plus Race Pace that lets the wearer set a target time for certain distances to see how far ahead or behind on a course the user is at a given time; and even a Training Load feature to let a wearer known when he or she has recovered enough for the next session.

The RCX5 is available in multiple product sets for running, cycling and multi-sport use. There is even a WearLink+ Hybrid transmitter that can ensure transmission in the water via a comfortable, fabric chest transmitter that transfers data both in 5 kHz and 2.4 GHz.

Training may never be the same again.

Polar RCX5 Official Website