Showing posts with label smart watch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smart watch. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

The State of the Art in Smart Watches



Apple's smart watch isn't nearly as smart as this guy, the Garmin Forerunner 920XT.  I can't wait, despite the fact that it'll cost ~$500 with the HRM-Run heart rate monitor.

I've owned a Forerunner 405 for about six years and I've enjoyed having access to the data from both running and biking.  The 920XT takes things up a notch and if I bought one, I could see myself never wanting to take it off.  From the 405, it steps things up by adding:

  • Activity tracking (good bye fitbit?)
  • Running form (when used with HRM-Run monitor)
  • Swimming!  Laps and cadence and stroke
  • Color display: seems nice but not necessary
  • Smart phone integration (will show a text).  Not sure that I care about this.  Often, I'm running with my watch to avoid having to lug my phone around.  But who knows.
  • Battery life: claimed 24 hours in normal mode.
  • Power-meter compatible (though I don't see myself dropping $1500 on pedals)

Much of this look genuinely useful.  Now, this is only based on what they say it'll do.  Who knows.  But I would love to find out.  Maybe this'll have to be my Christmas present to myself.