SPOT GPS satellite Tracker/Messenger

SPOT Expands Product Line with the New SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger - 30% Smaller and Lighter Offering Advanced Capabilities and Feature-Rich Enhancements.
Changing the way that we communicate, not just letting the user know where they are but others can now get text messaging if something happens. This changes the landscape from a general GPS unit till a fully functioning social emergency tool.
Stay tuned this change in the landscape will force other like the iPhone to make smarter units.

The new SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger™ will include the following new features designed to enhance customer usability:
30% smaller and lighter than the original model at 5.2 ounces
New enhanced satellite antenna for improved performance in foliage or canopied environments
Advanced GPS performance chipset

• GPS Acquisition light
• “Message Sending” indicator light
• Dedicated GPS Tracking button
• New, dedicated pre-programmable Custom Message button
• Protective covers over S.O.S and Help button to prevent inadvertent message transmission
• Illuminated buttons
• Choice of orange or silver
• Included case and neoprene fastening band

iPhone 3Gs, can this be the end to watches!

Slowly creeping up on watches is the iPhone 3Gs. Along with the iBikePak and MapMyRun.com you have a complete system. The only problem I see is the running, the iPhone is a bit big to be strapped to your arm. A chest or waist strap could be cool. Having a bike computer, watch, gps, shoe pod, etc. just seems wasteful. You might not think that this has changed the health arena, and Apple might not be the device for you but in a year from now most every phone will have some sort of app that will allow tracking.

Exact Altitude + GPS

Again the new iPhone is really going to change the way that we look at devices, do you need a GPS+Phone+Watch. Think again,
all that is left to do is buy attachments for the bike and the car. Well the attachment need to be waterproof! other than that this is a done deal. Exact Altitude + GPS + GPS is an altitude measurement tool, which can tell you the altitude of the ground of the current point you are. Exact Altitude uses an online service and also a built in database. You can see all the information from all sources, but there's a bigger display which shows you the most exact information. The order of them is: online information, database information, GPS information. Since the elevation database is quite big, there are more then one version of the application, usually split by some kind of natural splitting existing for continents. Because of this, please be aware which version do you download, since the offline data will work only on places which is listed. However, the online service will work anywhere you can get internet connection, however, except this no internet connection is required.

Swim Guard Vest

Yanko has some of the best ideas around. Swim Guard Vest is a vest that is worn like a Chest Harness with a bit more support around the neck, keeping your head afloat. The device is form fitting and I could see this being built into wetsuits in the near future. The really cool feature is the GPS that is built in. I can see Triathlons offering this as an options to those a little hesitant of the water, like theNew York City Triathlon, the Hudson can be scary.

Map Out Cycle Routes In Advance!

Sometimes all it takes is techno, gadget guy to get into exercise and WHAM you have another cool device.
Here is an explanation from Yanko Design
The neat gadget clamps up to the handle bar and includes audio as well as visual guide. You simply need to hook up the device to your comp and download the desired route from an online map. Turn by turn, the VeloCity rattles of the directions and simultaneously displays the map on the screen. Of course GPS and Bluetooth come into play as well.

NEW, Forerunner 310XT

Your next favorite watch is coming, second quarter of this year (not sure when that is), the Forerunnner 310XT! Since the watch is not out yet, here is what Garmin is saying...

Finally, a GPS-enabled training device that isn't afraid of the water. The rugged Forerunner 310XT is the triathlete's indispensable training tool — a GPS-enabled, swim-proof trainer that tracks bike and run data and sends it wirelessly to your computer. This multi-sport device has up to 20 hours of battery life, tracks distance, pace and heart rate (optional), and goes from wrist to bike in seconds.

Time Your Swim

The swim-proof Forerunner 310XT is waterproof to a depth of 50 meters, so you can wear it in the pool or the lake to time your swim. And its slim design and flexible wristband mean Forerunner is easy to wear in any conditions.

Transition Effortlessly

When you're ready to jump out of the water and onto the bike, Forerunner 310XT moves easily from wrist to bike with the optional quick release and bike mounts, making the transition between sports effortless. Forerunner 310XT categorizes multisport activities in one workout and can also log transition time in the process, so you can analyze your performance from start to finish.

Collect Workout Data

Forerunner 310XT tracks your position precisely with GPS satellite data and records distance, pace, heart rate (optional), power data (from ANT+™-enabled third-party power meters) and more. High-sensitivity GPS and HotFix™ satellite prediction mean Forerunner acquires satellites quickly and tracks your movement even near tall buildings or under tree cover. And using innovative ANT+™ wireless technology, Forerunner 310XT connects seamlessly to an optional heart rate monitor, foot pod and cadence sensor.

When paired with the optional wireless heart rate monitor, Forerunner 310XT continuously tracks beats per minute and uses heart rate data in advanced calorie computation. Train in a certain heart rate zone to improve fitness and monitor your level of exertion.

Run, Sync, Store and Share

Once you’ve logged the miles, innovative ANT+™ wireless technology automatically transfers data to your computer when Forerunner is in range. No cables, no hookups. The data’s just there, ready for you to analyze, categorize and share through our online community, Garmin Connect or our optional Garmin Training Center™ software. You can even plan workouts on your computer and then send them to your Forerunner.



At a cost of $350, that's not bad..

MotionX-GPS now on the App Store

iPhone has changed so much of what and how we work and play. MotionX-GPS takes it a bit further with an easy to use handheld GPS on your iPhone. You can use the virtual compass for navigation and the stopwatch to record time, distance, speed and average pace. Email your tracks and waypoints with your photos to share with your friends and family in Google Earth and Google Maps. Use MotionX-GPS while biking, running, hiking, walking, geocaching, in your car or on your boat. It has a stopwatch to time your ride, run, set way points and share with Google maps really great to see what in the next year the iPhone and others companies start to come up with.
Happy Holidays

iPhone App; RunKeeper

When the iPhone has so much traction and a hug following apps like the RunKeeper are a sure win. Sure there are some drawbacks but being a pioneer like RunKeeper you have to accept those drawbacks, wooded areas, tunnels, tall buildings, etc. So the app is simple enough, have a 3G iPhone and for $9.99 you can have a full tracking GPS enabled fitness device. If you are saying well the iPhone cost $299 so the the real price is somewhere in the range of $310, still cheaper than the Polar s625x and the Garmin. Now the Polar is one of the best devices out their so yes their is know comparison, for the weekend warrior that is getting into the sport this is a great way to start. Also with Health Currency getting ready to launch the tie in with RunKeeper is great.

RunKeeper FAQ

What is RunKeeper?
RunKeeper is an application built for the new 3G iPhones that uses the built-in GPS to enable fitness tracking (duration, time, pace, speed, route on a map)

Can RunKeeper be used for any other activities besides running?
While it was built primarily with running in mind, some of our testing has involved additional activities such as walking, cycling, and even driving. It appears to work fine for these other activities as well, although the majority of our testing has been running-specific.

How much will RunKeeper cost?
The RunKeeper iPhone application will be a one-time download of $9.99 USD and will be available exclusively through Apple’s online App Store.

Will RunKeeper work with an original first generation iPhone?
No. RunKeeper needs a GPS signal to determine accurate speed, pace and distance. The RunKeeper application will not work properly on a first generation iPhone.

Can I see my route on a map?
Yes, you can see all of the routes you run on a map that will be displayed on your personal web dashboard at www.runkeeper.com. You cannot see your route displayed on the RunKeeper iPhone app initially, but we are evaluating including this functionality in future releases. You will be able to see the route through the device’s web browser at www.runkeeper.com.

GPS Tuner - Offroad Navigation

If you send more time off road, via running, biking, walking, hiking, etc., and you have a watch GPS that keeps you data then you might want to look at this software.
GPS Tuner is an off-road navigation software for Pocket PC devices. While most car navigation software gives you the possibility of planning your route based on a road network, GPS Tuner gives you the ability of navigation where the roads end.

GPS Tuner is an excellent tool for hiking, geocaching, boating, flying, driving and many other sporting activities, where the monitoring of duration, distance and speed can be important.

If you are in possession of our 'Geo license' with extended features, the Area Calculation function is available to you, which makes it easy to measure perimeter and area. All you need to do is activate GPS and walk (or drive) around the boundary. The created area (shape) can be saved, exported in DXF format and even reloaded.

Features:

Multilingual
English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Dansih, Czech, Swedish, Norwegian, Slovakian, Russian, Hungarian, Finnish, Afrikaans, Romanian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Units and National Grids
Selectable Metric, Imperial or Nautical units
24 National Grids are supported (like WGS-84, British (OSGB36), NAD27, NAD83…)

Mapping
GPS Tuner supports JPG files as maps
Online map downloading from Google Maps, TerraServer, Open Street Map
Easy Calibration on Pocket PC or using Desktop Map Calibrator (free) program
Auto map loading feature
Zoom and Pan by pen or joystick
Flexible layer and track/route display
Distance measuring and route defining by drawing on map
Map image rotation according to your heading in 90 degrees steps
Blank map support

Navigation, Digital Compass
Real time rotating compass with big target arrow
Sun's direction
Custom target from entered coordinate
Any waypoint, trackpoint or point of map can be selected as target
6 different types of Compass views
38 selectable Compass tools
Voice navigation and next turn indication for routes

Trip Computer
Monitor your whole trip
Save, Load and Reset is possible
31 selectable Trip Computer tools
Graph for Altitude and Speed
Selectable tool window size
Push track data into Trip Computer to get a full track analysis
Speedometer with speed limit warning

Waypoints, POIs, Track, Routes
Waypoint, POI: GPX, LOC, KML, SDF files supported
Track, Route: GPX, TRK, KML, SDF files supported
Data exchange with Suunto X9i/X9Mi GPS watch (wristop computer)
Track recording by configurable Auto, Time or Distance interval
View your waypoints and tracks in Google Earth directly (KML export/import)
Flexible waypoint management
You can easily convert track to route and reverse the direction of route
Area Calculation feature is also available in our Geo version

NMEA
NMEA recording
NMEA playback (with selectable speed)
You can jump to any position of NMEA file (skipping unnecessary data)

GPS Share
Share your position in real time with other users
See your friends position displayed in GPS Tuner
Monitor your (and your friends’) position on your web browser
Ideal for personal and vehicle tracking purposes
SMS interface

Forerunner 405, almost there.

Now Polar has a great bunch of watches and their newest RS800 is not lacking much, since does not have the GPS built in you have to attach somewhere on your body along with the foot pod for running stride and distance. A bit of a pain consider the Forerunner 405 has it built in. Goods and bad to all this technology is that the Forerunner has a built in GPS, but like the Polar you need the foot pod. Mostly for the things mentioned above but if you don't like the weather outside and you want to record your workout, you need the foot pod for the treadmill. Sorry not everything can be in one neat package. Cost is $300 with out the foot pod.
Here is Garmin's verbiage:

"Watch Results

Loaded with serious training features, Forerunner 405 continuously monitors your time, distance, pace, calories and heart rate (when paired with heart rate monitor). Each run is stored in memory so you can review and analyze the data to see how you've improved. You can even download recorded courses to compete against previous workouts or race a Virtual Partner®. Customize Forerunner’s data screens for instant feedback while you train.

Use with Ease

Sport watch and personal trainer — Forerunner 405 gives you the best of both worlds in a sleek, stylish package. This high performance watch is easy to use and comfortable to wear when not training. Simply tap the touch bezel to change screens without fumbling for a button. Forerunner 405 comes in two color options — black or green — to fit your style.

Run, Sync, Store and Share

Once you’ve logged the miles, innovative ANT+Sport™ wireless technology automatically transfers data to your computer when the Forerunner is in range. No cables, no hookups. The data’s just there, ready for you to analyze, categorize and share through our online community, Garmin Connect or our optional Garmin Training Center® software. You can wirelessly send workouts from your computer to Forerunner, too.

Share Wirelessly

With Forerunner 405 you can share your locations, advanced workouts and courses wirelessly with other Forerunner 405 users. Now you can send your favorite workout to your buddy to try, or compete against a friend's recorded course. Sharing data is easy. Just select “transfer” to send your information to nearby units.

Track Heart Rate

Forerunner 405 is available with or without a heart rate monitor (see the versions tab) to help you make the most out of your training. Versions with a digital heart rate monitor continuously track heart beats per minute. Train in a certain heart rate zone to improve your fitness level or compare your pace and heart rate to past performance on the same run.

Cross-Train

Take your training inside with the versatile Forerunner 405. Pair it with an optional foot pod to track your speed, distance and running cadence indoors when a GPS signal is unavailable. This new design clips onto your laces for easy removal and automatically turns on when you start moving. You can also add a speed/cadence bike sensor to track the speed and distance of your cycling workouts.

Lock Onto Satellite Signals

Forerunner 405 sports a unique design that gives the GPS antenna a better view of the sky, so it can get a stronger signal during your run. And its high-sensitivity GPS receiver provides improved tracking under trees and near tall buildings."

Garmin Edge 705, Wireless Cycle Computer

Wow times are moving fast in the GPS world. Not only fast, but small and carrying a truck load of features. The Edge 705 pulls out all the stops, this GPS-enabled cycle computer knows no limits. Get heart rate, cadence, turn-by-turn directions, power data (from ANT + Sport™-enabled third-party power meters) — the works. Even share your data with other Edge 705 buddies after your ride. All wireless with a color display, this is no ordinary cycle computer. When you start incorporating all the parts that make a triathlete or athlete smile. Too boot it is all wireless.
You can:
Navigate Your Ride
Get the Data You Need
See Your Power
Measure Heart Rate and Cadence
Swap Rides Wirelessly
Share, Store and Analyze via Garmin Training Center
All for the price of an iPhone!
Check it out..

Track Your Trips: Trackstick!

As components get smaller companies are able to do amazing things. Garmin just came out with a new watch Forerunner 50:
Jump start your training with Forerunner 50. This sleek sports watch is ideal for running, cycling and other fitness activities, and is available with a wireless heart rate monitor or foot pod or both. Plus it automatically transmits workouts to your computer so you can analyze, store and share data using our online community, Garmin Connect™.

So when the TrackStick released this new device, things are going to get interesting.

Check out specs:
"The Trackstick II is the perfect fit for personal GPS tracking. Bring it on vacation to keep a satellite scrapbook of all your travels and record your explorations. You can carry it along on all your regular outings from home to get a better sense of your daily surroundings through Google Earth’s cohesive 3D maps of your community. With Trackstick II a computer screen can guide your family and friends on a virtual tour of your vacation. Take it fishing and mark the catch spots to discover feeding patterns over time. Find a good camping spot and leave it to Trackstick to remember where it is and the path you took to get there. It’s a fun and immersive way to show others where you’ve been. You’ll even enjoy seeing the normal routes of your day breathe new life as you view them like never before with Google Earth’s 3D model of the planet. The possibilities are endless and our users are always finding new and interesting uses for the Trackstick."

Now go and get one, and get outside!

Coming to America: Polar g3 sensor (GPS)

Polar is adding to the US line it g3 sensor, which is a GPS unit for it's RS800 watch. This is great for Polar who had been lacking in the GPS department, both Garmin Forerunner 305 and Timex Bodylink have been doing this for quite sometime, making an uphill battle for Polar. If Polar could incorporate it into existing watches through a software upgrade so users could just buy the g3 sensor that would be a slam dunk for Polar, and would catapult them over Garmin and Timex.
Here is what Polar is saying:
GPS (g3) vs. Stride Sensor (s3)
The RS800 training system was launched along with the s3 stride sensor. Both the s3 and the g3 units have distinct advantages for measuring speed and distance:

Worn on the foot (or in a cavity in the mid-sole of adidas adistar running shoes), Polar’s s3 stride sensor is the best choice for running; using sensitive inertial sensors to track the position of the foot 1000 times a second it is immune from signal dropout and gives accurate and highly responsive speed, distance, leg cadence and stride length measurements. s3 is the right choice for competitive runners who want to improve their technique and running efficiency.

g3 can be worn around the waist, the arm or even carried in a back pack and, as movement is tracked by the global positioning system, it tracks speed and distance across all terrestrial sports.

“Adding g3 to the RS800 training system enables athletes, who train and compete in sport categories additional to running, to benefit fully from the complete range of industry leading features incorporated in the wrist computer and accompanying Pro Trainer 5 PC software.” says Marco Suvilaakso, Product Manager, Polar Electro Oy.

On sale through authorised Polar resellers during the second half of 2007, g3 will be available for purchase as an upgrade for existing RS800 owners, or as a complete set in the RS800g3 Training System.

Let's hope we don't have to buy a new watch...Check it out! g3 Sensor

iPhone and Training is it in Apple?

So the iPhone has released the date June 29, and I can't wait, now how are they going to work the Nike Plus into this little puppy, if they even have too. If or when they can connect the two boy will things get interesting, or should I say more interesting. A GPS, Google maps, Nike Plus tracking your millage, Map My Run so you have a place to store your runs and share with friends and community, wow I am sure I could keep going. Also they are opening it up to outside developers, so my idea of Virtual Tri can really take off (if you are interested in learning more, contact me at usiskin(Youknow)healthcurrency.com).
So embrace this new standard set by Steve Jobs and the team at Apple, if anything love 'em, hate 'em, they have set the new standard many are trying to catch. From here on in how we store information and communicate and listen to music has changed.

GPSPORTS: Leader in Sports GPS Solutions

GPSORTS, The world leader in sport GPS solutions, have some great products that monitor your body in motion, real time. When athlete should push themselves, hang back or is bonking, play a vital role in the success and longevity of an athlete. Being able to track that is the best thing going.
"Knowing how fast and far an athlete has travelled in training is vital to the correct development of the athlete's energy systems. Not knowing or poor analysis leads to poor athletic performance. The overriding goal for the sportsperson is to improve his/her performance and competitive edge.

GPSports provides the athlete the crucial tools for understanding his/her physiological responses under different training and competitive regimes, and over time."
Here are the key components to GPSorts products.

1. The SPI family are the performance monitoring products of choice by leading sports science institutions and elite athletes around the world (see GPSports client list)

2. The technology is multi-sport usable without reconfiguration (walking, running, cycling, rowing, etc).

3. There is no calibration of the technology required. Switch on and Go.

4. GPSports SPI products are the only systems available that are "TUNED FOR HUMAN MOVEMENT". They are the most accurate & reliable systems on the market.

5. The unit captures multiple performance variables including kinematic (speed, distance, etc) as well as physiological (heart rate).

6. External devices can be "plugged in" to the SPI products (eg cadence, stroke rate).

7. Comes complete with powerful analyser software.

8. Replaceable software capability to allow for exercise programs to be uploaded.

9. Access to online training diary for assistance in program generation and monitoring.

Their current products are:
SPI10
SPI Elite
Analysis Software
GPSports PerfectSession.com- Perfect Session is the first online Periodisation* diary that incorporates advanced training program theory to help the user plan, monitor and modify training programs to achieve their goals. * Periodisation: Cyclical structure of long and short term training programmes, to maximise performance and reduce the risk of injuries and illness.
Check them out! GPSORTS