Topics: Digital Life

CES: Garmin Packs GPS, Time, Speed, Distance, Heart Rate, And More Into A Wristwatch

Posted by admin, Jan 8, 2008 11:01 PM

In addition to the technologies from DisplayLink and the Picture Porter Elite from Digital Foci, Garmin's Forerunner 405 ranks as one my favorite finds here at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Because of the way it uses GPS to offer distance and speed features in addition to its heart rate and mapping capabilties, the Forerunner is the ultimate accessory for runners and cyclists.

Last year, after investigating my options for equipping myself with a good wireless cycling computer (see the video), I ended up with a pretty cool setup from Sigma. But after seeing Garmin's Forerunner 405, I'm already in that regretful "I wish I waited" state.

In addition to its mapping, time, speed, distance and heart rate capabilities, the Forerunner also can transmit all of the information it has gathered from a workout to a PC. But wait, there's more. You can use it to also train against a virtual competitor and it will tell you whether you're falling behind or moving ahead.

In the above video, not only does Garmin spokesperson Jake Jacobsen (who himself is a runner) talk about all the features of the watch, he gives me a glimpse of the Forerunner's user interface which, as far as I could tell, is outstanding for an interactive watch. For example, not only can you press on the bezel going around the crystal to activate certain features in the user interface, you can select those features by sliding your finger around the bezel the way you might slide your finger around the "wheel" of an iPod. It's that well done. Or least it appears that way.

So how much for one of the world's most advanced GPS watches? With a heart-rate strap, it's $349. Without, it's $299. For cyclists, there are other optional accessories. For example, a wireless speed transmitter that reads the speed off a bicycle's wheel (you'd use this for stationary training since the GPS isn't going to help you there) and a wireless cadence transmitter.

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