An impressive set of futuristic fitness trackers are hitting the market, and they are making fitness, sleep, calorie-counting, heart rate monitoring, and metrics logging and analysis easier and more effective than ever before. These include do-it-all headphones - or rather high-tech ear inserts - plus a fitness monitor that isn't much larger or heavier than a big Band-Aid, and a new high-end GPS watch from FitBit.
The feature list for the Bragi Dash, which is to be released in the spring of 2015, reads almost too good to be true. These wireless headphones, which are more accurately described as compact ear inserts, are to include heart rate monitoring, motion tracking via a built-in accelerometer, on-board music storage (4GB), music play from your smartphone, noise-canceling capability, and a "transparent" mode that will let you hear ambient sounds when you are running or cycling, for example. You will control them with touch-sensitive tapping and swiping motions. A built-in microphone will let you hear and be heard. And they'll do all of this with 3.5 hours of battery life, complete with an included charging & carrying case.
Dash is looking more real, as the German firm Bragi raised millions in a Kickstarter campaign, and is showing prototypes and developer units to the media. Do we want heart rate and motion monitoring, plus these amazing audio features in such a small, wireless form? Yes.
Bragi is offering an accessory "leash" that connects to the ear-pieces to prevent them from being lost or dropped when the user is engaged in a rigorous sport.
Dash is to release with its own fitness app as well, but developers may be able to link it with existing popular fitness apps.
The AmpStrip solves the wearable fitness tracker challenge by adhering to your chest with medical-grade replaceable adhesive. This should result in a device that is lighter and more comfortable than a typical wireless heart rate monitor. The AmpStrip is still in development and is to be available by June 2015.
The AmpStrip can be worn just for workouts, but its designers intend it to be comfortably wearable 24/7 for days at a time (until it needs to be recharged or the adhesive wears out).
The AmpStrip is just 3.5 inches long by one inch wide and weighs less than half an ounce. Its main sensors are an ECG heart rate monitor, a 3-axis accelerometer, and a skin thermistor to measure body temperature. The waterproof and pool-ready AmpStrip will use wireless Bluetooth to communicate with a companion fitness app.
The Surge is Fitbit's latest entry into the wearable fitness arena. The Surge takes Fitbit out of the simple "fitness band" motion detector segment and lifts it into the higher-end fitness, sports and performance watch category. For example, the Surge has a larger display than other Fitbit models, and has a built-in GPS chip, for more accurate outdoor distances and speeds.
Surge features include steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, sleep tracking & alarms, continuous heart rate, and music control and notifications. The Surge will also notify you of calls and texts when linked with your smartphone.
The Surge uses optical monitoring on the back of the watch to detect heart rate without the use of a heart rate chest strap. It is water-resistant, but not waterproof for swimming use. Its app dashboard provides great summary stats and graphs, and lets you track calories and analyze sleep patterns.
Bragi Dash Wireless Headphones ($299)
The feature list for the Bragi Dash, which is to be released in the spring of 2015, reads almost too good to be true. These wireless headphones, which are more accurately described as compact ear inserts, are to include heart rate monitoring, motion tracking via a built-in accelerometer, on-board music storage (4GB), music play from your smartphone, noise-canceling capability, and a "transparent" mode that will let you hear ambient sounds when you are running or cycling, for example. You will control them with touch-sensitive tapping and swiping motions. A built-in microphone will let you hear and be heard. And they'll do all of this with 3.5 hours of battery life, complete with an included charging & carrying case.
Dash is looking more real, as the German firm Bragi raised millions in a Kickstarter campaign, and is showing prototypes and developer units to the media. Do we want heart rate and motion monitoring, plus these amazing audio features in such a small, wireless form? Yes.
Bragi is offering an accessory "leash" that connects to the ear-pieces to prevent them from being lost or dropped when the user is engaged in a rigorous sport.
Dash is to release with its own fitness app as well, but developers may be able to link it with existing popular fitness apps.
FitLinxx AmpStrip ($199)
The AmpStrip solves the wearable fitness tracker challenge by adhering to your chest with medical-grade replaceable adhesive. This should result in a device that is lighter and more comfortable than a typical wireless heart rate monitor. The AmpStrip is still in development and is to be available by June 2015.
The AmpStrip can be worn just for workouts, but its designers intend it to be comfortably wearable 24/7 for days at a time (until it needs to be recharged or the adhesive wears out).
The AmpStrip is just 3.5 inches long by one inch wide and weighs less than half an ounce. Its main sensors are an ECG heart rate monitor, a 3-axis accelerometer, and a skin thermistor to measure body temperature. The waterproof and pool-ready AmpStrip will use wireless Bluetooth to communicate with a companion fitness app.
Fitbit Surge ($249)
The Surge is Fitbit's latest entry into the wearable fitness arena. The Surge takes Fitbit out of the simple "fitness band" motion detector segment and lifts it into the higher-end fitness, sports and performance watch category. For example, the Surge has a larger display than other Fitbit models, and has a built-in GPS chip, for more accurate outdoor distances and speeds.
Surge features include steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, sleep tracking & alarms, continuous heart rate, and music control and notifications. The Surge will also notify you of calls and texts when linked with your smartphone.
The Surge uses optical monitoring on the back of the watch to detect heart rate without the use of a heart rate chest strap. It is water-resistant, but not waterproof for swimming use. Its app dashboard provides great summary stats and graphs, and lets you track calories and analyze sleep patterns.
SHARE
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}