Part V: Eventually, the bigger picture. How does the new Nokia N79 Active package fit into the larger landscape of more or less intelligent training companions. The selection might not be exhaustive, but the point is to provide a target group overview based on the product proposition. The analysis can easily be extrapolated to other existing products on the market.
Let’s use two major dimensions in the product offering. One being the sports functionality and the other entertainment+community features. Sports functionality are the more traditional physical workout data input capabilities, training data representation during the session and afterwards, plus data analysis tools. All those things pro, semi-pro and wanna-be pro athletes want to have. Entertainment and community features are more the new kids on the block. Those are e.g. the addition of playing music, listening to the radio, taking pictures/video, live sharing during the workout session. And post-session web service community interaction around the workouts and the recorded data (e.g. physical workout data, geotagged data and multimedia), such as telling your buddy that he’s a total show-off.
The diagram on the left shows how the different product propositions are positioned relatively to each other. This is not a highly analytical research result, but rather the qualitative assessment from reading reviews on the different products. One factor is left out, price, because it makes more sense to save a little more to get the better matching product than buying a training companion just because it’s cheap.
A brief walkthrough of the different products, their characteristics and why they’re in its place on the map.
Nike+: A motivating running aide that spurs you on with voice feedback and the ability to sync to a website, no Mac SW problem, that’s good. Works with an iPod Nano right now. All very simple, candy shop colorful and easy-to-use, nice widgets of friends that you can integrate into your own Nike+ site and challenge for a next workout. Perhaps a bit too simple on the sports functionality side, there’s no heart rate monitor functionality and no placing the route on a map afterwards. A Nike shoe specific (although you can attach it to other shoes with a bit of tape) accelerometer measures your stride and thus the speed and distance. For more info read a good review on a blog on stuff.tv or sheck out the flashy Nike+ web site.
Nokia N79 Active: What’s there still to say that hasn’t been said already in last weeks’ blog entries. The inbuilt GPS, the Sports Tracker application and Polar heart rate belt covering the sports functionality aspects and the good camera, ample of GB (I use an 8GB memory card) for music and the Sports Tracker service looking after entertainment & community features with route maps etc. The only critical thing that the competitive athlete misses is the wrist unit. With the device sitting on the upper arm is not easy to catch just the data you need in full running speed. For cycling this is different, since you would mount it on the handle bar. See the full spec in part I
Samsung/Adidas miCoach: This is actually a co-operation between Samsung and Adidas, which underscores the more athletic and performance aspects of the proposition. You find a whole array of running plans that lays out your training for weeks and months. A female coach voice spurs you on while out there. And the associated web service is purly training result and analysis focused, no community features. Music you can play from the Samsung F110 handset, but as reviews say it’s fiddly and hence not well integrated into the Sports app. Nokia has nicely circumvented this by putting the music controls on the headset cable. Depending on how important music is for you the Samsung/Adidas combo is higher or lower on the entertainment/community scale. More info on the same blog on stuff.tv or the nice miCoach webiste.
Garmin: Taking the Forerunner 405 as Garmin representative, it has a wrist unit with GPS and a heart rate monitor, which places it right away closer to the Polar and Suunto guys. The display is clean and well readible and the wrist unit has a novel input method, a bezel around the display. Of course there are no music, camera or other handset entertainment feature. A PC software comes along (sorry Macs, apparently PC only) that helps with the link to the web service. The web service features a Google Map, different performance views and a very thin community offering (there’s a share button somewhere), but it seems that Garmin hasn’t quite sorted out what that should be good for. The reason for the 405 being not quite equal with Suunto and Polar on the sports functionality axis is due the lack of depth in workout data analysis. For more details here Garmins web shop and here a review of the 405.
Suunto: Now we are at the competitive training companion forefront. The difference to Polar is not much sports wise. Some reviews pointed out that the Suunto tc6 is a simplified Polar S625x, but with simplification in the positive sense. Well, it seems to come ot personal taste and what data you need. The PC software (again no word on Mac support) apparently isn’t as smooth as Polar’s and there’s no web service included. For more details the conclusion of a lengthy review and the Suunto heart rate monitor web site.
Polar: Finally the market leader in competitive sports oriented heart rate monitors (and most probably also in the fitness area). We’re using the Polar S625x ourselves for this 400days project and see why it’s top. The relevant data is generated from the wrist unit, the GPS or accelerometer foot pod and the heart rate monitor. The PC software (again no Mac support) is the offering a plethora of analysis functionality. Further the Personaltrainer.com service is the community and motivational web service. Just registered to try it out. For more info the same conclusion page of the lengthy review and the Polar web page.
How important are the sports and performance aspect and how important the entertainment and community aspects are for you? We’re using two systems right now. Yes, it feels sometimes like turning into a terminator with all the attached technology. But the Polar is needed for all the analysis features and the Nokia N79 Active for getting some entertainment while out there on a 20+k run. Plus with more and more friends and colleagues on the Sports Tracker service, the community is becoming fun. Although in the long term this should be part of a larger community platform, OVI if Nokia does it themselves or Facebook if someone does an integration.
Part I: the nokia n79 active, a runner’s companion
Part II: nokia n79 active, out of the box
Part III: nokia n79 active, experiences of the nokia running man
Part 3.5: nokia n79 active and polar s625x, becoming a humanoid
Part IV: Nokia N79, out for a test drive
Tags: Adidas miCoach, Garmin, Garmin Forerunner 405, Nike +, Nokia N79 Active, Polar, polar s625x, Samsung miCoach, Suunto, Suunto tc6
January 28th, 2009 at 02:06
Personally, I’m interested in an all-inclusive product. Regarding the quality of each individual feature, I’d say I’m less likely to consider a product ultimately hindered by old-hat hardware. Something malleable to developments in a market still searching for its footing. So, nothing <5 megapixel, or anything else to compromise maximum data input options. Isn’t Nokia on this track?
January 28th, 2009 at 12:09
All the services are still kind of toys. Serious (and more useful) web services come when we get open API for heart beat and (open) standard for exercise data portability.
The “active” of N79 active is first step to right direction. I just hope it is usable with JSR-256 out of the box.
Anyways, we will likely see useful bluetooth wristgadgets in 6-12 months.
January 28th, 2009 at 15:42
I really like the chart - it would be great to have a third dimension: ease of use.
One new one to add: the iPhone. It just happened yesterday with the commercial launch of SMHEART LINK, a wireless bridge from fitness sensors (heart, speed, cadence and power) to the iPhone or iPod touch. Works with Polar and Garmin heart belts and a host of others.
iTMP Technology is launching it through iPhone app: iRPM+ is the first of a suite of apps to allow the iPhone to double as a heart monitor and cycling computer. Actually any cardio, any where (except swimming of course).
For the app here is the iTunes URL: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObj.....2&mt=8
For the SMHEART LINK: http://smheartlink.com/
January 28th, 2009 at 21:24
Does smheartlink use bluetooth? Quite interesting product even though it doesn’t support anything I already have (9 Polar wind sensors).
Also it is yet another gadget to carry around and charge.
January 29th, 2009 at 16:06
The charging part has also been identified as critical in my testing of the N79 Active. The GPS and display back light are quite a drain on the battery, hence going out with one or two bars left likely results in the device being empty before you return home. Every one more gadget to look after for charging is quite a pain, because it’s so easily forgotten.
February 2nd, 2009 at 23:23
mkpaa-
SMHEART LINK uses wifi to communicate with the iPhone and has a battery that will out last the iPhone while working out. It comes with a pouch that integrates it with the heart belt. Check out http://www.smheartlink.com/sensor.pdf for the growing list of compatible sensors.
Michael
February 3rd, 2009 at 04:39
Interesting article…BUT…I feel a failure to mention the real “new kids on the block” leaves this article void of a real message for those wishing to fuse tech and entertainment. My google android phone has an application called CardioTrainer on it that has most of the hardcore sports features comparable to Garmin(google maps, pace, distance, real-time gps, time elapsed), but then my phone has an actual media player on it to provide the entertainment value. In addition, CardioTrainer brings these two metrics together to provide audio updates of distance traveled or time elapsed (set to the users desired interval). SO big picture Download CardioTrainer for free and you get all of these benefits on something you already have!!!
http://www.worksmartlabs.com/c...../about.php
February 6th, 2009 at 12:24
Looks like a great product, I hope it comes out soon to the stores !
February 7th, 2009 at 20:21
should be out by the end of february, in Nokia Flagship stores and online at least.
February 8th, 2009 at 22:01
Can you define interval times and get some kind of sound when its time to run or run slower? Or even change music when its running fast and other when is time for recovery?
February 8th, 2009 at 23:42
@jari
Not yet. However when talking to the Sports Tracker people at Nokia, I suggested as well the music part of your idea. That somehow the music would change when the runner deviates from a pre-defined goal. I think there’s a lot of potential there. You can suggest your ideas as well through this Nokia Research Center page: http://research.nokia.com/rese.....tsTracker/
February 9th, 2009 at 00:05
Is there any chance that nokia sports tracker site will get training options such as miCoach site ?
September 3rd, 2009 at 14:31
I am a 54 year old ‘Brit’ living in Cebu, Philippines. I had a heart attack in May last year, albeit a mild one, but was diagnosed as having Triple Heart Disease, with CABG surgery recommended. I am looking at i) Medication, ii) Diet, iii) Exercise, to hopefully delay or prevent that CABG becoming absolutely necessary. I am still alive 15 months later so cant be that urgent?
I got very excited about this N79 Active with Polar WearLink belt and Bluetooth Transmitter as offered in the Nokia N79 ‘Active’ Edition package.
But alas seems it not available in the Philippines. Also since I already own a Nokia N95 8GB, that rns the same ‘Sports Tracker’ application, in theory I just need the Polar WearLink belt+ Transmitter as sold with the N79.
Trouble is seems neither ‘Polar’ or ‘Nokia’ want to make this avilable as a separate product. This is a great pity as there are many Nokia owners that have Sports Tracker and want to add this Heart Rate Monitor.
There are some other manufacturers making HRM with Bluetooth that will work with Java application, so opens it up beyond S60 OS.
September 4th, 2009 at 11:24
@David
Congrats to your energy to keep that CABG surgery at arms length. That requires some real discipline.
Yes, the distribution of the Polar/Nokia HRM belt was rather restricted geography wise. I’m disappointed myself. In case you have more details about Bluetooth based HRMs that can be connected to handsets let us know. There are many other runners who have complained about the non-availability of the Polar/Nokia one as well.