Nike+ Sportwatch GPS
Even though the Nike+ SportWatch GPS isn’t
exactly the most compact of the six devices, it certainly is one that’s
remarkably well-designed. Dressed in an all-black exterior and a bright green
(or yellow) interior, this is likely one of the more physically appealing
sports watches we’ve seen.
Not with standing its hefty weight of 66g,
the SportWatch GPS doesn’t feel cumbersome as we initially thought it would be.
Similar to the Nike+ FuelBand, one end of its strap has a full-sized USB
connector, which can be accessed by flipping the hinge. The USB connection
transfers your workout data to the Nike+ web portal as well as charging the
watch. The watch is sweat and water resistant up to 5 ATM too.
Unlike your standard sports watch, you
cannot adjust the time on the SportWatch GPS out of the box. Instead, you have
to download the Nike+ Connect software onto your PC or Mac. Depending on how
you see it, setting the time through Nike+ Connect can be easier and faster
than pressing the side buttons on the watch. However, being unable to access a basic
feature like this is a little annoying.
With the GPS and built-in maps powered by
TomTom, GPS reception can be sometimes be a hit and miss affair especially in
the concrete jungle of Singapore. There is a Nike+ sensor bundled along with
the watch (that needs to be inserted into your corresponding Nike+ footwear)
that will continue to track data in the event that the GPS signal is lost.
Nike+
Sportwatch GPS
Using the SportWatch GPS turned out to be
quite straightforward as you only have three buttons to navigate. It also helps
that the menu interface is simple to understand – clock, run, history, records,
stop watch. The upper two buttons enable you to move up and down the list,
while the bright green third button acts as start/stop/select.
During your workout, the display is split
into town portions: top and bottom. You can customize what to display in the
two sections, which include pace, distance, calories and clock. This is done
via the Nike+ Connect software. The fonts are large enough to be read and the
screen performed quite well under direct sunlight. Due to the integration of
GPS< the workout data provided by the Sportwatch GPS lets you view the route
you took, your pace and elevation at different points on the map.
The SportWatch GPS is one step ahead of
most sports watches due to its integration with Nike+, as well as collaboration
with TomTom. The magic comes when the workout starts are uploaded to the web
portal where you can keep track of your progress and compare with other users.
“This is one of the more physically
appealing sports watches we’ve seen”.
·
Display: 1.57-inch
·
Dimensions: 25.6 x 37 x 16mm
·
Weight: 66g
·
Price: $279
Nike
and TomTom collaborated on the SportWatch GPS.
Nike
keeps it simple with three buttons on the left side of the device.
Flip
open the hinge to reveal the USB connector.
And Performance
Sony Smartwatch
Measuring just 36 x 36 x 8mm and weight
15.5g, the Sony SmartWatch is very portable and light compared to its bigger
counterparts. The front of the device is dominated by a 1.3-inch OLED touch
screen display that has a black bezel. The body of the SmartWatch is made up of
two having an aluminum frame going around the edges of the display, with the
bottom made up of while plastic. You will also find a clip at the back of the
SmartWatch for attaching to the wristband, or clothing. Lifting up the clip
will reveal four contact points, which are used to charge the device with a
proprietary USB cable. A power button is located on the right side.
Design-wise, it is a neat and fairy stylish
device with no exposed ports and extra buttons for navigation. Sony states that
the multi-touch display is scratch and splash-proof, though not suited for
water-based activities. The SmartWatch comes with a wrist strap included in the
package but it uses a non-breathable material, making it feel warm on your
wirst after a while.
Basically, the SamrtWatch functions like a
Bluetooth remote control for your Android smartphone. Speaking of which, the
SmartWhatch is positioned to work best with Sony devices, but is compatible
with several non-Sony devices, such as the Galaxy Nexus which paired
successfully.
Sony
Smartwatch
The setup process is straightforward,
requiring you to download the LiveWare Manager app (preloaded on Sony phones)
and SmartWatch apps from Google Play. By default, there is no fitness-related
app preinstalled on the SmartWatch, you have to download and configure the apps
via LiveWare Manager. At the moment, there are several fitness related apps
such as Endomondo Sports Tracker and SmartTraining, unlike Motorola’s
walled-garden approach, Sony released the SDK for developers to create apps for
use with the SmartWatch.
Navigating the interface on the SmartWatch
requires finger gestures. As easy as it may sound, navigation is far from
intuitive. Pinching with two fingers on the small screen isn’t easy, especially
for those with large fingers. One major shortfall with the SmartWatch is the
need to be paired to a smartphone to truly function properly. In order words,
the SmartWatch cannot function on its own, not even showing the time after you
power it on. Furthermore, the OLED display wasn’t readable outdoors, limiting
where you can bring the device, as well as the types of activities you can do.
“Basically, the SmartWatch functions
like a Bluetooth remote control for your Android SmartPhone”.
·
Display: 1.3-inch OLED
·
Dimensions: 36 x 36 x 8mm
·
Weight: 15.5g (main unit), 41.5g (with watchband)
·
Price: $248
Lift
up the clip to revel its charging port.
The
only button on the Sony SmartWatch is used to turn it on (or off).
You
will have difficulty reading the display outdoors.
And the Best Fitness Garget is…
Motorola MOTOACTV
The MOTOACTV comes across as the perfect
companion for working out. As it has built-in GOS, there’s no need for a
smartphone to track your workout, unlike the Sony SmartWatch. MP3 playback
levels the playing filed with the Apple iPod Nano, but Motorola goes one-up
with rain-, sweat- and scratch-resistant properties. Its 1.6-inch display
provides sufficient room for comfortable finger navigation and performs web
portal may not have the branding strength that Nike+ has, but at least you can
easily load the MOTOACTV app across different Android devices.
Motorola
MOTOACTV
Apple iPod Nano
Although the Apple iPod nano isn’t
positioned primarily for sports, it shows its versatility by transforming into
a decent fitness device when coupled with an optional wrist (or arm) strap. The
iOS-like interface with its large, finger friendly icons makes navigation easy.
Its built-in accelerometer removes the hassle of connecting to a receiver or
shoe pod, for the convenience of starting your workout anytime, anywhere. The dedicated
fitness app also makes it easy to track your workouts without the complexity
found in other fitness-centric apps. Supported by the established Nike+ web
platform, the highly compact iPod nano gives you plenty of bang for your buck.
Apple
iPod Nano
