Software
Under Armour assures us that an Android
application is being made, but wouldn't specify the date of its launch. Now you
will need an iOS device, namely with Bluetooth 4.0. Like that or you will need
to get your hand on the bundled clock, which is not yet available and only
provides some functionality that the application provides. That said Amour39
application doesn’t offer many features. It does one thing: keep track of your
usage, and it's pretty good. Whether its busy blue-and-yellow interface can
transmit its data in the most efficient way is up for debate. And we are
confused and frustrated by the fact that it is not optimized for the longer
screen of the iPhone 5 or latest-generation iPod touch.
The
companion app is easy to use and displays information clearly.
The first step in making your new
fitness-tracking system up and running is to use the guided-assessment tool.
10-minute program (you will need an treadmill or a track) is hosted by Todd
Durkin, owner of Fitness Quest 10, a high-end gym in San Diego where a lot of
professional athletes trained, including Cy Young winner, Jake Peavy and the
Olympic gold medalist, Shaun White. The way it works is simple: you start cold
then slowly increase the intensity of your run to measure your resting and
maximum heart rate, while the application keeps track of how fast it increases.
Finally, you're guided to come to a complete stop while a final set of
measurements determines how quickly you recover from high levels of exertion.
This data, along with some other general
information about you, helps to create one application profile will be used to
measure your willpower. Under Armour's Willpower is an exclusive measurement,
as Fuel point, of your overall effort. Your heart rate and the duration of your
workout both affect your score, but so to the position of your body, too.
Willpower will award points on a scale of 0 to 10, with it becoming
increasingly harder to earn points as you climb higher. So, you will gain 3.5
points pretty quickly, but gaining 9 points will be painful. (Literally, you
will definitely to be in pain if you try to earn 9 WILLpower points.)
The
app helps you track progress over time.
However, there is nothing much on the
application. You are evaluated, and then start practicing. You can set WILLpower
goal, and that is all of its advanced features. At the end of your session, you
will be presented with a workout summary that gives you not just a WILLpower
score, but also your average and peak heart rate, your average intensity,
duration of your workout and the number of calories burned. Additional tabs separated
your heart rate and intensity over time in the form of bar charts. This data is
great for those who love the numbers, but you can't do much with it. Armour39
has no social aspects and, despite your workouts being synced online, there's
no web application to further research your results. In fact, you can't even
use the app to quickly check your resting heart rate or delete a workout.
You've got to connect the bug and initiate a workout before the app will spit
any data out at you.
Conclusion
As Nike +, Fitbit or Jawbone Up, Armour39
is meant to motivate you by determining the
amount of your activities. The difference is Under Armour isn't
pitting you against anyone but yourself. Willpower doesn't intend to impress
your friends, and the system isn't designed for those who like to show off to
their friends about how healthy they are. It's a measurement for someone who
considers themselves an athlete to monitor the scores of their training level
at the gym. Obviously, the efficiency of the WILLpower system will depend on
specific users. For someone like me, who doesn't really care about how many
steps have been taken, but does want to know whether I
have really tried my best on the road, Armour39 does well.
However, if you are looking for something that will calculate your calories and
monitor general activity levels, Under Armour has nothing to offer you.
The problem starts with the price tag of
$150 which is too expensive for a heart rate monitor, even with a number of
advanced features. If the accompanying software is mature and practical, we
might be a little more forgiving of the price. Being limited to newer iOS
devices is already a major drawback for Armour39, and the fact that the app
isn't even properly optimized for the latest generation of Apple devices (which
had been already five months since it was released) makes us hesitant. After
all, Armour39 feels like the genesis of a great product, rather than the
culmination of a long R&D process. The Company has recognized the flaw in
the market, with large customers, but the combination of price, limited
compatibility and a basic feature set undermine its chances of success.
As
Nike +, Fitbit or Jawbone Up, Armour39 is meant to motivate you by determining
the amount of your activities.
Info
·
Price: $ 150
Pros
·
Extremely comfortable strap
·
Application is simple and intuitive
·
Mounds of data to study
Cons
·
Only for iOS at the moment
·
Application lacks of sophistication and
functionality
·
No websites or social features
Verdict
·
The fitness tracker Armour39 is pretty good for
those who see themselves as athletes. But we wish that the app had more
features and be were more précised.
Technical
specs
|
Design
·
Chest fit: 27" - 52"
·
Material: Nylon, Spandex
·
Strap weight: 1.9 oz
·
Module width: 1.5"
·
Module depth: 5"
·
Module weight: 35 oz
·
Watch weight: 3.2 oz
·
Watch Face width: 1.7"
Software
·
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, iPad
mini
Storage
·
Module Data: Up to 16 hours of collected
workout data
·
Watch Data: 30 workouts
·
App Data: 120 days
Connectivity
·
Bluetooth: Yes
·
Bluetooth version: 4.0
·
Bluetooth range: 33 feet
Workout Stats
·
Heart rate range: 0.30 - 240 bpm
·
Calorie range: 0 – 9,999 kcal
·
WILLpower range: 0.0 - 10.0
·
Intensity range: 0 - 100%
Battery
·
Size: 3V
·
Model: CR2032 Lithium
|
