The wearable market is becoming more and more crowded each day, especially with Apple entering into the fray. The good news for consumers is that they are reaping the benefits of a competitive marketplace.
Today, Garming introduced their latest addition to the highly-rated Forerunner GPS line of products with the 920XT. While Garmin has long been known for their GPS capable devices, they have been slow to add new functionality to their line-up of wearables. Primarily focusing on location based data and heart rate monitoring, Forerunner watches have left out one key piece of the puzzle, until now.
For the first time, Garmin will be bringing smartphone integration to their watches. While this has long been a feature of more popular wearable devices, Garmin is adding incoming text, email, calls and calendar reminders as well as the ability to sync data with your mobile device. The actual transmission of data will take place via Bluetooth and the Garmin Connect app for iOS and Android. This will allow users to easily transmit their data from bike rides, running and swimming to their device for easy monitoring.
The 920XT will handle the majority of the tasks that have come to be expected by consumers: it will track your steps, calories burned and countdown to your daily personalized goal. One feature that is particularly interesting, the Forerunner watch will alert you if it has sensed a lack of movement for an extended period of time. Sleep tracking has also been added to the long list of features, which help monitor the amount of rest that users get over a longer period of time.
Additionally, Garmin is improving in some other areas as well. The 920XT will feature a slimmer design that is 15% lighter and 18% than its previous generation. Garmin is also taking their display color and offering a higher resolution than before, which will help with viewing the display in a variety of situations. Of course, the 920XT will be prepared for water with a rating of 5 ATM which is suitable for swimming, white water rafting and shallow diving. With a built-in battery life of 24 hours with GPS activated, battery life should not be an issue. There is an optional UltraTrac mode with GPS disabled that can push the charge up to 40 hours.
The Garmin Forerunner 920XT is available in black/blue or red/white with a list price of $449.99 or $499.99 for the premium heart rate bundle.
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Introducing the Forerunner® 920XT from Garmin® – a Multisport GPS Watch with Advanced Running Dynamics and Connected Features
OLATHE, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced the Forerunner 920XT – a multisport GPS watch with advanced running dynamics and connected features. Recording detailed metrics for swimming, biking and running, the Forerunner 920XT is qualified to take elite and beginner athletes’ training to the next level. Its slim profile and hinged watch bands offer a comfortable fit, and its high-resolution color display makes it easy to view stats at a glance during training and on race day. Advanced features include running dynamics, VO2 max estimate1, live tracking and smart notifications, and its watch mode and daily activity tracking features are ideal for all day wear to monitor steps and calories.
“Recording in-depth metrics for swimming, cycling and running, tracking daily activity, while keeping users connected, the Forerunner 920XT is ideal for training, racing, and everything in between.”
“As a pioneer and leader in GPS multisport watches, we’re excited to introduce our most advanced all-in-one solution for triathlon training – the Forerunner 920XT,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Recording in-depth metrics for swimming, cycling and running, tracking daily activity, while keeping users connected, the Forerunner 920XT is ideal for training, racing, and everything in between.”
Exceptional Display and Connected Features
The Forerunner 920XT’s sleek design is 15 percent lighter and 18 percent thinner than its predecessor, and features flexible, hinged watch bands for a more comfortable fit. Its high-resolution color display features a watch mode, and daily activity tracking features including steps, distance, calories, countdown to a personalized daily goal, audible move alert after one hour of inactivity, and sleep tracking. It also keeps users connected with smart notifications of incoming text, email, call, calendar reminders and more when in range of a paired Bluetooth®-smart device2.
Athletes can track even more of their workouts by using the Forerunner 920XT as a remote for their VIRB® or VIRB Elite action camera3 – starting and stopping recording, and taking stills right from their wrist. Automatic uploads to Garmin Connect through WiFi® hot spots, or through the Garmin Connect™ Mobile app on a Bluetooth® enabled smartphone allow users to seamlessly upload their workout data. In the mobile app users can start a LiveTrack session allowing invited family and friends to follow along in real time during training or on race day. To further enhance training, analysis and sharing additional features are also now available in Garmin Connect’s modern view including multisport support, a new activity detail page, group leaderboards and more.
With a software update available in early 2015, the Forerunner 920XT will become Connect IQ compatible, making additional applications available to users for their active lifestyles.
In the Water
Water rated 5 ATM, the Forerunner 920XT offers advanced swim metrics for training in a pool or open water4. Its drill logging allows athletes to easily log swim drills and kick sets at the pool, along with recording swim distance, pace, stroke type, stroke count and SWOLF score. The Forerunner 920XT includes two rest timers to keep swimmers pushing off the wall on time, and features distance alerts to let users know a set is over, or time alerts to help them hold their pace.
On the Bike
Own the road with the Forerunner 920XT’s advanced cycling features including a built-in altimeter for precise ascent, descent and gradient data during training. It is compatible with sensors such as speed, cadence, heart rate and power meter, and can receive GLONASS signals in addition to GPS for improved accuracy3. When paired with compatible ANT+™ power meters, including Vector™ S and the dual-sensing Vector system, the Forerunner 920XT displays power data including average watts, left/right balance, power zone, and when also paired with a heart rate monitor for training it can derive users’ VO2 max estimates for cycling to help monitor changes in fitness.
On the Run
Train for optimal running form with Garmin’s advanced running dynamics, featured on the Forerunner 920XT when used with the HRM-Run™ monitor. Reporting cadence (total steps per minute), vertical oscillation (amount of “bounce” in a runner’s step), and ground contact time (how much time a runner’s foot spends on the ground during each step), the Forerunner 920XT will even show a color gauge so users can see how their values compare to other runners in general. It also features a metronome with vibration and audible alerts to guide cadence training, a race predictor based on VO2 max for running, and a recovery advisor indicating how long a runner should rest before attempting another hard effort1.
For ultra runners the Forerunner 920XT offers an UltraTrac mode, extending its up-to-24-hours-in-GPS-mode battery life for up to 40 hours.
The Forerunner 920XT is available in black/blue or red/white for a suggested retail price of $449.99 and $499.99 for the premium heart rate monitor bundle.
Forerunner 920XT is the latest from Garmin’s expanding fitness segment, which focuses on developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ lives and promotes healthy and active lifestyles. Whether it’s running, cycling, or other athletic pursuits, Garmin fitness devices are becoming essential tools for athletes both amateur and elite. For more about features, pricing and availability, as well as information about other Garmin fitness products and services, go to www.garmin.com/intosports, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/garmin.
For 25 years, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin,twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin.
About Garmin
Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin, Forerunner, Bluetooth and WiFi are registered trademarks and Vector, HRM-Run, Garmin Connect and ANT+ are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
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