Well, we are getting reeealllly  close.   I gave a talk a few months back on the iphone and talked about SMHeart Link as an example of the value of integrating other then just GPS data into outdoor workouts. Well, at MacWorld, I saw a display for this product and was informed that this was coming ‘soon’. Could not pin the ‘boother’ on soon, but no matter, I watched it working so I would guess a quarter, or summer at latest.

Now if you cannot already figure out from the graphic what this does, it basically takes other sensor info, heart rate, cadence, etc.. and adds its to the GPS data from the iphone. With all that data being stored on the iphone and uploaded to a website, you can take your workouts to the pro level. Yup, you finally have a reason to really dig into the livestrong calorie tracker app for the iphone.

Here is the latest press release…

New SMHEART LINK Technology Allows iPhones To Double As Fitness Monitors
iTMP Technology Teaming With Fitness Leaders For Unprecedented Suite Of
iPhone Apps
www.smheartlink.com

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – iTMP Technology, a pioneering
smartphone hardware and software developer, has introduced SMHEART LINK, a
highly-anticipated new technology that is poised to bring unparalleled
health and fitness capabilities to Apple® iPhone and iPod® touch users.

SMHEART LINK is a wireless bridge that enables any iPhone or iPod touch to
double as a heart monitor and cycling computer, collecting data generated by
distributed fitness sensors such as heart rate chest straps and cycling
sensors on bikes and sending it to the iPhone for easy display and tracking.

In the past two months iTMP has unveiled three demo iPhone fitness
applications that currently run in simulation. Their pending upgrades, which
will be demonstrated live at Macworld and coming soon to the iPhone App
Store, will be the only apps, among hundreds of other iPhone health and
fitness apps, that actually listen to a person’s heart to track and display
their unique vital fitness metrics:

* iSPINNING is a cardio fitness system and cycling computer that enables
Spinning® enthusiasts around the world to track and record
their cardio exercise anywhere. Whether riding on a Spinner® bike, road or
mountain bike, iSPINNING workouts can also be uploaded to eNewLeaf to add
key cardio training and cycling metrics to your online fitness diary.

* iNewLeaf is a cardio fitness system and cycling computer that allows you
to incorporate unique metabolic profile data from New Leaf to more precisely
track and monitor the right intensity for “real results.” Upload your
completed workouts to eNewLeaf to add key cardio training and cycling
metrics to your online fitness diary.

* iRPM+ is a  cardio fitness system and cycling computer that allows you to
track any cardio exercise, anywhere. Upload your completed workouts to
eNewLeaf or MapMyFitness to add key cardio training and cycling metrics to
your online fitness diary.

The apps are available now, and free for a limited time, on the iPhone App
Store. Once downloaded, users can take the apps for a test drive with
simulated heart rate data to understand how they monitor and manage cardio
fitness. The apps being demonstrated at Macworld Expo will be available in a
soon to be released version 2.0 upgrade on the iPhone App Store in the
coming days.

“We wanted to make the fitness metric tracking experience cool, fun, simple
and custom,” says iTMP CEO & Founder Michael Williams, “we’ve done just
that. By leveraging the iPhone’s technology and partnering with leaders in
the industry, we are raising the bar in the fitness metrics monitoring
space.”

SMHEART LINK will be available for purchase at www.SMHEARTLINK.com in the
coming days. Until then, users can register for an alert that will notify
them when the product is ready to ship. At that time, users will be able to
purchase SMHEART LINK by tapping a button that takes them to an online store
without ever leaving the app. SMHEART LINK will initially be bundled with
SMHEART Sleeve, a flexible, lightweight case that integrates with the heart
monitor chest strap, and will be included for an introductory period at 50%
off. The bundle will cost $154.95 before taxes and shipping.

Setting up runKeeper is pretty easy, go to setting provide your email and create a password.  If you do not have an account, it will create one on the fly for you.  This is the first GPS logger app I’ve seen that does that.  I cannot understand why the rest make you go to a website to create an account. The other feature I like; is keeping a history of past runs.  Another feature I would like to see on other apps. Stopping and starting is simple enough.  Large start, stop and pause button.

This is a pretty straight forward little app that does a good job of GPS read filtering, which in English just means it throws out data that does not make sense for someone who is running.  You can change how aggressive this filter is working via the settings.

The site is also pretty basic and straight forward, nothing surprising, but its also clean and well done. The adverts do not get in the way and I really like the flash speed/elevation graph at the bottom. Again, nothing we have not seen before, but just well done.  Which sums up my thoughts on RunKeeper..  Well done.

There seems to be a pattern here, I cannot seem to get enough GPS loggers.

This is the 5th GPS logger I’ve checked out, and with one exception, which I will cover in a second, I’m not really seeing anything significantly new here.

iMapMyRide is a free GPS logger with a companion web site like TrailGuru or Path Tracker. Like these apps, the application takes GPS samples and logs them on the iPhone.  After the ride (or run) you can upload these points to a website which will map the information as well as calculate speed and elevation change. They also have a calorie calculator like Fitnio.

A must have for any program in this space is the ability to remove points. I have yet to see a site that does this well.  IMapMyRide does not do it all yet (although they say its coming). As you can see in this screenshot, it’s needed.  When I clicked on ‘view route’ it did not come up the first time and clicking on ‘view your training’ gives a not loaded URL error.

Whats new..

New is the idea of gaining points as you log more rides. “perivision, you have 10 MapMyPoints. These are incentive points that will be redeemable for gift cards, partner discounts, and much more for our Premium Users.”

This site is still young, a few bugs here and there, but personally I do not care for it all that much.  Too many adverts.  I do not mind a few ads here and there, but too many gets in the way.  Also, the calorie calculator did not work. Odd. It asks me for the ‘Time Taken’.  How should I know?  That should be prefilled.

I will wait for one more GPS logger then I will go back over all the apps I’ve reviews so far and put a chart together comparing important functions.  If there is a free (or .99 cent) app you want me to include, let me know. I will most likely put this together this week.

Sneak peak, I prefer PathTracks. I’ll explain why in my next post.

I’m not a runner and I’ve stopped my regular runs a few years ago. But a reader pointed out Fitnio to me, so I thought I would give it a shot on a run instead of biking as normal.

Fitnio is like most other free GPS loggers out there I have used; but what is nice is it take your BMI into account by asking your height and weight. So with that information the program will calculate the amount of calories you burned during your run or ride.

Now there are issues with the app. For whatever reasons, it does not seem to play nice with the apple OS input widgets. I’m gussing it may be because its trying to update data in real time to the site. I’m sure it will get fixed sooner or later. Also missing, the ability to download raw data.