GPS Watch at GPS Gazette

MainNav, the Taiwanese GPS manufacturer that recently released the MG-920 Bluetooth GPS receiver with an FM transmitter is releasing another interesting GPS product, a GPS watch with optional bluetooth. The watch looks kinda bulky and it’s size is 69 x 55 x 28mm (I couldn’t find how much it weights). Nonetheless, it’s an interesting concept, a GPS watch that can also be used as a bluetooth GPS receiver. Inside the watch resides the high sensitivity SiRF Star III LP chip that is responsible for tracking the wearer’s location. The system also features a digital heart-rate, speed and distance and a temperature sensor. Finally it is waterproof as expected for most systems that are mainly for outdoors use and is equipped with a Li-ion 400mAh battery. Although, I like the concept behind the MW-705 (and kudos to MainNav for not just producing cookie cutter products) my two reservations are it’s design and the battery life when using the optional Bluetooth (v2.0) module. Whether we will see it in Europe and the USA depends on whether western distributors decide to bring it to us.

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Globalsat is about to launch and new sports oriented GPS unit the GH-615 GPS Watch. Unlike the GH-600 series it has the looks and the size of an ordinary watch, just a bit bigger. It is equipped with the SiRF Star III high performance GPS chipset (supports WAAS and EGNOS), a built-in patch antenna and a black and white LCD screen. The size of the screen is 24.9 x 39.88mm with a resolution of 80 x 120 pixels. Obviously since this gadget is aimed for outdoors use it just makes sense to be waterproof (Waterproof standard: IPX7). Users will be able to track their routes using tracking points (60000 tracking points maximum).

No information is available yet about pricing and availability.

Mobile Analyst Watch has an interesting comparison of the Garmin Forerunner 205 and 201. He writes:

Overall I like the 205 a lot. It’s more comfortable on the wrist, has better placed buttons (lap and start/stop), more features I’ll use, and hopefully will be more accurate too. I plan to do another write up or two after taking it on some trails with heavy tree cover and/or canyons, where I have always lost GPS signals in the past.

Technorati Tags: GPS, Garmin, Forerunner, 201, 205

Suunto is a wristwatch created for outdoor sports enthusiasts. It is equipped with GPS, a compass, chronograph, altimeter, and barometer. The Digital Lifestyle Magazine reviews the Suunto X9i GPS enabled watch and reports:

With the Suunto X9i, you’ll be able to have several key instruments right on your wrist. This unit, ideal for outdoor sports enthusiasts, integrates a clock and chronometer, GPS, Altimeter, Barometer, and Digital Compass in one tight package. Even better, the instruments are integrated to take the guess work out of common tasks by cross checking data internally.

Read the whole review at DLMag