Garmin last week rolled out three new GPS watches; this week, it finish its introductions with a new vivosmart tracker and a connected scale.
The vivosmart HR (the missing capital letter is how they want it spelled) is an update to its current touchscreen fitness tracker. The major change is the incorporation of an internally developed always-on heart rate monitor — the same one that’s in the high-end watch. A barometric altimeter can also monitor floors climbed and intense activity. Garmin claims a five-day battery life and waterproof-ness up to 50 meters. It retails for $150, is available for pre-orders, will be in Best Buy on November 1, and though other channels after the new year.
The Index Smart Scale measures body mass index, body fat percentage, water percentage, muscle mass, and bone mass, along with weight. It can support up to 16 users (not “support” as in “everyone stand on it at the same time,” of course), differentiating among them on the theory that someone’s body characteristics are not going to change suddenly overnight. Users’ data can be uploaded to their Garmin Connect account though a smartphone app, which can then be synced with MyFitnessPal. The scale costs $150, and will be available in November.