Timex launch Ironman One GPS+ Smartwatch
All of Timex’s material supporting the launch of the Ironman One GPS+ references running rather than cycling, but we can’t see any reason why the GPS-based pace and distance functions wouldn’t work equally well on the bike. The watch hasn’t been shown on Timex’s UK website yet, but you can pre-order it on for US$399 (about £237) or US$450 (about £267) with a heart rate monitor strap. Thanks to Timex’s partnership with AT&T, the device will feature 3G connectivity, giving it the ability to receive messages via email, communicate user location to friends and family, and upload fitness stats to the user’s chosen platform. The device packs a “Find Me” safety feature, wherein the user can send an emergency alert containing their exact location – a great addition for hikers or climbers. Unlike the Android Wear-toting Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch, the Timex device doesn’t need to pair with a smartphone, but focuses on standalone functionality. The device features the same Mirasol display technology we saw on the Qualcomm Toq, and provides some useful, fitness-focused functionality without the need to be paired with a smartphone. As you might expect from a timepiece in the Ironman range, the One GPS+ is capable of tracking speed, distance and pace in real time, and is water resistant up to 50 meters (164 ft). Timex has unveiled the latest timepiece in its long-running Ironman range in the form of a standalone, 3G-packing smartwatch.
Aside from its standalone credentials, the One GPS+ is similar in both design and technology to the Qualcomm Toq, offering the same 1.5-inch always-on Mirasol display and an unspecified chipset. While the company plans to open up the platform to developers, it’s unlikely to have anything close to the level of app support at launch as competing platforms, most notably Android Wear. The price includes a year of free 3G connectivity, but is otherwise a little steep for a smartwatch, with competing Android Wear devices retailing for as little as $200. The Timex Ironman One GPS+ is available for pre-order now, and is expected to ship in the Fall (Northern Hemisphere). Though the One GPS+ does have a lot going for it in terms of standalone use, it falls short when it comes to software. In addition to its touchscreen display, the wearable also features four physical buttons around its edges.
The Ironman One GPS+ uses Bluetooth communication so you can link it to a Bluetooth heart rate monitor (a bundle that includes a heart rate strap is available). It has 4GB of music storage that you can listen to via Bluetooth headphones (or a Bluetooth speaker) and a Mirasol color touchscreen display that reacts automatically to the level of light so that it’s readable in all conditions. It’s water resistant up to 50 meters too, so you can swim with it, as you’d expect of an Ironman branded watch, although you won’t get GPS reception in the water. As the name suggests, the Ironman One GPS+ uses satellite navigation to provide you with your real-time pace and distance on your wrist. It’s compatible with fitness apps like Strava and MapMyFitness and can provide live tracking so that friends and family can follow your training session or race.
In the US, you get one year of AT&T (a major telecommunications provider) mobile data service included with the watch, but there’s no indication what happens after that time period. It’ll also allow you to send and receive messages via a built-in messaging app and an email address, even when you don’t have your phone with you.
