HTC announces Grip, its first wearable fitness tracker

[Victorious Secret]

I don't blame HTC for wanting into the wearable game, its fairly lucrative if you can get the basics right and offer a compelling enough product for the price they'll charge. 

 

I wouldn't buy it, but I think its a nice enough first step. They are giving up on HR and instead allowing you to use any bluetooth enabled HR sensor instead. 

 

I also wouldn't buy it because it looks like something a boy racer would wear and doesn't really look that nice as something you could wear on a day to day basis. At least my Surge can pass as a normal watch and be used in social settings without sticking out like a yellow coloured thumb. 

 

 

A "multi-sport mode" can track various activities from running to cycling, keeping tabs on your progress and offering advice from fitness experts along the way. "Simply put, Grip will train you as if you have a team of professional experts coaching you the entire time," said HTC CEO Peter Chou. "And it is very fun." Grip is compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones, so HTC is obviously hoping for mass appeal with its first big fitness device. It comes in two colors ("deep teal" or lime), with a choice of three sizes. Grip will be available later this Spring for $199.

 

With a matte black finish, colorful interior band, and curved display, the Grip looks a hybrid of Nike's FuelBand 2 and the Microsoft Band. It includes five sensors for tracking your workouts. Among them is integrated GPS, which is always a big deal for runners. When that’s turned on, Grip will record your route, distance, pace and calories burned. Battery life is estimated at five hours with GPS enabled.

 

http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/1/8128561/htc-grip-specs-features-release-date-price

[ReadyToGame]

They partnered with Under Armour too, it's probably going to be overpriced for what it's actually worth, 'cause of the name brand crap with UA.

[gilm0re3]

I am genuinely curious. Do you know if this can push you notifications to the device from your phone?

[werto165]

Do heart rate monitors increase the overall bulk and reduce battery life? having two seperate devices would probably be annoying. Then again I'm lazy as hell and never go running and this stuff isn't designed for me.

[XYrZbest]

do we really need a thread for every topic that is discussed at the same event

[snowComet]

Do heart rate monitors increase the overall bulk and reduce battery life? having two seperate devices would probably be annoying. Then again I'm lazy as hell and never go running and this stuff isn't designed for me.

HTC didn't put HR monitor on this tracker becoz the technology is not mature enough

or you can watch PocketNow's review, Michael Fisher has explained this in the video...