With the smartwatch market becoming ever more crowded, manufacturers are looking to introduce new and innovative features in order to tempt consumers. A new smartwatch released this week by Santa Clara-based firm Magellen, the Echo, promises to solve one of the biggest problem users encounter when running with a smartphone – viewing and controlling fitness apps while the phone is tucked away.
Echo streams data and controls from your smartphone to your wrist, allowing users to see their distance, pace, and heart rate from fitness apps in realtime.
The Echo is available in a variety of colours, and can also serve as an everyday watch
The device connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth Smart and allows users to control fitness applications through four customizable buttons on its side. However, the obvious downside of this is that, you need to have your phone on you while running to get the most out of the device, unlike standalone fitness watches such as the Adidas miCoach.
Weighing 44 g, the Echo has a 1-inch, 128 x 128 pixel display and has a water resistant rating of IPX7, meaning that it’s safe to take into the shower, but probably not for use whilst swimming. A standard 3V lithium watch battery powers the Echo, which according to Magellan, will last anywhere between six and 11 months, depending on usage.
The watch is now on sale in North America, and should hit Europe soon
The watch supports major fitness apps such as Strava, MapMyRun, Wahoo Fitness and iSmooth Run and is currently iOS compatible, with Android support coming soon.
Available in black, blue or orange, the Echo is designed to serve as an everyday watch when not connected to your smartphone. Priced at US$149, the Echo is now available in the US, Canada and Australia, with a worldwide release expected by the end of the year.
[Via Slashgear]
Tech Runner 