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Apple Researching Methods to Turn iPhone Into Feature-Rich Bike Computer

This won't work for anyone other than apple fanboys.

Due to hardware and gps limitations, it won't be able to detect speed within reasonable accuracy. Plus, many people won't want to mount their $400 phone on their bikes.
 
iBike Dash

iBike is about to release a product, the iBike Dash, that implements much of what Apple is seeking to patent.

http://www.ibikesports.com/ibikedash/index.html

I sure hope Apple doesn't block release of iBike's Dash software in the App store because of their patent claims. But I wouldn't be surprised if they used their leverage with the App store to try to force iBike to license their patent.
 
Tyre said:
Wow that looks pretty cool, although I' much rather see a car with that sort of thing (i.e. pulling up my iPhone homescreen on the nav screen to run apps etc.) first.
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They've already done that with the "iPod out" protocol. Unless I'm not following what you are saying.
 
I currently have a 705 Edge and it is brilliant. It would be nice to have something like that built into my phone however I like having 10+ hour battery life and separate devices so I can tuck my phone away properly protected so I know that if something were to happen I can get help.

Is the Nike+ Ant+? Or the iPhone Ant+ compatibile because that is essentially what all bike accessories use.

If they are aiming for integration with power meters they are aiming big and they are expensive.

I haven't really been keeping up with bikes and the iPhone as I only have a first gen.
 
jfremani said:
This won't work for anyone other than apple fanboys.

Due to hardware and gps limitations, it won't be able to detect speed within reasonable accuracy. Plus, many people won't want to mount their $400 phone on their bikes.
Click to expand...


FUD. I have compaired GPS MotionX, which is made for biking, with my Edge.
 
tethernaut said:
iBike is about to release a product, the iBike Dash, that implements much of what Apple is seeking to patent.

http://www.ibikesports.com/ibikedash/index.html

I sure hope Apple doesn't block release of iBike's Dash software in the App store because of their patent claims. But I wouldn't be surprised if they used their leverage with the App store to try to force iBike to license their patent.
Click to expand...

This is what I have been waiting for, thanks for sharing. And it looks like it will work with ANT+.
 
Even getting a ANT+ hub will be $1k. Can't find a cheaper solution. Been using Cyclemeter and that's not very accurate either (speed wise). Atleast the communication portion will help.
 
Joggers, golfers, cyclists....how about such an app for really cool people, like disc golfers?
 
While there's potential there, I can't see it replacing my Garmin 705 any time soon. As others have mentioned the battery life won't be good when GPS is switched on. Also I don't think the iPhone is the most robust thing to strap to a bicycle and isn't exactly watterproof. The other problem I can see is that you wouldn't be able to operate it when wearing gloves-real buttons rather than touchscreen ones work better. On the plus side the interface has to be better than my Garmin 705.
 
Patchwork said:
While there's potential there, I can't see it replacing my Garmin 705 any time soon. As others have mentioned the battery life won't be good when GPS is switched on. Also I don't think the iPhone is the most robust thing to strap to a bicycle and isn't exactly watterproof. The other problem I can see is that you wouldn't be able to operate it when wearing gloves-real buttons rather than touchscreen ones work better.
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Exactly. Cycle GPS units are specific to the requirements of cycling (i.e. long battery life, extremely rugged, totally waterproof, easy to manipulate whilst cycling). The iPhone is none of these things. Non starter.
 
Would be all about it if I could use it with my current bike and a heart rate monitor with my iphone4. Really would make a wipe out more painful. Bruised and scraped then realize your iphone screen is cracked too.
 
Forest for the trees

Patchwork said:
While there's potential there, I can't see it replacing my Garmin 705 any time soon. As others have mentioned the battery life won't be good when GPS is switched on. Also I don't think the iPhone is the most robust thing to strap to a bicycle and isn't exactly watterproof. The other problem I can see is that you wouldn't be able to operate it when wearing gloves-real buttons rather than touchscreen ones work better. On the plus side the interface has to be better than my Garmin 705.
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I think you are missing the point. For uber bike nerds (I am one) I agree a dedicated device would make more sense (especially during rainy winter rides), but not everyone wants a dedicated device for each activity.

For example, I could buy a GPS nav unit for driving, but I am more than happy just to use my iPad 3G, it won't do everything quite as well as a dedicated device, but is likely good enough for my needs. I wouldn't buy an iPad for this purpose, but now that I have it I would never bother with a dedicated GPS nav.

An iphone bike computer is likely more than good enough for a lot of people, while others with more focused interests will opt for a dedicated device because they need that last 5%. (e.g. check out the Garmin Edge 500 - no way I would do a road race with a frackin' iPhone strapped to my stem, the 500 however is small light and does a ton! Auto lapping by position rules!)

We are talking about a general computing appliance that can fill a huge number of roles. This is true technological convergence.

Also does anyone know how the iPhone can read ANT+ compliant devices? I thought you needed a special receiver for that.
 
Would be thrilled if this actually becomes a product in the market place...even with just some of the features described.
 
This is absolutely AWESOME! I am a fanboy and a huggeeeeee mountain biker, this is the 2 best things ever combined. Super fricking duper :D
 
I have 3GS and haven't been impressed overall with the mapmyride and it's ilk of applications, often times it looses sight of the satellites.

so based on that I got an Edge 500 and use it with Strava and won't look back..
 
HiRez said:
This will probably never see the light of day, but it looks very cool. I've been waiting for the day when Apple started applying their interface design to non-computer consumer products. The danger is they turn into Sony or Panasonic and spread themselves too thin, but imagine what they could do with a car system (navigation, audio controls, local weather and road conditions, etc.), television interface, exercise machines at the gym, heck, even coffee makers and alarm clocks.
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The car companies haven't even managed this. All they would do is mess it up and then have to provide a car size black bumper so it works properly.
 
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