Waterproof is the keyword here! Although what electronic connectors? My existing cycle computer has two pickups (for speed and cadence). The pickup unit communicates wirelessly with the handlebar display.
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Apple Researching Methods to Turn iPhone Into Feature-Rich Bike Computer
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Waterproof is the keyword here! Although what electronic connectors? My existing cycle computer has two pickups (for speed and cadence). The pickup unit communicates wirelessly with the handlebar display.
Would love to see this on my race bike. However I don't think the GPS will be accurate enough to measure speed. All the tracking apps i used on my iphone didn't come close to my ordinary bike computer.
Maybe Polar should teamup with apple to create something like this including trainingprogrammes, importing tracks & routes, cadenze meassuring etc etc
Maybe Polar should teamup with apple to create something like this including trainingprogrammes, importing tracks & routes, cadenze meassuring etc etc
Team-ups with this sort of thing don't have the best track record, look at the Nike+ HRM for example, a collaboration between Apple, Nike and Polar that seems to have brought the worst of each to the table rather than produce any synergies. It often seems that the companies involved don't want to develop anything that's going to cannibalise their own sales.
GPS accuracy varies a lot. Just this morning I was cycling on a straight and flat section at 23 mph (bike computer) but iPhone reported 19 mph (the GPS measurement became more accurate over a period of a minute or so).
It does feel like over-kill to use GPS to estimate speed. It would be cool if there was a BlueTooth (or USB) sensor which would be supported by iPhone (and iPod)
GPS accuracy varies a lot. Just this morning I was cycling on a straight and flat section at 23 mph (bike computer) but iPhone reported 19 mph (the GPS measurement became more accurate over a period of a minute or so).
It does feel like over-kill to use GPS to estimate speed. It would be cool if there was a BlueTooth (or USB) sensor which would be supported by iPhone (and iPod)
It looks like this how iBike will work. But the case will set you back $299...
didn't know that Nike+ thing was such a bad product.
Anyway too bad, there are so many options when it comes to nike+ or a polar/apple product.
GPS accuracy varies a lot. Just this morning I was cycling on a straight and flat section at 23 mph (bike computer) but iPhone reported 19 mph (the GPS measurement became more accurate over a period of a minute or so).
It does feel like over-kill to use GPS to estimate speed. It would be cool if there was a BlueTooth (or USB) sensor which would be supported by iPhone (and iPod)
In one sense, GPS is more accurate, as it does not depend on the circumference of the while, which can vary with tire size or pressure. The big advantage of using GPS for speed is that it does not require wheel sensors. What I like about my Garmin is that I can plop back and forth between my road bike and mountain bike without having to recalibrate it.
Along those lines, I suspect that if this goes through, Apple will have a setting that allows for increased checking on GPS just as Garmin units do. The iPhone probably checks every 3 to 5 seconds for new position, but that can be decreased, or made variable based on speed. Then you are just left with issues of losing connection with satellites, which will happen even with the best GPS units. I guess that is the thing I wonder about in this system, is that it looks like you would carry your iPhone in your jersey pocket, which might not be the ideal positioning to get a GPS read.
Very, very curious and interested, though.
I'd really be concerned at how much vibration and shock that an iPhone would sustain if it were mounted on the handlebars. Hopefully it will be bluetooth
While information can be useful, and I'm certainly interested in seeing how this could be implemented, I think that a lot of riders have become too dependent on this type of data. When I stopped racing years ago, the first thing I did was to remove my bike computer. When I started racing again, I got a Garmin, but more so for to geek out with the mapping stuff, so, when I built up a new race bike this year, I did not mount it, in part due to vanity of wanting to keep clean lines, but also not to become obsessed with numbers. I've seen racers looking at their heart rates in the middle of races, letting that drive them instead of listening to their body or responding or creating race situations. My view is that this type of info should be used to help you become better attuned to your body. Know when your body needs nutrition, or to up or lower the cadence, not when the computer tells you so. That said, the data geek in me is always curious.
The head units for watt meters handle the vibration just fine, as you can design a mount to absorb the shock. Although, the tires are sufficient to absorb shock that might damage the unit. However, it appears that the iPhone will not be used as the head unit in this system.
Whatever the head unit is, it will require a lot of functionality, which makes you wonder why you need the iPhone at all.
Careful, you sound like one of them fan boys.
Seriously, though, arguing with those who would troll any site and hurl statements that the people there are mindless followers or whatever is like arguing with conspiracy theorists; all you'll succeed in doing is convincing them is that you're part of the conspiracy.
Now you'll excuse me while I go to my morning prayer to God Jobs.
The head unit/display would only display the data, and possibly act as a touch screen interface to communicate back to the iPhone. It would not have the GPS or accelerometer circuitry, nor the communication circuitry for mapping; basically all the stuff that makes it work. Of course, I wonder why they would not just use the iPhone as the head unit instead. I suspect that it is due to battery issues. A basic display could last longer than iPhone, and the software could put the iPhone in a semi-sleep state to preserve the battery.
Dahon (manufacturer of excellent folding bikes) already has a great iPhone bike mount(http://us.dahon.com/accessories/2010/biologic-bike-mount-iphone), although it doesn't have an extra battery.
Indeed. iBike, for example, has an ANT receiver cradle that feeds wheel and cadence sensor data to the iPhone via the dock connector, and then their app does a pile of what the patent application wants to do, plus shows you your power numbers.
That said, the iPhone has to become a metric buttload more rugged for this kind of application. I've already launched my iBike and my CatEye from my handlebars while riding on very rough Texas chipseal in high winds. I shudder to think how an iPhone 4 would fare.
Why wait for Apple?
A feature-rich bike computer (and power meter) using the iPhone or iPod Touch is available now:
http://www.ibikesports.com/ibikedash/index.html
A feature-rich bike computer (and power meter) using the iPhone or iPod Touch is available now:
http://www.ibikesports.com/ibikedash/index.html