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Garmin Announces Three New Wearable Devices Alongside Contactless Payment Solution 'Garmin Pay'

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Garmin today announced three new wearable devices that it will debut at IFA 2017, including the vívomove HR, vívosport, and vívoactive 3. The Garmin vívoactive 3 closely resembles Apple Watch in terms of features, with Garmin's device tracking heart rate, packing in 15 indoor and outdoor activity apps, and supporting a new "Garmin Pay" contactless payment solution.

Garmin Pay supports Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards from major issuing banks, and the company said that more will be added every day. The smartwatch includes a stainless steel design and an always-on high-resolution Garmin Chroma display, with a watch face that supports thousands of different faces and widgets from the Garmin Connect IQ store. The device is safe to wear when swimming or showering, and will last up to seven days in smartwatch mode, and thirteen hours with GPS turned on.

garmin-watch-1.jpg

The heart rate variability monitor in the vívoactive 3 can keep track of stress levels as well, which users can track both on the smartwatch itself and on the Garmin Connect mobile app. The vívoactive 3 is available in three colors: black/stainless and white/stainless ($299.99), and black/slate ($329.99). There are also various bands users can purchase to attach to the smartwatch, and both the smartwatch itself and the bands are available at Best Buy.

The Garmin vívomove HR is the company's "hybrid smartwatch," combining the advanced features of a smartwatch in the body of a classic analog watch. The device can monitor much of the same data as the vívoactive 3, including heart rate and stress, as well as display smartphone notifications, but the readouts are placed more subtly within a traditional watch face.

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There are various stainless steel finishes, as well as both leather and silicone band accessories. The "Sport" version costs $199.99 and the "Premium" leather band version costs $299.99.

Lastly, the company announced a basic activity tracker called the vívosport, which focuses more on fitness features like GPS tracking and a few new built-in sports apps for strength training, cycling, cardio, and more. Users also won't have to worry about battery life thanks to seven full days of battery in smartwatch mode, and then eight hours when using the device's GPS.

garmin-watch-3.jpg

Garmin Move IQ automatically tracks data users might forget to log, and LiveTrack lets authorized family members track the wearer's outdoor workouts for safety precautions. The vívosport costs $199.99 and comes in black/slate (small/medium and large), black/fuchsia (small/medium only) and black/limelight (large only).

All of Garmin's new wearable devices connect to the Garmin Connect app, which saves the user's activity stats, connects them to a community of workout enthusiasts, provides more detailed graphs, tracks sleep patterns, and more. For more information on all of Garmin's new smartwatches, visit the company's website.

Article Link: Garmin Announces Three New Wearable Devices Alongside Contactless Payment Solution 'Garmin Pay'
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/31/garmin-new-wearables-pay/
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Although I prefer the Vivoactive (VA) HR look, the v3 is nice and will appeal to those who like the classic watch look.

VA is a good all round sports watch, probably one of the best out there, great battery life, and the improved HRM - brings 24×7 HR recording.

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/08/garmin-vivoactive-3-everything-you-need-to-know.html

Garmin Pay is a bit of a gimmick IMO, and I expect will be restricted to the u.s, which is a banking **** show.

Vivosport looks good - a natural fit between the VA and Vivosmart, with the GPS capabilities.
 
I absolutely love my Garmin Fenix 5s - I got rid of my Apple Watch for it and it is far, far superior to the AW as a running watch.

However, I'm a bit concerned that Garmin may be losing focus with this announcement and if they try and take on Apple in the general purpose wearable market I think it will only end badly for them
 
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Some banks are getting in on the trend... Chase Pay is here, and the now defunct (thankfully) CurrentC.... it's becoming ridiculous. We should have Credit Cards, Android Pay, and Apple Pay!
 
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I love seeing competent competition! And more players in contactless payment means more widespread adaptation by merchants!

As far as form factor goes, I wonder if AW ever offers a round option. They went all in on the ergonomic benefits of rectangle from day one, it would be interesting to see if they eat crow or continue the philosophy.
 
I saw this on 9to5 and was thrilled Garmin is coming to this game. I was also disappointed they didn't include it in my new Forerunner 935 which I've been wearing instead of my AW a lot lately.

This puts a lot more pressure on Apple IMHO to do a better job designing its watches, but form and functionality in the both the sports training and activity monitoring spaces. Apple has nothing right now to compete with the First Beat analytics that Garmin activity bands and sports watches employ. It's the reason I have to own both a Forerunner and AW --- one for the day, one for play. But adding in touchless payments to the Forerunner and I really have no reason to put an AW on anymore, especially a square one.
 
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profets said:
Garmin Pay. Hahahaha

Since Apple Pay launched how many more have we seen just copy the name? Android Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay. Am I missing any?
Click to expand...
AliPay, LoopPay (Samsung Pay), WeChat Pay

Stella said:
Garmin Pay is a bit of a gimmick IMO, and I expect will be restricted to the u.s, which is a banking **** show.
Click to expand...
Garmin Pay is simply using the FitPay platform. Basically a turnkey solution to contactless payments for wearables and IoT devices. Supposedly usable worldwide.
 
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I was waiting for the new Apple Watch but I'm going to have to get the Vivomove HR on day 1 of release. I want the traditional looking watch with some smart watch features. I'm excited

Edit: I don't despise the current AW form factor either
 
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dwaltwhit said:
As far as form factor goes, I wonder if AW ever offers a round option. They went all in on the ergonomic benefits of rectangle from day one, it would be interesting to see if they eat crow or continue the philosophy.
Click to expand...
I think a round Apple watch is coming. I think it's just a matter of time. Not sure why Apple would have to eat crow though. As they always do, they'd simply adjust their marketing message to the product they're selling. They have a history of dismissing products and features right up until they introduce them. It's just marketing, nothing more nothing less. Apple has no problem pivoting to sell their products. It's the fans that sometimes confuses Apple's marketing with statements of fact.
 
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69Mustang said:
I think a round Apple watch is coming. I think it's just a matter of time. Not sure why Apple would have to eat crow though. As they always do, they'd simply adjust their marketing message to the product they're selling. They have a history of dismissing products and features right up until they introduce them. It's just marketing, nothing more nothing less. Apple has no problem pivoting to sell their products. It's the fans that sometimes confuses Apple's marketing with statements of fact.
Click to expand...

When did Apple ever say it wouldn't make a round watch, or that round watches were bad? They've actually left themselves a lot of room to offer different options, unlike the infamous Steve Jobs they'll have to sand their fingers down to use a 7" tablet comment ...
 
dwaltwhit said:
As far as form factor goes, I wonder if AW ever offers a round option. They went all in on the ergonomic benefits of rectangle from day one, it would be interesting to see if they eat crow or continue the philosophy.
Click to expand...

Sure but how many times has Apple banged the table on the benefits of X feature over Y only to later also make a model with Y. Apple never "eats crow" they always pivot to they were waiting until they could "do it right." I agree a round model is very much needed. Doesn't look like we'll get it this time but I don't see how the current stale square will sustain sales in light of all the renewed competition. And Garmin is still the leader in sports watch tech so Apple does need to be quick.
 
odditie said:
There's just something about the Garmin brand that makes it seem like it would be antiquated to me. My perception of them is from an era of Map Quest, Palm and Blackberry.

I'm not saying it's fair or correct, just what my perception of their company is.
Click to expand...

Garmin is actually pretty well-respected in the fitness/activity world. Their bike computers are pretty much the standard. I guess the point of Garmin Pay is that you don't have to carry your wallet when you go for a run.
 
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Oh my god these look amazing. The vivomove HR, good enough functionality, finally elegant AF, and it actually looks like a very nice normal watch. Although it's more of a direct competitor to the Withings Active Pop than to the Apple watch.
 
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profets said:
Garmin Pay. Hahahaharetty

Since Apple Pay launched how many more have we seen just copy the name? Android Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay. Am I missing any?
Click to expand...

Pretty sure we are getting subway pay and Walmart pay soon
 
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