Filip Novotny Just what we brought message about a new version of the bracelet from Nike, its German rival Adidas also presented its own solution. Similar to the FuelBand, watches from the Adidas miCoach series will be aimed mainly at active athletes, but it brings several interesting novelties.
First of all, it is specific in that it does not count on a constant connection to a mobile phone. According to Adidas, runners and other athletes do not want to keep a phone or, God forbid, a tablet with them during sports. Therefore, a number of options that most current smartwatches offer - for example, controlling music played on a mobile phone - are missing. According to the manufacturer, this should not be a problem for athletes. "We're not trying to make a smartwatch, we're trying to make the smartest running watch," said Paul Gaudio, head of the Adidas Interactive division.
According to him, the Adidas miCoach watch will really be a stand-alone device that will offer a maximum of functions that runners could require. A GPS sensor is a matter of course, without which it would be difficult to provide relevant information while running. In addition, it can also connect to wireless headphones via Bluetooth and send training advice and various information to them. They can even play music, as there is a built-in player.
Considering that the watch is not accompanied by a sophisticated application for smartphones, which a competitor can be proud of Nike, it was necessary to look for another solution. Adidas thus bet on Wi-Fi support, through which the watch connects to the miCoach service and saves all the collected data.
At the same time, the information obtained during running should be more complete than that of the competition - the device from Adidas will offer monitoring of heart activity. This feature is missing from the Nike+ FuelBand SE introduced this week, for example.
As for the hardware, Adidas opted for quality materials – the strap is made of durable silicone. It is complemented by aluminum, glass and magnesium, which we know from digital cameras of higher classes. The watch will be water resistant to a certain extent, it can withstand a pressure of up to 1 atmosphere. According to Paul Gaudio, it can withstand rain and sweat just fine, but he wouldn't go swimming with it.
Battery life is said to depend on which functions the user is currently using. In basic mode, the watch will work for a week on one charge, with GPS on and playing music and information to the headphones, it will last up to 8 hours. That should be enough for even the most persistent runners.
The Adidas miCoach watch will be available in the United States on November 1st of this year. The quality of processing and functionality is also reflected in the price tag, which is set at $399 (about CZK 7). Regarding availability in the Czech Republic, the domestic Adidas representative has not commented yet.
