Magellan Echo
With so many fitness watches out there, what makes the Magellan Echo different from the others? Named the first sports watch that utilizes smartphone sports app to their full potential. The Echo streams real-time sports data from your smartphone via Bluetooth Smart to the Echo’s display and you can control the connected app remotely. Some the apps available on the iTunes Store include:
- Strava (Strava Bike, Strava Run)
- Wahoo Fitness
- iSmoothRun Version 4.2.2
- MapMyFitness (MapMyRun, MayMyRide, MapMyHike, MayMyWalk)
- Gold Pad Version 6.2, which includes stroke count and shot tracking for Echo
- iMobileIntervals
The watch is waterproof and can be used as an every day watch even if you are not using an app. The Echo uses minimal power and a replaceable battery, that means you won’t have to be constantly charging your watch.
$149.99 (without heartrate monitor) www.magellangps.com/echo
*The AZTB team received a review unit of the Echo, and here is what the team thinks:
Pros:
- The Magellan Echo watch makes it easier to view and control apps while the phone is tucked away in a pocket or bag.
- You can save your data and share it to social media sites
- Distance, pace, and heart rate are always displayed on the Echo watch while in use.
- The watch comes in 3 different colors: orange, black and blue
- Comfy and stylish design, small and compact
- Very easy to run with
- It streams your data from your watch to your smartphone in real-time with the Bluetooth capabilities.
- You can control apps and music from the watch itself with a dedicated button on the watch.
Cons:
- Makes you sync with two apps when first started, might be a hassle for some
- You have carry your phone and the watch on you while using the watch to stream the apps.
Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard
Do you own an Apple TV, Roku, Xbox and/or a whole bunch of other streaming and gaming devices? Wouldn’t it be nice to have one remote and keyboard to control them all?
The Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard allows you to do just that. The Harmony Smart Keyboard comes with a Harmony hub that accepts commands from the keyboard or the Harmony mobile app, then issuing commands to the appropriate device using IR, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi.
The Smart Keyboard supports over 225,000 devices and even the newly released Amazon Fire TV. Not only are you able to have access to a keyboard, you can also use your smartphone to control your living room devices using the Harmony App (available on Android/iOS). With both the app and the keyboard, you can search universally across services and devices. There is also a one-touch activity control on the keyboard, users can press an activity button on Smart Keyboard, like “Watch a Movie,” and all the right devices automatically switch to the right settings.
$149.99 Logitech.com Watch the video here.
*The AZTB team received a review unit of the Echo, and here is what the team thinks:
Pros:
- The keyboard is well made and light, easy to hold with its grippy finish. [Uses two AA batteries to operate]
- Syncs well with the Apple TV via Bluetooth and the Roku Boxes via WiFi
- Online resources available to help users get set up
- Gives smartphones the power of a Universal remote
- Setup is easy through the use of a smartphone
Cons:
- Users might not get used to a keyboard as a remote as many buttons are arranged differently, but once users get the hang of it, the keyboard is great for fast universal searching
- It takes a bit more work to get the Harmony Smart Keyboard to sync with the Playstation (via Bluetooth and adapters)
- Requires iPhone 4S or later, iPad (3rd generation or later), iPad Mini, iPod touch (5th generation or later) with iOS 6.0 or higher. Android device with Android 4.0 or later.