New Study Shows Smartphones Not as Accurate as GPS Watches by HRWC
Bozeman, MT (PRWEB) October 29, 2013 -- A new study conducted by the Heart Rate Watch Company shows that smart phones are not as accurate as GPS watches for distance data. GPS watches have been replaced by Smartphones by a lot of people for fitness but how accurate are they asks the Heart Rate Watch Company?
Testing
"In testing we have conducted a Smartphone with an app works fine for gathering heart rate data but they are not very accurate on distance," says Rusty Squire, President of the Heart Rate Watch Company. He adds, "Real-time distance and pace is important to athletes and programs that correct after the fact add no value when you are competing."
Talking to a Smartphone engineer
We reached out to an engineer for Sprint who worked for Garmin in the past to have him help explain. "Basically the phones don't have enough room for quality, accurate GPS technology by the time they get done prioritizing things like voice, data, cameras and a host of other features," says Squire.
"We tested a Suunto Ambit 2S and a Garmin Forerunner 10 on a 3.55 wheel measured course and found them to be within one and two one-hundredths of a mile of dead accurate," says Squire. He adds, "The Smartphone was nearly one-quarter mile off."
"For very casual fitness folks this may not matter but for anybody who aspires to accurate data and performance improvement it does matter a lot," says Squire.
"This isn't to say there are not good phone fitness apps out there but they are better suited to heart rate based training or gym training, not pace and distance," says Squire. He adds, "This could change but we doubt the fitness market is big enough to register a high priority in the eyes of the Smartphone manufacturers, it is too small a market."
Good app, bad hardware = bad results
"There are a lot of great app developers out there these days but they are restricted by the hardware that the Smartphone manufacturers decide to include in the phone," says Squire. He adds, "You can have the greatest app in the world but if the hardware supporting it, in this case GPS hardware, isn't of the highest quality than the data isn't good, no matter how good the app is."
"Smartphones are still just fine for heart rate based training if you use a Bluetooth Smart compatible heart rate transmitter," says Squire. He adds, "For outdoor sports like running and cycling I'll take a GPS watch or bike computer anytime over a Smartphone."
"If you'd like to talk to a real expert about Smartphone or GPS watches then simply call us at 866-586-7129," says Squire. He adds, "We test this stuff and we know what works."
Rusty Squire, President, Heart Rate Watch Company, http://www.heartratewatchcompany.com, +1 866-586-7129, [email protected]
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