After officially bursting into to our local scenes last June, nothing much has been heard about Fitbit in Malaysia. That’s all going to change soon though as the company’s latest device, the Fitbit Blaze, is set to make its presence heard when it comes a-calling with guns a-blazing (I know, it’s lame). Pre-orders on the U.S. store is already ongoing and the device is expected to ship out, as well as hit the retail stores there, in March. What’s even more interesting is that Malaysians will get have their hands on these devices within the same month! Local pricings have yet to be confirmed but if past pricings are an indication, we can safely assume that the Blaze will come at around RM 845 (US$ 199.95). Malaysians can sign up now on Fitbit’s localised site to be notified when the device does arrive.
Fitbit Blaze is another attempt by the young fitness giant to find a foothold in the growing trend of having a smart wearable that not only tracks fitness but also works as an extension of the phone. The device is also Fitbit’s first to come with a high-resolution colour touchscreen. Like all their wearables, Blaze too is primarily a fitness watch and has been designed to help users get the best out of their workouts. It’s loaded with features such as FitStar (acquired by Fitbit last year) personalised trainings, PurePulse heart rate tracking, and the automatic exercise recognition system called SmartTrack. The device works in tandem with Fitbit’s own ecosystem that tabulates and presents the collected data through either its web dashboard or its app.
Taking a further look at some of the features, the FitStar Personal Trainer delivers guided instructions and animated images to three of its most popular workouts, namely Warm It Up (takes 8 minutes to complete), 7 Minute Workout, and 10 Minute Abs. These workouts are free and can be accessed without the need for an app or a smart device. PurePulse continuously monitors heart rates, and helps to maintain the intensity of the workouts and to better track the calories that are burned during each workout. Further to that, PurePulse gives users insights into their resting heart rates as well as heart rate trends over time without the need for a chest strap. The Multi-sport mode supports recording of specific activities such as biking, cardio, running, weights, and yoga for an even better heart rate tracking due to the different algorithms that are being used for each of the activities. But if manually activating the tracker for different activities sound like too much of a hassle, there’s also the SmartTrack system that claims to be able to automatically recognise and track a diverse range of continuous activities such as biking, hiking, and running, along with general categories for aerobics (Zumba, cardio-kickboxing and other dance movements), and sports (tennis, basketball, and soccer). There’s also the Connected GPS feature that records distance, pace, and minute/km split times using locations retrieved from the connected smartphone’s GPS. The data gets synched wirelessly to the Fitbit dashboard so that users will be able to access the history of as well as to view the route, speed, and elevation. The automatic sleep tracking lets users know how long and how well they’ve slept, along with a silent alarm that gently vibrates to wake the user.
Fitbit knows that by just having it’s tracking features will not be enough to attract consumers. This is where the smart notifications come into play. Calls, texts, and calendar alerts are all supported and keeps the user connected without either sacrificing on the effectiveness of the Blaze as a tracker, or bombarding the user with unnecessary information. Like any other smartwatch, the notifications are delivered via on-screen messages as well through vibrating alerts delivered via its Bluetooth connection. Furthermore, Blaze will allow users to accept/reject calls, as well as provide on-screen music controls for the connected smartphone. Blaze’s built-in battery will last up to 5 days between charges and this is with the inclusion of exercise, sleep, and heart rate tracking. The device is claimed to be compatible with more than 200 Android, iOS, and Windows smart devices.
Style wise, being just another plain smart watch was never Blaze’s intention. With the focus on stylings, Fitbit is launching the Blaze with plenty of personalisation options. From the interchangeable bands and frames with quick release spring bars, to a number of clock faces for the colour touchscreen, the device has plenty to offer to a wide range of audience.
In the more premium category of the bands, the Luxe genuine leather option with stainless steel display frames come in black, mist grey, and camel and are priced at US$ 99.95 (~RM 424), while the Luxe stainless steel link band that also comes with stainless steel frame is priced even higher at US$ 129.95 (~RM 551), but this only comes in silver colour option. For those who prefer a more classic sports-band look, the high-performance elastomer bands will be available in black, blue, and plum colour options for US$ 29.95 (~RM 127) each. All these options will be available at launch, with more accessories expected to arrive at a later date.
The post The US$ 199.95 Fitbit Blaze is arriving in Malaysia next month — same month as US appeared first on TechAttack.my.