The latest Garmin wearable looks like a simple fitness tracker, but it is closer in function to a smartwatch-- the Vivosmart features a hidden OLED display, allowing it to show alerts from paired smartphones.
First revealed at IFA 2014, the Vivosmart is the successor to the first Garmin wearable, the Vivofit activity tracker. It is waterproof to up to 50m and tracks steps taken, calories burned, sleep and heart rate (via optional heart rate monitor), with a companion Connect iOS/Android app translating all activity data into charts and graphs.
A double tap activates the hidden display, while finger swipes rotate through messages, emails, the time and other custom display pages. Vibrations provide further alerts (or simply let users know it is time to do some training), and Bluetooth 4.0 takes care of smartphone connectivity.
As for the battery, Garmin claims the it lasts for up to 7 days before recharging.
The Vivosmart will be available in 5 colours (black, slate, purple, berry and blue) from September 2014.
