Tuesday, January 10,2006 @ 4:45pm
Garmin promises Mac support for GPS
Garmin today announced that it will immediately begin to make its line of GPS and mobile electronics devices compatible with Mac OS X 10.4. Garmin intends to have all its popular hardware and software applications Mac OS X compatible by the end of 2006. Beginning in spring 2006, Garmin will offer a Mac version of its Training Center software, used with Garmin's line of Forerunner and Edge series fitness products, which lets users plan and analyze workouts. Users can create their own workouts or use workout templates that can be downloaded into the unit. The software also offers interactive analysis tools that will now allow Mac users to chart their performance information like speed, heart rate, cadence, elevation, and pace.
Also in spring 2006, Garmin will make the MotionBased upload interface Mac-compatible. MotionBased translates GPS data into performance analysis, online mapping, and route sharing. Data collected by a Garmin GPS device is uploaded to MotionBased.com where time, distance, speed, elevation, cadence, grade, and heart rate analysis is displayed through charts, illustrations, and reports. The activity data can also be displayed as a route and replayed on street, photo, topographic, and elevation maps as well as Google Earth service. Users can also use the TrailNetwork database to seek out and download new activites in their region, to find popular routes while traveling, or to engage in "virtual races" with oter MotionBased users (pricing was unavailable).