If there’s any chance for other smartwatch brands to keep Apple’s watch at bay, a feature that can’t go missing in their device would have to be a heart rate monitor. Fortunately, Garmin’s new wearable – the Forerunner 225 has just that.

The watch features a 1-inch coloured display with a resolution of 180 x 180 pixels and shows three different user stats including distance, pace and heart rate. It also comes with a built-in accelerometer, a sleep tracker and a slew of pre-programmed features including advanced workouts, pace alerts, interval training and customizable screens.

Battery according to Garmin can last up to four weeks of basic training or around 7-10 hours if you’re constantly using the GPS and heart rate tracker. The device can be submerged up to 50 meters and connects to a smartphone using Bluetooth.

The Garmin Forerunner 225 will be available in the next couple of months for around $299.99

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Two new players are joining the actioncam race – The Garmin VIRB X and the VIRB XE. Both cameras sport a similar boxy look with that of a GoPro Hero but in a slightly rectangular shape.

Both VIRB cameras come with a set of sensors, which include GPS, an accelerometer and a gyroscope. In terms of video recording the VIRB XE offers 1440p recording at 30 fps (or Full HD recording at 60fps) while the VIRB X tones the levels down at 1080p (30fps) and 720p (60fps) recording.

The two cameras also feature slow motion capture and zoom, with the XE packing image stabilization. They are also capable of capturing 12MP still images with the VIRB XE offering manual adjustment of different camera settings including exposure compensation, white balance control. ISO range and sharpness control.

They also sport a hydrophobic flat glass lens that ensures that underwater images are clear and that shooting photos/videos while making the transition from wet to dry conditions are not obscured by water droplets. Moreover, both the VIRB X and XE come equipped with microphones that work even when underwater.

Garmin has also created a companion app for smartphones that will allow users to use their handsets as a remote shutter for the action cameras. The Garmin VIRB X will go on sale for around $299 while the XE will be priced at $399. Exact shipping dates are not yet available.

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At last year’s CES, GPS equipment manufacturer Garmin announced its first ever wearable – the Vivofit fitness band. This year, the company has announced three new fitness trackers, namely: the Epix, the Fenix 3 and the Vivoactive.

The Garmin Vivoactive provides users with various notifications including social media-related notifications, emails and missed calls to name a few. It connects to smart devices using Bluetooth and uses its built-in GPS system to keep track of a user’s activities. The watch is waterproof and according to Garmin, can last up to three weeks on a single charge.

For those who are looking for a more durable smartwatch, Garmin’s Fenix 3 can go up to 100 meters underwater as compared to the Vivoactive’s 10. It also provides various notifications to users and track different activities and stats like counting steps and sleep hours to name a few. The Fenix 3 also comes with an axis electronic compass, a barometer and an auto-calibrating altimeter.

There’s also the Garmin Epix that features similar specs as the Fenix 3 but comes with a few bells and whistles including GLONASS and preloaded maps.

All three watches will be offered in three versions – a base version and a upgraded version with a heart rate monitor. There will also be a companion app for all three phones called the ConnectQi to help users manage their personal data more efficiently. The Vivoactive will sell starting at $250 for the base version ($300 with the heart rate monitor bundle), while the Fenix 3 and Epix will start $500 and $550 respectively.

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Apple’s premium reseller in the Philippines, Power Mac Center recently hosted a fashion show entitled “Fusion” to showcase its latest and upcoming wearable tech for Apple devices. The show featured several brands of wearable tech including heavy-hitters such as the Misfit Shine, Jawbone and Garmin as well as two new brands – Cookoo and Cogito.

Cogito and Cookoo Brand Ambassadors Vanessa Matsunaga, Fabio Ide, Rikka Infantado and Suki Salvador

First there’s the Jawbone with its new app for its UP fitness bands. According to Jawbone, the app is a comprehensive lifestyle and activity tracking system that provides information about the user’s weight, sleep and fitness activity. It also gives users an online community to share their fitness data.

Jawbone is also opening the UP ecosystem to enable third party developers and device manufacturers to better utilize the band’s hardware as well as its online community.

Another brand that made an appearance at the show was Garmin and its Vivofit fitness band. The device was first introduced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and capitalizes on the company’s expertise in navigation by using GPS technology to track users’ activities. The band is now available at Power Mac Centers for PHP6,450.

Jawbone UP

Finally, there’s the Misfit Shine – an activity tracker that can be worn in two different methods. On one hand, you can wear it as a traditional smart band but on the other hand, you can wear it as a necklace. The device is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and has an understated look.

The device is capable of tracking a user’s sleeping pattern, calories burned and distance reached. And just like the Jawbone UP app, the Shine’s companion app allows users to share their fitness data with their friends.

Misfit Shine

Now if you’re looking for a more traditional-looking time-piece with smartwatch capabilities, you might want to try out either the Cogito Classic watch or the Cookoo connected watch.

The Cogito Classic connected watch is made from premium materials and comes with a strap made from either genuine leather or stainless steel. The watch provides intuitive digital notifications to users and serves as an extension of a smartphone. It features a lucid digital display overlaid by the traditional analogue watch face.

On the display, users can check various notifications including calls, messages and alarms. The device is also water resistant up to 10ATM.

And lastly, there’s the Cookoo connected watch that offers almost the same features but for a younger market. Just like the Cogito Classic, the Cookoo watch was designed by Xavier Houy and incorporates two different materials – silicone and nylon.

Cookoo Connected Watch

The watch collection is split in two: a Sporty chic collection that features a soft-touch silicone band and the Urban Explorer collection that boasts a robust and form-fitting nylon band. Again, just like the Cogito Classic, the Cookoo connected watches features a digital display that shows users various notifications including calls, messages, emails and even those coming from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp to name a few.

Both the Cookoo and Cogito watches are powered by traditional button-cell batteries and can connect to smart devices via Bluetooth. The Cookoo is also water resistant up to 10ATM.

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Garmin has made a name for itself as a trusted brand when it comes to the production of devices that makes use of GPS including navigation systems or head-up displays for automobiles.

This week, Garmin took a bold step into a different direction by creating a product that is completely out of its comfort zone. Garmin’s Vivofit is a fitness band that tracks various user data which it uses to develop fitness goals to keep the user healthy and fit.

The Vivofit features an always on curved display that shows the number of steps the user has made, goal countdown, calories, distance and time of day. Once a user achieves the goal set by the device, the Vivofit will automatically adjust the user’s goals for the next day, gradually improving the user’s lifestyle.

The device can connect to the company’s Garmin Connect online platform to track their progress or join a free online community and join or start fitness competitions to earn virtual badges.

The removable battery of the Vivofit will reportedly last for over a year when completely charged. Furthermore, the device is water-resistant up to 50m and is compatible with ANT+ heart rate monitors for fitness activities. There’s no word on pricing yet, but the Vivofit is expect to start shipping by Q2 2014 in 5 different colors: black, purple, teal, blue and slate.

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