Amazon ships Fenix 3 HR to Thailand

I got an e-mail today asking “Where can I buy Garmin Fenix 3 HR in Thailand?”. Below is the answer:

Great news for those impatiently expecting the Garmin Fenix 3 HR in Thailand: Amazon ships this model to Thailand. Love the idea and I will definitely spread the news to all my friends in Thailand interested in purchasing this model. I believe it will take  months before it is available in the local shops, so if you can’t wait any longer, order today from Amazon and have it delivered to you in the first week of April.
From what I can see, this model is desired by many (include me in that group) and it’s also getting very good reviews.

Related links:

Check out our review on this model here

Garmin Fenix 3 HR, Gray on Amazon

Garmin Fenix 3 HR on Garmin

TomTom Thailand app updated to TomTom GO Mobile

TomTom Thailand updated to version 1.22.2

TomTom Thailand app upgraded to … GO Mobile.

TomTom announced that this is the end of this application and now available only for backup purposes. The switch to GO Mobile is free for users who already purchased the app. As TomTom assures, the new app is the most advance navigation app ever! Let’s give a try (downloading right now).

• Updated on 14th March, 2016.
• Version: 1.22.2
• Size of the update on iPhone: 470 MB  (562 MB on iTunes :-/)
• Price: USD 74.99 (at the time of writing this post; for current price, please click the link below – redirect to iTunes)

Download from iTunes here (OLD APP – DO NOT BUY!!!), DOWNLOAD TomTom GO MOBILE

TomTom GO Mobile (NEW!)

To Update manually on your iPhone: “App Store” > “Updates” (bottom right) > Find “TomTom Thailand” > UPDATE.

Related links:

1. TomTom GO Mobile (NEW!)
2. TomTom USA
3. TomTom US & Canada
4. TomTom UK & Irland 
5. TomTom Thailand 

Hmmm, I got the latest update. I thought I got automatically updated to GO Mobile. But actually you get the option to update after starting the app. Here is the trick: I can get the GO Mobile now, free, 3 years 😉 (see picture below).The key is “Free, 3 years” ;), which they don’t mention at the beginning of the update process. The decision is yours: free and no more updates for the old app version; or free for 3 years with fresh updates, and then paid I believe?

1. Screen after the update

2. Clicked “FREE”, new screen with “GET” 😉

3. You need to create an account at TomTom

4. Finally, you will need to install new app “GO Mobile”. Just the update of previous app is not enough

Upcoming review on Fitbit Surge

GPS Fitness Watch with built-in Heart Rate

Review on Fitbit Surge coming next week. Stay tuned. Subscribe for updates (form below) or follow me on Twitter 

Features:

• GPS Tracking
  See distance, pace and elevation climbed & review routes and split times
• Long Battery Life
  Lasts longer than competing trackers with a battery life up to 7 days
• PurePulse™ Heart Rate
  Get continuous, automatic, wrist-based heart rate & simplified heart rate zones
• Notifications + Music
  See call & text notifications on display and control songs from your mobile playlist
• All-Day Activity
  Track steps, distance, calories burned, floors climbed & active minutes
• Auto Sleep + Alarms
  Monitor your sleep automatically & set a silent alarm
• Multi-Sport + SmartTrack™
  Track runs, rides & other workouts with multi-sport modes or automatically record them with SmartTrack
• Wireless Syncing
  Sync stats wirelessly & automatically to leading smartphones and computers

Do you have any questions about Fitbit Surge? Comment below or send me e-mail.

Garmin Thailand announced new model – Driving Recorder GDR E350

GDR E350 Camcorder announced by Garmin Thailand

Price: 6,990 THB

Garmin GDR E350 review here.

This model is available in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Taiwan. It seems to be the same model as Garmin Dash Cam 35  – USD 199.99 (at first glance I can’t find any differences).

In other countries i On Garmin International website,   you will find this model here (redirect to garmin.com)

Highlights:

Reliable, HD Driving Recorder with GPS and Helpful Driver Warnings

• High-definition GPS standalone driving recorder with easy-to-see 3.0-inch LCD display
• Helpful driver awareness alerts include forward collision warning and red light and speed camera warning
• GPS-enabled; footage records location, direction, speed, date and time to show exactly where and when accidents and incidents occur
• Incident Detection (G-Sensor) automatically saves footage of collisions and incidents
• Excellent field of view with high video quality, even in low-light conditions

Physical Specifications:
Dimensions (WxHxD): 9.43 cm x 4.85 cm x 3.89 cm
Weight: 112.7 g
GPS: yes
Screen: 3.0″ TFT LCD
Frame rate: 30 FPS
Incident detection (G-Sensor): yes
Battery life: up to 30 minutes

Review on GDR E350 coming soon. 

Secondhand Garmin Forerunner 220 for sale

Good deal for a GPS watch: Garmin Forerunner 220. Like new! Used couple of times.

Price: 6,300 THB

Send me e-mail or just comment below

Here is a short description from Garmin (for more details click here) :

Colorful Running Companion with Connected Features

• GPS running watch with high-resolution color display
• Tracks distance, pace and heart rate¹
• Identifies personal records
• Connected features²: automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, live tracking, social media sharing
• Compatible with free training plans from Garmin Connect

Just like a coach, Forerunner 220 provides the motivating feedback you need to guide your training. You can even get post-run encouragement from friends and fans, thanks to the 220’s connected features like real-time live tracking and social media sharing via the Garmin Connect Mobile app.

How to use NOSTRA “fuel price” function (Thai map app)

1. Start the application
   
2. Click “more”(…) on the left menu
   
3. Click “SERVICE”
   
4. Select fuel type and location
    
5. Be patient. It will appear ?

To download from iTunes click here (redirect to iTunes).

Garmin Thailand annonced new model – vivosmart HR

Garmin VIVOSMART HR had been announced by Garmin Thailand 

The activity tracker VivoSmart HR is here. This could be a really great Christmas present for people we care for. Keep them motivating to be active Price in Thailand: 5,990 THB

1. On Amazon: USD 149.99 (currently does not ship to Thailand)
2. On Garmin International: USD 149.99

To read more about vivosmart HR, please check my review here.

What navigation software can be used on my iPhone in Thailand?

Navigation software for iPhone in Thailand

There are at least 4 options worth mentioning:

1. Garmin Thailand (USD 29,99): it doesn’t have have great reviews on iTunes at the moment for version 2014.20. Latest listed is version 2014.20, but I got updated directly on my iPhone to version 2105.10
2. NOSTRA, which provides FREE map with lots of Points of Interest. Also some extra features included in the latest update, such as fuel prices   (related article: “Free Thai map for navigation on your iPhone/iPad updated”)
3. Sygic: latest update dated October 2015 (now only USD 19,99; not long ago it was USD 33.99; could be a promo price). It covers: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau. What’s interesting, it states in the description: “FEATURES
   • High quality TomTom maps stored on iPhone ….“; the key word here is “TomTom” 😉
4. TomTom:  USD 74.99 – Thailand only, there is also South East Asia map for USD 69.99, which covers: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Bhutan;

Also:
PAPAGO I M8 Thailand (USD 24.99)

The order listed above, has nothing to do with my preferences 😉

If you would like to share some more options, send me an e-mail; or comment here

Garmin EDGE 520 Review

Review on Garmin Edge 520

Garmin’s latest bike computer – the Edge 520 brings to the table spades of new features, most notably the ability to support Strava Live Segments. This new bike computer is regarded as the most advanced of its kind to be released by the company, and outweighs its predecessor – Garmin 510 and is a joy to use.

Some of the new features added to this latest iteration of the Edge include the ability to download 3^rd party detailed maps, call notifications and Bluetooth Smart Text, personal records, FTP tracking and testing, compatibility with the Garmin Varia bike radar system and cycling dynamic metrics.

Highlights of the Garmin Edge 520

• Can be mated with compatible ANT+ indoor trainers for data control and display
• In-ride challenges thanks to Strava Live Segments
• Automatic uploads, connected features, smart notifications, live tracking, social media sharing, send and receive courses and weather
• Ability to track cycling dynamics, watts/kg and FTP (Functional Threshold Power) when paired with Vector 2 or vector power meters
• Recovery time and cycling-specific VO2 reporting when used with power and heart rate

Unboxing the Garmin Edge 520

The Garmin Edge can be ordered in two different options – Device only and Bundle.

Device Only

• Mounts (extended and standard out-front)
• Tether
• USB cable
• Manuals
• Edge 520 device

Bundle

• Premium heart rate monitor
• Edge 520 device
• Speed sensor
• Cadence sensor
• User guides
• USB cable
• Mounts (extended and standard out-front)
• Tether

Design & Features of the Garmin Edge 520

The body of the 520 Edge is slightly smaller and lighter than its predecessor, which is impressive owing to the new screen of the device. In addition, the screen of the device boasts a 200×265 pixel resolution and considerably better variable color saturation and backlighting. Although the panel remains reflective, this is barely noticed with the vibrancy of the screen, which is a welcome upgrade.

Another noteworthy design change in the Garmin Edge 520 is a throwback to a button and a non-touchscreen interface. The buttons are Light and Power towards the upper left, up selection button at the middle left, down selection button at the lower left, lap button towards the bottom left, start/stop button at the bottom right, select button for menus at the upper right and back button for menus at the lower right of the device.

Integrated into the 520 Edge bike computer is a barometric altimeter, GSP and GLONASS satellite chips, phone message compatibility, Shimano Di2 integration, and it even boasts a basemap, which give you a general idea of where you are in a specific area. Another excellent feature of the Edge 520 is its ability to be mated with the newly released Varia rear radar tail light, which briefly alerts you when vehicles are approaching from behind. It then displays vital information on a compatible Garmin device such as the Edge 520, Edge 1000 and Edge 25.

Garmin has integrated an auto zoom feature when following a course, which is a nice replacement to the screen that popped up when nearing a junction. This feature now provides more detail by zooming down on the trace line, and can be switched off when needed. With this flotilla of features, one would expect the battery life of the Garmin Edge 520 to take a hit, and although it somewhat does compared to the Edge 510, it does offer 15 hours of battery life. This makes it good for a full day’s ride and more even while scrolling through multiple pages and with the backlight working.

If you opt for the bundle version of the Edge 520, you will be welcomed with a slew of new features such as the speed and cadence sensors now integrated with a band-fasten system just like a stem bracket attachment rather than using zip ties. This proves useful when moving the sensors from one bike to another.

The cadence sensor fastens to the crank arm, while the heart sensor simply fits to the hub, without the need for magnets. In addition, the heart rate band has been slightly redesigned, perhaps for more reliable and accurate heart rate monitoring. The bundled version is priced a bit higher, but the extra cash is well justified given the plethora of premium features.

Using the Garmin 520 Edge

The home screen of the Garmin Edge 520 is aligned vertically in that you have to scroll up and down to select from the various functions. You will find “Ride” towards the middle of the home screen, which is where you would go to initiate a ride. Moving down one option will bring you to a bunch of settings and training functions such as controlling a trainer, performing a structured workout and following a course.

If you scroll up from the “Ride” menu, you will be greeted with a “Status” menu, which indicates aspects such as GPS signal strength, screen brightness, mobile phone status and sensor connectivity. When you’re ready to start a ride, simply select ride by pressing the select button located at the lower right, from there you will be asked to select an Activity Profile.

These profiles were first seen in the Edge 510 and Edge 810, and later improved to allow you to group settings such as data page creation into a neat bundle. Once you’ve selected a profile, you will be directed to a data screen page, while simultaneously the GPS chip goes hunting for available satellites. These pages can be easily customized with a maximum of 10 data fields per page.

The Edge 520 receives a somewhat new quick access menu, which can be accessed by pressing the upper right button. This will populate the screen with options to configure in-ride settings such as data fields, alerts, elevation as well as the Status menu/page as mentioned earlier. After your ride, you will notice a few new metrics that weren’t present in any of the Edge series devices such as Recovery Time.

Furthermore, the latest training options not only allow you to automatically track your FTP levels, but even perform an FTP test. Strava Segments is one of the most desirable sports tech feature to have today, and displays live/real time status on the display of the Edge 520 bike computer. With Strava Segments, the Garmin Edge 520 allows you to race against several Strava leaderboard records directly on the device.

This simply means you will receive constant status updates as you go through specific Strava Segments such as how far behind and far ahead the record you are. Additionally, you are able to specify several records including your friend’s record, and even compete against your goals for a specific segment.

Another new feature for this version of the Garmin Edge is the ability to control your electronic trainer directly from the device. This allows you to configure the resistance of trainers that support the latest ANT+ FE-C standard.

Pros of the Garmin 520 Edge

• Whole lot of new features
• Available in two different versions
• Ability to automatically track your FTP levels
• Live tracking, automatic uploads, social media sharing and smart uploads
• Can be connected with  ANT+® indoor trainers for data display and control

Cons of the Edge 520

• 15 hours of battery life is lower than previous version, but still good for a whole day’s ride with apps enabled

Final Thoughts

With the Edge 520, Garmin has nailed all the right spots with features that many riders desire in a bike computer. It boasts a refreshed interface and display, and is a considerable improvement over its predecessor. In addition, it offers in-ride challenges via Strava Live Segments (3 month free trial of Strava live premium), and can even be paired with a compatible ANT+ indoor trainer for data display and control.

If you’re looking for a bike computer that virtually won’t give you any reason to complain, the Garmin Edge 520 is it!

Garmin NuviCam LM review

Dash cams have received a surge of appeal lately, and in terms of numbers that boils down to over an astounding 1000% in sales last year alone! This widespread popularity is due to several reasons, most notably the fact that some insurance companies are now willing to use dash cam footage to support claims. Part of the highly successful Prestige Series, the Garmin NuviCam LM is a top of the line GPS navigator that is packed with useful features.

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