Sunto has been busy this year, but especially in the last 6 months or so. Especially, when it comes to new features through firmware updates. Back in January we had a big firmware drop, then last month (March), they opened up the Suunto App Store platform with new apps, and now we’ve got another big firmware update.
In fact, I would argue that some of these changes are the most significant we have seen in a long time. We have (finally) the ability to stream your heart rate so third-party apps/devices can connect to it (including things like bike computers), and a completely out-of-the-box option to pair to a Garmin Varia radar device. Also, a large slate of other tweaks in between.
New Firmware Update Features:
Now, in this case, I’ve been gone for about two weeks, and unfortunately, I don’t have a Suunto watch with me. I thought I’d throw one in the pile (I usually always have one watch of each brand when I travel, for things like this), but I can’t find the Vertical 2 in the bag of twelve watches I have. Sigh.
Anyway, some solid reviews here, so I wanted to get the news out. Here is the full list of Suunto Race 2, Suunto Vertical 2, Suunto Race, and Suunto Race S.
Sports Features:
Added swimming pool sets
Added Lap button control for lap times
Added heart rate broadcast from view to other devices
Added Manual laps swimming with automatic intervalsFeatures of Training and Physiology:
Added HRR detection test after exercise (also as a field for sports modes)Outdoor & Navigation
View map with place names, contour line elevation, place icons (not for Suunto race)
Added navigation map and slope view to customize the bottom tooth
More distance and increased zoom with Climb Guidance
The zoom direction shows the section when you zoom in on the image fully
Added Smart Turn-by-turn navigation with notifications and auto zoom
Added route guidance with distance and return to route guidance
On-track detection is improved
Added Back Track to follow the same path backwards
Map data updatedFeatures/User Experience Changes
Added Use of mixed units
Added touch screen option for sports modes
Daily/Sports Notifications & Sounds Management
Added Indonesian language support
Added a simple data selector with bounded numbers
Added Abiltiy for Autolap to be silenced if interval continuesDaily Use Features
Added Day-specific alarms
Additional sunrise time shown in morning report
In addition, there are a series of features that started rolling out last week (on March 31) to the Suunto app, which also apply to additional devices:
Suunto App Training & Physiology
Training programs in training and continuous viewing in the application
Heart rate detection information for exercise (new watch feature)
Power sessions with the Suunto AI trainer
Feeling and fatigue graphs in the recovery tabSpecifications for Suunto App Games
Added more dive data to the logs (around environmental aspects, visibility, and development)
Suunto App Outdoor & navigation
Added offline map with route planning
Elevation data updated
New Suunto apps
Now, this is where it gets even more interesting, especially the ability to connect to Garmin Varia Radar (via Bluetooth), and the ability to connect to Concept 2 rowers (PM5).
Starting with the Garmin Varia Radar bits, this is compatible with the RTL515, although I think it also works with the RVR315 and RCT715, which all support Bluetooth connectivity. However, I would doubt that it works with the new Varia 820, since that requires a secure Bluetooth connection, and Garmin says they don’t plan to release the protocol to third parties for that. Note that, technically, this app was developed by a third-party developer.
Next, there’s another new third-party app called ErgSync, which pulls your data from the Concept 2 rower (PM5), including SPM, Watts, Distance, and more. I will give this to you again when I get home.
Besides that, there are a few more apps worth mentioning that were launched last week (or some are launching today):
Table Tennis, Notes, Manual Interval+, Live VKT, Live KM, GAP Mate, Anchor Alarm, Climb Log
Do you have all that? Good. Also, below is a 45-minute run of features from one of Suunto’s long-running brands, going through all the features in depth.
With that – thanks for reading!
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