iLounge

Garmin has released an update to its fitness training app for the iPhone adding a new feature that allows users to share their favourite fitness pursuits with their friends. Garmin Fit allows users to track walking, running or cycling stats using their iPhone for viewing on their device or uploading to the online GarminConnect service, providing basic GPS-based tracking in the app itself as well as integration with Garmin’s ANT+ fitness sensors for monitoring advanced workout data. With the new LiveTrack feature in version 1.5 users can now easily setup online real-time tracking sessions and share a link via e-mail, Facebook and/or Twitter to allow friends and family to follow their event or training session. Tracking sessions are private and only available to users with the link.

LiveTrack displays the user’s pace/speed in real time as well as distance and elevation; users with a Garmin ANT+ accessory and the ANT+ Adapter for the iPhone can also share additional stats tracked by their particularly monitoring accessory such as heart rate and cadence. The LiveTrack feature also provides a mobile-optimized version of the web site to allow friends and family to follow along using a smartphone or tablet instead of a traditional computer browser. Garmin Fit is available from the App Store for $1; the LiveTrack feature is available via in-app subscription for $2/month or $20/year.

Abvio has released version 7.0 of Runmeter, Cyclemeter and Walkmeter its trio of fitness tracking apps, adding a variety of new features including new training plans, stopwatch pages and iCloud support. Built from the same foundation, each of the three apps provides optimized features for running, cycling or walking allowing users to track their workouts recording data such as time, location, distance, elevation and speed which can then be viewed as a series of maps and graphs organized by route and activity across different time periods.

Version 7.0 introduces 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon training plans, with the 5K plan specifically designed to help beginning runners work up to their first 5K race over a period of 10 weeks; the 10K, half-marathon and marathon plans built from this base to support running the longer races. Users can also build their own customized training plans in the app for other goals, including walking and cycling plans, and view their plans within the in-app calendar view or synchronize them to the iOS Calendar app.

The new version also introduces a new Stopwatch Pages feature designed to provide quick access to a detailed overview of workout data from a simple swipe across the screen; the display can be configured to include any of 150 statistics along with graphs, maps, splits, intervals and zones’ displays. Stopwatch Pages also includes an integrated music player and stats are colour-coded for quick visualization of data. A History Tab is also now available with a view of recent workouts and performance summaries by various categories such as time period, routes, training plans and more. Users with iOS 5.0 or later can also now use iCloud to backup, restore and transfer their workout data between devices; users can create an automatic backup schedule to save their data to iCloud at regular intervals and can load data onto another device such as an iPad for review and analysis. The database can also now be accessed via iTunes File Sharing for manual backup and restore via iTunes. The three applications Runmeter, Cyclemeter and Walkmeter are sold separately in the App Store for $3 each.

Path has released an update to its iOS social sharing application adding integration with the Nike+GPS app, a new music matching feature and several other improvements. With Path 2.1 users of the Nike+ GPS app can now automatically journal all of their runs in their Path simply by connecting the two apps. A note will be added to the user’s Path when starting a run to allow friends to comment or cheer and when the run is finished, a map will be added showing the user’s route.

Path 2.1 also incorporates a new Music Match feature that allows users to share songs they’re listening to using their device’s microphone to identify what’s currently playing rather than having to enter the name of the song. Additional improvements inlaced the ability to adjust the camera’s focus and exposure points separately when taking photos and the addition of a new comic book effect camera lens for iPhone 4S users. The update also adds several other smaller UI and filter improvements and bug fixes. Path 2.1 requires iOS 4.3 or later and is available from the App Store as a free download. Nike+ GPS 3.4 or later is also required to post runs to Path.