When will Polar going ANT+?
Well, since the new V800 doesn’t include, my guess is never.
Spot
Polar wants vendor lock in apple style. The problem being they are the B player in the industry. Most people in the know don’t want to get locked into a second tier vendor.
Tunaboo, it’s actually quite the opposite.
We are moving all of our technology to supporting Bluetooth Smart. Bluetooth Smart is the very most open standard on the market. Period.
Case in point, the new V800. Full Bluetooth Smart support, which means that it’ll work with any Bluetooth Smart sensor regardless of brand. Power meters included. And our BT Smart sensors work with other BT Smart devices.
Can you explain how that’s “vender lock”?
Since ANT+ is owned by Dynastream Innovations Inc. and they are a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin Ltd since 2006 I don’t think we’ll be seeing Polar going to ANT+ any time soon.
If you define secind tier as number of units in use probably yes, if you define it as quality of product then i would suggest Polar is not.
So now we have stages and powertap with BT compatibility and it is only a matter of time before srm or quarq meters are compatible as well. No loner will we be locked into ANT which is what Garmin has thrived on. Hopefully it will cause them to take a good look at the quality of product they put out. My Garmin units have had major quality control issues and failed rather easily.
Never.
Polar wants vendor lock in apple style. The problem being they are the B player in the industry. Most people in the know don’t want to get locked into a second tier vendor.
So how does that explain the BTLE technology in the V800?
Obviously they are backtracking after years of fail.
If you define secind tier as number of units in use probably yes, if you define it as quality of product then i would suggest Polar is not.
So now we have stages and powertap with BT compatibility and it is only a matter of time before srm or quarq meters are compatible as well. No loner will we be locked into ANT which is what Garmin has thrived on. Hopefully it will cause them to take a good look at the quality of product they put out. My Garmin units have had major quality control issues and failed rather easily.
I’m really not sure what your point is here. There are options for ANT+ other than Garmin; Suunto and others also use that standard. Also, since Polar moved their production from Finland to Asia, I have found their quality to be on par with Garmin. I had issues with a Polar RS400 that required going back to the factory, and my RC3 also required warranty service. Lately, I’ve been having all sorts of weird issues with the HRM strap. Now, I should note that all of my issues have been quickly resolved by Polar, so no beef there, but I have had no such issues with any of my Garmin gear.
Spot
It is only a matter of time before bluetooth overtakes ANT+
You can either keep your head in the sand and scream otherwise or accept the fact that manufacturers will continue to move in that direction.
It is only a matter of time before bluetooth overtakes ANT+
You can either keep your head in the sand and scream otherwise or accept the fact that manufacturers will continue to move in that direction.
WTF? Do you have stock in Bluetooth or something? You sure get riled up easily whenever someone takes any issue whatsoever with your “ANT+” is dead mantra. And the only one with their head in the sand is you, who seems to have trouble believing that thousands of current ANT+ accessory owners MIGHT just want to have a watch that can talk to said accessories, regardless of what the future holds. Why you are seemingly unable to grasp this simple fact is befuddling to me…
Spot
Couldn’t agree more. And now with the the dual ANT+/Bluetooth chips - I think it will more and more be a dual standard. Polar are just killing another generation of units by not running the standard of today (ANT+) as well as possible future standard (Bluetooth). Pretty much all the new phones that were released (with the exception of Apple) run both and most new fitness devices are running both. I think Polar are the ones with the head in the sand here.
BTLE will enjoy far more widespead support than ANT in the electronics marketplace, not just tri or cycling specific. Would you say Garmin would be missing the boat if they only support ANT which they own and please tell me why other power meter manufacturers would want to support only ANT when it locks them in to Garmin?
Please check the support for BTLE vs ANT in the electronics marketplace.
Sorry but you bought into Garmin and pretty much can’t wrap your head around the fact that there is a shift away from their transmission protocol.
Yeah, but if I have, say, a power meter that is expected to last another 5 to 10 years, and it broadcasts only ANT+, I have zero interest in who wins the industry contest of standards, and just want an ANT+ head unit.
Or, if I have an expensive ANT+ head unit, I again may have zero interest in future trends and just want a power meter/fitness sensor that will talk to it until it dies.
On the other hand, I would also have zero interest in when or whether Polar will get ANT+, who cares about polar? haha.
BTLE will enjoy far more widespead support than ANT in the electronics marketplace, not just tri or cycling specific. Would you say Garmin would be missing the boat if they only support ANT which they own and please tell me why other power meter manufacturers would want to support only ANT when it locks them in to Garmin?
Please check the support for BTLE vs ANT in the electronics marketplace.
Sorry but you bought into Garmin and pretty much can’t wrap your head around the fact that there is a shift away from their transmission protocol.
You may want to get your facts straight before posting again. Going with ANT+ does not lock you into Garmin. Suunto, Timex, Cateye, Powertap, and a whole host of others, to include Samsung, HTC, and Sony phones, support ANT+. Why is it you can’t wrap your head around that and as Jack says, tens of thousands of current ANT+ accessory owners don’t have a desire to buy something that can’t talk to that accessory? This has absolutely nothing to do with what may become the new protocol. I am completely flummoxed by your repeated inability grasp this. I’m beginning to think your a paid shill for BTLE.
Lol. Think about the VHS vs Betamax “war”. Nobody cares now, because we use neither! Same with this silly argument. By the time (if and when) BTLE may become widespread, something else will come along that will replace both Ant+ and BTLE and we won’t care because neither will be used. So right now, the vast majority have Ant+ and will continue to. As Jackmott says, I have zero interest in BTLE, because all the stuff I have is ANT+ and it works great. Move on.
BTLE probably will ‘win’ at some point, but it isn’t one of those things that has any substantive pro or con for us end users so I can’t see getting all bent out of shape about it.
If you buy a brand new device right now, you might want to be sure it supports BTLE if you want maximum device support in the future is about the only big consideration to have.
I just bought a powertap, don’t even know if it can broadcast BTLE. Don’t care, just want power to show up on my $99 joule and it does. If I wanted it to work with my phone I might care.
Lol. Think about the VHS vs Betamax “war”. Nobody cares now, because we use neither! Same with this silly argument. By the time (if and when) BTLE may become widespread, something else will come along that will replace both Ant+ and BTLE and we won’t care because neither will be used. So right now, the vast majority have Ant+ and will continue to. As Jackmott says, I have zero interest in BTLE, because all the stuff I have is ANT+ and it works great. Move on.
Agree. What about those of use with power meters that will probably last 3-7 more years at a minimum which are ant+? Polar just ensured that i will not be owning any of their products in the future. Why can polar not do dual support?
Your point is taken. That being said there are people who would like an alternative to Garmin. You won’t have to worry anyway I am sure Garmin will continue to make ANT+ head units as they own the standard. All I am saying is that it won’t be long before Quarq/SRM, etc. the ones that most of us have will begin to have dual compatibility or move to BTLE transmission. Then you will have choice which is better for the consumer.
People that just say Polar Sucks they don’t have ANT+ make a unintelligent argument.
I have zero interest in Garmin or their products so I don’t care if they keep on making ANT+ a workable transmission standard or not? If I buy a new power meter though I would like a choice.