Given the sensors available within the unit, it’ll be interesting to see how SRM is able to develop the software and services around that suite (specifically WiFi and Bluetooth Smart) to fully take advantage of the potential there around mobile device and cloud/web connectivity. įinally, the PC8’s availability is being targeted at summer May of 2014 (next year). They did concede recovery from injury was a potential use case for left/right power measurement, but don’t see any plans to add it. SRM representatives believe there’s no value today in measuring power elsewhere, nor in providing left/right measurement. SRM’s Sebastian Raebiger explained to me: “We want to be a high end product, with no product for the masses.” He went on to further explain that their current production process of producing the unit wholly within Germany was the primary reason for the higher price – as well as the plans to keep it at that price point.īoth of us also further pressed for comment on SRM looking at other measurement points (i.e. The answers we both got separately were a resounding, unequivocal…no. everything from Stages to Garmin Vector), as well as established players (PowerTap/Quarq), if SRM was considering lowering their prices to be more competitive – either with prices at the power meter level or the head unit level. Specifically that given all the new entrants at lower prices (i.e. I, along with another journalist that was interviewing a different SRM representative at the time, enquired about SRM’s thoughts on pricing and the greater power meter market at large (SRM is the most expensive on the market). The pricing will remain the same as it is today (550€/750€) for each head unit. The PC8 will be offered in both a plastic casing and an aluminum casing. The rechargeable SRM hub will be certified to 1,000 recharges (recharge cycles). Meanwhile, the hub will get 100 hours of battery life before requiring a recharge. The head unit (PC8) will get 30 hours of battery life with GPS on, and 100 hours with GPS off. It uses the same connector as their upcoming rechargeable battery SRM power meters, thus the cable can be swapped back and forth between the two. setting specific workout levels to target).įinally, the unit will feature a re-chargeable battery system. There is also no planned ‘workout’ type functionality (i.e. It won’t do turn-by-turn navigation like an Edge 800/810. On the GPS front the unit incorporates both recording of GPS tracklogs, as well as following of GPS/GPX breadcrumb trail style routes (similar to an Edge 500). The unit supports multiple bike profiles, but most importantly now – unique sensor sets per each bike profile. desktop app, cloud service, etc…) – but the details are still being worked out. I pressed for more information on how that works (i.e. Further, they plan to make use of the WiFi to allow configuration of the data fields of your unit. Android, iOS, etc…) to allow downloading of the workouts from the device to your mobile device. Their plan by launch is to develop apps across “a number of platforms” (i.e. You’ll notice above that Bluetooth Smart is included. You almost need to apply the mantra that ‘less is more’ when touching them. The touch sensitive buttons though did take a bit of getting used to compared to the PC7. In playing with the unit, the display is as high-contrast and sharp as it appears below. – Backlight with light sensor (illuminates when you go through tunnel/darkness) – 240x400px screen, not restricted to just calculator style numbers anymore Outside of communications and sensors, there’s further changes: – WiFi for download/upload of data, configuration of the data screens/pages – Bluetooth Smart for connecting to smartphones/tablets (not planned to connect to Bluetooth sensors) – ANT+ for connection to ANT+ speed/cadence sensors, ANT+ power meters, heart rate straps, and weight scales The most significant changes come in the form of technical upgrades to the internal guts, namely the inclusion of a number of new communication types: To start off with a visual refresher, here’s a quick before and after comparing the PC7 to the PC8: The PC8 is without question the biggest technological jump we’ve seen from SRM, packing in every communications chip type that’s on the market today into a single device: GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, accelerometers, and ANT+. Today SRM unwrapped their PC8 head unit, which is the successor to their existing PC7 head unit that’s on the market today. Updated August 30th, 7:58PM with clarifications/additions from SRM, see note at end for summary of changes.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |