Wahoo’s popular ANT+ Fisica dongle, which allows the iPhone to read signals from fitness gadgets like heart-rate monitors, pedometers and bike sensors, is probably most widely used fitness iPhone accessory since its release a little over a year ago. And today, Wahoo took the first step toward killing it.
The Blue isn’t locked to a specific app; popular apps RunKeeper and MapMyFitness are already compatible, as is Wahoo’s own free app.
We’re not sure yet how power consumption compares with that of ANT+, but it should be more or less comparable. Unfortunately, while Bluetooth v4.0 isn’t just Apple technology and should be included on Android (et. al.) high-end handsets as well, the 4S is the only Apple handset with the tech — it doesn’t exist on the 4 or below. Also, the HRM is the only piece of kit with the tech; no pedometer, powermeter or bike sensors are equipped with it just yet — so if you’re on a bike and need cadence you’re still stuck with a dongle, even with a 4S.
When he was eight, Eli Milchman came home from frolicking in the Veld one day and was given an Atari 400. Since then, his fascination with technology has made him an intrepid early adopter of whatever charming new contraption crosses his path. He calls San Francisco home, where he works as a journalist and photographer. Eli has contributed to the pages of Wired.com and BIKE Magazine, among others. Hang with him on Twitter.
