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Suuntu Ambit2 is a 100m water resistant GPS sport watch that you can run apps on to custom process the data. It doesn't do things that smart phones do but it does not require a smart phone to function and it operates in environments where smart phones can't. It is heavy, expensive, and there are Linux compatibility issues. That is why I don't own one yet. But it is the right direction.

Definitely something for the atypical slashdotter, but if Apple can bring something to the market which combines iOS, the Nike+t, the Fit Bit, and/or the Suunto Core they could potentially capture a good portion of the exercise watch / band market. Current options aren't truly versatile (e.g. hiking, running, backpacking, daily activity), but combine this with Apple's UI and they could produce a very interesting product that I'm likely to try.

Yes, I've looked at Motorola's GPS watches and was far from impressed.

http://www.suunto.com/ is the leader of hear rate monitoring. I had an device that was attached to computer after exercise and it downloaded data to comp.

I realize this is targeted at a wide consumer audience, but it would be really cool to see some high-end versions of this for more serious athletes. I would love to see this merged with the kinds of functions the really good fitness computers have.

Here's a sampling of such products:

Nike's Triax Elite running watch is one of the items on this page
http://www.nike.com/nikerunning/usa/home.jhtml?ref =global_home#equipment

Polar's S625X Running watch with S1 foot pod
http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/runtri/model/S625 x.asp

and perhaps coolest of all, Suunto's T6
http://www.suunto.com/dyn/t6

Nike has the right idea with the foot sensor. All the devices listed above use a similar sort of accelerometer to measure a runner's speed and distance. This Nike+ thing is way cheaper though, which makes me think they're cutting corners. Or they're pricing it extra low to move a lot of them. Hopefully it's the latter.

What Nike+ is missing, that those other products have, is a heart rate monitor. It's a no-brainer. All they'd need to add is the capability to receive data from the heart rate straps Nike already makes. While speed and distance give you performance, heart rate gives you a great indicator of effort. Once you have both performance and effort, you can divide the one by the other and get your fitness level. Then each time you sync your ipod, you get your new songs, update your podcasts, and see an updated graph of your fitness level rising over the last few weeks.

On top of that, the ipod nano could easily record every single heartbeat, which is the sort of thing only the extra-high-end monitors (the S625X and T6) can do. With detailed timing information like that, they've been able to do some other nifty things. Suunto computes an estimate for "EPOC" (Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption). Using this, their software can offer advice on how hard your workout should be, and prevent you from overtraining.

Imagine a consumer product that puts this kind of advanced information in the hands of the casual athlete and makes it simple to use. With this equipment, you're already packing enough computing power to record and store the information. Why not use it?

Bah! He needs to learn how to use HTML.

You need to include something like this http://www.suunto.com/suunto/main/product_short.js p?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673958098&FOLDER%3C% 3Efolder_id=9852723697223384&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=8 45524442492820&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=140847439590 3526&bmUID=1140393060596 , which has GPS, altimeter, and compass, among other features. Naturally, data can be transferred to your computer. What's that? You're a Slashdot reader so you don't go outside? Righto. Then my consider my favorite for a while, the Breitling Aerospace (http://www.breitling.com/en/models/professional/a erospace_avantage/). One button interface with sophistication very much appreciated in this day of unforgivable human factors design. Little things like a alarm that beeps discretely at first, allowing the owner to silence it before it becomes a nuisance. It stopped being my favorite after the minute hand fell off and servicing that broke the speaker and introduced intermittent timing failures. Gott send it back for probably $300+ worth of repairs...

Suunto M2 compass. See the nice map of the 5 compass zones. Even comes with an optional "global" needle. The one I have is an older model, the MC-1G.

I just got the Titanium Observer for Christmas, and while it's not as geeky as you probably want (only has therm, barom, alti), it's the sharpest looking watch on the market after the super expensive Breitlings.

Haven't seen the watch in person, but it looks like a good geek-model. Their wristwatch dive computers and sports watches are better than anything else out there!

Suunto

I wouldn't be surprised they're using lots of the same OEM stuff inside. The Suunto watches are kind of large. Though, in the old "Right Stuff" test-pilot days, big watches meant -- oh, never mind...

I wouldn't be surprised they're using lots of the same OEM stuff inside. The Suunto watches are kind of large. Though, in the old "Right Stuff" test-pilot days, big watches meant -- oh, never mind...

I like the Suunto observer which includes altimeter/barometer/compass. If being able to specify the declination from true north to magnetic north isn't geeky enough, then my spouse doesn't know what is. I've been learning quite a bit about weather since I can more easily correlate barometric pressure and the current weather.

If your an outdoorsy/sailing person (most geeks seem not to be), you should check out Suunto's line of watches. The company is specialized in outdoor technology, and make some pretty sweet watches, with various outdoor functions such as compasses, altimeters, barometers and heart beat monitors.

Available from various stores, including Amazon