Hey, I'm Wahoo Taryn.  As the newest member of the Wahoo Fitness Crew, I am of a completely different breed. I’m not a runner, cyclist, or a triathlete… I’m a swimmer.  Coming into the Wahoo Fitness Crew was an eye opener for me. I was completely amazed at Wahoo Mike and Wahoo Chip who were training for the Rock n’ Roll Marathon and would casually mention on a Monday morning about the 18 miles they logged that Saturday. Not to mention, Wahoo Molly, who competed in TWO Marathons in TWO months AND qualified for the Boston Marathon! In all sincerity they blew me away. I literally have never run more than 8 mile at one time in my life and give myself a BIG pat on the back if I run 6 in the swimming off season. What was even more nuts to me was the fact that they thought swimming 12,000 yards in one day was insane, which is completely normal to me.

It was then that I realized that Wahoo Fitness was the greatest environment to be in. They are passionate about what they do because they love the products they are creating the products for people like themselves. That passion is something I can completely relate to. It is the same passion I have for swimming that gets me out of bed at 5:30 in the morning to jump into a cold pool, while passing classmates that are just getting home from the bar.  I recently competed in my third National Championships and am proud to be a member of the 2012 NCAA D-III Women’s Swimming and Diving Champion Team!  I set two new personal records and am excited to see my swimming improve over the years. 

On Monday started running with the other intern here at Wahoo Fitness, Wahoo David.  I am in love with the Wahoo Fitness Run/Gym Pack for my iPhone and was so eager to start using it more frequently. David and I are training for a 5k on Cinco de Mayo (I’m making David wear a sombrero with me while we run)! I’m sure the Wahoo Fitness Crew will have many laughs as they watch David and I -- both running newbies-- trying to get into shape. I plan to continue my running training and do some more races to add some variety to my swimming routine. I’ll be sure to blog my woes of a swimmer become runner over the course of the summer!

Wow! It’s been a while since we blogged.  Sorry about that.  We’ve been pretty busy working on some awesome new products for you.  We promise to be better!   Stay tuned for another post on the cool things we saw at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week (one of our lame excuses for not blogging lately).  

In other news, we’re pumped that the Wahoo Fitness Blue HR Heart Rate Strap for iPhone 4S is finally in the market and even more excited that you all seem to be enjoying using it!  We’ve had a few questions on Facebook and Twitter about the Wahoo Blue HR and about Bluetooth Smart in general, so below is a little Q and A that might be interesting to y’all.  Let us know if you have any other questions. 

What is a Wahoo Blue HR? 

• In case you’ve been under a rock, the Wahoo Fitness Blue HR Heart Rate Strap is a hardware (strap and sensor) and software (app) tool that allows you to track your heart rate on your phone.  Worn on the chest, this wireless device gathers electrical activity data to derive your heart beats per minute.  It operates on Bluetooth Smart (aka Bluetooth 4.0, Bluetooth Low Energy, BTLE) wireless technology and it the first of its kind, available now!

Will it work with my iPhone 4?

• Nope.  The Wahoo Blue HR ONLY works with the iPhone 4S right now, but in the future it will work with other “Bluetooth Smart Ready” devices.  Rumor is that the next several generations of iPhones and Android devices will all have Bluetooth Smart wireless technology integrated.  This product will NOT work with the iPhone 3, 3GS, or 4. 

Will it work with other Bluetooth Devices?

• Nope.  Bluetooth Smart is a completely new type technology and therefore is not backwards compatible with other generation of Bluetooth devices.

Can I use ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart Wahoo Sensors at the same time?

• Yes! We built our product so they play nicely together.  Therefore, if you have our ANT+ iPhone Bike Case collecting data from an ANT+ Speed and Cadence Sensor and/or Power Meter, you can also read your heart rate from a Wahoo Blue HR- all simultaneously.  You can also wear your Bluetooth Classic (any generation up to, but not including, Bluetooth 4.0) wireless headphones at the same time, without interference of any kind. 

Is there a limit to the number and type of sensors I can use at the same time?

• There is, but you’d have to turn yourself into The Bonic Man/Woman to reach it.  We’re told that there is “no practical limit” to the number of sensors that can run simultaneously, and as mentioned above, as long as you have an ANT+ receiver (Wahoo Key or Wahoo Bike Case) you can mix and match ANT+, Bluetooth Classic, and Bluetooth Smart sensors without interference.  Go wild.

What Apps can I use with the Wahoo Blue HR?

• You can use the free Wahoo Fitness App or any of our awesome partner apps.  If your compatible App isn’t working, make sure you have the most updated version.

What’s the difference between ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart?

• Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ are both 2.4 gHZ Wireless technologies. They both allow your iPhone to read data from sensors that run on their respective wireless protocols.  ANT+ is great because it’s a standardized protocol that’s prevalent in the Health and Fitness industry.  This is good for you because if you buy an ANT+ Sensor you know it will work with any ANT+ receiver, regardless of brand name.  Bluetooth Smart has a slightly better connectivity range.  Neither can read signals underwater because water is a great insulator against 2.4 gHZ radio waves.   Both technologies are low energy, meaning they can run for about a year or two on a small coin cell battery without recharging.  This means no plugging in and a simple battery replacement when your original battery dies.  We like both technologies- they’re just different.  We have plans to continue making both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart sensors in the future.

How do I use it? 

• Thoroughly wet both electrodes on the strap with water or electrode gel.
• Snap one end of the strap to one side of the sensor. Either end of the strap can connect to either end of the sensor, just make sure the Wahoo Fitness logo is facing up.
• Wrap the strap around your back, snap the free end in place, and adjust so that the sensor is located on your breastplate, or just below your breasts. Make sure the strap is snug, yet comfortable.
• Once in place, move within 5’ - 10’ of any device that receives Bluetooth Smart wireless data, such as the iPhone 4S and pair the device to your phone with any compatible App.

How do I pair it with my device? 

• Each App pairs a little differently. Make sure the Bluetooth setting on your device is turned on and that you have latest version of your favorite compatible app. 
• The Wahoo Blue HR heart rate strap pairs in the app, not in Bluetooth settings in your phone.  Note: This is a different process than how Bluetooth Classic devices traditionally pair.
• Follow pairing instructions of whichever app you are using.  In the Wahoo Fitness App you’ll need to go to “Quick Settings” and choose “Add New” under “Sensors Used.”  You’ll have to be wearing your Wahoo Blue HR in order for the App to find the sensor.  When you see your heartbeat on the screen, choose “Save.”

It won't connect! What do I do? 

• Check that the electrodes are wet.  Lick them good.
• Make sure you have good contact with your skin and that the strap is snug across your chest.
• Check that the Wahoo Blue HR is ‘awake.’ It ‘sleeps’ with inactivity to save battery.  Do a few jumping jacks to get the blood flowing.
• Make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your settings.

How do I change the battery?

• The battery in your Wahoo Blue HR should last a year or so and is cheap and easy to replace when it dies. The battery is located behind a cover on the back of your heart rate sensor.  Use a coin (nickels work best) to turn the cover counterclockwise to open. Replace with a 3-volt CR2032 battery.

Get the world's first Bluetooth Smart heart rate strap for the iPhone 4S in time for Christmas... and for a good cause!

The Wahoo Fitness Blue HR is not yet available for sale, but we're auctioning off 5 on eBay starting now and ending Tuesday night at Midnight.  100% of the proceeds will benefit 5 charities that are near and dear to our hearts.  Want one under your tree?  Just choose the charity you'd like to benefit and click on the link below to place a bid on the Blue HR.  If you win, we'll send you an exclusive first edition of the Wahoo Blue HR-- before anyone else in the world!  And we'll send 100% of the sale to the charity you choose (tax deductible).  Let us tell you a little about each charity and why it’s important to us: 

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society- As a Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society holds a special place in Wahoo Mike’s heart.  LLS is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer, and the research and patient advocacy they provide is amazing. Additionally, LLS's Team in Training was Mike’s introduction to triathlons after a year of chemo and radiation treatment, which was a great way to get his body and mind back into shape!

CYCLE Kids- The mission of Cycle Kids is to reduce childhood obesity by teaching kids the joys of biking.  Their goal is to instill in kids a love for physical activity, to teach them good nutritional habits, and to grow in them a sense of confidence, curiosity, and independence.  Several Wahoo team members have kids and we all like bikes, so this charity was an easy choice.

The Humane Society of the United States- We’ve got a few office dogs that hang out at Wahoo Headquarters who voted on this charity. The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization.  They help animals by advocating for better laws to protect them, providing animal rescue and emergency response, investigating cases of animal cruelty, and caring for animals emergency shelters and clinics.

Project Open Hand- Open Hand helps people prevent or better manage chronic disease through Comprehensive Nutrition Care™, which combines home-delivered meals and nutrition education as a means to reinforce the connection between informed food choices and improved quality of life.  Smart nutrition is a part of any healthy lifestyle, which is something we all believe in at Wahoo Fitness.

American Cancer Society- ACS has been played a major role in so many breakthroughs in both cancer treatment and research for a cure. They provide support to over 50,000 families each year who are struggling to help their family members battle this terrible disease.  We have all lost family members and close friends at far too young of an age, so giving to the American Cancer Society important to us.   

Wahoo Blue HR is the world's first Bluetooth Smart heart rate strap made for the iPhone 4S (and other Bluetooth Smart Ready devices). This heart rate strap and App combination transforms your iPhone into an all-in-one training device, great for runners, cyclists, and other fitness enthusiasts. The Blue HR connects wirelessly to the iPhone 4S without the need for any adapters and delivers accurate real-time heart rate data through the free Wahoo Fitness App. Additionally, our open API allows other popular Apps, such as RunKeeper, MapMyRide, and 321Run to work with the Blue HR. With the Wahoo Blue HR and your favorite fitness App, you now have your heart rate data, your playlists, your phone, GPS maps and more-- all in one device!

Introducing The Protector: A Tough iPhone Bike Case

You asked for it, so we made it.  We’re proud to announce a brand new product from Wahoo Fitness,The Protector It’s an awesome iPhone Bike Case with NO ANT+ technology.  What does that mean, you say?  Let me tell you.

First, we had a bunch of folks emailing, facebooking and tweeting us that they love the idea of our case, but were less interested in measuring cadence and power information.  And if all you need is a case to protect and hold your iPhone while you’re cycling, $150 is a tough price point.  If you’re more of a casual rider, beach cruiser, etc. this might be just the case for you!

Second, as we learned more about Bluetooth Smart and how the iPhone 4S and other phone are starting to use it, we thought it’d be great to have a case without the “integrated Wahoo Key.”  As we release new Bluetooth Smart enabled sensors (like the Wahoo Blue HR- coming soon!) You’ll be able to use this less expensive case to connect to them to your iPhone 4S. 

The Protector features the same rugged construction of the Wahoo Bike Case, with a hard plastic case and 6 clips to secure your phone in place.  It’s water and shock resistant so your phone will be protected from the elements and from any spills (not that any of us have EVER fallen…).  It mounts easily to most bikes with a semi-permanent mount and quick-release connection.  This way you can purchase extra mounts for all of your different rides and use the same case.  It also features all of the same ports as the Wahoo Bike Case—front and rear view camera, headphone port, and Micro-USB port so you can connect our optional Wahoo Extended Battery for double the battery life.  The touch screen is fully accessible and functional.  To be perfectly clear, this case WILL NOT connect to your ANT+ sensors. But it works with lots of awesome cycling apps and is perfect if you don't need to connect to ANT+ sensors.

As the experts in smartphone fitness technology, we’re always working hard to bring you the latest and greatest solutions to track your fitness activities on your phone. If you have any questions about The Protector iPhone Bike Case or suggestions on other new products we should explore, let us know! Shoot us an email at molly@wahoofitness.com or join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.

The excitement. The anticipation. The leaks and the PR stunts. The gossip.  And finally, the iPhone 4S.

Apple’s veiled approach to releasing new products always generates to a lot of excitement and even more rumors, and the chatter around release of the iPhone 4S was no exception.  Even as developer of Apple compatible products, Wahoo Fitness and others were left in the dark, forced to wait for the official Apple announcement before beginning any development on compatible products.  Well, here at Wahoo we don’t like to wait.  One of the things we love about working for a small company is that we can be flexible and get things done quickly.  And we can take risks.  Big risks.

While the rumor mill was pumping out chatter on what the iPhone 4S would include, we had our ear to the ground.  We like to think of ourselves as leaders in fitness technology and wanted to do the best things for our users. And with what we were hearing, we decided to take one of those big risks and go out and develop some products that we hoped would be compatible with the new iPhone 4S.  Lucky for us, the bet paid off.  And lucky for you, we’ve got some AWESOME new products for iPhone 4S users coming down the line.

In case you haven’t heard, the iPhone 4S has integrated Bluetooth Smart technology—it’s “Bluetooth Smart Ready”. This is the latest generation (4.0) of Bluetooth wireless technology and features ultra-low power consumption.  TheBluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) released a great statement about all the potential uses of Bluetooth Smart:

“Bluetooth Smart devices are designed to gather a specific type of information—are all the windows on my house locked, what is my insulin level, how much do I weigh today?—and send it to a Bluetooth Smart Ready device. Examples include heart-rate monitors, blood-glucose meters, smart watches, window and door security sensors, key fobs for your car, and blood-pressure cuffs—the opportunities are endless.”

At first read, you are probably thinking, “Great! I can now do a few more awesome things with my iPhone 4S (and other Apple products like MacBook Air).”  But this statement actually means a lot more – it's a seminal event in Apple’s accessory strategy and is a huge benefit to the end users. It’s an open door for inventive, creative companies to develop any accessory they can dream up and use Bluetooth Smart technology to connect it to an iPhone. In the past developers (like us) had to wait for established and approved protocols in order to connect something to an iPhone.  Wahoo Fitness has been successful in pushing the boundaries with the ANT+ technology, but Apple just took it to a whole new level. Now there are no restrictions. This is a classic example of Apple “thinking different” – and Wahoo Fitness is committed to embracing this shift and making awesome, cutting-edge fitness sensors for smartphones, no matter what flavor of technology.

So coming to you (soon!) is the first ever Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Strap, Wahoo Blue HR, which will connect directly to your iPhone 4S without the need for a Wahoo Key.  Of course, your existing ANT+ Wahoo Key and ANT+ Heart Rate Straps will work as well.  We only ordered a limited quantity, so if you want to be the first to have one you'll have to join our Wahoo Blue mailing list for the lastest news and for pre-order information.  

Investing in products that work with this new technology is just another way Wahoo Fitness is working hard everyday to connect smartphones to fitness and make tracking your workouts as easy and seamless as possible so you can worry about the technology less and “Wahoo!” more.