Customer Reviews

Digifit Connect: Requires $14.99 upgrade to Advanced Functionality or $14.99 paid app.

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I was so excited when I heard that Nike+ was adding heart rate with the Polar Wearlink+ Nike+ heart rate monitor. With such a long and impressive name you would think it would work on the iPhone. As it turns out, it only works with the 5th generation iPod nano. BUMMER! So I bought the Digifit Connect accessory and like the Nike+ receiver it plugs in and just works! I also purchased a Garmin ANT+ heart strap (much more range than the Polar ones) and Digifit's iCardio app. I LOVE IT! Now FINALLY I have a really cool heart rate monitor application on my iPhone and I've been waiting for that for years! Thanks to Digifit for making this happen! I hear it works with the iPad too .... I may just go buy one now!

UPDATE at 1/22/11 - I recently updated to the latest version and the UI has been much improved, The Home screen now has a "Dashboard" which shows calories burned in each workout. It also shows your weight from a Withings scale (which I have been using for a couple months) and your Zeo sleep score (I just got a Zeo for Christmas). So now my Digifit home page shows me all this historical data in a cool chart. If I tap on Dashboard, I can go back through my history with the swipe of a finger! Very nice. And I can link my chart to my Facebook page for just my friends to see, so they can rag on me if my weight starts creeping up (isn't that what friends are for?). -*-*-*- ORIGINAL REVIEW: I wanted to start with the Cardio App, since I have a Garmin heartbelt, but no foot pod. I downloaded it from the iPhone Apps Store. It is $20 for a year subscription. It was easy to pair the heartbelt with iCardio. Then I launched iCardio and walked around the house. It picked up the heartbelt no problem. So later on, I went for a run. I had not set up my workouts, so I just used Quickstart. It logged heart rate, max rate, average rate, time in zones, and calories burned. When I got back, it was ready with a summary of my workout - and ready to send it to a website - except I didn't have a website to send it to. I am hoping Digifit will have its website ready soon. I'm going to get a footpod now and upgrade to iRunner. -*-*-*-June 17 - I have now added a footpod and upgraded to iRunner right inside the Digifit app. So now I am recording both heart rate and pace in real time, something I can't do with my Nike sensors and my iPhone. I run in a hilly area, so it is like doing a structured workout going up and down in zones. The data in real time is so interesting that I am actually running with my iPhone in my hand so I can watch my heart and stride respond to the grade I am running. I did not think I would like having the iPhone in my hand like that, but it is actually quite comfortable. When I am watching real-time, I find myself working a little bit harder. I am trying to get the highest calories per heartbeat, so I am very interested in what happens in each zone. It is also great to be able to look back at workouts I did a month ago and see what my progress has been. Can't wait for the website to be up. -*-*-*- October 18 - Two weeks ago I downloaded the new free Digifit app that does mapping AND the sensors. I went to London for a week. I ran most mornings - a different route each day. I really did't know where I was going, but Digifit gave me a real-time map, including the paths when I was running in the parks - so I always knew where I was and what looked like the most interesting way to go next. And of course I got heart rate, pace and calories in real time too. There are a couple minor bugs which customer service says are fixed in the next update. But this is a fine new version - and the only app I know of that does maps and heart rate together in real-time.

You have to pay $30 a year for the app that goes with this. I found the software to be very buggy and only worked part time. It also ate my battery power faster than GPS! I returned all the stuff to amazon and got a refund, but iTMP doesn't seem to want to refund me for the app. Buyer beware.

I love this iPhone accessory. Works as advertised. I am able to link up my iPhone with my bike's speed/cadence sensor and heart rate sensor. I also use the Digifit iBiker app on the iPhone to capture all my ride data. I use this everyday on my bike commute to/from work. Has been a real positive motivator for my bike riding.

Their customer service is outstanding. Had a few questions and got the right answer the first time. The performance of the ANT+ device has been rock solid. I actively recommend this product to all my riding friends. Even my son owns one.

Finally, a solution that allows you to use ANT+ compliant sensors, while providing a remarkably simple interface to view and record a workout.

This product provides a plug-and-play receiver for ANT+ compliant sensors for the ipod touch/iphone. From the iTunes app store you can purchase a suite of apps for carido/running/cycling/etc. You simply install the app, plug the receiver into the ipod touch/iphone and enable the appropriate sensor(s), set your profile and training zones and alerts to help guide your workout intensity. Now your ready to start a workout. (I use the Garmin HR strap and Garmin footpod and irunner app)

During you workout you can listen to your music in your itunes library, and view key workout parameters such as HR, pace, time, etc. Finally at the end of your workout you can see HR and pace graphically versus time, or upload to partner websites such as Training Peaks.

If you have an iphone you have the added benefit of GPS mapping.

I have been using the Garmin Forerunner 305, but, I also like to use my ipod touch to listen to music for motivation. This provides the same level of recording as the Forerunner (without GPS - since the ipod touch does not have a GPS), necessary for feedback while working out, and for post-workout evaluation and history. I still love my Forerunner for GPS mapping, virtual training partner, etc, but, this accessory allows me to use my ipod touch to record the key data I am used to with the Forerunner.

The only thing that seems to be missing is the ability to calibrate the footpod sensor, so I use a multiplication factor manually to adjust the distance/pace calculations.

Finally, you may have difficulty with some armbands due to the addition of the connection. I use it indoors and have not yet found a good armband for the 4g model yet.

I bought the Garmin Heart Rate Monitor and Garmin GSC 10 Speed Cadence Sensor for Edge and Forerunner Series (010-10644-00) to go with my Digifit Connect. Thankfully the speed and cadence were easy to install and pairing was a snap. I am the type of person who likes numbers; I like to see my distance, heart rate, and calories being burned. All these metrics are tracked by my iBiker app and help push and motivate me through my workout. The iBiker app along with the accessories have been instrumental in kick-starting my workout routine for summer. I am glad I made the purchase!

I use this at the gym and being able to see my workout as it progresses motivates me to workout harder. Just make sure you do not remove before you quit / save your workout or you will lose everything you did. I knocked it lose by accident and lost an entire workout. I have a physical coming up and will take my iPad to show the doctor my progress.

Wow! I was an early adopter of the precursor to this product which was called SMHEART LINK. To be honest, it was kind of big and had to be recharged and used a klunky ad hoc Wi-Fi connection to communicate with my iPhone. Nevertheless, it was really cool to have my iPhone track my cardio exercise. Now my iPod touch can do all that and more with this tiny little device. It should work with your iPhone and iPad as well... It truly "plug and play" and barely impacts my iPhone battery life. I had to get a new app and it is not cheap but well worth the subscription price. Now, with iRunner, I can use my Garmin foot pod and heart belt to track my running speed and distance along with my heart rate. I have been waiting years for this! Any kind of exercise ... anywhere ... indoors or out .... and automated or manual weight tracking to boot. What more could you ask for?

At first I could not get Digifit connect to sync with my Garmin Heart Rate Monitor... that's because the heart rate monitor must be worn and transmitting data before it will sync. Once I got that figured out, everything else went smoothly.

I use this with my iPad while doing Insanity. I place my iPad right next to my TV where the workout dvds are playing. It's great because it shows you a real time graph of your heart rate which helps me push myself and keep my level of intensity high.

Digifit also allows you to post your workout results (calories burned, heart rate..etc) to Facebook which is nice for accountability.

It really is incredible tracking your cardio exercise on your iPhone. Tracking my workouts using a heart monitor on the iPhone has helped me lose 15 pounds and get int the best shape I've been in for years. I just put on my heart rate monitor belt and plug in Digifit Connect and because it is ANT+ wireless compatible it just works! No user manual, no toggling around a watch with buttons. So I am a happy camper until my wife accidentally puts my gym shorts in the washing machine with Digifit Connect in the pocket. And guess what? It still freaking works!!! Truly UNBELIEVABLE!!!
P.S. I use Digifit Connect with Garmin Heart Rate Monitor and Garmin Foot Pod and the great thing is the Garmin Foot Pod is not a throw away like Nike+, you can change the battery!