Fitness trackers much like smartwatches are still not entirely mainstream, but they are becoming more and more popular and there are a decent selection of options out there for consumers now. Polar offers the Loop 2, its second generation activity tracker that carries with it a varied amount of features and functions and it comes in a few different colors. The Loop 2 runs about $120, which puts it right on par with other trackers like the Fitbit Charge and Charge HR, more specifically right in the middle between those two cost-wise. Today Polar has announced some updates to the Loop 2 which should make it more beneficial for Android users.
As of today those who use Android smartphones and a Polar Loop 2 activity tracker will be able to take advantage of the new Android smart notifications. Polar mentions this has already been available on iOS for a little while now, and they’re finally bringing the functionality over to support the many different types of Android devices out there. What the smart notifications will do is enable the Loop 2 tracker to receive scrolling notifications for texts and other messages, incoming calls, , emails, calendar reminders and more, so if all you need is a quick glance at the notification that just came in, the Loop 2 can provide that without having to pull out your device just to see what came in.
Smart notifications won’t work automatically but enabling them isn’t the slightest bit difficult. First users will want to make sure they have the latest version of the Polar Flow application, which they should be able to update via the Play Store, and then connect the Loop 2 tracker to their computer and using the Flowsync software, update the actual Loop 2 tracker. From here it’s as simple as opening up the Flow app and navigating to the settings menu where users can find the toggle for turning on smart notifications. On the flip side users can come back to this location in the app to disable smart notifications at any point in time. Alongside the scrolling text, the Loop 2 will also gently vibrate to alert users they have an incoming notification and they can look out for the scrolling text.