Garmin has introduced the third iteration of its Connect IQ developer platform for creating third-party apps for the company’s wearable products. Connect IQ 3.0 was announced during the second Connect IQ Developer Summit at Garmin headquarters in Olathe, Kansas, where the GPS navigation and wireless device maker also unveiled new apps for the open platform, including those from MySwimPro, Trailforks, Yelp, iHeartRadio, and GU. Connect IQ 3.0 is designed to allow developers to build third-party apps for Garmin wearables, bike computers, and outdoor handheld devices.
One of the apps announced during the summit is the MySwimPro app meant to provide personalized training plans for swimmers spanning six, eight, and 12 weeks. Garmin also launched the Yelp app for Edge bike computers to give cyclists access to Yelp’s vast database of points of interest, including directions to every location. Additionally, bikers can view mountain routes and tracks on their Edge device that works with the new Trailforks apps while listening to their favorite playlists synced to their wearable through the new iHeartRadio app even without using their phone. Connect IQ 3.0 also makes Garmin’s audio player platform available to third parties, allowing them to incorporate music, podcast, audiobook, and other media content into compatible Garmin devices. Cyclists can also receive notifications about when they should take a GU energy gel using the GU Data Field 2.0 app while on the go. Garmin will also let developers combine the company’s onboard maps into their apps, which will be able to work with a new notification system.
At the summit, Garmin also unveiled the Edge 520 Plus GPS and the Edge 130 bike computers. The Edge 130, in particular, is a lightweight and rugged GPS bike computer that sports a 1.8-inch display with a five-button design for convenient use on any rough trail. The bike computer also uses a mix of GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellites to provide bikers a comprehensive view of their ride and decide what routes to take before starting the trip. In addition, the Edge 520 Plus comes preloaded with the Garmin Cycle Maps, which provides a complete set of directions and alerts on hostile terrains. Edge 520 Plus also lets riders send prewritten messages from their bike computers to other cyclists using a compatible device. Finally, Garmin also announced the Varia RTL510 rearview radar built for the safety of bikers.