Garmin released a software update for several smartwatches, adding all-day fall detection to the Venu 4, hands-free voice control with the 'OK Garmin' hotword, and running features like Quick Workout and Run Coach plans to multiple models including Fenix 8, Vivoactive 6, and Forerunner series.
Amazfit released the T-Rex Dual Solar, combining an AMOLED display with dual solar panels (front and rear) to extend battery life. The watch features a 1.3-inch AMOLED screen, 660mAh battery, and improved solar UI compared to competitors, though real-world solar gains are minimal. Priced at $649, it represents an alternative to Garmin's traditional approach of larger batteries over solar integration.
Peloton unveiled three new treadmills and AI-powered features for its Peloton IQ platform to drive growth after years of restructuring. The new lineup ranges from the $2,195 folding Tread Flex to the $6,695 Tread+ Vision, with AI coaching tools for runners and integrations with fitness platforms like Whoop and Garmin. CEO Peter Stern aims to expand Peloton's customer base and revenue sources beyond subscriptions as shares have dropped 43% since he took the role in January 2025.
A study of 58 Hispanic adults found that popular smartwatches (Apple, Garmin, Samsung, Fitbit) significantly misestimate calories burned during exercise, with errors of 15-25%, and accuracy worsens as body fat percentage increases. The devices rely on heart rate and movement data combined with user demographics, but cannot directly measure caloric expenditure, leading to substantial inaccuracies that vary across individuals.
Dubai's RTA metro network has renamed a Red Line stop on Sheikh Zayed Road to Garmin Metro Station, replacing the previous ONPASSIVE branding under a ten-year naming rights agreement finalized through AMIT Retail, Garmin's UAE distributor. The station, which has cycled through multiple names since opening as Noor Bank in 2010, will display updated signage, app listings, and audio announcements by the end of November.
A software developer in the 1990s built a real-time GPS moving map display on a 25MHz 486-SX processor with minimal floating-point math, using the Hipparchus library's integer-based algorithms. The system was significantly faster than consumer GPS devices that emerged years later, but the developer lost access to the project when the client faced financial difficulties.