Walk the line
For those who like to whistle while they work out, the MP3 player functionality is fabulous with 8GB or 16GB onboard storage – plenty of space to store a reasonably large collection. It syncs up to iTunes or Windows Media Player and automatically create playlists based on music that clearly gets you breaking sweat. A snazzy feature for the longhaul listener. There's an FM tuner so casual ramblers can listen to Radio 3 and take to the hills with The Lark Ascending.
GPS data reveals your route and the likely burn when you log on to the Motoactv site
Battery life is pretty shabby with a nine-hour rating for sporting activities, but it didn't seem that long to me. Still, if you're only a casual user, it should get you through the week. In standby it still drains at an unacceptable rate and certainly doesn't stretch Moto's claims of nearly two weeks.
Strap it on and slug it out
Verdict
Compared to other fitness watches I have had the discomfort of using, the Motorola Actv is a thing of beauty. If you mind is willing and your flesh needs a tweak, then provided you have a Motorola phone, it has all you need to shed a few pounds – and you'll certainly shed a few when buying it. For the price, you could purchase a second-hand Ford and follow the founder's advice, but you'll be more likely to gain a spare tyre than lose one. ®
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Motorola Motoactv
COMMENTS
"Mushroom cloud, because that's what molotov cocktails do."
Except they don't.
Why bother?
This doesn't seem to do anything that I cannot do with my £99 Orange San Francisco, and the free version of Endomondo.
"For people who are saying that their iPhone/Android strapped to their arm is just as good, maybe for you it is, but I don't want to carry that weight and a transflective screen on my wrist is a lot easier to read when I want to see my pace/speed."
Many people would take their phones anyway - so no weight penalty (for them).
Why, particularly is 9h not long enough? That is time actively recording, not just passive on your wrist, even for ultra marathons that's more than long enough.
I moved to the motoactv from a phone but I know from experience that you aren't always going to be able to hear your phone speaker in a crowd of runners (let alone if cycling) and many races ban headphones.
I'm not saying this is the most amazing device ever and that everyone should buy one but you're looking at it in the wrong market. For people who are looking to buy a GPS sports watch its feature set and price are competitive.
I saw that as
Motorola Molotov.
And then promptly wonder what kind of name is that for a GPS device before realizing that I've somehow got myself hit with dyslexia and read that wrong.
Mushroom cloud, because that's what molotov cocktails do.
