MBlog

MotionBased Getting a Makeover

Earlier this month Garmin announced a new device, the Forerunner 50. We also mentioned that it would be compatible for uploading to Garmin Connect.  And that's when the rumors and rumblings started.  Such a mystery! What's happening with MotionBased?  Will Garmin Connect take over?  Will MB "turn into" Garmin Connect?  In a nut shell, "Yep." Check out the latest press release announced today to get more details.

While Garmin Connect is the future of MotionBased, the transformation is still a few months away.  We'll begin by launching Garmin Connect for use with the Forerunner 50 exclusively.  This first launch will take place in early October.  FR50 users will be able to upload their non-GPS activities automatically by entering the room where a computer has the ANT software bundle installed.  FR50 users will have their activities stored and available for use with the Dashboard, Activities, Details, Reports and Player functions.

Come December, MotionBased as we know it will be fully integrated as Garmin Connect.  All of your data that was available at MB will still be available at Garmin Connect.  Our entire database of 1.5 million+ activities isn't going anywhere!  You'll still be able to upload your GPS activities in addition to entering your non-GPS activities.  You can also expect a revamped Analyzer allowing for pre-defined and custom splits.  We're also in the process of improving the Player and Dot Racing.

Garmin Connect will fully support a larger variety of OS's and browsers/versions:

• Windows 2000/XP/Vista
• Mac OS X
• Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 2+

What else?  Garmin Connect will be free for storage and and access to all of your activities.  We will still have a paid version, Garmin Connect Plus, for those wanting to access the advanced features.  Existing MotionBased customers with annual paid subscriptions will be grandfathered into Garmin Connect Plus.

Be sure to subscribe to the MotionBased blog to keep posted on the latest developments of Garmin Connect and the host of features and improvements to expect during the transition in December.

BTW... the MotionBased team is a little sad to see our name go away (our idea actually). But we've gotten over that very quickly as the entire team prepares to launch Garmin Connect.  It's worth the wait... and the new name.

For Those of You on Facebook . . .

While Facebook may not be the most entertaining site for some of you, a London developer (Matthew Underwood) built a really cool application that links your MotionBased activities to you Facebook profile.  That way, your friends can see what you've been up to the last few days.  Or, if you're out of commission or just being plane old lazy, they'll know that, too.  All of us at MotionBased have had a fun time playing with the application and sending it to other friends.  If you're on Facebook look for the MyMotionBased application and add it to your profile.  Make all your Facebook friends jealous of your athletic prowess!

For a discussion on this keen application, see the Forum Post.  For an example of what to expect with the MyMotionBased application, here's the shot:

Gearing up for the Olympic Trials!

A little over a year ago a local (Turlock, CA) elite distance runner, Miguel Nuci, contacted us about a sponsorship.  We hooked him up with a Forerunner 305 and an account and just let him run.  And run he has!  He's run so far, and run so fast that he'll be toeing the line at the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials set for 3 November 2007 in New York city. 

Born in Ahuiran, Mexico, Miguel was raised in Salinas, CA and attended Cal State Stanislaus.  He recently became a US citizen.  He trains in the heat of the valley, running up to 140 miles per week.  Check out his Activity Digest in the coming weeks as he'll be uploading his altitude training from Mammoth Lakes; love2runnuci.motionbased.com.  And, in case you're a little curious Miguel boasts a Personal Record of 2:15:32 in the marathon.  He set that PR at the California International Marathon in December 2006.  His most recent marathon was Boston 2007, where he ran 2:20 (just 6 minutes behind the winner, not 14) and placed 15th in some of the worst conditions.  Check out some video of Miguel:

RAGBRAI 2007

RAGBRAI stands for Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.  It's a week long non-competitive bike ride spanning from the West side of Iowa at either the Missouri River or the Big Sioux River to the East at the Mississippi River.  Many of our users completed this year's event including drewinbalto.motionbased.com.  Not only did drewinbalto ride the 485+ miles on his Trike, he added roughly 175 miles to make it across Illinois to Winnetka, IL!  He also updated his own Blog every day, telling a fascinating story of one of the largest recreational rides in the U.S.A.  (It hosts 10,000 registered riders along with unregistered riders!)  Check out the Google image of drewinbalto's ride below:

Wrapping Up the Tour de France

The Tour de France rolled into Paris on Sunday, and, as in years past, the 94th Tour did not disappoint.  Like last year, allegations of drugs in the Tour did not diminish the excitement of the race and the quest for the Yellow Jersey.  At the finish, an American stood on the Podium in the the third position.  Team-Milram had an excellent showing its first year on the Tour.  The Team's leader placed third in the race for the Green Jersey (Sprint).  In the Young Riders Classification Milram's Andry Grivko and Marcel Sieberg placed 10th and 17th respectively. 

The Tour de France, as I'm sure you know, is the most heralded cycling event on the planet.  While most of us will never ride even one stage just for fun we are fortunate enough to be able to live vicariously through Team-Milram.  Check out the bird's eye view of their Tour (Stages 1 - 19):