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.
What, no GPS in the forerunner ? What's the point of training if you can't plot it on google maps afterwards ? :-)
Posted by: Jan-Frode Myklebust | August 29, 2007 at 05:38 AM
it is sad to see the MB name go away! the link to the press release isn't working for me.
Posted by: Brad | August 29, 2007 at 06:33 AM
The press release has not posted to the Garmin site so the link is broken. It should be up in the next few hours. In the meantime, you can read the one posted on PRNewswire - http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070829/aqw904.html
Posted by: Clark Weber | August 29, 2007 at 07:05 AM
thanks Clark. I'm excited to see how the transformation takes shape. It'll be nice if the site gets a little more flow to it (a little less data/grid). And I hope there are some more community features (weendure.com type). :)
Posted by: Brad | August 31, 2007 at 08:17 PM
Sounds awesome! Can't wait to play with the new site!
Posted by: Ken | September 04, 2007 at 09:56 PM
So will the new site be compatible with all Max OSX, not just the 10.4 and above like recent Garmin products. Also, will Garmin Connect be subscription based like MB, or will it be open to all who have paid good money for their Garmin products? My biggest beef about MB is that it is providing what Garmin should be providing for FREE with their devices. The shipped software (training center) is a joke.
Posted by: Jason | September 06, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Hi
Will ALL my uploads be ported across? (not just the last 10)...
Cheers
Grant
Posted by: grant | September 19, 2007 at 03:47 AM
Hi all,
Sorry for the delay:
Jason, the new site will be compatible with 10.4 and above. As stated above, there will be a paid version along with the free version.
Grant, as stated above, you will have access to all of your activities.
Kathryn
Posted by: Kathryn | September 20, 2007 at 05:03 PM
The current smartrecording requirement for uploads is a major hassle given its adverse affect on distance/speed accuracy. Are you going to resolve this going forward?
Posted by: Andy | October 13, 2007 at 09:59 AM
I have been loving MotionBased and MyMotionBased on Facebook, so I'm optimistic about what you all will come up with for Garmin Connect. Can't wait!
Do you have visions of providing for privacy levels, through use of levels like Friends, Family, Everyone, etc. similar to sites like flickr? I am missing that - I would probably like to be a little more selective with sharing than I currently can be on MotionBased.
Posted by: Scott Mark | October 29, 2007 at 02:22 PM
Scott,
Yes. We will introduce Group functionality where you can set the privacy level depending on your association. This will not go live when we switch from MotionBased to Garmin Connect, but shortly thereafter.
Posted by: Clark Weber | October 29, 2007 at 04:22 PM
Hi, what's the status on this project? I see Garmin Connect is up but only for Forerunner 50 users. I'm dying to get my old bike route data out of MotionBased, and waiting for this change is the only thing keeping me from using MB/Connect to track all my activities!
Thanks, would love to hear an update!
Posted by: dan Hontz | January 07, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Will Garmin Connect and the new ANT+ thing for FR405 get Linux support?
Posted by: Janus | March 05, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Is the firmware in FF405 upgradeable - like on the FR305?
Posted by: Janus | March 07, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Janus,
The Forerunner 405 firmware is upgradeable through wireless transfers between device and the ANT Agent software.
Posted by: Clark Weber | March 07, 2008 at 12:48 PM