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Hammerhead Karoo advanced GPS cycling computer finding its way to market w/ Android OS

hammerhead karoo gps cycling computer with live route tracking and creation
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We got a sneak peak at the upcoming Hammerhead Karoo at Sea Otter and it’s impressive. Based on the Android OS, it’ll be extremely feature rich, with built-in WiFi and cellular connections to provide real time data and updates without a phone, live mapping of you and your friends, and much more. Like on-bike route creation with options for road, dirt, paths or trail; offline turn-by-turn directions; and advanced location determination using GPS, GLONASS, and cellular triangulation. And to input your route, profile and more, the full color touch screen has a full QWERTY keyboard…

hammerhead karoo gps cycling computer with live route tracking and creation

Quick build specs: Gorilla Glass full color touchscreen, IP67-rated dust and waterproofness will withstand being in a downpour), USB micro B charging port, 10-hour battery life, and pleasantly clickable tactile buttons on the side. Weight is 184g, it sticks to any Garmin-compatible mount, and the screen is 640×480 (3.5″ tall) with 229dpi resolution. Hiding inside is a barometric-based altimeter, compass, accelerometer, ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness automatically, and a thermometer.

hammerhead karoo gps cycling computer with live route tracking and creation

The head unit is massive, just up to the point of being too big. Kinda like that 80″ flat screen “you” (by which I mean “me”) want, except once it’s in place, it just seems right. Mounted on the test bike we previewed, it’s easily the largest cycling computer we’ve seen, but there’s a lot going on. Thankfully, the interface seems very clean and intuitive. They had profiles set up for a handful of riders on the same device, which suggests you’ll be able to share it across your family if need be…except it’s actually going to be very affordable considering the tech. Somewhere well under the asking price of top-end Garmins.

hammerhead karoo gps cycling computer with live route tracking and creation

The connectivity allows you to see real time Strava segments and keep tabs on your ride partners, share ride routes and workouts, and sync it all to the cloud or your favorite service immediately after. It connects with sensors via Bluetooth and ANT+, which means it can piggy back your phone’s data connection if you don’t want to activate the devices’ built-in 3G service. No word on pricing, but expect a minimal monthly subscription to have it work autonomously.

hammerhead karoo gps cycling computer with live route tracking and creation

Based on OpenStreetMaps, Karoo stores the entire world’s map on its hard drive, and they’ve tweaked it to be cycling specific. This lets it automatically recalculate your route while riding (and without needing a cell signal), help you find your way home, or seek out a mid-ride snack stop.

Or, import a ride file from any of these: GPX files, Strava, MapmyRide, Ride with GPS, OutdoorActive, Trailforks, GPSTracks.nl, MTBProject, Bikemap.net, or Gpsies. Run them through the Karoo smartphone app and it’ll create a mapped route from it, then provide turn by turn directions. All of which is a far cry from the original Hammerhead H1 that that used a simple light up turn alert to guide you.

Target release date is August 2017, and by end of year they’ll roll out pre-built single workouts and training plans, real time coaching, group riding planning and other features…or quickly build your own workouts directly on the device. And because it’s using a quad-core processor running Android OS, it can be updated and improved over time (they mentioned voice control). They’ve even hinted to us that they’ll open it up to 3rd party app developers.

Interested? Check their website and get on their mailing list. They’ll have an early bird special before it officially launches, but only those on their list will have access.

Karoo.cc

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daninski
6 years ago

Seems like an actual phone! I guess it’ll take calls and have a number if you have to put a SIM card into it?

TheKaiser
6 years ago

Do these sort of standalone devices, which are cellular enabled, require a separate plan with a cell service provider?

RED
RED
6 years ago
Reply to  TheKaiser

@TheKaiser
Often the vendor sells the data service plan, so you don’t interact with the carrier directly.

Rarely the data plan is just baked into the price of the product (Kindle?)

TBD on this one

Antoine
Antoine
6 years ago

Galaxy phone are ant+ enabled, do all this stuff for years, and since S5 have very decent battery life (full day of screen and GPS with mytrails app on my S7). I really enjoy riding with my S7. Sure for racing it can look a bit awkward.

myke2241
myke2241
6 years ago

Not impressed. There is no working product here if anyone noticed!!!

Robin
Robin
6 years ago
Reply to  myke2241

So you’re saying that the unit that DCRainmaker tested wasn’t a working product?

38battingpractice
6 years ago
Reply to  Robin

DC saw this same unit at the same place – Sea Otter – and didn’t give it a thorough review. Until this thing shows up on bicycle stores across the world for people to test and put through its paces, consider it vapor ware…..

Dave
Dave
6 years ago
Reply to  myke2241

The product is in beta. It’s a working product with software that is not yet fully featured. (deleted)

dirtdad
6 years ago

You gotta love a competitive market place. Even if you don’t like the product or it never comes to market, it will probably drive down the price of competing GPSs and make them step up thir game. Go capitalism!

Angel Rios
Angel Rios
6 years ago

I need to know how to get it!!!!

Sean
Sean
6 years ago

How do we get in on the Beta?

Mid
Mid
6 years ago

I am impressed with what this product can do. I was on the market to get a Garmin 520. I thought of ordering this one instead. I agree with the people who said said, it’s just vapor-ware. You can’t get it. People who have ordered the product since July are still waiting (frustrated?). It’s a start-up and the product is new, but I would still wait and bit and get this for the next season 🙂

George M
George M
2 years ago

Ordered my new Karoo 2 on Monday, arriving on Saturday

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