[Feature Request S9] Missing features that will make the S9 THE BEST smartwatch for many years to come.

Hello guys.

I would like to submit my humble opinion of what I believe are missing features that if are included, it will make the S9 an outstanding smartwatch against anything else in the market for many years to come.
So, the S9 Baro must include in future firmware releases:

Sleep analysis: i) Deep Sleep, ii) Light Sleep, iii) Awake Time, iv) Quality (using HRV measurements) v) Regeneration (again HRV)
Automatic Turn-on backlight using gyroscope & accelerometer (aka Turn-on when you move your wrist to watch the clock)
MyFitnessPal integration so you can track your calories and create a plan for gain, loose, maintain weight, etc. controlling your exercise and your calorie intake in one single application (Suunto App) and perform all the analysis.
Sync all the data with Suunto App and add all the Movescount features into one single app
Sync with GoogleFit (nice to have)
Watchface customization, allow users to create new watchafes and/or add more digital versions.
Stress analysis using HRV measurements & trends

What do you think guys & gals?
The hardware in the S9 Baro G1 is capable of all these features (am I right?)

Your opinion is appreciated
Thanks
Marcel

Egika

hm, no groundbreaking new ideas here.
All these features can be found in gadgets already in the market.

The S9 is not meant to be a smartwatch (like Samsung Gear or others). It is a sport and training tool especially designed for the ultra runners and long distance athletes out there.

Vasily

@Egika but why some of this features implemented to Garmin?

Egika

@Vasily Simple answer: because it is a different company with different products.

Vasily

@Egika both companies have similar products - sport watches. But Garmin sells a lot more watches than Suunto. What is the reason? Is it possible that people like custom watchfaces or automatic turn-on feature?

Luís Pinto

@Vasily Companies have different approches and goals, ressources, etc. I guess brands want differentiation.

I think Sleep present is already reliable and simple to analyse;
This i agree with you. @Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos always refers false positives, but my experience in other brands are very positive. Spartan, S3 and S9 have the sensors needed to do the job. Just calibrating the movement intensity and axes slope are needed;
Yes. Is needed. Movescount web is a reference of stability and reliable values and graphs. Personal opinion. But Strava for many it is also. And is available now;
Is nice to have, but most for Android users. And is not a critical ressource;
I think you will have some surprise;
Very useful. Agree. But take into account that our heart is not all of our organic structure. There are many variables to be in account.

Brad_Olwin

@Marcel-Baliño said in [Feature Request S9] Missing features that will make the S9 THE BEST smartwatch for many years to come.:

Hello guys.

I would like to submit my humble opinion of what I believe are missing features that if are included, it will make the S9 an outstanding smartwatch against anything else in the market for many years to come.
So, the S9 Baro must include in future firmware releases:

Sleep analysis: i) Deep Sleep, ii) Light Sleep, iii) Awake Time, iv) Quality (using HRV measurements) v) Regeneration (again HRV)
I typically don’t track sleep unless the week I race, I know others think this is important.

Automatic Turn-on backlight using gyroscope & accelerometer (aka Turn-on when you move your wrist to watch the clock)
Sorry but I fail to see the need for this, the standby uses very little battery and works great. I would not want this as it would simply drain the battery. I would especially not want this for training.

MyFitnessPal integration so you can track your calories and create a plan for gain, loose, maintain weight, etc. controlling your exercise and your calorie intake in one single application (Suunto App) and perform all the analysis.

Sync all the data with Suunto App and add all the Movescount features into one single app
I think this is the idea…it will take time.

Sync with GoogleFit (nice to have)

Watchface customization, allow users to create new watchafes and/or add more digital versions.
Potential problem, the fenix Garmin watches apparently use significantly more battery on ConnectIQ watch faces than the standard Garmin ones…this might be a problem.

Stress analysis using HRV measurements & trends
I would really like to have this!

What do you think guys & gals?
The hardware in the S9 Baro G1 is capable of all these features (am I right?)

Your opinion is appreciated
Thanks
Marcel

Vasily

@Brad_Olwin About battery drain. I think, that user possible can choose between battery life and feature. So, for example, auto backlight must be an option, maybe with some warnings about battery.

Dušan Ković

Sleep analysis: i) Deep Sleep, ii) Light Sleep, iii) Awake Time, iv) Quality (using HRV measurements) v) Regeneration (again HRV)

Would be nice on S9. Sleep tracking is there, but it only shows deep sleep. It would be nice to have graphs, but not necessary.

Sync all the data with Suunto App and add all the Movescount features into one single app

I think it is getting there, wish it goes faster. Would be nice to have more detailed graphs - steps, calories, oHR, weight, sleep. Maybe training plans, etc

Stress analysis using HRV measurements & trends

This would be nice to have, SF3 has it, and I think the hardware is same.

I know S9 is not intended to be “fitness watch” but ultra runner watch. But it has adequate HW, it would be nice to see those features. I’m not ultra runner, but I use S9 as a training tool, outdoor activities and it is my main watch. Adding more features can only be a benefit to everyone, just crate toggles so users can turn on or off stuff that they need.

@Egika
Totally disagree with your comments (politely).

Suunto already has a market target (ultrarunners), and the S9 is the best watch ever created by them.
Saying that, Suunto is a company that wants to make money. Period.
If they make some changes with the current smartwatch and they can easily target a much much broader market, it is not smart for them not to do it.

Your point of view is like Apple or PC, Samsung or Iphone, Windows or Linux. It doesnt make any sense for a company not to target a much bigger market share, increasing revenues, increasing profits, etc.

In my humble opinion, Suunto must do the changes and target everyone.
The fact is the S9 is a jewel, iWatch, S3/Galaxy, Fossil, Diesel, Tag Heuer, are far less behind it.

Food for thought for suunto.

I really like the watch, it is my first Suunto, I had a FR235/S3 Frontier/Stratos, etc. They were half of the price (even less than that) and they could do almost everything on this list.

I believe that the hardware in Suunto 9 is capable to do everything, just need a FW update.

Thanks

renton82

To me, it would be perfect if it will implemented drill log for pool swim activity; for now I can’t use my S9 for swim training because I do a lot of leg exercises and with S9 I will miss a consistent part of my training…

Brad_Olwin

@Marcel-Baliño
and you will find Egika and I politely disagree with you. What you are proposing is moving more toward a Garmin business model and loading watches with specialized features that only a subset of individuals will use.

The S9 is targeted to ultra runners, most of my colleagues and friends are talking about the watch…the two main features are battery life and FusedTrack.

Most of these folks including me have no need for all day HR, no need for Sleep analysis…we just want the basic functionality. IMHO there is already too much on the watch for daily use that I do not need. Adding more would just further complicate the firmware/software and likely cause more issues/problems.

I would be perfectly happy to have these on a Suunto model that is NOT targeted for ultra running/exploring, etc. The S3F is perfect for this but might be improved with a barometer.

Nuff said on this from me…

Brad_Olwin

@Vasily
I disagree, I don’t want the added complication of having to turn off a function that I do not need, there is already enough of that on the watch.

nikmb32

@Brad_Olwin If S9 for ultra runners only, why do they have Valencell? Actually there is an easy way to combine ultra runners and amateur daily users (like me) functions with only one switch in settings, that disables all “fitness” functions for “ultra” using. But as a top of Suunto’s lineup, S9 have to give user all possible functions of sport watches.

@Brad_Olwin My turn to politely disagree.
It is way too costly to differentiate on features per watch. Having the option to use S9 both for longer races and as a daily driver is a key element of its appeal. Ultra runners are such a small subset of the user base that it is pointless to cater only to them.
Even polar with the 40hour watch has implemented many features.
May be you are very wise in figuring out everything for yourself, but IMO most people would not mind having in the watch what they could already see in MC web.

Brad_Olwin

@nikmb32
Agree with you, if the S9 did not have Valencel I would be much happier with it. If available I would have bought the version without it.

@Yannis-Belouris said in [Feature Request S9] Missing features that will make the S9 THE BEST smartwatch for many years to come.:

@Brad_Olwin My turn to politely disagree.
…Ultra runners are such a small subset of the user base that it is pointless to cater only to them…

Curious what the real percentage of ultra runners amongst the users of the 9 is.
I can understand why everybody wants to have it’s functions reduced to the very own purpose of the watch.

Brad_Olwin

@paradize Compare the Spartan Ultra with S9. Ultra is now much less than S9 and what features does the Ultra lack? If you don’t need long battery life the oHR version has a barometer, and all that S9 has except FusedTrack and long battery life. The S9 is expensive for what it offers… why not get a Spartan oHR with a barometer if the longest distance you will do is a marathon or 50-100 mile bike ride? or a day hike?
That is where I am coming from with this…I believe Suunto will make an S6? with less battery and similar features to S9…this is one that could have oHR, training features etc.

Finally, can you give me stats on ultra/trail runners is such a small subset?

Many of you here arguing for more training functions/backlight when the watch moves/more sleep analysis etc. BUT Suunto designed the watch as is…I argue it IS tailored to ultra running/exploring and their advertisements point to that to.

I would rather have functional improvements

Waypoint names
zoom on altitude profile
GPX import into the app
Ability to load prior route and follow (either in app or watch)
get the swimming metrics fixed and working well
multiple BT pods for power/etc so with multiple bikes this is not an issue

@Brad_Olwin
This would dissapoint me. Having a mid range watch with more features (sans battery) than S9.
IMO does not make sense, but let’s wait and see

@Brad_Olwin Full ack!

I do mountaineering, often long multi-day routes with bivouac. I need the big battery, baro, navigation and an overall reliable watch.
Had GPS issues with the SSU - so I returned it. It is somehow a matter of trust and I hope to have a good ride with the S9.

With my A3P only best GPS was acceptable and I carried a power bank, which I gladly can get rid of now.
I also get rid of any other GPS device, which costs weight and has to be handled.
To have one device for all is so cool! And on the wrist with direct access even better!

But most of my time I simply do training sessions (running, biking, swimming). For those purposes I’d like to have these training functions.

Yannis-Belouris is right if he says that the S9 is the top of the lineup watch from Suunto. So why not giving it the appropriate credibility!?
They have most of the wanted software ready, of course it has to be ported and adapted, which takes its time.

But it also would be a great signal to the competition, not useless functions for outdoor enthusiasts as provided by Garmin but useful things that makes the watch a even more valuable package for a broader spectrum of users, this goes in the direction of Polar.

Suunto should know best what type of customer acquires the S9 and how to deal with it.