Hip gadget: a touch-screen GPS sports watch, no less

Okay so this isn't quite your everyday channel normal product but it is very cool and there's a lot of channel-based runners and triathletes. And the Forerunner 610 sports watch from satellite navigation vendor, Garmin, is, on-paper, an impressive entry in a competitive retail market.

It is the company’s first ever touch-screen running watch that integrates its GPS technology expertise with a compact design that was awarded the Red Dot Design for the second time in a year.

The Forerunner 610 allows runners to track their training and race intensity through a new feature which measures exercise effects and informs runners of their physical fitness progress.

Garmin also claims it has the world’s first highly sensitive weather-proof touch technology, which can resist tough weather conditions.

The company has also introduced new virtual racer technology that stores data on the watch and allows runners to try beating their previous records or race against other runners with data downloaded from the Garmin Connect community.

This site records user workouts, marks their totals, sets targets and partakes in an online fitness community of more than 50 million activities worldwide.

The Forerunner 610 will be available locally in May.