Heart Rate Monitor app review: giving you the full picture

Introduction

Learning about and tracking your heart rate can be a very beneficial thing to do. Perhaps you want to monitor your heart rate for health reasons or maybe it's to aid you in working out. Regardless of your reasoning the Heart Rate Monitor app can give you a way to not only monitor your pulse but also track it. This app can be used on your iPod touch, iPad, and iPhone and is a relatively new release. The app doesn’t require any additional hardware, so simply download it and you’re good to go.

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Never Question Your Heart Rate

With this app there is no need to question or wonder what your heart rate is. All you have to do is cover your device's camera with your fingertips or point it at your face. Hold it there for a few seconds while it gets the measurement and then you will see it displayed. Now keep in mind although this app offers some very good results it shouldn’t be seen as a medical device. This of course can’t compare to a true heart rate monitor medical device.

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Despite the fact that this is a new app it already has 3.5 out of five stars from customers. While this leaves room for improvement it should also be expected as it’s still quite new. When you read the various customer comments out there they are quite complimentary, with users being pleasantly surprised at how well it works.

Using the Monitor

Using the heart rate monitor could not be easier! I have tried both ways with good results. I will say that it takes more than just a couple of seconds before your heart rate is calculated so just be patient. After it takes the heart rate you can then share it by Facebook if you like. The app automatically puts a time and date stamp on it and you have the ability to mark what activity you just did before taking the reading (just woke up, before bed, exercising, post-workout, or tired). There is also a notes section you can use. Tap on the Done button when you finish and it will store the reading.

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The app will provide you with daily pulse rate statistics and you can see your measurement history, which can be really helpful. The bottom of the main screen shows your last reading, your weekly average, and monthly average. You can view your statistics in chart form and refer to the graph that shows you approximately where your heart rate should sit depending on the activity you are doing.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Very simple to use
• Tracks your readings
• View your statistics in chart form
• Ability to add notes
• There is no added hardware needed

Cons

• It would be nice to be able to share your information by more than just Facebook, perhaps so you can share your history of readings with your health care professional

Final Thoughts

The Heart Rate Monitor app is a wonderful option for those looking to get a quick and convenient heart rate reading on their iPod touch, iPad, and iPhone.