Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25126
THINK BACK TO DOING MULTIPLICATION TABLES IN THIRD GRADE AND THAT DAY SOMEONE INVENTED THE CALCULATOR WATCH. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN ONE LUCKY KID IN EVERY CLASS WHO HAD ONE. A SECRET WEAPON. DURING TESTS, THEy'D PUNCH EQUATIONS INTO THE WATCH AND CONSIS- TENTLY GET PERFECT SCORES. THAT UGLY, BOX-SHAPED WATCH MADE LIFE SO SIMPLE, AND IT WAS JUST ABOUT THE COOLEST THING YOU COULD WEAR ON YOUR WRIST LIFE IS NO LONGER SO SIMPLE. BUT WATCH COMPANIES HAVE STEPPED IT UP TO HELP US COPE WITH THE COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE IN 2000. TELLING TIME IS THE LEAST INTERESTING THING THESE WATCH- ES DO. TODAY'S WATCHES TRACK TIDES, RECORD YOUR ALTITUDE AND MONITOR YOUR VITAL SIGNS. THEY USE SATELLITES IN SPACE TO LOCATE YOUR POSITION ON EARTH. THEY REINVENT OUR CONCEPTS OF TIME. THEIR NAMES ALONE ENCOURAGE YOU TO LIVE OUT YOUR CHILDHOOD FANTASY-NOW YOU TOO CAN BE THE NEXT 007 AGENT SP[][]~'S Sfll';1 (sEGRET fl[]E~T I';1fl~) Even James Bond needs a I'lersonal assistant. This watch stores up to 100 memos, in English or Japanese, including internet addresses, em ails, phone numbers and street addresses. The SAM's rectangular face §ives you the straight and narrow on the straight and narrow. So at least you can keel'l track of your lunch meetings, if not your women. And when you need to wax profound, the SAM displays a different proverb every 10 minutes. Spoon, 800-782-2510, www.virtualspoon.com. 5215 .--Tn-;;jfir;:;::;;;'~;;:;;~~~compass are all sideshows on this watch. Its real attraction is its ability to function with a Polar monitor, which when C0nnected to the watch, allows you to view your exact heert rate at any time. Calculate your ide<:ll heart rate and train within your target zones; the watch beeps every time you exceed them. This is also useful in gauging your heart rate <:It altitude. Suunto, 800-543-9124, www.suuntousa.com. S299 (with Polarlrans- mitter belt), 5259 (without) fREESTYLE flL H~IETER This ultimate snowboarding watch measures altitude in three-foot increments to a maximum height of 30,000 feet. It has a barometer to inform you of changing con- ditions (falling pressure = run homel. An extendible band fits over your gloves so the watch won't freeze to your wri st. The watch's buttons are big making them easy to read and punch with a gloved finger. The Altimeter automatically records the num- ber of runs of the day, offering proof for your disbelieving friends. (PS: Get the Altimeter in drop-watch style: dangling off a carabiner or on a nylon leash. Then iust clip it to your outerwear for easy visibility.) Freestyle, 800-776-6449, www.frees1yleusa.com. 5160 fREESTYLE SHflRK T~[)E Some surfers are naturally in tune with the rhythm of the ocean. Others need help keeping track of the tides. The Shark Tide gives surfers, skim boarders and ocean lovers of all incarnations a constant read on the tide. It offers a preCise display of tide height and direction and has accurate indicators of neap and spring tide periods. To set it iust get a local tide table and adiust the watch bezel to match it. Freestyle, 800-776-6449, www.freestyleusa.com. 5150 80 »» > »»»»»»»»»»»