The All Black is ‘just…’ a new color scheme in the existing Sunnto Elementum Terra line. The all-black casing and negative display make for a stealthy (Stargate ) look, while retaining all the functionality of the Terra clan. I have always been tempted by Suunto’s luxury line of Elementum Terra watches but to be honest the original three styles, while very nice, never talked to me enough to do the deed. But the Terra All Black pushed me over the edge….

The Terra All Black is well sized and weighted and even better looking in person, featuring: time, date, alarm, 3D compass, altimeter, barometer, and chronograph.

Here it is next to my old Suunto t6 running/workout (right) and Movado (left) watches I wear regularly.  As you can see, the Terra All Black is very nice looking. I have used my t6 for YEARS, having definitely gotten what I paid for. It continues to keep ticking…a new battery every couple of years and has yet to fail me. My hope and expectation is that the Terra will do the same; withstand the same rugged lifestyle that my t6 has. The Terra’s professional appearance not only enables it to be worn anywhere (aka business setting), but also be used while running/outdoor adventuring.

While nicely weighted and sized, the Elementum series of watches is relatively thick, but not painfully so. The overall dimensions of the watch are 1.8 (44mm) x 1.8 (44mm) x 0.5 (13.5mm) inches and weighs 95 g (200 g for Steel).

Contents:

• Suunto Elementum Terra All Black Wrist Computer
• Cleaning Cloth
• Customer Support Card
• Quick Reference Guide

Features:

• Time, Date, Alarm
• Backlight
• Altimeter
• Barometric pressure & trend
• 3D compass
• Chronograph
• Cumulative ascent / descent
• Log: last 8 ascent / descent, max. altitude

Suunto’s Elementum Terra has a simple design, manufactured with high quality materials and intelligent/well-thought out navigation. As you would expect from Suunto, its luxury line of watches is extremely well made: corrosion-resistant AISI 316L stainless steel case and buttons; sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating; intelligent knob positioning for easy scrolling; high-quality LCD display with metallic display graphics; water resistance to 100 m (and according to the manual, the buttons can be pushed underwater).

The Suunto Elementum has two sensors: pressure and electronic compass. The pressure sensor has a dual purpose of monitoring the barometric pressure and altitude data. The main screen of the watch shows the time, date, altitude, and barometric pressure trend and reading continuously.

The compass function can be accessed by pushing the bottom button. The 3-Axis (3-D) compass does not need to be level to operate accurately. The barometric pressure scale (outside ring display) turns into a pointer for North, and the watch dial reads out the degrees you are facing. The compass and barometric sensors need to be initially calibrated and aligned.

Having majored in atmospheric science back in college, I find the barometric pressure gauge and trend indicator interesting and a lot of fun. So far, it has done an excellent job of letting me know what the weather is going to be like. The pressure was high and it was clear and cold but once it took a nosedive, the rains were here a few hours later. While this feature has limited benefits surviving in the urban canyons, it could definitely come in handy while out camping, fishing, hunting and the like.

The watch also features an alarm and simple chronograph. The chronograph measures 1/100 of a second for a minute after which it measures up to 99 minutes. While the Terra can time your runs/hikes/rides, track your altitude gains/losses, and help you navigate your routes, it does not work with Suunto’s foot pod, bike pod, GPS pod or heart rate monitor; making it not an ideal choice for hardcore training.

The watch has a very bright backlight. It can be activated by pushing the middle button for a couple of seconds. The entire screen is illuminated with a blue/green glow. The backlight is impressively bright and stays on for approximately 3-4 seconds.

In addition to the new Terra All Black, there are also three other styles in the line; Black Rubber, Black Leather, and Steel.

Along with the Terra, the high end Elementum line also includes a Aqua (left) and Ventus (right). The Elementum Aqua is for ‘urban and underwater use’ and the Elementum Ventus is for the ‘on-board and on-shore lifestyle’.

The Elementum line of watches is made in Finland, where the brand started/is from.

The Suunto Elementum Terra line ranges in price from $899 to $1199. While not as costly as Rolex or Breitling, a thousand dollars is nothing to scoff at either. Its lack of training and/or expedition features makes other less costly Suunto watches, like the t6d or Core, a more logical choice for the hardcore athlete or outdoor explorer. The Terra All Black is more for the professional who exercises during lunch or hunts/hikes on the weekend. Having said that, even though I workout pretty hard a majority of the time and do many outdoor activities, I have zero buyers regret on my 2011 Holiday gift/splurge (to myself )….without a doubt, I love the Terra All Black’s look, feel, form and function.

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, Gear, Outdoor Gear, Reviews, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Fitness, Health, Watch

Suunto Elementum Terra All Black Watch Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 11, 2012 at 11:00 am.

I’m starting to notice a trend lately… In the last few months, there have been 4 similar $100 fitness gadgets announced. We reviewed the Fitbit (link below in the related posts list), then there was the NewYu, then the Striiv and now the MYTRAK. They all have some type of display that shows your daily activity level (or lack there of). As you walk, workout, etc, the display will change to motivate you to continue. The MYTRAK uses a circular display that starts out Red and changes to Green as you progress. It tracks the intensity, frequency, and duration of your physical activity and shows how many calories you’ve burned and need to burn to reach your goals. It also shows you how you are doing in each of three
key fitness areas: Heart, Energy, and Health. The MYTRAK can interface with a Polar heart rate strap, but one isn’t required. You can purchase the MYTRAK for $99.95. Do you think these gadgets are motivational? Which of the ones I mentioned would you choose?

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Fitness

MYTRAK – Another fitness gadget to motivate us to get off the couch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 28, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Do you find it difficult to tear yourself away from the great reviews and news here on The Gadgeteer to perform your daily workout? It’s understandable, but I might have a product that can solve that problem. The FitDesk is a stationary exercise bike that has a built-in platform that holds your laptop so that you can use it while you pedal. Nifty huh? The price is a bit high at $229.99, but they also offer another version for only $79.95 that attaches to your existing indoor training bike.

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Fitness

FitDesk – The Perfect Product for Keeping Fit and Reading The Gadgeteer at the Same Time originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 27, 2011 at 10:00 am.

There are only 7 days till Halloween, one of our most celebrated holidays, where we have an excuse to act like a kid again by eating our weight in chocolate and candies. I personally don’t indulge since I am a diabetic, but for those of you that have a mouth full of sweet teeth and just can’t resist, here’s a list by SURGEX’s Celebrity nutritionist Carl Germano RD, CNS, CDN that might help guide you in your candy consuming extravaganza:

Snickers- 1 bar has 215 calories, 15 g of fat and 12 g of sugar
Milky Way- 1 bar has 270 calories, 10 g of fat and 35 g of sugar
Kit Kat big Kat- has 286 calories, 15 g of fat and 30 g of sugar
3 Musketeers- 1 bar has 182 calories, 6.2 g of fat and 27 g of sugar
Sour Patch Kids- 1 bag has 150 calories, 0 g of fat and 26 g of sugar
Skittles- 1 cup has 830 calories, 9 g of fat and 155 g of sugar
Skor chocolate bar- has 209 calories, 13 g of fat and 24 g of sugar
Butterfingers- 1 bar has 270 calories, 17 g of fat and 30 g of sugar
Candy Corn- 19 pieces has 150 calories, 0 g of fat and 33 g of sugar

Wow, I had no idea Skittles were that bad… I probably ate that many in a day … back in the day… What is your favorite Halloween candy treat? I still have a funbar once in awhile.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Diet, Fitness

The Quick Guide to Trick-Or-Treating Candy Nutrition (or lack thereof) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 24, 2011 at 10:00 am.

The Gaiam Strap-Free Touch Heart Rate Monitor from Oregon Scientific does not require that you wear a chest strap or arm strap. It features a touch screen and uses ECG technology. Just place 1 or 2 fingers on the sensor to see your heart rate. In addition to displaying your heart rate, it has clock, calendar, alarm and calories burned functions. It’s available in 2 colors and priced at $99.99.

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, News

Tagged: Fitness, Watch

Gaiam Strap-Free Touch Heart Rate Monitor – No Chest Strap Required originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 20, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Motorola announced a new device today named the MOTOACTV. This is an Android-Based device that looks very similar to the iPod Nano, but includes GPS, heartrate capabilities and the ability to sync to your Android phone. The heart-rate sensor is built into the available headsets. The wired SF500, and the wireless SF700.

The features include:

• Tracks pace, distance, calories burned, and map of route covered
• Wireless syncing of workout data to MOTOACTV.com
• 8GB or 16GB of storage
• 1.6” full-color touch-screen display that is sweat-proof, rain-resistant and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass that auto-adjusts for indoor or outdoor lighting
• Can sync with the latest Android-powered smartphone to receive incoming calls and texts
• FM radio
• Up to five hours of battery life for outdoor workouts, 10 hours indoors, and nearly two weeks on standby
• Supports both Bluetooth® 4.0 and ANT+ wireless connectivity for your existing fitness sensors and your future ones
• Size: 46mm x 46mm x 9.6 mm
• Weight: 35 g

Price for the 8GB is $249, the 16GB $299. The headset/heart-rate monitors are $99 for the wired, and $149 for the wireless.

Complete press release after the jump.

Motorola Mobility Unveils MOTOACTV™ — The Ultimate Fusion of Music and Fitness

Oct. 18, 2011

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Oct. 18, 2011 – Scorch more calories, shatter personal records and train even harder with MOTOACTV^™, the new fitness device from Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI). MOTOACTV is a lightweight, wearable fitness performance tracker and smart music player in one. Sync MOTOACTV with your PC, so you can check out the music you perform to best or track your workouts over extended time periods, set goals and even create workout competitions with your friends via the MOTOACTV Web Portal. And MOTOACTV features a touch-screen display so you can instantly launch a new workout or find that one song you’ve been dying to hear.

“We brought the features you love in your smartphone to the fitness world with a groundbreaking addition, MOTOACTV,” said Sanjay Jha, chairman and chief executive officer, Motorola Mobility. “Workout smarter without using multiple devices or even wires, with the first multi-activity music and fitness tracking device with the brains to push you beyond your limits.”

Stay on Top of Your Stats
We get it. You’re obsessed with your pace, number of calories burned, miles covered, personal records and fitness facts. MOTOACTV uses Motorola AccuSense™ technology and GPS to ensure measurement accuracy of your performance. Your time, distance, speed, heart rate1 and calories burned are all measured, so you can reach your fitness or weight loss goals faster than ever.

Then, upload your workout to MOTOACTV.com to analyze the performance data tracked by the device and review useful, easy-to-understand charts, tools and programs that help you see your strengths and empower you to overcome challenges. You can also get workout tips and training plans from fitness experts at MOTOACTV.com and on your Android™-powered smartphone with our free mobile app available via Android Market™ and pre-installed on DROID RAZR™ by Motorola.

Run. Ride. Jam.
Heart pumping, thighs burning and five laps to go. You need a serious soundtrack to get you through. MOTOACTV can rock up to 4,000 of your favorite songs while tracking your every move, from the Rockies to the gym. Ultra-portable, you choose the way you want to wear MOTOACTV: strap it on your wrist or arm, clip it to your shirt or mount it on your bike during an outdoor ride².

Your playlist is more than just workout songs: they’re songs that push you to perform at your best. The smart music player learns what tracks motivate you most by measuring your performance against your music and then uses those songs to create your personal high-performance playlist.

On those days when your automatically generated high-performance playlist isn’t doing the trick, you can switch to FM radio for even more song variety. And if the music is really moving you, go that extra mile – MOTOACTV tracks your outdoor training via GPS.

Keep Connected, Keep Your Pace

Real athletes don’t wear earbuds, they rock sports headphones. Introducing innovative sports headphones with built-in heart rate monitors, durable design and crystal-clear audio, the Motorola SF700 wireless and Motorola SF500 wired headphones deliver exceptional sound quality and real-time audible readouts of your heart rate allowing you to track your performance without the uncomfortable squeeze of a chest strap.

MOTOACTV also gives you the option to stay connected to your Android™-powered smartphone, so you can answer calls, receive texts and rock out via your headphones without breaking a stride.

In addition to working with MOTOACTV, the Bluetooth® wireless Motorola SF700 and wired Motorola SF500 sports headphones are compatible with mobile phones, music players and tablets from Motorola and other leading manufacturers.

MOTOACTV will rock your fitness goals with the following features:

• Ongoing tracking of fitness performance stats, including pace, distance, calories burned, and map of route covered, with automatic wireless syncing of workout data to MOTOACTV.com
• 8GB or 16GB of storage for endless playlists
• Sports a 1.6” full-color touch-screen display that is sweat-proof, rain-resistant and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass that auto-adjusts for indoor or outdoor lighting
• Option to sync with the latest Android-powered smartphone to receive incoming calls and texts
• FM radio capabilities for more song variety
• Up to five hours of battery life for outdoor workouts, 10 hours indoors, and nearly two weeks on standby
• Supports both Bluetooth® 4.0 and ANT+ wireless connectivity for your existing fitness sensors and your future ones
• Size: 46mm x 46mm x 9.6 mm
• Weight: 35 g

Pricing and Availability

Beginning today, consumers can pre-order MOTOACTV at www.motorola.com, Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com®, REI.com and SportsAuthority.com. Starting on November 6, 2011, MOTOACTV will be available for sale at Best Buy®, Eastern Mountain Sports, REI, The Sports Authority and online at Amazon.com, with other retailers following shortly.

The exclusive launch carrier will be Verizon Wireless with availability in November.

The MSRP for MOTOACTV 8G is $249 and $299 for 16G. Motorola SF700 and Motorola SF500 sports headphones are sold separately and will be $149 and $99 MSRP respectively.

MOTOACTV will also be available in Latin America and Europe starting in Q1 2012. For more information about MOTOACTV, please visit MOTOACTV press kit.

About Motorola Mobility

Filed in categories: Android related, Fitness, Sports

Tagged: Fitness, heart rate monitor, Motorola, Running

Motorola Mobility Announces MOTOACTV originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 18, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

Earlier this year, my fit-as-a-fiddle brother in-law with beach body physique got me started on the “Insanity” workout.  I was halfway through the 10-week regimen when a nasty wrist injury decided it was time for me to find a less aggressive form of exercise.  So I started counting my calories and logged my less strenuous exercise with an everyday chest strap heart rate monitor.  But was I counting my calories burned accurately?  Then the Wahoo Run/Gym Pack came my way.  Apple iPhone/iPod integration?  Sounds neat!

The kit comes with a chest strap and iPhone/iPod dock dongle.  The chest transmitter is ANT+ compatible, which works with other ANT+ devices found on other heart rate monitors, including gym equipment.

The ANT+ transmitter snaps onto the elastic chest strap.

The transmitter is about the thickness of a Sharpie pen.

The Wahoo dongle fits nicely in the iPhone 4, even with the bumper case on.

View of dongle and iPhone 4 without bumper case.

No iPhone? Works with the iPod Touch!

Side view. The dongle is about as thick as the iPod Touch.

When you first plug in the dongle, you’ll see this warning screen.  I downloaded the free Wahoo app from the App Store.

Note that many other compatible apps can be found from the Wahoo App webpage.

Many, may different apps available from Wahoo.

There are a thousand and one different settings on the Wahoo app.  I was a little overwhelmed, but I wanted to try this thing against my trusty Polar heart rate monitor.  I found the Wahoo setup page, entered my age, height, gender, weight and max heartrate.  I didn’t know what my max heart rate was off the top of my head, so I let the app auto calculate it for me based on my age.

Testing

To test the Wahoo versus my Polar heart rate monitor, I wore both.  Yes, I strapped TWO transmitters on my chest.  Since the Wahoo and Polar use different protocols, they can work side by side.  Perfect!  I hopped on my elliptical machine for a while to see what happened.

The Wahoo app gives you a choice of different screens to swipe through, much like an iOS or Android homepage.  If one screen isn’t useful, there’s bound to be one that suits you better depending on your preferences.

Notice how some screens list GPS?  That’s because if you’re exercising outdoors, you can use the iPhone’s GPS to track your progress.  Since I was indoors, I didn’t try this.  Wahoo also sells a stride sensor or bike cadence sensor as well.

I don’t listen to music when I exercise.  But if you do, the Wahoo still routes audio through  your headphones as you’re working out, with an additional feature:  You can program the device to give you voice announcements on an endless array of things, triggered by time, distance, etc.

You have two voice choices: Male or female. They both sound clear and non-robotic.

Just a FEW of the things the Wahoo app will speak to you as you work out.

Test Results

What I really wanted to know is how the Wahoo heart rate monitor manages to calculate calories burned vs. my Polar heart rate monitor.  Obviously, neither of these are completely accurate when compared to professional methods (room calorimeter, carbon dioxide measurements).  But I knew these MUST be more accurate than the calorie counter on my elliptical machine, that doesn’t use heart rate to calculate calories burned.  I find it gives me way higher numbers vs. my Polar heart rate monitor.  I’d rather err on the conservative side, and not fool myself into thinking I’m doing more than I really am.

After a very short workout, here’s what I found:

Elliptical Machine:  210 calories

Wahoo:  203 calories

Polar:  134 calories

Huh?  Yes, the Wahoo was actually much closer to the elliptical machine’s calorie estimate.  I emailed Wahoo for some answers, and was told that I needed to update to the latest app for more accurate readings.  But I was already running the latest version, so I asked what formula the Wahoo was using to compute calories burned.

I was surprised when the responded.  According the Wahoo, the formula they use is:

(for men)

calories burned = (0.2017 x age in years + 0.09036 x weight in pounds + 0.6309 x average heart rate – 55.0969) x elapsed time / 4.184.

(for women)

calories burned = (0.074 x age in years – 0.05741 x weight in pounds + 0.4472 x average heart rate – 20.4022) x time elapsed / 4.184.

Wahoo actually pointed me to this Livestrong web page with the formula they use.  I manually calculated the calories burned by taking my age, weight, average heart rate (reported by the Wahoo app) and elapsed time, and got nearly the exact same figure of 203 calories burned.

Since both the Wahoo and Polar use the same user parameters (age, weight, gender) I can only surmise that Polar uses a more conservative algorithm to calculate calories burned vs. the Wahoo.

Conclusions

The Wahoo Fitness Run/Gym pack is a neat way to visualize your workout progress.  If the standard Wahoo app doesn’t cut it, there are dozens of others (some free, some paid) you can try.  The ANT+ protocol ensures you can use other manufacturer’s transmitters (just not Polar).  And if you wear headphones, the voice notifications are a neat touch.

For me, I don’t listen to music when I exercise, and my Polar combo (chest strap and watch) is a far smaller package for me to carry.  But if you’re already working out with an iPhone/iPod Touch, this might be a good thing.

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Fitness, heart rate monitor

Wahoo Run/Gym Pack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 4, 2011 at 4:00 pm.

Exercising, working out, getting fit, whatever you want to call it, is a chore that a lot of us don’t enjoy doing. Finding ways to make physical activity actually beneficial can increase the enjoyment. Because, let’s face it, if your workouts aren’t helping you lose weight or get fit, what’s the point in doing them? Scosche wants to help your workouts count. The myTREK Wireless Pulse Monitor for your iPhone or iPod Touch keeps a close eye on your heart rate so that it knows when you’re slacking and need a little kick in the pants to burn off that morning donut.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Package Contents

myTREK monitor
3 arm straps
USB charger dock
Quick start guide
You might be wondering how a heart rate monitor can help make sure your workouts count. Did you know that getting your heart rate super high doesn’t mean that you’ll necessarily lose weight? Based on your health information, there are specific target zones (heart beats per minute) that you need to be in in order to lose weight or for cardio fitness. This monitor helps you stay in those zones.

The monitor itself is a black plastic module with an elastic arm band. There are 2 LEDs and 3 buttons on the face of the monitor. The LEDs indicate charging, pairing and power. The buttons control music playback while you’re working out. There are volume buttons and a multi-function center button that pauses/resumes playback and can also skip song tracks.

Attached to the monitor on one end is the sensor that has to touch your skin in order to detect your pulse. You’ll also notice two contacts on the back of the monitor. These mate with the USB charger to charge the internal lithium ion battery.

While the myTREK is charging, one of the status LEDs will blink Red.

When charging is completed (this takes about 2hrs), the opposite LED will glow Green. You should get 5hrs of workout time in between charges.

The monitor is worn on your forearm. It’s a lot more comfortable than typical  heart rate monitors that use chest straps. The bands are stretchy and easy to adjust for a good fit. I didn’t have any problem with the band slipping down my arm while walking briskly. Another benefit to an arm strap is that it won’t get all icky from sweat as easily or quickly as a chest strap.

To use the myTREK, you first charge it via USB, then pair it with your iPhone or iPod via Bluetooth. Once paired, the device will prompt you to download the free myTREK app via the app store.

The application has an easy to use interface that will let you create workouts that can be based on various activities such as walking, running, biking, etc.

You can then choose which zone you want to use be in for the workout.

You can also decide if your workout is going to be based on time, calories burned or distance traveled. If you opt to use the distance traveled feature, you’ll need an iPhone as it requires GPS to determine distance. This feature won’t work well indoors either…

Once you have your workout created, you just press the play button to start the workout and you’ll see a large real-time readout of your heart rate. I compared the pulse rate from the myTREK to the pulse rate via my treadmill’s hand grip monitor and found that for the most part, the rates were within 5-6 beats up or down of each other.

Below the heart rate display is a colored bar that shows you which zone you’re in. As you work out, a voice will periodically tell you to speed up or slow down. This voice can be set to either male or female. One problem I ran into was that the voice is very faint. Even with the voice volume set to max in the app settings, it’s almost impossible to hear if you’re also listening to music while working out. Hopefully this will be fixed with an app update. Luckily the visual cues allow you to easily see if you need to speed up or slow down to remain in the desired zone.

After your workout is over, you can take a look at the stats that provide info on your average pulse rate, calories burned etc. These workouts are saved on your phone so that you can reference them whenever you like.

The Scosche myTREK Wireless Pulse Monitor is an easy to use device / app that might help motivate you to workout more and make those workouts really count by keeping you in the right heart rate zone for the type of workout you’re doing. Also, the price does not seem out of range of other feature rich wireless heart rate monitors currently on the market.

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Fitness, iPhone, iPod Touch

Scosche myTREK Wireless Pulse Monitor Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 27, 2011 at 4:30 pm.

The Striiv pedometer is a very cool idea. It’s a pedometer not unlike the Fitbit which I just reviewed, as it counts your steps. But the comparison stops there because the Striiv has the potential to motivate you more than similar products. How? First of all, it’s a bit snazzier with the  large color touch screen LCD. That LCD comes in handy because your walking, running and stepping powers built in games. One game called MyLand takes your movements and uses them to build a world where the more you move, the more your enchanted island fills with exotic wildlife and plants. If games don’t inspire you, how about helping others? Through no additional cost to you (other than the purchase of the Striiv), your steps will donate clean water to children in South America or a polio vaccine to a child in India (with new charitable partners to be added over time). You can reserve your Striiv now for $99. That includes tax and shipping. The device will ship starting 10/15.

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Fitness, Walking

Striiv – The Pedometer that gives back while you get fit originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 1, 2011 at 4:30 pm.

The NewYu weighs less than one ounce and claims to be the only fitness monitor on the market that can identify specific activities to provide accurate information on how many calories you burn throughout an entire day. It uses motion detection and advanced pattern recognition technology, which can identify specific body movements. This wearable monitor syncs with an online dashboard real-time via the free Android app. The NewYu Connected Monitor will retail for $99.99 and is expected to be available in September 2011 through newyu.com and select online retailers, including BestBuy.com and Amazon.com. Consumers can pre-order monitors on the NewYu website.

Filed in categories: Android related, Fitness, Sports, News

Tagged: Android, Fitness

NewYu – A New Android Connected Fitness Monitor originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 11, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

Riding a stationary bike can be good exercise, but it can also be really boring. The Pro-Form Le Tour De France Indoor Cycle changes that. First of all, it’s not exactly your typical stationary bike. This cycle has both an incline and decline feature, so you will get a real up and downhill workout. You can also set a wind resistance profile to really make things more realistic. But that’s not all, Le Tour De France cycle is powered by Google Maps, which allows you to ‘ride’ anywhere in the world. It comes with 24 predefined courses too. So plunk down $1,299.00 and you’ll be wearing that Yellow jersey in no time!

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Bicycle, Fitness

Win Le Tour De France in your Living Room originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 23, 2011 at 10:00 am.

I bet you have never read a title like that one have you? The GymyGym (pronounced like: jimmy gym) is a great looking office chair that doubles as a workout machine. It has built in bungee type straps for your hands and feet so that you can do 16 core exercises to strengthen and stretch all major muscle groups: Arms, Chest, Legs, Back, Shoulders, Torso and Glutes. Now sedentary office (and home) workers have no excuse, we can stretch and tone right where we sit. The $599 GymyGym is available in Black, Red and Orange.

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, Home Tech, News

Tagged: Fitness, Office

GymyGym – An office chair that tones muscles originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 6, 2011 at 5:35 pm.

If there’s one thing I hate about exercising while wearing earbuds, it’s that it’s far too easy to accidentally snag the cable on something and yank one or both buds out of my ears.  Bluetooth headphones solve the cable problem, but most Bluetooth headphones are either circumaural or supra-aural, and thus too big and heavy to wear while exercising.

JayBird has brought together the best of both worlds with their JF3 Freedom Bluetooth earbuds.  Designed specifically for active users, the JF3 earbuds are lightweight and sweatproof, and come with a selection of ear tips and secure fit ear cushions to help keep the earbuds seated during your workout.  The right-side earbud features volume and playback controls for devices that support AVRCP, and a microphone so that you can make or receive phone calls without missing a beat.  JayBird claims that the JF3 battery will last for 6 hours of music playback or phone talk time, which should be enough for even the most hardcore fitness regimen.

The JF3 Freedom Bluetooth earbuds are available now for $99 at the JayBird online store.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: bluetooth headset, Fitness, Headphones and earbuds, Spotlight Gadgets

JayBird JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Earbuds Put Wireless Music In Your Ears originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

RunKeeper is an Android and iPhone application that helps you record your runs using the GPS built into your Android or iPhone. It also lets you record a wide number of fitness activities. It is available both as a free version, and a $9.99 Pro version with added features. The Pro version adds:

• Audio Cues
• Customized Interval Workouts
• Integrated  Fitness Classes
• No Advertising

Through the end of January, they are running a promotion where you can download and install the Pro version for free.

RunKeeper allows you to store and view your workout results online, look at reports including maps of your routes, and graphs of the elevations. If you want to take it a step farther, you can upgrade to the Elite membership for $4.99 a month, or $19.99 a year to add the following features:

• Additional Fitness Alerts
• RunKeeper Live that lets folks monitor your run in real-time
• RaceLive, similar to RunKeeper Live
• Advanced Fitness Reports
• 50% of Advanced Fitness classes.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related

Tagged: deal, Fitness

Get RunKeeper Pro For Free originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 1, 2011 at 11:02 am.

The ElliptiGo is a strange looking scooter / bicycle style vehicle that can get you from point A to point B, while giving you a great workout at the same time. We’ve all seen elliptical machines at the gym, but this one isn’t stationary (unless you also purchase an optional indoor stand) and has been designed to work outdoors instead of indoors.  It is propelled by an elliptical motion that emulates running. It looks like a lot of fun and makes me sweat just looking at it The price tag might make you sweat as well. It’s priced at $2199 through the end of the year. On January 1st, 2011, the price hops up to $2499.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Fitness, Health, Spotlight Gadgets

ElliptiGO – An elliptical machine that you can ride to work originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 16, 2010 at 9:45 am.

The ila SPORT is a pedometer, milometer and personal safety alarm in one. Now that it’s dark when we get up in the AM and it gets dark earlier in the evenings, runners, joggers and dog walkers might appreciate this small device which includes a calorie counter, pedometer, distance traveled, clock and backlight plus 130Db personal alarm. If you ever feel like you’re in a situation where you need to scare someone off, just press the top button and a very loud alarm will start shrieking. A switch on the side will then quickly silence the alarm. Priced at $34.99 and available at the Handpicked Gift Store, the ila SPORT

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News, Outdoor Gear

Tagged: Fitness, Security, Symbian OS Related

ila SPORT Helps you Stay Fit and Safe originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 31, 2010 at 9:00 am.

I’m guessing that there are 100′s of fitness related iPhone apps in the app store right now, but there aren’t many hardware/app solutions other than the Nike+ which has been designed to track running and walking. Now there’s an alternative. It’s the Wahoo system which makes your iPhone, Touch or iPad compatible with ANT+ sensors. Wahoo uses a Fisica sensor key or Fisica sensor case to allow it to communicate with various heart rate straps, foot pods, bicycle cadence monitors, weight scales, bicycle power meters, and any other sensor that transmits data using the standard ANT+ wireless protocol. Don’t have an ANT+ compatible device? No problem, Wahoo also sells heart rate sensors, bicycle cadence / speed sensors and a stride sensor. Along with quite a few applications that have been created for this platform, you can use these tools to get in shape and stay in shape. The Fisica sensor key is available now for $79.99 and the Fisica case is currently available for pre-order for $139.00. Bundles of the sensor key and sensors are also currently available.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Fitness, iPhone, Spotlight Gadgets

Get Fit with Wahoo Fitness and your iPhone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 26, 2010 at 10:40 am.

As part of my “How Friggin’ Lazy Are You??” quest, check out this Talking Heart Rate Monitor and MP3 player from Hammacher Schlemmer.  It reports your heart rate to you aurally while providing a 1GB MP3 player.  Neat idea, but 1GB may be too limiting for some.  Comes with a chest strap and USB cable.  $80.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Fitness, Health, Spotlight Gadgets

When You’re Too Tired to Look Down at Your Wrist originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 29, 2010 at 9:33 am.

From CamelBak comes the breakthrough concept of wearable hydration with the RaceBak, designed for cyclists, endurance athletes and triathletes. RaceBak fits comfortably under a jersey and has an aerodynamic and stable compartment for a 72 oz/2.1 L reservoir (1-2 hrs of hydration).  Available in white/graphite color scheme, in both men’s and women’s styles.  Not sold directly through CamelBack, but you can buy it at various online retailers for about $100, though you can probably find it for less.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Exercise, Fitness, hydration

Wearable hydration with CamelBack Racebak originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 28, 2010 at 7:45 am.

There are only 2 full days left before January 1st, 2010 and we all know what that means. It’s new year’s resolution time, the time of year when everyone makes promises to themselves to start working out, eating better and losing weight. For the past 5 years, I haven’t needed to make that resolution because I was already doing all those things. But I slipped a little in 2009 and stopped working out and put on a few pounds that I’d like to get rid of. I’ve been looking for a few gadgets to help me with my goals and the first one I’ve tested is the Omron Full Body Sensor Body Composition Monitor and Scale (model HBF-516B). Wow, that’s a mouth full!

The Omron scale is similar in size to the generic scale that I purchased from Walmart a few years ago. The similarity ends there though as the Omron can measure more than just your body weight. It uses bioelectrical impedance to estimate these fitness indicators:

Body fat percentage
Body mass index (BMI)
Skeletal muscle
Resting metabolism
Visceral fat
Body age

Muscles, blood, bones, and body tissues with high water content conduct electricity easily, while body fat does not. The scale sends a very weak electrical current of 50 kHz and less than 500 μA through your body from your hands to your feet to determine the amount of water in each tissue. You can’t feel this current at all.

The scale is mainly constructed of plastic except for the four electrodes on the base that you stand on, and the metal handles for the display unit.

The scale has four stand off feet with a rubber pad in the center to keep the scale from sliding around on the floor. The battery compartment is located on the back of the device. Four AA batteries are included with the unit and should provide power for up to 1 year of typical use (4 uses a day).

The handheld display unit is connected to the scale by a coiled cord that stores under the display unit when it is not being used. The display unit is used to perform all the measurements except a regular body weight measurement. If all you want to use this scale for is to display your weight, then you could leave the display unit snapped into the base. What fun would that be though?

Before you start using the scale, you need to enter your profile info. This is done by using the buttons on the display unit. After the date, time, your weight, age and height have been recorded and stored as a profile (you can store up to 4 profiles), you’re ready to see the good (or bad) news about your body. Click the image above for a larger view of the display unit.

Using the Omron Full Body Sensor is very easy. You just kick off your socks, press the power button on the front edge with your toe, wait for the display to show 0.0 lbs, grab the display unit in both hands, press the number for your stored profile and step on to the base so that your heels and pads of your feet are touching the electrodes. After a few seconds, your body weight will be displayed. The weight will blink two times to let you know that the other measurements will be taken. At this point, you raise your arms straight out in front of you at a 90 degree angle to your body and wait a few seconds for the measurements to be recorded.

You can then use the buttons on the display unit to view the different measurements. Some of the buttons can be pressed twice to toggle between two measurements. The display unit has two LCD displays. The smaller one shows history, so that you can see low and high measurements as well as measurements from the previous day, 7 days, 30 days, 90 days and even 180 days ago. If you didn’t weigh yourself on those exact days, the recorded measurements for the next closest day will be shown.

Graphs in the instruction manual show where you should be for the various measurements based on your age.

I like being able to see changes in my body fat and skeletal muscle measurements as I work out. That is a motivator for me. I also like that it tells me my body age is 11yrs younger than I currently am The only feature missing on this scale is a way to download the data to a computer (or better yet, my iPhone). But as is, the Omron Full Body Sensor Scale is going to be a tool to help me keep my new year’s resolution for 2010.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: Fitness, Health

Omron Full Body Sensor Scale Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 29, 2009 at 2:55 pm.

The ESPN Kickboxing Trainer ($89 – $129) is a somewhat diminutive kick boxing trainer.  Its purpose is to provide a real-time targeting system for boxing, kicking, or a combination of the two.  While the trainer could be used as a dummy trainer without them, six sensors on the unit light up in various positions, providing targets for the user to punch or kick.

Basic Information and Usage

The kit comes with a main punching bag, set of (rather small) gloves, an electronic controller, and a base that holds the entire thing together.

Boxing gloves -- pop can used for scale

To engage, the user selects a skill mode (Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced) and a training mode (Boxing, Kick Boxing, Combo1, or Combo2).  The user then dons the gloves and hits any one of the sensors to start a “round”.  Depending on the skill and mode, the unit’s targets light up and the user must hit the sensors in a pattern for one to three minutes.  After the “round” has completed, the unit then rates the skill of the user, effectively knocking down or boosting up the skill level for the next round.  Wash, rinse, repeat for as many rounds as desired.  The unit shuts itself off after five minutes if the user is knocked out.  Just checking to see if you are reading this.  It shuts off if no activity is detected.

The unit requires 3 AA batteries for the electronics and 90 pounds of water (or sand) as a means to weigh down the stand.  Completely assembled, it stands about 63 inches, but you could put the stand on a set of cinder blocks to add height to it if needed.  (Just be wary of the cinderblocks during the kicking rounds.)

Assembly Concept

This unit is actually interesting, if not unique, to assemble and fairly simple in concept.  The main “bag” portion is simply an inflatable tube through which a stabilizer bar is placed.  The bar is then inserted into the base that is then weighted down with either 90 pounds of sand or water.

Oh that's what that is

A sleeve (or sheath) with the electronic sensors is then wrapped around the bag and is attached to the electronic module (powered by the 3 AA batteries).  It is a very simple assembly process in concept.  Ahem.

Assembly Actuality

The first problem I had was in removing the plastic plug from the base in order to insert water as the weight.  It finally took two screwdrivers (the metal kind) and about seven minutes to get it off.

Next came the size of the fill hole – it’s smaller than the size of the gallon water jug I had intended to use to fill it.

Fill hole is too small for standard gallon jug or garden hose

That meant that I needed a funnel (don’t have one of those lying around too often) or a garden hose that I could attach to my washer input line and thus fill it that way.  But the fill hole is also smaller than the size of the garden hose’s coupling.  If I had had 90 pounds of sand available I’d still have the same need for a funnel.  So in this respect it must be noted that assembly can be problematic.

The next major assembly issue involved inflating the bag:  Although the need for a pump is mentioned on the box, the beefiness of the said pump is not emphasized.  I’ve inflated other items in the past with wimpy bicycle pumps without problems but be forewarned that a beefy pump is needed for this.

Usage Experience

Once installed, it does work pretty well.  I tried out the expert mode and the machine, after three minutes, decided I was actually in the beginner mode.  I found that I had to punch the targets a little harder than I had expected in order for the targets to register, but that could be because the bag may have needed more air (I was kind of burned out of the device after having futzing with the assembly and didn’t want to drag in my big pump again.)

I think the height of the unit may be a problem for taller folks, but remember that you have a tendency to duck down when in the fighting stance so that can mediate some of the height issues.  There may also be a problem with the weight of the stand – a larger or stronger punch or kick could cause too much recoil to the point of being annoying.  I found the gloves a little constricting too, but that may be the nature of kick boxing gloves in general.  I know that they would become soaked and smelly if I used the trainer every other day.  I would probably wind up buying a more robust set of gloves or going gloveless.

Summary

Overall, this is a pretty good deal.  You get a fairly decent exercise trainer, gloves, and an interactive targeting system for a good price.  But it takes a little consideration ahead of time before making the investment:  where do you put it; will you fill it with water or sand and how will that process be achieved; will it be too small to bother with, and how could I remove it if I want to sell it or move it to another area of the room or floor.

Had I known about these issues ahead of time I could have prepared a funnel, a second screwdriver, and my mighty air pump.  Knowing these things,  it is an inexpensive and not-to-difficult way to try out a new exercise toy.  And it does work.  And it’s kind of fun.  It would also make a very cheap and effective way to entertain kids that are coming over for holiday vacation or a way to entertain any holiday guest for that matter.

Post Script

A few years ago I had also tried out the SlamMan boxing device.  SlamMan was more rugged but also much much heavier and required 250 pounds of water or sand.  It also made beeping noises that made my dog angry and I had to finally sell it.  Selling it was easy but getting it out of the basement was hard; I had filled it with sand and there was no way to orient the base to dump the sand out.  Just FYI.

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Kid Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Fitness, Health

Moose Mountain ESPN Kickboxing Trainer Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 2, 2009 at 9:06 am.

I typically blather on only about the really good stuff or the blatantly bad stuff.  And most people do not believe me; and that’s OK.

But to my amazement they took to this one.  They asked questions.  And they went to the web site. They even tried out different manufacturers and some even got their own.

This time they believed me.  I had found something worth evangelizing about and they agreed. Maybe I can’t save the planet with most of my recommendations, but maybe I can convince a few of my buddies at work to invest in something that will keep them going for a long time. And with a little help from a company that provides a product that can help them do so, maybe they can help save the planet.

I’m speaking of the P-90X physical workout DVDs produced by BeachBody. You’ve probably seen it advertised prolifically on cable TV.  P-90X consists of a set of DVDs in a workout regimen that, if you believe the infomercials, and do the workouts, will turn you into a Mr. or Ms. Universe in 90 days (the “90″ in P-90X).

P-90X revolves on the philosophy of “muscle confusion”, whereby you work your muscles towards a plateau and then “confuse” them by working them out with different routines. That is its main gimmick used to differentiate it from other workout infomercials.

The primary product of P-90X are the set of DVDs each with a complete workout, most of which are about 55 minutes long.  The kit also comes with the obligatory nutrition guide (yeah right), worksheets to keep track of your progress (yeah right) and my kit also came with the “recovery” drink.  I promptly discarded the nutrition guide and recovery drink. I did use the worksheets to help keep track of my resistance levels used during the 90 days, though.

The workouts consist of very intense muscle-focused resistance workouts and a few cardio and “core” workouts.  None of them require special equipment other than a chin-up bar and a set of dumbbells or resistance bands (which can be substituted for the chin-up bar; a nice swap if you are traveling or have no place to install a chin-up bar).  It also includes a yoga DVD, which I (and a few of us around the office) have found to be the best yoga workout compared with other yoga videos that we’ve tried.  And I think the yoga workout can make the most difference in your physical fitness and stamina, especially if you have a somewhat static job or are over forty.  A 12-minute DVD is also included devoted entirely to an abdominal workout.  While this “Ab-Ripper” DVD doesn’t require you to do crunches, you will be on your back in uncomfortable positions and I found that it hurt my legs more than gave me an abdominal workout.  The Plyometric workout is one to stay away from if you have problems with your joints.

An advantage about P-90X is that as you become stronger, you can increase the resistance used during the workouts; you do not have to buy more equipment.

The resistance bands come in three different strengths and you can purchase them as well as a chin-up bar right from the BeachBody site so that you can have all your equipment arrive at the same time.  I can’t really recommend the bands or the chin-up bar from the site, though.  The bands are much too thick to pull over my head and worse, the handles snap off if pulled with even an average amount of force.  I had to glue my handles onto one of the bands (which means I cannot swap the bands out for a different degree of resistance) with Gorilla glue. Also, the handles do not swivel so when you are pulling on them (say, in a bicep curl) they can dig into your skin and can be pretty uncomfortable.  I’d instead buy a set at a local sports store so you can return them if they are not satisfactory.  As for the chin-up bar, it is nothing special and you might be better off purchasing that locally too if you want one. Remember that it could be a challenge to find a place to install a chin-up bar so you might just want to use a set of bands for a trial period.  I managed to hack up my bar in my basement using two-by-fours.

Resistance bands' handles can dig into your skin

Handle glued to keep it from snapping off

Chin-up bar installed on 2x4 s between rafters

One interesting if not entertaining aspect about the DVDs is that they are not scripted.  So when you are sweating out this or that move during a particular grueling section and are beginning to curse and become despondent, it is not uncommon for similar type of emotions to be emitted from the participants in the videos.

I’ve been using the P-90X system now for over a year (well past the 90 days) and I’m still using it and still don’t look like a universal figure and I still can’t do all of the exercises in all of the videos. But my back doesn’t hurt as much these days, I find I can do heavy work on my ranch without delayed muscle soreness the next day, and the last time I went SCUBA diving I could stay down for 40 minutes rather than the pre P-90X record time of 20 minutes.  I’m of the belief that exercising is like brushing your teeth: you really need to do it (almost) every day and you need to consider it essential for your well being.

But exercising is abhorrent to most of us and so are most work out videos, contraptions, and books that glamorize physical fitness with glib marketing ploys.  We know better.  P-90X is a little different in the loathsome department, though.  Although it still glamorizes the physical fitness that can be achieved and uses the spin of “muscle confusion” to re-market the term “cross training”, these DVDs have several distinct advantages over many of the other exercise regimens in which I’ve imbibed.  And these are logical advantages which I think is the reason I’m still using them:

1)      They are limited to an hour long

2)       They do not require any specialized equipment

3)      You can do the workouts on the road

4)      There are 12 different workouts

5)      They are a produced in a play-n-go manner; meaning you do not have to futz with the DVD player to “pick” a workout and then navigate through menus during your work out; just pick a DVD and run with it.  (By the way I found this to be the biggest nuisance on other non-P90X workout DVDs, i.e. having to parse through a set of menus to find a workout.)

6)      There is no disco music and a dancing man telling you to “do this” and “now do this a million times” (they are not boring nor repetitive, in other words)

Is there anything magical about the workouts?  I don’t think so.  But for some reason these DVDs are different; they are real people pushing themselves without the need for froo-froo disco music in the background nor the need for heavy specialized equipment.  And I’m still doing it.  And I really like stuff, but I really hate exercise.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, Video Reviews

Tagged: Fitness

BeachBody P-90X Workout DVD Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 29, 2009 at 10:14 pm.

Polar is taking their heart rate monitor experience and making it live, on-screen for health club group exercise classes, like spinning. Class members simply wear a Polar chest strap (no watch required), and their live heart rate data (% of max HR, target zones) is beamed onto a digital checkerboard screen. The data helps people know exactly how hard they’re working, and get training guidance with the target zones. You can read the full press release here.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Fitness, Health, Spotlight Gadgets

Polar Cardio Gx – Heart rate stats coming to a gym near you originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 17, 2009 at 2:57 pm.

Here’s a tiny Bluetooth GPS module from Brando that you can wear on your keychain or your arm (with the included holder), to geotag your photos as you travel, or use with included software to record and analyze all your daily/weekly/monthly activities such as cycling, running, climbing, skiing, etc.

Filed in categories: Digital Cameras and Gear, GPS, Travel Gear

Tagged: Fitness, Geotagging, GPS

Bluetooth GPS for sports and geotagging originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 24, 2009 at 8:29 am.

It’s the Pool-Mate automatic lap and stroke counter watch from Swimovate. The watch has accurate motion sensors that can recognize each swim stroke and change of lap so you won’t need to count anymore. It displays Lap count, Time, Average Strokes per lap, Speed, Distance, Calories and Efficiency and stores the details in a large memory for later recall. Pair this with the Finis SwiMP3 and you have an amphibious gadgeteer

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Fitness, Spotlight Gadgets, Swimming

Michael Phelps’ favorite watch (maybe) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 7, 2009 at 4:25 pm.