Diabetes management is a game of numbers.  How many carbs eaten, insulin injected, blood glucose numbers.  Blood glucose meters usually come with a little booklet to track some of these numbers in, but they’re always small, quickly filled up, and easily lost.  Digital Altitudes, LLC has software products that help you track everything you need to know in your Windows or Mac computer or in your iPhone.  With Diabetes Pilot, you can track your blood glucose, weight, and blood pressure measurements and log your exercise.  The integrated food database lets you track the nutritional content of the food you eat.  Diabetes Pilot can even estimate an insulin dose for your meal or help you correct a high glucose.  You can even graph your weight and blood glucose measurements to look for trends.  All these features are available in both desktop versions and in the iPhone version (iPhone screenshots shown above).  The iPhone version has all the features of the desktop versions.  It lets you track everything while you’re away from home, and then you can easily transfer the data to the desktop version later, if you choose to use both versions.  Diabetes Pilot for Mac is $29.99 and $34.99 for PC; both desktop versions are available as a free trial.  Diabetes Pilot for iPhone is $14.99 in the iTunes app store.

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

Tagged: Diabetes, Health

Manage Your Diabetes with Diabetes Pilot originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 1, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

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.

Are you sticking to your 2012 resolution to get fit and lose weight? Using gadgets to keep track of your workout data and stats can really help you stay motivated. Last summer I had the opportunity to review the Fitbit activity monitor and found it to be a fun way to help me know if I was moving enough each day. Fitbit is now expanding their system to include the new Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale. It will track weight, % body fat, and BMI over time by automatically uploading your data to your Fitbit account. The Aria is similar to the Withings Wi-Fi scale that I reviewed 2yrs ago and will include mobile and online tools so you can view your data. The Fitbit Aria is priced at $129.95 and is currently available for pre-order with shipment in late April. Check it out at Fitbit.com

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, News

Tagged: Health

Fitbit Announces the Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 11, 2012 at 9:00 am.

Withings already has a WiFi Body Scale for adults that sends your weight to an app for easy tracking.  Now they are introducing the world’s first internet-connected baby and toddler scale.  The Withings Smart Baby Scale won the 2012 CES Innovations Award.  It has a weighing basket for babies that removes and packs compactly for easy travel or storage.  When your child is old enough to stand on her own, just leave the basket off and she’ll be able to stand on the scale.  The Smart Baby Scale has WiFi, Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Smart (Bluetooth low energy) connectivity, and it can transmit your child’s weight reading to an internet-connected computer or to the same iOS WiScale app that you use to track your own weight with the WiFi Body Scale. You can even include photos of your child for a complete record of your child’s growth.  The Smart Baby Scale will be available in Q2 2012; the price hasn’t been announced yet.   Withings is also introducing its Health Cloud platform’s API so third-party service providers can retrieve readings recorded by the Smart Baby Scale.  Learn more about the Smart Baby Scale at Withings, and sign up for an email notification when the scale is available.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health

Withings Announces World’s First Internet Connected Baby and Toddler Scale originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 10, 2012 at 9:00 am.

You may want to reconsider using your friend’s cell phone to make a call or send a text.  According to KeepingItKleen.com, 16% of all cell phones have poop on them.  And when you use a computer keyboard at the office or in the school’s computer lab you may want to bring a disinfecting wipe with you as they are some 60% dirtier than your average toilet seat.  There are some products on the market that can help you keep your tech clean, including ultraviolet lights and disinfecting wipes for tech, but in the end simply following good hygiene and washing your hands is the simplest and most cost effective way of avoiding contaminating your tech. Click the picture to the right of this posting to get a view of all of the not so nice stuff lurking where you would least expect it.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health

16% of cell phones have poop on them – what are you going to do about it? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 21, 2011 at 10:00 am.

When I was in college, everybody had these bed pillows that looked like the back of a chair with arms.  We called these pillows “husbands”, and they were great back support while we sat on our beds doing assignments for hours.  I had seen a few husbands in stores over the years, but none were as posh and feature-filled as the n•a•p® Massaging Bed Rest pillow at Brookstone.  This pillow has a built-in back massager and an attached, adjustable super-bright LED light so you can see to read in comfort.  There are storage pockets on the arms to hold your book, reading glasses, and TV remotes – one arm even has a cup holder.  It folds up for storage under the bed or in a closet.  It comes with an AC adapter.  (There are some health precautions in the product information page that you should read before ordering.)  The Massaging Bed Rest pillow is $99.95.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health

Watch TV or Read in the Arms of Comfort originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 16, 2011 at 11:00 am.

We all know that we should exercise regularly to stay fit and healthy, but doing so can be a real chore. Using gadgets to keep us excited about our workouts is just one way to stay inspired to keep up good habits. One such gadget that can help you keep track of your fitness activities and goals is the Fitbit Wireless Activity Tracker. It’s sort of like a pedometer on steroids that can give you an overall snapshot of your daily activity level. 

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

Package Contents

Fitbit Wireless Activity Tracker
USB charging dock / base station
Belt clip
Wrist band holder

The Fitbit is a small plastic device with a rubberized coating, one button and a built in blue OLED display.

It’s shaped like a clip to easily allow you to attach it to your clothing, etc.

It comes with a plastic belt clip holder, but you can just as easily slide it over your belt or waist band without using the holder at all. At least that’s how I have been using the Fitbit during my review period.

Also included is a wrist band. The wrist band is used to hold the Fitbit while you’re sleeping so that it can record your sleep patterns.

To starting using the Fitbit, you will first need to charge it using the included USB charging dock / base station (the Fitbit will need to be recharged every 3-7 days depending on how active you are). The dock is also a wireless receiver that will update your activity data on the web whenever you come within 15 feet of the dock with your Fitbit.

After you’ve charged your Fitbit Tracker for the first time, you will need to install a small program on your PC or Mac and then register the tracker online by going to the Fitbit website. You’ll be asked to enter some basic information such as your height, weight, age, gender, etc. Once you’ve completed that step, you can slide the Fitbit on your belt and start accumulating steps and activity. There’s no need to calibrate it for your walking stride. The Fitbit contains a motion sensor like the ones found in the Nintendo Wii and can sense your motion in three dimensions and convert it into information about your daily activities such as walking, running and general household/lifestyle activities. For counting your steps, it is claimed to be 95-97% accurate.

One of the features I like best about the Fitbit is that the built in OLED display shows you your progress in bright blue easy to ready text. By repeatedly pressing the button on the display, it will show different info such as how many steps you’ve accumulated for the day…

How many miles you’ve walked…

Calories you’ve burned…

And it will also show your overall activity level for the day by displaying a flower that grows as you are more active.

The only thing the Fitbit doesn’t display is the time of day… Not a big deal, but it might be a nice feature.

Once you’ve walked around a bit, you can upload your data to your Fitbit account on the web. You don’t have to plug the Fitbit into the USB dock to do so. Just go in the same room as the dock and it will transmit the data wirelessly.

To view your data, you login to your account on the Fitbit site. The dashboard gives you a quick overall view of your data.

The web interface has options to add the foods you’ve eaten throughout the day, activities you’ve done, your weight for the day, mood and there’s even a space to write a journal entry.

If you have a smartphone or other mobile device, you can access your account through http://m.fitbit.com/ and add activities and foods through that interface too.

Adding the food you’ve consumed and your activities helps to give a more accurate view of your calories burned vs. consumed. Fitbit does help you out by estimating the calories burned. Here’s an explanation from their FAQ:

When you first join Fitbit, your dashboard will show an estimated number of calories burned for that day. The estimate is based on your BMR (Base Metabolic Rate) which we calculate using the height, weight, age and gender information you provide during sign up. If you are using the Tracker and syncing your data we replace the estimated burn with the tracker’s data plus any additional activities you might log that were not captured by the tracker.

When nothing much is logged, we try to guess how many calories you have burned if you were sedentary. (Sedentary means you got out of bed, got dressed, went to your day job, came home and did nothing much more than walk to your car.) Once you start logging activities, we assume that you know best and we stop estimating; we use the data you provided. If you only log a small portion of your activity, we’ll be missing a lot.

(If you are not using the Tracker at all, and just using the website to manually log your food or activities, then you will only see estimated calorie burn plus what you manually log in activities. If this applies to you, you should probably also log your general life activities – i.e. 8 hours of working at a desk or 1 hour or so of house work to get a better picture of how many calories you are actually burning.)

I’ll admit that it can be a ‘chore’ to add the foods and activities via the web page. I personally prefer to use the Fitbit just to track my steps. Typically, if you can get at least 10,000 steps a day, you should be relatively healthy.

If you wear the Fitbit on your wrist at night, it will even help you track your sleeping patterns. It’s not going to help you sleep, but it can give you an idea of just how many hours of real sleep you’re getting each night. The tracker shows how many times you woke up during the night vs. slept.

You will also receive a weekly email that gives you an overview of the past week’s activity (steps, distance, calories, weight, sleep, etc.)

When you buy the Fitbit, you can use the web site for free to do everything I’ve listed above. There is also a Premium service that offers some extra features such as more detailed reports, comparisons to other Fitbit members, special training suggestions and the ability to export data as an XLS or CSV file. The Premium service runs $49.99/yr.

The Fitbit Wireless Activity Tracker can be used as a simple pedometer and even more if you are diligent enough to add your foods and activities through the web interface. The fact that it wirelessly updates your info to the web, has a built in display that gives you info on your steps, distance, and calories, makes it a nice gadget to keep you motivated to stay healthy and moving.

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

Tagged: Exercise, Health, Walking

Fitbit Wireless Activity Tracker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 26, 2011 at 11:00 am.

You might remember my review of the Klhip nail clippers which have a really cool design, but a price tag that is very prohibitive. Guess what? I’ve found another pair of clippers that look just as cool (maybe more) but cost considerably less. They are the Pour Homme Ultra Slim Nail Clippers. They feature a flat design, are made of stainless steel and come with a leather pouch. You can find these clippers on Amazon for $26. Anyone out there tried them?

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health

Is this a Gadgeteer Worthy Nail Clipper? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 5, 2011 at 3:06 pm.

If you could reinvent an often used product to make it better, which product would it be? Are fingernail clippers at the top of your list? They were for the folks that are offering the new Klhip Ultimate Nail Clippers. They have taken the nail cutting device that we’ve all used for years and brought them into the 21st century. The question is though, did the lowly nail clipper need to be reinvented in the first place? Let’s see…

Note: The images in this review are clickable. Click to see a larger view to see more detail.

Klhip nail clippers are made in the USA from surgical stainless steel and have a natural satin finish. At first glance you might not even recognize them for their intended purpose. That’s mainly due to the fact that like traditional nail clippers, Klhip clippers have to be oriented or opened before you can use them.

The clipping lever rotates from under the clippers to the top.

Once fully rotated, it’s easier to see what their function is. You have to admit, that the Klhip looks pretty cool. Very industrial.

They are made very well and I don’t believe they would fall apart like traditional clippers sometimes do.

They have a single cutting blade instead of dual cutting blades like traditional clippers. This is supposed to help keep the blade sharp for a ‘lifetime’ of use. There is no definition of what Klhip considers lifetime use though and as far as I can tell, there’s no warranty on these clippers.

Using these clippers isn’t much different than using traditional clippers. You put your fingernail between the blades and press the lever to cut the nail. The main difference is that the lever is pushed towards the blade instead of towards the back. Do Klhip clippers cut nails easier or better than traditional clippers? I thought they would, but from my experience so far, there really isn’t THAT much difference. I let my nails grow for a couple weeks and clipped one hand with a brand new pair of $3 CVS traditional clippers and one hand with Klhip clippers. I have to admit that I prefer the cheapo CVS clippers. Although they tend to cause the clippings to fly around more than the Klhips do, I feel like I have more control with the traditional clippers. I don’t know if it’s just that I’m used to them or what, but I think it takes longer to clip my nails with the Klhips because the blade is much straighter than the more curved blade of the traditional clippers. So it seems that it takes more time to sculpt my curved nails.

Yes, Klhip clippers are made very well and I think they would last forever as far as the mechanics. I can’t comment on how long the sharpness of the blade would last though. Paying $70 for one pair of clippers is not something I would do when I could buy a brand new pair of $3 clippers every year or so for 23 years for the same money and always have sharp pair. Their price is just too out of scope as far as I’m concerned. I think I’ll be sticking with old school clippers for the foreseeable future.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Health

Klhip Nail Clippers Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 23, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

Maybe the NightWave can. This is a small device that you place on your bedside table that uses a soft blue light to silently guide your breathing and focus your mind. Users lie with their eyes open and synchronize their breathing with the rise and fall of the soft light as its movement becomes slower and slower. By focusing your mind on the ebb and flow of the light and controlling your breathing, your body physically relaxes and, after a short time, the NightWave shuts off and you fall asleep. It sounds like an interesting alternative to medication and only costs $49.99.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health, Sleep

Can a pulsing light solve your insomnia problems? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 22, 2011 at 10:00 am.

The aXbo Sleepphase Alarm Clock knows the perfect time to wake you up and now it knows just the right length of time to let you snooze when you press the snooze button. aXbo has launched a new feature called iSnooze which considers your sleep phases unlike snooze features that wake you at fixed intervals. With the iSnooze function, the aXbo user will thus be woken gently from an optimal sleep phase for a second time while dozing. Current aXbo clocks can be upgraded with this new iSnooze feature for free by download of the software “up2date” on www.axbo.com.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Clock, Health, Spotlight Gadgets

aXbo sleepphase alarmclocks get a smart snooze feature originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 7, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

You get the iGrow hair restoration helmet. No, I’m not kidding. The iGrow features 21 laser diodes and 30 LED lights that are built into this hands-free device.  The picture above might look like the helmet is melting your brain, but it’s really designed to stimulate hair follicle growth while allowing you to listen to the soundtrack from the musical Hair. Jokes aside, millions of men and women suffer from hair loss and this product claims to provide noticeable results in 12 weeks, with full benefits being seen by 9 months. With a price tag of $695, the iGrow seems like a risky purchase… But they do offer a 6 month money back guarantee as long as you don’t mind paying a 20% restocking fee and return shipping.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health, Spotlight Gadgets

What do you get when you cross a helmet, lasers and earphones? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 22, 2011 at 8:30 am.

Back in high school and a majority of college, I used the Norelco 885RX electric razor you see in the middle of the picture below (I agree, I could not believe I still had it as well). It was well used and dying quickly.

In my junior year, I was given the sterling silver straight razor on the left and have been using it ever since. For years, I have been contemplating going back to using an electric razor (at least part time). So, when Julie offered the Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D 1250X up for review, I quickly raised my hand to try it out and see how the technology/engineering has improved over two decades.

Admittedly, an electric razor is not really a gadget or tech-toy. But without a doubt, Norelco‘s styling and blade/head technology has definitely come a long way since the 80′s.

The ‘easy grip’ handle is comfortable and designed to enable you to attack your whiskers from nearly any angle.

Technical Specifications:

• Contour-following: GyroFlex 3D contour following
• Shaving System: UltraTrack shaving heads, Speed XL shaving heads, DualPrecision System, Patented Super Lift & Cut
• Styling: Skin friendly precision trimmer Skin
• Comfort: SkinGlideEase of use
• Charging: 1 hour, Rechargeable, Cordless, Quick charge
• Shaving time: Up to 17 days
• Display: 3 level battery indicator, Battery  low indicator, Charge indicator, Travel lock, Cleaning indicator,  Replace shaving heads indicator
• Wet & Dry: Wet and dry use
• Cleaning: Washable Design
• Handle: Slim handle, Easy grip, Anti-slip grip
• Finishing: Ruby black frame, LED Display
• Color: Black
• Accessories Stand: Charging stand
• Pouch: Soft pouch
• Maintenance: Cleaning brush, Protection cap
• Power Battery Type: Li-ion
• Run time: 50 min
• Automatic voltage: 100-240 V
• Stand-by power: 0,15 W Max power consumption: 5,4 W
• 2-year service guarantee

Package Contents:

• Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D Electric Razor
• Charging stand
• Power plug/cable
• Carrying pouch
• Protective blade cover
• Cleaning brush
• Instructions

The shaving system includes the following engineering: UltraTrack shaving heads, Speed XL shaving heads, DualPrecision System, patented super lift & cut design. This razor’s ’3D’ shaving heads move independently from each other. They easily flow over the contours of my face, providing a smooth and painless shave.

The display is relatively high-tech and informative. It lets you know the battery level, charge indicator and whether the travel lock is on, whether cleaning (indicator) is needed, and whether you need to replace shaving heads. I really like how the razor lets you know when it needs your attention (aka a bit of TLC). The ability to lock this razor (so, it does not accidentally turn on, leaving it out of charge when I need it) during my travels is a big plus for me as well.

Like many electric razors, the 1250X has a sideburns/mustache trimmer that pops out of the rear of the handle.

Being the good gadgeteer I am, I decided to put the Norelco 1250 to a head-to-head test against my tried & true straight razor to see which is better.

I shaved the right side of my face with the Norelco 1250. It took less than a minute to get a nice, clean shave. The SensoTouch razors can be used either wet or dry and in conjunction with various shaving gels (it is washable too).

On the other side of my face, I wet the whiskers and added a bit of body wash soap. I used a brand new razor head. The shaving process takes a bit longer and is definitely messier (aka had to wash off the soap and then dry my face)….but I am used to it.

Visually there was little difference between shaving methods. But I do have to say, the electric razor side felt a hair (pardon the pun ) rougher than the straight razor side. That does not matter most days…..and when you take into account the ease and speed the Norelco shaves your face, its more than a fair trade.

The Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D electric razor comes in seven varieties. The 1250X is their most basic model but other than better battery life and the included accessories, there is little difference between them. The MSRP on the Norelco 1250X is $199.99 but can be found for less on the Net. I will continue to use the Norelco 1250X but will not be retiring my straight razor either. My plan is to keep this electric razor at work for those mornings when 0400 comes way too early and I need to shave there after my first cup of coffee .

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: Health

Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D Electric Razor Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 6, 2011 at 4:56 pm.

Withings, the producer of the WiFi body scale, is going to introduce a blood pressure monitor that connects to any iOS device. The device comes with an iOS application that can display your current pressure reading, while also automatically tracking previous results. The blood pressure monitor is a new addition to the existing medical apps (like Medscape), making the iPhone a good choice for the physician, medical student, or any other health care related field person. Pricing and availablity are not yet known.

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

Tagged: Health, iPhone, Spotlight Gadgets

Withings will introduce a blood pressure monitor for your iPhone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 6, 2011 at 2:26 pm.

Shaving  each day is a chore that I do grudgingly.  To spice it up a bit I volunteered to review the Ikon Razor, which turned out to be a “back to the future” experience.  Shaving is not one of my top 10 fun things to do, but in the interest of providing the readers information and seeing if I could save money, I lathered up and offered my face as a test bed.  I was pleasantly surprised at what I learned.

When I was younger, the “safety” razor was the latest in a shaving appliance.  It looked similar to the  iKon, whch is called a sandwich razor, but the top opened like bulkhead doors and the double edged blade was slipped on from its dispenser and the handle was turned to hold the blade in place.  These are known as twist to open razors.  There were also some single edged razors and a few men used a straight razor.  I recall that electric razors were a novelty and the price put them out of my reach, so I was raised in the wet shaving fraternity.

Until I began this review, I thought that razors such as the iKon and double edged blades had gone the way of punched cards.  I was wrong!  Although I didn’t find any double edged blades or razors that use them at retail, there appears to be a thriving business online of merchants addressing all your wet shaving needs.  Just search for wet shaving.

For the next couple of weeks, I used the iKon razor and the supplied blades exclusively.  I had previously been using the Gillette Fusion razor, because I got it for free in some promotion.  I had just run out of cartridges for it, so the iKon came at a good time.  I wasn’t looking forward to paying up to $3 to $4 each for replacement cartridges.  Finally, my objective is not to start a religious war between the wet shave and dry shave groups.  Do what you feel comfortable with.

The shaving gear supplied included the razor, a shaving brush, some shaving soap and 3 different types of double edged razor blades.  The only thing I had to come up with, was a cup for the shave soap.  The razor itself is a solidly crafted device machined from stainless steel.  It has a nice “heft” and fits comfortably in my hand.

I got my gear together and as a precaution put 911 on speed dial.

Greg, the owner of  iKon was good enough to send me 3 different brands of blades.  I tried each of them for at least 5 shaves.  They all had something in common;  each blade was individually wrapped.  Because of  this I urge extreme caution when loading  the razor.  It is very easy to cut yourself when unwrapping the blades.

OK, I was ready to go and was considering doing a video of the whole process, but decided that no one needed to be subjected to my mug.  If you really want to see someone shave their face,  there are many YouTube videos for you to watch.

To make everything equal, I followed the same procedure that I’ve always done in the mornings, which is to take a shower and immediately shave afterwards while my face is still wet.  The only difference to the routine is that I now have to whip up some lather in the shaving cup rather than squirting it out of a can.  The rest is just a matter of smooth stokes over my bearded area and rinsing the razor occasionally.

I tried to remain objective, but let’s face it, this is a very subjective matter.  For example, Greg from iKon recommends the Personna blades, but I found the Feather brand to be far superior.  It’s alleged to be as sharp as a Samurai sword, but never having shaved with a Samurai sword I can’t compare.  The first time I used the Feather blade, I had to take the razor apart because I thought I forgot to put a blade in.  It was that smooth!   It is very sharp so you will need to use aftershave because it does burn a bit, but I never once cut myself.

All the blades were fine and in my opinion, did a much better job than the Fusion razor .  How did I come to this conclusion?  Simple, I asked the women in my life;  my wife, daugther and grand daughter to caress my cheeks and their verdict was unanimously smooth as a…. (you get the idea).  Let’s face it guys, if it were up to us we’d all be like the hirsute Grizzly Adams.  We shave to please others

As I mentioned, the receipt of the iKon razor came at an opportune time.  I was walking through Sams Club and was contemplating purchasing replacement cartridges for my Fusion razor when I noticed they were over $2.50 each.  I didn’t buy them because some simple math showed them to be 5 times as expensive as the most expensive double edge blade which also happened to by my favorite, the Feather.  So, assuming I use one blade per week, the annual cost of  the Fusion replacements would be $130 while the Feather option is $26.  With the $104 savings one can easily recoup the cost of the $80 for the iKon razor in less than a year.

If you’re not convinced, consider this.  If you purchase an iKon razor  it will last a lifetime and you can use many different brands of blades.  If you buy a cartridge razor it will break after a time and will have to be replaced.  You’re also locked into the manufacturer’s replacement blades.

I’m convinced.  The only reason I stopped using a double edged razor was because the major vendors stopped selling them, but now I’m back.   It may be a niche market, but if you look at the economics of using a double edge razor and the advantage of using multiple brands of blades, it has to grow.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Health

Ikon Razor Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 10, 2011 at 12:17 pm.

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.

I think I saw a bumper sticker once that read  ”Dogs have owners; Cats have staff”.  This is certainly true in our household and one of the staff functions I least like to do is clean the litter box.  The folks at Scoop Free think they have the answer with their Ultra Scoop Free Self-Cleaning Litter Box.  Will automation make the process smell and mess free?

The Ultra appears to be an updated version of the original Scoop Free that Julie reviewed in 2006.  They’ve added a privacy hood, variable cleaning cycle adjustment and a counter that tells you how many times your cats have gone.  All this extra for only $40 more.

What you get with the device is the mechanical scooping unit, a disposable litter tray with a bag of blue crystal litter, a power adapter and the privacy hood.

If you take a closer look at the litter tray you will notice that it seems to be sitting in another box.  That is actually the lid you put on when you throw the litter away.

The setup was simple.  I poured the litter into the tray, dropped the mechanical apparatus on top of the tray and plugged the unit in to an electrical outlet.  I was all ready to go and only need two more things…..

The cats.  Jessie and Jeremy were going to be my test subjects.  They are both mature indoor/outdoor cats that are very familiar with a litter box.  So, I removed their normal box and waited. And waited.  After 3 days I was getting worried because the box hadn’t been used and the cats were looking at me with a pained expression.

I went to the Scoopfree web site to see if they had any ideas how I could convince my cats to use the new box.  They did, so I took a small amount of litter from the cat’s old box and sprinkled it in the ScoopFree box.  I also removed the privacy lid.

Well, that didn’t work and I was getting worried that the cats were beginning to hate me and I’d have to do a review without actually having used the product.  I gave it one more shot because I left the cats no choice.  We were going on a 2 day trip and the cats wouldn’t be able to go outside while we were gone. 

Yes, during the 2 days they used the box 8 times as is indicated by the counter.  Now that the cats have accepted their new toilet facilities, I can make some judgements about the usefulness of the product.  Also notice in the photo above that there is an indicator for minutes.  This is the delay time which can be set to either 5, 10 or 20 minutes for the rake that scoops the litter after an animal leaves the box.  I have no idea how this would be useful.

The device does as advertised.  The rake pushes the solids under a lid and eliminates the need for manual cleaning.  The premium litter absorbs liquids and neutralizes any odor.  After the box is full, which is 10-15 days recommended for 2 cats, it’s as simple as lifting the device up from the disposable litter box and using the cover to enclose the litter and throwing the whole thing away.

The question is; how much are you willing to pay for convenience?  In my case the consumables (replacement litter boxes) are $15 each and that’s $30 per month compared to the $10 I spend buying premium litter now.  Also, I’d have to add the cost of the device, at $179.99.  So, my first year cost would be approximately $540.  Subsequent years would be $360.  While doing research for this review, I found the Ultra ScoopFree available on sale from Petco for $79.99, so I could reduce the first year cost.

I’ll be reverting back to my old method of manual litter box and daily cleanings.  I cannot justify the cost, but for some people it might make sense.  For example, we have a friend who had to give up her cats because she has a compromised immune system and the Doctor told her not to clean a litter box.  With the ScoopFree, maybe she can get her pets back.

Filed in categories: Pet Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Health, Pets

Ultra ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litterbox Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 3, 2010 at 12:55 pm.

The TAC Drive is one serious thumb drive.  Thumb drive just doesn’t cut it, so the company calls this thing a Digital Doc Tag!! It even comes with standard army issue  steel chain to fling it around your neck if you like!

Good thing this thing is so tough.  The USPS absolutely mangled the envelope it was sent it; almost as if to say “See, this bad boy is tough!”

This device has two functions: one is as your typical thumb drive, available in different memory sizes; the other is a personal medical record for the owner.  The TAC drive connects to “TAC Online”, an https link where you register the device and enter your desired email address/password combination. You may then enter pertinent medical information on the website which will then sync to your drive.  Information you can enter includes emergency contacts, medications, allergies, physicians, and medical conditions and sync it to your device.

Online sign in page

Personal online user interface

While the drive is pretty intuitive, it does come with a user guide built in that explains all the features.  I don’t understand the descriptions of encryption at all, maybe the descriptions are encrypted; but the drive does offer 256 bit military grade encryption. The drives come in 1, 2, 4 and 8 gig sizes.

Like true dogtags, the drive even comes with steel chains- one short for the keychain and one long for around your neck  if you like!  (One of the pictures on their website shows a sturdy ring holding the drive onto a keychain.  I did not receive one of these with mine, but would prefer one to the chain for attachment to a keyring.)

Adding to the drive is as simple as dragging and dropping.  When you add something to the drive a window comes up asking if you want to encrypt the file, photo or whatever you are adding.  Pretty simple operation.

Like to web surf while you wind surf?  Well, this baby is water resistant for up to 60 minutes.  Heat and shock resistant too.  The 1 gig model shown costs a measly $20; well worth it!

Filed in categories: Gear, Health Related Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Health, USB

TAC Drive Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 18, 2010 at 11:56 am.

Connect this somewhat goofy looking headset to your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, load one of 4 apps and you’ll be well on your way to complete mind control. Ok, I doubt that’s really true… but the PLX XWave does look kind of interesting if it can actually help you increase your focus and relaxation techniques. The device will be available on November 1st, but is currently available for pre-order for $99.99

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

Tagged: Health, iPhone, Spotlight Gadgets

Control your mind with the an iPhone and PLX XWave originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 7, 2010 at 9:12 pm.

This is a product I hope to never have to review, but for anyone with mobility issues, it does look like a better way to help you get around.  Plus it comes in hot pink, how bad could it be?

This is the SmartCrutch, an ergonomic crutch with a multitude of adjustable settings (perfect for Gadgeteers).

It’s only $135 for a pair which seems pretty reasonable given how geeky it looks.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health, Spotlight Gadgets

SmartCrutch – A Crutch for the 21st Century originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 3, 2010 at 11:33 am.

Heart Wizard software comes with ear/finger clip for monitoring and CD to download software. It's a very easy install and ready to use in a short time.

In this society of diets, exercise programs, macrobiotics, probiotics and even a First Lady offering her opinions on the nationwide struggle with obesity, Advanced Wellness Solutions (AWS) has taken this nation’s health concerns a step further.  Heart Wizard (http://www.heartwizard.com) is an online wellness tracking service that is designed to spotlight health trends in the user’s body system.   Trends such as speed of aging or biological age vs chronological age, stress and fitness are examined using a prognostic indicator called Heart Rate Variability Analysis or HRV.  HRV is a design of computer algorithms that assess the user’s health profile seemingly to uncover any possible anomalies that the user would use for health screenings and provide information to one’s health care provider to head off possible problems.  By using HRV and the Health Wizard system, the user can assess their fitness levels, cardiac condition, stress factors and energy levels.

All of this is completed by plugging the sensor cord into the USB port of your computer and attaching the sensor to a finger or an ear lobe and selecting one of the tests to complete.  Once you load the program on to  your computer, you fill in your profile.  Then you click ok and select your evaluations.

There are three categories of tests to choose from: Health Assessment, Fitness Assessment and Stress Management.  From there, there are several tests to run.  Under Health Assessment, you can run a Biological Age Test which is designed to tell you what your body’s True Age is as opposed to your body’s Chronological Age.  The Health Snapshot is a test designed to evaluate your body’s state of self regulation and energy and fatigue level

I ran the Health Snapshot on several different days.  I also ran the test on two different information parameters.  On the first tests, I listed my body type as “normal” in the profile.  My body type should have been listed as “obese”.  I’m kinda fat.  I have no problem admitting I need to lose weight.  The profile doesn’t ask for your weight, it merely asks you to be honest about your body type.  You can choose from Athletic, Normal, Overweight or Obese.  My doctor’s assessment based on my height and weight put me in the Obese category.

Advanced Wellness Systems Heart Wizard Assessment Snapshot

Obese with a normal blood pressure. (Not that I’m defensive or anything).  I’d like to say that I’m athletic.  God knows, from morning til night, I’m chasing after six animals (we are foster parents for unwanted dogs) yard work, housework, renovating a 110 year old historic home, managing concessions for the home games for a local semi pro football team as well as my own popcorn business.  I eat fruits and vegetables, I stay away from fried foods and red meat ( I’ll admit to chicken fried rice though), I eschew  fast food,  I buy “over 40″ butter, (anyone who’s over 40 years old knows exactly what I’m talking about), I can take a flight of stairs and not be winded but my doctor and pants size say I need dump enough weight that would, roughly, equal either Justin Beiber or one of the Jonas Brothers.   I had (honestly, I did) thought I set my body type category to “obese” when I ran the Health Snapshot.  I had set it to ‘normal’.   My Snapshots kept reporting that my body’s regulatory function was out of balance.  And then I took the Bio Age test and got another shock.  It reported my age to be five years older than I actually am.  For a woman, that’s insulting. A childhood friend took the Biological Age Test as well.  She’s six months younger but her age was reported to be three years younger.

Biological Age Test Results

My Stress Management tests weren’t any better.  But I am convinced that this has more to do with the test conditions than anything else.  For each test you run, you need five uninterrupted minutes.   That doesn’t sound like a lot until you actually sit down to perform it.  I figured it would be a snap, no problem.  I don’t have children.  Just two dogs, two cats, two foster dogs and a husband.  Good luck with the whole Five Uninterrupted Minutes thing.  Small wonder my stress results came back less than stellar.  I had attempted the test no less than five times.  Cell phone rings, house phone rings, dogs bark at the mail lady, husband comes downstairs to ask a question (he works from home).  I was ready to clobber someone!

Stress Sweeper Test Results

Seriously,  if you attempt these tests, clear it with both houses of Congress.  Tell your family, tell your neighbors, skywrite it or you’re not going to get through it without an interruption. I never realized just how difficult it was to get five entire uninterrupted minutes and this will show on the test results!  Don’t lie about your body type either.  Be honest.  Your test results will be skewed if you tell the system one thing but it evaluates something else.

When I set the profile to the proper body type, my Health Snapshot reported back that my inner balance was maintained where previously it had been out of balance.  It also reported that my overall regulatory function is below normal range.  The test reports that this result could be due to accelerated aging (I might be fat but I do not smoke or drink or tan), physical or mental fatigue (not out in left field), chronic stress, or possibly the presence of a chronic health condition that could be associated with a depressed immune system.

The fact that these tests report results that indicate that I’m not exactly turning cartwheels is hardly surprising.  I have a lot of irons in the fire, my days are full and I share the roadways with Indiana drivers.  If there was ever a Stress Management test result that I would not like to see, it would be the clown in the Dodge Charger who just HAD to cut me off in traffic only to meet me at the next red light.

I’ll admit complete skepticism when I received the software and started reading through the instructions and began taking the tests.  But when it came to the stress management and putting together my usual schedule, my age, and my weight, it really does begin to make sense.   I believe I am using these tests in the most elementary,  “Scratch the Surface” level and it’s honestly enough to send me to my doctor to get his opinion. Which is what I intend to do and this review will be updated with that conversation.

At $239.00, you need to be serious about your health.   This is a pricey program but there isn’t much in the  Good Health environment today that isn’t pricey.  Still, being a woman over the age of 40 who wants to continue to live a healthy life with her husband, this isn’t a bad piece of software to have around.   I still want to know what my doctor thinks about all of this and hear his ideas on how I can use this program more effectively.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Health, Software

Heart Wizard Software Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 29, 2010 at 2:51 pm.

Instead of scratching, you can use the USB Itching Removal Instrument from Brando. This device doesn’t use chemicals to stop the itch from insects, it uses electronic and optical spectrum technology. Yeah, I have no idea what that means either… But if you have a few mosquito bites that are driving you crazy, this device claims to help. USB Itching Removal Instrument is available now for $15.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health, Spotlight Gadgets, USB

Wait, Don’t Scratch that Mosquito Bite! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 17, 2010 at 8:30 am.

What the heck is electro-smog you ask. It is invisible electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by the electronics which surround us daily. The Q-Link Mini is a thin, lightweight button designed to attach easily to any personal electronic device, from cell phones and Bluetooth headsets, to portable game consoles and MP3 players. The button is programmed with over 100 natural frequencies known to support the biofield and claims to naturally enhance the human body’s defenses against a variety of life’s stressors, including harmful electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which research increasingly suggests can lead to serious health risks, including possible brain tumors, especially in children and adolescents. I wonder if the gang at Ghost Hunters buy into this stuff (sorry, paranormal joke). If you believe their claims, you can buy one for $24.95 or a pack of 5 for $99.95. Full press release after the jump.

Introducing the Q-Link Mini™:

The Wellness Button to Boost the Body’s Natural Defense Against Electro-Smog

June 9, 2010. Sausalito, CA – Clarus Transphase Scientific, Inc., one of the world’s leading innovative technology companies in the human wellness and performance sector, announces the launch of its latest Q-Link® product: the Q-Link Mini™.   The Mini™ is a thin, lightweight button designed to attach easily to any personal electronic device, from cell phones and bluetooths, to portable game consoles and MP3 players.   It naturally enhances the human body’s defenses against a variety of life’s stressors, including harmful electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which research increasingly suggests can lead to serious health risks, including possible brain tumors, especially in children and adolescents.

“In today’s electronic world, we’re constantly connected and therefore, electro-smog is quite simply unavoidable,” said Richard Gray, President and CEO of Clarus Transphase Scientific.  “And while no product can completely ‘shield’ us from EMFs or from other environmental stressors, the Q-Link Mini ™ allows you to use the technology you rely on, while also helping engage and support your body’s natural defenses and energy systems, ultimately allowing you to live a healthier life and go about your day to day activities with more focus, efficiency and balance.”

The Q-Link Mini™, retailing for $24.95, uses Sympathetic Resonance Technology™ (SRT™) to counteract the negative effects of electromagnetic fields on our bodies.  When the human biofield is reinforced by positive, natural energies, like those programmed into the Q-Link Mini™, the body can respond better and more naturally to life’s stresses and challenges.  Q-Link® users consistently report experiencing benefits of improved focus, heightened awareness, and increased energy.

The recent launch of the Mini™ wellness button marks the further expansion of the Q-Link® line, which also features SRT™ powered pendants, bracelets and other lifestyle “body” and “space” products designed and scientifically shown to balance and clarify your energies.

For more information or to purchase the Q-Link Mini™ and begin boosting your natural defenses against unnatural electromagnetic fields, visit: http://www.qlinkproducts.com.

###
About Clarus Transphase Scientific, Inc.
Clarus is an innovative technology company based in Sausalito, California.  For the past 20 years, they have been devoted to improving and optimizing products, raw materials and living systems that support and sustain life through their fundamental breakthroughs in the field of energy resonance.  Clarus’ core technology, SRT-3, was developed through more than 25 years of research and development, including work by leading scientists and doctors at Stanford University, University of California Irvine, Imperial College London and the University of Vienna.  Their popular Q-Link products are worn and used by professional athletes, health and fitness providers, and people of all ages throughout the world, who frequently report gaining a competitive edge, increased focus and more energy.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health, Jewelry, Spotlight Gadgets

Fight Electro-Smog originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 11, 2010 at 9:30 am.

The new Polar WearLink makes heart rate based training available to Nike+ users. If you own a Nike+ SportBand or the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, you can use the WearLink chest strap to provide heart rate monitoring while you run. After working out, heart rate data can be transferred to the nikeplus.com web service, providing users with info to track how long they ran in their target heart rate zone and their heart rate progress over time. Full press release after the jump.

POLAR AND NIKE INTRODUCE HEART RATE TRAINING TO MILLIONS OF NIKE+ RUNNERS

Beaverton, Ore. (June 7, 2010) – Nike, Inc (NYSE:NKE) and Polar, the market leader and pioneer in heart rate training technology, have introduced the Polar WearLink^®+ that works with Nike+. This new product works with the Nike+ SportBand and the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, enabling users to run and train with heart rate monitoring for the first time.

This exciting new piece of equipment is worn comfortably round the chest and transmits the user’s heart rate wirelessly to their Nike+  iPod Sport Kit or Sportband. It will improve the training experience of Nike+ users helping them to understand how hard they are working in any given run. Users can see their beats per minute while they run with their Nike+ SportBand, or hear spoken feedback of their BPM during their Nike+ iPod workout. And after training, heart rate data can be transferred to the nikeplus.com web service. Users can track how long they ran in their target heart rate zone and see their heart rate progress over time.

The new Polar WearLink^®+ that works with Nike+, is also compatible with most Polar training computers (all those using 5 kHz transmission technology). This allows use of both the Nike+ system and a Polar training computer at the same time. The Polar WearLink^®+ that works with Nike+, is also compatible with the fifth generation iPod nano and the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit.

The soft textile chest strap seamlessly adapts to the user’s body shape, bringing full freedom of movement to the training session. The comfortable textile strap is also machine-washable and with its hook mechanism, the transmitter is just as quick to put on as it is to take off. A user replaceable battery also increases the ease-of-use.

In addition, the Polar WearLink^®+ that works with Nike+, works with Polar-compatible fitness equipment, including models from all major fitness equipment manufacturers. This enables users wearing the WearLink+ transmitter to see their heart rate on the compatible fitness club equipment as well. The coded transmission ensures that Nike+ devices and Polar training computers pick up the right heart rate signal and not someone else’s.

“We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Nike”, says Marco Suvilaakso, Group Product Director at Polar. “Polar and Nike are both market leading global sports brands. Nike users around the globe can now benefit for the first time from pioneering Polar heart rate monitoring technology. The new WearLink^®+ transmitter Nike+ will make accurate heart rate training available to millions of Nike+ users. It will add a new dimension to their training enabling them to train at the right intensity to achieve their goals. We anticipate this will be a very popular product.”

“We are excited to introduce Polar heart rate technology into the Nike+ system so millions of enthusiastic users can take their training and performance to the next level,” said Jeff Padovan, president of Polar USA.  “Being able to partner with industry leaders like Nike and Apple who share our passion for sports and technology allows us to deliver what the consumer has asked for by providing the best each company has to offer all in one product.”

The Polar WearLink^®+ that works with Nike+, will be available from June 2010 in the United States, followed by Canada and major EU countries from the beginning of July. On sale through authorized Polar retailers, Nike-owned retail stores and through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), the Polar WearLink^®+ that works with Nike+, is sold as a Polar accessory set with a user manual. Compatible Polar training computers can be purchased separately.

Notes to Editors

Recommended retail price: $69.95

Compatible Polar training computers:

All Polar training computers utilizing 5 kHz transmission technology, including Polar FT80, FT60, FT40, FT7, FT4, FT2, FT1, RS400, RS300X, RS100, CS400, CS300, CS200 and CS100. Please check the up-to-date list of compatible training computers from the Polar web site.Water resistance of Polar products is tested according to International IEC 60529 IPx7 (1m, 30min, 20°C).Not suitable for bathing or swimming. Protected against wash splashes and raindrops. Do not wash with a pressure washer.Not suitable for swimming. Protected against wash splashes, sweat, raindrops etc. Do not wash with a pressure washer.Suitable for bathing and swimming.Suitable for swimming and snorkeling (without air tanks).

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

About Polar Headquartered in Lake Success, NY, Polar USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finland-based Polar Electro OY, which invented the first wireless heart rate monitor (HRM) in 1977.  Polar now operates internationally in more than 80 countries. Polar heart rate and fitness assessment technology delivers unparalleled insight into the human body from valuable training guidance and feedback, to enabling individuals to improve their fitness level and sports performance. Polar technology is key to the success of leading fitness facilities, athletic teams, corporate wellness facilities, health insurance providers and thousands of physical education programs around the world. Today, Polar training computers are the number one choice among consumers worldwide. For more information, visit www.polarusa.com.

About Nike
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

# # #

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, News

Tagged: Health, iPod, Spotlight Gadgets

Polar and Nike+ Introduce the Polar WearLink originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 9, 2010 at 1:00 pm.

I’m going to buck a trend here and say that getting older, by and large, does not suck as much as I was led to believe.  I’m 32 and while half of my readers will be saying something akin to, “Old? That’s not old! I’m old! That young sapling is talking foolishness again!”, it’s nevertheless the oldest I’ve ever personally been.  Sure, my body is complaining about something or other just about every day, but at least I don’t have pimples anymore (see my review of Matte for Men products for details).

However, knee pain has brought me to a halt on more than once and I am happy to say that I might have found a solution for this with the Moji Knee wrap. OK, it’s an ice pack, but it’s a cool one.

I’m not at all sure when my knee pain started.  I can remember falling down from the pain while doing stairs in the 8th grade, but can’t be much more precise than that.

I’m not all that active as a rule.  In the past I have medaled in the 25-foot Walk to the Fridge and the 200-foot Get the Mail, the upshot being that I haven’t had much use for a particularly functioning knee.  Recently, however I’ve been training for a rather long bike ride and have been feeling the pain in more than just my sit bones.  An hour of medium difficulty riding can make me want to take a whole bottle of Advil – and being 32, I know that’s just not wise.

I can honestly say that I’ve only tried icing my knee a few times in the past with varying levels of success.  Mostly, the funky shape of the knee makes it very hard to get good coverage unless you go with the old trick of using a bag of frozen peas.  This works, with the bonus that you may then eat the peas, but still prevents you from doing anything but lying back and icing.

The Moji Knee has changed my views on icing all together.   As you can see from the picture above, the Moji Knee wraps around your leg with full coverage and support, much the same as a compression brace.  There are other knee braces that do this, but those that I tried in preparing this review were nowhere near as comfortable as the Moji Knee.

Have a free glamor shot courtesy of Moji’s marketing folks:

The cellular structure of the cold pack allows it to bend and conform to your knee without expanding in strange ways or pinching.  Velcro on the back of the pack holds it securely in place and at no point during my testing did I find that it had slipped or come loose in any way.

While in use, I found that the pack stayed cold for about 25 minutes.  The key here is that those 25 minutes were spent being active.  I tested riding my bike on my indoor trainer at full speed for 20 minutes while wearing the Moji Knee and found that my mobility was about 80% of what it would be without anything at all.  This is the key to what makes this such a great product and I can honestly say that I have no reservations recommending it to anyone.  The Moji Knee is a steal at $89.97.

The Moji Back Pain Relief System (Hereafter, Moji Back or I’ll cramp up from unnecessary typing.)

The Moji Back is a bit simpler than the Moji Knee.  Chuck an ice pack on to its Velcro-covered surface, wrap it around you, and ice away.  There have been hundreds of products over the years that have served the same purpose, so why get into this crowded market when the Moji Knee should clearly be Moji’s focus?

I can see a couple of reasons.  First off, they have made the most comfortable solution I’ve found yet and secondly, they threw a curve ball at me just as I was posting my review that changed everything which I will detail below.

I am blessedly free from back pain most of the time but my girlfriend is sadly not.  She works a 12-hour day like everyone else and while most of us can count on at least some consistency in our daily routine, she cannot.  She might be at one desk or one across the building.  She might be in this chair or that one.  She travels all around the country for work and as we all know, one cannot count on a hotel bed to be comfortable.  Sometimes “squarish” is about the nicest adjective we can come up with.

The Moji Back is very useful to her when she’s at home. The hour or so needed to properly chill the ice pack is a bit of a wrench but you can’t argue with thermodynamics (or can you…) On the road, however, dodgy access to freezers and the heavy weight of the pack can make it difficult to impossible to use the product.

But then!

I talked to Moji, and was told that the Moji Back – what I was initially sent – is now The Moji Back Pain Relief System!  What makes it a “system” you might ask?  It is the cunning addition of a heating pad element.  Have you ever been walking through the mall and been accosted by someone selling something off a cart?*  If you have, you might have seen carts selling microwavable heating… things.  To call these odd shaped things pads is a stretch.  (This reminds me of the episode of “The Vicar of Dibley” wherein Alice is making things to sell at the village faire and comes back with vaguely elephant-shaped, cloth monstrosities filled with cooked pasta.  If you’ve seen it, you’ll know why it was worth interrupting an otherwise concise and well written review.)

Where was… Oh. Yes.  Those things in the mall filled with what feels like little beads or something? Well the Moji Back heating pads are just like that. Nuke it for a minute thirty and out comes an absolutely wonderful, perfectly-sized heating pad that affixes in place of the cold pack when needed.

The Moji Back and Knee products are not one size fits all! To ensure proper fit and pressure, each product comes in small, medium and large sizes with the Moji Knee also having an XL size.  One issue here is that while you can buy the hot and cold inserts individually, you cannot buy the sized wraps except in a package with the inserts.  (This means that if you’re an XL type man with a M type wife, it’s likely cheaper to get a divorce and remarry a larger person than to try to remedy the situation through Moji.)  The Moji Back Pain Relief System costs $149.97 and includes one wrap and one of each insert.

*For reference, my preferred method of dealing with people who ask me things such as, “Can I ask you a question?” when obviously trying to get me to try some hand cream or, “Do you need a cell phone?” is to set a horrified look on my face as if I’ve just seen someone murdered and say, “Oh God, No.” This works every single time.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Health, Pain relief

Moji Knee and Back Pain Relief Products Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 26, 2010 at 10:36 am.