The pedometer has long existed.  Back in the day, it was a merely a little, round plastic box with a physical counter for a display.   The whole setup was mechanical and merely provided your total accumulated daily steps, that’s assuming you reset it every 24 hours.  The evolution of technology has lead to far more advanced devices that track the very same measurement and much more.  These includes Garmin’s Forerunner devices, Jawbone’s Up and Fitbit’s Ultra Fitbit.  They all offer a slightly different feature set, but at the end of the day they aim to provide their users with insight to their daily activity and more importantly activity for the day.

Nike, who has long promoted a healthy lifestyle, albiet through the sale of their arguably overpriced products, has long existed on the fringes of this fitness trend with the launch of the Nike+ devices a number of years ago.  However, it hardly is a suitable everyday accompaniment to, well, an everyday person who doesn’t jog and instead walks, lift weights, hits the proverbial stairs and performs other activities that qualify as exercise.  As a result, the company today announced the Fuelband.

Aesthetically the device is drop dead attractive, yet ultra simple – at least from where we sit.  They’ve included insert links for those with oversized wrists, but the real joy of the Fuelband is the array of LED lights to indicate how far along you are in your goals and performance.  20 color LED lights keep you up to date on your daily goal progress, while 100 white LEDs will depict time, NikeFuel earned (some proprietary equation Nike has derived using their billions of dollars), calories burned and steps taken (this info is literally spelled out using the LEDs).  A single button sits just to the right of the LEDs and allows you cycle through the aforementioned info.  That said, you can link it to your smartphone via Bluetooth and view the data in actual numbers, and while we’re not sure if you can upload said data directly to Nike’s dedicated site, you can plug in the Nike Fuelband to your computer via USB to accomplish this feat.

So how does it work? The Nike Fuelband is able to collect data thanks to 3 axis accelerometers, which measures your daily motion.  There is also an ambient light sensor to measure environmental light, which we assume discounts any movement that might happen during sleep, but then again what happens if you exercise in the dark?  And for greater durability, just in case you were wondering, the Fuelband is water resistant, meaning it can stand up to some rain, a boat load of sweat but not a dip in the pool.  Battery life should be good for up to 4 days, but something tells us you’ll want to charge it nightly so you don’t get caught with a dead battery and a workout that goes unrecorded.

According to Nike’s website, the Fuelband is already available for $149 and is shipping now.

Transform any old pair of sunglasses into your own personal performance assistant with the Sportiiiis Heads-Up Display System for Athletes that gives you feedback on critical performance data. The Sportiiiis system can attach to virtually any pair of glasses and helps you maintain your form while still being able to keep your eyes on the road for a safe run or bike trip with its multi-colored LEDs positioned in your peripheral vision that guides your target workout zone. It can also work with your current training tech since its compatible with ANT+ enabled devices using your Mac, PC or smartphone.

When paired with a heart rate strap (for example), the Sportiiiis system will create a custom setup for how the LEDs will respond to your heart rate, which is then downloaded to the system. Lights will then blink according to your heart rate data, informing you if you’re in your target zone or not. But in addition the Sportiiiis’ Tip Tap technology, you can also tap the side of the system to generate an audible cue and then switch back to the LED sensors via a double-tap.

Suffice to say Garmin has pretty much dominated the workout space when it comes to tracking your fitness routine.  That isn’t to say there aren’t other players in the space, but Garmin’s Forerunner watches, and variations there of, are probably the most robust and one of the most reliable.  Now Magellan wants in on the action and has released the Switch Up (they also make a lesser version called the Switch).

Much like Garmin’s Forerunner watch you can mount this bad boy to your wrist and track your pace, elevation, location, speed and much more.  This version also includes a bike mount for those competing in triathlons, and if Magellan is to be believed switching from the wrist mount to the bike mount should be a snap.  Thanks to ANT+ tech it can work wirelessly with a compatible heart rate monitor as well as a a foot pod and bike sensor for added info.

All this data is displayed on a 1.26-inch high resolution screen, which is apparently viewable even in direct sunlight.  That’s assuming of course you’ve still got juice left in the rechargeable battery, which should be good for up to 8 hour of continuous use when in workout mode or 3 weeks when in just watch mode.  Score the add-on battery pack and you can extend the time between charges by up to 24 hours or 9 weeks, respectively.

The whole package is waterproof up to 50 meters and let’s not overlook the barometric altimeter and outdoor temperature sensor, something Garmin hasn’t included in any of their Forerunner devices to date.  However, Garmin does boast Garmin Connect, their social networking like service, which allows athletes to share data, trails as well as compete with one and other in a virtual format directly on the device.  That said, we’re not sure that Magellan has a chance in hell when it comes to competing with them, but our hats are still off to them for a robust device that seems like it can easily stand the test of time, as well as multiple climates.

Magellan hasn’t said when they’ll start selling the Switch Up, but expect it to cost $300, or $350 with a heart rate monitor.

So when I reviewed the FitBit just a few short months ago, I raved about just how impressive it really was.  Now flash forward a little, and they’ve gone and released the FitBit Ultra – an advanced model of what I already had in my possession.  Generally the thought is “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but the people at FitBit thought to ignore that.  So is this new version worth it?  Did they add enough to justify upgrading if you already have the last generation?  Or are the new additions just superfluous little things meant to make this appeal to more people?

At first glance, the untrained eye would think that all they did was slap a new paint job on the FitBit.  Now available in a light blue or a plum (Instead of the old green), the new colors are definitely eye catching.  While I still am holding out hope that the next iteration of the FitBit will be available in a bright yellow, it’s nice to at least have a little bit of variety in color choices.  Color isn’t the only difference in the Ultra though, and all one has to do is pick it up for that to be apparent.

It’s a truly odd thing to get a pat on the back from an inanimate object, and yet that’s exactly what you can do with the new FitBit Ultra.  I don’t really know who this feature was designed for specifically, but it’s made me laugh on more than one occasion.  For example, when I was playing Dark Souls for review, I was pretty much sedentary (as one normally is while playing some games), yet I still had my FitBit on because that’s part of my morning routine.  At any rate, it sat there on the waist of my jeans inactive until I stood up to use the restroom.

It was at that moment that the front flashed with blue lettering saying “Go for it!”.  Now, I’m sure I don’t need to describe the humor I felt here, but I was definitely laughing.  I wasn’t sure how the FitBit had developed it’s apparent psychic powers, but it’s at least good for parties.  Look, in all seriousness I’m being a bit hard on this feature, but in my opinion it could have just as easily have been left out without affecting the integrity of the FitBit itself.  Maybe I’m not the target audience for that thing though, since I have a family that gives encouragement.

Fortunately, there is a really useful new feature in the FitBit Ultra, and that’s the addition of an altimeter.  Anyone that spends time daily in a building with multiple floors (like working in an office building, or living in an apartment building) will find this feature really useful.  How it works is it measures your altitude changes, and converts that to a “flights of stairs” distance number.  While I’d love to hear from someone that takes one of these on a plane, in your average everyday life it’s really pretty neat.  Even if you’re not climbing stairs, it still gives you a flight of stairs distance for height changes (say you’re hiking up a hill).  Is it perfect?  Well, no – but it works good enough to keep most people that will use it happy.

Another good feature that I’m not sure how it was overlooked in the last generation FitBit is the inclusion of a clock and stop watch.  It’s nice to not have to set the stop watch on my iPhone whenever I go out for a run, and just use the FitBit now – it’s amazing how much lighter you feel without the addition of a phone (no matter how small it may be).  Just having one less device makes it worth the price to me.

As for the rest of the FitBit Ultra’s features, they’re pretty much just the same as they were in the first iteration.  The Ultra is still a top notch pedometer, and still has some of the best free software out there.  Sure you can earn badges now for doing different things (a la Foursquare, or like Achievements on the Xbox 360), but the bulk of everything remains the same.  You can easily track your sleep, track your steps, manage your diet, and compare everything to other people if you so choose.

Now that I have a first gen and an Ultra in the house, me and my significant other constantly compete with each other to see who can get the most steps in a week.  While I’m sure I saw her slip her’s onto one of the kids last week, it’s been a close battle – and it’s inspired dialogue that we hadn’t had before.  To me, that’s one of the unspecified benefits of the FitBit; get two or more in one household, and it will inspire friendly competition and discourse.

Editor’s Score:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

The Bottom Line: If you don’t have a FitBit already, this is the perfect time to jump on board – if you already have one though, you may not want to upgrade unless your daily life includes a lot of steps.

Pros:

• The new version of the FitBit is still one of the best pedometers on the market
• The online management software is still free for pretty much everything a normal person would need
• The addition of an altimeter is a really good feature

Cons:

• Still not waterproof – hopefully the next version will have that for us swimmers
• The messages are corny, and really not needed

You can get the FitBit Ultra from the FitBit site for $99.95

Wow, Motorola has taken direct aim at Apple.  If you thought the RAZR wasn’t a response to Apple’s iPhone 4s, checkout the MOTOACTV, a lightweight, iPad Nano inspired workout device.

The touchscreen measures 1.6-inch, is sweat resistant, and like the RAZR has be reinforced using Corning’s Gorilla Glass.   But unlike Apple’s comparable offering, the MOTOACTV can track pace, speed and location thanks to a built-in GPS function (the latest iPod Nano software can track some of this info, but doesn’t include GPS).  They’ve also infused it with some tech that measures your performance against your stored songs and creates a “high performance playlist” to push you to that next fitness level.   The MOTOACTV is also capable of measuring your heart rate, though you’ll need to invest in either the Motorola SF700 wireless or Motorola SF500 wired headphones, which sport a heart rate sensor and thus negating the sometimes annoying chest strap.

When you’re done with your workout you can upload the stats to the MOTOACTV web portal, where fitness experts can provide feedback and you can compete again friends for the best lap or perhaps the most explosive heart rate.

The MOTOACTV supports both ANT+ tech (used in many of Garmin’s products), Bluetooth 4.0 and can achieve 5 hours on a single charge outside, or 10 hours inside.  Included is a strap for wearing it on your wrist or arm and a clip for attaching it to clothing.

The MOTOACTV will ship November 6th for $299 (16GB) or $249 (8GB).  The SF700 wireless headphones will cost $149, while the wired version, the SF500 will cost $99.

Getting yourself geared up to hit the gym can be such a chore with all the gadgets most people take with them – I know personally I have to bring my iPOD, a heart rate monitor, a pedometer (for when I’m on the treadmills or ellipticals), and a pair of headphones.  If I don’t have everything in my gym bag (because kids like to take things out when they go, and don’t like to put them back), then my workout suffers a bit because I’m not keeping my heart rate at its optimal level, and I can’t keep track of steps.  It might seem silly to need all of that, but I know people that wouldn’t even begin a workout session without everything I just listed.  Now New Balance in conjunction with iHOME are trying to make things a little bit easier.

With the new NB639, you get a lot of features wrapped up into a neat little package.  For starters it’s a pedometer – and a fairly accurate one at that.  There was some discrepancy when I compared it to both FitBits that I have, but it was only a few steps difference that could even be attributed to where I was wearing each.  Next, it has a chronograph that you can use to time your workout, which eliminates the need for a stopwatch (I used to use mu iPHONE for that).  The NB639 also has a built in heart rate monitor, where you just place your thumb over its sensor and it delivers real-time information.

How does it deliver the information?  It’s quite ingenious really – by talking to you.  You see, while you can plug your mp3 player into one end of it to listen to music while you workout, the device itself also makes use of the headphones to tell you things in a pleasant voice.  It can tell you not only your heart rate, but the number of steps you’ve taken, the calories you’ve burned, or the distance you’ve traveled without ever having to pause your music or stop your workout.  It’s a great feature because when I’m in the middle of an intense session, the last thing I want to do is stop and lose my momentum.

The headphones themselves are pretty comfortable, and during every 90 minute workout that I used them on, they never got uncomfortable to wear.  The NB639 comes with bunch of different attachments to ensure a proper fit for just about every ear type, so that they’re actually useable in a workout.  That’s really important because I know I’ve gone through a ton of ear buds searching for ones that won’t fall out during exercises.  The headphones are also sweat-proof, which is again something desperately needed if you’re exercising correctly.

On the software side of things, the NB639 comes with the “HeartPal” graphing software that allows you to monitor your information by days, weeks, and months.  It also gives you a nice summary of your performance data, allows you to set goals, and keeps all of your graphs managed nicely.  While it may not be as comprehensive as the software for some of the other dedicated heart rate monitors out there – it’s not designed to be.  The NB639 doesn’t track all the information that some of the other things do, but it tracks what it’s meant to track well.

The only think I would really change are the drivers in the ear buds themselves.  They’re not bad as far as ear buds go, but at high volumes there’s a good amount of distortion present.  At low to medium volumes though, the sound that they produce is more than adequate for anyone not totally obsessed with perfect audio.  Aside from that though, they’re really a pretty nifty little gadget.

Editor’s Rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

The Bottom Line: While the NB639 is a “Jack of All Trades” sort of gadget, it’s also convenient as all hell – being able to ditch multiple devices to only carry one is something really useful.  You’ll pay a premium for that convenience though.

You can pick up a pair of the New Balance NB639′s from the iHOME online store for $99

Pros:

• Extremely convenient to only have to bring one little device to the gym with you
• The ear buds are very comfortable, and don’t fall out while moving around
• The included software really does the trick of setting it apart from other fitness devices

Cons:

• Since it’s a jack of all trades model, there are other things that are better at each individual feature
• The ear buds crap out with distortion at high volume levels
• the $99 price tag could be a deterrent for some people

Garmin’s line of Forerunner products has long been the choice of athletes across the globe.  They track just about every stat an exercise fanatic would like to know, such as heart rate, distance, speed, calories burned and more.  But triathletes, those who not only bike and run, also swim, and never has a Forerunner device been able to keep track of their fish like abilities, that is until now.

The Forerunner 910XT tracks the aforementioned assorment of data, but also keeps tabs on your detailed swim metrics. To be more specific, it can log your swim distance, stroke identification, stroke count and pool lengths.  It will also compute something called a SWOLF score, which is the sum of the time it takes you to complete one length of the pool plus your strokes.  So 15 second and 30 strokes gives you a SWOLF score of 45.

Like other Garmin devices, the Forerunner 910XT is compatible with their bike mount system, allowing it to be quickly transferred from the wrist to handlebars.  In addition to Garmin’s heart rate monitors, we can only assume the 910XT is compatible with their cadence sensors, though there is no mention of it in the press release, so here’s hoping.  And since you’ll clearly be going the distance with this GPS watch, both length and time wise, Garmin has given it a 20 hour battery life with all these features engaged.  Lastly, the Forerunner 910XT is compatible with Garmin Connect and their wireless ANT+ tech that transfers stored data wirelessly to a computer using an included USB stick.

The Garmin Forerunner 910XT will ship sometime this quarter for $449.99.

4 out of 5 stars

After my review of the FitBit, I received a good number of emails from readers (and plenty more messages on Facebook) asking me to take a look at the BodyMedia Fit system.  Made by the same people that make the BodyBugg (the little device that The Biggest Loser made famous), the BodyMedia comes in two varieties – Bluetooth enabled, or not.  I was sent a Bluetooth enabled model that could communicate with my iPhone – a neat little feature that allows it to communicate with your smartphone and show you the data it’s tracking.

The BodyMedia Fit is a small device (though bigger than the FitBit) that sits inside of a specially designed armband.  You have to wear the armband on your left arm with the writing on it facing away from you – apparently it’s calibrated to give the most accurate data in that position.  I’m not completely sure why, but I’m not going to argue.  On the top of the BodyMedia fit system is a large blue button that you can push to make connect to a Bluetooth device, and on the underside there are two small metal plates (they look like mini defibrillator bottoms) that collect the data.

Collecting data is definitely what it’s good at though!  The BodyMedia Fit gives an extremely accurate reading of your “calorie burn” by tracking a number of different things.  It has your standard accelerometer and pedometer, but it also measures body temperature, how fast your body is dissipating that accumulated heat, how high your pulse is, and even your sweat level.  It then combines all of this data to give you an accurate portrayal of the actual effects of your daily activities.

Unfortunately, in order to see all of this, you need to have an active subscription to their website.  Unlike the FitBit, there is no free portion of the website for basic info, and then a pay wall for the rest.  Everything is tucked away behind a subscription, and while it’s not much ($7 a month for a 12 month subscription) it is irritating to have that cost tacked on before you can do anything.  The iPhone app also draws off of the same subscription, so don’t think you can circumvent having one by going that route.

Once you’re on the site though, it’s pretty amazing the information that’s available to you.  You can see down to the minute when your activities changed from moderate to heavy.  You can see exactly how many calories you burned while at your job.  You can track your sleep very accurately (as much as I liked the FitBit’s use of this feature, the BodyMedia Fit does it so much better).  I was able to see that on average I burn around 750 calories throughout the night sleeping.  I also found out that wearing it while having “adult relations” with my girlfriend gave me a 27 minute vigorously active ranking, and a caloric burn of 107.  I didn’t really need to know that sure, but I had to laugh when I was reading it because I forgot that I had the armband on.

That’s another good thing about it – it becomes very easy to forget you are even wearing the armband.  I almost jumped in the shower with it one day; unfortunately while the BodyMedia Fit is water resistant to an extent (it has to be to deal with sweat) , it is not waterproof.  That also means you have to take it off for swimming, but the website allows you to easily add any activity you perform when the band is not on you.

I didn’t like having to turn on my Bluetooth all the time on my iPhone in order to collect data – I’m a busy person, and it’s not uncommon for me to have to recharge my phone at least once throughout the day.  Bluetooth puts another unnecessary drain on the battery, so I try to leave it off.  That means I have to remember to take off the BodyMedia Fit and plug it into my computer to transmit data, when I was so used to the Fitbit’s little base station doing all the work for me.  I would definitely like to see something like that in the future from these guys.

One thing I noticed about the caloric burn readings I got with the BodyMedia Fit is that they could be a good bit different than using some of the other programs I had tried.  On one when I entered in how far I had run, it told me that I had burned a total of 180 calories while the BodyMedia Fit said that I actually burned 300.  That’s a huge difference, and it shows the flaws of just trying to estimate what you’re doing.  Even when put against the FitBit (which is really just a super pedometer), the BodyMedia Fit showed much more accurate results for calories burned.

I have a feeling though that a good number of people will see the high price point compared to other options, see the subscription only service on top of that high price, and see themselves in another monitor.  It’s a shame too, because the BodyMedia Fit is actually a really nice piece of hardware.  Yes, there are things that could be better about it, but if you’re extremely serious about fitness – this is probably what you’re going to want to be considering.

While not for the average person just wanting to see how many calories they’re expending existing on Earth, the BodyMedia Fit could really help someone lose weight (provided they’re diligent enough to track all their food intake correctly).  It could also seriously help a fitness trainer keep in top physical shape.  I give the BodyMedia Fit a final rating of four out of five stars.

Pros:

• Tracks a metric shit-ton of data about everything your body is doing
• Small and non obtrusive to wear, very lightweight
• Extremely accurate measurements when it comes to calorie burn and the like

Cons:

• Subscription plan needed in order to use the BodyMedia Fit for anything other than a paperweight
• Can only be work effectively in one location
• No wireless base station for thought free use

You can get the BodyMedia Fit BW armband from Amazon for $219.99

The other day FINIS announced the immediate availability of their new AquaPulse Heart Rate Monitor, an audible heart rate monitor designed to help swimmers with staying fit.  Being an avid swimmer, and someone who’s on a real fitness kick lately (a sister’s wedding will do that to you) I’m quite intrigued by the thing.  You clip it on your goggle’s straps, then put a soft rubber piece on your ear – and by some magic it’s able to read your heart beat and then audibly give you real-time updates.  It all sounds quite interesting, and I can’t wait to get my hands on one!  Full press release after the jump.

Utilizing patented bone-conduction and infrared technology the FINIS AquaPulse™ Heart Rate Monitor

provides heart rate awareness to maximize your swim workout

Livermore, CA – (July 12, 2011) FINIS, a world leader in technical swimming products that maximize your fitness potential and technique, announces the immediate availability of the AquaPulse™ Heart Rate Monitor, an audible heart rate monitor for swimmers and water fitness enthusiasts. The AquaPulse™ Heart Rate Monitor is a small workout accessory built for swimmers looking to get the most out of their workout through heart rate training. Simply slip the AquaPulse™ Heart Rate Monitor inside your goggle strap, attach the soft rubber clip to your earlobe, and start swimming. Using an infrared sensor, your heart beat is detected through your earlobe by capillary activity. The heart rate is then audibly communicated to you in real time, where the information is transmitted directly to your inner ear via Bone Conduction Technology. No ear buds, no cumbersome chest straps and no watch device is needed. You will never have to stop to check your heart rate again. The AquaPulse™ Heart Rate Monitor is now available for $149.99 MSRP at www.FINISInc.com.

For the past decade heart rate training has been utilized by top athletes in all sports to improve their training levels. As an accurate measurement of your intensity or exertion level a heart rate monitor is the easiest and most precise way to continuously measure your heart rate. By understanding and monitoring your ideal heart rate zone while training, you are able to consistently train your body at the optimum fitness levels.  Knowing the work zone for your heart prevents over-training, under-training, and encourages correct pacing. As a result heart rate monitors (HRM’s) can show you when you’re dehydrated, running out of nutrition, or not recovered from a previous day’s workout.

“As a fitness or competitive swimmer you should know your maximum heart rate and train in your zone to optimize your workout,” says John Mix, President of FINIS. “Current heart rate monitors are meant for running and dryland training, but are awkward in the water as athletes are hindered by slipping straps and delayed information on watches. Our heart rate monitor features a design that provides an audible heart rate announcement while you swim, eliminating the need to stop and calculate your heart rate or look at your watch. Because you don’t have to stop you will have a more accurate heart rate calculation and no down time, thus maximizing your workout.”

“As an elite swimmer, the more I know about my body, the better I can train,” says Jason Lezak, seven time Olympic Medalist. “I use the AquaPulse ™ Heart Rate Monitor consistently during my training practices because it’s more accurate and easier than stopping to take my pulse. I do heart rate specific training sets in addition to monitoring my heart rate when I train. I can also hear my heart rate instantly at a press of a button whenever I need it.”

Features and Benefits include:

• Audible Heart Rate in Real Time – Heart rate is announced while you move; no need to pause and look at a watch
• Bone Conduction Audio Announcement – Verbally conveys your heart rate through your cheekbone into your inner ear; no ear buds needed (Humans normally hear through air conduction, but because there is no air underneath the water, bone conduction provides the clearest sound quality possible)
• Infrared Sensor Technology – The Infrared sensor measures the light pulses due to capillary blood flow in the skin and calculates the number of beats per minute (b/m) that the body is working
• Instant Heart Rate Button – Push the “Instant Heart Rate” button to hear your last recorded heart rate reading
• Heart Rate Fluctuation Monitoring – Audible updates given at selected time increments; if there is no change in your heart rate you will not hear an update
• Announcement Increments – Set the device to announce every 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes or 5 minutes
• Waterproof - Made for swimmers by swimmers; all buttons are waterproof
• Easy Attachment – No chest strap or watches needed; just slip inside your goggle strap
• Lithium-Ion Battery – Lasts from 5 to 8+ hours depending on interval setting; gives an audible low battery announcement when low
• USB Charging – To recharge, plug the AquaPulse™ Heart Rate Monitor directly into the USB port on a computer or USB wall charger

For more information visit FINISinc.com

About FINIS:

Founded in 1993 in Northern California, FINIS was started by John Mix and Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer Pablo Morales. The Monofin and the Swimmer’s Snorkel were the first products they developed for the US market; afterwards, they continued to focus on creating training tools for swimmers and coaches worldwide. FINIS products are currently available in over 60 countries and are used by US and International Olympic teams, elite triathletes, and fitness swimmers.

Innovative research and design is FINIS’ highest priority. This dedication has resulted in truly unique products such as: the Swimmer’s Snorkel, which is recognized as the paramount tool to improve a swimmer’s technique, the SwiMP3 that uses bone conduction technology to play music instead ear buds, and the Z2 Zoomers fins, which demonstrate an intimate understanding of swimming musculature, hydrodynamics, and engineering.

Visit the FINIS Blog at http://www.finisinc.com/blog/

Despite the fact that our technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in the last 20 years, our lives growing increasingly sedentary.  As a result obesity has sky rocketed and with it our health care costs.  Adding to the dilemma is that Americans have adopted the philosophy if “it ain’t broke don’t fix it”.  We couldn’t be any more wrong.

On Tuesday, Hosain Rahman, founder of Jawbone, unvield a conceptual device called the “Up”, which aims to change how we treat ourselves.  It’s a motion recording wristband that connects to the user’s smartphone and some how can tell when they’re sleeping, eating or exercising.  The data is presumambly then recorded to their smartphone allowing users to review their activity in what hopefully is a motivating and tell-tale format.

However, Jawbone faces strong competition from the long standing pedometers and sleep meter.  Nonetheless, no other product has offered such versatility and in such a convenient form factor, so they might just have a winner on their hands.

It’s worth reemphasizing that this was a conceptual launch – no real product exists at this time.

Read

5 out of 5 stars

When I first heard about the FitBit, I saw it’s $99 price tag and shrugged it off. I had just paid $60 for a decent pedometer and I felt like I wasted my money. It was bulky, it was obtrusive, and more than anything else it was too easy to forget to bring with me. After spending $60 on something that was barely used, what could bring me around to embrace the FitBit?

At first glance, the FitBit is something of an oddity – it doesn’t have a screen like a more traditional pedometer, and it’s light as hell.  The $60 pedometer I bought was like a brick with a large screen.  It would spout information constantly; though little of it meant anything to me.  The FitBit is much different though, one click of the only button on it shows you information you can actually use.  It goes from steps taken, to distance traveled, to calories burnt, to an image of a flower that grows based on how active you’ve been.

That’s it.

No numbers that would have no meaning to you unless you were some nutritional expert of fitness guru.  Numbers that work for the average person.  The FitBit is also AMAZINGLY light – I go through my day now most times forgetting that I even have it on.  It’s unique form factor allows it to clip to pretty much anything from a belt to a bra, and it’s so slim and small that I don’t think I would ever call it obtrusive.

One of the neatest things about how the FitBit works, is that as long as you have the base station connected to a computer, it auto-synchs whenever you’re within fifteen feet of it.  The things you see on the FitBit itself are quite neat, but it’s what happens when it synchs up that it really crazy.  First off there’s the huge online community – you can find people all over on the website (maybe people you even know) and join a group.  Through the groups you can encourage competition between members – yes to all my gamer friends, with the FitBit you can turn exercise into a fun competition!  That alone has gotten me out walking more than I thought I would.

Another feature of the FitBit that uses the website, is that it tracks your sleep patterns as well.  Yes, the FitBit is designed to be worn while you sleep – it’s truly an all day experience.  After wearing it to bed, you can log onto the website to see how long it took you to fall asleep, how many times you unconsciously woke up in the middle of the night, and your sleep efficiency.  This is all designed to effortlessly help you monitor all parts of your fitness.

Other things you can do on the website is track your caloric intake per day through an intuitive food search (the FitBit tells the website how many calories you expended), tracking activities you did (the FitBit won’t track things like biking on it’s own), and monitoring things like your heart rate and blood pressure.  The best thing about the FitBit’s website, is that all the features I told you about so far are free.  Forever.

Now there are other features on the website you can subscribe to as well; an entire analytics site can be subscribed to for $49.99 a year.  The analytics include benchmarking, in-depth food analysis, a comprehensive sleep study, and even a trainer to keep you motivated.  I haven’t taken the plunge yet on that though, but I imagine I will soon enough.

This is one of the most interesting pieces of tech that I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing in a while.  I have no problem giving it 5 stars out of 5, and seriously recommend this to anyone looking to get in better shape.  Don’t short yourself by buying a cheaper pedometer that you’ll regret later.

Pros:

• Extremely easy to use
• Super lightweight
• You don’t need to be an expert to decipher the data

Cons:

• Doesn’t automatically track activities like biking
• Not waterproof
• Subscription section of website could be a deterrent to some

You can pick up the FitBit at Amazon for $97.95

Garmin unveiled their next flagship GPS fitness watch today, the Forerunner 610.  Like their previous fitness watches, the 610 includes auto lap, pace, heart rate, distance and time.  Runners can modify the screen to show up to 4 of these stats at any given time, or cycle through info by tapping the touchscreen. Garmin has built the Forerunner 610 to withstand inclement weather, as well as sweat, all the while still allowing users to access the touchscreen with gloves on.

Like past Garmin Forerunner devices, fitness fanatics can upload their workouts to Garmin’s Connect website and download other users’ routes and stats for a virtual trainer or partner in crime.  In addition to audible alerts, the Forerunner 610 includes a vibration feature that notifies runners of intervals and other note worthy information – ideal for those that run with headphones in their ears or jog in areas with a hefty amount of street noise.

The Training Effect feature, new to the Forerunner line, “measures the impact of exercise on aerobic fitness and lets you know how the workout improves your fitness during the workout”.  They’ve also added a run/walk training feature, which allows the auto lap feature to remain intact for joggers that run for a distance, walk and then continue to run – a growing trend.

The Forerunner 610 appears to be available direct from Garmin for $349.99.

Garmin® Adds Its First Touchscreen GPS Watch to Forerunner® Family

OLATHE, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the Forerunner 610 sports watch – a slim, yet robust and weather-proof touchscreen solution for serious runners seeking an extra advantage. Forerunner 610 can stand up to rain, sweat and splashes, and is responsive enough that it can be operated with running gloves. Forerunner 610 was announced in preparation for world-class marathons in Boston and London as well as the Australian fitness expo where it will be prominently displayed at Garmin booths in each location.

“From giving the basics such as pace, distance and time to monitoring your effort through heart rate, creating interval workouts and racing a friend on the other side of the world, Forerunner 610 becomes a necessary partner for all serious runners.”

“Running with Forerunner 610 is like having a coach with you every step of the way,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “From giving the basics such as pace, distance and time to monitoring your effort through heart rate, creating interval workouts and racing a friend on the other side of the world, Forerunner 610 becomes a necessary partner for all serious runners.”

Now it is easier than ever to see how far, how fast and how hard you have worked. Forerunner 610 puts it all at your fingertips. Designed for the runner who is constantly seeking improvement, Forerunner 610 is Garmin’s new flagship model. Forerunner 610′s sleek stylish design complements the highly responsive touch screen and high resolution display. This innovative design has drawn praise from the International design community by winning the coveted Red Dot Design Award, the world’s largest and most renowned design competition in a field of thousands of submissions from over 60 countries. To see the Forerunner 610 in action, go to www.garmin.com/touch.
Forerunner 610 uses a vibration motor for alerts such as heart rate, pace and distance when audible tones cannot be heard (heart monitor included in some bundles or available separately). With the heart rate monitor, Forerunner 610 also allows runners to track their training intensity via the new Training Effect feature. With the right information, it is not necessary to be a coach or sports scientist to help you train effectively. Training Effect measures the impact of exercise on aerobic fitness and lets you know how the workout improves your fitness during the workout.

In a true race against the clock, Forerunner 610 introduces Virtual Racer™. With this new feature, Garmin has an answer for every excuse – no more, “I could have beaten that time” – where runners can race themselves over their previous bests or against other users’. These can be taken from runs stored on the watch or downloaded wirelessly from the huge and expanding Garmin Connect™ running community (http://connect.garmin.com). Here users can quickly and easily log their workouts, track their totals, set goals, share workouts with friends and family and participate in an online fitness community of more than 50 million activities around the world. Garmin Connect displays metrics such as time, distance, pace, elevation and heart rate. This information is shown through charts, illustrations, reports and a variety of map representations including street, photo, topographic, and elevation maps.

With the growing popularity of the run/walk training method in the distance running community (example: a runner runs for five minutes, walks for one minute and repeats for the duration of the course), Garmin has included a new run/walk alert. This alert allows Forerunner 610′s other features, such as, Auto Lap and Auto Pause, to remain active during a run/walk session.

Forerunner 610 is the latest breakthrough from Garmin, which has spent more than 20 years developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about features, pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/garmin. To watch step-by-step, feature-specific tutorial videos for Forerunner 610 and other Garmin products, visit the online learning center at www.garmin.com/learningcenter.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Solid build & very comfortable
• Heart Rate Monitor is exceptional
• Depth of analysis is staggering

Cons:

• Overly difficult interface
• Buttons press to easily
• Can get pricey

If you’re the type of training athlete that obsesses over statistics and the finest of details, than the Suunto t3d is for you.  Capable of compiling all of your training minutia and interacting with several Suunto peripherals, the t3d is quite the comprehensive beast.  While the t3d might be best suited for cardio related activities, I found it to be a bit troublesome when wearing gloves or engaging in any sort of wrist movement because the buttons were easily pressed when I didn’t want them to.

Build, Feel, & Aesthetic:

The watch is relatively lightweight and comforts the contours of my girl wrist with ease.  I wore the t3d across a variety sporting activities and never felt like its presence was a nuisance.  Beyond the overly sensitive buttons, the face of the watch was ultra resilient when it came to smashing into things and I never felt like I had to “watch” out for it.  As far as looks goes, the t3d gives the impression of a high end sports watch without the need for any undue flair or peacocking.  The band is comprised of your familiar sports resin, and the clasp works really well with fastening the strap and removing the watch with a quickness.  To be noted, battery removal is also very simple thanks for the hatch like mini manhole cover that easily unscrews with the help of a nickel.

Modes & Use:

While the t3d has a bevy of modes to help you reach your training targets, by far the most impressive aspect was the real time heart monitoring.  The t3d syncs directly to the accompanied HRM belt and the results are swift and quite pleasing.  The band fits directly around your solarplexis and can be adjusted to fit your measurements accordingly.  I tested the real time accuracy during football sessions on the beach and playing basketball at the park.  The response time was great and it really helped let me know how hard I was working.

Unless your are a real athlete that demands a absurd amount of training data, you may find the t3 to be a bit daunting.  The average person that exercises regularly won’t even need all that the t3 offers.  Add on the companion website MovesCount and you’ll be blown away by how much detail is involved in nearly every aspect of a real athlete’s training regimen (see pic).

My biggest gripe with the t3 is the navigation interface.  It’s just not all that intuitive and somewhat cumbersome.  You really have to learn it to make it work for you.  I’ve tried learning it and I still got confused and couldn’t get to where I needed to go when I needed to get there. Some people may be OK with the trial and error like schematic but I just got annoyed.

Conclusion:

While this watch may be a tad over indulgent for the average exerciser, the t3d is the most comprehensive training watch I have ever seen.  If you’re looking for a watch to really dive into, I’d easily suggest the t3d.  If you are looking for a more clearly defined sports watch without the maze of menus I’d look elsewhere.  The MovesCount companion website is quite detailed and implements the whole community and social media aspect to your training, which really adds to the completeness of the package and should certainly not be overlooked.  Depending on how many peripherals you want to add into the mix, the price could get up there.  The MoveStick wireless data transfer stick is alone around  $70!  Add in the price of the t3d and you’re looking at around $200.  But what’s really the price of physical perfection?

Buy the Suunto t3d here for $114!

While having the perfect set of abs may or may not be a deal breaker for some, carving out this difficult muscle group can be quite the accomplishment.  Especially if you are over 30, just ask The Situation.  To help you achieve said success comes along the Perfect Sit-Up.  From the makers of the Perfect Push-Up and the Perfect Pull-Up, the Perfect Sit-Up effectively isolates abdominal and core muscles to allow you to look and feel the way you’ve always wanted.  Shredded.

The Perfect Sit-Up assembles with ease and doesn’t weigh all that much, but the storage will be up to you.  It breaks down in the same manner as it’s set up although you’ll find yourself wanting to keep it intact as much as possible in order to stay enthused about using the Perfect Sit-Up on a regular basis.  I found the Perfect Sit-Up to be a bit awkward to store in that it couldn’t really sit against the wall without slumping over and took up a fair amount space on the floor (for those of you living in small spaces).  NOTE:  When you buy this product brand new it does come with a wall hanger, my review unit did not unfortunately.

The Perfect Sit-Up was generally pretty comfortable all around.  The head rest was buoyant and felt more satisfying than a sink while getting shampooed at a salon.  The hand grips felt firm and and didn’t get cumbersome after extended use.  The foot clips were smooth, fit fine when barefoot or when wearing sneakers.  The back rest cushion also padded my contours, but made those back fart noises that you may have heard from the mats you use at the gym.

As far as exercises go, I found some to be more effective than others.  Any time where I had to twist my body to do an oblique crunch I felt way too constrained with in the confines of the Perfect Sit-Up.  Just so it’s known, I stand at 5’10″ and weigh around 150lbs.  I totally fit the Perfect Sit-Up no questions asked, (with leg blades fully extended), but was at odds with the design when trying to twist with the machine.

What I also found was that the Perfect Sit-Up made a clicking sound every time I was in mid crunch.  This could either be a indicator that your movement has gone far enough or a problem with my review unit.  I found no mention of it in the directions whatsoever.  I didn’t bother me, but drove my roommate crazy.  Be warned.  Other than the missing “clicking” information, the instructions contained step-by-step directions to get started with more than a handful exercises.  I would have liked a DVD that demonstrated the movements, but I’m sure all of that can be found online.

If you’re new to the whole abs scene, the Perfect Sit-Up would be a great way to get started.  For those of you that already have an established workout, the Perfect Sit-Up isn’t really going to open your eyes to some magical abs oasis.  For $99, the Perfect Sit-Up could be an excellent addition to your home gym and if they had one at the 24 Hour Fitness I go to, I’m sure people would use it.  With that being said, I enjoyed my experience with the Perfect Sit-Up, but wouldn’t call it an imperative piece of equipment in my weekly routine.

Pros:

• Easy to set-up
• Great for beginners
• Most exercises feel right

Cons:

• Some exercises felt awkward
• Not as useful for experienced people
• Weird clicking sound?

Buy the Perfect Sit-Up Here!

We’d probably argue that part of the purpose of Yoga is to distance yourself from technology and get in touch with your inner spirit, or something to that effect.  With that said we’re rather surprised to see the Audio Yoga Mat.

Built-in to the top left corner is a small speaker and aux cable for plugging in your favorite MP3 player, or in this case last year’s iPod Nano.  So now as you get down, well, you can get down…into downward doggy pose, or whatever it’s called.

The Audio Yoga Mat is available for $40 and is said to be “Latex-free plus does not contain six of the most harmful phthalates”.

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Oregon Scientific is the creator of this rather touchy heart rate monitoring watch. Get it? Touchy, because it has a touchscreen.

Allright, not funny. But you can indeed tap the screen to change between the several modes the SH201 possesses. Aside from three exercise profilIes (jogging, running and cycling) it also lets you know when you’re dehydrated, although there’s no direct way for the device to figure that out, so it’s probably computing it using your activity level and time spent. Then it prompts you to take a few sips of water at certain intervals.

While calories burned are kept track of, your fitness level are somehow calculated and kept up to date, on top of which the Elite Heart Rate Monitor is also capable of displaying your current hear trate, as well as a history of your average and maximum heartrates.

As far as ‘mathematical’ functions, it has a stopwatch, timer, lap counter, calendar and you can even set an alarm to stop you from running if you’re one of those extra athletic people.

We’ve long known Oregon Scientific as an alarm clock and thermometer company.  But in recent time they’ve expanded into the health category.

Yesterday, they launched 3 new products geared towards women, at least that is what their PR rep said, though I suppose they could be worn by any gender.

The Gaiam Fitness Trainer 2.0 is a $100 wrist watch that reads your heart rate without a chest strap. It also displays the time, calendar and includes a “tap on lens” that toggles through each mode.

For an additional $10 you can pick up the Gaiam Zone Trainer 3.0, which is essentially the same as the aforementioned device, but includes a chest strap with wireless heart rate monitor for more accurate heart rate readings.

Last but not least is the Gaiam Calorie Coach G1, a fancy smancy pedometer for just $40. In addition to a digital read out, it measures you calories burned, steps taken and can store up to 7 days of walking data.

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I didn’t realize what an epicenter of attention the Ergotron WorkFit-S would become.

When the box arrived at the office, as many of my review products do, my office mates were more drawn to it than normal. Their curiosity level is, it appears, directly proportional to the dimensions of the object. As it was much larger than most of the samples I receive, the curiosity level was piqued and has yet to ebb.The draw became more notable on the second day, after assembly. It was hard not to be drawn to it. It was an obelisk like in a Kubrick film; primates surrounding it, pushing and pulling in the towering device with unmasked inquisitiveness. This metaphor is especially accurate when you consider what this sort of product represents. In more ways than one it evokes the evolution of humankind, in their modern form, chained to desks for work and for play. We have left our hunched position, our bodies unnaturally compressed over our computer keyboard, and can now stand.

All theatrics aside, this thing is cool. The concept is that you need not sit at your desk anymore. It’s as simple as that. If you want to stand, your mouse, keyboard and monitor will rise to meet you. You’ll burn extra calories and encourage core strength. You’ll stave off back and neck pain. Humans are meant to move, and this product helps us achieve that.

Basically, your display (or displays) are mounted on a bracket attached to a protruding keyboard tray on an arm. The assembly is rigged to a rugged beam housing a pulley system, allowing you to easily lift your whole workstation up to 18 inches vertically. This positions your keyboard, mouse, and display at appropriate height for continuing to work in a standing position. The base of the unit is in the general shape of a bird foot, providing good balance. It clamps quickly and securely to a variety of desktops in a way that’s not damaging or permanent. If you’re buying this for yourself, you can take it easily with you if you move desks or change jobs. If you’re buying several of these as an HR department, a standing station can be created without the higher cost of an entire desk that moves, and is far more simple to relocate when the time comes.

The WorkFit is nearly assembled right out of the box, and takes under 15 minutes to unpack and ready for mounting your display. The instructions are adequate enough, and even if you spend extra time with your wire management it should take you less than an hour for full setup. Only two pieces need to be attached to the primary unit, and then you simply clamp it down on the front of your desk. I have two 17″ monitors at my workstation, and mounting them was a breeze. Ergotron provides thumbscrews which allow quick connection of the monitors to the VESA compliant mounting brackets. Once you’re all set up, you can adjust the tension of the mechanism to suit the weight of your monitors. You want this thing to move easily, but not so much that vigorous typing will move it.

Construction of the WorkFit is solid. This was demonstrated during my installation by an office jokester who leaned on the keyboard tray in the fashion of someone ordering a drink at a bar. The tower, unburdened by displays, and supporting only a portion of his weight, the mechanism slowly sank towards it’s ‘seated’ position without breaking a sweat. They keyboard tray did flex a bit, but nobody will be putting that much weight on the tray under normal usage. The pieces that will be exposed to the most pressure are cast aluminum, and I have no question they can handle everyday usage with ease. Ergotron’s products are manufactured for heavy use in commercial environments.

The lifting mechanism itself is impressively smooth as well. Completely set up, it takes very little pressure to change the height from one position to the other. The keyboard tray adapts to left or right hand use and offers two positions for ergonomic positioning. I found the tilted position to be too steep for my mouse, which kept sliding off the front of the mouse tray. There is a small lip intended to prevent mouse suicide, but it’s small and not very effective. I would recommend leaving the keyboard level to reduce the likelihood that your mouse will fall.

The WorkFit comes in several flavors which will work for most users. If you have single or dual displays, or a display with a laptop, there’s a configuration for you. It would be nice if this was sold in a more modular fashion with additional options for three display setups. For example, if I were to add another monitor, I would be forced to decide between the additional display and continuing to use the WorkFit. To better target corporate purchasers, the display mounting hardware could be made available seperately to prevent having to buy a whole new unit because you didnt already have the right one on hand.

Another interesting issue that arose with the arrival of the WorkFit relates to how the management reacted at my office. My day job workspace is in a cubicle grouped with about a dozen others in close proximity. We spend a lot of time on the phone, and at times it can get quite loud. Upon seeing it unpacked, my boss expressed a few concerns that could possibly be shared by others. Essentially, I’ll now be standing up whenever I want, placing my vocal chords above the top edge of the cubicle walls, making my voice more audible to those around me. This by itself isn’t unbearable as I’m typically not all that loud, but several of my colleagues measure higher in dB’s than I do and things would start getting nasty if everyone took to standing up. Their point is that it wouldn’t be fair if I were standing up and nobody else could. There are, of course, several ways around this – but none of them are free, and budgets are tight in many businesses at the moment. If you’re considering a WorkFit for your own desk, please consult your management to make sure it wont cause problems. Also, if you’re already experiencing health issues that the WorkFit can solve, consider getting a Doctor’s note to avoid any problems. Still, I’d bring it up in advance.

Specs:

• Mount up to 2 (two) 22″ monitors
• LCD and keyboard adjust 18″ (46 cm) in tandem
• LCDs adjust 5″ (13 cm) independently
• Maximum LCD height adjustment = 23″ (58 cm)
• Desk Clamp attaches to surface edge .4″ to 2.4″ (1 to 6 cm) thick
• Fits standard 75/100 VESA compliant displays
• Stands 30″ tall from your desktop

Pros:

• Enables you to live a healthier lifestyle
• Industrial strength construction
• Switches easily between sitting and standing

Cons:

• Standing may be frowned upon in your office
• Mouse tray retainer too short to be effective with keyboard tilt
• Display mounting hardware not available seperately to update your system if your needs change

Want one yourself? You can buy it here for $399 (affiliate link)

Perhaps one of the more useful Wii Accessories to come out as of late is this new Wii Rowing Machine.  Capable of working with Wii Sports And Wii Fit, there is no actual resistance besides your arms.  Keeping your feet in a secure position, your movements will directly correlate with what’s happening on the screen.  With no weights letting you ramp up your strength, this is really only going to be useful for older people.  In the video you can see how it works and that it’s really just another piece of exercise equipment to keep around your living room.

Amazon has a pre-order up now for only $35.  I’m not as excited as the “reps” in the video.

[via Ubergizmo]

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Being fat sucks.  Any grossly overweight person can tell you that.  Most people cite time as being the major reason while they can’t make it to the gym.  With this Top-Loading Barbell concept from Sun Ho Sin, getting in an out of the gym could be quicker than ever.  Extra seconds are easily spent racking and un-racking weights (according to proper gym etiquette) and it could be a more streamlined process at best.

Pretty self explanatory from the picture above, each weight loads from the top and then locks into place.  I would like to see a side by side video of this design in action to tell whether or not it really is faster than traditional barbells.  Either way, it’s a truly innovative design that I hope picks up some traction as well as getting some love from 24 Hour Fitness.

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