GadgetReview

CTA Digital is running quite the racket.  Instead of building actual, real working products, they’ve managed to achieve some level of success producing peripherals for the Wii that aren’t much more than plastic.  This time around they’ve got the Wii Push Up Bar, which attaches to the Wii Balance Board and allows you to perform an extra deep push up.  Wow, did I just say ‘Wii’ and ‘push up’ in the same sentence?

You can score one for $25 from Amazon.

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While a step forward for Tanita, their new line of scales featuring an SD card slot still pale in comparison to the Withings WiFi Scale.  Using the SD card, you can transfer information such as chronological graphs and such to your computer.

Available sometime next month there’s no word on exactly what the price will be.  I have a BMI and water weight scale from Tanita and for the most part I have been satisfied with the accuracy.  The controls could be better but it’s nice to know where you’re at in terms of body fat and water weight.

Any interest in a scale like this?

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Childhood obesity is a big problem, no matter who you ask–but there may be a new gadget to help stop it.  It’s called a mandometer, and it weighs a plate of food at the beginning of a meal, and then tracks the rate at which food leaves the plate.  It then gives an audible warning to slow down if it believes you’re eating too fast.

Call it a MANDible speedOMETER, a measure of jaw speed–it works on the basic principle that if you eat slower, you’ll eat less overall because your brain will send signals that you’re full.  The faster you eat, the more likely you are to override the signals from the brain saying that your stomach is full.

Early tests of the mandometer are encouraging, with 106 obese children taking on a 12-month trial, with eating speeds falling, and portion sizes falling to match.  No word on how much actual weight the obese children lost, but when portion sizes fall it’s really sort of axiomatic that weight will fall to match.

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Finding a good armband for your MP3 player can be a tricky thing.  Does it stay fastened to your arm without sliding?  Does it get in the way of what your doing?  I have tried a couple of arm bands in my day and I always ended up going with an around the hip accessory (tucked into my waistband) just because it worked better for what I was doing.

ArmPocket is an Eco-Friendly company that makes a variety of quality and utilitarian armbands for your Apple iPhone or iPod Touch.  To say it right now, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is the best arm band I have used yet and I highly advise you to check it out if you are looking for a competent and fairly priced exercise accessory.

Let’s start with features.  Assuming that you don’t have any other storage on your person, the ArmPocket Sport 20 has got you covered.  In the main chamber there are two elastic slots for an ID and credit card and it is big enough to hold an energy bar or gel in addition to your MP3 player no problem.  On the outside there is also a small loop to hold a keyring. …Continue reading: ArmPocket Sport 20 Review

If you’re having a tough time keeping your weight down, you may be interested to know that a new gadget is available to help.  It’s called the Bodybugg and it helps in pretty much every aspect of weight loss.

The Bodybugg measures skin temperature and motion to get an idea of what kind of movement you’re  engaging in, and thus get a better idea of your muscle use and therefore exercise.  Plus, there’s a pedometer, and can coordinate with a web based program to help you monitor your food intake.

It’s battery operated and the people behind it claim a ninety percent accuracy rate in terms of measurement, so you’ll be able to get a handle on things even if it isn’t total accuracy.  They retail for about two hundred and fifty dollars, so you’ll be able to get your hands on one without too much trouble.

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While the video for Microsoft’s Project Natal was actually very cool indeed, it just seems like everyone is in a race to get rid of controllers entirely.  I happen to like controllers very much.  Wii is cool for parties but I’d never play that type of game by myself and consider solo play as some of my most enjoyable video game experiences.  At any rate, Ubisoft has announced a camera based motion capture accessory for their new fitness game “Your Shape” for the Wii.  More like Pre-Natal in that it is game and not system specific, the accessory boasts real time feedback and monitors your exercise movements unlike any other fitness game currently for Wii.  The game and peripheral will hit shelves this fall but no word yet on price.

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Circuit City has the super hard to find Wii Fit with Wii Balance Board and without a mandatory bundle. It’s $90 + free shipping = $90 shipped!

Features:

• Get fit with the Wii
• Different game, Wii Balance board, BMI check and more

Buy it: Wii Fit with Wii Balance Board – $90