Exercise -- Engadget

exercise posts

AlterG's M300 treadmill: same 'anti-gravity' vibe, now 'only' $24,500

by Darren Murph posted Oct 29th 2009 at 5:08AM

We've always heard that holiday calories "don't count," but disregarding urban legend for a minute, we'd say AlterG's timing here is nothing short of impeccable. Nearly 1.5 years after the outfit's P200 series was a-okay'd by the FCC, an all new walking machine has entered the fray. The M300 treadmill brings along the same "anti-gravity" feel (useful for rehabilitation and athletic training), but in a machine that's a third of the price and way, way sleeker. The idea here is to reduce the strain on joints and muscles as one exercises, and while that's certainly commendable, we're still thinking it'll take one or two more iterations to get one priced for the everyman. You know, unless you consider $24,500+ (or $499+ per month for the rest of your Earthly life) "affordable."

[Via MedGadget]

Philips introduces DirectLife activity monitor / fitness program

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 21st 2009 at 5:25AM

Well, we just finished putting the Fitbit activity monitor through its paces, but it looks like Philips has now come out with a strikingly similar device of its own -- which, like the Fitbit, promises to help you get more active by monitoring you all the time. From the sound of it, however, it seems that Philip's so-called DirectLife monitor has a few more tricks up its sleeve, not the least of which is a full-fledged fitness program complete with its own online personal coaches (who contribute to the $12.50 a month cost). The activity monitor itself also seems to have a few advantages over the Fitbit, including some LED lights that show your progress at a glance, and a built-in USB plug that eschews the need for a dock. Then again, it does still make use of nothing more than a basic accelerometer to monitor your activity, which isn't always the most foolproof option. It also packs the same $99 price tag as the Fitbit, but Philips will knock that down to $79 if you order this month, and even throw in a four-month membership for good measure.

Bona fide exercise bike abuses Wiimote accessory license... badly

by Darren Murph posted Oct 14th 2009 at 7:40AM

See that up there? That's an exercise bike. And a Wii. Amazingly enough, there's a strong correlation between the two, and unless the entire world is being pranked here, BigBen interactive is actually looking to ship a "full-size" Wiimote-compatible fitness machine with its next game. We can't even fathom how quickly this thing is bound to fall apart (or how absurdly expensive it'll be if there's even a smidgen of quality), but we're more than anxious to learn of an MSRP. Now, if only Ford would pump out a Wiimote-friendly Focus to use in the next installment of Mario Kart, we'd be set.

[Via Joystiq]

Fitbit tracker starts shipping, ready to monitor your fitness, sleep, piety

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 29th 2009 at 10:01AM

Better (a year) late than never, eh Fitbit? This time last year, there was quite a bit of buzz stirred up by a little gadget promising to monitor exercise intensity, distances traveled, sleep patterns, and calorie consumption. This pedometer with a degree and a 3D motion sensor has been incubating a lot longer than initially projected, but the first few units have finally trickled out to their eager users today. The entire device is essentially one big clip, attaching to any bit of clothing you have on you, while its base station can wirelessly collect data and upload it, via a pc, to a free online tracking dashboard. Add in the OLED display and a quoted battery autonomy of 10+ days, and the $99 price starts to appear pretty reasonable.

[Via medGadget]

Ripxx debuts Personal Measurement Device for exercise nerds and Olympic athletes

by Darren Murph posted Sep 23rd 2009 at 6:49PM

If we're being candid, the Ripxx Personal Measurement Device (or PMD, as the hip kids call it) looks a lot like the original SPOT with the addition of a display. But aside from the physical likeness, there aren't too many similarities between the two gizmos. Launched this month, the handheld fitness tool is apt to be a surefire winner for any competitive athlete, not to mention competitive individuals in general who just need a statistical way to track their dominance. Essentially, an integrated GPS tracker pumps out ten tracking signals every second during, let's say, a ski run. That information, coupled with data gathered from a trio of accelerometers and gyroscopes, is used to record your location, orientation, speed, vertical drop, rolls, spins, turns and just about any other movement you make. Once you're done, those points can be plotted on a map for review. We're told that the U.S. Olympic team is already using a prototype to train for the 2010 winter games, though mere lay people won't be able to buy one until mid-December for $329.

Video: Joules robot rides shotgun, helps pedal on two-person bicycle

by Darren Murph posted Sep 17th 2009 at 9:37PM

There's "desperate for companionship," and then there's "just plain cool." We're going out on a limb here and suggesting that the scenario you see unfolding above is a case of the latter, with modder Carl developing a robotic partner that not only rides shotgun on this tandem bicycle, but also helps pedal. A PMG-132 electric motor is connected to Joules (that's the robot, just so you know), and thanks to an array of nuts, bolts, joints and the promise of a better life in Carl's garage, Joules has graciously agreed to help power the bike for as long as his owner decides to exercise. Trust us, there's a truly touching video waiting for you after the break, and you'll immediately lose five nerd points should you choose not to head down there and look.

Continue reading Video: Joules robot rides shotgun, helps pedal on two-person bicycle

Video: Taizo the robot teaches grandpa how to stretch, so you don't have to

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 13th 2009 at 7:24AM

You know, maybe we were wrong-headed to keep harping on this 'evil robot' meme. Sure, there are some no-goodniks in the robot community (as opposed to the robotics community, which we assure you is full of hard-working, well-meaning people) but look at all the good robots have done for us: they build our cars, serve us hot drinks, teach our young children, and now they help our oldsters with the physical therapy. Taizo, pictured here, is a delightful chap with a bulbous visage and a fun, plushy space suit who stands just over 24-inches tall and weighs 15.5 pounds. Operating for about two hours on a single charge, the robot is designed to lead low-impact group exercise (mostly while sitting down) and features voice recognition and a library of thirty different exercises. With 26 joints in its body, it's a flexible fellow, for sure. We just hope that no one weaponizes the thing. Video after the break.

Gallery: Taizo the robot teaches grandpa how to stretch

[Via Engadget German]

Continue reading Video: Taizo the robot teaches grandpa how to stretch, so you don't have to

Nike seemingly plans 5G iPod nano-compatible heart rate monitor

by Darren Murph posted Sep 10th 2009 at 9:17PM

One of the new iPod nano features that Apple didn't bother to illustrate much yesterday is the integrated pedometer, and if an updated Nike+ iPod user guide is to be believed, that ain't the only fitness-related extra that the 5G nano will be good for. As the image above so clearly shows, a Nike+ compatible heart rate monitor could be on the way, and it'll function exclusively with Cupertino's only camera-toting iPod. AppleInsider was told that the product launch was actually scheduled for yesterday, but it was held up for reasons unknown and may not ship until 3058. Too bad -- we just know that you were waiting for this very device to start your workout regimen. Ah well, what's another dozen months of kicking back and ingesting Ho Hos, right?

Garmin debuts Edge 500 GPS for bicyclists, determined unicyclists

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 2nd 2009 at 10:12AM

Garmin's cyclist-minded GPS devices have sure come a long way from their earlier, bulkier days, and it looks like the company has now produced one of its sleekest units to date in the form of its new Edge 500 GPS. Like most such devices, this one is primarily intended to track your cycling progress rather than lead you to your destination, and it promises to give you precise data on things like speed, distance, time, calories burned, and even climb and descent information, which is further bolstered by a built-in barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation. The unit can also sync up with various third-party devices that make use of ANT+ technology, and it can naturally be paired with a Garmin heart rate monitor to keep a close watch on your vitals. Look for the standalone unit to set you back about $250, while the bundle with a heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor bumps things up to $350.

Webcycle provides pedal-powered internet, reason to dodge browser-enlarging Flash sites

by Darren Murph posted Aug 10th 2009 at 5:03AM

Need an excuse to get some cardio into your life? Can't live without ye old internet? Thanks to Matt Grey and Tom Scott, the answer to your weight loss woes is pictured above. The aptly-titled Webcycle is essentially a sensor-laden fitness bike that requires users to pedal faster in order to snag more throughput. An Ubuntu-based laptop is wired up to an Arduino and an array of sensors that allow more bits and bytes to seep through based on how hard the rider is working. A simple slow pedal is all it takes to load mobile pages and text-heavy sites, but if you're hoping to actually watch the video after the break, you'll certainly need to kick things up a notch. Pure brilliance, we say.

[Thanks, Yoda]

Continue reading Webcycle provides pedal-powered internet, reason to dodge browser-enlarging Flash sites

Pool-Mate watch packs built-in accelerometer to track laps

by Donald Melanson posted Jul 1st 2009 at 9:41PM

It may not monitor your heart rate or double as a media player like some other devices for swimmers, but this new Pool-Mate watch from Swimovate looks like it should appeal to quite a few folks nonetheless, with it packing a built-in accelerometer to help you keep track of lap counts. That's apparently done by detecting the glide portion of your swim after each turn, which Swmovate says it's able to do with 99.75 percent accuracy in all pools longer than 10 meters. You'll also be able to use it to keep track of your overall time, average strokes per lap, speed, distance, and calories burned. Somewhat strangely, however, Swimovate says that the watch will only last for about twelve months, after which you'll actually have to send it back to the company to get the battery replaced. A bit of a drawback, to be sure, but the $114 price tag isn't too out of line, and you won't have to wait long to get your hands on one, with it set to ship later this month. Head on past the break for a quick video overview.

Continue reading Pool-Mate watch packs built-in accelerometer to track laps

Nintendo moves 15 million Wii Fit units in a year, 4 remain in use

by Darren Murph posted Jun 2nd 2009 at 6:59PM

Oh c'mon, just admit it -- you rationalized that Wii Fit purchase like so: "Oh, I can't afford this, but it's totally something to make me exercise! So, I'll buy it!" Fast forward two months later, and you're struggling to find space to hide the case. All kidding aside (sort of...), you can't deny the facts, and the facts are that the Big N managed to ship 15 million Wii Fits units in just 13 months. For comparison, it took right around 2.5 years to move 50 million Wii units, so it seems this here title is well on its way to hitting the same milestone in around the same amount of time. Unfortunately, you can't lose weight by simply handing over wads of cash to Satoru Iwata -- feel free to try, though.

Personal Trainer: Walking gets release date, price, shin splints

by Joseph L. Flatley posted May 20th 2009 at 10:43AM

We know you've been eagerly awaiting the release of Nintendo's Personal Trainer: Walking for the Nintendo DS and DSi. Look, there's no need to play coy: We've caught you circling the block in your new track suit, psyching yourself up for all the fun (and fitness!) you'll be having once you get your hands on those patented Nintendo Activity Meters. According to the company, this bad boy is up for pre-order now and will finally be available for sale on May 26, at a suggested retail price of $49.99. Sweet, huh? Soon you'll be recording every step that you make, transferring the data to your handheld, parsing the stats, and transforming yourself from a slovenly couch potato into the veritable icon of fitness -- and all with the help of your favorite handheld. Welcome to the future... it's fabulous!

EA SPORTS Active for Wii in stores now, taunting us with its toned abs

by Joseph L. Flatley posted May 19th 2009 at 9:57AM

Well, we have to admit a certain principled aversion to any console game that involves jumping, the flailing of the arms, cardio-whatever... anything, really, that Richard Simmons might approve of. It's bad enough that we're being asked to turn in our traditional controllers in for a balance board, but are we really supposed to believe that Electronic Arts -- the company that single-handedly ruined our health during the 1980s as we stayed up for weeks at a time on the quest to save Skara Brae -- could, or should, present the world with a "personal trainer in a box?" Well, if you're one of those people, you'll be happy to know that EA SPORTS Active for Wii is now available in retail stores Stateside, with worldwide release slated for May 22. Video after the break.

Continue reading EA SPORTS Active for Wii in stores now, taunting us with its toned abs

Space Invaders used to encourage exercising, snag an A+ in EE316

by Darren Murph posted Apr 27th 2009 at 8:11AM

For those of us who haven't moved our fundament in three days, we can definitely attest to the fact that finding motivation to exercise is amongst life's greatest challenges. Not to fear, as Allen, Matt and Doug have decided to provide all the encourage we nerds need with their final EE316 (Computer Engineering) project. By utilizing an Axis network camera, a Bluetooth heart rate sensor and a few intelligent lines of code, they concocted a Space Invaders exercise program that requires the player to physically move in order to stay alive. Talk about incentive. Check the vid and full description in the read link.

[Via Hack-A-Day]