ExerciseRoutine
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Daily iPhone App: Milekeeper lets you ride the Tour de France as you exercise
I'm always looking for new ways to keep a workout fresh -- a new routine or an interesting challenge that'll make my running less boring. One app that added some spice to my exercise routine is MileKeeper, a mileage tracker that shows your distance on a virtual route. MileKeeper ships with several virtual routes including the Great Wall of China, the Tour de France and the English Channel swim. As you log your miles, the app will track your progress through your chosen route. So, every mile you run is a mile that you swim the English Channel. MileKeeper supports Facebook Friends and lets you invite others to join you in your virtual route either as a competitor or a relay partner. I love the idea behind MileKeeper, and its execution is wonderfully done. The app lets you pick a virtual route, select an exercise activity and go. It works in GPS mode and will automatically track your distance and update your progress along your virtual route. There's also a gym mode that requires you to log your distance manually. I like the flexibility that gym mode offers, but you must enter your final distance in yards, which is very inconvenient for most people who log their workouts in terms of miles. MileKeeper is a great addition to anyone's workout routine. It adds an interesting twist to an otherwise boring bike ride or swim. It does crash every once in a while, but I can deal with the occasional glitch as it gives me motivation to get up and off the couch. MileKeeper is available for free from the iOS App Store. It ships with several free virtual routes and additional ones are available for US$0.99 via an in-app purchase.
Nike+ Running comes to Android with Facebook Open Graph, iOS lands a big update to match
Android fans have been largely cut out of the Nike+ ecosystem, but that changes tonight: the shoemaker has kicked off a major redesign by giving the Google faithful their own version of its GPS-based run tracking app, now called Nike+ Running. Both it and an ample version 4.0 remake for iOS make starting a run that much quicker, and the whole experience has been tuned to compare runs and set goals without having to squint too closely at a phone that should be far from your mind. Facebook's Open Graph steps into the arena to share run data and track friends; even if you're not a social networking maven, you can tag your shoes to find out if that worn out pair of cross-trainers is holding you back. Both app versions are free to grab, so you've got an easy avenue to loading up your Galaxy S III (or iPhone) and shedding a few pounds.
