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WSJ concerned about Wii owner health
The Capitalist's Bible, also known as the Wall Street Journal, gives a backhanded compliment to the Wii today saying it gets people off the couch, but "is turning out to be more exercise than some players bargained for." The article explores how people are beginning to develop -- wait for it -- "Wii elbow." One after another the WSJ serves up another poor soul who has been exerted by the Wii-ness. For example, Ryan Mercer lifts weights during the week but Wii Sports' boxing is pwning him, "I was soaking wet with sweat, head to toe -- I had to go take a shower." The following morning he was so sore he had trouble getting his shirt on.Nintendo's name-dropping spokesperson Perrin Kaplan is quoted in the piece saying she hasn't received any complaints about soreness. Serving back WSJ's backhanded compliment she says, "It was not meant to be a Jenny Craig supplement ... if people are finding themselves sore, they may need to exercise more."So the answer is to train up before you Wii and you won't get sore, but please remember you can always play the Wii like a toolbox.
Games stave off mental aging? Not as well as aerobics.
Bad news for couch potatoes that thought they were going to game themselves into brilliance (or at least game into old age, safe from senility). Researchers now say that crosswords (and other brain games) and all that are fine, but nothing works quite as well as three hours a week of aerobic excercise, according to the Wall Street Journal. "As little as three hours a week of aerobic exercise increased the brain's volume of gray matter (actual neurons) and white matter (connections between neurons), they report in the November issue of the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. "After only three months," says Prof. Kramer, "the people who exercised had the brain volumes of people three years younger." In other words, don't count on Dr. Kawashima to keep your wetware healthy. You'll have to get off your toucas and move more than just your thumbs. Of course, there's no reason why you can't whip out a DS while on the stairmaster and enjoy compound benefits (see World of Warcraft + exercise bike setup above).
Playing Warcraft for fun and fitness
It's not often you see World of Warcraft mentioned in the same sentence as physical fitness -- at least not in a positive sense. However, someone has managed to bring Warcraft into their fitness regimen in a positive way -- since you do tend to stop noticing the passage of time during play-sessions, why not do something useful with that time? Greg lost 41 pounds in 3 months and attributes some of his success to his "warbiking" cardio routine.[Via Joystiq]
iSoundCap intros exercise-centric Running Cap
Some products are simply doomed to fail before they even hit the market, and the iSoundCap was surely one of those items. Unfortunately Amazingly, the start-up centered around a less-than-fashionable ballcap with an apparently appealing ability to tote your iPod is still alive and well, and is now kicking out yet another flavor with trainers (and higher revenue) in mind. The aptly-named Running Cap is "made with a breathable, lightweight mesh fabric, and places the iPod in protective neoprene" to keep any stray wires from flailing around your face. The new exercise-friendly version will supposedly be offered in pink, silver, green, black, red, and blue, which coincidentally matches the colors of the new rainbow nanos. Marketed as the "ultimate way" to carry your iPod while utilizing the Nike+iPod kit, the sweat-proof cap could indeed siphon a few extra dollars from the running crowd, but as of press time we aren't exactly certain how much coinage these outlandish dome adornments will demand.
Getting fit with an iPod and a playlist
When you're horribly out of shape (like I am) and are trying to get fit (like I am) you need something to spice up those long hours in the gym. This article suggests that an iPod might be the perfect gym companion, and virtual trainer. The article speaks to a few people who have downloaded 'personal trainers' to their iPods that give them encouragement as they work out.Strangely the article does not mention the Nike + iPod Sport Kit, which is designed to do just what this article suggests. I'll be getting myself an iPod nano, and a sports kit, after the Sept 12th event (just to be sure, you never know) and I'll report on my experiences as a fat man with a sensor in his shoe.
TrailRunner
TrailRunner is a neat application that turns any iPod into a workout planning machine, in a way. The application allows you to interactively plan a route, whether it be for running, inline skating, bicycling or what have you, and export those directions to your iPod. This way you'll never be lost on a workout again (I avoid that problem by never working out).TrailRunner suggests a donation of 21 €.
Wii looks to pump you up
According to IGN, Nintendo just might be trying to get you off of the couch and into a workout routine with the Wii, doing for your body what Brain Age on the DS did for your mind. They found this news via Bloomberg, which claims that Nintendo is in the process of making new diet-based software for the console.This idea sounds about right, but in what way could they guarantee an actual fitness experience through use of the Wiimote? Would they try to market another peripheral for the console or would the player just jog in place, for instance? Sure, we could imagine the Wiimote playing a role in some kind of exercise routine where stretching was a major aspect or perhaps some kind of yoga variant, but we know that is in no way going to pump you up.[Via Joystiq]
Sony NW-S205 2GB Network Walkman reviewed
After we let the cat out of the bag, it didn't take long for CNET to get their hands on Sony's latest excuse to exercise. The NW-S205, appearing only in black and housing 2GB of capacity, is their newest Network Walkman and is apparently poised to combat the Nike+iPod craze. It seems to have done quite well at accomplishing that goal, as the myriad of features and bundled accessories (Sony, is that you?) readily revealed its "athletic intentions." Although the reviewers weren't too fond of being forced to transfer files via SonicStage, there was plenty of love for the cigar-shaped DAP. The player seemed well-built for its intentions: having a water (and sweat) resistant enclosure, throwing in a comfortable armband, and including the G-Sensor (Sony's name for a pedometer) made this a viable alternative to Apple's offering. CNET was most impressed with the built-in FM tuner -- something sorely missing on the nano -- and the intelligent playlist changer that hopped lists when you broke into a run or slowed to a walk. Thanks to a $150 asking price and superb "out-of-the-box" functionality, the NW-S205 was highly regarded, and will be tempting legs everywhere to make good use of themselves in August.
Sony packs pedometers into upcoming Network Walkmen
Watch out Apple and Nike, because Sony's got a new set of Network Walkmen waiting in the wings that pack a pedometer right into the players themselves, eliminating the need for a separate kit and expensive pair of sneakers. Although it doesn't sound like the cigar-shaped, 2GB NW-S205F and 1GB NW-S203F will offer the same online experience as you'd find at the Nikeplus website, you're still getting calorie, step, and distance counter functionality right out of the box, along with a stopwatch and FM tuner -- plus an armband to keep everything secure. The nano still holds the edge in screen quality -- and capacity, obviously -- as the new Sonys sport but a one-line OLED display. Pricing here is pretty attractive, with the black S205F and silver S203F going for $150 and $120, respectively, when they hit stores in either September or October.
Nike+iPod Sport Kit review roundup
Even if the the Nike+iPod Sport Kit were inaccurate, unintuitive, and uncomfortable to wear -- which it doesn't seem to be -- the handful of reviews we've read so far all agree that it possesses at least one attribute that might still make it a worthy purchase: it actually motivated the reviewers to run harder and more often than normal. Fortunately for people who also like their gear to function properly, the wireless pedometer cum personal trainer sounds like it does indeed perform as advertised, offering runners and joggers an easy setup, useful mid-workout statistics and updates, and perhaps most helpfully, a polished online interface to plot one's progress against personal goals or compare esoteric stats with exercise enthusiasts around the world. There are a few downsides here, though, not the least of which is the fact that this is basically a disposable product; the non-rechargeable, non-replaceable battery will supposedly crap out after about 1,000 miles or a year of regular use (and that's assuming you remember to reach into your stinky shoes and turn off the transmitter after each run). You'll also have to shell out for a new armband to secure your nano, as most currently available options (except for those from Nike, of course) won't hold the combination of iPod plus wireless receiver. Overall, it doesn't seem like the kit alone is compelling enough to encourage more folks to snatch up a nano, but if you already own one of these diminutive DAPs, it's a cheap way to give it some extra functionality -- especially if you forgo the special pair of $100+ Nike sneakers for a quick and easy DIY mod to your current kicks.Read - CNETRead - Shiny ShinyRead - TewksRead - iLounge Read - WSJ
Unboxing the Nike+iPod Sport Kit
Now that you can actually go out and purchase a Nike+iPod Sport Kit, you're probably wondering what exactly it is that you're getting with this package, so iLounge was kind enough to snap some photos of the unboxing process and post a few screenshots of the new menu options that will show up on your nano. Feature-wise, there's really nothing here that we didn't know already, though we did learn some more details about the kit's integration with the Nikeplus website -- besides tracking your workout statistics and long-term progress, you can also compare your performance with runners much better than yourself, providing you with an incentive to either work harder or try your hand at another sport. Also worth noting is the fact that the kit will definitely not work with any iPod other than the nano, and your device must sport the latest firmware in order to recognize the adapter. Keep reading to scope out a few of the menu screens, head over to iLounge for the full rundown, and stay tuned for a roundup as reviews start trickling out...
Nike+iPod available for pre-order
Exercise nuts looking to pick up one of the Nike+iPod Sport kits to enhance their workouts can finally place their orders on the Apple site, and can expect delivery of their purchase in four to five weeks. At $29, the kit is quite the bargain too, except that it won't do you much good without the hundreds of dollars of electronics and specialized footwear necessary to record and analyze every aspect of your morning jog. Luckily, Nike has been busy releasing several pairs of sneakers with that dugout under the sole for the wireless sensor, so even if the nano continues to remain a relatively pricey luxury, you should eventually be able to buy a pair of compatible kicks that won't break the bank. [Via TUAW]
Bluetooth SIG drafting Medical Device Profile
Your Bluetooth-enabled PC or handset will soon be able to do more than just stream audio and sync data, as the SIG responsible for the wireless protocol has announced a forthcoming profile that will enable pairing with health and fitness monitoring equipment. Although several proprietary monitoring solutions are already on the market, the so-called Medical Device Profile will allow third-party manufacturers to release hardware with guaranteed interoperability, which should help grow this nascent use of the technology. Scheduled for completion sometime during the first half of next year, the new profile will allow users to both track pertinent statistics on their Bluetooth devices and easily send that data to doctors, coaches, or trainers. Luckily for us heavy Bluetooth users, the profile will also be compatible with the upcoming Ultra Wideband (UWB) standard, meaning that the fitness-related bits traveling to our smartphone won't have to fight for bandwidth with the tethered GPS receiver and A2DP tunes we rock during our workouts.[Via MedGadget]
Apple patents workout music matching
It seems that Apple may have plans for incorporating the iPod into your workout other than just the integration with Nike sneakers, as a newly released patent shows that the company has invented a method of adjusting the pace and style of music playback while you exercise. Incorporated into a model called the iPod Sport, perhaps, this technology would use an accelerometer to gauge the pace of a person's workout, and encourage them to "take it to the max" by either increasing the tempo of a particular song (though hopefully not to the point where all your tunes sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks) or automatically changing to a faster-paced track. This is all well and good, but how about throwing in some Bluetooth while you're at it, cause the wire dangling from that runner's head in the illustration has got to go.[Via Unwired View]
Cheesesteaks vs. PlayStation showdown
Will frequent use of the PlayStation EyeToy:Kinetic game chisel my formless flab (left) into a sleek, muscular, body-ideal (right)? Following our poll that asked readers to rank themselves on a scale of skinny to obese, I'm conducting an experiment to assess the potential for games to have a positive influence on a gamer's health. I'll be using an EyeToy: Kinetic for the PlayStation 2. The marketing hype for the product promises a "Body by PlayStation" via a "full-body fitness program like no other." I'm testing that premise with a $500 wager. Read on for details.
"Resting thumbs" redux: exergaming roundup
We recently brought you news of an ad campaign with the slogan "Give your thumbs a rest", and this timely article by Killer Betties is an excellent port of call for anyone wishing to do so while still playing video games.Thanks to gaming, it's easy to find exercise that is both fun and continually rewarding, without battling the elements or paying for expensive gym memberships. Fitness and gaming are becoming unlikely bedfellows thanks to sophisticated gym machines and programs like Yourself! Fitness; the article also looks at popular options like DDR and Donkey Konga which can be surprisingly good for you.
