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Under Armour edition of Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active 2 arrives today
It's been a couple of months since we found out about Under Armour's spin on Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active 2. And all we heard back at IFA 2019 was that the wearable, which is geared toward runners, would be launching this fall. But, if you've had your eyes on it since its reveal in August, you'll be happy to hear that the Galaxy Watch Active 2 Under Armour Edition (say that ten times fast) can be yours starting today. As you've come to expect from most smartwatches, the UA Watch Active 2 features a heart-rate monitor and can show you stats like calories burned and distance covered. That said, where Samsung and Under Armour really want to make it shine is with its fitness coaching and training plans, which are customized for you using data from the watch during your runs. It can tell you how to improve your form in real time, for instance.
Bacteria from your gut may be the key to running farther
What separates average athletes from elite ones? Aside from years and years of training, dedication to the craft and natural advantages, it may have to do with what is in your gut. In a paper published this week in Nature Medicine, researchers from the Wyss Institute at Harvard revealed that a particular type of bacteria called Veillonella was found in higher quantities in marathon runners. That bacteria could lead to better performance.
Super Mega Runners is a run through 8-bit nostalgia
Super Mega Runners, which is free in the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users on iOS 6.0 or higher is a retro style runner game where your object is to run and jump, collecting coins and items while jumping over and on enemies to reach the end of each level. Instead of the standard third person runner this game is played like a classic 8-bit platformer running left to right, just like a plumber used to with the run button being constantly held down. The game is very easy to pick up and play. You initial character, "Abe Zigen" just keeps running to the right and all the player has to do is tap the screen to make him jump. Holding the screen for certain lengths of time controls how high and long he jumps. Other characters are available and have new abilities like double jump or slide. These characters can be unlocked if a certain number of coins are collected in a level or though points by watching advertisement videos or signing up for services. The good thing is the advertisers are on a separate screen so they do not ruin the experience by popping up during play. The game starts with the player with three lives and you lose them by running into enemies when you are small or falling into a pit or other hazard. There are numerous checkpoints throughout each level so you do not have to start over from the beginning of a level if you lose a life. Continues are available when all three lives are gone. If you have collected 2,000 or more coins you can continue, or if you can cash in one point from clicking on advertisers. There are items hidden in exclamation point boxes which help you along the way. Strawberries make the character grow and if you collect enough of them, the character takes up the whole screen and can run through anything, while the bananas act like magnets and attract all the coins to the character. Enemies have the same look as classic 8-bit baddies which is great in a nostalgic game like this one. Some levels can be a bit frustrating as the difficulty really amps up after the first few levels. The hit points on the same enemies is not consistent so the player may kill one and get killed by the other even after jumping on their head in the same spot. So if you are looking for a quick game that is simple to pick up, and give you a little rush of nostalgia for classic 8-bit games gone by, then download Super Mega Runners and enjoy. I highly recommend it.
Bluetooth SIG releases certifications for fitness devices aimed at runners and cyclists
Fitness gadgets are great, but you never quite know what you're going to get when it comes to calorie counts, or a reading of how many miles you've run. That could change, though, thanks to a set of standards the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is adopting with regard to fitness devices. These two certifications, which apply to running and cycling gadgets, respectively, affect the way data (e.g., cadence, speed, distance) is transmitted to paired devices like smartphones, sports watches and cycling computers. As far as SIG is concerned, too, more standardization means OEMs will have an easier time bringing new products to market -- not that there's any current shortage of options to choose from.
Epson joins fitness market with world's lightest GPS watch
In the world of electronics, the size of a device directly relates to its ability to pull ahead of the competition -- especially when it comes to fitness-tracking gadgets. The latest and greatest in this field has emerged from the most unexpected of places, with Epson, a company known for its printers and projectors, releasing the world's lightest GPS watch. This timepiece, specifically designed for runners, reportedly offers more accurate readings and better battery life (up to 12 hours on one charge) than competing products from Garmin, with acute data on distance, speed and pace, all due to its newly-designed 13mm-thick module. If sweat is an issue, the water-resistant casing offers protection against a full submersion of up to 50 meters -- you can wipe your brow with a sigh of relief. Pricing and availability on the company's latest concept is still unknown, but you can let your eyes do the jogging as you peruse the press release just past the break.
