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Plantronics offers affordable wireless audio for your workouts
Plantronics' latest BackBeat wireless headphones have tended to focus on value for your hard-earned cash, and that's definitely the focus today. It's launching a range of BackBeat Fit headphones that promise sweat-resistant designs without a huge outlay. The BackBeat Fit 300 in-ears are billed as some of the lightest Bluetooth headphones on the planet, with stable earpieces and low-friction cloth cables, but the cost is relatively easy to swallow at $80/£90 -- the only big catch is the so-so 6-hour battery life. And if you tend to work out more at the gym, the Fit 500 on-ears (shown up top) give you 18 hours of comfier playback for $100/£90.
A tiny sensor turns any stationary bike into a VR workout machine
A $400 VR exercise bike might be a tough sell for VirZOOM, but the company has a new option that could make working out in virtual reality more compelling. At E3 2017, the company is showing off its new VZ Sensor, a small device that attaches to the crank of any stationary bike. For $99, you can turn a bike that you may already have into a VR workout center.
Netflix becomes your personal trainer with its new DIY device
Working out can be tough, but inversely, watching Netflix is super easy. The streaming giant doesn't want to distract you from your fitness goals, though. Netflix would much rather be your workout buddy, which is why it posted instructions for making a DIY personal trainer gadget.
Runkeeper uses Apple Watch GPS to keep track of your route
Apple Watch Series 2 arrived with two notable updates: waterproofing and built-in GPS. Even though the popular jogging app has been letting users run without their iPhone since last fall, Runkeeper now tasks the wearable's own GPS for better tracking of your routes. An update to the company's Apple Watch software takes advantage of the built-in feature for "richer stats" and a detailed map you can view on your phone.
Rithmio Edge tracks weightlifting sessions with Android Wear
We've seen a number of wearable devices that track your weightlifting sessions at the gym, but Rithmio has a new app that does so with a device you may already own. The Rithmio Edge app works with Android Wear smartwatches to keep tabs on your workout, tracking both exercises and reps using the company's gesture recognition technology. The app learns your movements as you go so it can log the different exercises you fancy during those lifting routines. It also tracks reps and sets so you'll not exactly where you stand when it comes time to analyze progress.
Microsoft Studios shutters Xbox Fitness at-home workouts
Xbox Fitness has provided an at-home workout with the help of the trusty game console and Microsoft's Kinect since 2013. However, the exercise option won't be around much longer. Microsoft Studios announced that the console-driven workouts would be shuttered July 1, 2017, citing the effort required to ship regular updates to keep the gym routines fresh. The company says it has "given much consideration to the reality updating the service regularly in order to sustain it."
Basis Peak gets smarter with music control and activity editing
The Basis Peak fitness tracker just got an update that controls the music playing on an Android or iOS device and lets users manually enter the type and duration of a workout. Good news for music fans that get in shape with activities that might necessarily get tracked like yoga or surfing.
How tech did (and didn't) help the Engadget staff lose weight
Last September, I received some rather sobering news from my doctor. My glucose levels showed that I had prediabetes, putting me in danger of developing the real thing if I didn't alter my diet and my lifestyle. Seeing as I have a family history of the disease (both my father and grandfather had it), I knew things had to change. So I set out to reduce my intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates as well as establish an actual workout routine. But that wasn't quite enough; I needed something else to motivate me. A few conversations with coworkers later, the Engadget Fitness Challenge was born.
ICYMI: Smart dumbbells, robot car seat and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-471864{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-471864, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-471864{width:100%;display:block;} #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-471864{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-471864, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-471864{width:100%;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-471864").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It: We are continuing our special Las Vegas coverage with a round-up of our favorite tech from Pepcom, a pre-CES event that showcases some of the technology at the show. Bowflex got our attention with a smart dumbbell that can count your reps and sync with an app over bluetooth. The dumbbells will cost $499 and are available later this month. But the stand that makes it fun to use is an additional $149.
'Xbox Fitness' no longer requires the Kinect
The Kinect, once such an integral part of Microsoft's Xbox One story, just lost a big toehold. You no longer need the depth sensor for Xbox Fitness, a key non-gaming app. The device brings gamification to workouts and forces you to think about form, so the app is more like a streaming service without it. However, dropping the requirement certainly opens it up to more users. Folks who compete with friends might also be disappointed to know that non-Kinect rivals still get a score just for watching the videos. Kinect users can score higher, though, and new workout titles will continue to support the camera. There's no word on whether Microsoft might offer smartphone body tracking like it does with Just Dance Now.
Google Fit gets real-time stats and grabs data from more wearables
Just in time to outfit your holiday workout regimen, Google its updating its Fit app with a few new features. First, the activity-tracking software now provides real-time distance, steps, pace and calorie stats for your running, walking and riding workouts. When you come to a stop for some push-ups, sit-ups or squats, you can use your Android Wear device to keep a tally of your reps before adding the total to your daily activity log. Google Fit also pulls in sleep and nutrition info from other apps and fitness trackers. If you're using MyFitnessPal (and a host of others) to track meals or Sleep as Android, Xiaomi Mi Band, Mi Band 1S, Sony Smartband 2 or the Basis Peak to keep tabs on how well you're resting, you'll be able access those details for a more complete picture of your overall wellness. Looking to give it a shot? You can grab the latest version of the Android app from Google Play right here.
ICYMI: Translation megaphone, live-caption headwear and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-819626{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-819626, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-819626{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-819626").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: A crowdfunding campaign to help the hearing impaired pairs a Google Glass-like head display with a mini-computer to create real-time closed captioning. International travelers who are impaired after a 14-hour flight will get some love at Japan's Narita International Airport with a megaphone that can translate Japanese messages into Chinese and English. Finally, gym rats will probably be into this Kickstarter for a towel (The Towell) which will give you a towel with a pocket and a magnet and that's about it, all for about $40 US.
Runtastic Results wants to be the P90X of mobile apps
There are currently a total of 15 Runtastic apps available across iOS, Android and Windows Phone. But the Austrian startup, recently acquired by sportswear giant Adidas, doesn't want to stop there. Today, it is introducing Results, an application that focuses solely on body training. This is Runtastic's version of the popular P90X fitness program, designed for the mobile era and to complement its other fitness-friendly software. Even though the app's available at no cost on iOS and Android, a premium, $50-per-year membership is going to unlock a dynamic 12-week workout plan. Here, you will get support from the Runtastic community, a personal nutrition guide and more than 120 exercise videos -- those, by the way, have been shot at 6K resolution, making them easier on the eye.
Most iPhone exercise apps don't give you the best workout
The next time you trust your smartphone as a fitness coach, you may want to be extra-picky about the apps you use. University of Florida researchers have tested 30 free iPhone workout apps to see how well they meet all of the American College of Sports Medicine's activity guidelines, and the results aren't exactly confidence-inspiring. Most of the apps met standards for aerobic and strength training, but most of them weren't up to snuff in flexibility exercise -- two thirds didn't meet the criteria at all. Only one, Sworkit Lite Personal Workout, hit every mark.
Soul Electronics' new sport headphones double as a walkie talkie
App-based personal trainers are great, but they usually lack the yelling abilities of a real live human. Soul Electronics has a solution for that, and it allows you to keep your headphones on. The company is leveraging Kickstarter for its Combat+ Sync wireless headphones that not only keep you from getting tangled in a cord during your bench press sets, but they also pack in a walkie talkie feature. So when your pal needs a bit of extra motivation, you can do just that as the cans have a built-in microphone to capture your cues.
Runtastic's latest workout app puts more junk in your trunk
Runtastic already offers dedicated apps for ab and bun workouts, and now the company takes aim at your lower half. Leg Trainer delivers over 50 exercise videos that'll allow you to select activity based on goals and fitness level. There are pre-selected routines -- like the 7-Minute Workout or Junk in the Trunk (yes, seriously) -- or you can choose individual exercises to build your own. Get ready to squat, lunge and kick your way to toned legs. Similar to the Six Pack and Butt Trainer apps, a 3D avatar guides you through the process so you know exactly what you should be doing. The Leg Trainer app also works with the Apple Watch, so you can follow the virtual trainer there or keep tabs on progress and workout stats. It also leverages the wearable to let you know when to start/stop a set and when the rest time between sets is over on tops of tracking heart rate. Perhaps the real question is what you gon' do with all that junk? All that junk inside your trunk?
Adidas and Spotify offer another way to soundtrack your run
Adidas and Spotify are already quite friendly, especially when it comes to supplying workouts with the proper tunes. The duo teamed up for offline playback on the Adidas SmartRun watch and soundtracking a jog with the help of RunKeeper. Now, there's an Adidas Go app that varies music based on movement tracked by your iPhone's accelerometer. Using that piece of smartphone tech, the app measures stride rate and matches songs from Spotify's library -- based on your listening habits -- to help you keep pace. When the run is over, stats like time, distance and pace can all be reviewed, saved and used to calculate your Adidas MiCoach RunScore. And if you'd like, you can save the collection of tracks the music service piped in along the way, too. Ready to lace up those sneakers? Well, you'll need an iPhone 4S or later to take advantage of the free app that's available at iTunes now.
Fitbit bought a personal training app to improve your workouts
Fitbit announced a trio of new fitness trackers back in the fall, and today, the company is making moves to improve how those gadgets tackle workouts. The wearable maker acquired FitStar, an app that serves up video-based personal training sessions on your mobile device. If you'll recall, FitStar's roster of experts includes former NFL player Tony Gonzalez and yoga guru Tara Stiles. The purchase allows FitStar users to lump workout details with other gathered stats. Heart rate trends will soon be available for those sessions too -- if you're sporting a compatible device, of course. Fitbit's software already tracks activity, sleep and diet, so the tossing in an on-demand personal trainer is a solid addition. However, a FitStar membership will set you back $8 a month or $40 a year.
Rock your workout with RockMyRun
Almost everyone uses a favorite playlist when they workout. The music helps the time pass more quickly and should help produce more energy. Now with RockMyRun you can listen to music lists prepared scientifically to improve your workouts by up to 30%. The free universal app requires iOS 7.0 or later. Users need to set up an account before you can use all the features in the app. This requires your name, email, and a password. Users can also use their Facebook ID to login. Once you have registered and logged in, you can set up your own list of music playlists and sort the list by length, genre, and beats per minute. Users can select a variety of playlists from more than a dozen different types of music including pop, rock, country, hip hop, R&B, reggae, and more. Each of these list were compiled with the goal of keeping a consistent level of energy and tempo throughout your exercise session. That is just what they do according to Dr. Jeanne NIchols, the lead exercise physiologist for EPARC, a top exercise research laboratory. In her findings, Dr. Nichols concludes that, "music that has been mixed together to maintain and optimize beat encourages the listener to experience and internalize more positive feelings about the experience and the outcomes. Once you have selected the type of music you want to listen to for your workout, you add it to your list of music. Then you can choose from a huge number of individual lists of music that vary in the beats per minutes and length. In the Rock listing you will find around two hundred different lists from which to choose, so no problem locating a good mix. The music varies in beats per minute from under 120 to more than 160. The more beats the higher the energy level and the faster the tempo so you can choose slower music to warm up or cool down and a really fast list for listening during the most strenuous part of your exercise program. Lengths in RockMyRun can be as short as ten or eleven minutes for warm ups and cool down sessions or to a maximum length of forty-five minutes. If you want your playlists to run longer than that you will need to upgrade to a premium membership either on a monthly basis for US$4.99 a month or an annual subscription of US$35.99. These subscriptions will be charged to your iTunes account and will automatically renew at the end unless you go into your account and turn that feature off at least 24 hours before the original subscription ends. RockMyRun operates seamlessly with most other running programs that count your steps, plot your path on a run or cycling trip, or tracks your calories burned. So you can use both at the same time. Overall RockMyRun provides users with a huge number of mixes to choose from when working out. No one should have any issues with finding just what you want. Based on the scientific data, the concept of using music consistent in tempo and energy should make the workouts end with users receiving better results. The only drawback is the maximum length of forty-five minutes. If you do long runs or cycling trips that won't be enough. However users do have the option of subscribing and deciding if they want to pay for scientifically prepared music or just listen to their own mixes.
Get fit with friends with BattleFit
Now you can turn your daily workouts into a friendly competition with BattleFit. The universal app runs on iOS 6.0 or later and is a free download. In BattleFit you will find a four different levels of workouts available, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Custom. Each level contains eleven different workouts you can do. Additional workouts are available but that requires an upgrade to BattleFit Pro for US$2.99. The concept behind the app is for users to make the workouts competitive. The developers feel that we all will achieve more if we have a specific goal to beat. With BattleFit you can compete against yourself or friends even if you are not working out together. Users can track how they do in each phase and enter the final result. The app tracks those workouts so you know what you have to beat each time you do the same exercise again. You can also enter your numbers and compare those with friends who run through the same set of exercises. As users complete each exercise, they earn points based on their times or the number of repetitions they completed. As the point totals increase users move up to higher designations within the app. You start at Couch Potato and go up from there. Users select the Arcade method to compete against their own personal bests or Versus to set up a battle against a friend or another user. The app has a search function that allows you to locate other users and invite them to become a workout friend. You will be able to see what level each user has achieved so you can choose someone for your Battle at the same level you are. In each level of the the workouts you will find the name of the workout and what the goals is for that exercise. For example in the Beginner section, the exercise called 20/20 requires you to complete 20 Burpees, 20 Crunches, 20 Squats, and 20 Pushups and time how long it takes you to do each set. When you are ready, a stop watch pops up and you go through all four sets then hit stop. You then post the time and you will be awarded points. Overall, BattleFit can be a good app to use to keep you motivated during your workouts especially if you tend to be more competitive. The workouts are strenuous and will test your fitness level if you want to keep moving to higher levels. One thing that would make the app better would be to offer more complete descriptions of how to do each exercise. Some do have single line descriptions to help but others have nothing. Everyone knows what a pushup or a pullup is but I am not clear on just what a Burpee is or how I do it. Maybe if you are a veteran workout addict all these names will be familiar but for beginners BattleFit needs more information.