Gadget show Review

Stepping on the bathroom scale ain’t exactly a walk in the park.  The experience is usually more closely tied to that of a roller coaster ride, which is to say it’s usually full of fear and hesitation.  So how about a scale that offers a bit more pizazz and game theory to the experience?

The Medisana TargetScale is really like no other that we’ve seen before, not even Withings version.  First off, it works with your smartphone via Bluetooth.  Fire up the Vitadock app and you can keep track of your weight over time, as well as track your BMI (body mass index), water weight and even your muscle and bone mass, though keep in mind anything beyond weight is a bit hit or miss with these types of scales.  This scale will even measure your weight distribution between your two feet and works with up to 4 users, so you could potentially cover the whole family.

That’s well and all, but hardly solves the motivation to set foot on the scale.  To further motivate you, the Medisana TargetScale is infused with a set of glowing rings.  The closers the rings are to the center the closer you are to attain your desired target weight, while the opposite clearly indicates you’re moving in the wrong direction.

You can pick it up from Firebox for $206.

Stepping on the bathroom scale ain’t exactly a walk in the park.  The experience is usually more closely tied to that of a roller coaster ride, which is to say it’s usually full of fear and hesitation.  So how about a scale that offers a bit more pizazz and game theory to the experience?

The Medisana TargetScale is really like no other that we’ve seen before, not even Withings version.  First off, it works with your smartphone via Bluetooth.  Fire up the Vitadock app and you can keep track of your weight over time, as well as track your BMI (body mass index), water weight and even your muscle and bone mass, though keep in mind anything beyond weight is a bit hit or miss with these types of scales.  This scale will even measure your weight distribution between your two feet and works with up to 4 users, so you could potentially cover the whole family.

That’s well and all, but hardly solves the motivation to set foot on the scale.  To further motivate you, the Medisana TargetScale is infused with a set of glowing rings.  The closers the rings are to the center the closer you are to attain your desired target weight, while the opposite clearly indicates you’re moving in the wrong direction.

You can pick it up from Firebox for $206.

Stepping on the bathroom scale ain’t exactly a walk in the park.  The experience is usually more closely tied to that of a roller coaster ride, which is to say it’s usually full of fear and hesitation.  So how about a scale that offers a bit more pizazz and game theory to the experience?

The Medisana TargetScale is really like no other that we’ve seen before, not even Withings version.  First off, it works with your smartphone via Bluetooth.  Fire up the Vitadock app and you can keep track of your weight over time, as well as track your BMI (body mass index), water weight and even your muscle and bone mass, though keep in mind anything beyond weight is a bit hit or miss with these types of scales.  This scale will even measure your weight distribution between your two feet and works with up to 4 users, so you could potentially cover the whole family.

That’s well and all, but hardly solves the motivation to set foot on the scale.  To further motivate you, the Medisana TargetScale is infused with a set of glowing rings.  The closers the rings are to the center the closer you are to attain your desired target weight, while the opposite clearly indicates you’re moving in the wrong direction.

You can pick it up from Firebox for $206.

Thanks to innovative technology, athletes can monitor important stats to help them improve on their form. The new Kickstarter campaign for the BSX  Insight athletic monitor is said to be the most powerful monitor since it combines the activity measurements of four different devices into one sleek package. Not only will it record your heart rate, pace, calories burned and cadence (as other monitors do), but the BSX Insight will also record your Lactate Threshold, which is your athletic horsepower. It’s also the first and only wearable device that features a smart sensor that can sync at the same time with both ANT+ and Bluetooth 4.0 so you have more flexibility on the go when  you want to check your stats on your sports watch.

The device lets you know in real time, whether you should speed up, slow down or even rest since it looks “inside” your muscle during physical activity to measure real bio signals that will determine how hard your body is working and then compare it to how hard it should be. By pairing it with your sports watch, you’ll be able to get the most out of your race or game day. This will help athletes redefine their capabilities and continually set new personal records and goals, pushing them to their max. Not only will the BSX help athletes, but it’ll help provide important info to coaches. There are three editions of the device: Runner’s Edition thats capable of measuring and maintaining lactate threshold profiles for a single user; Multi Sport Edition that includes both running and cycling profiles and has enhanced capabilities that allow a user to measure and simultaneously maintain multiple lactate thresholds for each of their sports, plus other advanced metrics like bike cadence; and finally the Team Edition that’s designed for multiple users and can hold up to 10 profiles at the same time on a single device, which is perfect for coaches.

Using it is simple. Just snap the monitor into the compression sleeve and slip it on your leg then pair it to a sports watch via ANT+ or Bluetooth. Then start your watch to begin recording your workout/physical activity. While you’re out, you follow any audio/visual vibration alerts to speed up/down and simply enjoy your workout, leaving the device to calcite the data. After each workout you sync the data via a wireless upload and review your stats on their free web-based software, trainBSX. If you want, you can share with coaches or friends. Get the Runners Edition for pledging $179+ or $219+ for the Multi-Sport one. The Team Edition is yours for $799+.

Christ burgers, what the hell is this thing? For all you wellness junkies out there comes the USB Posture Alert Module thingy to keep scoliosis off your back.  Looking like a disassembled buddy of Wall-E’s,the USB Posture Alert Reminder uses ultrasonic sensors to detect how close you are sitting to the computer and then flashes red and blue LED’s to let you know your posture has changed for the worse.  As a bonus function you can also have it alert you via chime noises when it notices you slouching.

Couple this device with the iPosture and you will be the master of all things upright.  The USB Posture Reminder is the gift that keeps on giving for only $22.

[via UberGizmo]

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Christ burgers, what the hell is this thing? For all you wellness junkies out there comes the USB Posture Alert Module thingy to keep scoliosis off your back.  Looking like a disassembled buddy of Wall-E’s,the USB Posture Alert Reminder uses ultrasonic sensors to detect how close you are sitting to the computer and then flashes red and blue LED’s to let you know your posture has changed for the worse.  As a bonus function you can also have it alert you via chime noises when it notices you slouching.

Couple this device with the iPosture and you will be the master of all things upright.  The USB Posture Reminder is the gift that keeps on giving for only $22.

[via UberGizmo]

Read

Being fat sucks.  Any grossly overweight person can tell you that.  Most people cite time as being the major reason while they can’t make it to the gym.  With this Top-Loading Barbell concept from Sun Ho Sin, getting in an out of the gym could be quicker than ever.  Extra seconds are easily spent racking and un-racking weights (according to proper gym etiquette) and it could be a more streamlined process at best.

Pretty self explanatory from the picture above, each weight loads from the top and then locks into place.  I would like to see a side by side video of this design in action to tell whether or not it really is faster than traditional barbells.  Either way, it’s a truly innovative design that I hope picks up some traction as well as getting some love from 24 Hour Fitness.

Read

Being fat sucks.  Any grossly overweight person can tell you that.  Most people cite time as being the major reason while they can’t make it to the gym.  With this Top-Loading Barbell concept from Sun Ho Sin, getting in an out of the gym could be quicker than ever.  Extra seconds are easily spent racking and un-racking weights (according to proper gym etiquette) and it could be a more streamlined process at best.

Pretty self explanatory from the picture above, each weight loads from the top and then locks into place.  I would like to see a side by side video of this design in action to tell whether or not it really is faster than traditional barbells.  Either way, it’s a truly innovative design that I hope picks up some traction as well as getting some love from 24 Hour Fitness.

Read

Being fat sucks.  Any grossly overweight person can tell you that.  Most people cite time as being the major reason while they can’t make it to the gym.  With this Top-Loading Barbell concept from Sun Ho Sin, getting in an out of the gym could be quicker than ever.  Extra seconds are easily spent racking and un-racking weights (according to proper gym etiquette) and it could be a more streamlined process at best.

Pretty self explanatory from the picture above, each weight loads from the top and then locks into place.  I would like to see a side by side video of this design in action to tell whether or not it really is faster than traditional barbells.  Either way, it’s a truly innovative design that I hope picks up some traction as well as getting some love from 24 Hour Fitness.

Read

How’d you like to win a Sportiiiis HUD display ($200 value) for your sunglasses?

For a detailed run down checkout our Sportiiiis review.  But a glance the Sportiiiis attaches to virtually any pair of sunglasses and guides you to your target workout zone with multi-colored LEDs positioned in your peripheral vision negating the need to take your eyes off the road.   Tapping the unit gives you  a verbal update on your current performance and it works with ANT+ devices.

To win a pair of these, first like our Facebook Fan Page.  Next, leave a comment below (with a registered email address so we can get in touch) telling us what your favorite sports brand is.  Remember to register your comment with an email address and like our Facebook Fan Page.

This contest ends 4/18/2012 at 11:59pm PST.  We can only ship to those in the US.

Going to the gym and getting fit is always a New Year’s resolution of mine and I’m pretty sure a lot of you feel the same way. The only thing is life gets in the way and I’m either too tired to to to the gym or don’t have enough time to commit to get a full workout. I’d get a trainer, but my hectic schedule makes it kind of hard to commit. This is why I need the Interactive Personal Trainer System. The cable motion exercise machine works out every part of your body and makes for a great home gym addition. You’ll never have to leave your house to get in a workout ever again and can workout whenever you want.

But not only is it the ultimate home gym, it also provides you with a personal trainer since it can connect to the Internet to download exercise routines from virtual fitness professionals so that you’re demonstrating the right exercise form and pace. You can follow along on its conveniently placed 17″ LCD monitor. You’ll never need another gym membership again with this thing in your home! It has a library of 120 movements, with the monitor demonstrating the the previous weight amount lifted for each exercise so that you can gradually build your workout resistance. The onscreen personal trainer will teach you the correct movements so that you’re form is always on point. The LCD also has a touchscreen, making it easy for you to navigate the various exercises, while the integrated computer will also suggest certain exercises based on your fitness goals like muscle tone, strength training and more. It’ll also track the number of reps you do and will graph all your workout progress.

The machine features 10-20 lbs. leg press increments up to 460 lbs., the unilateral handgrips have 2 1/2- and 5 lbs. increments up to 115 lbs., and the bilateral handgrips have 5- and 10 lbs, increments up to 230 lbs. Everything on the machine is made from durable powder-cated steel and it includes a curl bar, foot harness, abdominal strap, triceps rope, and 4 fixed and 2 adjustable handgrips. Sounds like an amazing machine, right? Yeah, up until you find out its price…a whopping $16,000, making it affordable for the super rich [sigh].

I myself have never used a Kettlebell, but apparently they’re good for a variety of strength training exercises.  This innovative design provides a multitude of weights in one simple package.  Just simply slip on and off the plates to create weights ranging from 5 to 20lbs.  Course, all that don’t come cheap, as the Powerbell will set you back $200.  But as the maker points out you’re saving $100 by not purchasing individual weights, which can take up much need space.

[via Uncrate]

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Tron Legacy‘s release maybe months away, but that hasn’t stopped online t-shirt store Threadless from releasing the My Other Ride Is a Light Cycle.  If you haven’t figured it out yet it’s a play on the Tron movie and with the film arriving this December it’s no surprise that the Threadless community voted it to mass production.   The hoodie version is clearly the must have item, but if $45 is a bit rich for your tastes you can always opt for the $20 t-shirt.

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A watch is a watch, right? For the most part. There are a few different versions, as in finishes and materials, to choose from. Now, at first blush Timex's Tide Temp Compass watch is daunting. However, this additional hand is where the curve ball lay. This.

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Bottom Line: The Timex Tide Temp Compass watch costs less than $ 200, yet It Does so much more than'any of ict $ 5,000 Counterparts .

Tracking personal health data starts in the home with one of the first things many of us do daily: stand on a scale. Our weight is extremely meaningful to us, and tracking it in the past has been a constant struggle. The lack of actionable and visualized data means most of us will only do so much with a regular scale. The Withings Smart Body Analyzer WS-50 is as smart as it can get, and if it doesn’t motivate (or guilt) you into watching your weight through data, than nothing will.

Withings built the Smart Body Analyzer to be more than just a traditional scale, and more than a “smart” scale that tracks data and sends it to your smartphone (iPhone or Android). The WS-50 shows not only weight, but also Body-Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage, current heart rate, and even air quality. For $100 you can opt to skip these features by buying the WS-30. I recommend that you spend an extra $50 and get the more advanced model for only one of these features, the body fat tracking.

Of all the additional features on the Smart Body Analyzer, the ability to track your body fat percentage is the most critical when most of us think of weight loss. We’re not actually interested in dropping pounds, but fat. That means if your weight goes up but your fat percentage has dropped, that you may already be doing a great job with your fitness regiment, something that is impossible to tell with a traditional or smart scale. That can make all the difference between continuing a great exercise regiment and switching to something else (or worse, giving up entirely) because you’ve added a few pounds since starting.

With the free accompanying Health Mate app, all of this data is stored and graphed to provide the clearest picture possible. Setup is easy, though the scale does require a Wi-Fi connection, so make sure that it can connect to your home network wherever it is. Otherwise you’ll need to connect via Bluetooth to download your data, which is a more cumbersome process. Connecting and gathering data takes no time at all; open up the app and it’ll download your stats immediately (for some reason there is no option to download the data automatically). The app is simple and does exactly what it needs to do: chart all of your stats in a clear, understandable way. The same app works with all Withings devices, so if you have the Pulse then the combined data will be even more useful and pertinent.

As someone with a small bathroom, my biggest problem with the WS-50 is that it just doesn’t fit well when you’ve got very limited room, and that it doesn’t work at all on thick carpet. My bathroom has enough floor space for one, and barely that; the bedroom has space for the scale, but even with the additional pegs for the feet, the weight is not measured correctly on thick carpet. Bathroom rugs work fine.

The scale is fairly intelligent, though many of the features seem almost excessive and don’t always work. Heart rate is almost silly to have (if you weight yourself like most people, that means in the morning and/or at night; your heart rate then is not reflective of you current health), and it fails surprisingly often. The temperature settings are also strange; air quality in a bathroom is not something I’d care about, though if the scale could stay in the bedroom then it would be much more valuable. Again, the carpet issue.

Perhaps the best feature is how it works with multiple profiles based on your stats. Have a family? Everyone can use it together and the scale will know who is who based on your weight, BMI, and all of the other data it’s pulling from when you stand on it. It’s one of those ‘it just works’ things that makes all the difference.

While I do like keeping a mechanical scale handy, I’ve all but stopped using it. The Withings Smart Body Analyzer provides accurate and useful data in an easily-digestible and actionable form. The app even includes benchmarks  that you can set for yourself, like losing a pound a week.  If you’re not already on another fitness/data tracking ecosystem like Fitbit, then I highly recommend the the WS-50. It does everything a smart scale should, and gives users all the reason to want to stand on a scale day in and day out.

A watch is a watch, right?  For the most part.  The difference between a $100 watch and a $5,000 watch is negligible.  Both will tell the time accurately and in all likelihood even display the date.  For all that added scratch you’ll probably end up with a chronograph, an opulent finish and a name brand that has long been associated with excellence in time keeping.

Timex’s Tide Temp Compass watch does all that and then some for just $170.  There are a few different versions, as in finishes and materials, to choose from.  I received the model which sports a Stainless Steel case and brown leather strap.  The face of the watch measures 45mm so in terms of looks it’s just big enough to be masculine yet not over the top, and nor is it emasculating.

The venerable chronographs are no where to be found in this time keeper and instead you’ll find a wide array of tools that measures much more important information, especially if you’re of the outdoors type.  Now, at first blush Timex’s Tide Temp Compass watch is daunting.  There are a myriad of dials and hands on the face that aren’t explicitly denoted in the face itself.  Because of that I warn that you make sure you adopt a tiny bit of patience when you first receive this watch as some tinkering will be necessary for memorization purposes.

Now, what is explicitly clear is that the white hands tell the time – they do nothing more.  However, that additional hand is where the curve ball lay.  This hand works three fold in conjunction with the different dials located in the face.  Those functions include a temperature reading, high and low tide and a compass.  I didn’t use the high/low tide functions since it has no bearing on my day to day activities, but for anyone with a boat and a penchant for sailing, or perhaps even fishing, I’m sure they’ll find use in this.  That said, to activate the other features you simply need to push the correct button.

The lower left button activates the compass.  Once pressed the watch will emit a beep and the hand will move to magnetic North.  In about 15 seconds time it will reset and move back to the starting position.   Before this happens you can spin the dial, which allows you to line up N accordingly.  The watch can be prone to interference, as with any compass, so Timex includes (on their website) a method for calibrating it if need.  It involves a cup and removing any big metallic objects that are in close range.  That said, I didn’t have any problems and could consistently find North.  To further test this, I rotated the watch and witnessed the hand move according to earth’s magnets.

Activating the watches other main features are one rooted in simplicity.  To view the temperature of the room, or water, first you’ll need to make sure you remove it from your wrist – body heat can throw it off (duh).  Then pressing the top left button, provided it hasn’t already been set to this feature, will cause the hand to reset to 6 o’clock and then move to the position on the watches face accordingly.  Once this setting has been selected the watch will continue to read the temperature.  Pressing the lower right button activates the tide setting.

This particular model is water resistant to up to 100 meters.  And although some might be a bit apprehensive to jump in to the proverbial drink, the leather band is water resistant. For any outdoor enthusiast the compass is the killer features in this watch, though we won’t snub the temperature gauge which could serve some utility before you head outside or for a swim.  All together the Timex Tide and Temp watch is chalk full of features that are suitable for anyone, ranging from couch potato to those that would dare walk in the footstep of Bear Grylls and those alike.

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Bottom Line: The Timex Tide Temp Compass watch costs less than $200, yet it does so much more than any of its $5,000 counterparts.

Editor’s Rating:

[rating: 4/5]

Great

Pros:

• $170 watch that reads the temp, direction and tide
• Manly metal face
• Indigo illumination for easy reading in the dark

Finding a good armband for your MP3 player can be a tricky thing.  Does it stay fastened to your arm without sliding?  Does it get in the way of what your doing?  I have tried a couple of arm bands in my day and I always ended up going with an around the hip accessory (tucked into my waistband) just because it worked better for what I was doing.

ArmPocket is an Eco-Friendly company that makes a variety of quality and utilitarian armbands for your Apple iPhone or iPod Touch.  To say it right now, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is the best arm band I have used yet and I highly advise you to check it out if you are looking for a competent and fairly priced exercise accessory.

Let’s start with features.  Assuming that you don’t have any other storage on your person, the ArmPocket Sport 20 has got you covered.  In the main chamber there are two elastic slots for an ID and credit card and it is big enough to hold an energy bar or gel in addition to your MP3 player no problem.  On the outside there is also a small loop to hold a keyring.

In the looks department, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is not very elegant but its form factor is what is visually apparent and oddly enough, the brand logo actually resembles the bottom portion of the Under Armor logo.

A reflective strip wraps around the face of the armband to add an element of safety but you should still wear other shiny gear if you are planning on being out at night or other low light scenarios.  The transparent plastic that allows you access to your iPod’s controls is heavy duty but requires a concerted effort at times to register your touch.  Not a performance problem whatsoever but you do have to look at what your doing and won’t really be able to access the controls haphazardly.  Being that the Sport 20 is capable of holding so many things, it does look a tad bulky but never really got in the way of anything is was doing during my time at the gym or riding my bike.

In terms of build and construction, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is testament to quality and ruggedness.  The entire armband is made of recycled PET fabric (yarn fabric made from plastic bottles) and natural bamboo giving the Sport 20 a tight textured weave with great solid feel to it.  The zippers and the strap/band are sturdy as ever and look to last for quite a while.

When riding my bike and working out at the gym the Sport 20 never slipped on me.  Sometimes it felt like it was going to but it never did.  The band itself felt especially secure and comfortable thanks to the ergonomic memory foam, and reminded me of getting my blood pressure taken at the doctor’s office.  While boasting moisture protection, the Sport 20 was also quite capable of fending off water.  Not to say that it’s submersible, but the texture of the Sport 20 could totally work well in rainy conditions.

What I really liked about the Sport 20 was the fact that it could easily be worn upside down.  Depending on the way you like your earphone cord to dangle or the way you want to view your iPod/iPhone, the Sport 20 exudes accessibility regardless of vertical orientation.

My only gripe comes when I need to remove my iPod Touch or earphones.  It could have been a bit more easy to do.  The rubberized earphone input area is tough to get the jack through, especially if it’s a horizontal one.  If you are looking to evade this hole entirely, you will also find it tough to zip the ArmPocket up fully without the headphones poking out the top.

Other than that, if you are looking for a sport armband for your iPhone or iPod Touch you owe it to yourself to check out the ArmPocket Sport 20.  It is an absolutely quality product that should give you many years wear and tear.  Coupled with the company’s green and recycling efforts it makes you a smart consumer as well.

Pros:

• Super comfortable
• Steady non-slip grip
• Plenty of room for other things besides MP3 player

Cons:

• Can be bulky and protruding
• Earphone input area is a bit tough to navigate
• Controlling iPod/iPhone can require a hard touch

Buy one here for $29.95!

Tracking personal health data starts in the home with one of the first things many of us do daily: stand on a scale. Our weight is extremely meaningful to us, and tracking it in the past has been a constant struggle. The lack of actionable and visualized data means most of us will only do so much with a regular scale. The Withings Smart Body Analyzer WS-50 is as smart as it can get, and if it doesn’t motivate (or guilt) you into watching your weight through data, than nothing will.

Withings built the Smart Body Analyzer to be more than just a traditional scale, and more than a “smart” scale that tracks data and sends it to your smartphone (iPhone or Android). The WS-50 shows not only weight, but also Body-Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage, current heart rate, and even air quality. For $100 you can opt to skip these features by buying the WS-30. I recommend that you spend an extra $50 and get the more advanced model for only one of these features, the body fat tracking.

Of all the additional features on the Smart Body Analyzer, the ability to track your body fat percentage is the most critical when most of us think of weight loss. We’re not actually interested in dropping pounds, but fat. That means if your weight goes up but your fat percentage has dropped, that you may already be doing a great job with your fitness regiment, something that is impossible to tell with a traditional or smart scale. That can make all the difference between continuing a great exercise regiment and switching to something else (or worse, giving up entirely) because you’ve added a few pounds since starting.

With the free accompanying Health Mate app, all of this data is stored and graphed to provide the clearest picture possible. Setup is easy, though the scale does require a Wi-Fi connection, so make sure that it can connect to your home network wherever it is. Otherwise you’ll need to connect via Bluetooth to download your data, which is a more cumbersome process. Connecting and gathering data takes no time at all; open up the app and it’ll download your stats immediately (for some reason there is no option to download the data automatically). The app is simple and does exactly what it needs to do: chart all of your stats in a clear, understandable way. The same app works with all Withings devices, so if you have the Pulse then the combined data will be even more useful and pertinent.

As someone with a small bathroom, my biggest problem with the WS-50 is that it just doesn’t fit well when you’ve got very limited room, and that it doesn’t work at all on thick carpet. My bathroom has enough floor space for one, and barely that; the bedroom has space for the scale, but even with the additional pegs for the feet, the weight is not measured correctly on thick carpet. Bathroom rugs work fine.

The scale is fairly intelligent, though many of the features seem almost excessive and don’t always work. Heart rate is almost silly to have (if you weight yourself like most people, that means in the morning and/or at night; your heart rate then is not reflective of you current health), and it fails surprisingly often. The temperature settings are also strange; air quality in a bathroom is not something I’d care about, though if the scale could stay in the bedroom then it would be much more valuable. Again, the carpet issue.

Perhaps the best feature is how it works with multiple profiles based on your stats. Have a family? Everyone can use it together and the scale will know who is who based on your weight, BMI, and all of the other data it’s pulling from when you stand on it. It’s one of those ‘it just works’ things that makes all the difference.

While I do like keeping a mechanical scale handy, I’ve all but stopped using it. The Withings Smart Body Analyzer provides accurate and useful data in an easily-digestible and actionable form. The app even includes benchmarks  that you can set for yourself, like losing a pound a week.  If you’re not already on another fitness/data tracking ecosystem like Fitbit, then I highly recommend the the WS-50. It does everything a smart scale should, and gives users all the reason to want to stand on a scale day in and day out.

The KiFit is an awesome device. It measures pretty much every aspect of your body’s health, from the calories you burn, your temperature, moisture level, to how many hours you sleep, to see whether not you’re living a healthy lifestyle. It’s a great idea, and while products like the Nike+ have done similar things, they haven’t been as comprehensive. That detail has a pretty hefty price, though.

The KiFit is available now for $300 with a $20 monthly subscription.

iLounge has got a review of the yet to be released Oakley MP3 Thump 2 sunglasses. This is just the beginning of the new convergence devices (style accessory meets MP3 player), and makes excellent sense for outdoor sports enthusiast. That is of course assuming that the Thump 2 sunglasses are light enough to not bounce of your face or jiggle around annoyingly.

This rendition of the Thump 2’s is more ‘bang for your buck’ then its predecessor. According to iLounge the first version of the Oakley Sunglasses cost $395 and offered just 128MB of storage – about 30 songs. The Thump 2’s are cheaper, starting at$299, offer 256MB of music and apparently play back AAC as well as MP3. For $50 more you can upgrade to the 512MB pair, and there is even a 1GB option.

Check out iLounge’s whole review and they have a ton of detailed pics.

(Note: Pictures courtesy of iLounge.)

Going to the gym can be such a drag.  It’s like going to work, only shorter, smells worse and costs you money as opposing to earning it.  So what’s one to do when it comes to at home fitness.  Well, if you have ever remained awake beyond the hours of 1am and onward, then you probably pretty familiar with the endless array of get in shape quick exercise tools.  I think it all started back in the mid 90s with that stupid ab crunch machine that was crafted of a few pieces of plastic and a rubber band, or perhaps that sea saw like bike that used your own body weight to shed those unwanted pounds.  So the inevitable question comes to mind?  What’s a guy like me  to do whose in his early 30s who wants to maintain his physique but not attend the always cumbersome gym on a daily basis?  Enter the Perfect Push Up and Pull Up.

Now before you throw your skepticism blanket down consider that push ups and pull ups have been the corner stone of muscle building since time began.  Which means that these two products have immediate credence no matter how apprehensive you are.  But unlike most late night infomercial exercise equipment, the manufacture makes no quibbles about get in shape quick schemes with these products.  Nope, you’ll need to dedicate yourself and really try if you want the Perfect Push Up and Pull Up to make a difference.  After all, the push up and pull up are not only the corner stone of muscle building, but tend to be a pretty big indicator of one’s muscle strength.

The Perfect Pull Up out of the box looks over whelming and requires installation.  But as I’ve already alluded to, these products will require dedication. So anyone looking for a quick out of the box all in one fitness solution I suggest you head to your local grocery store and walk the candy aisle until you break a sweat.  In actuality, the Perfect Pull Up is very easy to install.   You simply just screw in 4 pieces of metal to your door’s outer frame (not inner, that’s where the door closes).  The manufacture provides a guide to help you determine where to drill the screw holes and from there you’ll just need to punch in the screws.  I found the guide to be bit cumbersome and inaccurate (paper bends and folds) so I suggest placing the actual pieces on the door after making your marks to see how things will really line up.  After the 4 anchor pieces have been installed you just need to hang the actual bar, center the pull up piece and tighten the hex screws.  Because some door widths vary slightly, the pull up bar can be adjusted accordingly to insure that you have a snug fit.  Again, you’ll want to make sure you install the pieces on the outside part of your door, that way your door can still close, which is an absolute for someone like me who has it installed on their bedroom door (chicken brown cow).

Once it’s installed you’ll just want to insure everything is in place and make sure it won’t snap while you’re in the middle of a pull up.  To do this, I suggest just slowing adding weight to the bar by raising your feet off the ground inch by inch until you’re confident it will hold.  Don’t tug or swing on the bar since it’s not designed for this kind of activity and could break it.

Included with the Perfect Pull Up are two handles.  These handles are designed to hang on the pull up bar and rotate as you do a pull up, hence the Perefect Pull Up.  My immediate criticism, and this is more a product of my height (I’m 6′ 1″) and size of my apartment (9′ ceilings) is that using the handles, which ultimately lower you about 8″, make it difficult not to touch the ground with your feet while doing a pull up.  As a result, I have to bend my knees at 90 degrees and be cognizant of my leg placement during exercise.  In a larger abode, or if you’re shorter you probably won’t find this a problem, though.

The handles are the key to the Perfect Pull Up, so it’s an interesting movement.  First things first, the whole process is a bit more comfortable and second to that more natural than the standard fixed pull up or chin up.  If you so chose, you don’t have to rotate the handles, but after you’ve experienced the alternative to your childhood exercise I think you’re gonna like what you find.  Instead of feeling the exercise in just your back or arms, you’ll feel it in both since the rotation requires you to use both sets of muscles and more.

The best part about the Perfect Pull Up is that it’s not just limited to pull ups.  It actually rotates down on a set of hinges (the 2 lower pieces you install) and enables to perform rows as well as an Australian Pull Up, which has you hanging from the bar with your back hovering inches above the ground.  Both of these exercises incorporate your other back muscles that the pull up doesn’t accomplish.  Thus providing an all around workout.  And, believe it or not, I actually enjoyed the Australian Pull Up since the handles, which allow rotation, make it easier to concentrate on the back muscles.  I know this may sound too good to be true, but try doing the same exercise at the gym without the handles and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

And it doesn’t stop there.  Included in the package (if you so opt) are a set of Ab Straps.  I don’t think I need to go into any explanation, but they’re a perfect compliment to the system and actually get you more bang for your buck, so I suggest purchasing them either with or after the fact.

Some things to consider: you’ll want to do the pull ups on the same side that the system is installed otherwise you might hit your head.  Also, some people might find it a little cramped, but after sometime you’ll become adjusted, unless of course you’re an extremely broad shouldered person.

Last, and most certainly not least, is the Perfect Push Up.  Unlike the Perfect Pull Up, the Perfect Push Up requires no setup and can be used right out of the box.  Included in my package was a push up counter, which is just simple a counter that when depressed by your chest tells you how many push ups you’ve completed.  My suggestion: don’t bother with the counter unless you can’t count and you want to rob yourself of a complete push up – the height of the counter prevents you from reaching a deep push up.

Build quality wise the Perfect Push Up is extremely solid.  The handles rotate on an axis and the bottoms are finished in rubber, allowing them to be used on kitchen floors and other slippery like surfaces.  I used them on carpet and despite my floor having some padding to it, they were stable as could be, providing no give and insuring that my wrists didn’t give way or bend.  The handles themselves are finished in rubber padding and provide a comfortable grip.

So does it work?  There’s no doubt in my mind that a good old fashion push up still builds muscle, but not to the same degree as the Perfect Push Up.  Because the Perfect Push Up not only provides appropriate wrist support – the handles allow your wrists to remain straight – it also rotates which engages your inner pectoral as well as your back and believe it or not your core.  As a result, I was able to achieve a more all around workout that exhausted me faster than performing normal push ups.  When using the Perfect Push Up, though, you’ll need to make sure you really squeeze at the top of your push up and keep your back straight.  Because of the added height from the floor, I found it easy to cheat and let my back sag, which doesn’t engage the core as much.

I’m a bit disappointed that I wasn’t provided with the Perfect Dip Bar, but maybe I’ll ask them to send that piece over and amend my review once I’ve got a chance to try it out.  I’m not sure if I’d want to dedicated my workouts solely to the Perfect Push Up and Pull Up, but after using it for well over 4 weeks time at 20 minute intervals I’ve convinced it’s a great supplement for the days you can’t make it to the gym.  And that’s not to say you can’t use it as a stand alone exercise tool, but given my attention span, or lack there of, I’m convinced I’d be bored with doing the same exercises within weeks.

Pros:

• Easy to use and install
• Fold out exercise pamphlet guide included
• Well built

Cons:

• Pull bar with handles too low to ground
• Hinges can get caught and rub off door frame paint
• Push up counter prevents push up

I didn’t realize what an epicenter of attention the Ergotron WorkFit-S would become.

When the box arrived at the office, as many of my review products do, my office mates were more drawn to it than normal. Their curiosity level is, it appears, directly proportional to the dimensions of the object. As it was much larger than most of the samples I receive, the curiosity level was piqued and has yet to ebb.The draw became more notable on the second day, after assembly. It was hard not to be drawn to it. It was an obelisk like in a Kubrick film; primates surrounding it, pushing and pulling in the towering device with unmasked inquisitiveness. This metaphor is especially accurate when you consider what this sort of product represents. In more ways than one it evokes the evolution of humankind, in their modern form, chained to desks for work and for play. We have left our hunched position, our bodies unnaturally compressed over our computer keyboard, and can now stand.

All theatrics aside, this thing is cool. The concept is that you need not sit at your desk anymore. It’s as simple as that. If you want to stand, your mouse, keyboard and monitor will rise to meet you. You’ll burn extra calories and encourage core strength. You’ll stave off back and neck pain. Humans are meant to move, and this product helps us achieve that.

Basically, your display (or displays) are mounted on a bracket attached to a protruding keyboard tray on an arm. The assembly is rigged to a rugged beam housing a pulley system, allowing you to easily lift your whole workstation up to 18 inches vertically. This positions your keyboard, mouse, and display at appropriate height for continuing to work in a standing position. The base of the unit is in the general shape of a bird foot, providing good balance. It clamps quickly and securely to a variety of desktops in a way that’s not damaging or permanent. If you’re buying this for yourself, you can take it easily with you if you move desks or change jobs. If you’re buying several of these as an HR department, a standing station can be created without the higher cost of an entire desk that moves, and is far more simple to relocate when the time comes.

The WorkFit is nearly assembled right out of the box, and takes under 15 minutes to unpack and ready for mounting your display. The instructions are adequate enough, and even if you spend extra time with your wire management it should take you less than an hour for full setup. Only two pieces need to be attached to the primary unit, and then you simply clamp it down on the front of your desk. I have two 17″ monitors at my workstation, and mounting them was a breeze. Ergotron provides thumbscrews which allow quick connection of the monitors to the VESA compliant mounting brackets. Once you’re all set up, you can adjust the tension of the mechanism to suit the weight of your monitors. You want this thing to move easily, but not so much that vigorous typing will move it.

Construction of the WorkFit is solid. This was demonstrated during my installation by an office jokester who leaned on the keyboard tray in the fashion of someone ordering a drink at a bar. The tower, unburdened by displays, and supporting only a portion of his weight, the mechanism slowly sank towards it’s ‘seated’ position without breaking a sweat. They keyboard tray did flex a bit, but nobody will be putting that much weight on the tray under normal usage. The pieces that will be exposed to the most pressure are cast aluminum, and I have no question they can handle everyday usage with ease. Ergotron’s products are manufactured for heavy use in commercial environments.

The lifting mechanism itself is impressively smooth as well. Completely set up, it takes very little pressure to change the height from one position to the other. The keyboard tray adapts to left or right hand use and offers two positions for ergonomic positioning. I found the tilted position to be too steep for my mouse, which kept sliding off the front of the mouse tray. There is a small lip intended to prevent mouse suicide, but it’s small and not very effective. I would recommend leaving the keyboard level to reduce the likelihood that your mouse will fall.

The WorkFit comes in several flavors which will work for most users. If you have single or dual displays, or a display with a laptop, there’s a configuration for you. It would be nice if this was sold in a more modular fashion with additional options for three display setups. For example, if I were to add another monitor, I would be forced to decide between the additional display and continuing to use the WorkFit. To better target corporate purchasers, the display mounting hardware could be made available seperately to prevent having to buy a whole new unit because you didnt already have the right one on hand.

Another interesting issue that arose with the arrival of the WorkFit relates to how the management reacted at my office. My day job workspace is in a cubicle grouped with about a dozen others in close proximity. We spend a lot of time on the phone, and at times it can get quite loud. Upon seeing it unpacked, my boss expressed a few concerns that could possibly be shared by others. Essentially, I’ll now be standing up whenever I want, placing my vocal chords above the top edge of the cubicle walls, making my voice more audible to those around me. This by itself isn’t unbearable as I’m typically not all that loud, but several of my colleagues measure higher in dB’s than I do and things would start getting nasty if everyone took to standing up. Their point is that it wouldn’t be fair if I were standing up and nobody else could. There are, of course, several ways around this – but none of them are free, and budgets are tight in many businesses at the moment. If you’re considering a WorkFit for your own desk, please consult your management to make sure it wont cause problems. Also, if you’re already experiencing health issues that the WorkFit can solve, consider getting a Doctor’s note to avoid any problems. Still, I’d bring it up in advance.

Specs:

• Mount up to 2 (two) 22″ monitors
• LCD and keyboard adjust 18″ (46 cm) in tandem
• LCDs adjust 5″ (13 cm) independently
• Maximum LCD height adjustment = 23″ (58 cm)
• Desk Clamp attaches to surface edge .4″ to 2.4″ (1 to 6 cm) thick
• Fits standard 75/100 VESA compliant displays
• Stands 30″ tall from your desktop

Pros:

• Enables you to live a healthier lifestyle
• Industrial strength construction
• Switches easily between sitting and standing

Cons:

• Standing may be frowned upon in your office
• Mouse tray retainer too short to be effective with keyboard tilt
• Display mounting hardware not available seperately to update your system if your needs change

Want one yourself? You can buy it here for $399 (affiliate link)

Are you a “DIY” — Do It Yourselfer? Doesn’t matter if that means you like to assemble science kits or build furniture — it’s all about getting your hands onto something and “bending” it to your will (metaphorically speaking). One thing that most DIY’s learn early on is that what you wear is as important as what tools you’ll need for the particular project.

In my case, depending on the task at hand, that usually includes a pair of work gloves that leave my fingers free, a back brace to remind that the lower back is a far-too-delicate thing to take chances with when lifting and clothes that don’t allow bagginess to exist. Oh, and work shoes with velcro rather than laces — remind me to tell you about the time some laces started wrapping around a bicycle pedal, to my detriment.

But I’ve added a new bit of clothing to the mix — the G-Form Sternum shirt. Yes it does look sorta “Superman”-ish if you wear it under your shirt, what with the black clingy material and the yellow emblem that is actually a protective plate. You’ll most likely wear it as outerwear, as I do, when doing something where some real protection against being impacted at your chest can occur. Besides, it looks cool.

Now the best part about the G-Form Sternum shirt is that the “emblem” is using reactive protection technology. What that means in real-speak is that it feel a bit rubbery to the touch, but not all rigid. However when it’s struck it goes all Schwartznegger; besides becoming rigid, it works to dissipate the impacted force it is being struck with so that the area beneath it is protected from both the initial impact and the results of that impact. The G-Form folks say that 94% of the force being transmitted onto the Sternum shirt is taken care of: in real-world terms that means a baseball hitting it (and you) with an impacted force of 294 pounds loses some 94% of its impact. And keep in mind that the pad stiffens as needed, but then returns to a more pliable state that you don’t really notice.

Not being insane, I’m rarely in a situation where the Sternum shirt is going to be needed when in the midst of a DIY project. But there’s other real-world situation where it can be helpful; like falling off a bike where you’ve protected your head and maybe shins and elbows but not your chest area. With summer coming, and my softball league now in gear, I’m less inclined to worry about Fred’s lousy curve ball that hit various parts of my body last year.

But to prove the point, we’ll test it the only way it can be tested — by hitting it with something while I’m wearing it. Now forget about a bowling ball being dropped on it with me riding along — that’s OK for the G-Form tablet sleeve, but not this guy. So I have my nephew lob some baseballs at the Sternum shirt while I stand there with my hands at my hips in the traditional pose of Superman from the 1950’s TV show. Guess what? The Sternum shirt actually works, especially when I allow him to toss one (1!) at me with the shirt taken off: yep, there’s a real difference in the feeling of the impact for sure.

My nephew says he’s willing to try it out at one of the batting practice places, so that the automatically pitched ball can hit it dead center. I’m not in favor of that — but yeah I do remember how invulnerable you feel in your 20’s. So he compromises and lets me punch him a few times. The Sternum shirt is protecting him — I’m not using brass knuckles but hitting fairly hard — and it’s one way to get back at all those times I babysat and he threw up on my shoulder.

I should also point out that you really need to have the right size of the Sternum shirt on or you might find it both uncomfortable and “painful” to wear. Especially when something traveling at a great speed hits it. I was sent a Medium and had to return it for a Large — not because I’m such a big strapping guy, but as the material rides up and the impact-protective area wasn’t seated as it should be.

Editor’s Rating:

[rating:4.5/5]

Excellent

Bottom line: The G-Form Sternum shirt is lightweight and comfortable to wear, but more importantly it does its job of dissipating an impact to your chest when necessary. That you should ever need it to do what it does isn’t something to be hoping for. But if it happens, you’ll be glad it’s being worn.

Pros

• Lightweight material
• Comfortable to wear
• Cost under $50

Cons

• Does not protect the entire chest area

Perhaps you damaged your knee and you’ve been laid up for 6 weeks straight in bed?  Or perhaps you just returned from a 6 month space exploration and your muscles are beyond atrophied?  The M310 AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill is the answer to your woes.

An inflatable plastic air bags surrounds your body that supports up to 80% of your body’s weight and assists athletes and astronauts to recoup lost muscle tissue.  Max speed of the M310 is 8mph and costs a mere $24,500.  Alternatively, the company behind the space age machine offers a NASA version for $70,000 and tops out at 18mph.  Despite the price it does look more practical than the hyrdo Physio Treadmill we saw earlier this year.

Video after the ‘leap’

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[via Wired]

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