Microsoft Band Fitness Tracker for $199

Posted on 30/10/2014 by Darrin Olson

Microsoft Band Fitness Tracker Microsoft announced on Wednesday the planned release of its own wearable fitness tracker, the Microsoft Band. The device is available for purchase on Thursday from Microsoft for $199, and will work with Android, iOS and of course Windows Phone 8.1.

Among the features targeting fitness, the Microsoft Band tracks your exercise reps, calories burned, heart rate around the clock and your sleep. It also has a UV monitor built in with real-time UX information to make educated decisions on sun protection when you go out.

The wearable tech from Microsoft helps with more than just fitness, though and throws its hat into the ring against other popular wearable devices for Android and Apple. The Band will display a small snippet of your incoming emails, syncs with a calender to provide reminders and will let the user voice interact with Cortana to set reminders, ask directions, etc. It will also pick up text messages and incoming calls and let you send a canned response from your wrist.

Misfit Flash Wearable for Fitness

Posted on 17/09/2014 by Tam Yue

We know what you are thinking; “Another wearable fitness device?” And to that we say, yes, another wearable fitness device. But we like this one and what is has to offer, as well as what you don’t have to offer to own one.

The Misfit Flash is a good way to track your exercise and sleep patterns. It offers all the same capabilities as the other wearable’s on the market. The major differences are simple; it requires an app to be able to track your fitness goals because it doesn’t come with a tradition display. Also, it doesn’t require charging, since you need to replace the batteries every 6 months. And last but not least, it’s affordable. At $49.99 it is definitely worth the trade-off of features.

Via The Next Web

5 Best Fitness Gadgets For Staying in Shape

Posted on 28/03/2014 by Ehud Riven

Staying healthy and in shape is all about technology these days, and these gadgets offer quite a lot of function while also providing some stylish value to your workout and regime of healthier life.

Garmin Vivofit

The best thing about the Garmin Vivofit is its incredible battery life. It’s a water resistant band, powered by two coin-cell batteries that allow the user to wear the device for over a year before swapping them. Users can also record up to three weeks of data before syncing it with their Android or iOS device.

There is a gold-and-red LED display which is always on, displaying heart rate, daily step count, burned calories, and other statistics. Additionally, the device monitors your sleep patters, highlighting periods of movement and restful sleep 24/7.

The device also adjusts your daily goals based on your activity level, calibrating your achievements to something more attainable as you surpass various health milestones, while allowing you to wirelesssly manage and share your data via Garmin’s online community.

Misfit Shine

The Shine stands out as something that is actually a high-tech piece of jewelry worn on wherever you choose to place it. It is about the size of a quarter, and it’s pretty much a pedometer that measures your motion walking, running, swimming, and cycling. The accompanying app allows users to set specific goals, which can be charted by a simple tap on the surface of the device.

The device tracks sleeping habits, has a water-proof exterior and can sync wirelessly with your smartphone when places on top of it.

Withings Pulse

A great tool for collecting biometric data without wearing it on the wrist. But that is not the only thing that distinguishes it from the other gadgets on this list. There’s a built in heart rate scanner, allowing the users to test their stress levels. Battery life is about two weeks for a single charge, and users can view their data by flipping on the screen of the device itself.

Fitbit Flex

The Fitbit Flex is probably the most stylish of options for those looking to measure their biometric readings. It offers data on traveling distance, burned calories, sleep quality, and the like. Via syncing to your PC or smartphone, it supplies the user with real-time access to graphs and other stats and monitoring tools.

LG Lifeband Touch

Comes with a OLED, a touch-roll screen which allows the user to track steps, calories burned, elevation, and monitor messages from Android and iOS devices with the swipe of a finger. It’s also compatible with third-party apps like Runkeeper and MapMyRun, while featuring a 3-axis accelerator to measure acceleration forwards, backwards and side to side.

It can be paired with another LG product, the HRM Earphone Heart Rate Monitor and a smartphone, you can access incoming calls and control music functions directly from the device. The earphones can monitor your oxygen consumption, the blood flow within your ear, and other metrics measuring your workout.

Via: Digital Trends

For more fitness apps and gadgets, check out the GOQii Fitness Tracker that Outsources your sats to an Indian personal trainer or Samsung gear fit which is also pretty cool.

Larklife fitness band jogs into retail stores, nags you about exercise and sleep patterns

Posted on 06/12/2012 by Sean Buckley

Sure, your iPhone already keeps track of your work schedules, lunch meetings and Lego creations -- isn't it about time you let it tell you when to go to bed, too? It can, if you're so inclined -- at least when paired with a Larklife fitness band. This wearable pedometer peripheral tracks your activity, sleep patterns and diet with a companion app, nagging you with suggestions on how to eat, sleep and exercise. It'll even gently buzz you awake with a vibrating alarm, should you try to shirk its suggestions. The $149 Bluetooth band promises to sync with your device in real time, removing the burden of syncing and updating exercise data. It's also an iOS exclusive, and is fittingly available at Apple retail locations. Determined to do your holiday shopping from your armchair? No worries -- Lark's own website is offering free shipping through December 25th. Read on to scope out the company's official press release.

Continue reading Larklife fitness band jogs into retail stores, nags you about exercise and sleep patterns

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Larklife fitness tracker syncs your data over Bluetooth, knows when you’re running instead of walking

Posted on 08/10/2012 by Dana Wollman

In case you haven't noticed, fitness gadgets are having something of a moment right now. The past year alone has seen the launch of Nike's FuelBand, the ill-fated Jawbone Up and a refreshed line of Fitbit trackers. Now another product is arriving that promises to do basically the same thing -- namely, track your activity, sleep patterns and food intake using a wearable gadget and mobile app. That thing you see up there is called Larklife and for now, at least, it works exclusively with iOS devices. It's a splash-resistant (but not waterproof) band that has a pedometer inside, counting your steps throughout the day. It can also tell how long you sleep each night, as well as how long it takes you to nod off. There's even a vibrating alarm built into the band -- something we first saw on the Up earlier this year. (As it happens, Lark's earlier products were sleep aids, so the inclusion of this feature actually makes a lot of sense.) As for monitoring your dietary habits, Larklife doesn't automatically track your food intake, but the app does include a food diary where you can manually enter your meals.

Additionally, Larklife uses Bluetooth Smart to automatically sync with your iPhone so that you don't have to plug the band into a PC just to update your fitness stats. (The new Fitbit trackers work this way this too.) Additionally, the band uses a proprietary technology that can discern when you're running or walking, which means the app will log workouts even if you forget to enter them. The last intriguing bit is that the app dishes out smart, contextually aware advice. Didn't get much sleep last night? Larklife will remind you to eat more protein than usual at breakfast, so that you have enough energy to get you through the day. The app also rewards good behavior in the form of iOS notifications and colorful on-screen badges, though competing products admittedly take a very similar approach when it comes to keeping users motivated.

Larklife is up for pre-order starting today, and is priced at $150 -- a rather large premium over the new Fitbit One, which will sell for $100. As for precise availability, all we know is that retailers will start stocking Larklife "before the holidays." Whether that means Halloween, Thanksgiving or some gift-giving celebration will be revealed some other day.

Continue reading Larklife fitness tracker syncs your data over Bluetooth, knows when you're running instead of walking

Filed under: Wearables

Larklife fitness tracker syncs your data over Bluetooth, knows when you're running instead of walking originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fitbit announces two new fitness trackers: the Fitbit One with a vibrating alarm, and the $60 Fitbit Zip

Posted on 17/09/2012 by Dana Wollman

It was about a year ago this time that Fitbit released a new fitness tracker, the Fitbit Ultra, so now would seem like as good a time as any for a refresh. Indeed, the company just announced the Fitbit One, which will replace the Ultra, and which adds a "silent" vibrating alarm to wake you up in the morning. (Hmm, where have we seen that before?) Though the alarm is clearly the marquee feature here, the One also steps up to Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, allowing the data to sync to your phone automatically. Additionally, it sports a slimmer, flatter design (read: it looks less like a clothespin). The tracker is also splash-resistant, though not water-proof, so don't even think of taking it in the pool with you. Other than that, it does the same thing as the last-gen model: it counts steps, flights climbed, calories burned and tracks your total mileage. And, of course, the device syncs with a personalized website, where you can log your meals and view all your stats in easy-to-read graphs.

The Fitbit One will arrive in mid-October for $100. If that's too pricey for you, the company also introduced the Fitbit Zip, a dumbed-down tracker that's available now for $60. Though it's every bit as water-resistant as the One, it offers just basic functionality (i.e., tracking steps taken, distance traveled and calories burned). Meaning, if the silent alarm or even the altimeter is of interest, you'll want to shell out for the pricier Fitbit One. Oh, and one other big distinction: the Zip has a replaceable battery, rated for up to six months of use. As we said, the One won't be around until later in the fall, but for now we've got a few publicity photos for your perusal.

Gallery: Fitbit One

Gallery: Fitbit Zip

Filed under: Wearables

Fitbit announces two new fitness trackers: the Fitbit One with a vibrating alarm, and the $60 Fitbit Zip originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 02:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth SIG releases certifications for fitness devices aimed at runners and cyclists

Posted on 28/08/2012 by Dana Wollman

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.

Continue reading Bluetooth SIG releases certifications for fitness devices aimed at runners and cyclists

Filed under: Wearables, Wireless

Bluetooth SIG releases certifications for fitness devices aimed at runners and cyclists originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Fitbit Aria WiFi scale available now for $130

Posted on 23/04/2012 by Dana Wollman

It's been three months since Fitbit got into the WiFi scale game, but until now Withings has remained pretty much the only option for weight watchers who actually intend to buy one. Now, though, the Fitbit Aria is finally shipping and, just like Fitbit said it would, it costs $130. That's potentially not a bad deal, seeing as how it matches the $160 Withings scale in a few key areas: it tracks weight, BMI and body fat percentage, gives you the option of tweeting your poundage, and can recognize up to eight different users. Like Fitbit, too, it allows you to access your data through a website, or an iOS / Android app.

Of course, the main thing the Aria has that Withings doesn't is a fitness monitor to go with it. The Aria is designed to work with the company's Fitbit trackers, which log physical activity, calories burned, stairs climbed and, if you're diligent about data entry, the various meals you've consumed. Since all that information lives online in an alphabet soup of healthiness, it might paint a more complete picture of how fit you are. Then again, you'd have to commit to wearing the Fitbit day in and day out. And, you know, pay $100 for it. Your call.

Continue reading PSA: Fitbit Aria WiFi scale available now for $130

PSA: Fitbit Aria WiFi scale available now for $130 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola MOTOACTV software update allows for pairing with non-Moto devices

Posted on 02/04/2012 by Dana Wollman

Good news for fitness junkies who like to mix and match their gadget brands: MotoACTV's accompanying application will now work on pretty much all Android phones, and not just those that happen to be made by Motorola. The only catch so far as we can tell is that your handset must run Android 2.1 (Eclair) or later -- a near-certainty in 2012. Already rocking a Moto device? You might still want to take the time to install this update, as it brings several other new features, including the ability track fitness goals on your phone, as well as use your handset to configure WiFi networks for your MotoACTV. You can also plan workouts on your device of choice, access them on MotoACTV and then send your workout data back to the phone. So far, the Engadget staff can confirm the update works just fine on LG devices, so we're optimistic the latest software will play nice with the Samsungs, HTCs and Huaweis of the world. Hit up the source link below to get your download on and as always, let us know how it goes.

Motorola MOTOACTV software update allows for pairing with non-Moto devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.