Tech Gadgets That Will Take Your Workout to the Next Level

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Fitness tech has come a long way, with bulky bands giving way to sleek clip-ons, unobtrusive necklaces and stylish bracelets and watches. The problem isn't finding a gadget that works for your lifestyle, but rather choosing from among the countless options that are on the market. Smartwatch or smart shirt? A wireless sleep tracker you don't even have to wear? How about a life tracker that might actually extend your life? 

With so many to choose from, more information is better. Here are some of the latest and greatest workout-boosting gadgets for both fitness fanatics and the weekend warriors: 

1. The Polar A300

If your goal is to move more, this stylish watch-style tracker not only offers smart coaching, but also prompts you to get up and go when it senses you've been on your duff for too long. Pair with the Polar H7 for bonus features like motivational post-workout feedback and fitness testing. 

For the fashion conscious, it comes in six waterproof color options so you can even enjoy your favourite water sports if you live near a lake or seaside in style. 

2. Sony Noise Cancelling Earbuds

When weather, schedules, or space make going to a crowded gym a necessity, combat distractions with some serious blood pumping audio. 

Sony makes noise cancelling earbuds that deliver high-resolution audio, while blocking out the grunts and clangs of the meatheads and the drone of the gym TVs. 

3. Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2

This cutting-edge percussion massager, is the recovery device preferred by many of the world's elite athletes. It uses a combination of pressure and vibration at three different speed settings to enhance your pre and post-workout results. 

Use the Hypervolt Go 2 for self massage, warm ups and to loosen up tight muscles. 

4. FitBit Versa 2

The classic FitBit features are paired with smartwatch technology in the Versa 2, which tracks fitness data and alerts you to calls and texts on a stunning full-color touchscreen. There's also music control, so you don't have to fumble with yet another device on the treadmill. 

Running out of ideas on what to do at the gym? This device also includes workout tips!

5. Under Armour's Health Box

This brand's leap into the gadget market comes with a big endorsement from prima ballerina of the moment, Misty Copeland. 

The Health Box is a three-part system with the UA Band (a wearable tracker that displays workout data), a chest-strap heart rate monitor, and a smart scale – all of which use Bluetooth to sync to the UA app. 

6. Gymwatch Sensor

Heavy lifters will love this German-made sensor that's relatively new to the US. Wear it while using machines, free weights or isometric techniques, and it senses when your form is off. 

Instant audio feedback via the companion app reminds you to adjust grip, posture or pace – no personal trainer necessary.

7. The Hexoskin Shirt

Touted as the “world’s first biometric smart shirt" for men and women, Hexoskin's shirt (plus hardware pack) maps heart rate, breathing rate and movement data. 

Then syncs up with wellness apps such as MapMyRun, so you can track your workouts without bulky wearables.

Conclusion 

Why add gadgets to your workout routine? Because they are an easy way to optimize and track performance so you can get the most out of your workouts and meet your fitness goals, whether they are big or small.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: Ten Gadgets that Will Make your Life so Much Easier

Know of any other interesting gadgets? Let me know.

(DISCLOSURE: This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I only ever endorse products that I have personally used and benefitted from personally. Thank you for your support!)

*by andreascy*

Trending Tech Accessories Taken for Granted

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

It’s the year 2015. No flying cars, moon base, or teleportation technology. Anyone familiar with the 20th century’s pop culture projections of the future are a little disappointed. Alas, not everything tech we hoped to exist by now has failed to appear. When it comes to personal and personalized gadgets and gizmos available to 21st century consumers, the human race has done pretty well for itself. The digital revolution has helped everything from touchscreens to voice command make the leap from fiction to reality. We haven’t sent someone to Mars yet, but we can simulate it via downloadable app. 

For anyone bummed out about the chances of a working hover board appearing in their lifetime it’s time to appreciate what you do have. Here’s a list of impressive technology either ten feet away from you right now, or five years away from being ten feet away from you:

Headphones/Earbuds 

Ear gear has been around for a long time, no lie. The recent fashion flare-up involving “high quality” headphones illustrates how this taken for granted technology has come a long way. Not too long ago it exhausted a part-time paycheck or two to acquire headphones capable of reproducing great sound without letting everyone around you know what’s on the playlist. These days we’re able to isolate ourselves inside an album, movie, or viral video while riding packed public transit for less than $50 for a good pair of earbuds. Or you can opt for the $500 pair of headphones if you want...the technology is impressive either way.

Flash Drives

Like portable personal audio, the ability to physically transport digital data is nothing new. And it may even seem old-fashioned thanks to the cloud. But once again, we’re failing to marvel at one of the more magnificent inventions of our time. In terms of data volume, physical size, and versatility, nothing beats the flash drive. Not to mention they’re tangible, and thus have become a bit of a fashion accessory. Thanks to things like 3D printing people can now buy flash drives in bulk from companies capable of building them into custom shapes and figures. The result is an array of normal everyday objects capable of being hidden data mines. That’s futuristic for you.

Smart Stuff

It seems like only yesterday we were flipping open our cellular phones, winding our watches, and owning a dozen different other pieces of technology to do an equal number of tasks. The iPhone debuted eight years ago and we’re already over the all-in-one, touch-operated, voice-activated, pocket sized computers we carry in our pockets and purses. Now we have the dawn of the smartwatch; a little anticlimactic considering the wonders of the smartphone, but the stuff of science fiction nonetheless.

Drones

Does anyone appreciate the potential of drone technology? Maybe because the consumer drone industry is still in its infancy, but that’s partly because consumers aren't taking advantage of this amazing technology. We associate drones with spooky government stuff, and that’s a legitimate connection, yet drone technology can be so much more. It can be used to remotely chaperone children walking to school by themselves, or deployed to monitor a stolen car. We hear the word “drone” and picture a faceless killing machine, but the ability to essentially combine RC and smart technology together is a wonderful thing for society, whether we know it now or not.

We’re well into the 21st century now. Glance around and it doesn't really feel like it, but looks can be deceiving. Humans are easily bored and constantly eyeing the next big thing. Every once in awhile we need to stop and appreciate the technological gifts we’ve been fortunate enough to live to experience. For billions of people they were only the stuff of dreams.

CHECK ALSO: 10 Gadgets that Will Make your Life so Much Easier

Thanks for reading! Looking for feedback.

*by andreascy*

Samsung Offers Hot Line of Products This Fall

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

This year's the world's leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances (IFA), was dominated by wearables, slim lines, super curves and a whole lot of innovation. Nearly all the big players had smartphones to showcase – some derivative and some surprising. 

Samsung, arguably one of the biggest players in the consumer electronics world, brought its’ A game to Berlin with four new devices custom-made to take the wind out of competitors’ sails. While there's no way to know if the brand revealed everything it has up its sleeve at IFA it certainly showed that it hasn't lost its edge. Here's what had people talking about Samsung and has fans excited for fall:

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

While the device is similar to the Galaxy Note 4, it does contain a standout feature that will push the boundaries of today's mobile display technology. The Edge features a 5.7-inch screen and adds a seamless 1-inch second screen that curves beautifully around the left-hand edge of the phone. The Galaxy Note Edge screen, which uses a Youm flexible display, may very well change how people interact with their devices. Everything from alerts to apps can be accessed without any interruption to other mobile experiences. Even with the phone locked and the case closed, notifications and messages are accessible. Its release near the end of 2014 could mean an unprecedented level of connectivity with less screen time. Users interested in the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge should sign up at T-Mobile for an alert when the device becomes available. 

Galaxy Note 4

While it still sports the 5.7-inch screen of the Note 3, the screen has gotten a boost with a Quad HD Super AMOLED (2,560 x 1,440 resolution) display that's adaptable to changing lighting conditions. That's super good news since a more powerful camera offers 16MP and lets in 60 percent more light resulting in image quality on par with most users' point-and-shoots. A lightning fast 2.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, an improved S Pen with Smart Selection and a quick charging battery are also among the high-quality features. This flagship Galaxy Note 4 has a forecasted October release. 

Gear VR

Virtual reality is finally coming to consumer's pockets thanks to the Gear VR, which is powered by the Note 4 and slated for end-of-year release. What sets this device apart is that the immersive audio and 3D video experience users enjoy is provided by the Note 4's Quad-HD screen technology. Simply slide the Galaxy Note 4 into the headset to deliver superb gaming environments, cinematic settings for movies and TV and larger than life sound. 

Gear S Smartwatch

This is the company's third smartwatch and its codename – Solo – says a lot about why it's a game changer. Unlike nearly all other smartwatches and wearables that can only be used when linked to a smartphone, the Gear S is a 3G capable standalone device that's so smart it's brilliant. A dual-core 1GHz processor, 4GM on internal storage and 512MB RAM mean it can have its own apps and programs and can even send texts and make calls – all using Samsung's own Tizen portable OS. Though experts disagree on the viability and longevity of the wearables market it's pretty clear the Gear S is going to be a hit. Watch for it in October.

The takeaway? Changes to mobile technology are happening faster than ever and Samsung is keeping pace admirably. It remains to be seen whether the competition will keep up but it's clear fans have plenty to look forward to.

RECOMMENDED: Why Curved Screens are the Next Innovative Trend

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*by andreascy*

The Hottest Fitness Gadgets on the Market

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Wearable fitness technology is all the rave right now from wristband trackers to electronic compression shirts. These, plus other gadgets, help monitor every aspect of a person’s workout from checking vitals and tracking weight goals to meeting and connecting with others. 

If you’re looking for something to help bring your workout into the 21st century, check out these new and awesome fitness gadgets.

Benefits of Fitness Technology

Between wearable technology, smartphones and mobile fitness apps, fitness technology has the potential to revolutionize the world of workouts. For personal trainers, these devices can free up one-on-one time with clients and help them manage their fitness businesses. For consumers, fitness technology can help them meet whatever personal training or health goals they have from losing weight to just feeling better about themselves. The benefits of fitness technology are extensive. 

• They are convenient to use.

• Consumers can monitor their own activity and fitness goals.

• They can bring fun and excitement into a person’s workout routine.

• Fitness gadgets enhance the experience of physical exercise.

• They help consumers make the best use of modern technology.

Some of the coolest new fitness gadgets come with smart technology, which allows consumers to connect them via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and that have social sharing features to keep consumers motivated and informed. Some of the newer fitness gadgets with smart technology feature processors from Snapdragon, which include integrated CPU, GPU, DSP and sensor processing. 

This technology lets users connect to their smartphones or tablets to upload and keep track of fitness activity. Items to consider when purchasing fitness include ease of use, battery life and purpose of measurement. 

Popular Wearable Fitness Gadgets

There are many fitness and exercise gadgets on the market, with the most common being:

• Wristband fitness tracker: There is a wide variety of wristband trackers from detecting sleep quality to measuring calories. The best trackers are the ones that sync automatically and can be used with all your devices. The Fitbit Flex tracks steps, distance and calories burned during the day, and sleep quality at night. It also gently wakes you in the morning.

• Samsung Gear Live: This Android smart watch acts as a personalized fitness manager by providing real-time information on the results and progress of your workout through its optical heart rate sensor. The Samsung Gear Live can be worn 24/7 to keep track of your activities throughout the day and runs on a Snapdragon 400 processor. It is dust and water resistant. 

• Notch Body Tracker: This wearable fitness device is worn in tandem with a number of trackers to provide even more detailed data. It tracks not only the number of steps taken in a day, but also their speed, acceleration and force. 

• Sports Sensors: Zepp’s Sports Sensors connect to baseball bats, golf gloves and tennis rackets and provides real-time data about the swings, angles at impact, speed and more. 

Whether you’re training for a marathon, want to lose a few pounds or you’re simply motivated to live a healthier lifestyle, wearable fitness gadgets have many benefits. This technology can help anyone with their fitness goals, and this fad doesn’t appear to be losing traction anytime soon.

*by andreascy*

Seven Best Buy Gadgets To Improve Your Life In 2013

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

It's pretty standard right now - every year brings more new and interesting developments in consumer technology – many of which were displayed at the recent CES consumer electronics show. 

Some are much more interesting than the others and here’s a brief take a look at 2013's more interesting choices within the gadget world. 

MakerBot Replicator 2 (3D Printer) 

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries continues to be sell awesome desktop three dimensional inkjet printers (and have done since 2009) and the Replicator 2 is their latest offering. Just as your traditional printer allows you create things in 2 dimensions, a three dimensional printer allows you render objects from plastic into 3d. Rather than purchasing every small item that you'll need to create a product, you can now manufacture it yourself without leaving the comfort of your own home. The only real limit is very literally your imagination. 

Pebble Smart Watch Phone 

It’s taken some time, but finally it is here. The smart watch that acts as an interface together with your Apple iPhone or Android phone to create a heads-up display of sorts for your wrist. As you would expect, it display the time, tells you who's calling, who's texting, and even when you have received a new email. It will also have an application store, so 3rd party designers can go nuts stretching the functionality of this awesome device. 

Oculus Rift Headset 

This virtual reality headset is among the most promising devices within the gaming world at this time. The company that makes them raised nearly $2.5 million on the Kickstarter investment website to get the device to the gaming market. It is set to become a a thrilling accessory for PC gaming (with support for consoles in the future). 

Xbox 360 720 

Everybody already knows that Microsoft can come up with a remarkable console. With the proposed enhancements coming with the 720 there will be more aesthetically impressive game titles to help keep the Generation X of players hooked for years to come. 

4K Televisions 

Forget High Definition HDTV, 4K televisions will generate images at four times better resolution of current HD models. They are pricey and expensive, but having seen them at CES, we believe that these will soon be flying off the shelves. 

TrakDot – GPS Tracker 

This little device is supposed to fit onto your checked baggage at international airports to really make it much simpler and easier to locate it - assuming the airport staff managed to get yours on the plane in the first place! You could also use it for other purposes too - why not use it to monitor your vehicle whether you can’t remember where you packed or if it gets stolen? 

Ouya 

The gaming world was ignited with excitement when the Ouya was introduced - this is an Android-based gaming console made to be as hackable and easy to customize as you desire. Interesting stuff! And it's not only a completely new console, it also combines with your home media center too, offering its very own movies and online applications for music and video. The console has to date been met with favorable reviews which should make it a very popular gadget in the future. 

SEE ALSO: Our Selection of the Top 10 Devices Revealed at CES 2014 Mega - Event

If you want to purchase any of the gifts mentioned in this article then they should be available from Best Buy late in 2013. Let your voice be heard down below in the comments.

*by andreascy*

Hand Watches with Internet : Sony Smart Watch and I'm Spa I'm Watch on CES 2012

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

This year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has given rise to two new smart watches; the Sony Smart Watch and the I'm Watch from I'm SpA. 

Sony's Smart Watch is a descendant of the Sony Ericsson LiveView, and you can clip the watchface to any band if you want. It pairs with the new Sony Xperia smartphones, but another version of the device will just run on its own. Smart Watch runs Android 2.1, connects to your phone via bluetooth and can tell you if you get messages or play music. Additionally, it can answer calls, access your social networks and has enough storage for 255 widgets. It has a touchscreen but there is a side-button you need to press first to activate it. It's around $150. 

The I'm Watch, by comparison, runs Android 1.6 and has a 1.5-inch screen with 240x240p resolution. It can also be used as a bluetooth headset so you can keep your phone in your pocket while you chat. It can get a few hours of that kind of usage on a single charge, tech blog The Verge reported, and it has four gigabytes of internal storage. It comes with a few apps pre-loaded and costs $350. 

iPod Nano doesn't pair with your phone via bluetooth, but it does have a fitness center that can keep tabs on your workout. Hook up your Nano to a laptop and go to the Nike+ Web site to track progress. Nano comes in eight and 16 gigabyte flavors for $130 and $150 respectively. Depending on what you want to do with your watch, it could come down to price. If you like the bluetooth feature, the Smart Watch looks to be the best option. 

Tell us in the comments if you wear an iPod Nano as a watch, and what watch face you use. 

*by andreascy*