Reviews

I talked about the BodyMedia Fit armband ($249) earlier this month, and finally completed my 30-day test drive of the fitness gadget that aims to make weight loss a science, not a guessing game. Wearing the band for up to 23 hours a day, you can program how much weight you want to lose and how quickly. Insert your stats (like body weight, height, and how often you normally work out), and BodyMedia will come up with goals for you to hit each day based on your BMI, calorie intake, and activity level.

You can see all of your daily results in graph form, which makes it super easy to tell where you need to work harder, and you won't have to do any crazy math to figure out your calorie deficits — it's all done for you! I loved using the device, and it really opened my eyes to exactly how much I was moving during the day (spoiler: not enough). Check out five things I learned about the device below, and why I think you'll like using it too.

• It's light and (semi) discreet — I thought the BodyMedia Fit armband was super light and pretty slim, which made wearing it under clothes virtually painless. I do wish it came in different colors though, since white is pretty hard to miss.
• It tracks everything — Not only do you record your food intake through the web interface (it's stocked with thousands of foods, so you don't have to spend forever customizing your items), but it records your sleep time with scary accuracy, your steps, calorie burn, and exercise time. You'll get a holistic view of why you can't lose weight, or why you aren't gaining.
• It serves as a reminder (in more ways than one) — Just wearing the band will remind you that you should get up and walk around, hit the gym, enter your food intake for the day, or pass on that second cookie.

See the rest of the list after the break.

I'll come right out and say it: to me, size matters. So when I heard about the Infuse 4G's huge 4.5-inch screen, I asked AT&T to send me a review unit, possibly out of morbid curiosity. Could a phone this big really make a girl happy? The answer is yes, my friends. Oh, yes.

I had read from the AT&T press release that the Infuse 4G would be big, but I didn't realize just how large it was until I peeled open the box. The thing is massive (only a few inches smaller than the Samsung Galaxy Tab!), but strangely enough I didn't mind. In fact, the bright and beautiful Super AMOLED Plus screen makes this one of the most spectacular smartphones to look at, and totally worth the real estate it will be taking up in your bag or pants pocket. The Infuse is wide, but it's incredibly thin. The phone measures 9.24mm thick at its largest (it has a lip at the bottom where the speaker/microphone lives), and is very sleek with its brushed gunmetal color and texturized backplate. Plus, it's so light (maybe the lightest phone I've handled in recent memory), but it doesn't send off that cheap, plastic vibe. The quality of the hardware is really impressive, and I gotta give Samsung a round of applause for this one. Well done.

To read more about the cameras, call quality, and included apps and features coming with the Infuse 4G, then keep reading.

I'm a sucker for anything related to dancing — especially if it's fun, is put to good music, and is said to help shed the pounds! Something else I'm addicted to? Dancing With the Stars. So I knew I had to get my hands on dancing pro Julianne Hough's Cardio Ballroom ($10) workout DVD.

I've taken a few ballroom dance classes in the past, but what I love about this workout DVD is it caters to both beginner and advanced dancers. Right from the start, Julianne's upbeat personality gets you excited about the warmups and choreography, and before you know it, you're doing the cha-cha, the jive, and paso doble.

Keep reading my review and check out a sneak peek of the video.

It's almost time — the Nintendo 3DS launches this weekend! I've had a few days to get to know the unit, and while I'm admittedly a Nintendo kind of gal, it's definitely exceeded my expectations with this console. Find out more about it below!

Price and Availability
The new Nintendo 3DS will hit stores this Sunday, March 27 for $250.

Trade-Ins and Credits
Want to trade up for the newest version? Here's what you need to know:

• Walmart — Starting this Sunday, you can trade in a used Nintendo DS model for up to a $100 credit toward the 3DS at authorized Walmart locations.
• Target — Starting on Sunday, you can trade in any used Nintendo DS system for up to $50 in credit toward the purchase of a 3DS, or any other purchase in Target stores.
• GameStop — Trade in your used Nintendo DSi XL for $100 in reservation credits, your DSi for $75, and your DS for $50 to put toward the purchase of a new 3DS.

Find out more about the games, the 3D quality, and whether or not you should buy after the break.

March is in like a lion, but sunny days will be here soon, meaning long days spent outside with the family. And what is better than background music to go along with your day at the beach? An iPod speaker station is the perfect solution for keeping tots entertained and setting a fun mood.

I tried out the Julius Dance Machine Speaker Station ($100) that Paul Frank had sent over to see if it could, in fact, get the party started. Made for all iPod devices (although adaptors are not included), it easily mounts your iPod and charges it while playing. The speaker dock comes with an adaptor, but also includes a rechargeable battery, meaning it is made for travel.

Who is this designed for? What I liked about this kid-friendly speaker dock was its ease of use — there's only a few buttons, including the volume buttons, which are on the monkey's ears, and the power button at the top of his head.

What sets it apart? At first, I wondered exactly what would make this simple speaker dock a "dance machine," but I quickly realized why it's a good purchase. Moms and dads can take it along to a picnic or kid's birthday party and get up to six hours of playtime on the rechargeable battery.

What did it sound like? The speaker sound was clear, and the volume reached a loud level. I didn't test it outside, but the sound was more than acceptable for such a small speaker station, even though I was at first concerned that some sound may be distorted since the iPod mounts right in front of the speakers. I can imagine that if you were in a noisy area it may not have the power to project far, but its size and portability make it a great option for an impromptu backyard party or a day at the park.

Would I recommend it? I can see how someone who loves the Paul Frank monkey would go bananas over this speaker dock. It's portable, easy to use, and — aside from the impenetrable plastic packaging it comes in — easy to set up.

I try to eat fresh foods whenever possible, but when I need a quick microwavable meal fix, I typically turn to Amy's. The brand offers a range of vegetarian and lactose free options and is my go-to if I want to satisfy my marinara and pizza craving at home without eating pizza. The company recently put out a range of "Light and Lean" products so I decided to nuke up the Light and Lean Pasta and Veggies and try it out.

Was it as flavorful as the regular versions?