GeekSugar

New Google Maps Tricks and Tips

GeekSugar — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:10:36 PDT

Oh Google Maps, how would I ever get on without you? Just in case you missed my last roundup of mind-blowing things you can achieve with Google Maps, here it is for you to check out. And now I've got my latest installment of fun features, useful mashups and other great ways to incorporate Google Maps into your day-to-day life.

Scope Out Your Facebook Friends' Locations on Google Maps

GeekSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:30:41 PDT

It's not every day a Facebook app catches my eye, but because I have friends from all over the world, I knew Map Motive would be something I might find useful. I saw this app on Digital Inspiration, and what's great about it is that if you're planning on doing some traveling and you're wondering if you're going to know anyone at your destination, Map Motive will instantly show you on a Google Map who is currently located in that city or town. But keep in mind, if any of your Facebook friends have their info set to private, you won't be able to see where they are on the map.

5 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Started Running

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:07:23 PST

When I first started running, I hated it. I suffered from blisters, unsupported bosoms, and irritated skin from seams, and it seemed insanely hard. I wish someone had sat me down and told me these basic tips and tricks to help smooth my transition from non-runner to runner. If you're just starting out on your own journey pounding the pavement or treadmill belt, here are things you should know about running.

It Gets Easier
As with most things, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. To strengthen your muscles, acclimate your heart and lungs, and increase your endurance, run at least three times a week. Start off with a doable distance such as two miles. Once that distance feels good, gradually increase your mileage. The key is to move at a comfortable pace for a reasonable amount of time. If you do too much too soon, you could end up with an injury or a deep hatred for the sport.

You Don't Have to Wear Two Sports Bras
If you're well-endowed, running can be painful. I wore two sports bras for the longest time because I couldn't find one that prevented the uncomfortable bounce. A cheap cotton sports bra from Target just won't do. You might have to spend $50 or more, but it's worth it when you only have to wear one bra you trust. Here are some sports bras to choose from.

Keep reading to find out other running tips for beginners.

Gear Review: Motorola's MotoACTV Fitness Tracker

Leta Shy — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:55:36 PST

Is getting fit one of your New Year's resolutions for the coming year? Whether you're just diving into a new regimen or need a better way to track your workouts, you'll love the new MotoACTV fitness tracker from Motorola.

Released in November, the MotoACTV promises to be your constant fitness companion, and with good reason. It can track calories burned, pace, speed, steps taken, and GPS route out of the box, and holds up to 16 GB of music and workout data. All features that will make anyone's workouts better, so I was happy to test out the 8 GB version that Motorola recently sent over ($250; the 16 GB version goes for $300).

The MotoACTV is slightly bigger than the iPod Nano, and like the Apple product, it has a simple interface making it completely intuitive as soon as you power it on. You can use it as a pedometer, and the home screen shows the time, steps taken, and calories burned for the day. By swiping left and right you can navigate to four more screens with different options. Five tactile buttons and one designated back button on the touch screen work all the main functions, which I appreciated since having easy-to-feel buttons made pausing music or finding my way back to my workout screen much faster than if I were fumbling my way through touch screens. And after entering your height and weight stats, the MotoACTV tracks the amount of calories you burn throughout the day, including your basal metabolic rate. When on the workout screen, you can choose between five styles - running, cycling, walking, elliptical, and step machine - and what type of workout you want (like racing against a previous personal best or setting a time and distance goal). During a workout a pleasant voice keeps you updated on certain milestones and how long you have left in your workout.

Keep reading for more on how the MotoACTV performs.

How to Run a Faster 5K

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:23:54 PST

You've been running regularly for some time and have completed a few 5K fun runs. But now it's time to step it up and take this distance seriously. Here are some tips to help you beat your personal record when running 3.1 miles.

During Training

Add speedwork: If you want to run a faster 5K, you have to practice running faster. Coach Andrew Kastor recommends adding 80-meter sprints into your training schedule, and here's his plan for running a faster 5K in four weeks. Remember: sprinting can be hard on the body, so make sure to start off with shorter sprints and build up to the full 80 meters, especially if you're new to speed work.
Add short uphills: Hills require strength and endurance, so if you practice them during your training, you'll develop speed and muscle power, and just as with plyometrics (jump exercises), hill sprints will increase flexibility in your muscles and tendons, which reduces your risk of injury. In your training, tackle shorter steep hills (about six to 10 percent incline). Sprint up for 10 seconds, then walk downhill backwards to avoid pressure on the knees. Repeat, eventually building up to eight 10-second sprints. It's a surefire way to stronger, faster legs.
Incorporate strength training moves that target your shins, calves, quads, glutes, and core: Running alone won't increase your speed. You need to strengthen the muscles that make you move so your actions will be more powerful and more efficient. Incorporate variations of squats, lunges, step-ups, calf raises, bent over rows, and these three booty moves from celebrity trainer David Kirsch.
Become familiar with the route: Obtain a map of the 5K course, and if the route is open (like in a neighborhood or wooded trail), practice running it to familiarize yourself with the hills, curves, and mile markers. Knowing the course in advance will give you confidence and an added advantage over runners who are running it for the first time.

Keep reading to find out what to do on race day to run a faster 5K.

Jog.fm: Workout Music For Running, Walking, and Cycling

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 03:06:00 PDT

Don't get me wrong. Kanye West's "Stronger" is one great tune, but not after you hear it for the 100th time on your run! If it's about time you found some new music for your workouts, check out jog.fm. It helps you find the perfect music for your walk, run, or bike ride.

You can look up playlists other fit folks have created or you can make your own using their enormous library. The best part is that each song is categorized by BPM (beats per minute), so you can make a playlist that will help you keep a certain pace.

Keep reading to learn more about how easy it is to use jog.fm.

Renew Your Fitness Goals With These Small Changes

Angelica Marden — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:03:40 PDT

June marks the middle of the year and is a fitting month to reevaluate your fitness routine and aim to work a little harder. (It's bikini season, after all!) Renew your health and fitness goals this week by committing to small, but effective changes. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Undertake an extra long workout - Plan an after-work hike in the fresh Summer air, challenge yourself to run an extra mile, or sign up for 90-minute yoga class instead of the usual hour-long class. You may feel rushed all week, but schedule a long workout like you would a social or work engagement to make it happen.
Plan your meals for the week - Keep unhealthy snacking and greasy takeout to a minimum by mapping out your food plan for the week. Try these handy meal-planning tips from Self magazine to make it possible.
Aim to get more out of your trip to the gym - Don't waste any time or effort at the gym with these efficient workout tips for working smarter, not harder.

Keep reading for more tips.

Scream 4: A Bloody, Funny, and Worthy Scre-Boot

Molly Goodson — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 07:57:53 PDT

You know the sound of that dreaded ringing phone; you're ready for it, but no matter how often you remind yourself that it's coming, there's just something about the start of the Scream movies that gets me every time. From that very moment, Scream 4 throws you right back into the beloved franchise with a fresh, updated take on a very familiar story. The original Scream opening scene with Drew Barrymore put the movie on the map, and once again the first sequence is everything you want - tongue-in-cheek, funny, and of course, very bloody. For that reason and others, this is perhaps the most similar to the first of all the sequels. Or, to quote the film, it really is more of a "scre-boot" than a "shreik-uel."

Director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson are both at the top of their games with Scream 4. For all the criticism Scream 3 received, Craven stays loyal to the essence of Scream in this one. Ghostface and his very shiny knife are chill-inducing, red-herring abound, and it's a horror movie about loving horror movies. Williamson somehow retains the ability to write snappy, believable teen dialogue, save one final monologue about fame that goes a bit over the top.

Technology plays a central role in the story, with iPhones, apps, and web cams making frequent appearances, which is certainly a sign of the times. Scream 4 will serve as a snapshot of 2011 in the same way Scream is so indicative of the late '90s, belly shirts and all. Still, I'm not sure there are any high schoolers out there live streaming their whole life from a headset.

To read my biggest gripe about the movie, how the veteran cast members do, and the bottom line of who will love this just

read more. Woodsboro hasn't changed much in the past 10 years, and neither have Gale Weathers-Riley (Courteney Cox), Dewey Riley (David Arquette), and Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell). The inclusion of the veterans is crucial to making Scream 4 work, and they remain the heart of the series. Gale and Dewey have stuck around town, and he's now the Sheriff while she's no longer working as a reporter and is instead plagued with a case of writer's block. Sidney is back in town on her book tour, with her a final stop being in her hometown on the anniversary of the Woodsboro Massacre. Her memoir is about coming out of the darkness, and her character has gotten stronger after all she's been through. Instead of running away from Ghostface, Sidney is now on the offensive to protect her cousin, Jill (Emma Roberts), and family. Campbell shines as a more daring adult Sid who is ready to fight until the end. The death count is far higher than any of the previous Screams, so don't get too attached to the hot, young star-studded cast. For that reason, the downfall of this film is that it has less character and relationship development. At times it feels like the script moves from kill to kill without explaining any of the motives or backstory. There's little time to be worried about what door Ghostface is lurking behind, since the killer is too busy slashing everyone in sight. For instance, the movie alludes to Jill's boyfriend Trevor (Nico Tortorella) cheating on her, but they don't explain or expand on the story from there. The film will also have the viewers picking suspects, though that part of the story is underutilized as well. None of the characters are pointing fingers or making accusations, which is usually part of the fun. Hayden Panettiere and Alison Brie are highlights of the new Scream-ers, as Jill's badass friend and Sydney's sassy publicist respectively, and the trio of guys, Tortorella, Erik Knudsen, and Rory Culkin each have their moments. Cox and Campbell, who both look like they haven't aged a day, are fantastic reprising their classic roles, and Arquette is lovable as ever as Dewey. Bottom line: Scream 4 won't have you jumping out of your seat, but it's smart, witty, unpredictable, and a blast to watch. Source: The Weinstein Company

Solo Hiking Tips I Learned Going to Half Dome and Back

Michele Foley — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:27:48 PST

Last weekend started out pretty typical: my boyfriend and I made the four-hour drive to Yosemite for a few days of climbing with friends. But what I wasn't counting on was sleeping in that first morning and missing my chance to climb. Left alone, I figured I might as well go for a hike. My original plan was to do a two-mile hike to the base of Vernal Falls - ha! Twelve hours and 17 miles later, I had endured one of the most difficult treks of my life.

I would caution anyone to face a long distance challenge with a friend - especially for safety reasons. But if you've ever stopped yourself from going on a long run, hike, or bike ride because you were alone, it's worth considering as long as you do your research and come prepared. I can't remember the last time I felt so completely gratified and accomplished. Here are the things that helped me endure the trek.

Do your research. While I wasn't expecting to go beyond Vernal Falls via the Mist Trail and then take on Half Dome, I was prepared. It's a hike I've always wanted to do so I knew what to expect. I studied it enough to know the route and trail conditions with confidence. I also had done the Mist Trail (the beginning of the hike to Half Dome) several times in my past.
Be prepared. I didn't expect to go on a epic hike, but I did expect to be away from my camp until sundown, so I packed appropriately. In my pack I had enough food and water to last me beyond a full day. I also had extra layers of clothing, a headlamp, map, sunscreen, and a compass.

Find out what other tips helped me on my trek, and share your own stories with me when you

Gear Review: Nike+ SportWatch GPS

Susi May — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:05:35 PDT

It was only a matter of time before Nike created a GPS sports watch. The company introduced the Nike+ system five years ago, so adding a new component to the system seemed the right way to celebrate the half decade mark. And following its tradition of innovative design, this watch is good looking. Much more stylin' than other GPS watches out there with a relatively slim profile and easy-to-read face.

The company sent me a Nike+ SportWatch GPS ($200), and I've been testing it out. New gear always helps me step up my workouts. Yep, I've been running a bit more these days. The watch comes with a Nike+ foot pod and charging cable, which you will likely never use since the watch has a USB plug integrated into the band. Meaning you can plug the watch directly into your laptop to upload your workout data to the Nike web page while charging the battery of the watch, too. This is super convenient and the coolest feature of the watch, in my opinion.

The Nike+ SportWatch has the most simple user interface of any GPS watch or heart-rate monitor I have ever used. It only has three buttons. One to scroll up. One to scroll down. And one to press enter. You use the Nike website, which opens up automatically after you plug in the watch to your computer, to program your personal data: age, weight, etc., as well as preferences (sound off/on, splits, create interval workouts).

Keep on reading for more details about this watch.