GeekSugar

5 Gadgets That Track Your Fitness Stats

Leta Shy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:29:30 PST

Last week, Nike released its Nike+ FuelBand fitness-tracking device to much fanfare, but this celebrity-endorsed gadget isn't the first high-tech offering when it comes to gathering your workout stats. Read on to compare fitness monitors Bodybugg, Fitbit Ultra, MotoACTV, Jawbone Up, and the Nike+ FuelBand.

Nike+ Sportband Gets a New Look

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:30:49 PDT

So you're a running fanatic, and nothing brings you more pleasure than tracking your workouts. If this sounds familiar, then you'll want to get your hands on the latest model of the Nike+ Sportband. It works like the Nike+ Sports Kit, keeping track of your time, distance, pace, and calories burned, but instead of displaying the info on your iPod, it'll display it on the wristband. So it's great if you don't have an iPod or iPhone, or if you prefer running without music.

The latest model has a few upgrades. The screen now has a white background so it's easier to see. Also it has increased water resistance for those rainy days when you refuse to stay inside. It'll be available tomorrow in three colors: gray with an interior pink band, anthracite (dark gray) with a yellow interior band, and black with a red interior band. For $59, you'll be able to keep track of all your walks and runs, which may be just the motivation you need to reach your fitness goals.

Run Like a Girl: Nike+ Women's Half Marathon

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:30:00 PDT

If you were into the virtual element of the Nike+ Human Race on Aug. 31, you're going to love this Nike+ Women's Half Marathon. On Oct. 19, you can be part of the largest women's online race benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This Nike+ event is on the same day as the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco. Unfortunately there's no more room left to register for that 26.2 mile race, so Nike is giving runners a chance to run alongside those 20,000 lucky runners with this 13.1 mile race. Just like with the Human Race, you can either sign up to run at select locations, or you can run wherever you are at whatever time you choose, using your Nike+ gear. After your run, you can upload your data to Nikeplus.com. The entry fee is $45, but all finishers receive their own Nike Sports Essentials Finisher's T-Shirt and an Official Finisher Keychain designed by Tiffany & Co. Interested? Then register now before the deadline ends October 8.

RunKeeper: The Next Best Thing to Nike+ iPod Sports Kit

GeekSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:22:59 PDT

Fair enough, I may not be able to get my hands on the Nike+ system unless I purchase a pair of Nike running shoes - which totally irks me - but for only $10, I can get something that can help me during my runs, without compromising my favorite footwear.

RunKeeper is a new app for the iPhone that uses built-in GPS on the 3G models that helps runners, walkers, or cyclists monitor their route and distance throughout a city. So far it sounds like it is fairly accurate and is said to work better than Nike+ iPod's pedometer estimation tools. And best of all, once you get home you can check out your route, distance, and pace on Google Maps!

You can download the RunKeeper from Apple's iPhone App Store.

Apple Wants to Make It Illegal to Hack Nike+ Shoes

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:01:29 PDT

Last week's Let's Rock announcements of new iPods made me want to finally take the plunge and get the Nike+ system so I can rock out with my new Nano and get fit at the same time.

One thing holding me back, though, is Nike's own line of running shoes that you're supposed to purchase to use with Nike+. Since I need a lot of support and am picky about my running shoes, I just thought I'd hack the system and put the Nike+ sensor in my chosen pair of shoes.

But hold up, says Apple - turns out they're filing a patent to make it illegal to put those little sensors in other shoes. I'm deflated. I understand that it's proprietary technology, but I can't tell my feet that! Do you use Nike+?

Daily Tech: Nike Sport Kit Is Coming to the iPhone

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:31:34 PDT

The popular Nike + iPod Sport Kit is said to be making its debut on the iPhone soon, after various screenshots were leaked. - iPhon.fr
Any MobileMe customer who has had an account active as of Aug. 19 at midnight PDT is eligible to receive two months free of MobileMe service, since it has been so buggy since its launch. - CrunchGear
The BlackBerry Bold will be arriving in Canada via the Rogers Wireless Network on Aug. 21 and will most likely cost $399 on a three-year contract. - The Boy Genius Report
Google gets the top score on the American Customer Satisfaction Index. - TechCrunch
Are teens addicted to their gadgets more at risk for high blood pressure and heart attacks?- Switched

Nike Plans To Offer iPod Workout Systems In All Shoes

GeekSugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 05:09:31 PDT

With the popularity of the iPod and the Nike + iPod nano system, Nike will be incorporating its workout system into all of its running shoes by the end of the year. Nike has already launched six lines of the Nike+ workout system runners for both men and women, priced at $80 and up. Nike + iPod kit includes a pedometer that fits inside Nike+ ready shoes.

The pedometer communicates wirelessly with your iPod nano so you can get audible and visual readouts of your time, speed, and distance while listening to tunes or podcast workouts.

It's About Time: 3 Steps Closer to Back to the Future II

Kelly Schwarze — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:45:31 PST

We've seen film magic turn into reality before - remember, the tablet was first seen on Star Trek! Now for those who daydreamed of a life as cool as Marty McFly's as a kid, your turn has come. During this week's New York Toy Fair, Mattel announced plans to produce the pink hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II.

OK, there's no actual air hovering that will occur, but it's a 1:1 replica that will glide over most surfaces and make whooshing noises. Mattel will take pre-orders from March 1-20 for the hoverboard, expected to ship in the 2012 holiday season. There's a bit of a catch: Mattel needs you to get your fellow superfans to pre-order the product to bring it to production. As they say, "Because this is such a high-cost item, there will be a minimum number of orders required to go into production. If we don't receive the minimum orders, won't go into production and customers will not be charged. The price will be announced later this month."

It's up to you mini-McFlys to make the hoverboard a reality! The hoverboard, though, is just one of the products that can have you living like Marty; follow the break to see what else can get you Back to the Future.

The Five Best Races For Women

espnW — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:09:19 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea

Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor, is preparing to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World on Feb. 26 and hoping to fall in love with running in the process. Follow Sage’s journey on espnW.com

Women's races offer a decidedly different vibe than their coed cousins': more camaraderie, a sole sister atmosphere that welcomes all runners and walkers, and lots more running skirts. Here are five of the top women's races and series in the country. Sign up then train like Sage.

Disney Tinker Bell and Princess half marathons
Sage picked a winner. Let your inner child run free through the Magic Kingdom at these festival race weekends. Tinker Bell is in Disneyland, while Princess is in Disney World, but both allow thousands of runners to mix and mingle with Disney characters on courses that wind through each park. Racers put almost as much effort into costumes - Snow White, Belle, or Minnie, anyone? - as training. Bonus: your kids will be especially psyched to cheer you on.

Sage Steele gets some training advice from Disney runMom Lori Lovell

Nike Women's Marathon
Yeah, it's tough to snag an entry, but if you can, this race is so worth it. (Psst: Go through Team in Training.) This 26.2-mile race, and its half-marathon companion, traverses San Francisco with sweeping vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean to take your mind off the killer hills in the first 10 miles of the race. Tuxedo-clad firefighters bestow each finisher with a Tiffany & Co. pendant.

Run fast by fueling up smart

Three more great races after the break.

Nike Gamifies Fitness With the Nike+ FuelBand

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:59:21 PST

Nike introduced the Nike+ FuelBand ($149) into the competitive fitness gadget arena today. Like Striiv, Motoactv and Jawbone Up did before it, the Nike+ FuelBand will come with some familiar tracking features that monitor your steps, calories burned, and time, but introduces a game-like point system (called FuelPoints) to keep you motivated.

FuelPoints are a metric to measure your overall fitness, based on your oxygen intake. The more you move, the more FuelPoints you'll earn. Seeing how many FuelPoints you're earning is easy, too - a series of 20 LED lights goes from red to green as you earn points. You can even set your FuelPoints goals ahead of time to challenge yourself day to day.

Ready to kick-start your 2012 fitness goals? The ergonomic Nike+ FuelBand will be available for preorder in the US starting today! See it in action in the demo video after the break.