Gizmodo: workouts

Is iPhone 3.0's Mysterious iProd a Bitchy Personal Trainer?

matt buchanan — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:55:30 EDT

In addition to referencing brand new iPhones and iPods, the iPhone 3.0 OS also mentions the intriguing "iProd." Which is what British publications called a bitchy digital personal trainer Apple patented last year.

Apple filed patents on an iPod touch-like personal trainer that tracks your fitness level and schedule, has personalized workouts, answers nutrition and health questions and monitors your heart-rate and motion through sensors to track your workouts. And if you wimp out of your workout, it bitches at you. Hence, "iProd," though it's mentioned nowhere in the actual patent application.

Personally, I'm still on the bandwagon "iProd0,1" is a generic iProduct placeholder, which is in fact standing in for magic French toast. [New Scientist, Times Online - Thanks Evan!]

Bandai RPG Pedometers, Like Nike+ for the Extra Masochistic

Mark Wilson — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:01:00 EDT

13 billion years ago, a super dense ball of junk exploded. And it's taken this long for someone like Bandai to come around and combine our least favorite thing (exercise) with one of our most favorite things (pointless, time-sucking RPGS, preferably featuring some sort of underage girl with oversized...eyes...who has a shrieky, ear-damaging voice and a dual penchant for carnal melee brutality and giggling).

But it's finally happened. Bandai has developed the RPG Pedometer.

Space Cruiser Yamato and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother are two game/pedometers that Bandai will release in time for this holiday season. As users walk, their characters will both level up and reach new destinations on the map, unlocking new chapters in a story that unfolds over 90 days of exercise.
And while the game hardware itself doesn't look that robust, the systems feature an online component similar to Nike+ that tracks your workouts and weight.

Priced at $45, the only point we're not certain about is whether or not the games will be localized for the US. While we get clarification on the matter, it's probably best to assume Japan only. [Trends in Japan via bbGadgets]

Question of the Day: Do You Listen to an MP3 Player While Working Out?

Sean Fallon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT

The news about new iPods coming out on September 9th combined with observations during my daily visits to the gym have got me wondering about how many of you use an MP3 player while working out. Based on these observations alone, it seems that somewhere around 40 to 50% percent of gym goers rely on an MP3 player to pump them up. It is a good thing too because most studies show that listening to music you enjoy while working out improves results. So, do you use an MP3 player during your workout? How do you use it? Do you exercise at all?

Nike+ Gym Equipment Coming July

AddyDugdale — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:50:00 EDT

Following up on the promise made back in March, Apple and Nike have integrated Nike+ iPod technology into gym equipment. 24 Hour Fitness, the largest fitness chain in the US, will be the first to roll out the equipment to select locations across the country starting in July. [BusinessWire]

Medimo's Vein Reader Gym Machines Lets You Work Your Pinkie to the Max

AddyDugdale — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:48:56 EST

Japanese company Fukui has unveiled 12 gym machines with finger-vein readers, which adjust the settings of the fitness equipment automatically for regular users. Costing around $17,000 each, the gear can be hooked up to a remote server to update gym bunnies' stats—calorie consumption and current exercise regime—with the info then displayed on a touchscreen. Go for the burn, fingers. [Pink Tentacle]

Nike Updates Nike+ Armband - Now You Can Actually See the Screen

Jason Chen — Wed, 02 May 2007 20:40:25 EDT

Nike's quietly rolled out a second-generation Nike+ Sport Armband for the iPod Nano, which incidentally fixes what could be biggest mistake on the first one: the inability to see the screen.

In the 2nd-gen version, Nike's cut a hole so you can see what the hell's going on with your workout, but it still keeps the same fabric and still holds the Nike+iPod receiver. It's $29.95, and you can grab one over at the Apple store. Too bad Nike didn't fix the problem we had, which was the instantaneous crushing of the iPod when we put this on our biceps because our muscles were too huge. Ha, ha. Just kidding. We have no muscles. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Apple via iLounge]