EMG Live Fitness Brings the Gym to You Via the Web

The problem with classes at the gym is that it often means being at the gym at set times to take a class. While that’s not always possible, sometimes distance plays a factor too. EMG Live saw this twin dilemma and created a web-based platform that links the most sought after fitness instructors directly to fitness enthusiasts. So you don’t need to be in the same town as the instructor, you just need a web connection.

“As a fitness and exercise class groupie working in the technology field,” says Joyce Wells, President and CEO of EMG Live. “I decided to combine my field of expertise with my many years of taking fitness classes and the friendships I have forged with instructors worldwide to create a platform that would benefit both students and instructors.”

(Video Preview after the Jump) Continue reading EMG Live Fitness Brings the Gym to You Via the Web

Nekdoodle No Wet Noodle

Last week’s 2011 International Aquatic Fitness Conference saw the arrival of the Nekdoodle, a head and neck support for use in water fitness, recreation and relaxation. While some water floatation aids are about as effective as a wet noodle, the Aquatic Exercise Association and the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute (ATRI) tested the Nekdoodle and gave it a solid “thumbs up.”

The Nekdoodle was demonstrated during the Open Pool time during Conference, which was hosted by the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA), and which drew some of the best presenters in the world from Spain, USA, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Russia, Germany, Trinidad and Portugal and over 800 participants from 37 countries and 48 states. Continue reading Nekdoodle No Wet Noodle

GPS Device Adds Camera

Over the years we’ve seen GPS added to smartphones and many digital cameras now offer GPS tags. But now Garmin, the maker of satellite navigation technology, sees that turnabout is fair play. The company has announced the addition to the GPSMAP 62 series of rugged outdoor handheld devices – a built-in 5 megapixel camera with automatic geotagging to capture the highlights of any adventure and allow you to share the locations or navigate back to that site. GPSMAP 62stc and GPSMAP 62sc were unveiled at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, CO, capping a week of exciting new Garmin outdoor handheld announcements by Garmin that included innovations in the popular eTrex, Rino and Astro families.

In other words this is a GPS device with a build camera. Continue reading GPS Device Adds Camera

Polar A Best Company – No Surprise

We’ve covered a few Polar products recently, and we have long known and respected the company’s dedicated to quality. So it comes as no surprise to KineticShift that Polar was named as a “Best Company to Work for in New York for 2011” by the New York State Society for Human Resource Management, Inc., the Business Council of New York and Best Companies Group.

Polar ranked 22 in the under 250 employees group, and the award honors companies who excel in workplace policies, practices, philosophies, systems and demographics and perform well in an employee survey that measures their experiences. Continue reading Polar A Best Company – No Surprise

E3 Preview: Majesco Entertainment Looks to Add Fitness to Line-Up

While we know that Majesco will have new action games at this week’s E3 including BloodRayne Betrayal (PSN, XBLA) and The Hidden (3DS), the company will also have a few titles to get you off the couch and get your heart pumping. This week the company will be unveiled Zumba Fitness 2 for the Nintendo Wii.

We’re also hearing that Majesco’s E3 lineup will include:

Hulk Hogan’s Main Event (Kinect for Xbox 360): It’s all about the show in the first motion-based wrestling game on Kinect for Xbox 360 that lets players train with mentor Hulk Hogan as they build their own wrestling personalities and learn the art of showmanship to win over the crowd.

Take Shape (Kinect for Xbox 360): Turn game night into a hilarious interactive party with the fast-paced Take Shape for Kinect! Twist, stretch and shrink your body into hundreds of different shapes, animals and symbols. “Shape yourself” solo to beat the fastest time or team up in multiplayer mode to unite your on-screen silhouettes in fun new ways. Fit through forms, bend into shapes and animals, match a mirrored image… even clear stacked shapes lightning fast in this fun-for-all-ages experience. Be flexible; be quick; be the life of the house party in Take Shape!

Mind ‘n Motion (Kinect for Xbox 360): Think fast and stay coordinated in Mind ‘n Motion! This fun, family-friendly experience puts your motor skills to the test with activities that keep your entire body moving as fast as your mind can trigger your next move. From juggling to dodging shapes to jumping hopscotch, Mind ‘n Motion packs in ten levels per activity and mixes it up throughout with additional gameplay elements like inverse controls, faster pace and new tricks to make you think quick on your feet!

Check back all week for the latest in active video game titles from the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

KineticShift Heads to E3

This week KineticShift will be reporting from the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 (June 7-9) in sunny Los Angeles. We expect big news on the video game front from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony – and we hear this will include more fitness games and activities that will help encourage gamers to get off the couch.

Check back all week for the latest from E3. This is one show we’d hate to miss.

E3 Official Website

runtastic Says 60Beat It

Sometimes you want to leave the phone behind when you decide to go for a run, but with runtastic 2.0 for the iPhone you’ll be sure to bring along the handset from now on. This running app is powered by 60Beat Rx, a small, inexpensive device that plugs into the headphone jack that delivers more robust heart rate information. The app features five programmable training zone that combine pulse and GPS information to provide accurate heart rate data in a convenient and easy-to-use platform is beneficial for a broad range of fitness goals. Continue reading runtastic Says 60Beat It

Polar USA Rolls Out Suite of Technology Accessories With New Computer

There is no denying that training computers have typically had very specific uses. What is good in the water isn’t so good on the bike, but Polar USA looks to change the way the game is tracked with its new RCX5 training computer. It builds on the company’s decades of experience, and this new device combines Polar heart rate tracking accuracy with features that make it ideal in the water, on the bike and even on the pavement as you pound out each and every step.

The device, which is now available in “smart black” and will available in “striking red” later this year, is includes sport profiles that are essential for multisport and triathletes. It allows users to quickly switch between sports during training, so no time or training data is lost between swims, rides or runs.

“Triathlons are one of the fastest-growing sport segments in the United States, and we understand better than anyone in the market that multisport athletes demand data, whether they are training for their first regional event or chasing a lifelong professional pursuit,” said Jeff Padovan, President, Polar USA. “The Polar brand has been an established name among elite athletes for more than 30 years, and we are proud of the loyalty and knowledge we’ve built within the ‘tri’ market specifically. The RCX5 is the realization of everything we’ve been hearing that ‘tri’ users require to get to that next level, packaged in a new, sleek design.”

The RCX5 features a ZoneOptimizer that adjusts to personal heart rate zones based on the user’s current physiological condition to optimize just the right level of training intensity; plus Race Pace that lets the wearer set a target time for certain distances to see how far ahead or behind on a course the user is at a given time; and even a Training Load feature to let a wearer known when he or she has recovered enough for the next session.

The RCX5 is available in multiple product sets for running, cycling and multi-sport use. There is even a WearLink+ Hybrid transmitter that can ensure transmission in the water via a comfortable, fabric chest transmitter that transfers data both in 5 kHz and 2.4 GHz.

Training may never be the same again.

Polar RCX5 Official Website

Bell Recalls Helmets

This week the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Bell Sports announced a voluntary recall of the Full-face bicycle helmets. The plastic buckle that connects the chin straps can fail, causing the helmet to come off the wearer’s head. This poses a head injury hazard to riders in the event of a fall. The firm has received one report of a buckle failing during an accident, resulting in an injury that required stitches below the wearer’s eye.

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. About 31,100 of these helmets were sold in the United States and about 2,500 were sold in Canada. The helmets were sold at Walmart stores nationwide and Amazon.com between August 2009 and March 2011 for between $50 and $60. Continue reading Bell Recalls Helmets

GolfBuddy Gets Worldly

Just in time to hit the links, GolfBuddy has gone global of sorts. The Golf GPS that carries no added fees has just launched with an international World model. GolfBuddy World comes pre-loaded with more than 33,000 courses and still does not require any subscription fees or download fees. It is ready to hit the fairway right out of the box.

The GPS device has the capacity to hold 40,000 courses in its internal memory, while offering a high resolution, color touch screen that is easy to navigate without or without golf gloves. It features an anti-glare screen that makes it remain visible, even in direct sunlight. The device offers a digital scorecard, statistical analysis, a shock and water resistant casing and 50 channel satellite reception. Continue reading GolfBuddy Gets Worldly

Bollé Storms the Water

With summer just around the corner, you may be gathering and preparing all of your gear to hit the water for some fun. Whether your are an angler, sailor or just enjoy spending time on the water, you may be in the market for some sunglasses to help cut down on that annoying glare. Bollé, one of the many names that Bushnell Outdoor Products of Overland Park, Kansas produces under, has announced the expansion of their Marine line of sunglasses to now include 15 models.

Up to 2011, Bollé already had been offer nine different styles of glasses in their Maine Collection. The Bollé Marine Collection features two specialized mirrored lens hues – Inland Gold for low light conditions and Offshore Blue for the harsher light of open water. Both lenses are polarized to eliminate distracting glare while enabling the wearer to see below the water’s surface. Bollé Marine lenses also block distracting blue light to minimize eye fatigue in their unique water environments. Continue reading Bollé Storms the Water

Wiley X Eyewear Remembers America’s Soldiers Who Gave Their All

Today Wiley X Eyewear encourages everyone to remember our soldiers who gave their all, and so much more. The company, which has a long tradition of providing U.S. soldiers with state-of-the-art eyewear that protects their vision in combat situations and in the world’s harshest environments, offers a special thanks to the troops.

“With Memorial Day marking the unofficial kickoff to summer and many families taking the opportunity to get away for an extended weekend, it’s easy to forget the true meaning of this holiday,” said Myles Freeman, Jr., Co-Owner of Wiley X Eyewear. “Memorial Day is a time for Americans to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice so many have made over our great nation’s history. On behalf of the Wiley X family, I encourage people to pause during this holiday and really think about the gift we’ve all been given — as well as its tremendous cost. If you meet a veteran or a solider this weekend, make sure to say ‘thank you!’ We need to truly appreciate our fallen heroes and our standing soldiers alike.”

True words from a class act.

Wiley X Eyewear Official Website

Specialized Jumps on the Eco-Wagon

A few weeks back, we mentioned that Trek was going to be recycling carbon fiber bicycle frames as carbon fiber is not as “green” as all metal bike frames. Now it appears that Specialized, the manufacturer that created the frame that Alberto Contador just rode to victory in the Giro d’Italia, is creating their own environmental initiative. Some carbon fiber breaks can be repaired, but when is comes to the end of the line, carbon fiber is not a material that can easily be recycled.

This week Bicycle Retailer reported that Specialized has launched a comprehensive sustainability initiative by incorporating Outdoor Industry Association Eco-Index evaluation of their products during product creation, and leading a carbon fiber recycling coalition. Specialized has become the first major industry member to join the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Eco-Index—a comprehensive system for evaluating and improving the environmental footprint of products during the design stage. Continue reading Specialized Jumps on the Eco-Wagon