Fitbug is making a big splash at this year’s International CES. The company has introduced its new Wow scale, which features Bluetooth Smart ready technology to allow those stepping on to wirelessly sync data in real time to their mobile devices. The data can be further integrated with the Fitbug Air, the tracking device recently launched by Fitbug, or from the fitbug.com website. This will allow users to track and work towards achieving their personal health goals.
The Wow scale is compatible with Bluetooth Smart Ready iOS devices and will be ready to size up users in March.
There is no reason to go to the drugstore to test one’s blood pressure. At this week’s 2013 International CES Fitbug will officially unveil its first Bluetooth low energy blood pressure monitor that will allow users to send and view pulse measurements on a mobile device. The Fitbug Luv promises to simplify tracking of blood pressure measurements including Systolic pressure (SYS) and Diastolic pressure (DIA). The Luv monitor systems syncs with Bluetooth Smart ready iOS devices, and will be available mid-2013.
The New Year means New Year’s resolutions. According to the 2013 Outlook Survey organized by TD Ameritrade, Inc., 42 percent of Americans are making health-related resolutions this year. That’s compared to 32 percent opting for financial-oriented goals. Kendal Perez, frugal fashionista and bargain shopper, offers hassle-free ways to save money. And for the New Year Perez offers some tips on keeping those fitness resolutions. 
Another year is (almost) behind us. Here are look at the best and worst of 2012 in fitness and well-being.
Rugged camera maker GoPro announced this week that it has released an app for its HERO3 cameras. It allows users to control the action camera’s settings and features, while offering a live preview to help make framing of that perfect shot all the easier. The app will work with an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet, and is compatible with the HD HERO2 camera with Wi-Fi BacPac or the HERO3 with product software update.
The Mio Alpha Heart Rate Monitor had gotten a jumpstart from Kickstarter and now this innovative heart rate monitor is just about ready for business. It reportedly senses the blood under the wearer’s skin to provide a digital readout of heart rate, and is EKG accurate even during high-intensity workouts. The benefit to this is that no chest band or strap is required, but this unit is also Bluetooth 4.0 compatible and can be used with a variety of smartphone apps, allowing it to track speed, distance, pace and even utilize GPS.
We’ve seen a lot of fitness headphones and earbuds but the latest to turn our heads are the wireless BlueBuds X from JayBird. According to the company these “rewrite” the rules of Bluetooth audio, which is quite a bold statement but the early user reviews indicate the company is delivering the goods and more.
While out this holiday season you may notice that it is hard to use that touchscreen phone with gloves, but the Leather Touchscreen Gloves, which are made of Ethiopian lambskin and have been treated for wind and water resistance, feature nanotechnology that has been integrated into the leather. The result is that you can keep the digits warm and still operate a touchscreen device. Plus, you can keep some style as well.
While most of us may never have a swing like the golf pros, today there are plenty of tools that can help improve the swing. In the old days it just meant endless practicing but today that practice can include a digital helper in the form of a wearable sensor on the glove.
We like to call out products that offer no real fitness value as Kinetic(Mis)Shifts but the Misfit isn’t one of those, despite the rather misleading name. The Misfit is actually a wireless activity tracker that goes beyond what similar devices do. First off we were caught by how small this one is, but then were really impressed that the all-metal device appears like it could stand up to real activity, which could include cycling and swimming. To sync with an app all that is required is laying it on the phone. The company is currently engaged in an Indiegogo fund raising project and we think this is going to be one to watch. 
One downside to touchscreen technology is that it isn’t exactly easy to use with gloves – but then again most handsets are tough to use with gloves. So maybe those with touchscreens have an advantage thanks to winter products such as the Outdoor Research Stormsensor Gloves, which utilize TouchTec water-resistant leather on the fingers and palm. This allows the digits on your hand to active the digits or other items on the touchscreen. This way your hands can stay warm and you can still text and type away. Of course it does mean more people will be using handsets on the slopes, but that’s simply called progress.
Jogging has been around since the 1960s or so. Before that it was just called “roadwork.” But today it is just one of many types of running that people engage in around the world, and now thanks to apps and mobile handsets you can go for a Yog instead.
There are cycling apps that allow riders to track distance, speed, calories and much more, but now the UK-based Cambridge Consultants are looking to allow an app to do the shifting for you. In essence this app, when paired with electronic shifters such as Shimano’s Di2 will great an automatic transmission.