Sleeptracking the Night Away

Ever have those times where you know you need to get up around a certain time, and sometimes you drift out of a deep sleep, wake up and avoid that sudden jarring of the alarm clock from a total dead sleep? According to some sleep experts, that is actually the best way to wake up and feel actually refreshed. The problem however is that your body actually isn’t the most reliable alarm clock, and for that reason you typically need an alarm to wake you. The next problem is that if the alarm sounds when you’re in a deep state of sleep it can be completely jarring, causing you to feel anything but refreshed.

Instead of using a traditional alarm clock, you could use the SLEEPTRACKER Elite (MSRP: $179, Sleeptracker.com), which is a watch that works much like a monitoring device. But instead of monitoring your calorie burn and activity, it – as the name suggests – monitors your sleep. You don’t set an exact time to wake up, but rather a range. The SLEEPTRACKER then detects the movements associated with light sleep stage and wakes up at this time.

The wearable device can even connect to a PC via USB each morning so you can further track your activities, allowing you to see what might have had a negative effect on your sleep cycles, whether it was a late night, too much alcohol or just a bad bed. With this helping you get a good night’s sleep you can wake up refreshed, hit the gym and not feel worn down by the afternoon.

Sleeptracker Official Website

Get Arm(band)ed to Monitor Your Calorie Intake

There is an old saying about wearing your heart on your sleeve, which is to say to openly show your emotions. Today people can wear many things, and while it won’t display emotion, it can help users monitor their fitness levels.

This is exactly the concept behind the BodyMedia FIT Armband BW from BodyMedia, which is avialble through the company’s website as well as Amazon.com. It allows users to monitor calorie intake and output in real-time. The BodyMedia FIT Armband BW transmits information to a smartphone via Bluetooth, where users can track caloric burn data and physical activity levels.

“The BodyMedia FIT Armband BW is a great example of how consumers can monitor and track their fitness levels with the help of Bluetooth wireless technology – and once you start to track your health, you have the power to change your health,” said Michael Foley, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). “By allowing near real-time monitoring on a mobile phone via Bluetooth technology, the BodyMedia FIT Armband BW lets users take the wheel on the road to a more active lifestyle. This innovative device brings to life what we have been projecting for Bluetooth wireless technology in the health and fitness market.”

The BodyMedia FIT Armband BW is designed to integrate body monitoring data with smartphones including the Apple iPhone and Android mobile devices.

BodyMedia FIT Official Website

CrunchTime App Helps Set Work-Life Balance Goals

Today might be the day after Thanksgiving, but many Americans aren’t experiencing a long weekend. In fact, more American workers are working harder than ever.

All work and no play can make Jack a dull boy. It can also result in a stressed out Jack. This week Tav Shande announced the new CrunchTime app for the iPhone and iPod Touch, which promises to help users track work hours with health, and vacation hours.

The idea is “crunching,” or working extremely long hours, which has become a global epidemic in the workplace. This app helps users track the hours, and even receive achievement badges to better balance work-life goals.

“CrunchTime has been developed to help improve quality of life for anyone who has a job. Many employees would like to have more time outside of work to do the things that make them happy and we are delighted to deliver help by putting CrunchTime into the pockets of millions of people around the world who are carrying iPhone and iPod touch devices,” said Tav Shande, CrunchTime’s Chief Architect.

Tav Shande CrunchTime Website

Pay With Your Phone at Beaver Run Slopes

Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center began a mobile program that allows skiers to pay for room, refreshments and services, plus find out about deals in the Breckenridge, Colorado ski resort. Register for the service with a text to “BEAVERRUN” (466-622), and you’ll find out about deals on the slopes, and be entered to win a two-night stay plus two one-day lift tickets at the resort. As with other loyalty programs, participating skiers will earn perks in the resort and in the town. You can also use the program, provided by Mocapay, to send mobile-to-mobile gifting , pay for hotels and restaurant services. This offers the convenience of using one device, your phone, to pay in addition to staying in contact with friends and having access to online information if you’re phone is Web-enabled without having to bring a wallet with bills and plastic on the slopes with you. Don’t you have enough to worry about with your skis and other equipment?

Beaver Run Resort

LIVESTRONG Offers Strong Protection for iPad and iPhone 4

RadioShack made a smart move by sponsoring a pro cycling team, and while Lance Armstrong didn’t have the best Tour de France, Team RadioShack did do extremely well overall, winning the team competition. The retailer is also making a smart move by helping promote Lance’s LIVESTRONG campaign, which fights for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Now you can show your team spirit whilst protecting your devices.

For the holidays RadioShack is carrying soft-touch polycarbonate cases that are part of the LIVESTRONG. These cases, which offer robust protection for mobile devices, are available for the Apple iPhone 4 ($24.99) and the iPad ($39.99). The cases boast a slim snap-on design that is form-fitted for the devices, and each adds protection without adding any extra bulk.

The cases feature an impact-resistant materials that provide strength and durability, while the rubberized surface further provides a nice secure grip.

RadioShack

LIVESTRONG

Team RadioShack

Workout App Gets the Beat Up

Running requires a nice steady pace, and to help you keep it steady Upbeat Workout Apps has launched the Upbeat Workouts for Runners, a next generation app that makes your music keep up- or slow down- with you. The idea of this app is that it can match the song’s beats per minute with a runner’s steps per minute. Think of this as the ultimate “keeping in time” too.

The Upbeat Workouts for Runners also includes three coached workouts from world class running coaches, so you can get the option of personal training sessions on demand. The app is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch from the Apple App Store for $2.99.

Upbeat Workouts

Great American Smokeout: There is an App for That

There is no denying that there are some pretty useless mobile phone apps on the market, but this week one app that was released could really do some good.

Today is the Great American Smokeout, and now comes the UCSF/SFGH Stop Smoking application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It is the result of a joint effort from the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (SFGH) and the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), and it is aimed at helping smokers quit by including mood among the triggers for smoking . The app uses a successful cognitive behavioral therapy program developed at SFGH and is now available for purchase from iTunes

Proceeds from UCSF/SFGH Stop Smoking – which serves English and Spanish speakers – help fund further online and mobile health research at SFGH and UCSF. The launch of this new tool coincides with Great American Smokeout on November 18 – a national day to encourage smokers to quit.   Continue reading Great American Smokeout: There is an App for That

OptumHealth Debuts Fitness App for Windows Phone 7

OptumHealth, one of the nation’s largest health and wellness companies, announced this week that it will release its OptumizeMe mobile application with exclusive features for the new Windows Phone 7 mobile smartphone platform. The app is designed to help people pursue their health goals through their own online social networks, where they can track their progress and issue fun fitness challenges to their friends, family and coworkers. Continue reading OptumHealth Debuts Fitness App for Windows Phone 7

From Skate Deck to iPhone Case

There comes a time for every skateboarder to realize that the old deck just can’t be used any longer. Whether it is cracks in the wood or just other structural issues, skateboard decks just can’t last forever. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t live on afterward.

Portland, Oregon based MapleXo has long been turning trashed decks into thrasher jewelry and now the company is looking to turn old skate decks into iPhone 4 cases. However, the catch is that the company is releasing just 50 limited edition cases so you better skate over to the website quickly to sign up for one.

MapleXO official website

[Via Recombu.com: MapleXO x Grove iPhone 4 cases are made from recycled skateboards]

Verizon Starts Power Your App Contest for Developer Community

The iPhone isn’t the only mobile with apps. Verizon is giving incentive to develop for its platform by kicking off a Power Your App contest for the Verizon Developer community. The contest kicked off this week spurring development for applications in the following categories.

Continue reading Verizon Starts Power Your App Contest for Developer Community

BodyMedia to Add App

There has been no shortage of devices, gizmos and gadgets to help you lose weight. A lot of these devices, gizmos and gadgets require you to wear something, where the data can be synced to a computer. That’s good, because it lets you see detailed results of your activity and of course helps you set goals, but it’s bad because it requires people to be very proactive. Stop syncing the device one day, and you might not bother wearing it the next. There has to be an easier way to see the results. Continue reading BodyMedia to Add App

Marine Corp Marathon Gets App Coverage

Whether you’re running in a marathon this year or just watching from the sidelines, there will be an app for that! The New York City Marathon on November 7 will feature support for an iPhone app for the first time this year, and it will include news alerts as well as live video of the professional race, but for a different way to “phone in the race” there will be the RaceMate app for the upcoming Marine Corp Marathon.

The race, which is set to take place on October 31, will be the first to provide GPS coverage with real-time connection between runners and followers. RaceMate is an app for the iPhone and Android smartphones as well as the Apple iPad, which can allow a follower to track the route and location of a runner in the race. Continue reading Marine Corp Marathon Gets App Coverage