Category: Software

Infinite Trainer Programs in the Works

An online subscription based software package will soon help people by offering different training and nutritional programs, specifically designed to reach each individual’s fitness goals. This subscription program, the Personal Trainer Software Package, from Texas-based Infinite Technology Corporation will be offered in yearly or monthly membership programs. It was also announced that the company has secured a non-exclusive distributor for its custom sports supplement line, which will be launched this month.

“We feel the Personal Trainer Software Package will add value to the supplement line and additional revenue to the Company, said CEO Amy Lawrence. “Everyone can’t afford to hire a personal trainer or a nutritionist, but this is a reasonably priced alternative that will help educate and motivate our clients.”

The Personal Trainer Software Package from Infinite Technology Corporation

aboutGolf Monitors Your Swing

For those who take their golf game seriously, and we mean seriously there is no substitute for hitting the driving range to improve your game. Well, there is the aboutGolf aG Studio, a new monitor and club tracking device that might make you want to hit the simulator rather than the range. This new, integrated device is powered by 3Trak, aboutGolf’s proprietary 3D, high-speed photography tracking technology.

It is designed for indoor use, and from the comfort of your own home (or other indoor virtual course) can provide data on ball speed, trajectory angle, distance, spin, club speed, angle of attack and horizontal path. The system is further equipped with 3Trak, so that the aG Studio “sees” like no other launch monitor. Continue reading aboutGolf Monitors Your Swing

High Tech Glove That Makes Sense to Us

Golf isn’t exactly the most high-tech of sports. While there is much innovation in training, and of course in the development of the gear, some of the accessory products are essentially very low-tech. Shoes, attire and other apparel breath better, are made of our better materials and fabrics, but how do you innovate gloves?

Try adding a LED digital monitor. That’s the concept behind the Sensosulutions digital glove for golf. The SensoGlove is the world’s first golf glove with a built-in digital sensor that continuously reads a user’s grip pressure. This ensures a consistently accurate, smooth and powerful golf swing. The SensoGlove made of basic cabretta leather but goes high-tech as it is equipped with highly responsive sensors and it features a small, sweat-proof 1.2-inch LED monitor that analyzes the pressure of the swing. Continue reading High Tech Glove That Makes Sense to Us

Ubrain on the Brain and On Your Phone

Music can get you motivated, and it seems a few companies have music on the brain. Earlier this week we noted that Philips had introduced new technology into its line of Activa MP3 players that would respond to your level activity, and now there is an app that will send binaural beats to help enhance your focus, as well as your energy level. Digital Reality seems to have it on the brain too with Ubrain, the first digital tonic experience, which provides these binaural beats along with your favorite music tracks. The company has released an app for the iPhone and iPad, and will soon have versions for the Android, Samsung Bada, PC and iPod Touch.

The technology essentially allows users to select how they feel, and then determines the appropriate mood you’d like to have. This is accomplished through integrating preset music tone with your own music library. So whether you need to chill out or pick up the pace the Ubrain can do the thinking for you. Continue reading Ubrain on the Brain and On Your Phone

Philips Gets Activa at IFA

At this month’s IFA conference in Berlin Dutch consumer electronics maker Philips once again reaffirmed that it was going to remain dedicated to fitness, as it showcased its Activa portable music player. The device was unveiled earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but this month Philips offered a bit more information on this “much more than an MP3 player” device.

While the Philips Activia is going to go head to head with the iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano and iPod Touch, it has some features that the iPod simply can’t touch. The Activa will keep track of fitness progress and while there is some musical shuffling of sorts, it actually picks songs to provide vocal feedback and plays music to match the tempo of your workout. Continue reading Philips Gets Activa at IFA

Polar Introduces Active Monitor for Students

Monitoring progress is certainly a good way to stick with a fitness routine, and to that end Polar has introduced the Polar Active. This is designed for students of all ages, who want to improve their health and fitness. It measures the impact of daily activities, and can track just about every moment. With it users can monitor steps taken, calories burned and even time spent in various activity zones.

Students can use the Polar Active to measure and record their physical activity along, and the device can be used with PolarGoFit.com, an online service for teachers and students to monitor and track activity. The portal allows for easy documentation of activity data including daily and long-term progress as well as the ability to share reports with students, parents and school administrators. This can help encourage activity and motivate students to remain active for longer periods of time and maintain a healthy weight. Continue reading Polar Introduces Active Monitor for Students

Hit the Trails with Trimble apps on V Cast

A topographic map of the Mount Evans trail in Colorado.

Whether you’re working out; hiking or seeking geocached treasures, you may be bringing three or more devices on your jaunt. A phone to stay connected and be able to call for help if necessary; a GPS device to guide you on your walks or track progress for workouts; and possibly an MP3 player to keep you entertained on the long run.

Verizon added three services from GPS-enabled outdoors activity provider Trimble: AllSport GPS; Trimble Outdoors; and Geocache Navigator through its V Cast subscription service. AllSport is an app that tracks workouts such as walks, runs and bike rides with maps. The app records more than 20 stats including distance, time, speed, and calories burned. The program lets you track goals as you progress through the season. Continue reading Hit the Trails with Trimble apps on V Cast

Mio Discovers the Stick of Youth

There is no fountain of youth. At least not one we’ve found. But with exercise and nutrition you can turn back the hands of time — a few years. But how do you know when you’ve reached that magical and everlasting age of 29? Some tools can help you work towards and achieve your quest. The Mio FitStick is one such tool. This gizmo helps you measure your Heart Rate Variability (HRV), which is one way to gauge what’s going on inside your body. Continue reading Mio Discovers the Stick of Youth

Biomechanist Jean Jacques Rivet Joins aboutGolf

If you want to improve your performance in any sport, you go to the expert to help you what you’re doing wrong and how to correct it. For golf this means working on swing optimization, and this week aboutGolf announced that Jean Jacques Rivet has joined their team as a new partner.

Rivet is a renowned sportsman, as well as a professional engineer, who has worked on the advancement of biomechanics and body motion. His company, BiomecaSwing has worked with golfers to attain a new level of game performance by applying a proven scientific approach. Rivet will serve as a consultant to aboutGolf in its ongoing product development, including its performance products such as the aG Balance, aG Flix and future TechCentric suite of products. Continue reading Biomechanist Jean Jacques Rivet Joins aboutGolf

CES 2011 to Focus on Lifestyle

As long time attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show we at KineticShift.com know there are plenty of “active” technology to see, but most of the show has been far more focused on passive entertainment. It is after all the show about HDTV, 3D, MP3, etc. But beginning with the CES 2011 the show organizers have realized that the “digital couch potato syndrome” is a growing concern.

Thus with next January’s event CES will include a Lifestyle Series that will include fitness tech to make workouts and outdoor activities safer, more fun and most importantly more effective. The trade show will include several programs including Kids@play, and Mommy Tech, as well as the Digital Health Summit, which will look at the convergence of technology and health care. We’ll be sure to report more as CES gets closer.

CES 2011 Official Website

Intelitrainer Adapts Your Workout for You

Workout programs for the iPhone are plenty. The problem, however, may be that they are either repetitive or possibly somewhat random. Intelitrainer, a new app developed by celebrity trainer Michael George, gives you a varied workout based on feedback from previous workouts. The program has roughly 400 exercises with video demonstrations including unique, custom exercises created by Michael George.

A variety of workout goals including reduce body fat; tone and sculpt; cardio health; and build muscle are addressed from beginner to advanced levels. Intelitrainer then keeps a workout log to track workout history and weight. It can be used in a gym, or with equipment at home.

There’s so many workout programs in the iPhone App store. It’s hard to decide which one to commit to. Intelitrainer is $4.99 and compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. It requires a WiFi, Edge or 3G network connection to check in from time to time. The ability to adapt custom workouts is a benefit. However it determines the workout based on your ability by feedback you provide during and after your session. If you skip an exercise, then it may determine that was more than you were able to handle. If you hit the “I did it” button, it may move on to the next incremental exercise or increase the number or reps next time. Intelitrainer requires a degree of fine-tuning that you may find tedius after a few reps.

Official Intelitrainer website

Will Fonda Reach Her Prime with Two Workout Videos?

She coined the term “workout” in the 80s with her highly acclaimed fitness video in 1982. Actress and two-time Academy Award winning actress Jane Fonda hopes to capture the magic again with her Prime Time videos geared toward baby boomers and older.

The so-called fitness queen made a huge impression in home video with the original workout. But sometimes technology isn’t kind. Fonda’s big hair and Freddie Kruger-esque black and red-striped leotard was one thing with the soft focus of the early 80s video. Now Jane Fonda: Prime Time Walkout and Jane Fonda: Prime Time Fit & Strong won’t necessarily be in high definition, but they will be in the sharp focus of DVD, and on widescreen. The audience, on the other hand, may not have a problem with larger-than-life aged Barbarella.

Garmin Once Again Gives Cyclists a Real Edge

This week cycling in unfamiliar territory may have just gotten a little easily thanks to the newly released Garmin Edge 800, a feature-packed touchscreen GPS device that builds on the industry-leading Edge 500 and Edge 705 models. In additional to tracking statistics for riders, the Edge 800 adds an intuitive touchscreen interface, allowing users to pull up the Garmin BaseCamp route planning, and get access to its BirdsEye Satellite Imagery. The BaseCamp functionality allows users to plan and even preview routes, including elevation changes along the way, and this information can be sent to Edge 800, Edge 705 and Edge 605 devices – meaning you’ll never have to pass out a ride map ever again.

The Edge 800 is truly a biking computer that will appeal to cyclists of all levels, from the casual riders looking for a new route on their weekly group ride, to those who like to go cycle touring and explore distant roads and trails far from home to those looking to wear yellow on the podium. Continue reading Garmin Once Again Gives Cyclists a Real Edge