FM to the Internet: I ain't dead yet. The average person listens to 17 hours of terrestrial radio every week, and that's according to a Pandora executive.
Sure, you've loaded a fabulous collection of digital audio tracks onto your MP3 player, but what do you do when your tunes begin to sound just a bit too familiar? That's where an FM tuner comes in. In many places, FM radio still offers plenty of worthwhile content for your listening pleasure, and it can provide a refreshing break from your regular rotation. Plus, it's a great extra to have at the gym, allowing you to tune into the TVs and take your mind off that vigorous workout.
So, if you're not among the uberdiligent who always remember to sync up their players for fresh content, be sure to pick one with an FM tuner onboard. Unfortunately, although many players come with this nifty feature, not all of them deliver quite as advertised. In fact, we've come across a few that cut in and out even with strong signals.
But don't fret. There are several players available with decent FM tuners; in fact, I easily found six with great-sounding radios. Not only that, but each of the players here offers an autoscan function and at least 10 preset slots, so you won't have to fumble around finding your favorite stations. Moreover, several of them, such as the iPod Nano and Zune HD, offer RDS and song tagging.
How on earth are you going to install that gun rack in your track if you don't have properly buffed guns on your arms? That's right, it's all about fitness tech. Now, Jason has to take a run around the block to catch a cab.
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EPISODE 153
Sandisk Sansa Clip+ mp3 player looks pretty, plays awesome
Ultra-thin Sony VAIO X laptop weighs just 1.5 lb
Webcycle doles out internet speeds as fast as you’re pedaling (thanks, Morely!)
What would James Bond use? The Japanese pistol camera
What the hell!?
Really Snowing Picture Frame Makes It Winter Anytime
Pink Watch
Barbie’s gadgets
PRETTY (Bugatti Edition!)
Tea kettle of the future from Bugatti
Swarovski crystals and Italian leather for your Bugatti Diva
Why Didn’t I Think Of That?
Buttcam makes jeans shopping easy
Sweat-resistant and wireless: a double whammy!
(Credit: JayBird)There's a reason the fitness industry is booming: there are always plenty of people eager to slim their waistlines or achieve perfectly toned arms. But being active and getting in shape isn't just about looking good--it's also about being healthy. So even if you're not trying to squeeze back into your skinny jeans, that's no excuse to shun your sweatsuit and sneakers.
Luckily, you needn't suffer through workouts in silent boredom--some upbeat music can provide the perfect motivation to get moving. Better yet, plenty of MP3 players available today offer some great workout-worthy extras, such as built-in belt clips, pedometers, and calorie counters. Even an FM tuner is a great extra, since it'll let you tune into the TVs at the gym (and tune out of the mind-numbing repetition of physical activity).
Headphone manufacturers also continue to churn out better and better fitness-friendly sets--namely, sweat-resistant models that offer various design features to ensure the 'phones stay secured to your head during activity. If you're looking for the perfect music gear to aid you in your quest to get into top physical condition, you've come to the right place.
(Credit:
David Carnoy/CNET)
The one thing you don't see or hear too much about is e-book readers at the gym. But if you're into reading on the treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike, the Kindle 2 and other e-readers are pretty ideal.
The key is there are no real page turns to deal with and you don't have to worry about keeping the book--especially a paperback--flat. You just reach out and press the "next page" button to keep reading.
The only problem I had was that on some machines my positioning put me too far away from the Kindle 2 to read smaller type. But that's remedied by jacking up the font size. True, you have to click the next page button more often because there are fewer words on a page. But at least you can read the type without any trouble.
Of course, people who have access to fancier exercise machines with built-in LCD TVs tend to watch the video rather than read something (and some gyms have that nice wall of TVs to look at). But now that certain hotels have started loaning out Sony Readers to guests, maybe some enterprising, high-end gym will allow you to check out a Kindle 2 loaded with periodical subscriptions for your workout. A company called Octo does make a water-resistant cover that would probably qualify as sweat-proof.
Anybody else think e-readers have a future at the gym?
Additional reading: E-book readers check in to hotels
Be the badass skier you never knew you could be.
(Credit: Pro Idee)For those who can't get enough of skiing (and you know who you are), this virtual simulator is just great for getting that adrenalin fix when you're not on a powder slope. It's also a great workout option for those who have no head for the real thing, like yours truly.
The German-made SkiGym is, however, just a wee bit pricey at 1,649 euros ($2,280) compared with the Wii Fit, which has a fun ski component. However, the Wii Fit is to a bunny slope what the SkiGym is to a black diamond run, with the latter offering plenty of built-in challenges and real-life ski slope settings to make it worth considering.
Developed with help from sports specialists, ski instructors, and physical therapists, the fully motorized hardware comes with bundled ski poles that can vibrate, rotate and tilt. The PC program itself features 32 ski slopes, including 18 real-life ones such as Beaver Lake and Chamonix, with a choice of difficulty levels ranging from junior to amateur and professional, and disciplines such as slaloms and super G. Best of all, toilet breaks won't be a big problem if you gotta go.
(Source: Crave Asia via Oh Gizmo)
(Credit:
Akihabara News)
It's a classic case of high tech meeting low tech. For the security-conscious listener, Japan's Elecom has a new line of locking cases for the iPod.
We're not talking about DRM kind of locks here, but the kind that we used to lock up our 10-speed bikes in junior high, complete with a four-digit combination. It even has a steel cable just like the old bike locks did too--which means it could be snipped just as easily with a pair of medium-sized wire cutters. (Not that we know any of this from first-hand experience or anything.)
Despite the similarities, the case itself bears an even closer resemblance to another obsolete security device: the first Tasers.
(Credit:
Cool Hunting)
It's usually a sign that we need to visit the gym when we start noticing items about odd and over-the-top fitness equipment. And, in this case, both categories apply.
The "Kinesis Personal," according to Cool Hunting, is a "soft gymnastics" apparatus that touts a "tri-dimensional movement system" and claims to make 200 exercise positions possible. (That's about 196 more than we need.) But we're most amused by its description as "blending seamlessly into homes," as well as offices or hotel rooms. We'd love to meet their interior designers.
(Credit:
Malachi)
If you're thinking at all about fulfilling those New Year's fitness resolutions, here's one less excuse to stay on the couch. The "Syncwear Fitness Tee" from Malachi has three strategically placed pockets: one for your Nano, one for your headphones and one for your keys, gym ID or other essentials, according to Chip Chic. It even has loops that you can thread your iPod wires through. The $34 shirt is made of the same anti-moisture polyester material found in other overpriced workout apparel--not the cheapest shirt, but if it helps keep you from having a coronary, it's well worth it. End of public service announcement.
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