Fitbit review

It wasn’t that long ago that a bathroom scale was the only gadget you needed to track weight loss. Today even videogame consoles, once the bane of the fitness industry, are trying to help you recycle that spare tire, and of course there’s no shortage of specialty doo-dads getting in on the action. The Fitbit is one of those, a little accelerometer that pledges to keep an eye on what you do so that you can just go ahead and do it, reporting back at the end of the day on how well you did at staying active. It sounds nice, but it’s not quite that self-sufficient. Read on to see if it’s worth the commitment.

Continue reading Fitbit review

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables

Fitbit review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WiFi-enabled bathroom scale slides into USA, overweight Yanks sluggishly back away

Oh sure, we Americans love our fast food. And we love our technology. But do we really love the latter? Withings has just announced that the world’s first WiFi-enabled bathroom scale has made its way into the States after a few months abroad, and we have to say, this could change everything. When pouncing upon it, the scale automatically records the user’s body weight, lean / fat mass and calculated body mass index (BMI) to his or her secure webpage, and if you’re more the iPhone type, it can beam data to a Withings iPhone app as well. It’s available now for $159, but you can certainly wait ’til your latest diet has had some sort of effect before bringing one home. A delightful demonstration video is waiting for you just past the break.

Continue reading WiFi-enabled bathroom scale slides into USA, overweight Yanks sluggishly back away

Filed under: Household, Software

WiFi-enabled bathroom scale slides into USA, overweight Yanks sluggishly back away originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Withings Connected Body Scale remembers what you’d rather forget

More often the object of dread than fascination, the humble bathroom scale has been given a makeover by Withings, which has injected the Connected Body Scale with WiFi and an online progress tracking system not too dissimilar from that used by Nike+. This sleek metallic device is accurate to 100 grams — oh yes, it’s metric, like it should be — and conducts a body mass analysis that can tell you the uncomfortable truth, should you care to know it. Accessing progress data can be done via a free iPhone app or the company’s website, which is also the best place to plop down the €129 ($184) entry fee. And don’t tell us you’re not interested, somebody is buying up all those Wii Fit boards and it sure as hell isn’t us. Video after the break.

[Via Chip Chick]

Continue reading Withings Connected Body Scale remembers what you’d rather forget

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wireless

Withings Connected Body Scale remembers what you’d rather forget originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iKey’s AK-39 wearable keyboard is about as weapon-like as it sounds

iKey’s churned out plenty of rugged keyboards in its day, but it looks to have really stepped up its game with its new AK-39 wearable keyboard intended specifically for military use. Among other things, this one conforms to full MIL-461 standards, is able to be used in environments with harsh electromagnetic interference and, of particular importance, it’s designed to be used with a glove, and in either left or right-hand configurations. As for the keyboard itself, you’ll get a basic 39-key layout, an integrated pointing device that uses Force Sensing Resistor (or FSR) technology, and some adjustable green backlighting that is, naturally, also available with night vision compatibility. No word on pricing just yet, nor is there any indication that iKey will actually sell these to the general public.

[Via Test Freaks, thanks Nicholas R]

Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables

iKey’s AK-39 wearable keyboard is about as weapon-like as it sounds originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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