Archive for Fitness

Under Armour has announced they have acquired  MyFitnessPal, the nutrition and calorie counting app that claims more than 80 million users, for $475 million dollars.

The athletic apparel company has also acquired fitness tracking social app Endomondo, which boasts 20 million users, for $85 million.

Eighty percent of Endomondo’s 20 million users are outside the US, which will help in expanding Under Armour’s presence internationally.

“Under Armour’s demonstrated global leadership in health and fitness innovation is greatly enhanced with the addition of Endomondo and MyFitnessPal, as we continue to redefine and elevate the Connected Fitness experience for millions of people around the world,” said Kevin Plank, Chairman and CEO of Under Armour. “Similar to MapMyFitness, Endomondo and MyFitnessPal have established track records of unmatched equity, expertise and passion in the fitness and nutrition space, and they are ideal partners to enable Under Armour to provide data-driven, proactive solutions to help athletes of all levels lead healthier and more active lifestyles.”

Both companies will continue to operate at their headquarters in San Francisco and Copenhagen, Denmark, respectively.

Under Armour previously acquired MapMyFitness, a leader in the exercise tracking app market, in 2013. This series of acquisitions now allows Under Armour to claim they have “the world’s largest digital health and fitness community” with more than 120 combined users, which is about six times more than the Nike+ fitness community’s 18 million users.

(Image via Wikimedia)

A wrist band there, a smartwatch here, maybe a sensor in your shoe. Connected health devices have an evolving — and growing —  place in our world, and as unique as they are, they tend to measure the same things. Heart rate, distances, sleep and such things are all incredibly helpful, however with the Skulpt Aim device, that is all left behind. Aim is a device that measures muscle quality (MQ) in specific muscle groups, up to 24, and by measuring biceps, triceps, abs and quads it gives a total body fat percentage as well as MQ score.

To quantify the muscle gains, Skulpt Aim utilizes 12 sensors and a technology called Electrical Impedance Myography (EIM), developed by Seth Rutkove, MD, Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. EIM applies a small current of electricity through the muscle to accurately quantify muscle and fat, as each reacts differently when a current is sent through it.

The MQ is measured on an index, the higher the score, the better the muscle quality. With each measurement you can track your fat percentage going down while the MQ goes up, ideal for focusing on specific areas where you think you’re lacking.

With Skulpt, quantifying your training is far beyond simply looking in the mirror or even stepping on a bio-impedance scale. Each measurement with the Aim takes less than one second and the results are displayed on the device itself, no need to pair it with a wireless device for immediate feedback. It is currently compatible with iOS devices (iPhone 5 and later) and will be available for Android (4.3 and later) soon in order to keep a running total of measurements.

Skulpt’s website boasts comparable muscle measurements to hydrostatic weighing, the most accurate and expensive method. The Aim device also claims to be three times more accurate than caliper based measurements. It is available for pre-order at $199 USD and is also available for varying prices in Canada, U.K. and Australia. With a battery that lasts two months a single charge and is splash proof, the Skulpt Aim appears to be a must-have device for any serious trainer, regardless of  the sport. Skulpt’s intro video can be found below and a number of how-to measure videos are available on their website.

Even before covering CES, it was clear that we as a technology-obsessed culture was headed towards a wearable boon. Between proprietary and universal smartwatches to fitness bands and sleep trackers, the new field of connected devices is a field primed for growth. Like any product, these beginning stages offer a wide variety of options without any clear winner sitting above the competition. Before unloading hundreds of dollars on a piece of technology, why not try it out first? At Lumoid, trying before buying is their sole function.

Though Lumoid has offered photography and video trials before, they have recently expanded their scope to include wearables of all kinds. The company will allow you to try any five connected devices for a week. If you happen to find the perfect wearable you’re able to purchase it at retail price, or failing that, it is just $20 to send all five back. The return label is included with the devices and the $20 is automatically taken off of your credit card upon shipping the unwanted wearables back. Sporting choices such as Samsung’s Gear Fit, the Pebble smartwatch and the Fitbit Charge as well as many others for a total of 36 different options, Lumoid is hitting the ground running with this ambitious product trial.

A recent study conducted by Global Web Index from Q3 2014 showed that while 80% of the 170,000 adults use a smartphone, only a combined 16% utilize some sort of smartwatch (9%) or wristband (7%).

If market saturation is the issue — and that is a worthy argument despite the still new wearable field — then perhaps Lumoid will allow users to shed some light on the different products through the week long trials.

CES has come and gone, and I’m looking over my pages and pages of notes trying to figure out how I took it all in. There was a lot of ground to cover, and I’m not embarrassed to say that we didn’t see everything. It was a question of numbers really, and there were simply too many booths spread over too much real estate to catch it all. While we couldn’t see all of the prototype TVs or every piece of home automation tech that’s been put out there, we worked hard to focus in on our “beat,” what we cover at this site. And CES has shown me two distinct things about the sports tech world — everybody is getting into it, and very few have any idea what they’re doing.

The sports tech/wearable tech exhibitors at CES took up much of the second floor of the Sands Expo. Big hitters like FitBit were there showing off their latest tracking wrist wear, but so were many other smaller companies trying desperately to show their new or conceptual product to anyone who would listen. We went around talking to people and looking at literature, and to be honest, after a while everything just sort of blended together into some sort of silicon pastiche. Seemingly every new fitness product did the same six or seven things — tracked heart rate, steps taken, distance travelled, calories burned, etc. They were all slight variations of each other.

In this rapidly-expanding arena of fitness tracking, nobody is doing anything truly new. Much of the industry seems stuck in neutral. They are all just doing a lot of the same. Sure, some companies had better-looking apps or more stylish hardware, but these minor differences are the only ways manufacturers can set themselves apart. Until someone can break through that next technological barrier — and I’m not sure what that is yet — this trend is just going to continue.

I’m not saying that this type of product is a fad because I think devices like these will be around for some time. But the market is clearly oversaturated. Far too many companies are jumping into this pool either looking to gain a presence for their already-established brand in this new space, or to try and be the next big Kickstarter phenom. Did you know that there is a fitness tracker for dogs? Because there is a fitness tracker for dogs. Many of the booths we passed reeked of desperation.

The products that jumped out at us were those that were hyper-focused on something, and usually something the other guys didn’t do. I think VERT is a good example. Is everyone going to want a device to track their jumping? Of course not. But VERT is attempting to find their niche rather than being one of a thousand faces in a crowd. They have a specific market, a market they are growing, and focusing their time and resources on that is their best chance at success.

This is not to say that everything we encountered at CES was dreck. We found many interesting products on the showroom floor. Some we have already profiled here, others will be featured in the near future. There is great innovation out there to be found, you just have to separate a little wheat from a little chaff.

Over my four days at CES I logged over 80,000 steps, cultivated one grape-sized blister on my foot, had to recharge my phone about 100 times, and ended up learning a lot about where to world of sports technology is, but less about where it’s going. There were some clear cut trends in other markets — virtual reality, 4K, home/life automation, and even consumer drones were the talk of the conference. But the sports/fitness world didn’t have that. There was no next big thing. And that’s OK. It’s a young world that needs some time to grow. But until that thing is found I fear many companies will still be pushing all their chips into the rapidly-growing pot of wearable tech and smart watches. I’m just not sure who will have the winning hand.

If you’re wondering what a reporter might bring to a show like this, below is a picture I snapped quick of what I brought to the show every day in my bag.

The gear includes but is not limited to:

• A MacBook Air donning a custom NotGraphs (RIP) skin
• An iPad Air with stylus (I used Penultimate for all my note taking)
• A mirror-less camera on loan from my boss, David Appelman
• A Grid-It organizer packed with essentials such as
  • USB wall chargers and cables
  • Two USB battery packs
  • Bluetooth mouse
  • Lightning to USB adapter for iPad
  • Earbuds w/ Bluetooth adapter
  • Pens

I have no doubt that the overall feel of this showroom section will be much different at CES 2016. A year is a long time for things to shake out in such a new market. Hopefully more companies will be looking to innovate rather than imitate. Some are already trying to do so, and it’s leading to some really interesting products. I hope that trend continues in 2015, and the sports tech section of CES 2016 will be stage for some big-time changes in this space.

(Header image via Michael Koukoullis)

The crowd surrounding the SmartMat booth at CES was able to see first hand the connected yoga mat that has gained so much attention on Indiegogo by raising nearly 300% of the desired goal. Now in production, SmartMat had live demonstrations of just what the mat is capable of doing including recognizing 62 different poses, showing proper form, and providing audio and visual feedback from a digital instructor.

Ready to be shipped out in the second quarter of the year, the connected mat is available for pre-order right now for $297.00. With apps available in both iOS and Android, SmartMat has digital classes plus unlockable badges as your progress through various levels of difficulty. Before hitting the ground running you’ll need to calibrate the mat in order to accurately detect alignment and provide the best tips to improve your posture.

There are three modes in which SmartMat can critique your poses: In-home, In-class and Zen. In-home is aimed at the private user, giving real time feedback step-by-step and scores directly on your device. In-class is for session based or group classes as it recognizes poses, but you can tweak the setting for audio or video feedback only in order to not disturb others. The zen mode is designed for when you don’t have your phone or tablet with you. Zen mode saves your information locally in order to sync, review and analyze it later at the expense of no real time help.

SmartMat’s battery lasts up to six hours and connects via bluetooth. No need to be connected to wi-fi,thus allowing freedom to continue practicing yoga in the park, gym or while on a business trip. It measures 26″ x 71″ and is 6mm and can be rolled up just like a traditional yoga mat. For heat yoga enthusiasts the official rating on SmartMat is 110F, though the site also urges caution for your smartphone or tablet at that temperature.

By bringing the yoga class to your apartment or home, or even being able to travel with a virtual instructor, SmartMat is stretching the scope of yoga while it helps users stretch their bodies. Given the prices of classes — let alone private one-on-one sessions — it is clear to see why SmartMat has gained so much traction in the yoga community. The near $300 one-time cost for immediate feedback is a great price when compared to your local instructor’s rates. The video below is from SmartMat’s YouTube channel and is more of a preview trailer than demonstration, however given what was shown at CES, it is an accurate depiction of the finished product.

The term “knowledge is power” is as important in today’s world of sports as it was when first written down in the Leviathan. Tracking devices are already widely used by professional teams, however never before has a GPS device been open to the public like GameTraka. With the new GameTraka GPS device and accompanying software, any person can arm themselves with a wide assortment of useful on-field analytics. The Australian-made device measures the basics such as distance ran and top speed, as well as giving an intensity rating and acceleration.

The device itself is very small, about the size of a box of matches and measures your position five times per second.

Specifically, the dimensions of the GPS unit is 62mm x 38mm x 8mm and comes in at 22 grams. Given the nature of many sports, collisions are inevitable and rather than have wear a device on the hip or wrist, GameTraka is held in place by a lightweight vest with the sensor placed in the back. The vest easily fits under any jersey or uniform and is specifically designed to fit the unit safely and comfortably.

The company’s mantra is “wearable, shareable and comparable” and as great as the vest and sensor system is, where GameTraka truly shines is the sharing and comparing department. After the game, the sensor sends the data to the software side of things for the full breakdown. Connecting via Bluetooth to an iOS device or computer, the GameTraka software is where the leg work is done. The previously mentioned intensity rating is an estimation of how hard the wearer worked. For example, on a soccer field, a striker may have ran only two-thirds the distance of a midfielder, but at a higher intensity.

By comparing players to each other as well as well from one game to the next, a coach can clearly see who is running the farthest, the fastest and the hardest. From a training perspective, the system removes any subjectivity and guesswork by allowing coaches to see just how well a player is progressing if coming back from an injury. Individual players can compare data by chronological order and take note of any trends that may present themselves.

The price of knowledge from the GameTraka is $299.99 per unit, though according to the official site there are group discounts available. From a basketball coach seeing who truly hustles on defense to a soccer manager attempting to find the fastest in-game striker or winger to a rec league player who just wants to quantify as much about themselves as possible, GameTraka is the ideal unit for gathering on-field information.

Working with fitness apparel giant Under Armour, NBCUniversal has launched their new Radius brand, a multi-platform workout regimen. As it stands, Radius is limited to iPhone and iPad users as a $10 monthly service, or the videos will be aired on from 6 am to 9 am Eastern Time each weekday on the NBCSN channel.

The mobile version of Radius will produce content in an on-demand format from the television show. For the workouts themselves, there are levels of fitness ranging from beginner to high intensity. As time for workouts — and free time in general — becomes a premium in our everyday lives, Radius also offers a series called “10acious” designed to give a full body workout in just 10 minutes. A recent study showed the significance of mixing a high intensity spurt into a normal workout, specifically even a short workout with a minute or two of sprint-esque action grants significant dividends.

For now the Radius app is cheaper than just about any local gym membership, however it is limited due to its iOS device restrictions. Undoubtedly, Android users will soon be able to join in the workouts though the idea of paying an additional sum to work out, even one backed by Under Armour and digital personal trainers, seems a bit foreign. With free apps such as the Scientific 7-Minute Workout already available for both Android and iOS users, forcing potential customer into spending more money may not be an ideal way to reach mobile users. For now, Radius offers promise. However, even with the offer of two free months with a purchase of a six month package or four free months with an annual subscription, it may not be enough.

(Image via Wikipedia)

Staying in good shape and good health is hard enough — though with the new year approaching we all get to hit the reset button on our diets and workout discipline — so anything to make it easier and a more enjoyable time is welcome. Cycling has become the go-to option for many health-minded folks and the makers behind COBI, are aiming to make road cycling enthusiasts not only more eager to maintain their routines, but safer, too.

Though still in Kickstarter phase, COBI offers an all-inclusive option and mounting system for navigation, music (including Spotify, podcasts, turn signals and braking lights all while charging your phone rather than running it down. Their Kickstarter page boasts of over 100 intelligent features to any bike and comes with a variety of mounting systems for different bikes and different phones.

Like many hardware/app combinations, COBI has the basics of tracking, popular routes as well as Buddy Radar, a way of locating nearby friends who are also working out. The brains of the system is controlled by a what is basically a directional pad with a center button that mounts on the handlebars, never making you take your hands off what is important.

What COBI does differently is packing so much into one clean package, from music to heart rate monitors and calories burned calculators to security features. The lock feature boasts motion sensitive alarms plus the system will only respond to your phone with plans for allowed friends and family to also unlock and share your bike.

The COBI system offers a built-in case/screen protector combination with an IPX6 certified rain and mud cover guard, allowing you to take to the streets or mountains in less than ideal weather. COBI integrates with bluetooth 4.1, ANT+ and CAN for making to taking calls while working out or even simply commuting to and from work. Already compatible with Google Fit and Apple Fit, COBI is aiming to hit the ground running in the second quarter of 2015.

Powdered supplements and meal replacements have existed for years, but over the recent months, they have taken merged and unified to answer the question: “Can we survive on artificial substance alone?”

Rob Rhinehart, the creator of Soylent, appeared on the Colbert Report to discuss his open source product. That’s when I first heard about it. In the course of the interview, Stephen Colbert tastes Soylent, adds chocolate sauce, and receives commendation from Rinehart:

This intrigued me. I figured Rinehart would have grimaced or demured when Colbert augmented his carefully crafted food replacement. But he didn’t. Something about this made me jump to the thought: This could work for athletes.

First in high school and then in college, I had weight problems. I was too light in high school (a 185 lbs. offensive lineman) and too heavy in college (a 210 lbs. five-seat rower). One of the greatest difficulties I faced was in the cafeteria. In high school, there was insufficient good food, so I couldn’t bulk up healthily. In college — with a Sodexho buffet — I had unlimited access to decent food and even more non-decent food. Part of the college problem was self control, but just as much of it was, let’s say, digestibility. The healthy options — the salads and vegetarian quiches — were often unpleasant or cold, but the pizza and the cheesy pastas and the cookies tasted warm and vaguely reminiscent of delicious (and more importantly, the pizza and pasta went well with the salad dressings and hot sauces that provided a much-needed variety).

In other words: Eating right was hard. Eating like an athlete — when I was burning 1000+ calories every day, and thus was 1000+ calories more hungry every day — was even harder (this, of course, is to say nothing of when your coaches actually want you to be obese).

Perhaps something like Soylent could be a solution? Not only does it meet the hard-to-hit nutritional standards, but it can provide 2000 calories and do so for around $10 a day — or $3.33 per meal.

One of the best resources I have found for learning about Soylent and Soylent-like products is the Soylent Subreddit on Reddit.com. In a recent conversation about the efficacy of the diet entirely on Soylent, user eviljolly pointed out one of the key advantages of a liquid diet — not that it trumps a standard balanced diet, but that it can bring a balanced diet to more people:

Soylent has come along and made nutrition easy for people, and people (like me) that would probably never devote themselves to eating perfectly healthy, can now do so without little to no effort involved.

The current problem for many athletes is a combination of incorrect calorie amount and poor calorie types.

“Americans are not lacking in calories,” Rob Rhinehart said to Stephen Colbert. “They’re lacking in balance.”

Athletes can be disciplined sorts. It’s not unthinkable a diet composed 2/3rds or 100% of liquified nutrition could be viable — especially if it comes cheap. I think Soylent and its sisters might be able to offer that balance.

The professional services network PricewaterhouseCoopers, or more commonly known as PwC, recently had a webcast on the future of wearable technology and its market. All PwC CISs are free to register for and view, with the only requirement being a valid email address. They offer a wide range of webcasts and data ranging from automotive news to technology to health services.

Things kicked off with data from a 1,000-person poll showing 314 of them owned something defined as wearable tech. Thus the question of “what is considered wearable tech” is presented and answered. Ranging from literally the head to the feet, devices from headphones that monitor heart and steps (such as Dash Headphones, warning: auto-playing ad) to chips inserted and paired with shoes, plus smart clothing, wrist bands, watches and of course smart glasses were all considered wearable technology.

With a clear market for the fitness minded person as well as the tech-savant people, the webcast cites an interested trend. Another study showed one in five (of voting age) Americans own some sort of wearable tech. That 20% ownership rate mirrors the same rate of people who owned a tablet in 2012. Now approaching 2015, American tablet ownership is up to 40% — even when considering the slow sales of tablets for some retailers and particularly Apple iPad sales dropping for the third straight quarter.

The same study included a poll, with speculative questions, arguably the most interesting answers were 46% thought obesity rates would drop and 42% believe the average person’s athletic ability will improve dramatically. While there is no data yet back up these figures, it is easy to see why PwC expects the wearable market to double within two years in the same manner as tablets did. In 2013 two million wearable devices were sold in the United States. If estimates for the holiday season prove accurate, that number will jump to 19 million this year.

This age group is of particular interest to wearable tech companies. Millennials are defined as ages 18-34 by PwC represent a massive market to cater to. A study by Barkley — who differed and defined a millennial as someone aged 19-37 — claimed the millennial generation are responsible for more than $200 billion in buying power annually. Entertainment is important to them and they are the cord cutting generation. If wearables can help bring them their sports, health information or productivity in a better and more streamlined fashion, then everyone wins.

For a concise breakdown of most of the covered topics, check out PwC’s video.

(Thanks to PwC.com for the screengrabs of slides and TecSplash for the header image.)