Gadgets

Best Buy has lowered prices on high-end exercise equipment, but act fast

If “new year, new you” is your mantra, you can now add new deals to make your resolutions even better. Whether you need to kickstart an improved workout routine or take your current home gym to the next level, there’s never been a better time to invest in some high-quality fitness gear. From adjustable kettlebells to cardio machines, there are some scorching new deals at Best Buy right now on the essential tools for any kind of fitness routine. So,…

Science

Short walks could have a big impact on the country’s health

In the rush of our busy lives, it can be hard to find time to exercise. Luckily, you don’t have to invest too much time to reap nationwide rewards. A new study shows that if every US adult over 40 walked just an additional 10 minutes each day, we would collectively prevent 110,000 deaths in the country each year.  The researchers used data from a study that ran from 2003 to 2006, where scientists tracked participants’ physical activity for a…

Gadgets

Jabra Elite 7 Active review: A perfect fit?

When I agreed to test the Jabra Elite 7 Active earbuds, I decided two tracks were absolute must-listens: Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and Florence + the Machine’s “Shake It Out.” As soon as I learned that Jabra boasts that its “ShakeGrip” technology will make sure these wireless sports earbuds won’t budge, no matter what, I knew what I had to do. So, with the energizing boost of Tay Tay and Flo propelling me to test this selling point, I…

Science

Athletic virtual reality avatars might make exercise feel easier

People who exercise in a virtual gym might feel a boost of Herculean endurance with the help of athletic avatars.  When using muscular avatars in a virtual reality spin studio, participants completed an intense workout more easily than when they used avatars with less-defined musculature, according to a small study presented at the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in May. The effect wasn’t just mental: participants embodying the muscular avatars also had lower heart rates during workouts…

HARDWARE

Google Fit adds exercise and nutrition tracking features

Google’s fitness tracking app for Android, Google Fit, isn’t exactly the best known health service out there. But its newest features may help elevate its profile. In a post on its Android blog Thursday, Google announced a handful of new features and integrations for Google Fit designed to make the app’s offering more comprehensive. Google Fit now integrates with more external apps, and adds new exercise tracking features to Android Wear devices. For runners and cyclists, Google Fit now displays…