Samsung smartwatch for tracking fanatics

[Kaido]

So, I wonder if there is going to be an API available for the MS band? I'd really like to try get one, but if I can't get it to work with the app I'm developing, it serves me little purpose.

It sounds like they want to keep it fairly closed (i.e. use Microsoft Health), but they're also partnering with Jawbone etc, so...maybe. Gizmodo has a hands-on:

http://gizmodo.com/microsoft-band-hands-on-an-activity-tracker-thats-actu-1652836668

Also, I'd add a #4 to the v2 wishlist - waterproofing. Showering, swimming, etc.

 

[smackababy]

Yeah, sounds like it has the only thing I'd want it for: tracking an actual workout.

I am surprised there are no real weightlifting apps and that these smart watches / bands aren't including that kind of functionality. I just want something that saves my workout and says [Bench press: 5 reps @ 225lb], I do some kind of input that says I completed (or failed) the set and a timer comes up with the next set or exercise. =(

 

[seepy83]

Yeah, sounds like it has the only thing I'd want it for: tracking an actual workout.

I am surprised there are no real weightlifting apps and that these smart watches / bands aren't including that kind of functionality. I just want something that saves my workout and says [Bench press: 5 reps @ 225lb], I do some kind of input that says I completed (or failed) the set and a timer comes up with the next set or exercise. =(

Band does have Guided Workouts. http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Band/en-us/support/health-and-exercise/guided-workouts

 

[smackababy]

Band does have Guided Workouts. http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Band/en-us/support/health-and-exercise/guided-workouts

Workouts they support. I don't want to search for something Men's Fitness is trying to push and I want my progress tracked. Sadly, I have to write it all down and input it into Excel after the gym.

 

[Kaido]

Got my Jawbone UP24 setup. Just some initial impressions:

1. I hate wearing watches & any jewelry, but this is actually comfortable to wear. I don't mind having it on at all; it doesn't bother me like I thought it might.

2. I've always thought I have small wrists, but the Large size just barely fits properly.

3. Includes the band, a cap for the minijack-style connector (I think it's a 2.5mm version), and a USB charging adapter. You'll have to provide your own wall jack if you don't want to charge it from a computer.

4. I'm still getting the hang of the app, but the vibration-alarm feature is nice. I tried out the Power Nap (hehe) mode & it woke me up just fine.

5. Charging was pretty quick, I'm not sure how long I left it in there for (a couple hours maybe?), but it sent me a notification that it was done; I now have 14 days of battery remaining (it was 1 day out of the box).

6. Firmware upgrade was easy, looks like it works on PC & Mac. Didn't have to login or anything, just downloaded the app, walked through the upgrade, and was done. It does ask you to sync to the app first because it wipes the data on the band itself during the upgrade.

7. Design is reasonably nice as well. Just kind of looks like a large Livestrong bracelet with a nice wavy pattern on it.

I'll post more as I dig into it.

 

[smackababy]

Kaido, have you see this any? http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/04/push-band/ Here is the product link: http://www.trainwithpush.com/products/push-band

It is a supposed tracking for lifting, not the standard running.

 

[Kaido]

Kaido, have you see this any? http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/04/push-band/ Here is the product link: http://www.trainwithpush.com/products/push-band

It is a supposed tracking for lifting, not the standard running.

Wow nice! That's a change! And speaking of new products & widespread adoption, I was at Target last night & they had a TON of fitness trackers in the electronics section. They had a FitBit for $29! They even had the Pebble e-ink watches, which was pretty cool.

I'm really liking my Jawbone UP24 so far. It's entirely too honest about my sleeping habits :biggrin: The vibrating wakeup alarm is actually a really nice feature. I also love that it has a 2-week battery life instead of a 2-day battery life. I think outside of the UP24, Microsoft has the best fitness tracker on the market if you want the extra features like the HRM. Unless someone else comes out with something better, I'll probably buy the v2 once they figure out the battery life issue (most likely when they get more efficient hardware, rather than a huge miraculous battery improvement).

 

[Kaido]

Jawbone has a couple new products out today. For starters, the Up3 band:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/05/jawbone-up3-health-band/

Features:

* One-size-fits-all design (watchband-style adjustable clasp)
* Variety of designs (rubber, leather and woven bands available)
* 7 battery life
* Water-resistant down to 10 meters (magnesium chassis, swim & dive-compatible)
* Touch-sensitive (still using LED's for status indicators instead of a screen)
* Automatically detects activities (bike ride, sleeping, etc.)

Lots of sensors:

* Heartrate monitoring
* Tri-axis accelerometer
* Bioimpedance sensor
* Skin sensors
* Ambient temperature sensor

They have a lot of neat new tech going into the HRM stuff: (doesn't have to be securely strapped to your arm anymore, which is HUGE)

https://jawbone.com/blog/up3-wearable-heart-rate-monitor/

Quick blurb on it from Engadget:

Most other wearables on the market rely on green LED sensors that have to be held close to the skin very carefully to detect your heart rate. The Up3, on the other hand, gets your heart rate by measuring galvanic skin response using the skin and temperature sensors in its arm bands. At launch, the Up3 will be able to measure your heart rate when you're at rest, but an update will eventually enable on-demand heart rate monitoring.

The sleep tracking is enhanced now as well:

https://jawbone.com/blog/up3-deep-dive-into-sleep-tracking/

Costs $180. Black version will be available by the end of the year, with more colors to follow next year:

http://jawbone.com/store/buy/up3

Their second product is more of an entry-level device called the Up Move:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/05/jawbone-up-move/

Available today for $50:

http://jawbone.com/store/buy/upmove

It's more of a clip-on watchface-style device (strap is optional). Does most of what the Up3 does, minus stuff like the vibration alarm & heartrate monitor.

They also have some new workout tracking software features called Smart Coach:

https://jawbone.com/blog/workout-tracking/

They made a smart move by positioning themselves as the center of the health data-tracking universe, especially since Apple's HealthKit wants to stay on iOS, Google's Fit wants to stay on Android, etc., so moving between devices isn't exactly user-friendly. I think it's really smart for Jawbone to be device-independent like that, which is a huge limitation of the other services, especially if you're a multi-platform person (ex. iPhone + Android tablet) or if you want to switch platforms for say your smartphone down the road.

I really like their Up3 offering as well, particularly with the new HRM tech where it doesn't need to be securely strapped to your arm...I like having my UP24 band loose. I think this is a good competitor for the Microsoft Band, primarily if you don't need the screen & want better battery life. I think a good upgrade from this would be a Pebble-style offering...have a basic e-ink screen for telling the time (at minimum...or maybe make it touch-sensitive so you can check stats & alerts), but still have a killer battery life.

 

[Kaido]

Another entry: the Basis Peak:

http://www.mybasis.com/

$200 available later this month. E-ink screen (notifications), 4-day battery life, heart rate monitor, automatic sleep detection, waterproof, etc. Not much in the way of style, but I like this concept quite a bit..it's like a smartwatch version of the Pebble.

 

[smackababy]

Engadget reviewed the MS Band, and while it looks promising, all the real features are just promise form MS. =(

Why can't one of these smart watches be made for those of us what want actual workout tracking and not silliness? Please, somebody take me money already. I just want to be able to track what my next lift will be, the amount of reps, and how much weight I should be doing. =(

 

[Kaido]

Engadget reviewed the MS Band, and while it looks promising, all the real features are just promise form MS. =(

Why can't one of these smart watches be made for those of us what want actual workout tracking and not silliness? Please, somebody take me money already. I just want to be able to track what my next lift will be, the amount of reps, and how much weight I should be doing. =(

I'm thinking you'd either need an external box with like a Kinect-style camera, or a bicep-mounted band like was linked earlier in the thread. Honestly I think a camera box with 3D tracking would be the best, because how would it count reps on your right arm if the band tracker is on your left wrist? We should do a Kickstarter campaign - "Workout Buddy", a box that has a Leap Motion-esqe sensor to track your reps & whatnot :biggrin:

 

[Kaido]

Why can't one of these smart watches be made for those of us what want actual workout tracking and not silliness? Please, somebody take me money already. I just want to be able to track what my next lift will be, the amount of reps, and how much weight I should be doing. =(

Actually, check this out:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/13/motus-sleeve-baseball/

This tech looks promising - "smart sleeve":

It has a removable 3D sensor sensor with six accelerometers and gyros that's placed in a pouch on the player's elbow. The Sleeve then collects data like arm speed, pitch counts, elbow torque and other pertinent data for hurlers, and swing data for batters.

The results can be transmitted by Bluetooth to a smartphone either in real-time or later on.

 

[Kaido]

Wow, Smart Earrings:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/13/ear-o-smart-earrings-kickstarter/

These accessories have the technology to monitor not only your heart rate, but also calories burned and activity levels by shining an LED to your flesh and measuring the light reflected by your blood. They then transmit bursts of data via Bluetooth to an iPhone or an Android smartphone.

 

[mmazzariol]

Basis Peak review: a good fitness tracker, with room to be a good smartwatch
http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/14/basis-peak-review/

 

[Kaido]

Basis Peak review: a good fitness tracker, with room to be a good smartwatch
http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/14/basis-peak-review/

Man, that thing is a monster haha:

http://www.engadget.com/gallery/basis-peak-review/3091496/#!slide=3091496

I'm planning on getting the Jawbone Up3 when it comes out later this year. It's expensive ($179), but it adds two features I really want: (1) heatrate monitoring, and (2) automatic sleep tracking. My current Up24 band is great, but I have to remember to push the button to track sleep (otherwise I have to enter it manually & guess when I went to sleep, which isn't very accurate), and it doesn't have the HRM built-in. Plus the Up3's HRM is supposed to be better than the green LED models & can be worn loosely rather than tightly.

It also has a full week's battery life, which is nice. I really like my Up24's 2-week battery life because I don't have to remember to charge it all the time. My brother has a the MS Band, which I think is awesome, but I don't want to have to plug it in on a daily basis (plus they're apparently having some scuffing issues with the screen). Plus it automatically logs workouts & is water-resistant up to 10 meters, which is nice.

What I'd really like is a black & white e-ink touchscreen on the bracelet so that I can use it as a watch, plus have some basic notifications, and also read it outdoors. That's the other catch with the MS Band - it's still a backlit screen, so reading it in sunlight is difficult. Maybe the Jawbone 4 will add that functionality (along with onboard GPS, barometer, 3G, Apple Pay NFC...haha).

 

[smackababy]

If any of you play basketball and want some wearables!

http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/19/shot-tracker-launch/

 

[SP33Demon]

I'm thinking you'd either need an external box with like a Kinect-style camera, or a bicep-mounted band like was linked earlier in the thread. Honestly I think a camera box with 3D tracking would be the best, because how would it count reps on your right arm if the band tracker is on your left wrist? We should do a Kickstarter campaign - "Workout Buddy", a box that has a Leap Motion-esqe sensor to track your reps & whatnot :biggrin:

That's a really good idea. If you are serious, count me in. I'd like to create a device that can measure vitals while powerlifting, specifically like Blood Pressure, Heartrate, and Body Temp. Blood Pressure would be a tough one though. What about an elastic band that fits snug on the bicep with sensors? Not sure it's possible without constricting the arm like they do at the doctor's office.

 

[Kaido]

That's a really good idea. If you are serious, count me in. I'd like to create a device that can measure vitals while powerlifting, specifically like Blood Pressure, Heartrate, and Body Temp. Blood Pressure would be a tough one though. What about an elastic band that fits snug on the bicep with sensors? Not sure it's possible without constricting the arm like they do at the doctor's office.

They've got some neat stuff for the Kinect already:

http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/training/nike-plus-kinect-training

As this review points out, however, there is a flaw:

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671136...s-the-perfect-exercise-game-with-a-fatal-flaw

The Flaw

But when I found myself laying face down on my carpet, out of breath, nose pressed against a Doritos shard in need of vacuuming, I realized something else: It sounds wonderfully convenient to work out from the comfort of your own home, but your home can be a pretty lousy place to actually break a sweat. Tens of millions of us bought Wii Fit thinking we’d get in shape with Nintendo, but how many of us actually did? The experience was nowhere near as smart as Nike+, but aside from that, my theory is that these games tend to sell a lot better than they’ll ever play in a living room. They’re the P90X or infomercial ab machines of the digital world: Sure, they’ll chisel away at flab, but sooner or later, you’re going to have to move the coffee table and drip all over the rug to make that six pack happen. No interface or algorithm can address that premise.

As silly as this may sound, I almost wish that my gym had Nike+ Kinect Training. It’s by far the best workout simulation I’ve ever experienced. But my gym has real classes anyway, led by flesh and bone instructors. So I guess there’s really nowhere left for me to play.

There's a nice writeup here from Rutgers University:

http://www.winlab.rutgers.edu/~crose/capstone12/entries/kinectexercise.pdf

Introduction

In most, if not all physical endeavors, proper form is essential for effective and safe
training. However, it is often difficult to figure out by oneself. Tutorials are available in texts and online, but a limited perception of body position limits use. A coach or trainer can observe movements and correct as needed, providing this information, but their services can be time consuming or expensive to obtain. This causes high dropout rates among beginners lacking a way to get over their initial knowledge gap.

The benefit provided by automated real-time feedback eliminates the interruption to
training from document based learning and the limited coaching availability. Consumer
electronics has created a technology base and opportunity for development of these tools. One application of this new infrastructure to personal training is the focus of this report.
Application examples include GPS running watches and cycling computers. These track
route taken, distance, speed, elevation, cadence, and heart rate. Athletes use this to chart their performance over time and adjust their training for maximal effectiveness. These systems also have a large market, because of their utility, low cost, and ease of use.

This market is untapped for weight training. The only extant system for weightlifting
relies on optical tracking of markers placed on the joints, and is only used at an elite level. (Wm A. Sands, 2008) The system is very expensive (~$20k), and requires trained personnel to attach the markers and operate. Markerless systems require multiple cameras, can be difficult to set up, and the cheapest one ($600) doesn’t operate in real time. (METAmotion), This is too high a cost threshold for most participants in the sport, especially beginners.

Recent advances in low cost computer vision offer an alternative. This report explores
using the Microsoft Kinect to do full body motion tracking. The Kinect is cheap (~$100)
consumer hardware, and while far less accurate than the optical tracking systems, is sufficient for this application. In the feasibility study reported here, the Kinect was connected to a laptop and used to obtain joint positions and angles. These were then judged for correctness, and feedback provided to the user.

The challenge in this effort was in creating a software framework using the Kinect
software development kit (SDK), in which data from the Kinect is input to decision rules that are the basis of corrections given to the user.

TL;DR -

* It's hard for you to check your own form (without mirrors or a spotter)
* Especially if you're a beginner & don't exactly know what good form is (to prevent injury & actually get the results you want)
* A Kinect could tell you if you're right or not, and could tell you what IS right
* As mentioned in the game review above, however, it's limited for use outside your living room

So it would be great to have a standalone box of some kind to do this. Given that a lot of new tablets have quad-core processors & front cameras, it'd be cool to have some kind of app that could do visual recognition using realtime motion capture to both track your workouts & give you guidance for proper form. There are some motion capture apps out there:

http://www.qualisys.com/products/software/iphone/

Here's an interesting one for posture:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/posturescreen-posture-body/id405109185?mt=8

Lots of neat stuff out there. I mean, ideally it'd be great if there was a $5 app that would log my workouts visually & automatically using a little tripod or something with my smartphone. Maybe something like that exists, I dunno, haven't dug into it that deeply yet.

 

[Kaido]

FitLinxx AmpStrip:

http://iot.do/fitlinxx-announces-ampstrip-new-heart-and-activity-monitor-2014-11

Athletes will soon be able to abandon uncomfortable, unreliable heart monitors and step into the world of the FitLinxx AmpStrip, where heart rate and activity is tracked around the clock with accuracy – all within a device as discrete and comfortable as a Band-Aid.

Has some nice professional integration:

http://www.fitlinxx.net/fitlinxx-professional-overview.htm

Also - quick TED Talk called "The Quantified Self":

http://www.ted.com/talks/gary_wolf_the_quantified_self?language=en

I'm curious as to how far they will go with this...I kind of see 3 sensors settling down in the future:

1. A wrist-mounted, color-touchscreen tracker for biometrics (activity, sleep, HRM, etc.), route-mapping (hikes, bike rides, runs, etc.), and diet-tracking (built-in camera for scanning & nutritionally analyzing the food you eat)
2. Toilet sensor (automatic urinalysis, pregnancy tests, disease & cancer testing, etc. a la Scanadu)
3. Smartphone camera analysis apps for things like Kinect-style workout tracking (prop it up in front of you with a kickstand case for a virtual trainer for proper form & workout programs and for workout tracking/logging)

Buy a wristband, pop a throw-away Bluetooth LE sensor into your toilet bowls, and download a smartphone app for training - voila, the quantified self!

 

[concox]

Concox is a professional GPS Tracker manufacturer in China providing Vehicle GPS tracking devices and mobile phone tracker all over the world at best price.

 

[concox]

http://www.iconcox.com/

 

[Kaido]

CES this week, lots of crazy stuff coming out. The Gymwatch is a bicep wearable that counts your reps & tells you how badly you did them:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/04/gymwatch-at-ces/

InBody does body composition simliar to how the Jawbone Up3 does, by comparing your body fat to your lean tissue:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/04/inbodys-new-health-band-is-all-about-measuring-your-body-compos/

 

[Kaido]

Neat headphones:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/05/bragi-dash-exclusive/

* Wireless earbuds (to each other & to your phone) that won't fall out
* 4GB onboard storage with media player
* Touch control
* Accelerometer, heart rate monitor, and oxygen saturation sensor
* Personal trainer via audio feedback
* Transparent mode so you can hear ambient sounds
* API for things like Runtastic

That's nutty...love it!

 

[Kaido]

Socks that will track your run:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/07/sensoria-fitness-socks/

 

[Kaido]

Calf-worn, blood vessel-sensing intensity sensor:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/31/bsxinsights-now-shipping/