Category Archives: Fitness

Turn Yesterday’s Apple Watch Into Today’s: watchOS 6

It’s that time of year again and the latest and greatest Apple gadgets are now in the wild. Among these is the newest Apple Watch, the Series 5, now with the much requested “always-on” display and a number of new apps, watch faces and features.

However, beyond the new display feature (which is a big deal) and a newly added compass, the Series 5 is virtually indistinguishable in looks, capability, and performance from last year’s model. It is a solid update but in my opinion not quite enough to justify an upgrade if you already own a Series 4.

Thankfully, the same operating system (watchOS 6) that comes in the new Series 5 is available as a free install and is compatible with Apple Watch models as early as Series 1. This software update significantly enhances the feature set of previous generations and basically makes those watches like new again.

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The Device That Helps You Stay Healthy, Connected, and May Even Save Your Life: The Apple Watch Series 4

It’s been a couple of weeks now and my overall enthusiasm with the newest Apple Watch continues to be hard to contain. With all its improvements, definitive direction toward wellness, FDA Clearance and nods from the American Heart Association it comes as no surprise. Continue reading

Does Less Than My iPhone And That’s Good: The Apple Watch

The long awaited Apple Watch.

While many continue to wait… as a “Late Comer” to the realm of Smart Watches, Apple’s introduction remains mired in the fog of supply shortages, brand bashing, criticism and praise. One fact however is undeniably clear – the launch of the Apple Watch has been an undisputed success. More units sold in the first weekend than other Smart Watches sold the entire year before the Apple Watch’s arrival – with the majority of its buyers having never even held one in their hands. I was among these that placed the order in the first minute(s) of availability hoping to receive on launch day Apple’s first entry in the wearable market.

Well I’ve been wearing my Watch for almost a month now and people continue to ask me if it lives up to all the hype. While I admit it may not (yet) be a must-have device for most, many like me may quickly appreciate its style, usefulness, and clear potential to do more.

After being long accustomed to navigating an iPhone, the Apple Watch interface can at first feel seemingly unnatural – but the learning curve isn’t steep. In fact, setup is extremely easy and once you quickly learn to navigate, personalization is fun and intuitive. The Apple Watch has a more solid level of performance than I expected from a first generation product. But, that’s not to say it doesn’t have its shortcomings. Continue reading

My Daily Activity Compass: The Nike+ FuelBand

Today, there are numerous gadgets and applications that work to help us accomplish our day to day tasks with little to no physical effort. These technologies enable busy professionals and parents like myself to do more in our day. However, these same conveniences can sometimes instead help to promote a sedentary lifestyle.

As it turns out, there are an increasing number of gadgets and apps that work to promote an active lifestyle through quantifying the physical exertion you do make and rewarding you for doing more.

The Nike+ FuelBand and it’s accompanying web and iPhone software is Nike’s answer to the growing demand for devices and services that help to motivate activity, track progress, and reward the user for the effort.

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