Because I’m a far lazy slob, and it’s high time I get my ass in gear1, I paid my first visit in years to the fitness center yesterday2. Wait; wait, don’t go. This is really a tech-related post, just wait for it.
So I brought my iPhone, because that thing goes with me everywhere; and because despite the deafening music played by a live DJ (because that’s how the trendy people like to train, donchaknow), I was kind of hoping I could listen to some of my own music, or maybe even an audiobook.
I notice on the step-abdomenizer-leg-conjagulator-train-master-machine a wire with a plug that looks pretty much exactly like a dock-connector. “Hmm”, I think to myself, “that looks exactly like a dock-connector. I wonder…”, and plug in my iPhone. And sure enough, the touch screen turns into an interface through which I can choose my music or even play video.
That in itself is awesome (and the reason I need you to tell me what video podcasts you follow), but the coolest part is that it actually saves the workout data as a Nike+ dataset onto the iPhone. Go home, sync it and you’ve got your workout data right there alongside your usual Nike+ data (should you have any).
Aside from the fact that it’s a shame something like this has to happen on proprietary technology, it’s still very awesome and if nothing else extra incentive to get couch potato web-dev losers like myself down to the local gym.
If I had the option to watch video while doing cardio I’d put on a video interview from a triathlon-podcast, like SimplyStu.com.
The geek in me just needs to know, what brand of threadmill/thighmaster/wahtever was it? It doesn’t say on the Palmfitness homepage.
I’ll check tomorrow.
Workout vids? Obviously anything by Benny Benassi…!
I just plug-into my running shoes and go run outside.
Fresh air n’ stuff ;)
Yeah, I heard about that. Is there an app for it?
Does it run with the accessories feature of the iPhone?
Very interesting. While I was browsing the Palmfitness website, I came across this page: http://is.gd/5Nlw7
Seems that the machines are made by Matrix, and the Nike+ Wikipedia entry says that “as of March 2009, the seven largest commercial equipment providers were shipping enabled equipment (Life Fitness, Technogym, Precor, Star Trac, Cybex, Matrix and FreeMotion). The models of compatible cardio equipment include treadmills, Stationary Bikes, stair climbers, ellipticals, and others such as Precor’s Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT). Once the user syncs an iPod with iTunes, the cardio workouts are automatically stored at Nikeplus.com, where each workout is visualized and tracked based on the number of calories burned. The calories are converted to “CardioMiles”, at a ratio of 100:1, allowing cardio users to take full advantage of all the tools and features of Nikeplus.com, and allow them to engage in challenges with other runners, walkers and cardio users, using a common currency.” — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike%2BiPod
Pretty interesting stuff, indeed.