fitness

Wii Fit with a professional touch

The next iteration of the Wii Fit may be getting professional medical credentials.

Nintendo is roping in Panasonic Medical Solutions, Hitachi, and NEC, to develop accessories to enhance the popular fitness game. One of the features would uploading personal data to medical professionals for health assessment and advice. Some of the data collected through the games that could be passed along include height, age, agility as recorded from the balancing games, weight, and body mass index.

The new Wii Fit is expected to launch in Japan around April. There's no word on availability or pricing.

(Via Crave Asia)

Riiflex turns Wii remote into instant dumbbell

Updated at 10:32 a.m. PST to clarify that the $5 cited in the original blog refers to the preorder reservation fee.

Calling all Wii Fit fanatics and health-conscious Wii gamers. Convert your console's remote into an instant dumbbell with the upcoming Riiflex weighted attachment. It's available in 2.2-pound and 5.5-pound options and is on preorder in the U.S. for a $5 reservation fee.

There are two notable features worth highlighting here. First of all, the Riiflex does not obstruct any buttons, including the trigger, so you'll have full functionality of the controller. … Read more

Sweat to the music with Haier America's Ibiza Trainer

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: an MP3 player is the perfect workout companion. There's nothing like a little music to get you motivated for a sweat session. Of course, some MP3 players even take things a step further by offering other fitness-friendly extras. Such is the case with Haier America's latest Ibiza device, the Trainer. This 2GB player includes a built-in heart-rate monitor, a pedometer, a calorie counter, and a stopwatch. Really, what more could you ask for from a gym-ready gadget? How about an FM tuner, you say? Why yes, there'… Read more

Daily Tidbits: Stickam launches API

Stickam, a company that allows users to stream their lives online, announced Monday that it has launched an application programming interface that will let users incorporate the company's service into any Web site or app. According to the company, users can use its video-streaming function on their sites without worry of bandwidth, server infrastructure, or Flash development, since it will all be hosted through Stickam. The API is available now as a public beta for the first 100 registered developers at no cost. Once the beta period ends, Stickam will charge developers an undisclosed fee based on a pay-as-you-go … Read more

Will 'Wii Fit' be this year's impossible-to-find holiday gift?

Even though it was released in the U.S. back in May of this year, Nintendo's Wii Fit looks like it will be especially hard to come by this holiday season. Forbes reports that while Nintendo has finally ramped up production of the Wii console to meet demand, the Wii Fit--a $90 packaged bundle including a bathroom-scale-sized balance board and a game disc--won't be as easy to find.

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime tells Forbes, "With Wii hardware, I think we've got a good shot at meeting demand during the holidays...With Wii Fit, … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 853: The Netbook and the girl

On today's Buzz Out Loud, sage dating tips from a bunch of old married people. Meanwhile, Microsoft launches an online store where you can go buy things if you like to pay more than you have to; a girl offers to pimp your start-up for a mere $75 a day and we give her about a million dollars worth of grief; and Google loves the iPhone more than Android--at least for now! Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 853

Microsoft launches online store: Is there deeper meaning here? http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=10849 http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10097239-75.html … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 852: Tempest in a Twitter teapot

Turns out a lot of people are all too happy to hand over their password to some unknown Web site just to find out if they're popular. Oh, people. When will you learn? Also, Microsoft Live gets a purpose, Valleywag loses its teeth, the BlackBerry Storm gets a release date, and we're all going to become (a) elves in the Wrath of the Lich King or (b) total buffsters on the new EA Sports Active Wii game. Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 852

BlackBerry Storm gets release date http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/11/13/verizon-announces-blackberry-storm-release-date-november-21st-199/… Read more

Photos: Honda's 2008 SEMA showings

While Honda didn't roll out any new models or concepts at SEMA 2008, it did introduce a few new trim levels and accessory packages to some old favorites. The Civic Honda Factory Performance Concept sedan represents Honda's quest to bring the performance of its Type-R and Si models in line with its green initiatives.

Along with the HFP Civic, there were tuned Fits by Mugen and Tjin, tuned Pilots and Ridgelines, and a rather hot Accord Coupe. These vehicles represent the broad range of directions that owners take when customizing their Honda vehicles and the degree to which … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 836: I would rather get in shape than kill hookers

It looks like Wii Fit will outsell Grand Theft Auto IV this year, Apple's already sold 10 million iPhones, people are lining up for the T-Mobile G1 Android phone (much to our surprise), and just when we started to think the economy might be turning around after all, we got the news about Yahoo laying off some 1,400-plus people. Ouch. Listen now: Download today's podcast

EPISODE 836

T-Mobile delivers the G1 (aka Android) phone http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10072545-94.html http://news.cnet.com/2300-1039_3-6247193-1.html

Google’s open-source Android now actually open http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10071093-92.html… Read more

Sony B-Series Walkman is compact, compatible

Features come and go in the rapidly evolving MP3 player space. One that has enjoyed fluctuating popularity is the built-in USB interface, which lets you connect a device directly to a computer without a cable. This "plug and play" capability is currently out of fashion, but Sony is trying to keep the dream alive with the B-Series Walkman.

The entry-level offering is aimed at active users and is priced competitively at $44.99 for the 1GB model and $59.99 for the 2GB. Battery life isn't as impressive as other Sony Walkmans and the screen is tiny, … Read more