Hardware Reviews

Hands On: Fitbit Charge HR

Mike Hudson

fitbitI have always been a big believer in tech driving fitness.. As I work in the IT industry, gadgets play a very large part in my life. I believe having daily targets and goals to achieve is perhaps on of the best methods of improving health and fitness. So what better enabler could there be then a fitness tracker!?

The market is flooded with wearable tech at the minute, and a large percentage of that tech is aimed at the fitness fanatics. There’s some big players in this area of the market, each bringing their very own USP.

I’ve decided to invest in the FitBit Charge HR, not only because I was an early adopter in the FitBit on near day of release (which I lost whilst out one evening) but because I knew and felt comfortable with its software and dashboards. So I headed out to my local Argos store and picked one up, and heres what I think of it… (more…)

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Review Ozeri WeightMaster II Digital Bathroom Scale

Mike Hudson

Ozeri WeightMaster II

Hands On:

On taking the scales out of the box, I was immediately impressed by the build quality of this instrument.
The scales are very tactile and Have been ergonomically designed, The top of the scales is warm to the touch and feel comfortable when you stand on them in your bare feet. the surface of the scales has been treated with microban antibacterial material which is a bonus when standing on the scales one different people stand on scales in their feet.

The scales can be utilised by up to eight different users, each one can set up their own profile on the scales and then subsequently the scales will automatically recognise the user by their weight.
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Ozeri Precision II Digital Bathroom Scale

Mike Hudson

Ozeri Precision II Digital Bathroom ScaleKeeping fit and healthy is something I often (sometimes not often enough) strive to do. So keeping a keen eye on what I eat and what I weigh is an important part of my lifestyle. The market is awash with all sorts of personal health and fitness related technology from wearable tech to home gym equipment. One area of the market which in its self has a mass collection of varying tech is that of the bathroom scale section.

Each set of scales offers its own collection of features and fittings, some being so over complex they even offer pitfalls. However, the American based firm Ozeri are known for their easy to use intuitive product range, and the Precision II doesn’t vier far from default.

 

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Ikea Malkolm Swivel Chair

Mike Hudson

Malkolm Swivel chairAlthough I am only a casual home office user, my workstation takes pride of place in my living room.. My substantial L-shaped glass desk has been the home of many an hour of hard work and inspirational thinking.. However, my office chair has always left (until now) a lot to be desired. Despite the role it plays at my workstation, I thought I’d get away with a frugal investment in a cheap chair …. How wrong was I!

After somewhat of a long shift at my desk one day, I decided enough was enough and the cheap chair had to go.. So I headed off to Ikea, not renowned for it’s office furniture, but still carries a good selection. Especially for the casual home office worker.

A quick hunt around, and several sit downs later I was greeted by what was soon to become my cheap chair replacement. The artificial leather caught my eye across the showroom, pretending to be a much more expensive full leather chair.. Yet with the vegetarian at heart.. (No cows where harmed whilst making this chair – at least, I don’t think they where!?)

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4X3 Motion Digital Pedometer review

Mike Hudson

4x3 Pedometer

The 4×3 Motion Digital Pedometer is an utra slim digital pedometer that is small enough to slip into the smallest pocket, plus it is supplied with a lanyard that allows the user to wear it around his or her neck.

The manufacturers claim that it provides superior accuracy in any position using the worlds most advanced Tri-Axis Technology thanks to its built-in 3D  Tri-axis motion sensor which measures vertical, horizontal, and sideways movement.

The pedometer tracks the wearers distance travelled, their speed, and the number of calories burned. it will count up to one million steps, and has a useful 7 day memory option which re-sets itself at midnight every night so that each days activity is measured individually and totalled up at the end of the week. the display also offers a sports timer, a digital clock, and a calendar, all of which can be viewed at night thanks to the blue backlight. all of this is powered by a small lithium battery which is provided and is pre-installed in the pedometer, there is a clear plastic isolator strip protruding from behind the battery casing cover which pulls out to allow the battery to connect when you loosen the small retaining screw on the battery cover using the small pozi headed screwdriver that is thoughtfully supplied with the pedometer.

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