I know it's been months. Hardly a weekend goes by when I do not give thought to logging into blogger and writing a new blog. It hasn't happened. If I was a writer I could claim writer's block, but alas I only write powerpoints and reports.
So I thought I would write a report. It should be easy and get me started. Here it comes.
As many of you know, I like to walk. I usually wear 3 or more measuring devices at one time. I always have two devices.
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| Omron HJ-720ITC |
First my Omron HJ-720ITC ($59.99 MSRP, $31.89 at Amazon.com ). I may be biased, but I find it to be the easiest to use and the most accurate. This model downloads to my PC via USB. I have my steps for three years. Not sure why I need the long history, but I do like looking at my most recent few weeks. If you just want the steps try the HJ-112 ($34.99 MSRP, $20.99 at Amazon.com). Algorithm (the instructions the sensors use to measure your steps) is virtually identical. You can wear on your waist or in your pocket (my favorite). It does have a nice security leash to keep it from falling off your waist.
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| FitBit |
The second device I always carry is my FitBit ($99.99 everywhere). Great design and a very fine web based dashboard. Like the Omron HJ-720ITC you can see your history (I have two years) or just look at the week or month. There is a premium service, but I have yet to see a lot of value. They now have an iPhone app that is nice, but you cannot load the data through your phone. Accuracy is good, but I find it over counts my steps a bit. Make sure you secure it well or it will fall off your waist band.
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| MOTOACTV |
The device I am adding this week is the MOTOACTV ($249.99 - $299.99 everywhere PLUS accessories). It can measure all the normal things (steps, distance, pace, etc.) and adds Heart Rate (when used with a heart rate strap). The data is available on device or on a web dashboard. It has GPS and can download through USB or WiFi. It is also an android MP3 player the can sync with music on your desktop/laptop. You can use Bluetooth headphones to enjoy the audio. It will sync with Motorola Android phones. It comes with a belt clip and headphones. The wrist or shoulder strap are separate. Accuracy, so far so good. The original battery life was awful. The new software seems to be better.
I wore all three devices as I embarked on my weekend walk. Here are the results.
Device Steps
Omron HJ-720ITC 4,496
FitBit 4,565
MOTOACTV 4,501
Not bad for the first test. I will keep track over the next week and see if they stay as close together. I also will look at the dashboards and give my view on ease of use.
Wow. I actually got a full blog completed. Perhaps being a reporter vs. an author will work. Stay tuned for more.
Take care of your heart.
