09:43
Intro
Want to lose a few pounds? Fancy polishing up your guns a bit? Android fitness apps can help.
With well over a million Android apps out there, pretty much every kind of sport and exercise has an app, and many of them support Android Wear smartwatches too, giving you the same information in a more convenient way. From running to in-line skating: it's all there.
It's not quite that simple, though. There are loads of Android fitness apps, but far fewer good Android fitness apps. Avoid downloading the dross with our list of recommended picks, including those for running, cycling, sleep monitoring, gym exercise and pilates.
Just want the basics? Be sure to check out Google's own Fit app.
Running apps
1. Runkeeper
This isn't one of the most popular running apps for nothing. Runkeeper is a full GPS tracking tool that works with everything from a quick walk to a marathon, and let you use all kinds of accessories from Polar heart rate monitors to Fitbit trackers and Android Wear watches.
Your smartwatch acts as a small screen version of the phone view, providing a few basic run stats. It's one of the few apps to support GPS Android Wear watches like the Sony SmartWatch 3 too.
It's not all-business either, with Google Music integration letting you listen to some tunes as you run.
It's just brilliant. What's different between the free and paid versions? Upgrade and you can compare performance with your friends and track your performance trends over longer periods.
2. Runtastic
Runkeeper's arch rival is Runtastic. They do many of the same things: you really can't go wrong with either. Runtastic also supports Android Wear.
Our top tip is to try out both and see which interface you prefer. However, there are a few differences we can point out.
Runtastic currently has slightly better integration of music services like Spotify. It feels a bit more like streaming apps like this are running within the interface here than with Runkeeper. A small point? Maybe, but being able to control music easily while running is pretty important.
It's worth upgrading to the Pro version of Runtastic if you're going to use it regularly. It adds bags of extra features, including voice coach, interval training and a few new activities, like skating.
3. SportsTracker
Find Runkeeper and Runtastic that bit too involved? Check out SportsTracker. Its interface is a bit less ambitious, there are fewer features, but as a result it's less easy to get lost if you just want to get up and running (no pun intended) as quick as possible.
There's plenty more on offer than just one-off tracking too. SportsTracker keeps a history of your runs, heart rate monitoring and offers voice prompts without asking for you to pay for the privilege.
Using a nice and simple interface means the app looks kinda similar whether you're using an Android Wear watch or a phone too. Real running obsessives may be better off with one of the better-known apps, but if you want to keep it relatively simple, check out SportsTracker.
4. Zombies, Run!
Want to have fun rather than brag on Facebook about beating your 10k PB? Download Zombies, Run! now.
Part game, part motivational audiobook, part run tracker, it turns each of your runs into a mission that unfolds as you move your feet. Everything becomes part of a story you listen through your earphones.
It's the perfect solution for people who find running a bit boring, and is also a way to forget how much your lungs feel like they're going to explode if you're on a couch-to-5K plan. New missions are released every week too.
Zombies, Run! comes in two flavours, a standard one (£2.99) and the limited 5K training one (£1.59). Android Wear support is isn't here yet, but the dev is considering it. Fingers crossed…
5. Endomondo Sports Tracker Pro (£1.99)
Endomondo Sports Tracker is one of the most popular fitness apps around and with good reason. Whether you're running, walking or cycling Endomondo will keep track of your distance and time, it's got a thriving social network, and it now supports Android Wear, to boot.
An audio coach will keep you motivated and you can even compete against times set by friends and strangers. Route maps will help you find new places to workout and for activities that aren't covered, such as weight training, there's an option to manually enter workouts into the app, enabling you to keep track of all your exercise.
It's not quite our favourite run tracker, but it is excellent, and its versatility is second to none.
Cycling apps
1. Strava
The best, most popular cycling app is Strava. It's great for everyone from the novice to the lycra-pasted Ultegra-babbling obsessive.
It'll even double as a run tracker if you like, although for the most part it focuses on these two activities rather than extending to indoors curling and figure staking like the most, err, ambitious apps. And although glancing at a watch while tearing down the road on a bike at 40 mph isn't the best idea, there's also a basic Android Wear extension.
As well as being a brilliant cycling tracker, recording different personal best times for various parts of your cycle routes, it really plays into cyclists' natural competitiveness. What's going to make you get back in the saddle more than getting an email upgrade letting you know your friend just beat your time? It's infuriatingly brilliant.
2. Endomondo
We said it was versatile, didn't we? Endomondo is just as happy to track running as cycling, but we find it to be that much more accessible than the serious Strava.
It has a dead simple UI that almost makes it feel like a Google app rather than third party one. You can just hit 'go' and start cycling, pretty much.
It lets you do plenty for free too, including using a heart rate monitor. Android Wear is supported too, although a smartwatch is just used as a second screen rather than running solo without a phone.
Clean and clear is the order of the day here.
3. MapMyRide+ (£1.88)
MapMyRide+ does what it says on the tin and a whole lot more. You can use it to track routes, speed, distance, elevation, calories, time and more and there are audio alerts to update you on your progress as you go, so you don't need to keep fiddling with your phone.
It also adds a little friendly competition to things by implementing leaderboards that you can fight to improve your place on and achievements that you can unlock.
The basic app is free but upgrading to the '+' version gets rid of the ads.
4. Bike Gear Calculator
Are you a serious bike nerd? Do you setup your own bike rather than sending it to the local bike shop? Bike Gear Calculator is one way to get an almost eerily deep relationship with your bike.
It works out the exact rotations for each of your gears, based on the exact measurements of your gear system. Then it works out the speed you'll achieve for a specific cycle cadence at each gear.
We're neck-deep in bike nerd territory here, but it's a great, scientific way to really optimise how your bike operates.
Other fitness apps
1. Workout Trainer
Two of the most popular apps for tracking your crunches, reps and lunges in the gym are Jefit (below) and Workout Trainer. However, these days it's Workout Trainer that has by far the most accomplished interface.
It's more concerned with offering you workouts than making you laboriously log what you do, exercise-by-exercise, and there are hundreds of the things on offer. Whether you have a gym membership or are just working off a weedy set of weights you bought from Argos, there are filters to make sure you only see the ones you can do.
They range from single moves to programs that last for weeks, and the app tracks how long you spend sweating your eyeballs out too.
2. JEFIT Pro (£3.21)
JEFIT Pro is a comprehensive workout and fitness tracker, allowing you to create and perform workout routines.
You can then log your results and view charts of your progress to give you an idea of how well you're progressing over time.
JEFIT Pro also includes over 1300 exercise instructions complete with animations and tips to teach you new exercises and ensure you're doing them safely and correctly.
Most of the exercises rely on equipment though, so you're going to need a gym membership to get the most out of it.
3. Noom Weight Loss Coach (free)
Noom Weight Loss Coach does many of the same things as MyFitnessPal. You can log foods to track your calorie intake and log workouts and weight loss progress.
Plus there's a pedometer feature which can track how much you walk or run during the day.
But Noom also puts a lot of emphasis on motivation, with health and wellness articles added daily, giving you an extra reason to launch the app.
There are also various goals for you to work towards, making it easier to stick to your fitness plans long term.
4. Pilates Exercise Workouts
Even though pilates is very popular, the quality level of most pilates apps is dreadful compared to what runners and cyclists get. Some of the ones we've tried barely even work.
Some of the better ones basically chop down pilates lessons you might buy on DVD, and charge you an arm and a leg for the clips. But Fitivity's Pilates Exercise Workouts app is a great place to start if you don't want to join a class or buy a video.
It breaks workouts into the component moves, and offers both a short video and animated GIF to show you how to perform each. You get three weeks' worth of workouts for free, but to break into the premium levels you'll have to fork out a grand £2.41. Given how much that gets you, though, it's not a bad deal.
Fitivity also makes many more apps for loads of other exercise types, including yoga, pilates' incense-burning cousin.
5. Sleep as Android
Getting a good night's sleep is a very important part of having the energy to work out. There are loads of sleep tracker apps available for Android, but only a few of them support smart watches.
Our pick is Sleep as Android. Enigmatic title aside, it's a pretty sensible, complete sleep app.
It uses your phone or smartwatch's accelerometer to measure your movements throughout the night, then creating a graph to show how much of the night you were actually out for. Think you might be a hardcore snorer? Sleep as Android monitors that too.
It even offers a few extras to help you sleep and wake up too. There are chill-out sound loops to help you drop off and an alarm that makes you perform a sum before the thing turns off. Cruel to be kind and all that…
from TechRadar: All latest feeds http://ift.tt/1a3bFEv
via IFTTT
0 commentaires :
Enregistrer un commentaire