Android World: Android and Me

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Android and Me

Keep the beat with the Zephyr HxM Bluetooth heart rate monitor
VIZIO’s $99 Google TV box now available for pre-order
Apple granted EU injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.7, demands $2.5 billion in separate US patent case
Hit the road and fill up for less with GasBuddy

Keep the beat with the Zephyr HxM Bluetooth heart rate monitor

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 05:29 PM PDT

Are you having trouble achieving your fitness goals? I’ve found that smartphone apps can help me improve my diet and exercise routines, but I’m always looking for that extra boost to keep me motivated and maximize my training time. Over the last couple of years I have tested a dozen different apps to track my running, but recently I decided to try out a Bluetooth heart rate monitor.

After scanning the web and reading a ton of reviews, I went ahead and purchased the Zephyr HxM. Over the last couple of weeks I logged 60 miles with the Zephyr and now I’m ready to share my thoughts.

The Good

Compatible with many Android apps: The Zephyr HxM works with many Android fitness apps including Runtastic, Endomondo, SportsTracker, My Tracks, Sporty Pal, and more. Track walking, running, biking or any activity you might do.

Easy setup and instant on: It paired to my Android phone with no problems and I have yet to experience any connection problems when exercising. The Zephy HxM automatically turns on when you snap it onto the chest strap.

Continuous real-time feedback: The best part of working out with the Zephyr HxM is the real-time feedback provided by 3rd-party apps. Most apps provide a voice coach that can alert you when you change heart rate zones or report your heart rate on a set interval.

Charging cradle contains lights to show when device is fully charged.

Rechargeable battery: Zephyr includes a USB charging cradle in the box. The built in battery lasts up to 26 hours of use. It can be charged to 90% in 1 hour, and 100% in 3 hours.

Lightweight design: Zephyr's patented Smart Fabric Technology provides a comfortable fit. The elastic chest strap is adjustable, so it should fit most body types (up to 40 inches).

Machine washable: The chest strap will get sweaty and smelly, so it’s a good thing you can wash it. Replacement straps can be ordered online for around $19.

The Zephyr HxM snaps easily snaps into the chest strap.

12 month warranty: Zephyr will replace, repair, or refund this product if it does not work properly under normal use and care conditions.

Better reviews than the Polar WearLink+: When it comes to Android fitness apps, the two most supported heart rate monitors are Zephyr and Polar. My research showed that the Polar WearLink+ received a lot of poor reviews from smartphone owners who complained about connection problems with the device.

The Not-so-good

No official apps: There are plenty of 3rd-part apps that work with the Zephyr HxM, but it would be nice to see Zephyr produce some of their own Android apps.

USB wall charger not included: My package included a USB charging cradle, but it did not come with a USB wall charger. Thankfully I had a couple extra around the house, but this should be included for the price you are paying.

Price: The Zephyr HxM sells for around $75 on Amazon, which makes it one of the more expensive Bluetooth heart rate monitors. Watches that monitor your heart rate can be purchased for half that price, but they won’t connect to your smartphone.

Final Words

The Zephyr HxM and USB charging cradle.

The Zephyr HxM exceeded my expectations and I found that heart rate training is a great way to improve your performance, and track your fitness. I’ve trained for years using fitness apps, but I found that adding a heart rate monitor was a great motivational aid and it helped me achieve my fitness goals.

Your results with vary with the Android app that you choose, but I’ve been using Runtastic Pro and I found it was the perfect companion for the Zephyr HxM. The app can help you monitor your resting heart rate and maximum heart rate, and then automatically setup your heart rate zones.

Heart rate zones.

I found that running in different heart rate zones was great for high intensity interval training (HIIT). I’ve tried this type of training before, but it was sometimes difficult to keep up with the periods of ultra-intense exercise and rest. When I’m running with the Zephyr HxM, I just listen to my heart and it tells me when I need to crank up my pace and when I need to rest.

Since I started training a month ago, I’ve already lost 10 lbs and lowered my body fat percentage a couple of points. That was the result of a lot of things including a reduced calorie diet and weight training, but the Zephyr HxM played a big role in motivating me to keep running.

If you have been trying to get in shape and had difficulty staying motivated, I would definitely recommend the Zephyr HxM.

VIZIO’s $99 Google TV box now available for pre-order

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 02:02 PM PDT

Today VIZIO announced that their $99 Google TV box, the Co-Star, is now available for pre-order. Customers who pre-order can take advantage of free shipping for a limited time and the first units are expected to be available around August 14th.

The Co-Star measures only 4.2 x 4.2 x 1.6 inches and weighs in at 0.66 lbs. Physical ports include HDMI in, HDMI out, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, and a single USB 2.0 port. The device also supports WiFi 802.11 n/g/b, Bluetooth, and comes with a universal touchpad remote with keyboard.

VIZIO Co-Star and remote.

Google TV first debuted back in 2010, but the launch devices were priced too high and sales were abysmal. Few developers supported the platform because the install base was so small. Logitech lost so much money that they discontinued their Google TV products and their CEO stepped down.

I was one of the few who pre-ordered the Logitech Revue for $299, and I still have it hooked up to my TV. It still doesn’t have too many apps, but I use it every day for the improved channel guide and video streaming from Netflix and Amazon.

The device wasn’t worth the $299 asking price, but I enjoy the experience and I’d recommend a new Google TV box to a friend at the lower $99 price point.

We have yet to test out the VIZIO Co-Star, but I went ahead and pre-ordered one for the site to see how it compares to the Logitech Revue. The main difference in hardware is that the first-generation of Google TV’s used an Intel processor and the second-generation of devices have now adopted ARM-based processors.

Ports include HDMI in, HDMI out, USB 2.0, and Ethernet.

VIZIO doesn’t say exactly what processor is inside the Co-Star, but we believe it is an Armada 1500, which includes a dual-core 1.2 GHz CPU core (similar performance to ARM Cortex-A9) and a Vivante GC1000 GPU core. The Logitech Revue would lag pretty bad when using the Chrome browser, so hopefully performance has been improved.

One experience I’m excited to try out is the cloud-gaming service OnLive, which allows users to demo, watch and play hundreds of top-tier video games directly from the “cloud.” The wireless controller is sold separately for $49.99, but that’s not a bad price for turning your Google TV box into a game console. The controller also works with many Android smartphones and tablets, so your game time doesn’t have to be tied to the TV.

The Co-Star touchpad remote with keyboard.

Check out the promo video below and head over to VIZIO’s product site for a detailed list of features. Let us know if you plan to pick one up, and come back next month for the full review.

Apple granted EU injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.7, demands $2.5 billion in separate US patent case

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 06:33 AM PDT

We thought patent cases couldn’t get any worse after Apple was granted an injunction to block the sales of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Obviously we were wrong. The courts in Dusseldorf have sided with Apple, posting an injunction against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, banning the sale of the tablet from all European countries. As with the sales ban on the larger Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the 7.7 was found to infringe on an Apple design patent which can be traced back to internal company sketches from 2004. On a positive note, Apple was denied its appeal to force an injunction against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N, which was redesigned to not infringe on Apple’s patent.

While the injunction against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 could easily be circumvented with a new exterior design, Apple is hoping to have a more substantial impact on Samsung’s pocketbook in its upcoming court battle in California. Apple has never been shy about defending its patents in court, but this is the first time (to our knowledge) that the company has put a price tag on the alleged damages.

To make things easy for Samsung and the courts, Apple has divided up the claims into four different categories on a per-unit basis:

$2.02 for devices using “overscroll bounce” ’318 patent
$2.02 for devices using ”tap to zoom and navigate” ’915 patent
$3.10 for devices using ”scrolling API” ’163 patent
$24 for devices infringing an Apple design patent or trade dress right

Apple may have some luck with their technical patents, but we doubt the California court will be as eager to grant Apple a victory for any of its design or trade dress claims against Samsung.

I’m honestly bored out of my mind with all the patent cases these days and I’m sure the general public could care less about Apple’s ”overscroll bounce” or ”scrolling API” patent. Will this madness ever stop?

Hit the road and fill up for less with GasBuddy

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 08:57 PM PDT

Gas prices are down from their highs of a couple months ago, but they are slowly climbing back up. If you plan to take a road trip this summer, make sure you download the free GasBuddy app before you hit the road. It can help you save money each time you fill up, so you can spend your cash on other things that will make your vacation more enjoyable.

GasBuddy is a community of users working together to update gas prices. Anyone can join by installing the app, searching for gas, and reporting prices when they are found to be outdated.

The Good

Find lowest prices on any grade of gas: Filter prices by regular, midgrade, premium, or diesel.

Sort results by distance: Find the closest gas station to your current location or search by zip code.

Browse station features: Does that gas station have a car wash, air hose, ATM, restroom, or convenience store? GasBuddy lets you preview the detailed features of most locations.

Navigate to any location: Just press the Directions button on any location and it will quickly launch your preferred navigation app.

Win free gas: Every time you report gas prices, you earn points. Each week you can trade in your points for tickets in a prize give-away that could score you a $250 gas card.

The Not-so-good

Doesn’t tell me how much I could save: Is it really cheaper to drive across town and fill up my tank? I wish I could save my vehicle tank size to my profile so the app could estimate my potential total savings.

USA and Canada only: Great service if you live in the USA or Canada, but wish they would support more locations.

Missing features found on the web site: Desktop website has a lot of features that are not present in the mobile app. I’d like to see the gas price charts, heat maps, trip calculator, and blog find their way to the small screen.

User interface is dated: It would be nice if the developer could update the UI to follow the newer Android 4.x design guidelines.

Final Words

It might not seem like much at first, but the savings from GasBuddy can add up over time. Most times when I search, I can find gas that is $0.20-0.30 cheaper per gallon, which saves me a couple bucks each time I fill up.

The app is not the best looking, but it gets the job done. I wish there were more rewards for being an active member of the community, but the savings make this an app that will always be found on my phone.