Home Health and Fitness

Polar’s new Ignite fitness watch puts a fitness coach right on your wrist

NEWS – Polar recently announced their newest fitness watch, the Polar Ignite. The Ignite is a GPS fitness watch that tracks your walks, runs, bike rides, heart rate, and offers advanced metrics, training recommendations right from your wrist, and five days of battery life. Other new features include:

  • Sleep Plus provides insight into the amount and quality of sleep and tracks how you cycle through light, deep, and REM sleep stages of sleep and then assigns an easy-to-understand Sleep Score.
  • Nightly Recharge takes the Sleep Score and then combines it with daily recovery information from your body to let you know how well you are recovered from your workouts and offer tips to help adjust your daily plan so you can continue to improve in the coming nights, and ultimately improve your performance and fitness.
  • FitSpark is a daily training guide that provides athletes with personalized, adaptive guidance based on their fitness level, training history, and Nightly Recharge measurement. The watch suggests and guides you through exercises within cardio, strength training, and performance categories right from your wrist.
  • Serene is a guided breathing exercise from the wrist that can help balance body and mind, recover better, and even help with better sleep.

The Polar Ignite is available with a black or silver case and 3 watch band colors. It’s priced at $199.99 and is available now through Polar.com or Amazon.

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Polar’s new Ignite fitness watch puts a fitness coach right on your wrist originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 22, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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Stick NozNoz in your nose to lose weight or perform a self-lobotomy

NEWS – I think the guy in the image above shoved the NozNoz a little too far up his schnoz and did some major brainial damage. He just looks way too happy to be pushing a small piece of plastic in his nose in order to lose a few pounds.

Are you thinking that this is a joke product? Me too, but it’snot (sorry, I couldn’t resist…). The NozNoz is a real wellness “wearable” that has been designed to help people lose weight without drugs.

Smell influences our behavior, memories and emotions and can trigger eating when not necessarily hungry, and as well as pleasure based eating. NozNoz redirects scent-filled air away from the olfactory system to reduce our sense of smell and help users on their weight management journey.

NozNoz comes two sizes that should fit a variety of snouts and If you were on the fence about possibly buying your own pair of NozNozes, the fact that they come in their own little storage case might be the determining factor for you. Or not.

You can buy the NozNoz for $59.99 at NozNoz.com.  There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. Come on, I dare you.

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Stick NozNoz in your nose to lose weight or perform a self-lobotomy originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 18, 2019 at 1:01 pm.

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Withings launches new BPM Core and BPM Connect

NEWS – Withings has been one of my favorite brands when it comes to fitness and health gadgets and now they’ve added 2 new BPMs (blood pressure monitors) to their line up of fitness watches and other health devices. The BPM Connect is an easy to use smart BPM, while the BPM Core is simple but advanced BPM.

The BPM Core is the first over the counter device that’s designed to measure blood pressure, record an electrocardiogram (ECG) and listen to your heart using its built-in digital stethoscope. Just press a button and the BPM Core will give your heart a 3-in-1 checkup all in the comfort of your home.

BPM Core checks for high blood pressure – 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure (hypertension), which is a silent condition with no outward symptoms that can lead to heart disease and stroke.

BPM Core checks for AFib – 1 in 4 middle-aged adults has atrial fibrillation (AFib). This condition is the most common form of arrhythmia and can lead to heart failure, stroke, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Like hypertension, there can be no outward symptoms of Afib, but it can be detected via an electrocardiogram.

BPM Core checks for VHD – If you’re one of 1 in 3 adults with high blood pressure, you have a higher risk of developing valvular heart disease (VHD). This condition is characterized by a defect of the heart valves that can lead to heart failure. VHD can remain silent for a long time and people with VHD often don’t know that they have it. Early detection can be key to treating this problem.

The Withings BPM Core will be priced at $249.95 and will be available soon. You can visit withings.com for more details.

If you want a new BPM now, you can check out the new BPM Connect which is an update of their classic BPM that we reviewed over 5 years ago. The BPM Connect has been slimmed down and is simplified so that you can take and review readings without needing your phone nearby. The BPM Connect is available today for $99.95 directly from Withings.

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Withings launches new BPM Core and BPM Connect originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 18, 2019 at 12:29 pm.

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Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier review


REVIEW – Here we are once again in the season of summer in NYC. Every year, I have to battle against whatever allergens there are that are running rampant in the air. Some years are better than others, but this year has been extremely difficult for me. Whatever I am allergic to, has left me with asthmatic like attacks and mandated that I walk with a portable nebulizer machine and Albuterol refills each day when I go to work. At home, I am less susceptible to the attacks once I am in a room with or in close proximity to one of my air purifiers. Unfortunately, while I have a great air purifier in each bedroom, I have nothing in the living room and I can tell the difference when I am in that room. I desperately need another competent air purifier for my living room. Enter the Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier as a possible candidate for relieving my allergy stress.

What is it?

The Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier Is a HEPA air purifier suitable for a large room and capable of removing allergens caused by the usual suspects like pets, smokers, mold, pollen, dust, odors, etc. It can be remotely controlled via an IOS/Android app as well as by voice control via services like Alexa and Google Assistant.

What’s in the box


1 x Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier
1 x Preliminary/HEPA Combination Filter
1 x Activated Carbon Filter
1 x User Manual

Design and features

Specifications:
Power Supply: AC 120V, 60Hz
Rated Power: 40W
Effective Range: ≤ 322 ft² (30 m²)
Operating Conditions: 14°F–104°F / -10°C–40°C
Noise Level: ≤ 52dB
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 135 CFM (230 m³/h)
Standby Power: < 0.8W

The air purifier ships with both filters installed but each one is covered in a clear plastic bag for protection. When you open the cover of the device the Preliminary/HEPA Combination Filter is at the front, with pull tabs on the top and bottom that allow you to easily remove it.

When all of the filters are removed, you can see the internal surface of the device, with the fan cover.

The first filter that you install over the fan, is the Activated Carbon Filter. That filter also has pull tabs for easy removal.


Once the Activated Carbon Filter is installed, then the Preliminary/HEPA Combination Filter is installed in front of it.


On the bottom right of the air purifier between the cover and the main body of the device, there is a safety switch that will shut the device off should the cover be removed while the device is on.

On one side of the filter near the top, there is a dust sensor cover that protects the dust sensor lens. The dust sensor lens should be cleaned whenever the main filters are changed. A damp cotton swab will work. There is a vent below the dust sensor compartment, that has a Filter Indicator Reset Button embedded in it. Like most device reset buttons. you can use something like a pin or pen tip to press this button and reset the filter lifecycle when you change the filters.



On top of the air purifier, there is a vent and a control panel. On the control panel as seen below, from left to right there is the On/Off button, the Display button, the Sleep Mode button, the Auto button, Fan Speed button, and the Timer button. In the middle of the control panel in between the Sleep and Auto buttons, there is a LED display that provides information like power status, WiFi connectivity, filter status, timer status, air quality status, etc when the device is on.

Performance

This Levoit Air Purifier comes completely put together and all that is needed to start using it is to open the front cover and remove the plastic protection that the filters come packaged in. After that, you plug it in, and it is good to go. Next, you download the VeSync app, and connecting it to the air purifier via WiFi is straightforward. The beauty of it using Wifi is that you can control the device from anywhere in the world. The purifier has fan speed controls and is very quiet at the lowest speeds. It also has a sleep timer, scheduling abilities via the app, and the display shows you the quality of the surrounding air. And, in Auto Mode, the internal sensor is used to automatically adjust the fan speed based on the air quality.

Apps
Below are various screenshots from the app that show functionality, control and the information provided.


 


 


The following pictures and screenshots below show the purifier’s response before I vacuumed the carpet in the room (pictured on the left) and after vacuuming (pictured on the right) when I must have disturbed dust particles in the room.


 


Overall, this filter performs very well based on the easement of the severity of the allergy attacks I have experienced since using it. The app makes it easy to use and provides important information like the filter life remaining, etc. The device is attractive enough to fit into the decor of any room and silent enough that it is not a distraction.

What I like

  • Cool looking design – Clean lines
  • Made me feel much better
  • The app control
  • The settings choices

What I’d change

  • Nothing I can tell so far

Final thoughts

In keeping with my aggressive hunt to find air purifiers for each of the rooms in my home that will effectively alleviate my horrible symptoms caused by my allergies, I have tested several brands that all boast the ultimate best results. Many have failed, but this Levoit is one that has succeeded. Not only has it alleviated my symptoms when in my living room, but it also does the same for my kids who suffer from allergies and are asthmatic. It is well built, and the app control is great. The filters should last a few months and are reasonably priced and available via the Levoit website. While I do already have a higher-powered air purifier in another room, it also cost a whole lot more. I give this one a well done and two thumbs up.

Price: $189.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Levoit.

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Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 16, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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ZVOX Voicebud VB20 Hearing Amplifier review

REVIEW – A little bit of context for this review, I was born with significant problems with my right ear. It has been and always will be a pain in my, well, head. I have suffered hearing loss, had two surgeries on it, have a permanent hole in the ear drum and suffer through ear infections throughout the year. Needless to say, any dreams of being a swimmer or diver were out of the question by the time I was 5 years old. Age and the medical issues have made my hearing an issue and I find myself more and more often lately asking someone to repeat what they just said, especially if they are standing on my right side. I have put off getting a hearing aid, but am slowly starting to realize that at 38 years old, I’m only delaying the inevitable. So, I volunteered to test out the ZVOX VoiceBud VB20 Hearing Amplifier when it became available.

What is it?

The VB20 Hearing Amplifier is an FDA registered class one hearing aid.

What’s in the box?

  • Instructions, first use pamphlet and contact card.
  • Spare batteries
  • Zippered carrying case
  • Cleaning Kit with extra tubes and ear domes
  • Hearing aid

Design and features

The VB20 is an over the ear style hearing aid with a small clear tube that runs from the aid into the ear canal.

There is a small stabilizing arm that tucks into the lower part of your ear to keep it securely in your ear canal. There is a toggle switch on top to turn the volume up and down. Long pressing either of the volume buttons will cycle through the 4 different hearing settings:

1) Speech – for usual conversation without much background noise

2) Noisy Room – for inside spaces with distracting noise and other people talking

3) Automobile – for inside moving vehicles

4) Outdoors – for outdoor spaces or very large empty spaces.

Setup

Setting up the aid is pretty easy. Just insert a battery and shut the battery door, then insert the tube with a dome attached snugly into the ear canal. Any time the battery door is closed, the aid is on and turning it off involves removing the battery.

Performance

Over the weeks of using the VB20, I found that in most instances it did provide amplified sound and allowed me to pick up a more rounded sound from the world around me. Typically it stayed in mode 1, for normal conversation with mode 3 used for my commute to work and mode 2 when I went out to lunch or dinner. I used mode 4 only when I was walking to and from my car at work, as it did a good job of filtering out the noise of the wind.

It does take some getting used to though and not all of the added noise was welcomed. The first few days took time to get used to the aid being in the ear canal, and it’s even recommended to wear it for about an hour at a time with breaks between until you’re used to it. Conversation also took a little bit of getting used to as well, with voices sometimes taking on a mechanical almost robotic tone depending on the setting. Additionally, while using some wifi or Bluetooth devices, there would be painful interference that would make me pull the aid from my ear very quickly.

It did improve my hearing and my wife noticed a difference when I was wearing it and when I wasn’t. The size, color, and style allow it to remain relatively hidden from most people I am in contact with at work, so it’s not distracting or embarrassing to wear – and let’s be honest this is what I believe is what I believe keeps most people from getting hearing aids. The battery life leaves a little to be desired, as none of them lasted more than a week of use.

What I like

  • Easy functions, toggle switch for volume and change of mode and easy to change battery
  • Small and sleek design fits nicely behind the ear
  • I can hear better with it, even with the occasional annoyance

What I’d change

  • Extend the battery life
  • Ear canal irritation is going to be an issue with long term use, possibly make the domes softer? I don’t know how to fix this, and I’m sure it’s a problem across all types of the in-the-canal style hearing aids

Final thoughts

Being that this is my first experience with a hearing aid, it may be noted that I don’t really have anything to compare this to other than my base hearing level. That being said, I did notice an improvement in my hearing in all 4 modes of operation. The occasional problems were outweighed by the positives and I just learned over time what situations wouldn’t work well with this type of aid. It does make me wonder if I could get more precise results with an actual hearing test and customized hearing aid, however at this time I do think it’s more than sufficient for my day to day needs for hearing improvement. For those who suffer from a slight to moderate hearing loss, I believe this would provide a noticeable improvement over the base hearing level.

Price: $199.99
Where to buy: ZVOX Website
Source: The sample of this product was provided by ZVOX.

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ZVOX Voicebud VB20 Hearing Amplifier review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 11, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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