Tiny camera, big picture
The 35 mm Polaroid Cube is a tiny but powerful camera designed to support Micro SD up to 32GB. It’s weatherproof, shockproof and mountable, and the built-in battery allows the user to record for up to 90 minutes at a time. For use when water skiing, scuba diving and more, the 1.34 x 1.34 inch, cube-shaped Polaroid Cube with Wi-Fi also can connect with smartphones and tablets via the Polaroid Cube+ app for iOS and Android. Users can control their Cube+ cameras remotely, and upload and share footage online. For more information visit http://thegadgetflow.com/portfolio/polaroid-cube/.
The power of solar
If you’re on the road, in the middle of nowhere this summer, and your electronic devices start running out of power, try the Bolt. The device features two rotating solar panels and an onboard battery, which can be charged from a USB port or wall outlet. In turn, any electronic device reportedly can be charged by hooking up its USB cable to the Bolt. The Bolt is designed to hold a charge for up to a year, ($36.70) For more information visit http://thegadgetflow.com/portfolio/solio-bolt-solar-charger/.
Exercise apps: Do they work?
According to one recent study, they do, indeed. The study, “Mobile Exercise Apps and Increased Leisure Time Exercise Activity: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of the Role of Self-Efficacy and Barriers,” by Leib Litman, Zohn Rosen, David Spierer, Sarah Weinberger-Litman, Akiva Goldschein and Jonathan Robinson (J Med Internet Res 2015;17(8):e195), found that app users may be more active than non-app users.
There are said to be over 1,000 exercise apps for mobile devices available today, all of which employ a range of features, from tracking exercise activity to providing motivational messages, according to the researchers. However, not much is known about whether exercise apps improve exercise levels and health outcomes and, if so, the mechanisms of these effects.
The study focused on whether the use of exercise apps is associated with increased levels of exercise and improved health outcomes. 726 participants with one of three backgrounds were surveyed about their use of exercise apps and health: (1) those who never used exercise apps, (2) those who used exercise apps but discontinued use, and (3) those who are currently using exercise apps. Participants were asked about their long-term levels of exercise and about their levels of exercise during the previous week with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Nearly three-quarters of current app users reported being more active compared to less than half of non-users and past users. The IPAQ showed that current users had higher total leisure time metabolic equivalent of task (MET) expenditures (1169 METs), including walking and vigorous exercise, compared to those who stopped using their apps (612 METs) or who never used apps (577 METs). Physical activity levels in domains other than leisure time activity were similar across the groups.
The results also showed that current users had lower BMI (25.16) than past users (26.8) and non-users (26.9), and that this association was mediated by exercise levels and self-efficacy.
The researchers concluded that exercise app users are more likely to exercise during their leisure time, compared to those who do not use exercise apps, essentially fulfilling the role that many of these apps were designed to accomplish. Data also suggest that one way that exercise apps may increase exercise levels and health outcomes is by making it easier for users to overcome barriers to exercise, leading to increased self-efficacy. For more information visit http://www.jmir.org/2015/8/e195/.
Apps to chill by
A recent article by Lori Keong recommends four apps designed to help users stay calm and level headed under stress:
- Stop, Breathe & Think helps one monitor the highs and lows of each week.Users checkin at different times of the day with their moods, enabling them to review their anxiety and creativity levels. The app alsoworks ontargeted wellness areas, such as falling asleep more quickly, improving focus and alleviating anxiety.
- Welzen is an app that offers everything fromfive-minute sessionsto lunch break-sized calm-downs. The app features comical creatures, which correspond to targeted areas for meditation, including stress relief, enhanced relationships, improved creativity and more.In addition, the app instructs on the science behind meditation and how it alleviates certain mental stressors.
- Headspace has been said to help draw many people into the practiceof meditation, as well as shiftthe way they think about it. Users can draw up a wellness plan that works for them by selecting mediationsessions to fit their mood and lifestyle, then learnhow to apply their sessions to becoming a more mindful, compassionate person.
- Calm is a noise-control app designed to block out all external commotion. Using different sound themes (i.e., the patter of rain, the animal sounds of a rainforest, the crackle of a fireplace, etc.), the app transports the user to a happier, calmer place while he or she meditates. It also works on improving the quality of one’s sleep and instructs how to focus on breathing.
For more information visit http://www.marieclaire.com/health-fitness/g4334/best-meditation-and-mindfulness-apps/.
Healthline.com offers some additional options for mindfulness apps designed to relieve stress and anxiety:
- The Anxiety Free app uses self-hypnosis techniques to help lessen stress and anxiety.
- Inner balance monitors the user’s heart rhythms and encourages him or her to control his/her physical response to stress and anxiety. By learning how to manage heart rhythms, users reportedly can reduce fatigue, improve concentration and focus, and find instant calm in the midst of stress.
- Moods is a mood-tracking app that enables users to track their highs and lows.
- Sleep Time helps users fall asleep to relaxing sounds, as well as tracks sleep patterns and provides feedback on the quality and quantity of their sleep.
- Stop Panic & Anxiety Self-Help uses cognitive behavioral therapy approaches to help users reframe destructive thought patters that may worsen their anxiety.
- What’s Up? This app employs cognitive behavioral therapy to train anxiety sufferers to identify negative thinking patterns and the sources of their anxiety. It features breathing techniques, habit and anxiety trackers, positive quotes and more.
- The Worry Box. The Worry Box is designed to help people cope with worry and learn how to effectively manage it. The app offers a list of coping statements, which users can use to reframe their thoughts when they are caught up in worry.
For more information visit http://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/top-iphone-android-apps#6.
Take a hike!
For those looking to do some hiking this season, tap into these apps for advice on the best trails and more:
- Covering over 50,000 Canadian and U.S. trails, and with 3.5 million downloads, the AllTrails free version allows users to create their own trails with GPS tracking, photos and text, as well as save or share them with others. The $50 a year membership offers access to the pro version, the advantages of a partnership with National Geographic Maps, and the ability to print and edit maps.
- Trail Tracker is said to be one of the most accurate GPS hiking apps available. Designed for hiking, running, cycling and driving, the intuitive color-coded mapping feature allows users to track latitude and longitude data, average speeds and elevation gains clearly and precisely. In-built sharing features enable users to work on improving times and distances.
For more information visit http://www.atlasandboots.com/best-hiking-apps/.