For a company as secretive as Apple, it has to be frustrating for Apple that the Cindy Brady of the Web, the US Patent Office, makes it fairly simple to find and view patent filings online.
AppleInsider did a little digging and revealed Apple’s patent filings to develop a digital lifestyle fitness companion. Plans include four distinct components that comprise the system, ‘including an iTunes-like software application, hardware-based heart rate and physiological sensors, a rewards tracker, and a component to facilitate synchronous group activities.’
The system asks a series of lifestyle questions; what your fitness goals are, personal and family health history (HIPAA are you listening?). Once the data is collected a fitness regimen specific to the user is created. There are plans for one or more integrated physiological sensors. These could be built-into headphones or in a ‘sling’ which may not only read heart rate, but hold the iPod/iPhone during a workout.
There are a number of interesting screen shots on the AppleInsider Web site; a fitness model demonstrating proper technique, a tick list of exercises for a particular workout and others.
Source: Apple Insider
They have a whole ‘team’ working on this patent-pending brainchild that securely grips to a treadmill’s rails using adjustable arms. From the pictures it looks like the StepDesk is going to block any view of the treadmill’s display, so it’s probably time to get off when you’ve passed-out from boredom and hear the thump/bump of your face bouncing on the belt, shaving away your face like a nice Dill Havarti.
Survival starts with preparation and the 
VLINE Climbing takes a different approach to gear manufacturing. All hand-stitched in the USA in small batches, VLINE gear is built to last, using 1000 d Cordura and 1680 Ballistic Nylon (material originally designed for bullet proof vests!). On my other chalk bags for example – all of them in fact – I’ve blown out the brush loop. VLINE uses a solid 1.5-inch elastic brush holder sewn deep into the outer bag material. Their chalk pot features two of these 1.5-inch elastic brush holders, 2 Velcro closure pockets and an off-centered handle for easy dipping.
The Carl Lewis Vibro Exerciser shakes you around while doing simple exercises. All this shaking taps into your “subconscious muscle responses” and allegedly forces muscles to react 70% more than exercises of the non-shaking variety.
