Sprenzy Shopping Blog

Looking for a uniquely colored iPhone? Well, ColorWare allows you to customize the colors of the back, bottom, frame, button, logo, earbuds and dock. Custom coloring starts at $149, if you already own an iPhone. Or you can order a 4 GB or 8 GB iPhone directly from ColorWare. The processing time for your custom paint job is 2 to 3 weeks.

Custom painting isn’t just limited to an iPhone. ColorWare can also custom color the Sidekick 3, iPod Nano, iPod Video, Zune, Thinkpads, Macbooks and gaming consoles.

My girlfriend needed a new clock radio and iPod docking system. Her requirements were a dual alarm and a simple, aesthetically pleasing design. Sound quality wasn’t a top priority because we have a nice vacuum tube amp and Definitive Technology tower speakers in the bedroom. My requirements were a display dimmer and a gentle alarm.

I did some research and found iLounge’s clock radios ratings. Based on our requirements, I narrowed the products down to the Timex Ti700 and iLuv i177. My girlfriend preferred the iLuv i177’s design and appearance so we bought the iLuv.

After a week of use, we are both pretty happy with the iLuv i177. The i177 is intuitive to use. The volume of the alarm can be adjusted if waking up to an iPod or radio, which at the lowest setting is the perfect volume for us. It’s loud enough to wake the girlfriend but not too jarring for me. The LCD display has three dimmer settings and an off mode, which I prefer, because I like a completely dark room. The sound quality is more than adequate given our needs and actually better than expected from a small clock radio.

The only negative is the default buzzer alarm if you don’t have an iPod docked. It’s extremely loud and is piercing like a fire alarm. I highly recommend not using the buzzer alarm. Additionally, setting the time using the dial knob is annoying because you have to spin it until you hit the right time linearly, i.e. there are no hour or minute buttons. But this is a non-issue after the initial time and alarm setting.

Playlistmag.com has a good iLuv i177 review along with a review of the JBL On Time. Playlist concludes…

“Both the iLuv i177 and JBL On Time are nice clock radios, and each has strengths and weaknesses. In short: If it’s an alarm clock you want, the iLuv i77 is the best choice and includes nice extras such as a remote and an iPod shuffle port. If you desire something more akin to a small stereo, with the added benefit of a clock and alarm, go with the On Time.

Overall, I found the iLuv to be a better value, while the On Time had far superior sound. Yet, while I would highly recommend the iLuv—as an alarm clock—I can’t say the same about the On Time; although it performs well as both a clock and a stereo, it doesn’t truly excel at either.”

I agree with this conclusion. The iLuv i177 is a great iPod alarm clock, just don’t use the buzzer alarm unless you like be jolted out of a sound sleep.

With the New Year, many people have made goals to lose weight and exercise regularly. Whether you are starting an exercise routine for the first time or a fitness fanatic, staying motivated is the key to getting fit and maintaining it. Motivation can come in many forms, such as training for a race/event, an exercise partner or the possibility of dessert with every five three mile run.

To help you reach your weight loss or exercise goals, here are some fitness tools that can keep you motivated to workout.

• Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) - To get the most out of every workout and to ensure you are pushing yourself to the right limits, get an HRM. I prefer Polar HRMs with a wearlink transmitter, which has a flexible cloth chest strap. To learn more about HRMs check out, Heart Rate Monitors - What’s Your Max Heart Rate?

• Nike+ iPod Sport Kit - If you already own an iPod Nano, this will be the best $30 you’ll spend to keep motivated on a run. I’ve been using the Nike+ Sport Kit for the last several months and I won’t go for a run without my Nano and Sport Kit. I love knowing my current pace and getting a message from Lance Armstrong or Paula Radcliffe after I beat a personal record. Additionally, the Nike+ website provides run/goal tracking and community features to inspire more running.

• Garmin Forerunner - Get the accuracy of GPS to monitor your speed, distance, pace and calories burned with the relatively sleek, wrist-mounted Garmin Forerunner 305 (HRM) or Garmin Forerunner 205. For cyclists, check out the Garmin Edge Series GPS cycling computers.

• 10 Minute Solution DVDs - Do you have 10 minutes to spare? Whether it’s pilates, yoga, kickboxing or dancing, there’s a DVD available with multiple 10 minute workouts to target and isolate various body parts. If you can’t get to the gym or go for a run, watch and follow along with one of these DVDs to get a quick workout.

• Traineo - A free and simple website that allows users to report goals, workouts, diet and weight to a group of friends who monitor and support each other. Users can also join larger support groups to get encouragement from people with similar health and fitness goals.

If you are new to working out or getting back on the bandwagon, try to set manageable goals. Small wins obtained quickly will keep you motivated to work harder. As you achieve these smaller goals, keep on raising the bar and soon enough you’ll achieve that ultimate fitness goal.

The average Thanksgiving meal contains 3,000 calories and if you snack all day it can reach up to 4,500 calories. I certainly did my share to raise the average calorie intake. I’m guesstimating I put down 5,000 calories easy.  Call me an over-achiever if you want. Now I’m on exercise kick to keep off the unwanted weight during the holiday season. One of my favorite new toys, which motivates me to run more often, is the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit.

If you already own an iPod Nano, the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit adds voice feedback (male or female) and visual display of your run/walk time, distance and pace. The Sport Kit consists of a small sensor (accelerometer) and a receiver that plugs into your Nano. The sensor is designed to fit into Nike+ running shoes but still works with any shoe if you can properly secure it.

Next you will find several Nike+ iPod Sport Kit reviews and a review of the Marware Sportsuit Sensor+, which attaches the sensor to any shoe.

• Playlistmag.com: Nike+ iPod Sport Kit Review - “When Lance Armstrong or Paula Radcliffe told me, through my nano, “Congratulations! You’ve just run your fastest mile.” I felt like they were talking directly to me—even though I knew they weren’t. The Nike + iPod Sport Kit is simple but ingenious, easy enough to use for beginning runners and technophobes alike, while reliable enough for even competitive runners.”

• PC Magazine: Nike+ iPod Sport Kit Review - “With its great community features, the Nike + iPod Sport Kit adds an extra element to running and walking that can actually inspire and motivate you more than simply listening to music and timing yourself.”

• The Adventure Blog: Nike+ iPod Review - “If you enjoy running, walking, or hiking, I highly recommend the Nike+iPod system. It’s a very well designed product that is easy to use, offers great value, and should be a benefit to anyone into fitness. It’s online portion should also help you track your data over time, set goals, and make progress in increasing your distance and speed.”

• iLounge: Nike+ iPod Sport Kit Review - “What Apple and Nike have achieved with the Nike+iPod Sport Kit is a nearly unqualified triumph: an expansion of the iPod nano into a digital sport running and walking partner, using add-on technology that works well and is easy enough for anyone to use. While we won’t go so far as to claim that it will replace the need for gyms or even just their treadmills, the Kit’s cool features - voice feedback, big on-screen text focused on your workout goal, PowerSongs, and Nikeplus.com - are generally so well-done for the reasonable price that you can easily look past the system’s few flaws.”

• The Final Sprint: Marware Sportsuit Sensor+ Review - “Marware’s Sportsuit Sensor + is a terrific adapter for runners who want the benefits of the new Nike+iPod Sport Kit, but don’t want to spend the extra cash on Nike+ Ready shoes. For only $9.99 it is an investment you won’t regret and we highly recommend it.”

Since I’m a Mizuno and New Balance fan, I haven’t purchased a pair of Nike+ running shoes. On my initial run with the Sport Kit, I placed the sensor between my shoe laces and tongue. It fell out 40 feet into my run but I didn’t realize it until three blocks later. Luckily, I was able to find the sensor before it was run over by a car.

After this initial blunder, I secured the sensor by placing it into a small Ziplock sandwich bag and then tucking the bag underneath the laces. An alternative and better solution is using Glad Press’n Seal wrap to make a pouch and tuck it under the shoe laces (shown top right). Both solutions are cheap, easy and waterproof. My only concern is the durability of the Press’n Seal, so I ordered the Marware Sportsuit Sensor+. Check out other sensor/shoe mods at theappleblog.com.

I’ve run with the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit eight times so far and I really enjoy using it. I’ve used it out of the box and uncalibrated. The distance accuracy is very good as I’ve only seen a 0.01 mile discrepancy on my known 1 mile and 3.25 mile markers. From my experience, if you keep the sensor flat or parallel to the foot bed, the distance and pace accuracy is pretty good uncalibrated. But if you attach the sensor on the top of the shoe tongue or on an angle, calibration is definitely required. I’ve also noticed total distance is less accurate on hilly running routes.

Overall, I still prefer running with the 2nd generation iPod Shuffle because it so small and lightweight. But getting distance and pace voice feedback is extremely useful during my runs. And it’s very helpful if you need to train at a certain pace. For its simplicity, run/mileage tracking, community features at Nikeplus.com and a low $30 cost, I highly recommend the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit to enhance your runs. It could also be great stocking stuffer for people who like to run with their Nano.

Other Nike+ Accessories:

Nike+ Clothing - the Nike+ clothing is expensive at $70+ per shirt. But it’s an option, if you don’t like carrying your Nano in your hand or using an armband. I have a short sleeve seamless top, which works well but you can’t see the Nano display. I prefer looking at the display every now and then during a run.

Nike+ Armband - I don’t like wearing armbands so this accessory is not for me. Similar to the Nike+ clothing issue, you can’t see the display while using the armband.