Like everyone else during the holidays, you probably gained a few pounds. Yes, it’s normal, but it’s time to shed it off. Philips is looking to help you by offering the Activa, a portable audio player that’s designed to “motivate people to improve their fitness.”
Intrigued? Of course you are. You clicked on “read more” right? Anyway, it works by providing real-time vocal feedback and music that adjusts its tempo to match your pace. The player’s TempoMusic feature starts by analyzing your library, tagging songs with tempo characteristics, and asks you to identify your workout picks. After that, the Activa automatically picks out the song with the right tempo from your playlist while you’re working out, giving you, say, Fatboy Slim’s “Ya Mama (Push the Tempo)” while you’re bouncing steadily on a treadmill, and Beck’s “Loser” when you slow down—although the Activa comes with a set of preloaded songs for using right out of the box.
The kit comes with sport ‘phones, a clip-on body, and cable clips to keep the player out of your way
The press release also describes a voice prompt that will encourage you as you slow down (we’re thinking a drill sergeant ripping you a new one for quitting), while audio feedback also tells you how you’re doing without having to stop.
The player tracks your progress and burned calories, which you can check out with the bundled Songbird software that also syncs to your music library. Everything’s designed for movement; the package is bundled with sport headphones with ear hooks, a clip-on body, a protective pouch, and cable clip management—all for $130 when it comes out sometime in April.
Tags: Philips, Portable Audio
