To flex or not to flex? Getting a fitbit

So I purchased one.  I wanted to wait for a week before I gave my 2 cents.  I will give update reviews as I use it.  Let me first tell you the only thing I have ever used is a pedometer.  So I talked with other friends that have the jawbone, one and fitbit.  So let’s make this as painless as possible.

First what is the flex?

Quote from the web site: Flex website click here

Make fitness a lifestyle with Flex™.

FLEX™ WIRELESS ACTIVITY & SLEEP WRISTBAND

This slim, stylish device is with you all the time. During the day, it tracks steps, distance, and calories burned. At night, it tracks your sleep cycle and wakes you silently in the morning. Just check out the lights to see how you stack up against your personal goal. It’s the motivation you need to get out and be more active.

Does it do that?  Heck yes.  Especially when you are so close to hitting your daily 10,000 steps.  I have took the dog for a walk just so I could get those extra steps.  You can also customize those goals.

Design

• Light weight, rubberized, flexible band.
• Comes in 4 colors. Slate or Black are the only ones with the device. The other 2 you buy separately.
• Included in box are both small and large bands.  Which you can use to trade for different color from friends with the opposite size
• The clasp is metal and you have to push down hard to get it to latch, which is a draw back.  However on a positive note if it’s hard to clasp hopefully it will be hard to pop loose.
• Design to be worn on either arm, it works best on Non-dominant arm.   I don’t know about you but most people wear their watch on that arm
• Doesn’t not have a clock.  Which means your watch will need to switch arms.  Not a deal breaker for me since my watch is already on that arm.
• Waterproof up to 10 feet.  Wear it swimming, showering, or washing those dreaded dishes. Meaning…it’s safe for this nurse’s flex to get wet every 1000 times I wash my hands.  Con:  Will not track swimming, let me rephrase that; no written evidence that it does. (not a big deal I plug it in on myfitnesspal as back up)

Pro: Light weight, flexible and I don’t notice that I even have it on. 

Cons:  having to wear it on the non-dominant arm  (no gripes here for me)

Device

• Pill like device that slides into the back of the bracelet.  FYI must be put in correctly or it won’t work as well.
• While out it can be place in USB charge cord that hooks into computer.  Which leads me to the battery life 5-7 days.  I lasted 6 days with constant use.  Takes around less than an hour to charge.
• How accurate is it?  It has been pretty dead on for me.  I did notice that I didn’t burn as much calories as I thought during a circuit workout.  But I stepped it up a notch and did much better.  You can calculate your stride to help make it more accurate or leave it on default.  Default is done by age, sex, height and weight. 

Sync ability

• Works best with iOS (apple products)  But will work with android.  I have noticed some “hiccups” with sync on my droid razr.  It seems to take longer to sync.  I prefer my iPod to sync with.  It will also sync with your computer by putting the “dongle” in one of the computer’s usb ports.  (this comes with the product)
• Sync is done by Bluetooth 4.0 (older phone may not have this) unlike Jawbone (another similar device) where you have to hook it into phone.

Alarm/Sleep Tracking

• You can set up multiple alarms.  Bracelet will vibrate.  Great if you don’t want to wake up your partner.
• Rapidly tapping on the Fitbit Flex for a few seconds launches sleep mode; under this setting, the device will track your sleep patterns throughout the night.  Then you can check the progress on you app.  It will tell you how long you slept, how many time you woke up and your % on quality of sleep.  ( I woke up 23 times yesterday, good grief)

What does it do?

Is it a fancy pedometer?  I think not.

• Tracks your steps just like a pedometer
• Tracks the calories burned
• Tracks your distance
• Record your Food, Water, Weight. 
• Calculates how many calories you can eat that day
• Links up with a few other fitness apps.  My favorite being Myfitnesspal
• Motivates you by awarding badges for completing certain levels

Rumors- this section is dedicated to negative comments I have heard

• It doesn’t have a display like the One (older fitbit model) has.  Yes the one shows the steps, distance, stairs and even a little flower that grows when you do fabulous.  Even has a clock.  Downfall?

  (pictured the One)

Not really.  I like the simplicity of my flex.  When you double tap on the flex  5 lights will light up.  Each light represents 20% complete.  When completed the bracelet vibrates.  (about scared the pee out of me)  Plus since it sync so easily I can always see a detailed update on my iPod.  I always have my phone with me or my iPod when I am exercising.  So that’s not a draw back for me.  I think too much info is just as bad as weighing ever day.

• It’s on my wrist and I wear other jewelry/watch.  I like the fit one because I can clip it anywhere. 

Okay I can some what understand this.  However I wear my watch on my dominant hand not really a big deal.  Plus I know I have already washed one $9 pedometer I really don’t want to wash a $99 one that isn’t water proof.  I know  I leave my Badge clip for work clipped to my uniform all the time. So a One was not for me.  Plus how annoying would that be to forget to put you One on when getting dressed for work/workout.  The Flex is always on.

• It counts steps while you sleep and gives me calories burned

Okay did you make a trip to the kitchen/bathroom?  You still move in sleep and you still burn calories while sleeping.  On average you can burn 400-500 calories sleeping.  Mine has been correct on the calorie count.  But remember you burn calories doing everything.  You just have to get your 10,000 steps to be an average healthy active person.

• It doesn’t catch every exercise.  This is correct.  It won’t do swimming, biking, and some say elliptical.  I use my myfitnesspal account and manually put them in anyway. 

FYI-While using myfitnesspal exercise log it estimates you calories burned.  You can set up the account to minus what you actually burned.  For example dancing 30 mins for myfitnesspal may say I burned 175 calories but the Flex only calculated 110 it will deduct that from you calories burned bank.  You can turn this feature off. 

• When putting foods in FITBIT flex the directory doesn’t have a lot of choices.  Once again this is where I use Myfitnesspal.  I record all my foods, water, exercise in myfitnesspal and it crosses over to fitbit account.  Great feature.

Okay so that about sums up my knowledge of the flex.  If you are still unsure.  Find out how long of a return policy there is and try it out yourself.  The flex isn’t for everyone.  We can’t all be a like. 

So bottom line.  I will be keeping my flex.  I like the look and feel,  less likely hood that I will lose it and it motivates me to work harder towards my goal of losing weight.  What works for you to help achieve your goals is all that matters in the long run.  If you have any questions feel free to message me.  Or check out my fitness page on Facebook. nursewiththedragontattooFacebook

iTunes gift cards

I am really aggravate.  I am not sure if I should be made at Wal-Mart or iTunes.  I received 30 dollars worth of iTunes money.  I tried to activate the card to add it to my account only for it to tell me I am not authorized.  So I email iTunes and have to fax the cards and my receipt to them.  I don’t have access to one to fax it to them.  So I have to email them back.  I can scan them and attach them to the email.  I have no scanner at the moment since mine blew up.  So I have to email them back.  I ask if I can take a picture with my camera and attach those files.  They email me back and say sure.  So before I do that I ask Wal-Mart could I just bring them back since they were not activated.  They said sure so long as the silver code has not been removed from the back.  Um I calmly explain to the lady in order to activate them I need that number so I scratched off the silver stripping.  Well I was then informed they could not take them back.  Excuse me?  I try to explain…a tad more pissed off that in order to see if they work you have to scratch it off.  Well there is nothing we can do she tell me.  So what I am out of  30 bucks.  Thanks Wal-Mart for ripping me off.  So I am waiting for iTunes to contact me back.  If they don’t fix it I will not be a happy camper and my IPAD rating will no longer be as awesome as I thought.  So I am waiting….did I mention I am not real patient when it comes to my gifts?

iPads, Kindle, Nook Oh My

So you need help.  Which one do you buy.  Okay after spending about 6 months researching I hope this helps some.  I am in no means an expert I just play one in my imagination.  So please feel free to leave you opinion.  Because we all have them.  Anyway I have an iPad 2 and a Nook Simple touch.  I do not have a Kindle but I have my idea’s about them.
The first thing you have to figure out is what do you want to do?  Are you wanting to just read?  Are you facebooking and twittering?  Checking emails?  Game playing? Reading Magazines? Watching movies?  This is where you start.  Make a list of what you want to do.  That will put you in the right area.
Basic Reading. 
Kindle or Nook
So you are ready to take the leap into the e-reading era or you need more info before you do. So here goes.  As for Kindle or Nook regular e-readers meaning they function with e-ink and are not a colored screen.  They are great and I would run from the Sony e-reader. If you are an avid reader and your bookshelves at home are stuffed full, then this might be a great time to jump on the band wagon.  A place to store all 200 books you buy in one place.  That only takes up the space of one book.  Great idea!  Did I mention how light the e-reader is compared to a 1000 page hard back book? No more hand cramps. However, I am one of those people who love the smell of a new book, the feel, and the joy of owning another book.  I didn’t think I would love my nook more than a regular book but I do.  In fact  I have bought one for both of my daughters and my mother (who isn’t computer savy).  I switched from the original nook and now have the Nook Simple touch.  See pics for difference.
Simple touch. Smaller & No 3g capabilities
  Has 3g capabilities and a color menu.

Do you need 3g?  Not really unless you are wanting the ability to purchase books while in areas with out wifi.  Don’t know what 3g is?  It’s works off cell towers instead of the internet.  So if you travel a lot and you didn’t preload your books before a trip without wifi you can’t download more.  They advertise you can surf the net. But It’s very annoying and only shows a corner the page and you have to scroll up and down and left and right.  I hated it because I would forget what the first part look like…grr  So don’t get this if you are wanting to check email or surf net.  This is not the device for you.  If you are looking for just a great e-reader the nook is for you.
Misconceptions of an e-reader. 
They are not lit up screens.  They are purposely made like a book.  The color screens will strain your eyes after hours of reading.  So if you are a night reader you will need a light.  Stay away from the Nook lights.  I was not impressed. M-Edge e-Luminator Booklight is great! Think you will miss going to the library.  Did you know most libraries now use ebooks?  You can borrow books for 14 days.  No late fees!! No lost books.  How great is that?
Why I didn’t buy kindle. 
No external memory.  What room you have is it.  On the nook I have the SD slot to expand my memory.  This really isn’t a problem unless you have more than 1000 books since most can hold this many without the SD..  Having problems with you NOOK?  No problem you can call Barnes and Noble or stop in and personally get help. Kindle you can call or send it to them.  If the battery needs replacing in the Nook you can walk into Barnes and Noble and they will replace it.  Kindle has to be sent off.  Kindle works with Amazon.  So if you like amazon go for it.  Nook works with Barnes and Noble, Borders, or Books a million.  Plus most e-book downloads.  You just have to drag and drop into you nook.  I am not sure if Kindle does.  The accessories are the same.  You can get most at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target or Amazon.com.  The best thing that Kindle did have that mom wishes she had was Kindle will read the book to you.  I didn’t like it because it sounds robotic and that removes all emotion out of the book.  They both will play an Audio book and both use the narrators voice.  Kindle will read out loud a non audio book and NOOK does not.
As for an e-reader to a regular book. If you miss the smell of a new book visit your local bookstore and browse books.  Just buy them on the E-reader.  Have a little of both worlds.  Or do what I do.  I buy my favorite author, Charliane Harris books,  all other books are for my e-reader.
Nook Tablet or Kindle Fire
So you want a tablet that is an e-reader.  The only down fall with a color screen is that it’s a lot like a computer screen.  If you read for long periods of time it can strain your eyes.  If you are prone to Migraines I would stick with a plain e-reader with e-ink and get a regular tablet for the web surfing.
The nook and kindle tablets are very similar having the same issues with the e-reader.  Do you want more memory?  In a tablet you will want that option.  Because movies, apps and books will suck up your memory fast.  And you will be wanting more.  So this is why my opinion would be the Nook over the Kindle.  I also like the option of walking into a store if I have issues compared to the telephone calls and sending it off via mail.  Not saying the person at the store won’t require you to send the Nook off if they can’t fix it.  I just get tired of getting non english speaking idiots that can’t understand my issue with the device.
   This is the kindle Fire why it’s better than Nook.  It’s design is sleek and more appealing.  It has better email handling of multiple accounts. It has more Apps to purchase. The Mp3 is better than Nook (not better than IPOD).  More options for Movie streaming i.e Hula plus, Netflix and Amazon Prime. However yearly pass for Amazon is 79 dollars a year.
  It’s lighter than the Kindle, Battery last longer, and has expandable memory. It has a better Browser however Kindle is fixing the bugs and that may even the playing field there.  You can personalize the screen with more options.  Email is scaled to fit your screen unlike Kindle. The keyboard is better. Your reading experience with Magazines are better.  Not to mention it can read ePUB e-book files.  Meaning those free ebooks on the internet can be read on it.  Most libraries use that formant so borrowing from them is a breeze. Better video because it’s less pixelated than Fire.
Most web sites will say that the Fire is a better price and better overall.  It all still depends on what is important to you.

What Nook tablet and Kindle Fire are not
Neither of them are good a multi-tasking. There are a lot of android apps you can’t get and if you love apple apps and there isn’t an android version your out of luck.  They are not the best movie streaming device out there.  Remember they mainly for e-reading.  They are not a replacement for the  iPad.  If you are getting this because it’s cheaper it would be like comparing good Charmin toilet paper to the generic stuff.  It may looks the same and may even feel the same.  But when you add shit to it, it won’t hold up the same.
However if you just need basic email, facebooking, twittering, magazine reading and ok movie watching then I would pick ones of these.  They are still great e-readers.* except for the backlit screen, my opinion. You will not need a light for theses. I still like Nook but if you already have all of your content from Amazon stick with Kindle. 
Do you need a tablet?
If you have a laptop then not really.   It’s more of a luxury or convenience.  Why?  Well first off a laptops can do way more than an iPads.  And now with Google Chrome you can get some of your favorite apps for free.  Like Angry Birds and flixster.  You can not play games like world of war craft or games that require a lot of memory on a tablet.  Typing can be a pain if you hate touch screen.  You can buy a keyboard for them which cost more money and makes it just as much as a laptop.  The screen is definitely bigger that’s a given and the speakers sound quality is better.  If you have a great graffics card then your movie experience is better on the laptop.
Why I like my Tablet over a Laptop you ask?  Portability hands down.  It fits in my purse.  Flips on fast and you don’t have to wait till it boots up.  It has less crashing issues.  Easy to hold compare to an awkward laptop.  I don’t notice the sound quality on movies when I use my high quality headphones.  I watch my Ipad while in the bed and it doesn’t bother my man like the TV does.  The battery life is between 5-10 hours.  Compared to 1-2 hours on my laptop.
Ipad or android tablet
Ipad 2
xoom android
Okay I about drove myself insane trying to decide if I wanted to fork out the money for an Ipad.  And I made the plunge or should I say my hubby bought it for me for Christmas.  I love it.  The only problem?  I should have paid the extra money to get the bigger memory.  It didn’t take long to use up my 16gb.  It’s amazing just how much room videos take.  However you can put them on Icloud to free up room or even your computer.  But if you decide you want to watch a movie and you are no where near a wifi area it can be a little annoying.  There are a lot of apps.  The biggest thing I hear from people is that there is more free apps on droid.  This is true.  Most are kind of crappy considering I have downloaded them on my droid phone.  I have also heard on ipad’s defense that there is less virus issues on theirs.  I have no idea if this is true or not.  The best android tablet I have heard is the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime.  Price tag? Still around 600 bucks.  So really the price should not be the reason you choose one.  If you like droid you will have to use your credit card via the net to purchase your apps, movies and music.  I already have an itunes account because of my ipod.  I don’t like my credit card out on the net and can buy itune cards instead which are like gift cards.  Yes there are some things that don’t work on Ipad that require flash player for instance facebook games.  Not that big of a deal since I find other games to get addicted to on the app section.  Other things that require flash have apps to download to get around the flash issue.  For example most of the networks like NBC,ABC and HBO have apps to add that are free.   I can even watch my Dish Network on Ipad but I can on my android phone as well.  No matter what site I seem to go to unless it’s a droid one.  Ipad 2 is still ranked the top tablet out there.  That’s another reason apple hasn’t lowered their price.  No one can compete or so most of the websites say.  I like ipad2 because it’s simple and in my life I need simple.  Need more to decicde?  Check out this web site for the specs on all the tablets out there.
http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,2806,2358246,00.asp
So conclusion?  I have a multiple electronics.  I have my Ipod for my Mp3, my nook simple e-ink so I don’t strain my eyes, and I have my Ipad for my movies, apps and facebooking.  I love my android phone but until they catch up I will stick with my iPad2.  So in my world I love apple and droid.
Hope that helps.

I PAD, Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet or Android Tablet?

So fellow bloggers.  I want a tablet.  What do I need?  What do you have and why do you like it?  I have tried to research it but my brain hurts now. Most seem if you like apple then get IPAD vs the get android only people.  Help!!

What I am looking for?
Typing up blogs when the ideas come to me
Checking emails
Apps love the games
Facebook and can you play their games?
Watching online movies from Hulu, Dish network or HBO to go.
Battery life is a plus.  The only thing bad about watching on my phone or IPOD is it dies to early
Great processor

What I don't care about
music- I have an IPOD for that
Video chatting- I have my Droid razor phone I need to be heard not seen
Ereader- I have a nook already and I prefer the e-ink format for less strain on the eyes.

Addictions: Gadgets

So some of the gadgets in my life I just love…hey I am a electronic junkie.

ah my Dsxl…bigger and better…for those old people that don’t mind having a bigger screen. Bigger is always better!! lol

My droid…does the same as the IPhone but half the price..who doesn’t love that?


My DVD player..that can play my next dvd of the twilight series…not to mention my Supernatural collection…ah the love of the supernatural creatures.

for the lazy people that don’t want to go to the gym..if you can get over the uhhh noise it makes when it weighs you…hey what a motivator right>??? plus its fun as hell

One of my new found loves... I never thought I would like this since I love the feel and smell of a new book. But its so convenient and I love when I finish a book of the series I can purchase the next book in 30 seconds instead of driving 35 miles away. They could improve the free books…but nothing good is ever free anyway.
Last but not least is…
My IPOD touch..the newest addiction/addition to my electronics…hello angry birds and zombie farm is enough to get addicted. I can rip my DVD’s from home and put them on there for my entertainment. The music isn’t as easy to look thru as my Zune but it has awesome gadgets that attach to it for the house. Like a boom box that has awesome speakers. I love the apps…the camera sucks they could have just left that off…but it came with it. Its slim fitting better than my droid making it great for my pocket at work…were I can update my fb, check out my tweets and always have epocrates when I need to look up an unfamiliar drug. So that my Electronic meme…what’s yours??

Gadgets I love

So some of the gadgets in my life I just love…hey I am a electronic junkie.

ah my Dsxl…bigger and better…for those old people that don’t mind having a bigger screen.  Bigger is always better!! lol

My droid…does the same as the IPhone but half the price..who doesn’t love that?


My DVD player..that can play my next dvd of the twilight series…not to mention my Supernatural collection…ah the love of the supernatural creatures.

for the lazy people that don’t want to go to the gym..if you can get over the uhhh noise it makes when it weighs you…hey what a motivator right>??? plus its fun as hell

One of my new found loves... I never thought I would like this since I love the feel and smell of a new book.  But its so convenient and I love when I finish a book of the series I can purchase the next book in 30 seconds instead of driving 35 miles away.  They could improve the free books…but nothing good is ever free anyway.
Last but not least is…
My IPOD touch..the newest addiction/addition to my electronics…hello angry birds and zombie farm is enough to get addicted.  I can rip my DVD’s from home and put them on there for my entertainment.  The music isn’t as easy to look thru as my Zune but it has awesome gadgets that attach to it for the house.  Like a boom box that has awesome speakers.  I love the apps…the camera sucks they could have just left that off…but it came with it.  Its slim fitting better than my droid making it great for my pocket at work…were I can update my fb, check out my tweets and always have epocrates when I need to look up an unfamiliar drug.  So that my Electronic meme…what’s yours??