My husband and I are road tripping through Montana, Idaho and then lastly Washington.  On this journey, it has been a personal challenge to see how connected we can stay, no matter how many mountains surround us!

Here’s a list of my  techie gear:

• HTC Eris running Android 2.2
• Gateway Laptop model MX6296
• Car Power Converter with USB

Honestly, this is all you need for ultimate coverage!  My phone is my camera, Internet, MP3 player and messaging system.  This is the best all-in-one gadget for traveling!  The pictures aren’t the best quality in the world, compared to stand-alone cameras, but hell, I also don’t have a clumsy camera to carry everywhere.

Internet Everywhere

Remember the article on tethering your Android phone your mobile phone so you can have internet anywhere?  A friend of mine told me about an app for the Android called PDANet.  It allows you to connect to your phone to your laptop with USB or Bluetooth and tethers the phone as the Internet device!  While driving through the beautiful Montana scenery, I downloaded PDANet to my Eris, installed it onto my laptop, and then voila!  We now have internet everywhere we have phone service (and with Verizon coverage that seems to be almost everywhere!) 

My husband was very excited, but not very thrilled to have me taking pictures while driving through curvy mountain roads!  LOL

Car Power Converter with USB

Everyone who travels needs some sort of power converter for your car.  You plug it into your cigarette lighter, and you instantly have a power connection for your laptop, xbox,, phone charger, etc. 

Well, we are getting ready to get back on the road.  Until next time, fellow Geeks!

One of my favorite Android Apps of all time, the CardioTrainer by Worksmart Labs is now even better.  I finally installed the update to this software the other day, and wow am I impressed.  Let’s go over what the CardioTrainer app is, how it works and how to get it.

Brief History

The CardioTrainer app launched it’s beta program in November of 2008, the very first day the Android Market went public.  It offered the ability to map your location through GPS, record your workouts, and give you an idea of how many calories you’ve burned.  Worksmart soon launched an update to the app.  They offer a premium membership which allows you to track your weight loss and a race against yourself feature.

I downloaded the app in December of 2009 after the sweet purchase of my HTC Eris.  Exercising in the winter up north is not usually something I enjoy.  But, ironically with the ability to track all the mileage and time I’m putting into walking, hiking, or biking, it became almost a game to see how far I could go!  I’ve used the CardioTrainer app for the past 7 months and have experienced extreme results. 

How It Works

When you start it up, it goes to a beginning screen and gives you the option to record your workout immediately.  Once you click on “Start Workout” the map screen comes up and will auto-start logging your track.  Choose the drop-down arrow next to “Walking” or “Running” to change it to whatever workout you are doing at this time.  You can select different options, such as if you are hiking outdoors that day, rather than walking indoors on a treadmill.

Once you are finished, hit the stop button labeled “End Workout.”  You now have the option to either save your workout or discard.  If you choose to save the workout, it keeps the history on the CardiacTrainer website.  You have your own personal url you can visit on the CardiacTrainer website, and this is available under the Settings icon.  Your track gets saved and you can see a high-level view of where you’ve been.  On the right-hand side, it displays more details such as time, distance, your pace and the amount of calories you burned.

That’s it!  Your workout has been saved up to Facebook (if you have that option enabled) and you can review the history of it and see how many miles you’ve gone since starting to use the app.

The History icon on the bottom menu shows you how far you’ve gone, how many workouts, including time and distance. 

Move Your Bot

Another added feature you can install is a module called “Move Your Bot.”  You compete against other friends who are using the same app.  The more you use it the more energy points you get.  Whoever has the most energy points is the leader.  I haven’t used this feature very much, as I have a limited number of friends using the application.  You can also purchase a “Lose Weight” module for $2.99 which helps you track how much weight you’ve lost, and gives you goals on how to lose a particular amount of weight.

Settings

Several options are available to you under the Settings icon. 

Use miles & pounds

Unchecking this option will let you use the metric system for tracking mileage and weight.

Send track automatically

Unchecking this box will turn off the function of it uploading your saved workouts to the CardiacTrainer website.

Enable Voice Output/Voice Output Settings

I have this turned off, but you can have an audio alert tell you how much time has passed, and if the workout has paused.  You can set your own interval for how often it alerts you. 

Music Settings

I usually run Pandora in the background on my workouts, but you can enable it to play the music off your playlist automatically when your workout starts.  You can also choose which playlist to use, for instance if you create a playlist specifically for working out, you can direct the app to play music from that list.  How awesome!

Show Map

You can either use a Google Map display under the track, or turn the Google Map image off.

GPS/Pedometer Settings

These options allow you to set the frequency that the GPS will be updated.  I have mine set to every 10 secs. 

Display pace instead of speed

If you uncheck this option, the pace will display miles per hour, rather than miles per minute.  The default if to have this option checked, and I have left mine that way.

Use DMS

Leave this at the default as well.

Calorie Calculator Settings

Enter in your current weight to get more accurate calories burned readings. As you shed the weight, remember to update your new number!

Autostart & Autopause Settings

You can set the time interval for how long you want it to run until it automatically beings  your workout.  Set to Never to disable the autostart feature.

Facebook

This is where you input your Facebook info if you want your workouts to be posted to your Wall.  You can also add a Facebook tab entitled CardioTrainer which will give you a graph of all your workouts!  I love that feature, but am not so sure about the Wall postings.  I’ve gotten a few comments from people, but mostly positive feedback.  I generally don’t like to post much to my Wall unless it’s meaningful.  But, on the other hand, while I’m working out I have the added incentive to go farther or faster because I know all my friends will see how I did!

How To Get CardioTrainer

From your Android phone, go to the Market, do a search for “CardioTrainer,” install and run!  It’s very simple and free!  You get a free trial of the Lose Weight and Racing modules, but I haven’t extended them yet.  I may go forward and purchase those modules in the future.

Download it today – it is a life changing program!  You will have fun exercising, improve your wellness and compete with your friends at the same time. 

All screenshots are property of WorkSmart Labs, Inc.  CardioTrainer is owned and licensed by WorkSmart Labs, Inc.  No affiliation or freebies were given to the reviewer of this app.

A friend of mine told me she heard this was coming soon and wanted me to check into it. 

With ‘Froyo,’ Google’s code word for Android 2.2, you will be able to make your phone a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.  So, anywhere you have phone service, you will have Internet!  Your laptop will see your phone as a wireless network, and connect right up.  This has been available with the PalmOS phones for additional cost.  Its not sure if there will be a cost associated with the tethering, but I’m hoping they keep it free!

This is very exciting, and sets the stage for your phone to really be like a mini-robot.  I always joke that my Android phone is my very own personal R2D2…and it definitely is just as handy as the Star Wars version. . . light-saber app & all!

Check out these articles on the subject:

ZDNet:  Android 2.2 lays down the guantlet, includes WiFi tethering

ZDNet:  Google Android 2.2 Froyo

Wired:  Android 2.2 ‘Froyo’ Features USB, Wi-Fi Tethering

But is the iPad a game changer like the iPod? After working and playing on one the past two weeks, I’d say not really–at least not yet– because the iPad isn’t a completely new way of doing something like the iPod was.

Will the iPad blow up an entire industry like the iPhone did to wireless? Probably not. The iPad doesn’t replace an existing product used by millions.

Then what is it?

The iPad is a starting rather than ending point. It is the first multitouch device successfully made for and marketed to the masses and should lead to the introduction of many more. Instead of clicking and dragging with a mouse, your fingers do the walking-touch and go to move, resize, highlight, etc.

Users can do most of what they do on a netbook or laptop often with a better overall experience. Yet the iPad is not a netbook replacement for in depth work because typing on the glass keyboard takes longer and can be a bit of a pain.

Jobs claims the iPad will be “the best browsing experience you’ve ever had” and for the most part he is right. The 9.7 inch high resolution display lives up to the hype. Reading a website, magazine or newspaper online is better than doing so on a desktop and HD movies and family photos look fantastic.

The device also has an e-Reader function similar to Amazon’s Kindle. However, Kindle’s e-ink is easier on the eyes and weighs less. If you plan to read a lot of books, the less expensive Kindle is a better choice.

The iPad offers a number of applications or apps to make life easier (to do lists, spreadsheets, etc.) or more enjoyable (gaming). I downloaded the RealRacingHD game for my six year old son in a matter of seconds. He tells me it’s awesome. I’d have to agree, although I wrecked my car quite a few times.

The major takeaway is the iPad does a lot of things well and is an option for a number of target markets:

“Just the Basics” Users-People who mainly use their computer for web surfing, email, calendar.

Teens/20-Somethings-Gaming and browsing are awesome and the device is portable.

The “Grand” Market-Technology averse Grandparents could like the simplicity of use and enjoy looking at even more photos of the grandkids on a beautiful screen.

Fan Boys -Devoted Apple fans who buy everything Apple.

While the iPad may not be a game changer like its famous predecessors, it is worthy of the buzz. Plus, if history is any indication, enhancements are probably already in the works.