Nike + iPod
If you own an iPod nano and jog frequently (or want to go running and need encouragement), then the Nike + iPod Sport Kit is worth a good, hard look. The kit consists of a small pebble of a pedometer and a stubby adapter of a wireless receiver that plugs into the bottom of the nano.
Using your iPod is no different once you enter the "Nike + iPod" menu and set a distance or time for your workout.
Throughout a run, a voice fades in and informs the runner of his progress. The data from the run is recorded and displayed on the screen. The runner can see his distance run, elapsed time, steps taken and calories burned. If the runner starts lagging, he can activate a pre-selected Power Song to pump up the beats by simply holding down the center button.
When the workout is finished, syncing the nano with iTunes will also upload run data onto a specially designed Nike + web site. There, users can track their results over time, make goals for themselves and view data organized into various bar and line graphs.
Though Nike makes shoes with a special well for the pedometer, a number of adapters are available for other sneakers.
For a pair of shoes not specifically designed for the pedometer, I would recommend using the Calibrate menu item to make sure the pedometer is recording accurate numbers. In fact, calibrating is not a bad idea for everyone because it customizes the pedometer to each runner's personal stride. One caveat though, the Nike + iPod has trouble when used on an elliptical. Though the distance readings are accurate, the calories burned count is way off because the Nike + iPod cannot take into account the tension setting of the elliptical.
At $29, you can't really complain about the Nike + iPod Sport Kit's price. Provided an iPod nano and shoes are available, it is a good option for any obsessive-compulsive runner.
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
Last week, the latest installment of a cult hit premiered. No, it was not 24, it was World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. This is the first expansion pack for the insanely popular Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), World of Warcraft (commonly known as WoW).
In the game, the player designs a character that starts out at level one. As players fight monsters, going on quests, et al. The character's level increases and it gains abilities.
The key to WoW is that there is more than one way to play the game. Players can compete against the computer by fighting monsters and completing quests, but can also play against or with other players who are online. The game has a rabid fan base of more than eight million subscribers. Game devotees are known for playing for hours or even days at a time. I experienced this first hand when my roommate installed the latest version of the game.
The Burning Crusade adds many new features to the existing game. These include but are not limited to two new races of characters, an increase in the maximum level a character can reach and many new zones to explore. The graphics behind the game are very well rendered. In fact, my roommate hasn't been able to stop playing. He keeps going on and on about some epic flying mount he wants to get.
The new expansion pack costs $40 to play, plus an additional $15 a month. The expansion pack also requires the original WoW, which these days costs $20. For interested consumers, this can be quite an investment of both time and money. Then again, Jack Bauer can only be so riveting for so long.
