RunKeeper
Free
(
iOS; Android)
There are a glut of
running apps that track
your progress with a
smartphone’s GPS tool,
let you review stats and
then share them with
pals. This good-looking
one has an online
community of millions,
but where it really leads
the pack is in flexibility.
It’ll keep tabs on
multiple sports, from
skiing to rowing, and
you can enter details of
a workout manually if
you prefer.
Zombies, Run!
£5.49
(
iOS; Android;
Windows Phone)
And now for something
completely different
–
an app with zombie
chases to encourage
you to run further
and faster. You simply
listen to the narrative
unfold on headphones
in between music from
your playlist and every
so often you’re told
you have a zombie on
your tail. It’s up to you
to increase your speed
and you can view your
stats afterwards.
Fitness Builder
£6.99 per month
(
iOS; Android)
The daddy of fitness
apps, this offers over
5,000
exercise images
or videos and 750
workouts, plus tools to
make up your own and
monitor the benefits.
You can even have
live chat online with a
personal trainer, but it
requires a subscription
for the whole shebang.
For a reasonable
budget alternative, try
Fitness Buddy (
iOS;
Android; £0.69
).
LiveStrong
MyQuit Coach
£2.49
(
iOS)
Need a helping hand
to pack in those coffin
nails? This app keeps
tabs on your success
story and monitors
cravings. It cleverly
allows you to set up a
personalised homepage
with a photo of loved
ones as motivation,
and rewards you with
achievement logos.
Worth a whirl is the
free ad-supported
version, as it offers most
features.
Pocket Yoga
£1.99
(
iOS; Android)
This well-produced app
guides you through a
choice of five routines
accompanied by
excellent illustrations.
Specify a difficulty level
or opt to do individual
poses, but full
customisation requires
the add-on Practice
Builder app (
£2.99
).
As
it’s illustrated, rather
than video-based,
Pocket Yoga is more
suited to devotees than
newbies. Even so, it
deserves a salutation.
Get fit for 2013
No more excuses! Now you can work out wherever you are
Gadget doctor
Dear Doc
My girlfriend wants to record
herself on our iPad while
singing and playing guitar, but
she says the audio quality
that it captures is too poor.
Can this be improved?
pk, london
yes. the simplest way
is with an iRig Mic (
£25;
Ikmultimedia.com
),
a reasonable mic that plugs into
the headset input of a tablet or phone. A big step
up from that is the new Blue Spark (
£199; Bluemic.
com
),
a semi-pro USB mic that connects to the
iPad’s digital input and, crucially, also enables live
monitoring. To record, say, electric guitar while
singing, or if she already owns a good XLR mic, try
Focusrite iTrack Solo (
£129; focusrite.com
),
a cool
breakout box for iOS gadgets or computers.
WORDS
ALEX PELL
.
WE REGRET ALEX CANNOT ANSWER QUESTIONS INDIVIDUALLY AND NO CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE ENTERED INTO
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