Roadbud » iPhone

The beta test that gets you fit

Mike — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:24:07 +0000

Beta testing takes flight

Most beta tests have you tapping away at your desk, possibly accompanied by a side of potato chips. I’m proud to announce a few openings in our beta. You’ll help us out and also get to work off some of the New Year’s squish.

Beta tests can be very useful – they help software get better because people use apps differently than the designers ever imagined. I’ve gotten great feedback, funny comments, and cut off annoyances that could hit a wider audience. The beta testers get their hands on some cool software, but they mostly do it from the kindness of their hearts. And a desire to make the software world a step less annoying.

The downside is the process.

Every past beta I’ve run Frankensteined its way to life with a pile of bureaucracy. This one’s better (with the miraculous help of testflightapp.com). They streamlined the beta test and magically handle:

Signing up testers
Gathering UDIDs (the secret code on your iPhone that allows us to send you beta software)
Over-the-air installs (wondrous!)
Asking impromptu questions at any point in the software
and much more

We’re almost ready for another software release. It’s not only because of hard work from the developers, but also because of patient help from testers. If you want to help us as we layer in more innovation, please sign up at http://bit.ly/uFrUwU

No related posts.

Keeping earbuds locked when you run

Mike — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:04:05 +0000

Earbuds up close

Silly question:
Ever have a problem with earbuds falling out while you run?

Met up with local runners last week at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Newark. One fellow mentioned his quest for the perfect headphones – because of the annoyance of earbuds dropping out.

I’ve been vexed by the same indignation. One moment, your legs are effortlessly pushing out the miles and your head is pleasantly thumping to Macy Gray. Suddenly an earbud is dangling with hopes of pulling out the other side.

The hipster silhouettes on iPod commercials never suffer this problem.

Strangely, this appears to be a common problem – there’s even a dorky earbud leash to catch your earbuds when they inevitably fall out.

Some days the earphones fit fine and didn’t ever fall out. Other times, the buds had Mexican jumping beans inside – just waiting to bounce around. Do my ears shrink on very cold days? Pretty baffling.

I experimented with many ideas – I subdued the buds with a knit cap. I twisted the buds into different positions. I even used the squishy earbuds that go in your ear canal (yuck!).

Then I finally read the subtle grey lettering on the buds – “L” and “R”. I’d always ignored left/right (stereo either way, no?). However, Apple builds the buds off-center – each is designed for one ear.

I tried placing the left bud in my left ear. Works like a charm – I’ve never dropped a bud again.

Lesson learned: I might need to invest in a speed reading course – took me months to read two letters.

Update: some readers comment that they’ve tried my left/right trick and it didn’t work for them. If you’re having this problem, left/right works for some (me, for one) – but not everyone.

Why run with headphones?

Podcasts for runners

Mike — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:46:08 +0000

The world awaits your ears

I used to have a big problem running – sheer boredom stopped me before I worked up a sweat. The iPod was heaven sent for my personal enjoyment. I stopped grinding through my runs and began grooving.

No more restless mind telling me to stop. Just a little Miles Davis as I cruise along the river. By the time my legs realized I was running, I’d travelled a half mile down the road and was ready for more.

Music has been terrific for me, but I bumped into a podcast (regularly updated audio content) of a guest article I wrote on A Smart Bear.

Never really messed with podcasts before, but I took a flyer. I downloaded a few “blog articles” about software startups to my iPhone (simple – didn’t even need wires) and went for a run. I also took along RunRunLive (a fun running podcast with music, interviews, and lots of running talk.

Turns out, podcasts are wonderful. If you’ve ever been forced to web-surf instead of taking the time to really consider a deep article, this is for you. Plus, it keeps your mind off the pain.

RunRunLive was great in a different way. Chris (the host) is a hoot – he throws his own music among the interview clips and corny jokes. His podcast feels like a chatty running partner (which I sometimes really like).

Podcasts in my playlist

Download a podcast without wires

Tap the Itunes app
Search for podcast (Example: ”RunRunLive”)
Press “FREE” and then “DOWNLOAD”
After the podcast finishes downloading, tap the iPod app
Select Playlists
Select On-The-Go (will get easier in upcoming iPhone OS)
Add the new podcasts to On-The-Go

Tip: I like listening to smart startup talk like A Smart Bear and Bob Walsh. But hearablog.com is happy to add more runner-friendly blogs. Let me know if there’s a running blog you want to hear. I’ll pass it on (I already asked for Mark’s Daily Apple).

What do you listen to? Let me know in the comments.

Workout hack 6 – great music

How to iPhone in the snow

Mike — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:43:29 +0000

Iron Man gloves

Another blizzard is slamming into NJ today. We already have piles of snow on the ground and it isn’t expected to stop until tomorrow night. Meanwhile, I’m hoping to get out for a run with my iPhone.

One little problem with using an iPhone in the snow. You can’t operate the screen while wearing gloves or mittens.

The capacitive touchscreen relies on electrical contact with your fingertip. So the touchscreen stops working when you’re wearing gloves.

This is a real problem when you run with an iPhone. I had to use my chin once to stop the timer in 5F weather. Trust me – I already look uncool enough gasping for breath after the final sprint.

Dots glove

Dots Gloves sells special gloves for the iPhone – and they look wicked without any garishness. The problem is they don’t come in my size. Plus, I don’t want to ditch my old gloves until they’re really ready to go.

A quick Google search found a neat do-it-yourself article. They suggest sewing “conductive thread” (whatever that is) on the glove’s fingertip. I attempted to strip wire from a telephone cord and sew the copper strands on the glove’s tip. A disaster – my sewing skills have not been tested since middle school.

Lapel pin, side view

I then moved on to safety pins and a few other ideas. Eventually blundered into lapel pins – the kind that sticks straight through to a rounded backing. This provides wide contact with your fingertip and the touchscreen. Works like a charm!

Jr Pilot saves the day!

I thought a Ziploc bag was the cheapest possible workout gear. Not so. You should be able to get a suitable lapel pin by asking a flight attendant. Even better – give blood. You’ll save a life while you get your free running gear.

My take: lapel pins work and are quick to install. But Dots gloves are preferable if available.

Workout hack 6 – great music

Mike — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:59:34 +0000

Dave Brubeck Quartet

The Greeks connected athletics and music in ancient times. Hermes not only played a mean lyre – he watched out for runners. The Olympics were packed with music. And armies were marching to drums well before then.

Music has the power to carry you away from your exertion. The rhythm almost moves your legs for you. Good songs let you forget you’re working out. And great music inspires you to push harder.

Worthy exercise songs are fast-paced, but not frantic. I’ve tried free PodRunner workout music, but it’s like life inside the Bruno soundtrack. Running music can be anything – jazz, rock, hiphop, Mozart. It just has to be music first.

I can sympathize with purists who enjoy silent running. Yesterday, a flock of Canada Geese lifted off beside the running trail – wings beating louder than you can imagine. But music really is that good. Try an iPod or iPhone for a week before you write off the idea.

Free advice: don’t bike with music – it interferes with road safety.

Workout hack 5 – catch some rest

Mike — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:57:06 +0000

iPhone nap timer

Sometimes it’s what you do when you’re not working out. Everyone needs sleep to stay healthy – especially if exercise pushes your body into repairing itself. Thomas Edison claimed to sleep only four hours per night and some people experiment with even less.

Most people need 7-9 hours – including me.

Unfortunately, I’ve been working heaps. Between work and the rest of life, I’m getting up earlier and earlier. This morning, it was 4AM.

I keep a close watch on myself for sleep deprivation. Not just drowsiness. Also that throat tickle when a cold is coming on.

There’s an answer: treat yourself to an occasional siesta. The first time I catnapped, I could not believe how refreshed I felt afterwards. Of course, naps seem wildly impractical and a little too luxurious.

You can’t just nap in the middle of the workday.

What if someone finds you sleeping?
What if you oversleep?
What if you can’t fall asleep?

Your iPhone can help.

If you can’t close an office door, head out to your car at lunch and lean the seat back
Open the clock app and set the timer to thirty minutes
Play some music (I love using Portishead) through your earbuds
The timer finishes – the music goes soft and your alarm plays through the headphones

You’ll wake up immediately – feeling great. The second time you try this, you’ll fall asleep smoothly knowing you’ll wake up on the dot.

Workout gear – Ziploc bag

Mike — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:11:51 +0000

Water-resistant iPhone

The Ziploc snack bag must be the cheapest running gear ever. It keeps your iPhone safe from the weather and doesn’t block iPhone-finger contact. Not just for crack dealers and homemakers any more.

Get snack bag size – larger bags don’t seem to be more effective
Place your iPhone inside with the headcord outlet on the same side as the bag opening
Zip the bag as tightly as you can – the seam will pinch the cord into the corner
Extra step (I don’t do this): if you’re still worried, place the iPhone inside another Ziploc – with the headcord at the bottom of the bag.

Testing: try sealing a paper towel and headphone cord and then spraying some water on the bag. Open the Ziploc and check whether the paper towel got wet.

Tip: don’t buy generic. It’s probably manufactured by the same company to identical standards in the same factory. But you shouldn’t skimp on a $0.05 bag protecting a $400 phone.

Workout hack 3 – got a light?

Mike — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:36:56 +0000

Alarm + flashlight

The best hacks use gear you already own to handle other jobs. One way to keep your life simple is pushing your phone to do more than place calls. Unfortunately, most phones induce an aneurysm by the time you simply take a photo. And each extra annoyance makes that workout one notch less likely. The iPhone is the only cellphone I’ve used that doesn’t tax my brain.

Do you wake up super-early to exercise? You don’t want to wake anyone by turning on lights. But how do you find your clothes? Use your phone display.

You just turned off your alarm. Now point the phone toward your closet. The screen has a small fluorescent inside. Low-intensity, but bright enough to root around for a sweatshirt.

Bonus points: lay your clothes out in a neat pile the night before. You’ll be outside before you’re alert enough to protest the early hour.

Workout hack 1 – get a good alarm clock

Mike — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:25:54 +0000

iPhone alarm

The worst part of exercise is getting out the door. Wake up, check the weather, dig around for clothes, lace up. There’s a lot of friction before you’re just doing it.

Workout hacks make it easier to get out there. Here’s a neat one, but it’s subtle.

Most people have complicated lives. This translates into varying workout times on different days. Maybe you walk with a friend some days or you sleep in on the weekend. Personally, I would rather make waffles for the kids on Sunday mornings and fit in a bike ride later.

Most alarm clocks are built for simple lives. They clang the same time every day. The few that handle different days need an operating manual and a black seal boiler license to set.

Some people leave the alarm on every day and wake up when they’d rather sleep in. Worse, some struggle to set their clock the night before. They have that uneasy nagging feeling at night and sometimes forget the alarm.

I rely on my iPhone clock. Simple to set – and it only alarms when I need it. Sure, I pay extortionate rates to the phone company, but the clock comes gratis. And it just works.

If you have any non-iPhone tricks for this problem, please talk it up in the comments.