Time Warner Cable News highlights the coolest and newest apps for your cell phone or mobile device in the twice-weekly segment "App Wrap."
UP17
What do you think it would take to have a Major League Baseball player or coach take a look at how your child swings a bat or throws a ball and offer his professional critique? Do you think you need to be related to someone who owns a pro team for that to happen? Think again. All you need is a mobile phone or tablet and this app, UP17. It works pretty much as you probably would imagine it does.
You record about five swings or throws, then upload it through the app and based on your profile, it’ll be sent to the appropriate former MLB player or coach signed on with the app. You can also request a specific coach if you’d like. Then, within about a week, that coach will send your video back with voiceover tips, even Telestrator drawings to show you how to get into the proper position.
UP17 is free to download, right now it’s on iOS devices only, an Android version is in development. Each coaching session though will cost you a pretty penny, or rather a token, one token will run you $75, a pack of six is about $400.
Bowflex 560
What are these dumbbells doing in a segment on mobile apps? Well, they are the Bowflex SelectTech 560 Dumbbells. How’s that for an oxymoron?
What makes them smart is they have accelerometers onboard and are Bluetooth enabled so that they speak to this mobile app. The app helps you select a workout and it’ll then, automatically once you start, count your reps and more importantly not count your reps if you’re doing them incorrectly, then offer up tips on how to improve your form.
And incidentally, these are those dumbbells that allow you to dial in a specific weight up to 60 or 100 pounds, depending on which set you get. Out within the next few weeks the 60-pound set will run you $500, or $750 for the 100-pound set.