mientras Evento WWDC de Apple Será el 10 de junio y no es el único evento que la compañía reconocerá el próximo mes. La empresa es muy conocida. manzana Eventos de Fitness Challenge en su calendario, y si tienes uno Los mejores relojes AppleEsta vez podrás participar en él. Día Mundial del Running El 5 de junio.
el “reloj de manzana “Activity Challenge: Run Day” permitirá a los usuarios ganar una nueva recompensa en la aplicación Apple Fitness, así como algunos mensajes y pegatinas exclusivas de FaceTime por sus esfuerzos.
Si pierdes la oportunidad, desaparecerá para siempre, ya que solo podrás completarla el 5 de junio, por lo que vale la pena agregarla a tu calendario. Afortunadamente, los requisitos para completar el desafío no son demasiado estrictos: simplemente corre al aire libre, o en una cinta de correr, durante cinco kilómetros (es decir, 3,1 millas) y haz un seguimiento usando la aplicación Workout de Apple.
Apple describe el evento de la siguiente manera: “¡Sal a la carretera, pista, sendero o camina para el Día Mundial del Running! Registra una carrera y completa al menos 5 km el 5 de junio para ganar esta insignia especial”.
¿Qué es el Día Mundial del Running?
El Día Mundial del Running, una iniciativa para ayudar a las personas a mantenerse activas o ayudar a quienes ya corren a encontrar entusiastas del fitness con ideas afines, tiene como objetivo promover los beneficios físicos y mentales de correr.
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A 3D model of the CRISPR–Cas9 gene-editing complex from Streptococcus pyogenes.Credit: Indigo Molecular Images/Science Photo Library
Researchers used a generative AI tool trained on millions of protein sequences to design CRISPR gene-editing proteins, and were then able to show that some of these systems work as expected in the laboratory. Another team developed a model trained on microbial genomes, and used it to design fresh CRISPR systems, which comprise DNA or RNA-cutting enzyme and RNA molecules that tell the molecular scissors where to cut. Natural CRISPRs — part of some microbes’ immune system — have limitations on the genes they can edit and the changes they can make. “Expanding the repertoire of editors, using AI, could help,” says synthetic biologist Alan Wong.
Researchers adapted transformers, a deep learning design that underlies many powerful AI models, to run on a six-qubit quantum computer. The quantum transformers categorised medical images with more than 50% accuracy, about the same as classical transformers that have vastly more complex neural network architecture. The research hints at the potential of qubits, which exist in a range of quantum states, to better reflect the spectrum of real-life data than do classical computers, which are binary by nature. “Quantum computers are not expected to be a computational panacea, but we won’t know until we try,” says quantum computing researcher Christopher Ferrie.
A reputation-ranking algorithm could help journal editors find reliable peer reviewers. Solid studies are sometimes rejected because of one negative review, with little attention given to how good the reviewer is, notes environmental scientist and study co-author An Zeng. His tool scores reviewers depending on how many citations their reviewed papers have attracted. But critics highlight a number of issues with the system, including that it could bias peer review even more towards senior scientists who have reviewed particularly ground-breaking studies.
This robot has learned to switch from trotting to pronking, to avoid slipping in between gaps in the floor. The researchers propose that avoiding falls is the main reason four-legged animals transition between gaits. Other factors, such as energy efficiency, are only secondary objectives or accidental consequences, they suggest. (Nature Communications paper | 51 min read)
Features & opinion
Interactive therapeutic robots could help older people with dementia to feel less anxious and lonely — at least that’s the idea. Studies purporting the robots’ benefits often suffer from issues such as small sample sizes or improper randomization. Carers and prospective users are worried about being offered an illusion of intimacy rather than real human interaction. “Are we designing robots with and for people living with dementia? Or are we designing to manage people living with dementia?” asks ethicist Clara Berridge.
Researchers urgently need to explore the future carbon footprint of AI technologies, argues a group of sustainability researchers. The direct impacts of AI computing infrastructure — currently about 0.01% of global greenhouse-gas emissions — are likely to remain relatively small, the researchers write. But there could be huge indirect impacts from the way AI tools transform our economies and societies.
“The technical capability for a system to find a human being and kill them is much easier than to develop a self-driving car,” says computer scientist and campaigner against AI weapons Stuart Russell. Some argue that accurate autonomous weapons, such as AI-equipped drones, could reduce collateral damage while helping vulnerable nations to defend themselves. At the same time, observers are concerned that passing targeting decisions to an algorithm could lead to catastrophic mistakes.
Machine learning is reinvigorating physicists’ quest to find out whether string theory can actually describe the universe. String theory gained popularity in the 1970s as an approach that could unite the physics of the very small and the very large. It comes down to figuring out how to ‘compact’ strings, which live in a ten-dimensional space, to represent our 4D world. AI algorithms are starting to sift through the almost endless number of ways this compactification can be done. “Does string theory make unique predictions? Is it really physics? The jury is just still out,” says physicist Lara Anderson.
Media scholar David Gunkel explains why human labour is sometimes disguised as the work of a robot or AI, a phenomenon nicknamed fauxtomation. (Scientific American | 6 min read)
Today, I’m enjoying the verdicts of The Judge, a chatbot that assesses the tone of a piece of writing. It’s part of software engineer Bram De Buyser’s suite of simple AI tools that are mostly designed to help neurodivergent people with tasks they might find overwhelming or difficult.
Your judgments of this newsletter are always welcome at [email protected].
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As the AI computing revolution hits its Apex, Nvidia has confidently stated that GPU technology is the way forward instead of dedicated NPUs in a new meeting.
As reported by Videocardz, a new meeting held by Nvidia about the “Premium AI PC” has seen Team Green confidently back its GPU technology against the current crop of NPUs hitting the scene. While “Basic AI” NPU-based machines are capable of up to 45 TOPs, through RTX, that can be expanded to 1,300+ TOPs (a 2,788% increase).
It’s what’s been described as the “iPhone moment of AI” where the technology has finally broken into the mainstream, much as Apple‘s handsets brought light to the smartphone. That’s because AI has become a part of gaming, video production, productivity, development, and creativity, as well as everyday computing, too.
It’s part of the AI Accelerator Landscape, as leaked by Benchlife.info, which states the company’s intentions for Heavy AI cloud-based GPUs with “1000s of TOPs” and large-language scalable models. As for exactly what the “Premium AI PC” experience entails, it encompasses 500 games and software, and an optimized software stack.
What’s more, Nvidia has cornered the market with an install base of over 100 million users across a myriad of devices. It’s not exactly surprising news given the company’s moves within the AI sector and stock explosion seen in the last year. That’s to say nothing of DLSS which has been core to the user experience since 2018.
Essentially, the company is taking a victory lap over the burgeoning NPU market which is available in everything from Apple M3 silicon to Intel Meteor Lake processors. While the upcoming Intel Lunar Lake is rumored to launch with 100 TOPs with its NPU, that’s simply dwarfed by what Nvidia is claiming from its “premium” user experience.
A glimpse of things to come at Computex
Nvidia has been making moves in the AI field with everything from upscaling in video games to local language chatbots with Chat with RTX, to robots using its tech. While the company has made some bold claims with its massive userbase, and theoretical throughput, these figures are likely just a taste of what’s to come next month at Computex 2024.
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It’s not entirely surprising given the recent unveiling of Nvidia’s Blackwell B200 die which has been dubbed: “the world’s most powerful chip”. Exactly how this factors into gaming remains to be seen with the company’s rumored RTX 50 series coming at the end of the year. One thing’s for sure, however, AI will play a part in the GPU line’s future.
Microsoft could test its customers’ tolerance for ads in Windows 11 once again, as Windows Insiders have spotted yet another advert in an early version of the operating system that’s currently being tested. This means the feature is still technically in progress with Microsoft monitoring its reception, and it could decide to roll the new ads out to all users in a future Windows update.
Windows 11 Insider Build 22635.3500, which features the advert, was released in the Beta Channel of the Windows Insider Program, and comes shortly after Microsoft started testing ads in the Start Menu of Windows 11 as well. The new ad appears in the Settings app and suggests users sign up for Xbox Game Pass.
The update also includes other new features that will probably be more popular with users such as a new account manager in the Start menu and introducing support for Gmail in Windows Share (which lets Windows devices easily share files and folders with other devices over a network that they’re a part of). However, these new features were overshadowed by the deployment of the ad in Settings.
Microsoft has put out a Windows Insider Blog post detailing the changes and features that make up the new build, and it mentions the ad’s inclusion, which it calls a ‘recommendation,’ on the Settings home page. It suggests that the Game Pass recommendation card will only be shown to users who actively play games on their PCs. It also adds that this advert will only show in the Settings homepage if you’re running the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 and you’re signed into your Microsoft account on your device.
Microsoft’s continuing dedication to ‘recommendations’
This development isn’t completely out of the blue as Microsoft has been experimenting with where it can get away with sticking ads for a while now. Alongside testing ads on the Settings page, it’s also trying out placing adverts in the Start menu’s ‘Recommended’ section. Microsoft is really trying to blur the line between what’s an ad and what it claims are just friendly ‘recommendations’, with pinned apps that look like ads for its other products appearing in a clean install of Windows 11.
Some people say that even if these sorts of ads appear, they might be acceptable as it’s often advertising products and services, like OneDrive, that could enhance the Windows 11 user experience. Some users are okay with this as long as the adverts show Microsoft’s products that could improve using their Windows 11 device.
However, many other people aren’t so hot on the idea, even if the products are Microsoft’s own, and are especially opposed to adverts for third-party apps. It can feel like the space that’s supposed to be your own personal or work digital space is turned into something resembling a billboard, as Windows Central describes it. To some, it’s particularly egregious when showing third-party app ads that may not add to the core Windows 11 experience, which feels like a cash grab by Microsoft.
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Those who are annoyed by these ads are probably feeling even more antagonistic because the ads are integrated into key parts of the operating system (OS) that you have to navigate to operate your device, so if you want to use the OS, you don’t have a choice but to see the adverts that appear in these key locations. Also, the Settings home page is kind of a strange place for an advert for Game Pass – generally, the two aren’t directly tied together.
Unfortunately, Microsoft seems set on this strategy, and according to Windows Central’s Senior Editor Zac Bowden, if you’re a Windows 11 user who’s not keen on the persistent flow of new AI features or more ads, you’re “in for a terrible next four months.” Many people are calling the approach straight-up aggressive, and I can’t disagree. We’re already bombarded by advertisements almost everywhere we turn, and it’s frustrating that our devices, which are necessary for many people for work and leisure, are increasingly becoming one more ad-saturated place we can’t entirely escape.
Retail stock of the current iPad Air is starting to dwindle ahead of the widely anticipated arrival of new models early next month, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reports.
Citing sources at multiple retail stores in the latest “Power On” newsletter, Gurman said that inventory levels of the iPad Air are diminishing in Apple stores, a typical indicator that new versions are soon to be released. Unlike the iPad Air, the iPad Pro apparently remains abundantly available, which suggests that Apple might be planning to sell through its current stock even after introducing an upgraded model. Historically, Apple has managed its inventory to align with the release cycles of its products, reducing shipments of older units to make room for the latest offerings.
Expected changes coming to the next-generation iPad Air include the more powerful M2 chip and an additional 12.9-inch display size option, while the iPad Pro is rumored to receive OLED display technology, the M3 chip, and new accessories. The refreshed iPad Air and iPad Pro models are now expected to be announced during the second week of May.
The lead developer of the multi-emulator app Provenance has told iMore that his team is working towards releasing the app on the App Store, but he did not provide a timeframe. Provenance is a frontend for many existing emulators, and it would allow iPhone and Apple TV users to emulate games released for a wide variety of classic game consoles, including the original PlayStation, GameCube, Wii,…
Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories, according to the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as “Kosutami.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kosutami explained that Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories due to its poor durability. The company may move to another non-leather material for its premium accessories in the future. Kosutami has revealed…
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of…
The upcoming iOS 17.5 update for the iPhone includes only a few new user-facing features, but hidden code changes reveal some additional possibilities. Below, we have recapped everything new in the iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 beta so far. Web Distribution Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, eligible developers are able to distribute their iOS apps to iPhone users located in the EU…
If your Mac is running slow, there are a few things you can do to speed it up and better understand what’s slowing it down.
It’s not just that your Mac is old — although that is an important factor. It could be that you don’t have enough memory, especially if you like to use Google Chrome. You may have a bunch of apps running in the background. There also might be dust in the vents, keeping your Mac from running nice and cool.
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5 reasons for a slow Mac
1. Switch from Google Chrome (and other apps) to Safari
Safari is much easier on your Mac than Google Chrome, which is a notorious power drain and memory hog. The more Chrome tabs you have open, the less memory you have available for everything else.
Safari consistently comes out on top of browser speed tests. According to Apple, Safari loads pages up to 50% faster than Chrome. So, switching to Safari from Chrome is an easy way to speed up your slow Mac. (Making the switch also gives you a security boost, especially if you max out Safari’s privacy settings.)
It’s not just Google Chrome itself, either. Apps like Slack, Discord, Spotify, Microsoft Teams and many others are made using the Chrome browser engine, too. But there’s a solution to this problem: Instead of using the official versions of those apps, you can open them and sign in from Safari, then click File > Add to Dock.
Then you’ll be able to run your web apps in their own windows, just like before, but with the energy-efficient Safari powering them instead.
2. Check what apps are running in the background on your slow Mac
Clear out the background items you don’t use. Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
It’s good to keep an eye on what’s running in the background, especially if your Mac is running slow. It could be that you’ve installed a bunch of apps over the years, and one of them is still churning away in the background even though you never use it.
You can find this information in System Settings > General > Login Items.
On top, you’ll see apps that launch automatically when you sign in to your Mac. You can click to select one and click the − button to remove it. Below, you’ll see a list of apps allowed to run in the background. Simply uncheck them to turn them off.
Other background activities are built into macOS itself. There’s no easy way to turn them off without digging into the Terminal, but you should be aware of them:
If you sync your photo library to your Mac, it’ll download new pictures and videos in the background and scan through them to identify people and pets.
Spotlight, the universal search box that can find files, apps, messages, email and more, occasionally needs to scan your Mac to find if there’s anything new.
3. Your slow Mac is simply too old
Macs last a really, really long time — and that’s both a blessing and a curse. I used my 2015 MacBook Pro for eight years, even as its battery started swelling. Now, it’s probably a fire hazard.
Apple releases a major new version of macOS every year. And updating can make an older Mac run slowly. If you keep using an older version (while still installing Apple’s minor security updates), your Mac might run a little faster. (Or, at least, stop getting slower.) Major new releases with new features can slow down an older computer.
Toward the end of the period when Apple sold computers with Intel chips — let’s say from 2014 to 2020 — there were some pretty bad Macs. The 2014 to 2018 Mac mini is legitimately one of the worst Macs ever made. If you own one of those, I’m sorry.
Clean out your old Mac with compressed air. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
If your Mac starts getting warm, it will automatically slow down (aka “throttle”) the processor to keep it from getting too hot. Normally, your Mac will only throttle itself if you’re doing something really intense, like exporting a video. It can be frustrating if your Mac slows down in the middle of your regular work.
In an older MacBook, the vents can become blocked by dust over time and cause overheating. That’s pretty easy to fix. Carefully unscrew and remove the MacBook’s bottom case. Then use a vacuum cleaner or a can of compressed air to clear out all the visible dust.
In ordinary usage, it’s rare for a newer MacBook Air with Apple silicon to be pushed to its limits, but it can still happen. Since these laptops doesn’t come with an internal fan, you can boost their performance with a cooling pad.
This model sold on Amazon costs only $25. When you’re at your desk, you can put your MacBook on top of it. The cooling pad’s fans will keep cool air blowing underneath, where a MacBook Air gets the hottest. This particular cooling pad doubles as a USB hub, so plugging it into your Mac gives you two USB ports as well.
5. You don’t have enough memory (or storage)
Most Macs made in the last 10 years start with just 8GB of memory on the base model. Upgrading to 16GB or more is one of the most important upgrades you can make when buying a Mac, but a lot of people skip it. You can upgrade the RAM on some older Macs, but not on any recent ones running on Apple silicon.
The bad news is, if you have too many apps open at once, other apps you have open will be pushed out of memory. And that can really make your Mac run slowly if you’re trying to multitask. Short of splurging on extra memory with your next Mac, unfortunately, the only solution when this happens is to quit big apps you’re not using.
This problem can be compounded if your Mac is running low on storage, too. Usually, when your Mac is running low on memory, background apps will be offloaded into storage — but if you don’t have enough storage, that can cause more problems. Here’s what to do if you need to clear up space on your Mac.
Galaxy users are seeing green – literally. Several reports have recently cropped up online from people complaining about a vertical green line appearing on their smartphone. It’s unknown if this is a widespread issue or just a localized problem. What is known is it is affecting multiple models. News site Android Authority in their report says they found social media posts of the line appearing on the screens of the Galaxy S21 FE and the S21 Ultra. SamMobile, in their coverage, calls out even more devices including the Galaxy A73, M21, and the entire S22 series.
Luckily, the phones still function as normal. The device isn’t dead, but a big green line is cutting down the middle of the screen, which is annoying. No one really knows what’s causing the error in the first place, but the finger is being pointed at a recent Samsung patch: either the “One UI 6.0 or the April 2024 security update.” It could be some sort of glitch, although pinning it on the software is a little dubious.
Green lines are typically the symptom of a faulty connection between the display and the hardware. They can show up as a result of physical damage either from someone dropping their phone or bending the screen way too far. Overheating is another possibility.
Recurring problem
Normally, blaming a bad connection due to damage is enough to call the case closed, but it is not the first time green lines have appeared on Galaxy phones. You can go back months or years and find people running into the same problem. A Facebook poster back in 2023 saw the issue arise on their Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Earlier in the year on the official Samsung forums, user Qu1JcMmacCO shared the experience of seeing the line on their Galaxy S24 Ultra. What’s interesting is these two as well as others all claim they received the screen defect after updating their smartphone.
So, what gives? This many people blaming firmware updates can’t just be a coincidence. Well, one theory argues the green line is caused by both the software and hardware and that these patches cause Galaxy phones to run so hot that it damages the connection between the display and the chipset.
Possibly fixable
It’s important to mention Samsung isn’t the only manufacturer guilty of this. Green lines have also been seen on OnePlus devices, though the problem seems to be more pronounced on Galaxies.
If you run into the glitch, you can try to fix it yourself. Another user on the Samsung forums posted a guide on how to get rid of the line with multiple solutions, one of which involves rebooting your phone in safe mode. You can try to ask Samsung for repairs, although the company or its partners may not be willing to help. One customer tried to receive assistance with the green line on their Galaxy S24 only to be met with unhelpful support.
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We reached out to Samsung for comment, but have yet to hear back. We’ll update this story if we learn anything new.
Be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best phones for 2024 if you’re in the market for a new mobile device.
With summer fast approaching, that can only mean one thing; the running season is near. And with that in mind, now is the perfect time to start searching for a pair of running headphones.
There’s no better time than now to start gathering your research on what running headphones will work best for you. Whether you’re completely new to running or you’re very experienced and are looking to upgrade your gear for your next marathon, we’re here to point you in the right direction so that you can secure the best running headphones for your needs.
Like with any piece of gear, there are a lot of factors to think about before making the final purchase. While appearance is a big element for most runners, it takes more than a good-looking set of headphones to endure the intensity of a run no matter the distance. You need to take into account audio capabilities, waterproofing, and overall fit, because no one wants to be uncomfortable while nailing a 5k.
To narrow it down for you, we’ve pinpointed three basic areas for you to look for during your hunt for running headphones. Throughout our guide, we’ve also weaved in some recommendations we think fit best for each element along with links to our guides on the different types of running headphones. Hopefully these three elements will give you a clear idea of what to look for, and more importantly, help you soundtrack your runs wherever you are in your running journey.
1. Awareness
(Image credit: Future)
Scoring a set of noise cancelling headphones can guarantee your listening experience will be smooth and uninterrupted. But while this makes for great audio quality overall,, it’s important to consider your surroundings during a run, especially if you run through cities and busier areas.
Though some of the best noise cancelling headphones can help to improve overall sound quality, what they lack is the ability to leave you aware of your surroundings and when it comes to running, personal safety should come first. With that in mind, it’s worth checking out what bone conduction headphones are out there.
The best bone conduction headphones like the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport let outside noise in by sending sound vibrations through the bones in your ear and jaw, leaving room for sounds of traffic, cyclists, and other loud commuters to be more present during your exercises.
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You’ll find the same effect with the best open ear headphones such as the Shokz OpenFit, which don’t place the tech directly within the ear canal leaving room for you to pick up on your surroundings. If you don’t like open ear designs, transparency modes found on earbuds such as the AirPods Pro 2 would do the trick, as long as you keep the volume at a low-to-medium level.
2. Waterproofing
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport Waterproof Open Ear Headphones (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
It should be a no-brainer that this should be another factor to consider when purchasing running headphones, and it’s even more important if you live somewhere where rainfall is constant (I’m talking to you UK runners).
The easiest way to see if a set of headphones has good waterproofing is to check out its IP rating and know the difference between them. In short, headphones with an IP rating of IPX4 and over will provide reliable waterproofing, meaning that you can use them in wet weather conditions without worrying about damaging them. In that case, we’d suggest checking out the JBL Reflect Aero earphones (IP68), or the previously mentioned H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport (IPX8).
JBL Reflect Aero (Image credit: JBL)
Additionally, the best waterproof headphones will be able to endure heavy sweat conditions during longer runs or exercises at a higher intensity, so if wet weather isn’t a concern for you, waterproofing is still a factor for you to consider if you frequent HIIT workouts. The first model that comes to mind is the Beats Powerbeats Pro (IPX4), which are also great endurance headphones if you’re a long distance runner.
You should note that there is a difference between waterproof and water-resistant headphones, both of which provide different things. We have a waterproof vs water-resistant headphones guide which helps identify exactly what you’re looking for.
3. Fit
(Image credit: Beats)
One thing that runners look for in any fitness gear is comfort, and like any good pair of running shoes, the same applies to running headphones.
Unlike regular headphone models, it’s essential for runners to consider purchasing a set that provides a secure fit which will then ensure a reliable running experience. Many audio brands have adopted different designs and measures for their wireless headphones, the most common one being over-ear hook headphones like the Shokz OpenFit, which double as great open ear headphones.
Shokz’s extensive range of over-ear hook designs makes them a reliable option for running headphones that fit securely. In addition to its ear-hook style headphones, Shokz specializes in headphones with bands that stretch around the head and neck, notably the Shokz OpenRun Pro bone conduction model. While they’re considered slightly higher-end, the investment is worth it if comfort and audio quality are your priorities.
In recent years, brands like Bose have taken a new approach to the design of their open ear headphones with the new “clip” style design in the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. As well as increasing your awareness by leaving your ear open to your surrounding environment, the “clip” provides a secure and safe listening experience that makes them great running companions.
You get home from a run and automatically press save on your best smartwatch or best running watch. Before jumping in the shower you check the run has uploaded to Strava and pool over the stats. What was my average pace? Have I bagged a segment course record? What was my maximum cadence and heart rate? How much did I slow down on the hill?
The performance self-analysis begins in earnest and before you know it, you’ve forgotten to stretch, eat something, or reflect on how you actually feel. Instead, you are busy planning how to better your stats on your next run.
Whilst fitness watches are a great way to track your progress and stay motivated, there are also lots of benefits to running ‘naked’. Leaving your watch at home can have mental health advantages and enable you to tap into how your body is coping with the physical stress of running.
“Running to feel is a very important skill, and it can mean you don’t overtrain when you are tired or in need of a recovery run,” says James Rodgers, an expert coach and competitive runner for 20 years. “Usually, if your body is tired, easing off and listening to it is the best way to go. Pushing through and trying to hit a certain pace when feeling that way puts you at risk of overtraining and picking up an injury.”
And yet we are increasingly slaves to our smart watches, heart rate monitors and fitness trackers. According to global data published by ACSM Health & Fitness Journal, wearable technology is the top 2024 fitness trend. Smartwatches (and other wearables such as running pods and the best smart rings) can record movement, speed, distance, and heart rate.
Wearables can estimate calories burned, advise us when to ease off and recover, and monitor the quality of our sleep. Premium models are also capable of navigating via GPS technology, storing music, and receiving calls and texts: not a distraction you always want on runs.
But as with all technology there is also a darker side, with studies suggesting that people with predispositions to eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive exercise may be more drawn to fitness trackers which could potentially fuel or exacerbate their disordered behavior.
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There is also a wealth of evidence that technology anxiety is continuing to rise in younger people. When we’re not glued to our phones, our watches and wearables are pinging us with notifications instead.
Is it best to run without a smartwatch?
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Alexmaster)
With so much connection in our lives, perhaps there is a time and a place to uncouple and try some naked running. Doing at least some runs without a watch can lead to a more social experience to run at a conversational pace and catch up with friends. It also alleviates the social pressure of having to publicly ‘perform’ on platforms like Strava, or having to round up a run to the nearest mile or kilometre.
Taking the pressure off can also help to increase enjoyment in running, says endurance coach Stephanie Holbrook. “It can be a rewarding challenge to set aside your ego and embrace device-free running. It allows you to focus on enjoying running without being distracted by technology. It also alleviates the need to consistently meet precise performance goals, fostering a more laid-back and pleasurable running session.”
Simon James is the founder of Run the Wild, an organization with the mantra “exploring places not running races”. He believes running without tech leads to a more meditative state.
“It helps you to really escape from what’s going on in other parts of your world, and stresses, and brings you into the present moment. Tech detracts us from the moment and takes us away.”
He advocates running on the trails without a smartwatch, headphones, or phone (or phone switched off, if you have to take it) to immerse yourself in your surroundings.
“Literally be silent and put everything away, turn everything off, and just have that moment of being in nature. We just don’t do that in our society anymore. We live in a society where every moment has to be filled with either music or a podcast or something on your phone. Something to distract you. But studies show immersion in green spaces is beneficial for our mental health,” he adds.
The importance of running to feel
(Image credit: Future)
It’s not just about the mental and social benefits. Completely relying on data to tell you how you feel when you wake up and how hard you need to train, takes away the human component of knowing how you feel. Your watch might say you had a poor night’s sleep and need to rest, but you might actually feel strong. Similarly, there are days when recovery is required but your watch is telling you to push yourself because it doesn’t know your legs are aching or that you just received some bad news.
And let’s face it, tech can sometimes fail so it’s important not to be over reliant on it. If it stops working during a race you need to have an idea of how a certain pace feels. “This allows you to continue running without becoming stressed or running too fast, even if the GPS is not working properly,” says Rodgers.
So how can you run naked? Lewis Moses, former GB international athlete and founder of New Levels Coaching says it means running by rate of perceived effort (RPE). Maximum effort like sprinting is 10/10 whilst an easy effort is more like 4/10, with resting 0/10.
“When running an easy effort you should be able to hold down a conversation and your breathing rate wouldn’t be too high, simply because you are running easy. Sometimes simple things like this are much better than always looking at your watch and looking for reassurance.
“It not only gives you a mental break from the splits, it also enhances your ability to run to feel, which can be quite liberating for some runners.”
Spring is officially here and if you’ve been itching to get back outside for a run, or you want to start a new workout regimen, the Amazon Big Spring Sale might have just what you need to upgrade the music portion of your routine. A number of Jabra earbuds have been discounted for the sale, including a couple of our top picks for the best headphones for running. Key among them is the Jabra Elite 8 Active, which is on sale for $160 — only $10 more than its record-low price. The same sale price can be found direct at Jabra as well.
Jabra
Pick up one of our favorite headphones for running while they are down to a near record-low price.
These nearly bested the Beats Fit Pro for the top spot in our guide. Not only are the Elite 8 Active buds comfortable and secure when doing any kind of workout, but they’re also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance. Jabra also put these earbuds through military-grade testing to protect them from extreme humidity, high temperature, rain and altitude, so it’s fair to say these buds can take a beating (probably way more than what you’d put them through even during your sweatiest runs).
The Elite 8 Active have solid sound quality and ANC out of the box, but you can customize EQ settings using its companion mobile app. If you prefer bassy sounds to get you in the zone before a workout session, you can change the sound profile to accommodate that. They also support spatial sound with Dolby Audio, which is a great perk to have and it will make the Elite 8 Active an even better option for those who want just one pair of buds to use all day, every day, not only during workouts. Jabra’s HearThrough transparency mode is also handy, especially for runners who often train outside, since it lets some sound in so you can stay more aware of your surroundings.
Our biggest gripe with the Elite 8 Active buds is that HearThrough doesn’t sound quite as natural as the transparency mode on our top pick, the Beats Fit Pro. Otherwise, they’re a fantastic option for runners or anyone else who wants a solid pair of wireless earbuds that provide a complete package when it comes to sound quality, ANC and protection against sweat and the elements.
If you’re looking to spend even less, it’s hard to find a better value in Jabra’s lineup than the Elite 4 Active earbuds. Those are on sale for $90 right now — not a record low, but close to it. They’re our budget pick in the same guide thanks to their comfy, IP57-rated design, good sound quality and ANC, solid battery life and support for multipoint connectivity. And even though you don’t get spatial audio on the Elite 4 Active, they do support custom EQ with the Jabra mobile app.
