Power trio: Samsung Note 7 + GearFit2 + IconX

MANILA, Philippines - Health is wealth. I guess this explains why most people today are into fitness  running, walking, biking, and even hiking for the more adventurous set. Still for others, it’s better to hit the gym than get hit by the sun’s harmful rays.

Enter the handy cell phone. 

Many of my friends, co-employees and even relatives ask for my opinion when they plan to buy a phone: “What (brand) should I buy?”  

And I’d fire back: “What do you want in a cell phone? Do you listen to music? Watch movies? Surf the Net? Count calories burned or steps made? Or just call and text?”

I have to admit that these questions used to make sense – until Samsung recently introduced three gadgets that seem to provide all the answers for any cell phone user. 

A new Note from Samsung

 Samsung fanatics and moreso S pen lovers have something to get really excited about with the new Samsung Note 7, skipping #6 to level the Galaxy series, the S7 and S7 edge. Elegant design, very fast, easy to use, lots of memory, display(camera and video) is awesome, etc.

I got the chance to use this amazing phone and I might say that I’m impressed. Almost similar with S7 edge, its front and back rounded edge design makes the phone easy to hold.

Unlike the Note5, Note7 brings back its micro SD card slot that holds upto 256gig.

Another advanced feature of this phone in terms of security – besides the usual pattern, PIN and password – is the infrared iris scanner that scans your eye to unlock the phone. It is also water-resistant so you can answer the phone even while in the shower or washing the dishes. Also, it’s dust and scratch-resistant so there’s no need to put a tempered glass or an ordinary screen protector.

Another thing I love about this phone is the S Pen. Aside from taking notes, reminders and making drawings, you can also use the S Pen to “wake up” your phone from sleep mode. Just pull out the pen and the phone will launch its onscreen write memo application. You can also make a GIF file, edit/write something using the S Pen then post it on your social media account. There’s so much power in this phone waiting to be unleashed.

Gear Fit2

 If the Gear fits

Gearing up for your daily exercise? Whether you run, jog, bike or just simply take a walk, the new Gear Fit2 smartwatch/fitness tracker by Samsung is out in the market to help you measure your heart rate; how many steps you’ve taken; the distance; the calories burned; and how many floors you’ve taken up and down.

It has a Bluetooth connection that lets you sync/connect your Samsung smartphone, its futuristic curved design with super amoled display letting you easily read/reply to a notification, and see who’s calling. It also lets you store your music with a 4gig memory. Connect it to your Bluetooth earphone and you can enjoy music while doing your exercise.

The screen is made of Gorilla Glass 3 so it is dust-and water-resistant to ensure protection. Unlike most wearables, the Gear Fit2 comes in two sizes: small (from 125 to 170mm) and large (from 155 to 210 mm).  This is perfect for people with small wrists like me since the standard wearable sizes tend to be too big for a comfortable fit. The device comes in three colors: black, pink and blue.

The vertical interface of the Gear Fit2 makes everything easier to navigate. Like many smartwatches, this one also turns off when you cover it with your palm. I enjoy using this one because there’s a lot of cool things you can do with it, and having tried it makes me feel like I’m in the future.

Gear IconX

A new Icon

No one ever enjoys jogging with a music player stuck on the waist or in the arm, the wires getting entangled more often than not.

Good news: the Samsung Gear IconX frees you from the hassle of wires. This earphone has a 4gig memory that can store up to 1,000 songs. It comes with a cylindrical charging case that you can easily put in your pocket when not in use.

Believe it or not, the Icon X is also a fitness gear that monitors your heart rate during a workout. Sync it to your Samsung smartphone and it lets you track your activities through S Health. Its smart-touch function makes you control your music much easier – swipe up or down for volume control, single tap to play/pause music, tap twice to skip to the next track and to answer/end calls.

You don’t need to worry if you’re out on the streets doing your exercise. The Icon X’s ambient sound mode lets you hear your surroundings.

Best of all, the IconX fits snugly into the ear. Looks to me like Samsung is a few steps ahead of the wireless wars.