Apps for Seniors, PART ONE

Post date: Aug 21, 2018 2:45:06 AM

Fitness and Entertainment Apps for the Jorgenson Plaza

As active seniors, we’re embracing technology including smart phones and tablets, and exploring apps for every facet of our lives, including fitness. Let’s look at some apps you might want to download before heading down to the Jorgenson Plaza to work out. You have lots of options: listen to music, watch a movie or television show, listen to a podcast or enjoy an audible book. There’s an app for all of these options!

First, if you don’t have a set of wireless headphones, you’ll want to get a set. Mike got us the Hopday Bluetooth headphones on Amazon for $19.99. These are oversized in-ear Bluetooth earbuds; I can’t wear ordinary ear buds but like these, which include a little curved piece that fits over the ear. I also have a pair of folding headphones made by iJoy for $15.99 (also available on Amazon).

Remember, if you have a smartphone (iPhone or Samsung Galaxy), you have a built in pedometer, as long as you carry it in a pocket or clip to your belt. Download Map my Walk and it uses the GPS in your phone to record details of walks and can post them to your social media account. You can also try Map my Run or Map my Ride for runners and cyclists.

If you have a Fitbit, you are probably already using the Fitbit app to monitor activity levels and motivate yourself to get a few more steps in your day. However, did you know that you can also monitor heart rate and how much sleep you got last night? When it’s cool enough, Mike walks down to the Jorgenson Plaza to get a few more steps in his day, or walks back to get the last steps to reach 10,000.

So, what to do while working out to keep yourself entertained and motivated? Search for these apps in your apps store.

NetFlix (Free) -- The Netflix app is free, but you need a monthly $7.99 Netflix subscription to use its library of movies and TV shows. Mike downloads shows before he goes to work out, so that he does not have to rely on Wi-Fi.

National Public Radio, or NPR (Free) -- If you love NPR, you can use your phone or tablet to listen to your favorite shows. There is another app for NPR Music.

Yesterday Radio On The Air (iPhone and iPad) (Free) – Listen to Old Time Radio from the 1920s-1950s.

Pandora (iPad and iPhone) – (Free) – Type in the name of a song, band, or artist to find the music you love.

If I’m pedaling on the NuStep machine for 40 minutes, I sometimes put my device up on the bars and read. Whatever your device, you have a built-in reader (such as iBook or Kindle). If you like a bargain, here are some of my favorite sources for free or low cost e-books. Register at each website and you will receive daily emails with lists. Some of these books will come with a low cost audible book.

Book Bub. https://www.bookbub.com/welcome Sign up here and select your categories.

Fussy Librarian – a daily newsletter with free books. https://www.thefussylibrarian.com/ Sign up here.

Early Bird Books -- https://earlybirdbooks.com/. Sign up here.

Book bub -- https://www.bookbub.com/welcome. Sign up here.

Audio books on Audible (from Amazon) and Audiobooks – my favorite thing to do while working out is to listen to books. There are also free options from your public library, but that’s another column.

Whatever your preference for keeping fit and entertained, there’s an app for you!

Last updated July 5, 2018