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For counting steps, smartphone apps do as well as fitness trackers

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You don’t need to splurge on a fitness tracking device to record how much you’ve walked, because smartphone fitness apps do the job just as well, and sometimes better.</p><p>
That’s the conclusion from a University of Pennsylvania (http://amaprodu.silverchair.netdna-cdn.com/data/Journals/JAMA/932735/jld140043.pdf.gif?v=635587526590700000) study, which compared the accuracy of fitness wristbands and of smartphone apps in counting steps.</p><p>
Researchers gave participants an iPhone 5s running three fitness apps, a Galaxy S4 running one fitness app and six wearable devices, including products from Fitbit, Jawbone and Nike.</p><p>
Next, the 14 participants walked on a treadmill while an observer counted the numbers of steps each person took. Fitness apps and tracker devices use step counts to calculate physical activity metrics like distance walked and calories burned.</p><p class="jumpTag"><a href="/article/2883332/for-counting-steps-smartphone-apps-do-as-well-as-fitness-trackers.html#jump">To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here[/url]</p></section></article>

Source: For counting steps, smartphone apps do as well as fitness trackers (http://www.macworld.com/article/2883332/for-counting-steps-smartphone-apps-do-as-well-as-fitness-trackers.html#tk.rss_all)