At Large: Initial GOP races shaking up predictions. 4D
Business&Money
S U N D A Y , J A N U A R Y 8 , 2012
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WWW.TUSCALOOSANEWS.COM
WAYNE GRAYSON
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
GADGETRON
Device perfect for tracking workout data
I
n the past seven months I’ve become committed to getting out on the road for a run. Because of that, I began looking for a watch with GPS to track my runs. In November, Motorola announced the Motoactv, a $250 device similar in form to Apple’s iPod Nano that was geared more toward working out than just casual listening. The Motoactv packs GPS to track your running, walking and cycling routes, but it also has an accelerometer inside to track your indoor workouts on a step machine, treadmill or elliptical. The Motoactv also has the ability to track heart rate through third party ANT+ devices, as well as two pairs of headphones it sells. It has 8GB of storage space for music and can be worn several different ways thanks to its small size and a few accessories. It packs Bluetooth too, and can connect to a wireless headset as well as Motorola’s Android smartphones. When connected, you can actually read text messages and other notifi cations and take phone calls all from your wrist. I picked up the device over Christmas and have been wearing it as a watch with the separately sold wrist strap. I’ve found it to be more comfortable than I expected. It doesn’t make for the smallest watch, considering it’s a bit thicker and wider than the iPod Nano. However, it hasn’t been uncomfortable while running or wearing as a watch. One cool benefit of wearing it all day is that you can set it to track the number of steps you take, as well as how many calories you’re burning. At the end of the day, it tallies that information and syncs it to the Motoactv website. The screen on the device is surprisingly good. The pixel density is fairly low, but the display is bright and can be seen fine in direct sunlight. Another pleasant surprise is how smoothly the software runs on the tiny device with its measly 600 megahertz processor. The best thing, though, is how thoughtful Motorola was about the ways in which it could be used. It has options for just about every workout imaginable and they can be set up according to target distances or time periods. You can also arrange your workouts around intervals of time, distance and even heart rate. Even better, you can plan your workouts on the Motoactv website by defi ning what your goal for each is and plotting them on the calendar. The site then syncs those planned workouts to the device over WiFi. During a workout, the data you have at your disposal is amazing. Through the main screen, I have access to how long I’ve been running, what my pace is and how many calories I’ve burned. And those are the simplest options of a very long list . After working out, you can sync the Motoactv to the website via WiFi to see how you did. I was blown away by being able to track differences in pace over the course of my run and actually being able to see where I was on a map when my pace quickened and slowed. Cheaper options for workout-tracking devices are out there. But for those serious about their workout data and using it to improve performance, no better option is on the market at the Motoactv’s price point. It’s unclear how these are selling, but after using the Motoactv for a few weeks, I hope Motorola continues building on what’s a great foundation. Read a more in-depth review of the Motoactv with pictures and video on Wayne Grayson’s Gadgetron blog at tuscaloosanews.com. Reach him at wayne.grayson@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.
Auto industry, University of Alabama and rebuilding efforts are expected to drive West Alabama economy By Patrick Rupinski
prepares for production of the C-Class sedan in 2014. The C-Class, one of Mercedes’ top-selling models, currently is exported to the United States, but that will change TUSCALOOSA in 2014 when all the C-Class cars sold in North America hree forces will drive the Tuscaloosa area are expected to be made in Vance. economy in 2012 — the automotive industry, the University of Alabama and an acceleratECONOMIC OUTLOOK CONFERENCE 2012 ing rebuilding from last year’s devastating tornado, according to local economists and What: University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Ecobusiness leaders. nomic Research That should result in economic growth, although it will When: Thursday from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. be slow and far short of the robust activity seen before the Where: Renaissance Montgomery Hotel, 201 Tallapoosa St., Great Recession, they said. Montgomery. “Certainly our local economy is going to continue to be Speakers: Ahmad Ijaz, the center’s director of economic forebolstered by two big economic engines — the continued casting, and Carolyn Trent, a socioeconomic analyst, will give the growth of the University of Alabama and Mercedes-Benz state forecast for 2012 and review of the state’s metro areas. U.S. International (in Vance),” said Terry Waters, the reSamuel Addy, associate dean for research and outreach at UA’s cently retired executive director of the Chamber of ComCulverhouse College of Commerce, will give the luncheon admerce of West Alabama. dress titled “Critical Issues for U.S. Economic Recovery and “We are extremely fortunate to have those economic Growth,” and David Altig, senior vice president of the Federal Reengines in our community.” serve Bank of Atlanta, will give the opening keynote address, UA’s growth will continue to bring more students, fac“The Economy: View from the Fed.” ulty and staff to the community, he said. That in turn Register: Call the center at 205-348-6191. The cost is $150 and should help increase sales activity in the area. includes lunch, conference materials and a copy of the Alabama As for Mercedes, which opened the state’s fi rst auto asEconomic Outlook 2012. sembly plant in Vance in 1997, it will drive West Alabama’s manufacturing sector. The Vance plant had a good 2011, with sales and production picking up and the announced Mercedes also will increase production in Vance this decision to expand the facility. All indications are that it and the area’s automotive suppliers will have an even bet- year by 30 percent and will add a third shift at the plant in August, according to a report by Automotive News Europe ter 2012. After launching the third generation of its mid-size M-Class in December. Mercedes officials have not publicly commented on the sport utility vehicle last July, the Mercedes plant will introduce a new generation of its full-size GL-Class SUV this June, report, but Automotive News Europe said it was based on SEE F UTURE | 3D and an expansion of the facility is already under way as it
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Staff Writer
STAFF ILLUSTRATION | ANTHONY BRATINA
The ‘CES curse?’ Gadget show has poor record By Peter Svensson
The Associated Press
NEW YORK | The largest trade show in the Americas must be a great place to show off new products, right? Wrong. The International Consumer Electronics Show is quickly becoming a launch pad for products that fall flat. When the annual conclave kicks off Tuesday, organizers expect more than 140,000 people to descend on Las Vegas. They will mill around 1.8 million square feet of booths and exhibits, equivalent to 31 football fields. The 2,800 or so exhibitors are hoping to set the tone for the year by showing off tons of tablet computers, throngs of 3-D TVs and untold numbers of slim, light laptops called ultrabooks. But a look back at the products heavily promoted at CES in recent years reveals few successes. ■ In 2009, “netbooks” — tiny,
cheap laptops — were a hot category at the show. They did have a good year, but interest was already waning when Apple Inc. obliterated the category with the launch of the iPad in 2010. Another big, eagerly awaited launch at the 2009 CES was Palm Inc.’s webOS software, running on a new generation of smartphones. Those devices debuted later that year to good reviews and dismal sales. A year later, Palm was sold to Hewlett-Packard Co., which killed the product line in 2011. ■ In 2010, TV makers made a big push with 3-D sets, hoping to ride the popularity of 3-D movies such as “Avatar.” Sales turned out to be disappointing as buyers balked at wearing glasses and found little to watch in 3-D. The technology isn’t going away, but 3-D looks to be just another feature among many of today’s high-end TVs. Other manufacturers at that show
hoped to ride the success of Amazon. com Inc.’s Kindle with their own ereaders. They failed, though Barnes & Noble Inc. made some inroads later in the year with its Nook. That rivalry played out away from CES. ■ In 2011, there were more than 100 brands of tablet computers on display, all trying to ride the coattails of the iPad. Many of them didn’t even make it to the market; those that did couldn’t make a dent in Apple’s market share. Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet did start to crack Apple’s hegemony late in the year, but it wasn’t at CES. Verizon Wireless got attention at the 2011 show with the fi rst consumer devices to use its ultra-fast “4G LTE” data network. Although those did well over the year, the company upstaged itself by announcing, a week after the show, that it would start selling the iPhone. A big part of the “curse” of the show is that the company that has been driv-
ing trends in the industry, Apple, doesn’t show products there. It doesn’t have a booth, and its executives don’t give speeches. It hasn’t had an official presence at all since the 1990s, though some of its employees go. It’s not that Apple dislikes CES in particular. It just doesn’t do trade shows. When it has something new to sell, it puts on its own press conference. That way, it can control everything. Microsoft Corp. seems to be adopting the same strategy. It revealed last month that the 2012 show will be the last one that its CEO will kick off with a keynote speech. That ends a run of 15 straight years. It’s also the last time Microsoft will have a booth at the show. The problem with the show’s timing will be acute for Microsoft this year. A new version of Windows won’t be ready until the fall. In his keynote speech Monday evening, CEO Steve SEE CES | 3D