FootStriker zaps you with electricity to improve your running technique

Why it matters to you

Trying to perfect your running game? FootStriker trains you how to run properly by zapping you with jolts of electricity.

The idea of getting electric shocks to make us run better sounds like the kind of middle school nightmare our nerdy teenage selves might have had the night before gym class.

In fact, it’s the basis for a new device called FootStriker that was created by researchers at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Saarbrücken. The idea behind FootStriker is that it uses jolts of electricity to stimulate muscles as a means of correcting the angle of a person’s foot prior to it hitting the ground when they run. It figures out when you’re going to place your foot incorrectly based on pressure sensors in the shoe’s insole, and then gives a quick, instructive zap.

It seems to be effective, too, according to a test carried out by the researchers that involved six runners. In a 1 kilometer run without FootStriker, the average percentage of incorrect heel landings in the group was 95 percent. When the device was then switched on for the following 3 kilometers, that number fell dramatically to just 16 percent. For the final kilometer, FootStriker was then switched off again, and heel landings not only stayed low — but actually decreased to just 8 percent. As a result, the researchers concluded that the participants had learned the correct technique due to FootStriker.

To back this up, a control group without the device decreased their average number of heel strikes from an initial 97 percent to 80 percent over the course of the run.

The hope is that the technology could be used to improve technique among runners, particularly when it comes to reducing injuries that frequently result from landing on the wrong part of the foot.

The technology could also be applied to other sports to help participants learn how to correctly execute maneuvers. While there’s no word on when FootStriker might be available to purchase, it’s certainly the kind of thing we can imagine finding its way into future sports equipment.

You can check out the research paper describing the technology in the journal Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies.

What’s next for Windows? Watch the #microsoftedu event here to find out

Why it matters to you

If you’re involved in education or wonder what Microsoft is up to next, then here’s where you want to be on May 2 at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Microsoft’s next major event is less than 24 hours away, and it’s where the company promises you can “Learn what’s next.” With the hashtag #MicrosoftEDU and plenty of speculation about Microsoft’s plan to take on Google in the educational market, it promises to be a highly focused event.

In addition to watching the live-stream right here, you can visit this page to live-stream the presentation. The event begins on May 2, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 am PT.

While many fans of Microsoft’s Surface line have been waiting impatiently for announcements concerning the next generation of its Surface Pro and Surface Book lines, this event might not be where they make their appearance. Microsoft’s Build 2017 event begins on May 10, 2017, or in less than two weeks, and so it’s entirely possible that the Surface line will get its major refresh then.

Rather, Microsoft could focus on its upcoming Windows 10 Cloud Edition, which promises to offer an easy-to-administer and potentially less expensive — or free — version of Windows 10 that will be better positioned to compete with Google’s Chromebook platform. Chromebooks have taken off in education because of their low cost, ease of use, and minimal administrative burden, and Microsoft appears ready to head Chromebook off at the pass.

Therefore, a great deal of speculation suggests that Microsoft will introduce a new “Cloud Book” concept (or perhaps “Cloudbook”), representing very low-cost notebooks running Windows 10 Cloud Edition that would ease the cost and administrative burden for educational institutions. Microsoft could introduce its own Cloud Book device, or it could rely solely on its OEM partners.

Either way, we’ll find out soon enough what Microsoft is planning. The company has demonstrated a real knack lately for keeping things secret and surprising us, and so it’s possible that we’ll see more than just the unveiling of a new education-focused initiative. But if you’re a student, teacher, or school administrator, then you have extra incentive to tune into the live-stream.

Fitbit smartwatch 2017: News and rumors

Why it matters to you

Fitbit’s 2017 smartwatch could challenge the Apple Watch. Here is everything you need to know.

Fitness-focused Fitbit is working on a new wearable. Following the lukewarm reception of the Blaze 2, the firm’s first smartwatch, it has reportedly gone back to the drawing board. Rumors suggest Fitbit’s next smartwatch will pack high-end sensors, revamped software, and apps that do more than tracking your sleep and workouts.

Details are a little hard to come by, but here is everything we know so far about Fitbit’s 2017 smartwatch.

Design

Yahoo Finance

If the rumors are true, Fitbit’s next smartwatch will look familiar.

Yahoo Finance, which got its hands on a presentation deck shown to retail partners like Best Buy and Target, describes the aluminum, “waterproof” smartwatch as bearing a striking resemblance to last year’s Blaze. That is not a good thing, apparently — one source described it as “very retro-looking,” and several Fitbit employees who saw the design reportedly complained about it.

Specs and battery

But the new smartwatch could be poised to address one of the Blaze’s biggest shortcomings: Lack of GPS. Fitbit’s next smartwatch, like the Apple Watch Series 2, will reportedly track your jogging, walking, and cycling routes on a map for posterity.

GPS is the tip of the iceberg. Fitbit’s new smartwatch is said to boast a color display with 1,000 nits of brightness, comparable to the Apple Watch Series 2. It will reportedly have a heart-rate monitoring chip, in addition, and support for Apple Watch-style contactless payments.

And it won’t have to charge very often. According to Yahoo Finance, Fitbit’s next smartwatch will last about four days.

Manufacturing delays

Fitbit’s apparently struggling to deliver a working smartwatch. According to Yahoo Finance, company engineers ran into problems making the smartwatch fully waterproof and the GPS functional. In one of the final prototypes, the GPS didn’t work because “the antennae wasn’t in the right place,” a source told the publication. “[The team] had to go back to the drawing board to redesign the product so the GPS got a strong signal.”

Those and other production woes have forced Fitbit to push back the smartwatch’s release timeframe. It’s now expected to launch in the fall of 2017 instead of spring.

Google Pixel 2 and 2B news and rumors

Why it matters to you

Google’s Pixel smartphone was our best phone of 2016. Here’s a rundown of the new features we expect to see on the second-generation model.

It hasn’t been that long since the release of the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, but we’re already hearing rumors and news about the 2017 model that’s expected to launch in the fall.

Google hardware boss Rick Osterloh officially confirmed in an interview with Android Pit that there will, in fact, be a second iteration of the Google Pixel. It’s not surprising to hear, but it’s still nice to get confirmation of the phone.

We don’t know what Google is planning on naming the next model, so we’re tentatively going to stick with the Pixel 2. But the phones could be code-named “Muskie” and “Walleye,” according to a report from Android Police. Walleye is believed to be the smaller of the two phones, and there may be an even larger third model in the works, named Taimen. Word is that Google is already testing physical versions of the Walleye device, at least according to a Google developer on the Android Open Source Project web page, which was noted by BGR.

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming phones.

Specs

A leak from the Android Open Source Project code suggests the Pixel 2 devices will receive the Snapdragon 835 system-on-chip, just like Samsung’s recently released Galaxy S8. The report comes courtesy of German tech site WinFuture.de, which notes the three Pixel 2 code names — Muskie, Walleye, and Taimen — appearing alongside references to the Qualcomm MSM8998, another name for the 835 chip.

Last year’s Pixel and Pixel XL utilized Qualcomm’s 821 chipset — a slight upgrade over the 820 that debuted in the Galaxy S7 earlier in the year. If this leak bears out, Google’s flagship won’t necessarily have a hardware advantage over competing Android handsets like it did last time around.

Otherwise, there’s not much solid news on the specs front. Earlier, it was revealed that Google may be trying to make its own processor — like Apple does for the iPhone — to power its future smartphones. That was according to Dave Burke, Google’s vice president of engineering, in an interview with Bloomberg.

It seems unlikely that first-party chips would be ready for the Pixel 2, as building a custom processor is no easy feat. New information from Hall’s source tells us that Google is reportedly testing the Pixel 2 with multiple, improved chipsets — “some with Snapdragon 83X chips, others with Intel chips.” MediaTek was also contributing at some point, but not anymore.

Until Google is ready to make its own processors to power its smartphones, the company is searching for which chipset will power the Pixel 2 the best. We’ll have to wait some time before the company settles on one manufacturer — though it looks like Qualcomm is leading the charge.

Display

A report out of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency suggests Google is angling toward making a 1 million-won investment — about $876 million — in LG Display for the company’s flexible OLED screens. These panels would be put into use in the next Pixel devices, and lessen Google’s dependence on Samsung, which outfits its own flagship smartphones with curved displays. It’s also pegged as a win for LG as well, which would like to ramp up OLED production and shift away from LCDs, according to the article.

The result could be a strategic partnership between the two companies, rather than a simple order. While we haven’t heard much about the Pixel featuring a curved screen up until now, it does fall in line with a rapidly increasing trend in the industry. In addition to Samsung and its Galaxy S8, Apple is rumored to utilize a flexible OLED panel in its iPhone X. Although we can’t verify the validity of this report, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Google move in a similar direction with the Pixel later this year.

An even bigger Pixel?

We initially heard that Google was conducting testing for two phones — the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, code named Muskie and Walleye, respectively. It appears Google may be testing a third, even larger device. According to a report from Droid Life, the third device is currently code named Taimen — unfortunately, we don’t yet know many details about the phone.

The rumor doesn’t specifically mention that there will be another phone in the Pixel lineup, but let’s take this opportunity to cast massive doubt on the idea that Google will launch a non-Pixel-branded phone this year. It’s even unlikely that there will be a third Pixel launched. Instead, what has probably happened is that Google is testing multiple sizes for its upcoming phones, and will choose the two best sizes to launch after testing.

Design

We have yet to see any leaked photos of the Google Pixel 2, but recent reports indicate that Google may follow Apple’s lead with an interesting design choice — the removal of the headphone jack. The report comes from 9to5Google and it cites internal Google documentation suggesting that the company will remove the headphone jack in favor of a single USB-C port.

Android fans would undoubtedly be frustrated by the news — however, keep in mind that the news has yet to be confirmed (and 9to5Google is only 60 percent sure of the rumor). If it does prove to be true, there would certainly be a slew of accessories for helping people connect their 3.5mm headphones to their device.

A budget Pixel

Early on in the Pixel 2 rumors, we heard that there could be a more budget-friendly Pixel device called the Pixel 2B. Most recently, however, it seems like that device could eventually get a release — but it won’t be released under the Pixel name. The news comes from a 9to5Google tipster, who claims that while the Pixel team isn’t working on a Pixel branded budget-friendly device, it is working on a budget-friendly device to be released with a different name. This could be launched under the Android One program, or a new name entirely.

The news makes sense. In the Android Pit interview, Rick Osterloh went on to say that the Pixel will “stay premium.” We won’t know what that means until the Pixel 2 is launched, but don’t expect Nexus-style pricing on a Pixel phone.

More: You’ll soon be able to control your smart home with the Google Pixel

We first heard of a budget Pixel device at the end of January, when it was revealed that Google was testing a few prototypes of a device code-named the “Pixel 2B.” The report came from 9to5Google, which also said that the device would cost a lot less than $650, with the compromise of less-powerful hardware. This device, which may launch alongside the Pixel 2 or after, will be intended to be released in “different markets.”

An even better camera

The Google Pixel was praised for its stellar camera that rivaled the iPhone 7 Plus, and it seems as though Google is prioritizing it again for the second-generation device. That’s according to a source speaking to Stephan Hall at 9to5Google. We cannot verify this source’s claims, and we’re a long time away from the release date, so things can change.

The source said Google is looking to perfect the low-light capabilities of the next Pixel, but it will “not have large [megapixel] size.” Google will reportedly compensate for this with extra features.

Waterproof Pixel?

Hall posted a tweet that the next-generation Pixel will be waterproof — information he received at the Google event last October. Going by what Apple and Samsung have done for their flagship devices, the Pixel 2 will likely be IP67- or IP68-rated, allowing for water submersion up to 1 to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

But Hall now says waterproofing may not be so definite anymore. His source said the feature is “still on the table” for the Pixel 2 — which is hardly as concrete as “definitely.”

Little tidbit we were told in October last year that I forgot about: “Waterproofing definitely coming with next Pixel device.”

— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) January 25, 2017

The reason it wasn’t in the current Pixel? Google ran out of time. According to a Wired podcast, Google said it threw out plans for the device at the end of 2015 and had to start from scratch — meaning the phone was built in a mere nine months. Huawei was supposed to manufacture the device, but the company backed out when Google demanded there be no Huawei logo. HTC took Huawei’s place.

Release date and price

Google has traditionally unveiled its Nexus smartphones, as well as last year’s Pixel, during a fall event. We’ll likely see the Pixel 2, as well as the Pixel 2 XL (Pixel XXL?) in October.

Unfortunately, you may see a price increase for the flagship Pixel 2. Hall’s source said Google is expecting “at least” a $50 price jump for the device, but the Pixel 2B will be “significantly cheaper.” Keep in mind, the company is months away from a release date and all of this is subject to change.

We’ll update this post as we learn more about the 2017 Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2B.

Article originally published in January 2017. Updated on 05-01-2017 by Christian de Looper: Added report that Google was testing physical versions of Walleye Pixel 2. 

An LG G6 Mini with a 5.4-inch display could be on the way shortly

Why it matters to you

Like the look of the LG G6 but want something a little smaller? The LG G6 could be the device for you!

The LG G6 was only released recently but it may not be the only device labeled “G6” that we see from LG. In fact, it looks like the company is prepping a so-called G6 Mini, which could be released in the near future.

Not much is known about the LG G6 Mini at this point, but as the name suggests the device will basically be a smaller and perhaps less powerful version of the original G6.

So what should we expect from the phone? Well, at this point, only specs related to the display of the phone have been leaked and it appears as though LG will be keeping the 18:9 aspect ratio, and that the display will be 5.4 inches. That is slightly smaller than the 5.7 inches on the original LG G6. The information was first reported by TechnoBuffalo.

It is possible that the LG G6 Mini won’t be released at all — the document TechnoBuffalo obtained is actually dated from earlier this year, so it is possible that the phone was planned to launch alongside the standard G6, but was eventually nixed.

Still, it is also possible that LG intends to ride on the success of the G6 with a follow-up. The display specs are about all we know about the phone at this point, but we expect the phone will feature slightly less powerful specs than the original G6 with a similar, if not identical, form factor.

Another theory is that the phone will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, making it more powerful than the original G6. The G6 did not feature the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, instead, it made use of the aging Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor because of the fact that initial stock of the Snapdragon 835 was reserved for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8. Samsung co-developed the Snapdragon 835, so it makes sense that it got first dibs — but that did mean that the G6 was a lot less powerful than it could have been.

You can see our review of the original LG G6 here.

Researchers combat uncanny valley in animations by applying neural network

Why it matters to you

Your games could looks a bit more smooth if these researchers are successful in using neural network tech to make animations more realistic.

The term “uncanny valley” refers to that feeling of discomfort that arises when viewing things like robotic faces and animations that are not quite right. The closer something is to being lifelike without quite being perfect, the more uncomfortable the experience.

The technology industry has been working diligently at solving the problem of the uncanny valley for years now, without complete success. One recent effort in the field of animation aims to bring more natural motion via neural network technology, TechCrunch reports.

The research is being conducted jointly by the University of Edinburgh and Method Studios and it focuses on replacing huge libraries of custom animations with more fluid animations created by a machine learning algorithm. The idea is that the algorithm can generate motion more smoothly using a phase function that avoids things like causing an animated figure to take a step when it’s actually in the process of jumping.

According to the researchers, “Since our method is data-driven, the character doesn’t simply play back a jump animation, it adjusts its movements continuously based on the height of the obstacle.” While the algorithm is not yet ready for use in games and other applications, it is a promising approach for creating more intelligent animation processes.

The details of how the system achieves smooth and more natural human motion, and how it might be applied to any character, are quite technical. However, the concept is straightforward: Use an intelligent system that can generate any animated motion on demand rather than selecting from pre-generated animations that might not perfect fit the specific environment and situation.

You can learn more about the new technology when Jun Saito of Method Studios and some other researchers show off their work at the upcoming Siggraph event in Los Angeles on July 30 through August 3. The presentation’s abstract can be seen here, and the full paper is available with all of the technical details.

Twitter users, there’s a ton of new live video content coming your way

Why it matters to you

Twitter hopes its live video offerings will be a hit with existing users while at the same time persuading others to sign up.

We heard on April 30 that Twitter was boosting its live-streaming offerings after inking a deal with news giant Bloomberg.

Turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg after the social media company on May 1 announced a major expansion of its live video efforts across not only news but also sports and entertainment.

Twitter has partnered with 12 media outlets in its biggest push into live video yet, among them Bloomberg, BuzzFeed News, the PGA Tour, MLB, The Players’ Tribune, and Live Nation. A number of the new live-stream shows mark an expansion of existing deals with several of the outlets.

The original content will offer users of the social media site “hundreds of hours” of exclusive, live, and original programming as the platform seeks to become “the first place to see what’s happening.”

Twitter has been struggling to grow its user base — currently at 328 million — as well as monetize its service, so it’s hoping that doubling down on its live video efforts will help to boost its business on both fronts.

The company has watched in dismay as Facebook continues to cash in on its live video offerings thanks to big payouts from advertisers keen to reach the social networking giant’s global base of 1.86 billion monthly active users.

Live video offerings

Twitter’s latest live-streaming efforts include a deal with Bloomberg that gives the platform its first around-the-clock live video feed. Alongside weekly MLB games already live-streaming on Twitter, users will also be able to access an exclusive weekly three-hour show featuring MLB game look-ins and highlights.

Also, Live Nation will offer Twitter users real-time coverage of select concerts and original content, kicking off on May 13 with a live-stream of the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum Zac Brown Band. And golf fans already enjoying Twitter’s 70 hours of live competition coverage across 31 PGA tournaments can try out 360 video during The Players Championship between May 11 and 14.

At an event in New York City on May 1, Twitter chief operating officer Anthony Noto said that in the last quarter the social media service streamed “over 800 hours of live premium content” from around 200 partners across sports, esports, news, and entertainment, adding that the newly announced live deals are “a testament to the success of our only-on-Twitter experience, combining high-quality streaming video with our only-on-Twitter conversation.”

The partnerships represent a major move by Twitter as it seeks to attract both users and advertisers to make its business more competitive. Part of the challenge will be to persuade more users familiar with viewing short clips embedded in tweets to seek out long-form video content on its platform, though with 45 million unique viewers recorded in the first three months of 2017, it seems it’s enjoying some success in this quest.

What do you think? A smart step or too little too late? Sound off in the comments below.

Linksys Velop mesh gets bridge mode, routers score new parental controls

Why it matters to you

Update your Linksys Velop mesh system or App Enabled router to get more features and some important bug fixes.

When you really need to get something done, then losing your internet connection can be a real drag. Router manufacturers keep looking for ways to keep us connected, from pumping out routers with more powerful radios to creating new mesh technologies that use intelligence instead.

Linksys has its Velop mesh network solution and “App Enabled” routers (formerly called Smart Wi-Fi Routers) that are aimed at both covering spaces with solid wireless connectivity and offering new features as technology progresses. The company is addressing both objectives with its latest updates, due on Tuesday.

According to Dan Albertson, a Linksys senior product manager, “These two new App features have been among those most requested by our customers. Many Velop customers need the ability to configure Velop in Bridge Mode to allow them to keep their existing router or gateway from their service provider in place for other services such as voice or IPTV while leveraging Velop’s whole-home Wi-Fi coverage and performance. Parental controls scheduling has been a feature in the Linksys browser-based interface but our users have told us they need the flexibility to manage internet access schedules for their kids’ devices from the Linksys App. These are just two features among many we’ll be rolling out to the Linksys App in the coming months.”

Accordingly, the Velop whole-home mesh Wi-Fi solution is getting a new bridge mode, which will accommodate users whose internet service providers (ISPs) provide hardware that cannot be removed or replaced. For these customers, the latest update allows Velop to be configured in bridge mode and connect to an ISP-provided gateway device. The feature can be simply configured by using the Linksys app to change the connection type.

Other features that the new Bridge Mode enables include:

• Dynamic Tri-Band selection: The Velop can dynamically select either the 2.4GHz band or one of the two 5GHz bands to provide the optimal connectivity for each client. This should help the solution enable 100 percent of the available bandwidth at the edge of the mesh network.
• One guest network: The system can now accommodate a guest network that supports all mesh nodes, with improved range and performance.
• Amazon Alexa support is being added.
• Auto firmware updates: The system can now automatically update the firmware, to ensure that the Velop system remains up to date with the newest security fixes and features.

In addition, the latest update for Linksys App-Enabled routers adds in a parental control scheduler to make it easier for parents to limit the amount of time their kids spend connected to the internet. The new feature is enabled via the Linksys app for Velop, Max-Stream, WRT, and EA series routers and systems.

The updates to Velop and App-Enabled routers is available as of Tuesday. Head over to the Linksys support site for more information on updating your Linksys router, including the automatic firmware update capability.

iPhone owners really like their AirPods, new survey says

Why it matters to you

If the results of the poll are accurate, it seems Apple has a hit on its hands with the AirPods.

How’s it going with your AirPods? Sound good? Comfy? Having trouble keeping them in? Lost any yet?

Apple’s wireless earbuds, designed primarily for its first-ever jackless iPhone and released four months ago, appear to be a hit with users, at least if the results of a new survey are anything to go by.

Conducted by market research firm Creative Strategies in partnership with Experian, the findings reveal an impressive 98 percent satisfaction rating in a poll of nearly 1,000 AirPod users.

Breaking the figures down, 82 percent said they were “very satisfied” with the $159 earbuds, while 16 percent were “satisfied.” The remaining 2 percent were split between “neither satisfied not dissatisfied,” or “dissatisfied,” while no one appeared to be “very dissatisfied.”

Ben Bajarin, principal analyst at Creative Strategies, said in a post that the overall customer satisfaction level of 98 percent “sets the record for the highest level of satisfaction for a new product from Apple.” Bajarin added, “When the iPhone came out in 2007, it held a 92 percent customer satisfaction level, iPad in 2010 had 92 percent, and Apple Watch in 2015 had 97 percent.”

Digital Trends’ in-depth review praised Apple’s AirPods for their “rock solid reliability and range,” decent battery life, and fast, compact charging case. However, they were found to offer “average” sound quality and risked slipping out “during rigorous or particularly sweaty workouts.” In addition, it costs a pricey $69 for a replacement pod or charging case.

When the poll participants were asked to explain their ranking in more detail, the researchers noted down the most frequently used words, which included “sound quality,” “convenient,” and, importantly, “fit.” However, “magic” and “love” also came up, suggesting Apple’s wireless earbuds have indeed found a special place in the hearts of some users.

Other findings included the discovery that 82.5 percent of AirPod owners wish they had “more control over their content by tapping the AirPods to do things like turn volume up or down or skip to next song,” something that can currently only be done manually or by calling on Siri. And 62 percent said they “strongly or somewhat agree” that the pods have prompted them to consume more audio content — including not only music but also videos, audio books, podcasts, and so on — suggesting that Apple’s wireless device may have helped to drive more business to the tech giant, as well as third-party outfits.

Putting the results of the survey to one side, how are you getting on with your AirPods?

Strava launches Athlete Posts, a blogging platform for fitness fanatics

Why it matters to you

Strava’s Athlete Posts provides a forum for athletes to share ideas, fitness goals, motivational stories, and more.

There’s a social network for just about every niche, these days. Fishing enthusiasts link up on Fishbrain. Farming fanatics in Australia exchange ideas on Farmz. But one global community — athletes — has long lacked something comparable. Sure, budding Olympians have been able to post jogging times on Facebook or Twitter, but that’s not quite the same as a network of like-minded internet folks. Fitness platform Strava, luckily, has the remedy.

On Monday, Strava launched Athlete Posts, a “new way to create and share content” for the one million new users who, on average, join Strava every 45 days. More than 36 Strava users from around the world — including marathoner Kelly Roberts, former American track and field athlete Lauren Fleshman, and triathlete James Lawrence — will be able share stories, photos, questions, gear tips, race reports, recommendations, and workouts with other Strava users.

Strava’s curated list of bloggers will publish posts, tips, articles, and discussion topics that “inspire” and “motivate” other users. It’s a way for athletes to share more about their active lives, said Strava product officer Aaron Forth.

“Strava is a place where athletes come to connect with each other, share their experiences and learn from one another,” Forth said in a statement. “And until now, those connections have been based entirely on athletic activities. Our opportunity is to help athletes have conversations beyond their daily activities, sharing everything from favorite gear, to injury recovery tips, to travel recommendations.”

But Athlete Posts is about more than just bragging. According to a recent MIT study published in the journal Natural Communications, social sharing is a major exercise motivator — if you see that one of your friends ran a certain distance at a certain speed, you’re likely to run farther and faster than you otherwise would yourself.

To that end, Athlete Posts is a prong in Strava’s broader social effort. The recently introduced Club Events feature, which aims to make coordinating meetups easier, lets like-minded Strava users join clubs from Strava’s smartphone app. Once they do, they can see recent rides and runs logged by other members, a comment section, and a widget that shows your recent rides and runs. Beacon, meanwhile, lets users share distance, caloric expenditure, and speed in real time.

“Strava is the ideal place for athletic storytelling and resource sharing among like-minded people,” Fleshman said in a statement. “My sporty friends are hard to keep up with socially, and I’m looking forward to Strava being the place I binge on the sporting life. I’m especially excited to share a mixture of snippets into my post-retirement, evolving athletic life, and revive some of my most honest and relevant written pieces from the past that can serve the goal-oriented athletic community.”

Athlete Posts launches this summer, when it will roll out to Strava’s broader community.