Skip to main content

Meet the exercise bike that wants you to play video games while working out

Although games like Dance Dance Revolution and Beat Saber might make you work up a sweat, they technically aren’t exercise games. For gamers who want to get in shape by pulling off dungeon-delving moves just like Lara Croft, there’s another solution: The Playpulse One, a smart exercise bike that combines workout machine, game console, and entertainment center into one.

The Playpulse One uses high-precision sensors in the pedals and handlebars to make pedaling part of gameplay. It monitors your heart rate through the handlebars to provide you with measurable, accurate workout results. You’ll know how hard you worked out and the number of calories you burn after every play session.

It also features a 24-inch multitouch computer and a dedicated graphics card that enable the Playpulse One to tackle online multiplayer without a hitch. You can also compete against your friends and others online to make the workout a communal experience.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are currently four compatible games (all built in the Unity engine), but more are on the way. The Playpulse One doesn’t limit its experiences to just games, though — the device is packed with entertainment and fitness content. Users can even stream their favorite shows, as long as they keep the pace up. If you start to slack on your workout, the screen will go dark. Of course, this is an optional feature that can be disabled for those times you want to sneak away to “work out,” but you really just need to binge The Real Housewives.

Playpulse plans to release an open API in the future so that third-party developers can create games for the platform. For now, there are several interesting titles planned for launch. Pedaltanks is a multiplayer-based capture the flag game where you compete against other players, each in different tanks with different abilities. Bumpercars is pretty self-explanatory, except it’s in space.

Heat Street is a racing game, while Helios is a roguelite runner that has you exploring different pathways through space and dodging obstacles that come your way. You can stream your gameplay to your platform of choice, and you can even gamify personal milestones. As more content is released, it will become available through the Playpulse Live subscription service. It’s included free for six months when you purchase a bike, then costs $20 per month.

The Playpulse One can be pre-ordered now at a discounted price of $1,200. Its standard retail price is $2,000.

Editors' Recommendations

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Apple Fitness+ now lets you work out with your friends
Apple Fitness Plus on Apple One.

During the Apple California Streaming event, Apple Fitness+ has introduced Group Workouts on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. You will still see your own metrics on display on the screen, but you will also be able to see an indicator of how well your friends are doing in their workouts. It's a fun way to bring a competitive element to working out and to keep yourself and your friends motivated.

Apple has also expanded its Apple Fitness+ program to include even more countries. While it's currently available in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and New Zealand, Apple is adding support for 15 more countries including Italy, Austria, and Brazil. New subscribers to the service will receive one month for free, or three months free with the purchase of an Apple Watch. Afterward, the service is $10 per month or $80 per year in the U.S.

Read more
How does Ring Video Doorbell work?
Ring video doorbell leader image

If you’ve been considering a Ring Video Doorbell for your home, you might be wondering exactly what you get, how it works, and what to expect. It pays to understand how the Ring Doorbell works so you’ll know how it will fit into your home and lifestyle.
How does the Ring Video Doorbell work?

The Ring Video Doorbell is an external doorbell device that houses a small high-definition (HD) video camera. When pressed, the doorbell sends an alert to your smartphone (and to your Alexa device, if you have one), which will allow you to view and speak with whoever is at your door. If you’re not home, you can still answer the door from anywhere in the world -- so no one needs to know if your home is empty. If you miss a ring or alert, you can catch up on missed rings by watching your doorbell footage at a later time.

Read more
7 things you didn’t know a video doorbell could do
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 installed near a door.

You never want to give anyone the idea that no one is home, especially would be burglars who may be on the prowl. A video doorbell can be one of the most powerful items in your home security arsenal; after all, it's impossible to know whether someone is inside the home or not since you can speak through the doorbell. It's also an easy way to keep an eye on the goings-on around your home. Better yet, with online shopping bigger than it's ever been, you can keep an eye out for porch pirates.

But did you realize there are a lot of features that go overlooked? Different brands of video doorbells have different capabilities, but you should make use of these features if your doorbell can handle them. You'll be surprised by what they can do, so if you're in the market for one, there are plenty of deals and options around to consider.
Your doorbell can know your friends' names
The Nest Hello, the Kami Doorbell Camera, and several other brands can not only pick up motion at your door, but they can also recognize specific guests. Instead of receiving a generic notification that someone is at your door, you'll received specialized alerts -- "Bob is at the door," for example -- if that person is in the recognized database.

Read more