Fit Gadgets - Rhapsody and Philips SA52

I'm a firm believer in how powerful music can be in a workout -- the right song can help me go, quite literally, the extra mile. The introduction of the MP3 player to my fitness routine was huge, and I know I'm not alone. Recently, I had the opportunity to try out a couple of really cool workout tools -- Rhapsody, for downloading music, and the Philips SA52, a nifty little MP3 player.

I've been using the original iPod Shuffle for a few years -- no complaints. I load it up with my music and it plays all through my workout. However, the Philips SA52 also has the ability to hold pictures, video, and other recordings, which came in awfully handy for a recent trip I took.

Plus, I was able to rank the songs and add them to an "On the Go" playlist right there on the plane, without using my computer or any sort of internet access. Also, it's worth noting that I was totally able to work it by myself. I'm not terribly technologically challenged, but I'm not really into super high-tech gadgets unless they're simple to use.

To get all my favorite songs, Rhapsody gave me a three month membership to try out, and, once again, I was able to use it without supervision, so I'm sure any of you could, too. Setting my new MP3 player up with Rhapsody took a full evening, I won't lie, but once I had it all going, finding songs by artist, title, or just searching the genre was a piece of (low-fat) cake.

As a matter of fact, my favorite thing about Rhapsody is definitely the channel guide, which shows some of the hot artists in everything from Alternative/Punk to Folk to Rock to Soundtracks and Musicals. If you have a favorite type of music, or a favorite artist, the program will help you find other music you might like. And just like I enjoy mixing up my workout, I love mixing up my soundtrack!

Rhapsody offers options for different needs. You can go with a monthly subscription and gain access millions of songs, or, if you prefer, you can purchase songs from their MP3 store. Want to give it a shot? You can do a free trial here.

This is an easy-to-use (and not terribly hard to set up) program and a fun device that gives plenty of options for both people who are techy and really into that stuff as well as people who are a little more like me! How about you? Do you have a music program or MP3 player you absolutely love?