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Walk the line

For those who like to whistle while they work out, the MP3 player functionality is fabulous with 8GB or 16GB onboard storage – plenty of space to store a reasonably large collection. It syncs up to iTunes or Windows Media Player and automatically create playlists based on music that clearly gets you breaking sweat. A snazzy feature for the longhaul listener. There's an FM tuner so casual ramblers can listen to Radio 3 and take to the hills with The Lark Ascending.

GPS data reveals your route and the likely burn when you log on to the Motoactv site

Battery life is pretty shabby with a nine-hour rating for sporting activities, but it didn't seem that long to me. Still, if you're only a casual user, it should get you through the week. In standby it still drains at an unacceptable rate and certainly doesn't stretch Moto's claims of nearly two weeks.

Strap it on and slug it out

Verdict

Compared to other fitness watches I have had the discomfort of using, the Motorola Actv is a thing of beauty. If you mind is willing and your flesh needs a tweak, then provided you have a Motorola phone, it has all you need to shed a few pounds – and you'll certainly shed a few when buying it. For the price, you could purchase a second-hand Ford and follow the founder's advice, but you'll be more likely to gain a spare tyre than lose one. ®

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