The new sound of fitness is more than clanging metal.

There was plenty of heavy metal at the Club Industry Fitness Show in Chicago this past October, but some of it was of the musical rather than the workout equipment variety. While low-cost, stackable Pilates apparatus geared at entry-level class participants, flashy spinning bike programs (including a virtual reality add-on from Cateye), and multi-purpose strength/flexibility apparatus vied for attention, one of the biggest splashes at the show came from a new product that was about four-inches long and an inch wide.

MYE Entertainment introduced the MYE Netpulse Media Download Station, an innovative new touch-screen kiosk enabling members to download and enjoy exciting MP3 fitness podcast programs on MYE FitP3 digtal audio players.

One of the major issues with fitness is how to satisfy everyone with the selection of workout music. The Netpulse station and FitP3 player solve that problem, Tony Garcia, MYE Entertainment president, said.

The MYE Netpulse Media Download Station is a touch-screen enabled wireless device. Netpulse and MYE partnered to develop the device, which works exclusively with MYE FitP3 digital audio players using MP3 technology designed for fitness environments.

The download station offers 30- to 40-minute FitP3 fitness podcast programs, featuring fitness-focused music and motivational messages, which can be downloaded in an instant. The MYE FitP3 player docks with the download station to collect the member's selected workouts, then can be plugged into MYE controllers mounted on cardio equipment.

In April, MYE Entertainment and Netpulse entered an exclusive long-term fitness entertainment system distribution, development, and manufacturing agreement. The two companies also have marketing arrangements with major equipment manufacturers, including True.

"Our agreement with Netpulse further empowers fitness facilities to offer the widest choice," Garcia, who has 15 years of experience with several established players in the fitness entertainment field, said. "Netpulse software is a significant advancement that, combined with their proven back-end broadband infrastructure, allows MYE Entertainment to accelerate development of several innovative products."

Under the agreement, MYE Entertainment has exclusive distribution rights for the Netpulse N4i broadband entertainment system. The system allows fitness center users to customize television and radio programming, bookmark Internet favorites, retrieve e-mail, and store workout histories.

The fitness apparatus-mounted equipment is connected to the Netpulse ASP via a wireless network. Netpulse staff can provide fitness facility operators with online system monitoring and support, including tracking use of equipment and maintenance cycles for the programming equipment.

"Matching MYE Entertainment hardware technologies and entertainment expertise with our Netpulse software and network custom content delivery patents will produce exciting new fitness product applications," stated Bryan Arp, Netpulse president. "The results of our combined efforts will provide fitness facility operators with one integrated package for facility-wide entertainment options, both personal and ambient, that include sophisticated data management tools."

The MYE/Netpulse entertainment system is the first product from the new relationship. The system utilizes the Netpulse N4i touch screen technology and software, which allows users to watch personal TV, surf the Internet, and save their personal preferences. The integrated system attaches to any make or model of cardiovascular equipment and features the MYE controller and MP3 player docking so users may access their personal music library.

MYE FitP3 players can be used anywhere--both inside and outside the facility--just like other MP3 digital audio players.

Garcia said that the player can be logo-branded and priced affordably. In a club setting the member would have a workout program that they could use in the property's fitness facility, or by the pool.

"With MYE Netpulse Media Download Stations and MYE FitP3, fitness operators have an efficient way to capitalize on the exciting new digital download trend and to extend their brand inside and outside their facilities," Garcia said.