Pocket Workout for iPhone

In that sense, US$2 app is a sort of computerized personal trainer. The developer even calls the main part of its program the "personal trainer," acknowledging Pocket Workout's focus.

But this personal trainer isn't right for everybody. Pocket Workout seems geared toward intermediate users people that already know how to perform calisthenic exercises. The app does not provide any instructions on how to perform any of its nine workout routines--no written commands, no photos, and no videos. There's not even a Web link to definitions, so users wondering what "kick backs," "wide pull-ups," or "flutter kicks" are--let alone how they're performed--will have to conduct that research on their own. To be fair, Saltlick Labs makes this all clear on Pocket Workout's App Store page; still, the omission of even a simple description or some type of illustration limits the utility of this app for some users.

That said, if you know how to perform basic calisthenics, Pocket Workout can help you along as you chart your progress. When you first launch the app, it asks you to setup your personal trainer. You enter your current vitals--height, weight, and BMI--and take "before" photos for comparison purposes. After you set your vitals, you're ready to get started with the personal trainer.

Every workout in Pocket Workout is designed around a target goal and a schedule. After you set a target goal, you also set a schedule with the number of times per week you want to work out and the number of weeks you want to continue working out. Pocket Workout includes a thorough help file to walk you through any questions about the setup of the personal trainer.

Workout plans may last for as little as one week or as long as one year. All workouts are comprised of different exercises--you can choose as many or as few as you'd like. You can add exercises from Pocket Workout's database, where they're divided by difficulty, or you can enter your own exercises. Adding exercises is easy, though I couldn't find a way to remove any from the database.