KineticShift | Evolving Consumer

RangerX Leads the Way for Tablets

While U.S. Army Rangers may lead the way, and won’t leave a man behind, the RangerX is a tablet you won’t want to leave at home. This is the first table from Xplore Technologies, which has actually been making tablets for 15 years, to feature the Android OS.

The tablet features an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, as well as an MIL-STD-810G rating that proves it can stand up to the elements and so much more. It can withstand 95 percent humidity and operation at cold and heat extremes that would leave other devices on the sidelines.

Inside it offers an ARM Cortex A9 processor running at 1.5 GHz on an Intel QM57 Express chipset, along with 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and integrated GPS, as well as an FM transfer plus NFC and RFID technology. It offers connections as well, including two USB 2.0 ports, a micros-HDMI out. Video after the jump

Trace Your Activity

The ActiveReplay Trace is not your run-of-the-mill fitness tracker. This new device is designed to help make action sports measurable, sharable and comparable. It is the first piece of technology that can correctly and automatically identify data and tricks as they are being performed by skaters, skiiers, snowboarders and surfers; while ActiveReplay’s Kickstarter campaign is aimed at helping to boost awareness of Trace and raise funds to continue its development.

With 9-axis sensors, advanced multi-Hz GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, and its own processor, Trace is a small device that measures a huge amount of events and tricks athletes perform in skiing, snowboarding, surfing and skating, and it allows athletes from all these disciplines to compare and share those metrics with leaderboards and networks via social media.

The pocket sized device offers more than seven hours of battery life and is durable, shockproof and waterproof. It consists of two parts: the data collection pod and the mount. Attaching and activating Trace is easy: The mount is attached to any hard surface like a board or helmet. Trace slides in the mount. The athlete pushes a button and begins their sport.

It can pair with a smartphone, and comes with three mobile apps including AlpineReplay (for ski and snowboard), SkateReplay (for skate) and SurfReplay (for surf). The apps are compatible with Android and iOS. Video after the jump

Finding Zen(sorium) Through Tinké

The iPhone can help users reach their inner peace thanks to the Tinké with Lightning connector. This uses optical sensing technologies to capture blood volume changes and quantifies the user’s fitness and relaxation levels into indexes for easy comparison.

The Vita Index can help users keep track of fitness levels, even during times when not engaged in physical activity. At rest the Tinké can be used to measure, monitor and trend heart rate, respiration rate and even blood oxygen level; while the Zen mode can be helpful for practicing mindful breathing to energize and calm oneself during stressful situations.

Built for today’s fast paced lifestyle, Tinké’s Zen measurement enables users to breathe better and measure your level of relaxation at the end of a 60-second practice.

Plug in, tune in and peace out.

Zensorium Tinké Official Website

Made in America: Cargo Container

Chrome knows a thing or two (or a lot more) about backpacks, but the Barrage Cargo is ready to haul a lot of gear. This made in the USA pack features compression bucks on the side of the bag, a cargo net that can be used to strap down even a helmet, and includes plenty of room in the main waterproof compartment.

It features 600 denier truck tarpaulin, with fully welded seams inside a 1000 denier CORDURA brand grade nylon shell. There are even pockets for U-locks and water bottles, and it is guaranteed for life.

Chrome Barrage Cargo Backpack Official Website

Tubed Wallet

We’ve seen a number of “upcycled” products, and Jason Lauritzen’s Simple Wallet is one that lives up to the name. He has taken used bicycle tubes and created ride-read wallets – which can be used even by those that don’t bike. This creates a nice use for tubes that might otherwise end up in a landfill. The check won’t bounce but maybe the wallet will! Video after the jump

Fix the World

Bicycle maker Pure Fix announced this month that will donate $100 from the sale of two special edition bikes – The Uniform and The Yankee – to Charity:Water, an organization that funds water projects in developing countries. The Uniform features Pure Fix’s standard fixie frame in yellow with a black fork and black deep-section wheels. The Yankee has a matte black frame with yellow deep-section wheels. Retail prices start at $325, depending on options.

This sounds like quite the pure intention to us.

Pure Fix Cycles Official Website

Biosensor in a Tattoo

Many athletes sport tattoos these days, and other than looking good (or stupid depending on your point of view) that “art” only goes skin deep and truly doesn’t do much. However, a new study conducted by a team led by the University of California, San Diego’s Prof. Joseph Wang has created a flexible electrochemical biosensor that looks much like a “tat.”

Unlike other tattoos that merely are ink, this one is actually a flexible electrochemical biosensor, and when applied to the skin the sensor can be used to continuously measure lactate levels in the athlete’s sweat. It can thus tell when an athlete is about to “hit the wall.”

That’s a lot more than most tattoos can do, and best of all it can be removed post-workout or game.

[Via American Chemical Society: First human tests of new biosensor that warns when athletes are about to ‘hit the wall’]

See Spot, See Spot Gen3

Globastar Inc. is on the spot with its new SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger device. This latest update offers a new form factor, extended battery life, new power options, and new upgraded tracking options with unlimited and extreme tracking- which allows users to choose the rate at which the tracking messages are sent.

It can send out a GPS waypoint every 2.5 minutes in the Extreme Tracking, while users can check with friends and family with a pre-programmed message. There is even the SOS option that can send out a GPS location to GEOS for search and rescue teams.

The Gen3 is very much on the SPOT.

SPOT Gen3 Official Website

Tour de Force

While you didn’t ride to victory in the Tour de France (unless you are Chris Froome and we’d be impressed if he were reading this), you can still suit up like this year’s winner. Rapha has released a special edition Team Sky Tour de France victory jersey. Available in September it will feature the team riders’ names are printed on the rear pocket and features sponsor logos, and even a yellow strip on the arm and down the back.

The company is also launching a slim-fitting black cotton victory T-shirt that carries the outline of France (surprisingly doesn’t include Corsica) and includes the names of the nine squad members of Team Sky. Continue reading Tour de Force

TaylorMade Lives Up to the Name

You can have a customized driver made for you, or you could pick up the TaylorMade SLDR – a golf club that can adjust to your game. It offers a low, forward center of gravity that can have you make straighter, longer and faster drives. It is designed to increase your launch angle and reduce the spin on the ball, while the 20-gram sliding weight can be adjusted and move along a 21-point track to put precision on each stroke.

TaylorMade SLDR Driver

Tunz In

TYLT has launched its TUNZ stereo headphones, which were designed to the actual contours of the human ear, while the Tunz Stereo Active Gels provide a secure yet comfortable fit for those working out or just working with some music. These gels simply snap on and fit most ear shapes and sizes.

The silicone cable is also unique in that it is flat, helping to ensure that it can remain flexible and durable, while the headphones also feature an in-line microphone with one-button controller for seamless multi-functionality during phone calls. The TUNZ are even available in five colors.

TYLT TUNZ Official Website

Rebel Yell

Kickstarter is full of multi-tool projects, and some will take off and some will just remain concepts. We have a good feeling about the Repair Rebel, a titanium multi-tool that can attach under a bike seat. It offers 24 various tools, include a dozen or so hex heads, a T25 tork head, Phillips screw driver and even some spoke keys. It is larger than some of the ultra compact tools we’ve seen, but this provides all the tools in a single piece so that there is nothing to lose and no moving parts.

The disc style design also provides more grip than those too-compact tools. This Repair Rebel could just about start a revolution. Video after the jump

3D Printing Takes to the Waves

We’re in a golden age for the DIY set. Not only can you build it if you can envision it, but now you can print it as well. Start-up Made Smartboards is looking to revolutionize the customized surfboard industry, where the board can be made based on your body size, your surfing style and even the conditions in which you ride.

To create a truly customized board Shanon Marks, the founder of the company, is looking to 3D printing, which also means no material or resources are wasted. Moreover there is no Styrofoam to use or discard he said. Only what is needed is printed, and each frame is wrapped in bamboo, sealed in fiberglass and ready to catch the wave.

Sounds like a board that was made right, made smart. Video after the jump