Author: Louis Ramirez

Blackbox Case Gives Your Mac a Bamboo Shield

Let’s face it – Apple notebooks aren’t cheap, so when it comes to protection, you want more than just a plastic sleeve with a funky design. Enter the Blackbox Bamboo Case for the MacBook Pro and iPad. These cases will have your MacBook running with the very best rugged laptops.

Handcrafted from solid bamboo, the cases were made to protect your Apple kit at all costs giving it hardshell protection from falls, scratches, and dents. Each case is also treated with a water-resistant finish to guard your laptop from rain or the accidental splash of coffee. Design-wise, the cases fit snugly around your MacBook/iPad and each case features a laser-cut leather strap and wool-felt liner. The cases do add a little bulk to your device, and a small portion of your device remains exposed (the portion surrounding the leather carry strap), but with prices starting at $99, it’s a small grievance for what could be a life-saving shield for your MacBook or iPad.

Blackbox Case Official Website
[via Gigaom: Blackbox bamboo MacBook Air case is beautiful and takes a beating]

Fitropolis is the Online Yellow Pages of Seattle Gyms

Seattleites no longer have an excuse for skipping the gym. Fitropolis, a new fitness-oriented website, is looking to become the TripAdvisor of Seattle gyms cataloging every health club the city has to offer. The website is the brain child of Troy Kaser and Jenne Pierce, both former Expedia execs who are now turning their attention toward fitness. The site has over 250 profiles of Seattle fitness providers from big box gyms like LA Fitness and Gold’s Gym to local class offerings like Rock Body Boot Camp. Gyms, studios, and classes are all searchable by address, zip code or neighborhood. Searches can be as generic as “gyms in downtown Seattle” or as detailed as “gyms with pools and prenatal yoga.”

In addition to cataloging the city’s health clubs, Fitropolis can also be used to post reviews of gyms or classes. Bargain hunters can also take advantage of the site’s blog to browse through fitness-related sales from daily deal sites like Amazon Local, Groupon, and LivingSocial.

Fitropolis Official Website
[via TechFlash: Fitropolis does the heavy lifting to find the right gym]

Lenovo’s ThinkPads Head to the Great Outdoors

Lenovo’s ThinkPad line of laptops has rightfully earned it’s spot amongst the gadget elite. Not one to rest on its laurels, the company is now treading on new waters and taking its ThinkPad line to the great outdoors. The new ThinkPad X130e has been designed for the active lifestyle, joining the myriad of rugged gadgets we’ve seen here at Kinetic Shift. Powering the laptop will be your choice of a Sandy Bridge Intel Core i3 ULV processor, AMD Fusion E-300 APU, or AMD Fusion E-450 APU.

And that’s where all similarities with the rest of the ThinkPad line end, because this 11.6″ machine will feature a top cover rubber bumper to absorb any impacts made to the laptop. Rugged corners will also shield the notebook should it fall from an angle, while recessed ports should keep normal wear and tear at a minimum. Protecting the 11.6″ LED panel will be a 1.2 mm-thick bezel. Battery-wise, you can expect to get up to 8.5 hours of use before needing a recharge and the entire system will weigh a respectable 3.9 lbs. You won’t be getting a lot of RAM (the standard configuration will include 2GB of RAM upgradeable to 8GB), but for storage you can expect a 320GB or 500GB hard drive. There’s even the choice for a 128GB SSD. The laptop is expected to make its debut just before the holidays on December 20 starting at $469.

Lenovo Official Website
[via GizMag: Lenovo to launch student-targeted ruggedized ThinkPad X130e laptop]

Washable Earbuds for Sweaty Runners

We’ve seen sweat-proof earbuds before, but Pioneer’s take on sweat-proofing brings things to a whole new level. The SE-CL331 earbuds are IPx5 and IPx7 certified (the “IP” stands for International Protection). The former means they can withstand the occasional splash of liquid such as rain and sweat while the latter, more stringent certification means these earbuds can withstand immersion in up to 39″ of water for up to 30 minutes.

In other words, in addition to withstanding your sweaty cardio sessions, these earbuds can actually be washed after each use, keeping them clean and gunk free. The headphones come with four interchangeable ear tips (in sizes XS through L) and include a carrying pouch. They’re available in yellow, blue, pink, or white for $59. Who is you can’t have form and function?

Pioneer Official Website
[Via Coolest Gadgets: Pioneer SE-CL331-Y Water-resistant Earbud Headphones]

Ballistic Cases Give Your Android Triple Protection

Today’s Android smartphones pack larger-than-average screens in increasingly thinner bodies, and while that may sound great on paper, in the real world it can become a recipe for disaster, especially when you take your favorite phone on a run or bike ride with you. To protect your handset from a premature death on the sidewalk, Ballistic has created a bulletproof case for two of the hottest Android phones on the market today – the Samsung Galaxy S II and the Samsung Galaxy Epic 4G Touch. The new Ballistic Shell Gell Series Case offers three layers of protection for these phones ensuring that no harm comes to your mobile device.

The outermost layer of the case provides shock absorption, while the middle layer is made of impact-resistant polycarbonate. The third layer can be found on the corners of the case, which are padded with silicone to ensure your phone never collides with concrete.

The new cases are only compatible with the Sprint versions of these phones and cost $35 each. They probably won’t actually stop a bullet – and we wouldn’t recommend that you try – they will provide some needed protection that can keep that shiny new phone shiny and scratch free.

Ballistic Official Website
[Via Ubergizmo: Ballistic protects your Samsung Galaxy S II, Epic 4G Touch]

USB-based Purifier Cleans Water in Under a Minute

It seems like you can do anything via USB these days – even purify water.  The SteriPEN Freedom is a tiny USB-based water purifier that uses an ultraviolet light to purify a 16-oz. glass of water in as little as 48 seconds. The device eliminates bacteria and viruses that cause waterborne illnesses making it a valuable tool for both the hiker and the world traveler – at least those who travel with a laptop! Unlike previous battery-driven models, the SteriPEN Freedom features a micro USB port for charging and can be used up to 40 times on a single charge.

Its overall lifespan is estimated at roughly 8,000 treatments, and best of all the device also doubles as a flashlight. It’ll be available next month for $119.

SteriPEN Official Website

iHome Earphones Track Your Heart Rate and Calories Burned

Working out with a standard pair of headphones is a recipe for disaster. Not only is it impossible to keep them in place when you’re in motion, but the slightest exposure to sweat and your headphones are instant paperweights. With that in mind, iHome and New Balance have teamed up to create the NB639 Fitness Evolved Headphones.

These headphones are designed for the serious, note-taking athlete as they also come with a dongle that doubles as a pedometer, one-touch heart rate monitor, and stopwatch. Simply place your finger on the dongle’s grooved surface during your workout and after a few seconds it’ll verbally read out your heart rate, calories burned, and distance traveled all without the need for an irritating chest strap. Best of all, it’ll read our your stats without interrupting your playlist.

When you’re done with your workout, plug in the dongle to your computer’s USB port and using the built-in software you can track your performance and set new goals. The dongle is also capable of recharging via USB, eliminating the need for batteries.

Video after the jump. Continue reading iHome Earphones Track Your Heart Rate and Calories Burned

FIT CORE Armband Tracks Your Every Move

Losing weight is easy. It’s keeping yourself motivated that’s hard. Fortunately, there are plenty of gadgets that can help with the latter. Among them is BodyMedia’s FIT CORE Armband, a device that straps onto your arm and tracks your every activity from workouts to sleep.

The new model is 33% smaller than its predecessor and yet it packs all the same features. Just strap it around your arm and the band’s four sensors gather data on the amount of calories you’ve burned, the number of steps you’ve taken, your heart rate, and all other physical activity you’ve performed throughout the day.

Stats are then uploaded to an online Activity Manager where you can track your performance and input your meals using the food log. The revamped Activity Manager now features a FITcoach, which provides personalized feedback based on your stats and goals. The device will even analyze your sleep intake and tell you if you’re getting enough shut eye. If you prefer to receive minute-by-minute updates on your stats, there’s an optional $99 Display, which provides you with a tiny monochrome LCD to view your activity level.

(Video after the jump) Continue reading FIT CORE Armband Tracks Your Every Move

FitPro Launches Natural, Powder-free Protein Shake

What you put into your body after a workout is just as important as the workout itself (especially if you’re trying to gain muscle). But not everyone has the time or patience to concoct their own protein shake after every workout. For on-the-go athletes, FitPro offers its new ready-to-drink real milk protein shake.

Available in Chocolate Milk Shake or Vanilla Milk Shake, the all-natural drink is made with real milk instead of powders and it’s the only ready-to-drink protein shake to carry the “Real Dairy” seal, providing all nine essential nutrients found in natural milk. It’s special packaging also gives it a 12-month shelf life with no refrigeration needed.

Nutrition-wise, the 14-oz. lactose- and gluten-free drink contains 250 calories, 32g of protein, 6g of fat, and 13g of carbs. (By comparison, CytoSport’s 11-oz. Muscle Milk Chocolate packs 230 calories, 22g of protein, 11g of fat, and 11g of carbs.)

FitPro Milk is currently launching in gyms, clubs, and retail channels across the country.

FitPro Official Website

Sweden Building World’s Largest Indoor Ski Slope

Stretching over 753,473 square feet, Skipark360 will be the world’s largest indoor ski resort doubling the size of today’s current indoor ski champ, Holland’s SnowWorld Landgraaf. The new resort, which will be situated 45 minutes from Stockholm, Sweden, also hopes to be the world’s only indoor ski resort to house a 2,297-foot long slope with a 525-foot drop — large enough to officially host alpine World Cup events. Designed by CF Moller Architects, this winter wonderland will also feature a 2.2-mile cross country ski tunnel, 20,000 square-foot biathlon arena, ice hockey arena, figure skating arena, and a snowboarding area. And that’s just part of this massive facility.

Video after the jump Continue reading Sweden Building World’s Largest Indoor Ski Slope

Sweat-proof Wallet Ready for Ride Along

The days of stuffing your pocket with your ID and emergency cash are over thanks to this low-profile wallet. Designed by Timbuk2 in conjunction with the Mission Cycling Club, the Mission Cycling Wallet is an athlete’s best friend. It’s thin and small enough to slide into a jersey pocket, but packs enough slots and storage for carrying cash, credit cards, ID, and even your smartphone.

The front panel features a clear window that lets you operate your touchscreen phone, whereas the wallet’s back panel houses numerous slots for your cards and ID. As an added bonus, a sealed zipper offers protection from excess sweat or the rogue rain shower while a small slot gives you access to your phone’s headphone jack.

Timbuk2 Official Website
[via The Gear Caster: Way Better Than a Ziploc Bag]

Celtek Let’s You Use Your Digits to Text

Touchscreen devices may rule our gadget world, but when it comes to outdoor sports, they’re the bane of our existence oftentimes forcing us to expose our digits to the harsh cold as we skip a track or answer a text. Fortunately, Celtek’s new line of Touchscreen Gloves will keep your hands warm while letting you fiddle with your favorite touch-sensitive devices. The company’s 2012 lineup, which promises to work with all touch-enabled devices, will offer gloves that come in three varieties: acrylic blended with silver, rip-stop nylon blended with silver, and leather with built-in nanotechnology — the latter of which will provide the most conductivity.

Celtek estimates pricing will range from $24.99 (youth size) to $59.99 (men’s size), with many models coming in at $49.99. The gloves will be targeted at all users from the snowboarder, to the runner, to the urban dweller who just wants to keep their hands warm while updating their Facebook status.

Celtek Official Website
[via Transworld Business: Celtek Broadens Its Horizons With Touchscreen Glove Technology]

Wenger Commando blends grunt-like build with sophisticated style

Going “commando” has a whole new meaning as Wenger has introduced a stylish new sports watch. While most sports timepieces dominate your wrist with their bulky design, Wenger’s Men’s Commando Patagonian Expedition Race Watch successfully walks the fine line between athletic and sophisticated. For the adventurer, the shock-proof watch features a thick rubber wrist strap, stainless steel case, and scratch-resistant crystal face.

Like most sports watches, it’s also waterproof to 330 feet and sports a built-in tachymeter along the bezel. And it is Swiss made with a full weep second hand so it doesn’t lack in style – after all, even a would-be commando has to look good!

In fact, appearance-wise the Commando has all the traits of an everyday watch with a clean analog face that lets it easily blend in from the great outdoors to a more intimate setting. And if the watch’s $450 price tag makes you hesitate, fear not for a quick Google search shows this watch for as low as $207 via Amazon.com. Continue reading Wenger Commando blends grunt-like build with sophisticated style