Author: Peter Suciu

LIVESTRONG Offers Strong Protection for iPad and iPhone 4

RadioShack made a smart move by sponsoring a pro cycling team, and while Lance Armstrong didn’t have the best Tour de France, Team RadioShack did do extremely well overall, winning the team competition. The retailer is also making a smart move by helping promote Lance’s LIVESTRONG campaign, which fights for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Now you can show your team spirit whilst protecting your devices.

For the holidays RadioShack is carrying soft-touch polycarbonate cases that are part of the LIVESTRONG. These cases, which offer robust protection for mobile devices, are available for the Apple iPhone 4 ($24.99) and the iPad ($39.99). The cases boast a slim snap-on design that is form-fitted for the devices, and each adds protection without adding any extra bulk.

The cases feature an impact-resistant materials that provide strength and durability, while the rubberized surface further provides a nice secure grip.

RadioShack

LIVESTRONG

Team RadioShack

Hunting Calls Goes High-Tech

In the old days hunters used their hands, bits of straw and wood to emulate the sounds of their prey. Eventually this gave way to the plastic calls that hunters used for generations. My grandfather had many of those and frankly they sounded more like a cartoon character than a real animal, but maybe the old man never used them right.

He also never really understood the concept of a digital camera and always asked me where the film went too. He probably tried rewinding many a DVD. So I’m sorry that he didn’t get to ever try out an electronic game call. Those would probably have thrown him for a loop. Having heard a few I have to say they sound pretty convincing.

Cass Creek Calls has a line of products including the Mini Coyote Squeaker, a companion to the larger Mega Amp Coyote Call. This is the newest product in their line of light and compact callers that fit comfortably in the hand. These can also be strapped to a firearm, belt or pack. These feature an easy to use push button operation with Instant Interrupt. The Mini Coyote Squeaker provides five authentic animal sounds to attract coyotes, including Turkey Polut, Rat Distress, Pup Whine, Grouse Distress and Rodent Distress. Apparently coyotes go after animals in distress, and I thought all you needed was a road runner!

Cass Creek Electronics

Pro vs. GI Joe: Season 2 of Rehabbing with the Troops

This week saw the kick off of season 2 of Rehabbing with the Troops, which this year includes a live event with the Washington Redskins form their training facility in Ashburn, Virginia. This year fans can check out live training of 20 wounded warriors working out alongside the Washington Redskins as well as live webcam feeds of warriors from USO Centers in San Antonio, San Diego and Baghdad, Iraq!

Rehabbing with the Troops was created as a partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project and the USO, and sponsored by Armed Forces Insurance. The goal is to connect pros and troops through video games and focusing solely on wounded warriors, providing them fun, yet intense workouts using the Ninetndo Wii console and EA SPORTS Active titles with professional athletes acting as their training partners. This season’s workouts will come from the just-released EA SPORTS Active NFL Training Camp and our warriors’ pro trainers are the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.

Wounded Warrior Arena Official Website

Old Hunters Never Die, They Just Optifade Away

After introducing its Gore Optifade Concealment Open Country pattern, which was optimized for backcountry hunters, in 2009 the company has now developed a Forest Pattern for tree stand hunters who scout out wooded environments and from elevated angles.

This is because those who hunt from heights tend to have stark contrasts, notably bright sky, dark leaves and branches, as well as being defined by the lines of trees. These lines say experts make it easier for dder and other animals to detect a hunter because of the contrasts with the sky with branches. Those the new Forest pattern doesn’t make it so easier for the prey to see the hunter in the forest from the trees. The Forest pattern is reported to have been scientifically designed for close engagement ranges of under 20 yards and for elevated angles.

Gore Optifade Products

Are Energy Drinks Dangerous to One’s Health?

Feeling sluggish? A hit of Red Bull or similar energy drink will solve that, because as the ad campaign says, “it gives you wings.” Of course with as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and a quarter cup of sugar it is no doubt that a can of an energy drink will get the motors running.

According a recent study from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston the drinks can be a problem, and mixed with alcohol can be dangerous or even lethal. Well the sound of a cup of coffee with sugar isn’t a big deal, how many people drink cup after cup after cup of coffee? That’s part of the equation; the other apart is what the combination of herbs and vitamins can do, especially when mixed with concentrations of caffeine. Probably something like a racing heart, hypertension and anxiety, as well as headaches and even problems sleeping. One thing the energy drinks don’t do is actually give you wings. Continue reading Are Energy Drinks Dangerous to One’s Health?

The Fish Can Swim, But They Can’t Hide

Fishing can be a tranquil sport, just you with a pole and all the time in the world. Sometimes you don’t even care if the fish are biting. But the rest of the time you probably want to catch something, and for that there is a nifty little device called a fishfinder. Sure, these devices have been around for more than a decade, but Garmin International has announced its new echo series line of standalone fishfinders that raises the standard for finding the fish.

This line includes devices for all pricepoints as well, from the economical 8-level grayscale unit to the full array models that do everything but cast off for you. The top-of-the-line models include Garmin HD-ID target tracking technology.

The premier high resolution echo 550C offers state-of-the-art technology that almost makes it unsporting (and we mean that in a good way). This unit features an ultra-sharp video-quality 640×480 pixel 5-inch VGA screen, a powerful 500-watt sonar transmitter, and offers excellent fish arch display and bottom tracking as deep as 1,900 feet. The echo 550c is dual beam (200/77 kHz) capable and gives optimum deep or shallow water performance with up to 120 degrees of effective fish scanning area. The step down model echo 500C boasts the same aforementioned premium features, and offers a crisp 256-color QVGA display which gives 320×234-pixel resolution for extra-sharp detail on fish returns, structure and bottom soundings. Continue reading The Fish Can Swim, But They Can’t Hide

Swimsense Tracks Performance in Pool

We’ve seen no shortage of devices for tracking your progress whilst running or cycling, but what about those in the pool? In fact, we’ve often heard from various heart rate makers that it is actually difficult to track an athlete while they’re in the water. But someone has had the sense to find a way around that, and now FINIS has introduced the Swinsense (powered by SportsSense).

This groundbreaking training tool can actually capture critical performance data. It is worn much like a wrist watch and it uses an accelerometer, magnetometers and proprietary algorithms to help users identify how they swim. Out of the pool users can analyze their performance on the dive with pace times, distance (calculated in meters/yards or even laps), stroke count, stroke rate, distance-per-stroke and of course calories burned across all four major strokes.

User cans further take the performance data and have it uploaded to the FINIS Swimsense training log for additional analysis, and keep a running log with historical review. The Swimsense Performance Monitor will be available this holiday (MSRP: $199.99). Think of it as your sixth sense for your swim training.

FINIS Swimsense Performance Monitor

Pushing the Extremes From the Base Layer

There is no denying it, but we’ll keep saying it, winter is coming and that means cold weather. There are a few options, including setting up camp in doors until the spring thaw or taking your base to new extremes. Craft Apparel will let you go for the second option with its line of Zero and Zero Extreme Windstopper garments that provide full wind protection, while still offering maximum breathability. These include lightweight and elastic wind protection with strategically positioned panels to keep the cold air from blowing through you.

The collection include tops, bottoms and accessories and each is soft with close fit. The Pro Zero further stays in contact with your body, to pull away excess moisture. This is a key to staying warm – if you start to cool down the wind chill can make that sweat feel like you’ve splash with icy water. The Pro Cool outer fabric further allows air to circulate around your body to promote moisture expulsion while also keeping you from getting too heat up during a workout.  Antimicrobial treatment is also included to keep the garments smelling fresh and to keep that “gym” odor from setting in. This will help you push your training to new extremes even in extreme weather.

Craft Apparel Official Website

Will Disc Brakes Change Cyclocross?

Our friends at BikeRadar.com asked an interesting question recently, whether disc brakes would be the future of cyclocross. As we recently reviewed the new Redline Team Conquest cyclocross bike this is something that we’ve been thinking about as well. While the braking is good with the cyclocross bike it doesn’t quite have the same feel as a true mountain bike, especially in more technical off-road conditions. This has remained a common complaint amongst many riders, with the question being asked how much better disc brakes would make the bike. Continue reading Will Disc Brakes Change Cyclocross?

OptiShot Puts the Green on a PC

With Halloween becoming a distant memory, Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas decorations up at the mall there is no denying that for much of the country the carefree days on the golf course are far and few between. But you can stay in the swing of things with a golf simulator.

There are plenty of choices with the ultra high-end models, but for those on more of a budget (and with limited space) the OptiShot Simulator by Dancin’ Dogg is the next best thing to trekking out to the back nine. This virtual golf program promises to be easy-to-use for both casual golfers and diehard hackers alike. Best of all it is replicates world-renowned courses, so can think of it as a mini-vacation every time you boot up the Windows compatible program (MSRP: $399.95).

And as we mentioned that space can be a serious issue, the OptiShot needs just eight and a half feet of swing space so you can get teed off in a home office or den. The plug and play program allows up to four players to compete with one another by hitting real balls, foam balls or even no ball at all. The device relies on infrared sensors and a durable swing pad to accurately record club head speed, face angle and swing path. Caddies not included.

OptiShot Simulator

No Lasers for London Olympics

Lasers in use in the Youth Olympic Games

Sorry sci-fi fans there won’t be lasers at the 2012 London Olympics after all. This past August it had been announced that laser pistols – seriously laser pistols – would be used in the modern pentathlon. The event, which is actually a cross discipline sport, includes pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping  and a 3km cross-country race. The event was first held at the 1912 Olympic Games, but it was conceived of by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games.

The idea behind the modern pentathlon was to simulate the experience of a 19th century cavalry soldier (and officer at that); someone who could ride a horse, fight with a pistol and sword and be able to swim and run. For the 2012 games the organizers had looked to add a bit of the future into the mix by using laser pistols for the shooting events.

However, these shouldn’t be confused with the Star Wars style blaster weapons, but rather have are much more likely laser pointers – so sorry also to anyone who hoped light sabers would eventually be used in the fencing. The lasers will still be used for the junior competitions, which are more reported to be more “environmentally friendly” that traditional pistols. The lasers were used this past August at the Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore.

So clearly it is just a matter of time unlike the Olympics gets lasers, but we’re glad they won’t be used in London. It would be like if James Bond used a laser – which he did in the film Moonraker and look how that turned out.

[Via Inside the Games: Modern pentathlon drops laser gun plan for London 2012]

Straight Shooter

Tired of lost golf balls? There are now all sorts of balls with GPS, radar to find balls and other technology. But maybe the best way not to lose a golf ball is to simply shoot straighter. We’ve probably said that before, but it is worth saying again, especially as Polara Golf has announced their new self-correcting golf balls. These are ideal for the recreational golfer who might have some hooking or slicing issues when teeing off.

“It is estimated that 85 percent of golfers have trouble hitting the ball straight and then end up slicing the golf ball. If you want to prevent a slice, you have to understand how the ball behaves when you slice it.” said Dave Felker, Head of Technology for Polara Golf. “What Polara Golf has done surpasses anything that golf ball companies have ever tried. If a golfer has trouble hitting the ball straight, there is no other ball out there right now that has the same ‘Self-Correcting Technology’ that each Polara golf ball has.”

The new Polara Ultimate Straight and Super Straight golf balls should help even a crooked golfer go straight. These feature “self correcting technology” that guarantees to correct hooks and slices up to 75 percent according to the company. So is there a super computer inside or some sort of radio controlled gizmo? Not exactly. Continue reading Straight Shooter

Get the Stress Out, Instead of Being Stressed Out

Ever feel a little – no know – stressed out. I think I can relate, or at least so I’m told. For those who have a hard time coping with stress there is hope. The emWave PSR (Personal Stress Reliever) is a little device that might just be the next best thing to having a full-blown meltdown.

The device actually (and according to its makers effectively) measures stress levels, and thus teaches users hot to shift out of stressful states. It works by measuring the variations between heart beats (heart coherence), which is reflective of real-time changes that occur in our mental and emotional state. Users are provided with real-time feedback via colored lights and sounds, so that they can known when they’re reached a stressful situation and can use methods to cope with it. With practice users can build new internal responses to stress and how to get out of the stressful situations.

The product, which has won numerous awards including the Last Gadget Standing People’s Choice Award at the International Consumer Electronics Show, as well as an innovation award from the American Institute of Stress, is about the size of a small mobile phone and is currently available through major online retailers as well as the developer’s own site.

HeartMath Official Website