Gadget | Evolving Consumer

MIO Oh My!

What’s not to love about wearing a heart rate monitor strap across the chest? Or rather what’s to like about it? The MIO Alpha ditches the strap and instead can be worn like a watch, where it monitors blood perfusion in the wrist via an optic sensor and green LED light.

This technology was reportedly developed by the medical industry and now is offering a way to be a heart rate monitor that doesn’t require the annoying chest strap.

This very smart watch also features Bluetooth Smart 4.0 technology so it can sync with a smartphone. That’s some serious smarts, and it allows it to be used with MapMyRun, Strava and Wahoo.

MIO Official Website
[Via BikeRumor: MIO ALPHA DITCHES THE CHEST STRAP, BRINGS ADVANCEMENTS TO PERFORMANCE HEART RATE MONITORING]

Fortified Light Promises to Go the Distance

The concept of “planned obsolescence” is very much alive and well today. If products last forever then the company making it would eventually find itself out of business. But apparently Slava Menn didn’t take the business studies class that explained this fact.

He’s going against the grain with his Kickstarter project to launch Fortified: Bike Lights That Last Forever. While he’s about half way through his crowd funding campaign he’s long since surpassed his goals. The MIT grad is looking to create a line of bike lights that aren’t just durable, but are also theft-proof.

The new concept includes the Aviator, a head light, and the Afterburner tail light. Both feature a water- and shockproof aluminum construction and attach to the bike via a custom security screw – making it very hard for thieves to steal the light. Each of these LED lights is further powered by a lithium-ion battery that can be recharged via USB, and both lights will go the distance. On a single charge the Aviator can run for about 40 hours while the Afterburner won’t burn out for 200+ hours!

Menn knows a thing or two about Kickstarter campaigns too, as he successfully launched The Defender last year and has since sold 5,000 to city cyclists around the world. Now he’s looking to create a street-proof light that is invincible, theft-proof and comes with a lifetime, “no-matter-what-guarantee.” If anyone can deliver on this promise we think Menn is just the man. Video after the jump

Hammer on the Road

Hammering while riding means going all out and possibly a bit more, but the Hammerhead Navigation system could be a way to help you navigate streets and trails with ease. This compact, portable device affixes to the handlebar and guides you via an LED light array.

This system, which communicates with an Android or iOS app via Bluetooth Smart, provides turn-by-turn directions. This can include crowd sourced route suggestions offering the best possible options to get from point A to point B. It is even designed to work with bike share programs including Bixi and B-Cycle.

Hammerhead Navigation is now looking to Dragon Innovation to raise funding.

Hammerhead Dragon Innovation Site

Interbike Preview: Adventure Buds

Music can provide a wonderful backdrop to an outdoor adventure and yurbuds is debuting its new Adventure Line that is geared towards those who like to head off the beaten path. These made their debut at last month’s Summer Outdoor Retailer show but will be at this week’s Interbike.

The new Adventure Line features all yurbuds qualities including a sweat and water resistant design for active use, FlexSoft comfort fit and TwistLock Technology that the company notes is guaranteed to never fall out. Additionally, the Adventure Line has tangle-resistant, rubberized woven cords which increase the water resistance to the IPX 5 level. The housing design and snap fit enhancers provide premium sound quality, and the QuikClik magnets allow for easy storage and access on the go.

Yurbuds Official Website

Ready for the Xventure

Taking the mobile smartphone on the road shouldn’t result in a journey to the store afterward to buy a new handset should the weather turn. The Xventure Smartphone Handlebar Mount from Bracketron offers an ergonomic compartment that is universally designed for smartphones, GPS devices and MP3 players. It even offers a compartment for credit card, some cash or other small items. The Xventure mount is water resistant and yet will allow touchscreen access and control.

Bracketron Official Website

Rugged and Light

Rugged computers, even those in tablet form can often survive just about everything but there is a drawback – namely that these weigh a lot. The new Algiz 7 is a rugged tablet PC that is small, light and yet doesn’t sacrifice on performance. The Algiz 7 features a speedy Intel Atom 1.6 GHz processor, with a massive 128 GB SSD and 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, and even offers a built-in 5-megapixel camera with LED light. All this in a package that weighs less than two and a half pounds.

Algiz 7 Facts and Specs Official Website

Uber Cool

There are plenty of fitness headphones on the market, but MuseMini has delivered what it deems to be the cool UberBuds. These ultra-compact, wireless, tangle-free and Bluetooth 4.0 enabled earbuds allow users to experience music like they never have in a Bluetooth headset with powerful 6mm drivers.

The UberBuds can stream audio from any APTX/AAC compatible device from up to 30 feet away, and the UberBuds SignalROM feature allows the paired device to be anywhere near the body, whether in the user’s pocket or gym bag

These come with a lifetime warranty against sweat, but also feature ear cushions that hug the critical portion of the ear so these will offer a snug fit for those running, skating or riding. The UberBuds offer up to eight hours of play time on a single charge, so most users might give out long before the music stops.

MuseMini UberBuds Official Website

Golf Sense Swings With New Features

Zepp Labs has announced a major update to its mobile swing analyzer system, the GolfSense system, which features a wearable motion sensor along with a free mobile app. This helps golfers analyze and improve their golf swing.

The GolfSense 3.0 version features a SwingScore, which evaluates the quality of each swing based on personal goals; provides a Dashboard that identifies what golfers are doing well and what needs some work; and provides a Lab Reports that analyzes and tracks the trends throughout a session. Those reports can even be shared via social media including Facebook and Twitter. The GolfSense system also lets users isolated a single aspect of the wing via Focus Screens, while the app can track club head and head speed, plus backswing position and even help golfers achieve their ideal swing plane.

GolfSense 3 is available for download from the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or from Google Play for Android mobile devices for free. While this might not get you on the pro tour it might be enough to help you knock a few strokes off on the way to the green.

Zeep GolfSense Official Website

Interbike Preview: Proof of Life

At next week’s Interbike trade show LifeProof will demonstrate its latest iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy SIII and iPad Mini waterproof and shockproof cases. These allow users to have full control of the smartphone/tablet touchscreens while further providing a built-in scratch protector.

In addition the LifeProof Bike Mount allows those devices to go on the ride with you, while further ensuring quick removal with one hand via a quick release. We’ll be sure to check out LifeProof’s latest offerings at Interbike in Las Vegas.

LifeProof Official Website

Console Power

The Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy line of smartphones make good cycling computers, and now Bike2Power has introduced the new BikeConsole Power Plus Rechargeable Mount to protect the handsets. These provide a weatherproof and shock-protected all-in-one solution that also recharges a user’s smartphone while riding. It is sealed against rain, snow, dust, and dirt and can help provide protection from crashes as well.

It provides full phone functionality, and offers a 360 degree swivel design plus a battery backup so you’ll have the juice to go the distance.

Bike2Power Official Website

Toshiba Gets in Rugged Camera Game

Next week at the Interbike trade show we won’t just be seeing bicycles – in recent years more and more consumer electronics makers have been on the show floor with products such as action cameras. Last year Sony and JVC were both there, and we won’t be surprised if Toshiba makes an appearance.

The Japanese CE manufacturer unveiled its new Camileo X-Sports actioncam, which is unique in that it comes with a helmet. The Camileo X-Sports was debuted in Europe this week, not at Eurobike but rather at the IFA 2013 trade show. This means that Toshiba is still aiming at the electronics crowd first.

The device, which does look like a GoPro, offers something GoPro doesn’t – namely a built-in two-inch screen. This camera can shoot at 1080p Full HD at 60fps, and offers an ultra-wide lens. It can also shoot 12megapixel still images. Continue reading Toshiba Gets in Rugged Camera Game

Light Apparel

There have been various attempts to help add some lights to cyclists and runners who might head out at night, and now EroGear is introducing its Fos line of wearable LEDs. These can be programmed to shimmer, offer words and generally make riders a lot more visible.

The system consists of a Velcro-lined fabric patch that contains a super-bright LED grid that can be programmed wirelessly via Bluetooth from a mobile phone or other device.The device reportedly weighs less than a golf ball, but is bright enough that it can be seen even at distance, and can run for several hours on a charge.

The developers are currently looking to Kickstarter to get the light show on the road. Continue reading Light Apparel

Hoop Dreams

Wearable sports technology firm Wireless Sports has announced that the Hoop Tracker is on the court. This is the world’s first basketball watch – and it can deliver in-depth analysis of shooting percentages as data that is obtained from each shooting session can be uploaded to Hoop Tracker’s software to analyze and improve shooting performance.

This system features a lightweight watch worn on your non-shooting wrist, while the shot detector is attached to the rim using the mounting pole, and together this can identify the make or miss of every shot taken.

Data recorded includes where the shot was taken and if the basketball hit the backboard, rim, or activates the internal lever. The only shot not automatically detected is an air ball – but In this case, the player can push the air ball button located on the side of the watch, and record the attempt as a missed shot. All statistics are later uploaded to the Hoop Tracker software for further analysis. Continue reading Hoop Dreams