Gadget | Evolving Consumer

More Monkey Business

We first heard about the MonkeyLectric system that lights up bicycle wheels last fall, and now the company has looked to Kickstarter to kick start its efforts to bring more colorful designs to a road near you. The company is looking to create web-based software that will allow riders to create images and animations that can be seen in the wheels.

The Monkey Light Pro system is designed to be waterproof, durable and designed for use on city streets. The technology, which is being designed and manufactured in California, reportedly adds just 500 grams to the bike and can run for three to eight hours at full brightness – based on what graphics are shown.

Does anyone need this? No, but it does sound like an interesting way to get your message out there. Video after the jump

The iScope

Not everyone can be born to be a crack shot ala Sgt. Alvin York, but now there is an app out there that might help you better site the target. The Inteliscope mount system attaches and iPhone or iPod Touch to any firearm with a Pictatinny (Mil-STD-1913) or Weaver tactical rail.

The onscreen, heads-up display of the Inteliscope app features selectable crosshairs, 5X digital zoom, video record and playback, sight-in with ballistics and windage data, and even offers a built-in compass. There is GPS positioning, and this app features a shot timer as well as 5X zoom. There is even a flashlight and strobe as well.

This system features high-strength composite-reinforced polymer and ruggedized tactile rubber finish with quick-release portable protective cover. There is an adjustable mount position and the handset can be used in either portrait or landscape orientation.

About the only thing this system won’t do is pull the trigger for you.

Inteliscope Official Website

Secure Liberty

While not everyone likes guns, even gun owners agree that having a quality way to secure them up is a good idea. Liberty Safe has introduced the latest addition to its line of portable and wireless alarm system. The SafElert is a compact 3x2x1-inch wireless high-tech communication device that can be employed almost anywhere. While ideal for helping secure a firearm, it could be used with the liquor cabinet, dresser drawers or in other applications.

The alarm and reports can be sent as texts or emails through a home’s Wi-Fi system, or sent via email messaging to a mobile phone via the Elertus Cloud service. Up to five people can receive this information as well The alarm can notify the users if any safe or door is jarred, hit, pried, moved, opened or over-heated. The system can also report on weekly humidity to help users know that their treasured positions are in good order.

Liberty Safe Official Website

Stem Ware

Paul Component Engineering is offering an alternative way to mount a GoPro on a bike. Not on the helmet or the handlebars but on the stem. This can allow the bars to be in the shot and thus get a sense of being in the action while watching the video. The Camera Mount also allows for the camera to be more centered in the action. It is compatible with all HERO3, HERO2, and HD HERO Original GoPro cameras.

So regardless of why, it now can be done and done right. Video after the jump

Velodroom Stop Light

We’ve been seeing a number of concepts that change the way those blinky lights for cyclists work. The latest twist comes from Velodroom, which offers a light that has no on/off switch but like the LucidBRAKE utilizes a built-in accelerometer to detect movement and braking. When slowing down the light offers a bright warning to those behind, just like a car’s brakelight.

This system also features a built-in light sensor that can adjust the brightness to the surroundings and can help save the battery. Video after the jump

Light Bar

A built-in bike light seems like a good idea, and while we seen systems that integrate the lights into the stem, the Helios Bars are more than just a built-in light. These do provide proximity lighting that allows the bike to automatically turn on or off when the rider is near, and provide turn singles to help drivers know what you’re about to do. But the Helios Bars also provide GPS tracking via SMS from anywhere in the United States, where users can receive coordinates of the bike via Google Maps.

These bars also offer a visual speedometer, and can provide turn-by-turn navigation when synced with a mobile phone via Bluetooth 4.0. There is even ambient lighting options to set the mood while riding. Video after the jump

Charge of the Light Battery

If you’re riding with a light system that includes a battery power you could have an extra way to give your phone the juice it might need. This is the concept behind Sigma Sport’s IICON cable that allows users to power up their mobile phones, cameras and GPS units via the battery pack.

The IICON attaches to the IION/IION XL battery pack and a red LED indicator light shows that the device is being charged. The IICON is completely watertight for use even in damp conditions. Now this is still a robbing Peter to pay Paul type situation, especially if you need to ride home and actually need the light but sometimes being able to make that call can be a godsend!

Sigma Sports Official Website

Sony Handset Ready to Get Wet

Water doesn’t go so well with most mobile phones, but a lot of people use their handset to snap photos. If a day at the beach or pool is how to you plan this spend this summer than perhaps you should consider the Sony Xperia ZR “waterproof” mobile smartphone. This Android-powered device can snap photos and even Full HD videos underwater.

It features a 13megapixel camera along with a 4.6-inch HD Reality display. This is also a serious phone, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5 GHz process and runs on the 4G LTE networks. But for those who like to get wet this might be a smart phone indeed. Video after the jump

Motor Boat

We’ve seen a serious movement in providing electrical power for bicycles, and now the Mokai Motorized Kayak is bringing the juice to personal watercraft. The kayaks are powered by a 4-stroke Subaru EX21 electric start engine that is couple with the proprietary jet drive.

The Mokai Motorized Kayaks are good to get those places where paddling just won’t do, allowing users to reach remote camping sites, fish or hunt down stream. With this kayak you could find yourself up the river without a paddle and that wouldn’t be a problem.

Mokai Official Website

Not Out of Reach

When you are out of cellular range you don’t need to be out of luck if you have the DeLorme inReach SE, the satellite communicator that allows you to type, send and receive, track and even send out an SOS all from a single device. This promises off-the-grid communication without the need for a special satellite phone.

The inReach SE is ready for adventure, and is waterproof, dustproof, and impact-resistant, with a color screen, GPS, and a battery that lasts for up to 100 hours. As with past models it can be used to share GPS coordinates to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and can send and receive texts or trigger an SOS that can go to the company’s 24/7 search and rescue monitoring center. It can even pair with a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth to provide even more features. With this device at hand’s reach you’ll be sure you can reach help if you really need it.

DeLorme inReach SE Official Website

Life Saving Tablet

The iPad might be good for Facetime and Angry Birds, but will it help actually save your life? Is there an app for that? Probably not, especially if there isn’t Wi-Fi, cellular towers and power. The Earl Backcountry Survival Tablet is for those times, and it is designed specifically for use in the wilds.

The 1,024×768 six inch flexible E-Ink screen, which provides visibility in direct sunlight as well as a “Lunar” mode for viewing at night, features a glove friendly infrared touchscreen as well as a gyroscope so it can work in a variety of conditions. The screen can even be used as a lantern during an emergency. Laminated solar panels provide up to 20 hours of battery, and the device can charge in just five hours of direct sun light.

The Earl Backcountry Survival Tablet features an IP67 rating and is waterproof, dust-proof, shock-proof and even mud-proof. It offers an internal weather sensor, a FRS, GMRS and MURS transceiver for use as a two-way radio; plus it offers a built-in AM/FM/SW/LW radio tuner. It includes GPS and Bluetooth 4.0, and it runs on Android 4.1 so yeah, it probably can even play Angry Birds while you wait for rescue.

Earl Backcountry Survival Tablet Official Website

Polaroid Gets Wet and Rugged

Polaroid made quite a name for itself with its instant film photos, and while those have faded away – much like many of the actual photos – the company lives on (and it does still offer an instant print digital camera). It introduced the new XS80 action camera, which joins Polaroid’s extensive product offerings.

This action camera stands out, not only because it offers the ability to take 1080p video at 30FPS, and can features tough waterproof housing with anti-shake technology that is impact and shock-resistant, but this go anywhere camera is priced at just $129.99. For that price you might not worry so much that it can’t endure an adventure. Specs and features after the jump

Remote Control

A smartphone on a bike ride can do many smartphones but only if it is accessible. Reaching to the back pocket while riding down the road isn’t exactly a good idea, but the Dew Motion iStick Playtime can provide access and control of many app features for an iPhone – with an Android version in the works.

The iStick, which is currently looking to crowd funding site Indiegogo to roll this one out, is designed as a wrist wearable controller that pairs with the handset via Bluetooth 4.0. This allows wearers to answer phone calls and control various apps. Video after the jump