Gadget | Evolving Consumer

More Than Just Walking and Talking

The concept of Walkie Talkies is so old school, and the new Motorola Talkabout MU350R two-way radios blend powerful wireless communications with practical emergency preparedness features and robust weather-proof housing. These can be paired with a Bluetooth headset, which allows for easy outdoor hands free communication, with the option to monitor radio channels and built-in push-to-talk (PTT) functionality.

The MU350R features Talkabout Clear, which enhances sound quality for clearer transmissions at a higher volume by reducing distortion with a Class D amplifier.

Motorola Talkabout Official Website

Shoot the Can

Shooting cans is a good way to hone your marksmanship, but most communities today probably don’t even like the idea of shooting BBs let along actual guns at targets in the backyard. However, LaserLyte has created a laser training system and now offers a set of Laser Plinking Cans.

When hit with a laser from one of the company’s training tools the cans react and jump just as if it were hit by a projectile. Continue reading Shoot the Can

360 Degrees Takes Flights

There are plenty of action cameras on the market to provide a first person view of your exploits, but EyeSee360 now has two new cameras that provide a panoramic view of the action. The first up is the 360Fly, which is a tennis-ball-sized video camera that can be mounted on a helmet or just left stationary. It captures 360 degrees horizontally and 240 degrees vertically, which is now the widest viewing angle of any camera on the market.

It can capture video at 1,500 x 1,500 at 30 frames per second, is waterproof to five meters and can record for up to two hours.

The other offering is the 360MicroFly, a 360 degree panoramic video lens that can be attached to select smartphones, and is compatible with Android and iOS apps. Both versions will be out later this year to offer 360 degrees of functionality.

360Fly Official Website

Light Time

This long winter has kept many indoors and that means out of the sun. That might not sound so bad, but getting some of the sun’s rays can actually help improve well being. Too much sun and you can burn, even in the winter, but not enough and you might feel downright blue.

So how do you know if you’re getting of the good UV rays? SunSprite is the world’s first wearable device that can track daily light and sun exposure. It can be paired with a smartphone and help users reach personalized goals to get just the right amount of sun to support a healthy lifestyle.

SunSprite, which is now being developed via an Indiegogo crowd funding project, is also unique in wearables in that it tracks the sun’s light and does so through solar power! Video after the jump

Sensors in the Socks

You can smell a sock and know when it needs to be laundered but the Sensoria Fitness Sock by Heapsylon – a so-called smart sock – can do more than tell you it needs to be washed. This sensor-filled sock and attachable anklet can be paired with a smart phone and help coach users on their running technique.

The Heapsylon sock utilizes e-textile sensors, which can count steps, measure speed, track calories, distance and even altitude. There are plenty of heart rate monitors and step counters that can do that already, but this sensor can also track cadence and foot landing technique and even weight distribution on the foot, which can help runners know what they’re doing right and wrong.

Now that’s a smart sock! Continue reading Sensors in the Socks

Logical Lights

It is just logical to have a light when riding at night, and BioLogic has released the Argus LED, a pair of safety lights that offer 60 degrees of adjustability — vertically and horizontally — which allow riders to aim the light exactly where it is needed so that they can be seen.

Sold as a matched pair of white and red for front and rear use, the Argus LED include a flexible mounting strap allows placement on handlebars, seatposts, helmets, or bags. These lights feature a precision machined aluminum body with weatherproof seals, while flanges in the sides allow for visibility to side-coming traffic.

BioLogic Official Website

Tagged!

Laser tag is a good way to get kids away from the video games and get them actually moving around, but that typically means heading to somewhere to play or buying expensive equipment. Skirmos has launched a Kickstarter campaign to develop an open source laser tag system that allows players to create their own electronic battlefield.

It all is built around a white laser tag gun (seen above), which has been designed so that cannot be easily mistaken for a real weapon. We know some parents might not like the concept of a gun in any shape or form for kids, but this one features a transparent design with RGB LEDs that change colors, and the developers have vowed to never make these look like real firearms.

The gun will feature an LCD HUD that can track objectives, timers, ammo and even health as well as “kills/deaths.” This is a war game after all, and one that should get the kids’ hearts racing in a good way. It could be the ultimate first person shooter. Video after the jump

Fly It On

It seems everyone is creating wearable fitness trackers for the wrist. However, the designer of the Flyfit is now looking to have cyclists, runners and swimmers put in the ankles instead!

Designer Jimmy Leu, who has taken his concept to Kickstarter, believes that the wrists are not exactly the optimal place to track body movement while exercising. By placing a monitor on the ankle it can better track movement and even different kinds of leg activity. It can thus track cycling rotation and cadence, swim leg strokes and steps taken while running or jogging. It can then stream the data collected via Bluetooth to an Android or iOS device on the fly. Video after the jump

Take Two for the Fēnix 2

Garmin has athletes covered with numerous GPS sports watches and for 2014 the fēnix 2 will ensure that wearers find their way again. This new updated model has more focus on fitness and is designed to be paired with the HRM-Run monitor that tracks heart rate, cadence, vertical oscillation and ground contact time. This can be used to help trail runners and those looking to cross train.

The watch can also estimate a user’s maximum oxygen consumption to evaluate fitness level and even calculate the recovery time post workout.

New training modes for various sports are included and this includes those hitting the pool or the slopes. The ski-board mode can track speed, distance and vertical drop; while in the pool it can track stroke count, interval distance, pace and time. This durable watch is scratch and water-resistant, and can withstand pressure up to 50 meters.

Other features include an altimeter, barometer and compass.

Garmin fēnix 2 Official Website

Weekend Reading List (03.08.2014): Enough Already, Protesting, Tracking the Field

Enough Already

From Bicycle Retailer: U.S. Transportation Secretary says he won’t tolerate ‘crisis’ in bicyclist deaths
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said Tuesday that he won’t tolerate an increase in bicyclist and pedestrian deaths. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (03.08.2014): Enough Already, Protesting, Tracking the Field

Olympus Toughen’s Up

This month Olympus shows that it is still going tough. The Olympus TOUGH STYLUS TG-850, which comes out this month (MSRP: $249.99) can record video with natural motion via 60p recording at 60fps in Full HD 1080p, as well as high-speed via 120 fps at 640 x 480 or 240 fps at 320 x 240.

But more importantly this one lives up to its name. It is waterproof, shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof, and dustproof camera employs True-Pic VII processor and wide-angle 21–105 mm 5x optical zoom lens. Other features include 180 degree flip LCD monitor and 16 MP backlit CMOS sensor.

Olympus TOUGH STYLUS TG-850 Official Website

Paul Mounts Up

Paul Components has introduced a new bicycle Camera Mount that is designed to securely attach a GoPro camera to the top of a threadless stem. This mount is compatible with all HERO3, HERO2, and HD HERO Original GoPro cameras.

It is designed to replace the top cap of a 1 1/8-inch threadless stem and provides a way for the camera to view across the top of the handlebars and down the trail. The Paul Components’ Camera Mount can be attached directly to the camera’s case for a solid connection, or it can also be fitted with an articulated GoPro Pivot Arm for added adjustability.

Paul Component Official Website

Ricoh Out With Rugged Cameras

Ricoh has the camera to reach for on your next adventure. The company has introduced three new rugged cameras that include the WG-4 GPS, WG-4 and WG-20 – all of which will work with a new action-oriented mounting system. These actually build on the Pentax WG line, which makes sense as Ricoh bought the Japanese camera maker in 2011. The Ricoh name will now be used for compact cameras such as these.

The camera lineup includes the WG-4 and WG-4 GPS, each of which feature a 16megapixel CMOS sensor and sensor shift shake reduction. Each can shoot Full HD 1080p video at 30fps, and both are waterproof to 45 feet, shock resistant to just over six feet, and are crushproof to 220 pounds. These are even ideal winter sports cameras as they can endure temperatures to 14 degrees F! The WG-4/WG-4 GPS features a three inch LCD display, and offer a ring of six LED marco lights as well as traditional flash. The WG-4 GPS includes a GPS unit (obviously enough) to record position data and a travel log data.

The WG-20 has many of the features of the above models, but is meant as the introductory version. It is waterproof to 33 feet, shock resistant to five feet, but still crushproof to 220 pounds and can endure up to 14 degrees F. It is smaller than the WG-4 and can shoot HD video at 720p at 30 fps. It features a 14megapixel CCD sensor and has a 2.7 inch LCD screen.

All three cameras are also compatible with Ricoh’s new mounting systems that includes a handlebar mount, suction cup mount and adhesive mount. Mount up and reach for one of these Ricoh cameras.

Ricoh Official Website