Category: Gadget

Catch the Drift HD-170 Actioncam

In the past couple of years the helmet-mountable GoPro HERO HD camera has caught a lot of attention, but now Drift Innovation is looking to turn heads with a smaller version of its HD-170, making for the former model’s shortcomings.

The new Drift HD features a swiveling 170-degree lens, and is actually sleeker than the previous models, and it already seems less bulky than the GoPro. The Drift HD features a color LCD screen, wireless start/stop remote control, manual iris option and offers full HD 1080p resolution. In addition there is an external 2.5mm mic port.

The new Drift HD also goes a step further than the GoPro offering replaceable lenses, which could come in very handy for those who like to risk life and limb getting the perfect shot. This camera can also do double duty and take 9megapixel still images, supports microSD cards up to 32GB, and is compatible with PCs and Macs. The Drift HD will be available at the end of the month (MSRP $369). This is a drift that those looking to chronicle their activities will want to catch.

Drift HD Official Website
[Via Gizmag: Drift Innovation releasing smaller HD actioncam]

New Smart Phone, Same Velotrac Pak!

Almost anyone who has purchased a new phone knows the frustration of having to also purchase all new accessories. The ‘smarter’ the smart phone, the more expensive the accessories seem to be. The Velotrac Pak from VeloTrac Ventures, LLC based in Mission Viejo, CA has come to the rescue for those who like to mount their iPhone, Blackberry or Droid on their bike.

The Velotrac Pak is a soft side Nylon pack that mounts to the top tube of a bike using a three point strap system keeping the phone in easy reach of the rider. The top of the pack has a separate zipper compartment with a clear vinyl window that the smart phone is enclosed while on the bike. This vinyl window not only protects the smart phone, but also allows the user to interact with the phone while riding. Under the smart phone compartment is a larger zipper compartment for easy storage of your keys, wallet, PowerBar or anything else that is small in size which you need for your ride. The Velotrac Pak is a weather resistant pack meaning that it should handle some rain, but probably will not keep water out if the pack is submerged in water.

(Video after the jump)

Continue reading New Smart Phone, Same Velotrac Pak!

BackTrack Your Workouts to Review Miles

When you get home from a workout, do you want to review every step you took? The BackTrack D-Tour from Bushnell is a GPS device with just such a function. Clip this on your body and it tracks your movement, speed and other variables that you can upload to your computer and review all your stats and check out your distance on Google Maps. You can also share your workout results on various social networks.

The ruggedized device is weather resistant and can stand up to inclement weather including rain. It has a self-calibrating digital compass, time, temperature and altimeter. Even if you venture into territory where cell phones won’t get a signal, the BackTrack D-Tour won’t miss a step.

The D-Tour runs on Windows (XP SP1 or later) and MAC (10.49 or later) and takes three AAA batteries. It measures distances in yards/miles or meters/kilometers depending on your desired settings. It’s available for abou$120.

BackTrack D-Tour web page.

 

Pentax Lets You Flex Your Sense of Adventure

I love to see the world at 21mph. There are so many interesting things to see when you are on a bike, but for years it wasn’t so easy to take along a camera, let alone snap a good photo whilst riding.

With the advent of high quality camera-phones, I have become a bit of a photographer too, and I have taken thousands of pictures in last few years. Most of my digital pictures merely document where I’ve been or what I’m doing but, every once in a while, I get a great shot. Every once in a while, I get that photo that ends up as the wallpaper on my computer for the next few months, but most of the time I end up with photos I wouldn’t share with the world. Continue reading Pentax Lets You Flex Your Sense of Adventure

VEA Sport Watch Does More

We’ve seen a lot of watches, and it isn’t that uncommon to have a device strapped to your wrists that can tell time, include alarms and even have a calculator (how 1980s is that). Much of this technology can now be included in mobile phones, so many people have stopped wearing high-tech watches altogether. That is until you want to work out, then the phone becomes the hassle and the watch is more useful – especially with the calorie counting and heart rate monitor functionality.

But now French-based VEA is rolling out a fitness watch that could make you want to ditch the mobile phone when you workout. The VEA Sportive Mobile Watch actually features a built-in MP3 player, pulse rate monitor, camera and even basic phone functionality. It is Bluetooth compatible, offers 8GB of storage and has an SOS button should you need to call for help.

However, you’ll have to run to Europe to get one. It will be released later this month for €399, but that price will reportedly run up to €499 in September, so if you’re a gadget connoisseur you might want to act now.

VEA Digital Official Website
[Via Engadget: VEA’s Sportive mobile watch is for those with money, calories to burn]

Magellan Introduces RV GPS Device

Getting to a good place to ride or hike might take you off the beaten path, and Magellan has you covered. The GPS maker has teamed up with The Good Sam Club to bring out a GPS unit designed for recreational vehicle enthusiasts. The RoadMate Pro 9165T GPS features an HD 7-inch touch screen with heavy duty extension mount, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling through a speakerphone and free lifetime traffic alerts.

The new GPS device combines the core strengths of Magellan, the Good Sam Club, the world’s largest RV Owner’s organization and the Trailer Life RV Parks & Campground Directory. The Directory, a must-have tool for RVers, provides over 11,700 comprehensive listings for the U.S. and Canada which includes: WiFi and internet access, pet-friendly campground locations, the Good Sam Club discount locations, Trailer Life’s exclusive triple rating system, and other points of interest specific to RVers. Continue reading Magellan Introduces RV GPS Device

Surfboards Catch a Wave of Innovation

Surfboards might seem like simple pieces of wood – basically they are boards right? Well, there has been much innovation, and today surfboards are made of composite materials and can be highly crafted machines – yes, machines even as some new boards now include motors. Continue reading Surfboards Catch a Wave of Innovation

Sony Ericsson Xperia Active for Android-Loving Fitness and Outdoors Buffs

Sony Ericsson Xperia Active

It’s a given that cell phones tend not to play well with the Earth’s elements, but whether it’s summer at the beach or a bike ride down a muddy trail, Sony Ericsson’s good-looking Xperia Active smartphone is designed to take a beating.

Rugged cell phones aren’t new, and the Xperia Active also isn’t the first rugged Android-based smartphone, either (Motorola and Casio have them). But the Xperia Active targets those with a fitness-focused lifestyle. Besides being water- and dust-resistant, the Xperia Active is ANT+ compliant for use with other compatible products such as exercise equipment and pulse monitors. Other sporty features include a Gear Kit that comes with an arm case, wrist strap, and headphones with ear straps; fitness-related apps; GPS, barometer, and compass functionality; and a screen that’s usable even when your fingers are wet.

Beneath its ruggedness is a full-featured Android smartphone that runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). It’s powered by a 1-gigahertz processor and features a 3-inch, 320×480 display with what Sony Ericsson calls the Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine. You can shoot videos in high definition, and you can download apps as you would with any Android phone. It’s slightly on the thick side, but what you sacrifice in size you get in protection (it is lighter than an iPhone 4, however, which is good news for those who don’t like being bogged down by stuff).

No pricing or market announcements have been made, yet, and there’s a chance it could never make it onto our shores. If it does, look for it in the third quarter of this year.

SONY ERICSSON XPERIA ACTIVE

Get Up and GoTality

Performance Designed Products (PDP) has made it easier to get up and go, and to turn your iPod or iPhone into a fitness monitoring device. The GoTality is a cardio fitness kit that is compatible for all models of the iPhone as well as iPhone, and the complete package, which is available now for $59.99, includes a clip-on heart rate monitor and reflective exercise armband that keeps the device snug while you’re off on the go.

The GoTality app essentially works with an ear clip that can track the distance a user runs or steps taken, while also tracking biometric data including heart rate, basal metabolic rate and even Body Mass Index (BMI). Of course what’s a heart rate monitor that can’t keep track of calories burned? This one will do that can even calculate fitness zone and help users determine the ideal work out levels.

Users can set fitness goals, and exercise programs that are tailored to specific needs, and with an iPhone there is even GPS provided to complement the built-in pedometer so you can see where you went and track your progress on a map. Did we say it is time to get GoTality?

GoTality Official Website

Avoid Bang-ups with the HeadsUp System

You are driving home after a long road trip and all that is on your mind is a plate of food and a hot shower. As you turn down your street and push the button for your garage door opener, you zip into the garage just like you would any day after work…but this time you hear a crunch and have that horrible, sinking feeling in your stomach. Your $3000 bike now looks like a metal pretzel and you could literally cry.

Roof racks on cars is such a convenient way to transport your bike, but sometimes really bad and costly accidents occur that could easily be avoided through the use of a small reminder to ‘stop’ before entering your garage. A new wireless visual and audio system is shipping in July to help you avoid this type of situation. The HeadsUp System, founded by two cyclists in Colorado, is designed as a complete solution to avoid the dreaded ‘crunch’. Continue reading Avoid Bang-ups with the HeadsUp System

First Impressions: NightWave Nightlight Puts You to Sleep

All my life I’ve had trouble sleeping. By now most nights are better, but there are nights I’m up to see the sunrise, and not because I slept like a baby all night. The problem is that my mind races the second I turn out the light, and I can’t stop it. At some point I learned to concentrate on breathing, using a relaxing breath that ends just about every Yoga class.

That’s the concept behind NightWave. Thought at first you have to wonder, how is a light going to help me get to sleep? NightWave is a device that projects a blue light on the ceiling or wall of your bedroom. Set for sleep mode, it runs for seven or 25 minutes. A blue light brightens and dims at a regular pace that suggests a rate for you to breathe. In addition to the light being suspect, you keep your eyes open to watch the light for this time interval.

Last night I turned it on the normal sleep mode, which runs for seven minutes. I kept my breathing in time with the light, though I found that a little faster than I might time my breaths. I also tend to close my eyes to breathe, and kept wanting to do so. For the first night I found my mind a bit distracted by the device. I think it will be easier to focus tonight. I also plan to try the 25-minute mode, which has slower light intervals for longer breathing. Continue reading First Impressions: NightWave Nightlight Puts You to Sleep

Polar Brings Out WearLink+ Bluetooth

This week Polar USA announced the release of the new WearLink+ transmitter with Bluetooth, which seems to be the hot new thing in heart rate monitors this week. And the Polar version will work with Anrdoid and Symbian smartphones, allowing users to have the ability to use their handset to track their heart rate and fitness progress.

The Polar WearLink+ will work with mobile training applications including RunKeeper, Sports Tracker and Endomond, and get precise data while working out. After each training session, users can share workout data and examine their heart rate and training intensity in greater detail through the web services of their application provider.

Continue reading Polar Brings Out WearLink+ Bluetooth

Blaze a Virtual Bike in the Bike Lane

Back in 2009 there was LightLane, which provided a virtual bike cast as an image just ahead of you while you rode. Now there is Blaze, a handlebar-mounted laser that projects a personal bike lane marker. Developed by University of Brighton student Emily Brooke in the U.K., her concept could do what LightLane never did – that is actually make it to critical mass.

While Ms. Brooke still has yet to bring her product to market as well, it seems like a winner to use. The battery power Blaze essentially projects a bright green laser image, which is bright enough to be seen in daylight, of a bike onto the road ahead, warning drivers that you could be in their blind spot. Brooke reportedly consulted with road safety practitioners, Brighton & Hove City Council, the Brighton & Hove Bus Company as well as psychologists who specialize in driving.

Brooke’s idea reportedly won her a place on the Entrepreneurship Program at Babson College in Massachusetts, and hopefully this would be enough to make sure that future riders don’t win the “door prize.”

[Via BikeBiz: A bike lane on your handlebars]