Gadget | Evolving Consumer

Move Your Mbody

There is no shortage of shorts that provide compression, but the Mbody system from Myontec does much more than just provide some compression to the legs. These Finnish made athletic shorts are designed to get you across the finish line by helping track your muscle activity.

The MShorts as these are called are equipped with an Mcell module that plugs into the apparel and displays the processed data on a mobile device. The sensors monitor that activity of the quadriceps and hamstrings and transmitted to a user’s Android mobile device. This allows users to tell if one leg is working harder than the other and allows users to change up their activity as necessary.

Mbody Official Website

GoPro to GoPublic

Rugged go-anywhere camera maker GoPro is known going places – and now it is going public. The company announced an initial public offering for Friday. GoPro had filed its IPO confidentially so that it means its financials are still secret, but this could be big for the company.

It shot to fame in recent years thanks to its Hero line of rugged cameras and this IPO could indeed make it a hero for investors.

GoPro Official Website
[Via Fortune: GoPro plans IPO]

Voombox Brings the Noise

A boombox will let you get “the party started,” but the Divoom Voombox Outdoor speak might just let you take it on the go. This 15w water resistant Bluetooth speaker is designed specifically for rugged conditions while offering a 12-hour battery life. It features a durable, water resistant design and can stream music wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.0.

The speaker offers twin two-inch drivers along with one tweeter and two passive radiators – enough to fill a room or outdoor area with the tunes. Continue reading Voombox Brings the Noise

Sole(us) to Go

Sports watch and GPS maker Soleus has introduced a fitness tracker wristband. The Soleus GO! works much like similar devices and can track daily activities as well as sleep cycles. It can tack steps taken and calories burned, while a vibration alert can notify wearers when it is time to get moving. It can sync with a mobile device, while an app can log activity, plus it even show incoming calls and messages on its OLED display.

“At Soleus, we started the company around meeting the needs of the athlete with quality performance and style at an affordable cost,” said David Arnold, founder and CEO of Soleus. “Our core values are attributed to supplying athletes the most advanced tools they need to achieve their goals. At the same time, we want to help people everywhere enhance their life with activity. We spent a lot of time and research to develop the most comprehensive activity tracker that monitors and records the most important aspects of daily life while incorporating the wearable technology features for everyone on the go.”

The device arrives in retail today.

Soleus Official Website

Taking AIMe

An action camera is great for providing a first person view of the action and it can even be used with various accessories to put the user in the action – creating a third person perspective as well. But if you want to track the action you likely need a cameraman to step in.

The alternative might be the AIMe from JigaBot, which works much like a robotic tripod. The company unveiled this product last month at CES and also took it on the road to the Outdoor Retailer Show. This device is designed to work with most action cameras and even camera phones and it features steel ball bearings inside that let the unit turn and even tilt to 240 degrees to capture a range of action. An internal sensor works with an infrared-equipped remote beacon to track the subject. No cameraman required. Video after the jump

Pyle It On

Pyle Audio has introduced the Bluetooth Heart Rate Monitor and Watch (PSBTHR70), which measures heart rate, average speed, distance traveled, number of steps taken, lap speeds and calorie consumption. This data can be wirelessly transmitted – by Bluetooth of course – to various third party apps on compatible Android and iOS devices. Supported apps include RunKeeper, MapMyRun and WahooFitness among others.

This watch, which is available in black, green, blue or pink for around $70, can display time in a 12 or 24 hour format and features optional hourly chimes and daily alarms, as well as a built-in calendar system. Continue reading Pyle It On

Unbundled Trainer Accessories

Indoor trainer maker Kinetic announced a new pricing structure for its inRide Watt Meter and Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Strap. While previously sold together each is now available as two separately packaged products. While bundled together for $229, consumers can now purchases the inRide Watt Meter for $159, while the Kinetic Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Strap has a suggested retail of $70.

“We’re listening to cyclists,” explained David Simpson, Kinetic’s marekting manager. “Quite a few already have heart rate straps, offering the inRide pod separately saves them money and eliminates the redundancy of purchasing a second one. As for customers who only want a heart rate strap, ours is a great option that is compatible with inRide and over 50 different fitness Apps.”

Introduced in 2012 the Kinetic inRide is compatible with all Kinetic fluid trainers, while the inRide app offers five different data screens, allowing riders to focus on wattage or heart rate with features such as time-in-zone measurement, programmable rider data, calorie burn, and ride history. The Kinetic Bluetooth 4.0 Heart Rate Strap wirelessly pairs with the free Kinetic inRide App, as well as any of over 50 popular fitness Apps, including Strava and MapMyRide, to measure heart rate.

Kinetic Trainers Official Website

LeMond Powers Up

With winter in full fear many cyclists are likely stuck on trainers. But LeMond is now offering an optional wireless power meter attachment for its LeMond Revolution stationary trainers. This add-on, which will retail for around $250, will help cyclists monitor their power a little more closely.

The WattBox, which can connect to a smartphone app and bike computer via ANT+, can calculate wattage based on the trainer’s wind resistance unit, and take into account air temperature, humidity and altitude. This can in turn provide an accurate reading based on the amount of air moved by the resistance unit’s fan.

“Now anyone with a LeMond Revolution trainer can effectively gauge their output,” said company founder Greg LeMond. “Research in cycling performance always brings us back to the most critical reading, which is wattage,” LeMond said. “Knowing this number and working with it opens the door to knowledge and improved riding. By creating the WattBox, we are putting the processor in the WattBox unit, which allows any software update in the future or a small hardware change.”

LeMond Official Website

Horny Light

The Orp is making some noise. Launched via a Kickstarter project this is the first bicycle light that integrates a dual-tone horn – emitting 76 or 96 decibels of sound to alert cars, pedestrians, runners and other cyclists. As a light it can also blast out 87 lumens.

Orp Official Website

Shimano Gets in on the Action

This month Shimano announced that it was entering the action camera market. The CM-1000 Sport Camera (MSRP: $299) will be available in May and is the first product from the company’s Lifestyle Gear Division, which targets both the fishing and cycling markets, and will be able to be integrated with existing Shimano electronics.

This HD camera can record video and stills, and features an F2.0 lens that will be good for low-light conditions, and offers dual, standard angle 135 degree and super wide 180 degree modes, while also providing a 90 degree increment auto-image rotation. That feature will allow users to flip the camera and still maintain a horizontal image plane.

The CM-1000 weighs in at 86 grams and will be waterproof to 10 meters without an external case. It offers ANT+ wireless connectivity as well as Wi-Fi and works with its own Android and iOS apps.

Shimano Official Website

Shimano Cuts the Cord

Shimano announced this week that it has cut the cord on its electronic shifting system. The company has introduced a new wireless device that will connect its Di2 groups, and this will sync with the new Shimano PRO computer via ANT+.

The Di2 Wireless Unit (Shimano product SM-EWW01) will be compatible with Dura-Ace 9070, Ultegra 6870 Di2 and Ultegra 6770 E-tube road shifting systems. This Di2 Wireless Unit is powered by the same Di2 battery that powers the Di2 shifting system.

Shimano Official Website

Mobile Running Coach

Sometimes a good coach can motivate you to work harder and go further. Since not everyone can have such a coach the Personal Running Trainer app will be there instead. Designed to help beginning runners train for distance running it provides professional and motivational coaching instructions that voices over personalized music selection, and with this is there to tell you when to change pace and when to rest.

Users can even track other runners using the same program. It is the next best thing to your own coach, and this app is available in nine languages and for Android and iOS devices.

Personal Running Trainer Official Website

Reign It In

There may be a new fitness monitor that is looking to take the top spot. The Reign Activity Tracker from Jaybird rules by providing more flexibility – not so much in letting you slack off in your workouts, but rather by featuring materials that shape to your wrist over time. There are eight interchangeable size options and this provides just enough customization. This activity monitor is compatible with Android, iOS and web apps and features wireless connectivity. It tracks your sleep and daily activities and helps you “reign” in your workout.

Jaybird Reign Activity Tracker Official Website