When you aren’t near an AC outlet and don’t have time for solar charging you might worry that your smartphone can’t go the distance. The Mophie Juice Pack Pro Outdoor Edition will ensure that the iPhone 4/4S can remain powered up while on the go. This case helps extend the battery life while protecting the handset. It offers rain and splash, as well as sand and dust protection, and features an impact resistant design that exceeds military specifications (MIL-STD 810G). More importantly it offers a large battery along with a belt clip so you’ll have the device handy and ready to use. Video after the jump
Category: GPS
Android GPS
Today Garmin announced the Monterra, the company’s first Wi-Fi-enabled outdoor handheld GPS unit that combines Garmin’s powerful location and mapping capabilities with the versatility of Google’s Android operating system.
From this device users will have easy access the Google Play Store, and can download apps through an available WiFi connection right onto their outdoor optimized Garmin handheld, offering a new ways to explore the great outdoors, The Garmin Monterra is rugged and features an IPX7 waterproof rating, while also offering a backlight LED display that only needs to be turned on in low light conditions. Continue reading Android GPS
The Touring Edge
Garmin has shown the way for many serious riders, but now the company is looking to help the touring riders find their way as well. Garmin is bringing out a full featured navigation model for bicycle touring.
The Garmin Edge Touring won’t offer such things as power data but instead will provide complete mapping tailored to those who want to get out and explore the world on their bike. This will include turn-by-turn directions, while the unit will come with preloaded routes and is compatible with Garmin Connect and Garmin Adventure.
[Via BikeRumor: GARMIN EDGE TOURING GPS BICYCLE COMPUTER SPOTTED]
Nike Golf App Goes 360 Again
Wherever your travels take you the Nike Golf NG360 app will be there with you. The new app, which launched in the United States last May, will now be able to track rounds on more than 30,000 courses in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Sweden and France. Available for iOS it can provide golfers with an innovative digital tool for swing analysis, game tracking and gear recommendations.
The app allows golfers to score rounds and track various statistics including scoring average, driving accuracy, greens in regulation and average putts per round. The NG360 app allows golfers to see how they stack up by monitoring results and beating their personal bests.
The training section also helps golf athletes get into golf shape thanks to Nike Golf’s partnership with the Gray Institute, the foremost leader in Applied Functional Science. The Gray Institute has developed the NG360 Functional Performance System that is tailored to golf movements that the body makes, a clear distinction from other training systems; while golfers can also navigate the latest Nike Golf products in the app that are suitable to their needs. These include the Nike Golf Ball Recommender, which makes it easy for golfers to find the right ball for their game, while athletes can get dialed from tee to green, driver setting recommendations and game analysis are included in the app.
Bar Fly Goes Off Road
We didn’t think “bar flies” tend to leave the bar, but in the case of the Bar Fly handlebar mount for cycling computers the company has looked to change things up. To date Bar Fly has been focused on computer mounts for the road, where the mount put the computer out in front of the bar so as to be better seen. This isn’t quite so ideal on mountain bikes, and now the company appears to be developing a MTB-specific Garmin mount – one that holds the computer securely to the handlebars while making it easy to see.
Pentax Rugged GPS Ready to Go
A camera can often help save memories of those trips you made, and the Pentax WG-3 is a rugged camera that will be available in both non-GPS and GPS version. If features a f/2.0 aperture wide-angle lens with 4x optical zoom, a back-illuminated 16MP CMOS sensor, and Pentax’s sensor-shift Shake Reduction, which should help provide great photos with little noise. This camera is waterproof and can withstand 220 foot pounds of force, so it is ready for the adventure.
Rino Radio
Getting off the grid and away from it all is good in theory, but perhaps a little communication isn’t such a bad idea. This is where the Garmin RINO 655t GPS/2-way radio comes in quite well. It can put TOPO maps, FRS/GMRS radio, altimeter, compass and weather radio right in the palm of your hand.
The NOAA weather can alert you to incoming storms, while the waterproof design is up to IPX7 standards so it can endure a storm or two. There is even a built-in 5-megapixel autofocus camera with automatic geotagging functionality.
There are times to leave the iPhone and other handsets at home, but this is one radio you shouldn’t go into the wilds without.
Soul to Soleus
The “soul” of a cycling computer these days could just be the GPS functionality that connects with a higher plane. The Soleus Draft , which is the sport watch maker’s first foray into cycling, can track current/average/max speed, calories burned and distance. It isn’t compatible with heart rate monitors so we could say this one is lacking “heart” but with its ability to provide the data via GPS in a $99 device who needs heart?
Jet Powered Glasses
Recon Instruments have introduced a range of heads-up displays that can be used for skiing and snowboarding as well as skydiving. These can provide speed, distance and other useful information. However, the goggles for skiing aren’t exactly going to work while running on the beach.
To this end Recon has gotten Jet powered, and has introduced a stylish pair of sun glasses that provide the same heads-up display but in a much smaller package. These were revealed at the Google I/O event last month.
The Jet features a dual-core processor, dedicated graphics, GPS, HD camera, speaker and microphone. The glasses offer wireless connectivity to compatible devices via Wi-Fi, Ant+ and Bluetooth 4.0. The Glasses are ready to give the display for runners and cyclists and could change the way athletes are presented with real-time fitness data. Video after the jump
First Person Shooter
We do love our first person shooter video games, but these don’t really provide much of a workout. While we’ve worked up a sweat from playing these it isn’t the kind of “good sweat” that you get from actually running around. Tek Recon could be the new ultimate first person shooter.
It isn’t as messy as paintball and doesn’t really require a special place to play like laser tag. This game has players use special “blasters” that shoot soft projectiles up to 75 feet, while these can be integrated with an iOS or Android device that provides a heads up display, radar tracking and even in-game chat. The result is an action game that is very much like a video game but one that requires real world activity.
The developers are now engaged in a Kickstarter campaign. We think of this as their way of doing a little recon for Tek Recon. 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.
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
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.