Mobile Phone | Evolving Consumer

To Serve and PROTKT

Wahoo Fitness knows that many people might not be comfortable taking their expensive iPhone on a bike ride. Since an iOS app is a crucial part of the business strategy for Wahoo Fitness, the company has introduced the PROTKT iPhone 5 Bike Mount and Case, which provides weatherproof and shockproof protection.

It also offers secure and quick mounting to a handlebar, while providing full phone functionality. It can be paired with Wahoo’s Blue HR and Blue SC for real-time heart rate, speed and cadence data.

Wahoo Fitness Official Website

GI Go

When we think of a “G.I. Bike” we think of something American soldiers used in World War II, but the Gi Bike is something different. It is a full-sized, folding, electric bike designed for travel around town.

It folds up or down in just three seconds, and can run 40 miles on battery. It even offers smartphone integration with apps and maps, and designed to handle the mean streets with side lights that help riders be seen, while an anti-theft safety lock ensures the bike is there where you left it. This is Gi is ready to roll. Video after the jump

Galaxy Armor

There are plenty of cases on the market for the iPhone, but Urban Armor Gear have introduced a new phone case for the Samsung Galaxy S5, which combines style, functionality and protection – and still made it easy to use the handset while its armor is up.

This distinctive one-piece design features a hard armor shell that guards against sharp objects, while a soft rubber core and bumpers resists impact from drops and abuse. It even utilizes a high definition adhesive screen protector to protect against scratches. Each product is independently tested to meet military standards for drop and shock (MIL-STD 810G), and it offers UAG’s feather-lite construction, which results in a patented form fitting design that adds minimal size and weight to the Galaxy S5.

Under Armor Gear Official Website

Garmin Back on the Edge

Garmin has remained on the cutting edge again. This month it unveiled its Garmin Edge 1000, which will carry over many of the training features from its Edge 819 but also add the navigation features of the Edge Touring. This new cycling computer features a 3-inch touchscreen display with full-color 240×400 resolution.

The new cycling computer will come loaded with maps and points of interest including parks and trails, and can provide riders with turn-by-turn directions. It can synced with ANT+ products including heart rate monitors, power meters and speed/cadence sensors. The Edge 1000 is even compatible with Shimano’s Di2 with D-Fly system to display the current gear on the screen. This unit can also be paired with a smartphone so riders can view incoming calls and even text messages.

Once again Garmin could very well give riders an edge in more ways than one!

Video after the jump

XBand on the Run

Tracking runners once just required a stopwatch, but today coaches have more options and now the XBand Speed Pro offers coaches as way to track speed and agility metrics through a new wearable device. A wearable body module is paired with a finish line module and smartphone adapter and can be used to interpret data and display the results in the accompanying app. It utilizes a microwave sensor, accelerometer and RF modules to precisely measures and transmits key performance data to a smartphone app as runner’s train, and with this information runners can improve their speed and performance.

The XBand Speed Pro is being developed via a Kickstarter campaign, and the designers hope to have it off and running later this year. Video after the jump

Ride Where the Pros Were

While the Tour de France is notable that most of it takes place in France, there have been several stages across the English Channel in the U.K. Now Ordance Survey has has produced an app to enable cyclists to ride every single meter of road that the Tour de France has covered since it first visited the U.K. in 1974.

This iOS app details the historic U.K. Tour stages from 1974, 1994 and 2007 as well as the routes for the three stages to take place in Yorkshire and South East England this July.

OS Ride Ordnance Survey Limited at the Apple App Store
[Via BikeRadar: Ordnance Survey launch free Tour de France app]

Up to the Task

There may be many apps for the iPhone but when it comes to fixing things the handset might not be enough for most cyclists. This is where the MyTask comes in. Instead of calling for help this iPhone case holds just the tools you might need for a quick fix that will have you on your way.

The MyTask Bike features an interchangeable case with easy slide out mechanism, soft touch coating, polycarbonate protection. Within are a pedal/axel wrench, six Allen wrench, three tire patches, Phillips screwdriver, flat head screwdriver, four metric box wrenches, two tire levers, bottle opener and two bicycle spoke wrenches.

If you take mass transit to work there is also the MyTask Urban, which features a USB drive, comb, nail file and pen as well as 2-inch scissors, tweezers, stylus pen, regular pen, usb stick, bottle opener, Phillips screwdriver, flathead screwdriver, nail file, ruler, personal mirror, LED light (three modes) for FaceTime and mirror.

Both MyTask kits are now being developed through a Kickstarter campaign, which will conclude later this month. Video after the jump

Wahoo on Google

Wahoo Fitness is now offering its mobile fitness app for Android devices and it can be found in the Google Play Store. With it Android users can combine the app with Wahoo Fitness products and sensors to track heart rate and stride rate data, cycling speed, cadence, and power data for running and cycling activities. At launch, Wahoo products supported by the Android app include: TICKR, BlueHR, BlueSC, RPM and the KICKR trainer. Additional products will be supported in the coming months.

“Over 80 percent of the smartphones shipped around the world run on Android. That’s well over a billion athletes that can now leverage the full power of Wahoo products and sensors to enhance and inspire their workout,” said Chip Hawkins, Wahoo’s CEO. “The most powerful fitness device that most athletes have access to is the smartphone right in their pocket. True to our belief that athletes should have the right to choose, we’re clearly very happy to bring another OS platform to the Wahooligan community.”

Google Play: Wahoo Fitness

Knock Out Game

The infamous “knock out game” that kids may be playing on the streets is no joke, but the truth is boxing can be a good way to burn some calories and relieve some stress. Virtual KnockOut looks to go from mobile boxing game to a realistic, full impact boxing training. The developer have launched a Kickstarter project to bring the game to market.

“The days of boring workouts are over,” says Pete Gustin, founder and CEO. “With mobile technology, manufacturers can deliver arcade quality experiences at incredibly affordable price.”

By combining mitt trainers with a mobile app users can punch away and make a real game of it! Video after the jump

Get Insight

There are plenty of fitness monitors on the market, but BSX Athletics is looking to bring out the Insight, which it has billed as the first ever all-in-one wearable sensor that can pair with a sports watch. It includes lactate threshold technology, heart rate monitoring, cadence tracking, and can monitor pace and calories burned.

The Insight can sync at the same time with both ANT+ and Bluetooth 4.0, and thus provides greater flexibility to uses. BSX Athletics has launched a Kickstarter project to bring the Insight to market. Video after the jump

Panasonic Gets Wearable

The wearable market is hot and Panasonic is on board with the first 4K/30p Wearable Camera, the HX-A500 (A500). It features Wi-Fi and NFC to allow for quick connectivity to a mobile device.

The main unit of this camera is separate from the lens so it can be mounted at face level to provide hands-free shooting, while the main body offers a 1.50inch LCD monitor for previewing or reviewing recordings. This camera can record up to 30 minutes of video in 4K, and while not the most rugged device on the market it offers an IPX8 waterproof rating, and can survive in up to three meters (about 10 feet) of water. It is also rated IPX5 for dust.

The A500 also offers a 1080p option at 60fps, 720p at 120fps and 480p at 240fps crawl – the latter options allowing for true “slo-mo” recording. Continue reading Panasonic Gets Wearable

Allo Allo!

The Allo promises to be the world’s first bike mount-speaker combination, which can provide riders with a safer way to access a smartphone while riding. The Allo features a built-in speaker that can allows users to listen to music, navigation and even make phone calls without having to take their hands off the handlebars and without the need of headphones.

“I’m passionate about biking and music and saw there was no safe product out there that let me combine the two,” said Benji Miller, inventor of the Allo. “After seeing many cyclists illegally and unsafely use their earbuds or phones while riding, I wanted to create a way for people to use their smartphones while still being safe, which is when I first started designing and creating the Allo. With design experts on the team, they fine-tuned the concept to what it is today.”

Miller launched a Kickstarter project earlier this month to help produce the Allo. Video after the jump

Weekend Reading List (03.22.2014): BikeRadar on YouTube, Total Madness, Famous Falls

BikeRadar on YouTube

httpv://youtu.be/EKPrSw5xF7k

BikeRadar launches new-look YouTube channel
Eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed that our YouTube channel has been overhauled and that content is cleaner, slicker and sharper than ever. Not seen it? Head to the channel right now to check it out. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (03.22.2014): BikeRadar on YouTube, Total Madness, Famous Falls