It seems there is no shortage of iPhone cases. This week we’ve even reported on a couple, but each does something a little different. The driSuit Endurance will protect the phone from water and from drops as it doubles as a shockproof case for short drops. As with other waterproof cases this one allows users to take advantage of the phone’s touchscreen controls, even underwater. The company also sells waterproof earphones, which can be used with this case. Video of the driSuit in action after the jump
Category: Mobile Phone
iScuba Suit
There are numerous cases that allow the iPhone to stay protected near or even in the water, but the iPhone Scuba Suit casing for the iPhone 4/4S will actually allow the phone to go down to 15meters under the water. The company claims the casing will protect the phone from basically anywhere there is water, as it creates a liquid airtight barrier.
It provides easy access to the touchscreen through the touch-senstive gel screen and can allow users to snap photos – which is good as that is likely the only reason to bring your iPhone in the water in the first place.
Smart(phone) Way to Fish
With a smartphone you can easily search for a seafood restaurant, or you could use it to go directly to the source. While we’ve seen gizmos such as the Magellan eXplorist line of GPS devices that now include fishing hotspots map, once there you still need to see if the fish are actually there to bite.
For that the Deeper FishFinder might just do the trick. It is a sonar-enable waterproof ball that won’t sink but it will sync with the smartphone. The Bluetooth-enabled device can scan the water and send location information directly to an iOS or Android phone or tablet. It shows the approximate location of fish with a depth chart as well so you can cast off in just the right spot. Continue reading Smart(phone) Way to Fish
Spybike Puts GPS in Your Steertube
For serious cyclists nothing sucks more than having a bike stolen. You keep track of the serial number, engrave your name in the frame, but this only helps if the police actually recover your bike.
How about tracking the thieves instead? That’s the idea behind Spybike, a GPS tracker that can be hidden in the steer tube. It can upload the coordinates of the bike to a mobile smartphone or website in case of theft. When the device is activated a motion sensor detects any movements and sends an alert to your phone. Every 20 seconds or so the coordinates of the bike are uploaded, and when the bike stops it goes to sleep to conserve the lithium rechargeable battery. Video after the jump
Monster Watts Gives Your iPhone a Touch of Solar Power
Your iPhone may have a respectable battery life, but with today’s army of always-connected apps, keeping it fully charged can be a full-time job, especially when you’re on the go. Fortunately, Monster Watts’ Hybrid Solar Battery Case can harness the power of the sun to your iPhone’s advantage.
The case, which also protects your iPhone from everyday drops and scratches, sports a built-in solar panel charger along with a an embedded rechargeable 2400 mAh battery. Put the case under ambient sunlight, and it’ll replenish your iPod’s battery via the solar panel. (Alternatively, it can also be charged from any PC or standard phone charger via the built-in USB port.) There’s even an LED status indicator to inform you of how much battery life you have left. Continue reading Monster Watts Gives Your iPhone a Touch of Solar Power
Smart Phones Creating Digital Divide Amongst Gym Members, Users Claim Essential Workout Tool
Cell phone usage is frowned upon by many gym goers, and it’s even banned in certain gyms. Besides the annoyance of constant chatter, there’s also a privacy concern when it involves cell phones with cameras and areas like a locker room. However, a recent blog post by a fitness industry expert shows that the use of smart phones is on the rise, and creating a bit of a dilemma for gym owners. Continue reading Smart Phones Creating Digital Divide Amongst Gym Members, Users Claim Essential Workout Tool
Hands On: ThingSling
Last month at CTIA we got our hands on a ThingSling. More accurately, a ThingSling got stuck to our phone. This elastic strap fixes to the back of any phone with a 3M adhesive. And boy does that thing stick.
We wrote some first impressions of the strap, but now that it’s been a few weeks, I thought I’d go a little deeper on my thoughts. The strap has a rigid plastic frame that anchors the adhesive. It sticks to just about any phone or case, though John Murphy, the ThingSling creator, said it doesn’t stick to silicone used in many phone cases. While it’ll come off easily when I want it off, I haven’t had any trouble with the ThingSling trying to come off the Cygnett Frost Case on my phone. Continue reading Hands On: ThingSling
Waterproof Phone Case Doubles as Speaker
If there is one thing that smartphone users have learned (after not to drop it), it is that water and phones don’t go together. There are plenty of cases out there, and even cases that allow a device to be attached to an external speaker. But now Grace Digital Audio – maker of waterproof speakers such as the Eco Extreme and Eco Terra – has created the next must-have gadget for the beach this summer in the guise of a simple package that allows the phone to be protected while also doubling as a speaker. Continue reading Waterproof Phone Case Doubles as Speaker
XTra Durable Phone from Kyocera
In this of smartphones, tablets and other connected devices the old “flip flop” seems positively passé, but there are times when the clamshell design can come in handy – such as well off trekking in the wilds. That’s when a smartphone can become broken and thus useless all too easily.
Kyocera thus saw this and has introduced a flip phone exclusively for Sprint, but the Kyocera DuraXT is more than just a Star-Tec in a new body. This is also a smartphone! And it has some smart features, beginning with the rubber, non-slip Dura-Grip outer casing to ensure that it isn’t dropped while off hiking. It is also water resistant up to a meter for around 30 minutes. It is Military Standard 801G Spec compliant for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, humidity, solar radiation, salt fog, rain and water immersion.
Other features include a 3.2megapixel camera/camcorder; Sprint Direct Connect for instant, one-to-one push-to-talk calling on Sprint; Group Connect with up to 20 users; Bluetooth 2.0 and offers browser-based email for access to POP3 and IMAP accounts, as well as SMS and MMS messaging.
Durable and clever!
FitBug Launches Game Framework
As we’ve seen competition – friendly competition – can help be a major motivating way to keep up with fitness goals. And Fitbug will help users stay motivated with the new Games Framework and iPhone app that allows taems or individuals to compete against each other in a variety of virtual challenges.
This new capability encompasses Google map-based progress and hotspot graphics, as well as Chatterbox and social media features to keep users motivated and connected. It also offers a team leader boards, and builds upon Fitbug’s previous league challenge, Fantasy Footfall. These games can further be customized to any route and branded to meet client requirements. The new games platform has been designed to enable Fitbug to provide a library of readily available challenges to clients and, where required, quickly build custom challenges for specific client requirements. Continue reading FitBug Launches Game Framework
BioLogic Makes Android Bike Mount
When cycling, I use the Strava app on my Android phone as a cycling computer. This is great to track distance, speed, and even where I bike. However it doesn’t help me so much when my phone is in my back pocket and I can’t access that information. Continue reading BioLogic Makes Android Bike Mount
Wahoo Gets in Cadence for iPhone 4S
There seems to be no shortage of iPhone cycle computer apps. Most of these utilize GPS to track speed, distance and even elevation. What they can’t generally track is the cadence of the pedal stroke.
But now Wahoo Fitness has introduced the Blue SC Speed and Cadence Sensor, which works with the iPhone 4S and new iPad. It can be paired with cycling apps such as Cyclemeter and Strava, or of course Wahoo’s own Fitness and Odometer app. The add on hardware attaches to a bike just like any other cadence sensor but in this case transmits directly to the handset via Bluetooth 4.0 technology. It is available now for about $60 for those looking to watch their spin a little more closely. Continue reading Wahoo Gets in Cadence for iPhone 4S
Sony Posts Videos Demonstrating Hardiness of New Xperia Android Smart Phones, Water Resistant and Dust Proof
Sony’s upcoming Xperia acro S and Xperia go Android-based smart phones not only look stylish, but they are robust, too. They’re water resistant and dust-proof, with Sony even claiming the Xperia acro S has the “highest level of water resistance of any smart phone.” We’re not sure if you’d want to dunk them into water purposely, but they’d probably fare well in rainy conditions or poolside. But rather than just talk about it, Sony posted two videos demonstrating this rugged feature.
Rugged smart phones aren’t new for Sony, though, as their lineup already features the highly rugged Xperia active (released under the then-Sony Ericsson brand), but there’s no word, yet, of release stateside for any of these Xperia phones.