Last week we posted about Nike’s knit shoes, and now the company has gone to the other extreme with Nike+ Basketball and Nike+ Training shoes that are digital! The shoes feature a sensor system that can sync with software to provide wearer’s with detailed information to help during training and to track performance. Video after the jump
Category: Mobile Phone
Clean Bottle Races in With The Runner
A few years ago Clean Bottle hit the scene with a sports water bottle that unscrewed on both the top and bottom to make it easier to clean. Since then we’ve seen the bottle in water bottle cages on bikes, but not quite as often seen in runner’s hands.
From the High Tech To Low Tech – Roof Rack Reminders Can Help Protect the Bike
As our friends at BikeRadar.com noted last week “Roof rack reminders could save your bike,” because we either have done it or know someone who has done it – driving into the garage with the bike on the roof of the car. The result is never pretty for the garage, the car and especially the bike. As the spring riding season is coming up, US Editor Matt Pacocha offered a piece that looked at a range of products designed to remind those with bicycle roof-racks that the bike is up there. Continue reading From the High Tech To Low Tech – Roof Rack Reminders Can Help Protect the Bike
Panasonic to Introduce Waterproof Phone
This week Panasonic announced that will re-enter the European mobile phone market with a waterproof, dustproof phone called the Eluga. While pricey – as much as $650 in American currency – the phones will utilized the Google Android OS.
The Eluga smartphone’s features include a 1GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of internal RAM plus 8GB of internal flash memory (there is no mention of a microSD slot) and a 4.3″ 540 x 960 pixel qHD touchscreen display. It is reportedly waterproof and dustproof rated to IP57 standards, and it can be immersed in a maximum of 1.5 metres of water for 30 minutes.
Panasonic is currently the leader in the UK market for “ruggedized products” and the company is looking to build on the success of the products in its Toughbook laptop line. No word on whether the Eluga would arrive in America, but we’re sure to hear more about it at next week’s Mobile World Congress from Barcelona.
Toy Fair: The O Let’s You Throw Your Phone
Admit it – there are times when you just want to throw your phone. You know you shouldn’t do it but it would feel so good. At last week’s Toy Fair The O was awarded the Popular Science Best of Toy Fair 2012 award for making a way to throw the phone and even make a game of it.
Developed by Physical Apps, a NH-based technology company, The O takes mobile gaming to a whole new level – and in a very big way. Instead of just titling or shaking that iPhone or Android device you can put it in this special casing and really play with the phone! Throw it in a game of “hot potato” – just be sure you don’t play when “mom” calls! Video after the jump
eers for the Ears
At times it might seem as if comfortable and sound quality are mutually exclusive with earbubs, but Sonomax Technologies hopes to change that perception with its new PCS-150 and PCS-250 custom-fit earphones that will arrive next month. These promise to offer low profile, ergonomically shaped design and ear loop that comfortably cradles the back of the ear, while providing a channel for the wire from the sound source, as well as assisting the user in proper insertion and removal.
Designed for active users and fitness enthusiasts, the PCS-150 eers utilize a tuned dynamic speaker to deliver enhanced bass response through bass reflex technology.
And in addition to sounding good for music, both models will offer users the ability to answer calls through a smartphone. Continue reading eers for the Ears
Snow Lizard Unveils Rugged, Solar-Powered iPhone 4 Case, Wants You to Back It Via Kickstarter
Accessories-maker Snow Lizard Products has introduced what could be the perfect rugged case for the iPhone 4 and 4S: the AQUA TEK S. The tank-like case not only gives your iPhone waterproof protection, but a built-in batter and solar charger gives your iPhone an extra boost of power (with these devices getting more and more power hungry, that’s welcome, especially if you’re outdoors without access to a power outlet).
The case is waterproof up to 20 feet and can withstand drops. A top lid opens up to easily let you remove or insert an iPhone, and all the iPhone external buttons are accessible via corresponding external buttons on the case.
However, there’s a catch: it’s not for sale, yet. It looks like Snow Lizard is looking for some financial backing for this product and is utilizing Kickstarter. Snow Lizard plans to sell it at retail for $130, but if you pledge $25, $175, $1,000, or $5,000, Snow Lizard is including some extras for those who get in early, like ski passes to Utah resorts.
Check out the video and more info on the AQUA TEK S Kickstarter page.
MotionFit Ready For Developers
Motion tracking devices have made some major strides in the last couple of years, and now InvenSense, a provider of motion tracking technology, announced this week the availability of its MotionFit System Developers Kit (SDK). This promises to help accelerate design and commercialization of wearable sensor devices for the growing fitness and remote health monitoring markets.
And while this is big news it comes ina small package, as the SKD consists of a small 40mm x 37mm development board incorporating the InvenSense MPU-9150 single chip 9-axis MotionTracking device, a pressure sensor for altitude tracking, a TI MSP430 microcontroller with external serial flash for data logging, a 110mA/hr rechargeable battery, and communication via USB or Bluetooth interfaces enabling real-time streaming of data to smartphones. Continue reading MotionFit Ready For Developers
iPhone Case for Underwater Adventures
The iPhone can do a lot but there is no app for making it waterproof. For that you need a case, and while there are plenty of big and bulky housings available, the Keystone ECO MarineCase is another good option as it is slim and compact but will still ensure that the smartphone can survive underwater up to 20 feet or six meters.
The clear protective silicon cover allows for use of the iPhone screen and won’t interfere with call functionality. Users can still playback video, send email, use apps and more whilst sill in the water. The IP58 certified case will protect the handset from snow, rain, dust and sand, and even let users snap non-flash photos and take video underwater.
G-Form Puts Its Money, iPhone Behind a Slapshot
These days it’s essential to have a case for your smartphone. If you’re active, you need to be sure your case is up to the task. The folks at G-Form went as far as using an iPhone for a hockey puck to prove the new G-Form X Protect Case is suitable for those of us whose phones feel the brunt of our workouts.
Continue reading G-Form Puts Its Money, iPhone Behind a Slapshot
Fitness Goes to Orbit With Breathe
FitOrbit, the online solution that provides 24/7 accessibility to certified personal trainers, is telling members to “Breathe,” by launching its new logging and tracking experience. “Breathe” offers users the ability to select meals and workouts online, and with a click of the mouse it lets the trainer know what you’ve accomplished for the day. This online tracking also allows for a “quick add” with an intelligent algorithm that identifies what users are looking for, and even remembers preferences and favorites.
FitOrbit’s “Breathe” allows users to talk to their trainer anytime and anyway, without even having log onto the Website, as it now offers an email app that can be used with mobile phones. Sounds like a breath of fresh air! Press release after the jump
Talk to the Gloves
That annoying expression “talk to the hand” might get new life thanks to Swany’s g.cell ski gloves, which feature built-in Bluetooth technology that transforms the hand warming ski gloves into a mobile phone speaker and microphone. Basically this allows a phone to stay in one’s pocket, while the gloves can be used to make calls, including voice activated commands. The speaker and microphone are embedded in the thumb of the right glove, which also features the controls.
The gloves were shown last month at the SIA Snow Show but won’t be available in the United States until fall. Until then users might have to actually speak to the phone and not to the hand. Video after the jump
No Bones About the SpeakGoggles
The sound of your voice is different than how you likely hear it, in part because part of the sound is transmitted through the bone to the inner ear. This is why people typically sound different when their voice is recorded, and now this same bone-conductivity can be used to allow you to talk on the phone – with a little help from the SpeakGoggle G33 from Buhel. These goggles connect to a smartphone or other handset via Bluetooth and feature a bone conduction microphone that is built into the frame.
So instead of the mic picking up normal sound through the air, it actually picks up what you’re saying as the sound waves travel through your own jaw bones and skull! The result of course is little to any background noise – so you could basically talk while skiing as wind won’t be an issue. Video after the jump