Mobile Phone | Evolving Consumer

iPhone App to be Black Box for Bikes

We’ve long heard about the importance of the black box for airplanes – even if the box isn’t technically black. And we’ve been hearing that following Toyota’s ongoing accelerator problems that there could be a move to put black boxes in cars, but what about bikes?

Well, don’t look for a fancy piece of hardware in the frame, but our friends at BikeRadar.com are reporting that a new iPhone app has been released that works much like the airplane version of a black box, which in the unfortunate event of a crash could store video footage of the collision and other data.

The iCar Black Box app from 21pixel is available now in the UK, with a free download for trial. It can be used to monitor speed, location and g-force. It isn’t mean to be a training aid or even a video camera, because while it does film on a loop it only records in the event of an impact. Like a black box for planes it is something you likely hope you’re never going to use, and this is where we see a small problem.

There are many iPhone apps available as training aids, and unless the mobile handset can do double duty we feel most riders aren’t going to want to put the app on their bike when it could be used for something else instead.

[via BikeRadar.com: New iPhone app works like black box for cyclists]

Pixel21 Official Website

Map to Better Fitness and Nutrition

There is no one route to better health, but MapMyFITNESS hopes to help guide the way. The maker of online and mobile health and fitness-related software applications announced a partnership with Humana to launch Humana fit, a Web-based and mobile social network designed to help users live healthier and more active lives.

This includes an online nutrition center, as well as an app that lets users map out their daily activity including walking, hiking and biking. And since there is always strength in numbers users can interact in a dynamic social network to share progress and serve as motivation.

This partnership also includes integration with companion Human fit iPhone, Android and BlackBerry apps, where it can take advantage of built-in GPS to allow members to record and share their exercise routes, and data for all fitness activities can be synced and saved for a training log to monitor performance.

“Humana fit is a powerful platform, as it leverages the entirety of our Web and mobile technologies to deliver Humana an innovative, multi-faceted health and fitness application with a built-in thriving community from day one,” said Robin J. Thurston, chief executive officer of MapMyFITNESS.

Humana fit Official Website

MapMyFITNESS Official Web site

SporT on With New Tracking App for iPhone

This week SporTracker announced the release of its new app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. SporTracker is designed to help users track and analyze their body parameters for everyday sport activity, while providing a virtual personal fitness instructor to help main good physical condition.

The app can be used with a range of activities including walking, running and cycling, as well as wind surfing and even kayaking. It relies on the built-in iPhone GPS and motion sensors, which can track location and measure progress in real time. Users can further track speed, distance, cadence, height, climbing rate and time among other characteristics. This activity can be broadcast as LiveTrack Session to the SporTracker website or shared in real time to Facebook and Twitter.

“Our team has been working hard on delivering a great application supported by very informative website,” said Daniel Neaman, president of SporTracker Ltd. “We are convinced that our users will find the application effective and user friendly.”

The app is available now for $4.99 via the Apple App Store in the Healthcare & Fitness category, for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad – requires iOS 3.1.3 or later as well as 5.1MB.

SporTracker Official Website

Ballistic Brings iPhone4’s Most Rugged Case Yet to Verizon

After waiting so long to get an iPhone, Verizon subscribers want to protect their new phone like it’s precious cargo. That doesn’t mean they’ll leave it at home when they go on adventures such as rock climbing, biking or running. I just means they need a really rugged, protective case.

Ballistic, the designers of rugged cases for mobile phones and other accessory cases to “survive life,” just released its case for the iPhone 4 for Verzon and boasts it’s the most rugged protective case currently available for the iPhone 4.

Continue reading Ballistic Brings iPhone4’s Most Rugged Case Yet to Verizon

Virtual Trainer Gets Smartphone App

Tracking a workout will soon get a little easier, as Life Fitness recently announced the Life Fitness Virtual Trainer smartphone app that will sync with the company’s popular Virtual Trainer Website. This will allow users to update workout results on both the site and to their mobile devices.

Through the free app, users will be able to track workout progress via a smartphone, including both cardio and strength results. There will also be a library of training features available as add-ons for purchase.

“Today, internet content is shaping the workout experience and new technology, like apps, further enhances a fitness program,” said Chris Clawson, president of Life Fitness. “This smartphone app is the natural next step for Life Fitness and will support our users by allowing them to maximize their workouts on our equipment.”

The smartphone app will be available soon as a free download.

Life Fitness Virtual Trainer Website

Life Fitness Official Website

Wahoo Fitness To Turn iPhone Into Digital Trainer

Among the companies at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show that showcased new products in the health and tech space was Wahoo Fitness, which recently introduced a line of Apple-friendly products, with the goal to bridge the gap between expensive fitness gear and everyday users.

Wahoo Fitness has developed the unique “fisica” technology, which via a phone dongle lets the iPhone handset or an iPod Touch receive information from various fitness monitoring devices including heart rate monitors, pedometers and other gizmos and gadgets. This plug-and-play add-on can work with around 40 leading fitness apps, helping deliver data to the handheld. The products communicate using ANT+ wireless protocol technology.

We’ll be sure to watch what Wahoo Fitness brings to market this year.

Wahoo Fitness Official Website

Will ANT+ Give Bluetooth a Run for the Money in the Fitness Market

This week Sony Ericsson introduced a YouTube video that shows off the benefits of ANT+, a wireless communication standard used in a variety of fitness devices including heart rate monitors and pedometers. This wireless technology is software based, and it work with devices such as mobile phones. The question is now what ANT+ could mean for Bluetooth in the fitness space? We see a battle brewing between the blue and the ant!

Macworld Expo:Abvio Brings Out the Meters

While last week’s Macworld Expo didn’t exactly bring out any big announcements – the Verizon iPhone was already old news, and it was hard to say much about updates to the iPad or iPhone anyway – fitness was in the news.

Last week Abvio previewed its 5.0 version of its trio of iPhone apps, which include the Runmeter, Walkmeter and Cyclemeter. These offer similar features yet are a tuned into – note we didn’t say iTuned in – to specific forms of exercise. The 5.0 releases have also been submitted to Apple, so now it is just time to play the waiting game before going the distance with the meters.

Each of these will take advantage of the social networking opportunities as the company has partnered with dailymile.com, a 200,000 member social network for runners and fitness buffs. This integration will allow users of the Abvio app to share workout results in real time through the website and even get responses from other users during their workout. Information can also be shared with Facebook and Twitter, or send to friends via e-mail.

The apps will also utilize the GPS capabilities of the iPhone, allowing users to trek their course and monitor the progress, complete with audio feedback about pace and distance.

The dailymile link-up will further add a new level of friendly yet Virtual Competition. Friends can import a friend’s route as well as time and progress and try to beat it. We say game on, so get going.

Abvio Official Website

Loksak Seals, Protects Your Phone on a Sweaty Run

Who doesn’t put their phone and ID in a zipper bag when they go on a long run, bike ride or other activity? I started sealing my phone and essentials a few years ago and it’s saved my goods in a few rain storms. Well Loksak has a line of bags for just that purpose, and they’re much more durable than what you find at your local grocery store.

aLoksak is a resealable bag that’s waterproof, dust proof and humidity proof. The bags were originally developed for SCUBA diving when the founder of the company realized he needed a 100 percent waterproof bag. There is a whole range of bags to fit many applications. There’s a number of bags the size of cell phones, iPods and other small electronic devices. The best part is that you can operate your devices, both buttons and touch screen, through the bag. You don’t need to expose your phone to the elements to look something up, or make a quick phone call. Continue reading Loksak Seals, Protects Your Phone on a Sweaty Run

SIA: Bluetooth Comes to Googles

If you’re having a working vacation on the slopes, or just think you can do serious multitasking, the Recon ski goggles with Bluetooth might be for you. The company has added the wireless technology to its latest line of Transcend GPS-powered alpine goggles, and these can connect with a smartphone to access playlists, caller ID or even to read text messages.

The new goggles, which were shown last week at the SIA (Snowsports Industries of America) trade show in Denver, can also connect to a video camera, with the LCD screen within the eyewear lens acting as a viewfinder. These Transcend goggles further feature a navigation system with buddy-tracking and even integrated trail maps.

Pricing and availability haven’t been announced, but we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for these.

Recon Official Website

Push It, This is War

It almost seems fitting that DailyBurn would introduce an iPhone app called “Push-Up War” this month. The late Jack LaLanne still holds the world’s record for doing 1,000 push-ups in just 23 minutes – and now this app, which integrates with Facebook and Apple’s GameCenter, allows users the ability to see how they stack up on the leaderboards.

The app takes advantage of an iPhone’s camera to easily record a video of a user’s push-up session, and this can be uploaded online, where users can earn new “ranks” as they continue entering more pushups. To ensure that there is no cheating – something we know Jack would never do – a video recording of every push-ups entry is required.

The Push-Up Wars app is available for download from the Apple App Store for just $0.99, and we’re hearing word that an Android version in the works. So get ready to push it real good, because this time it means war.

Push-Up Wars Leaderboards

Deal of the Day: 30% Off Adidas miCoach Armband from Griffin

If you’re using the miCoach App from Adidas, then you need a case with a good strap or clip for your phone or player. Case maker Griffon is offering 30 percent off its Adidas miCoach armband. It’s normally $29.99, but click on the sale link today and get it for $20.99. While the armband is made to fit an iPhone or iPod Touch, it is made to accommodate most phones and players. It also has a pocket to store keys.

Continue reading Deal of the Day: 30% Off Adidas miCoach Armband from Griffin

Nokia Pushes Ahead with Burton

How was the run you might be asked at the bottom of the slope? Now you can tell how it was, while using your Nokia N8 to offer the details. Last week Nokia and Burton Snowboards announced a new partnership that will create a new way to visualize snowboarding with the Nokia x Burton: Push Snowboarding.

With sensors on the rider and snowboarder to detect a snowboard’s orientation, downward pressure exerted by the rider, as well as heart rate and Galvanic skin response – factors used in lie detector technology – riders can get post run data, which is sent to a Nokia N8 mobile phone. While GPS technology can further clock a rider’s speed down the Galvanic skin response actually monitors biofeedback that can detect elevated emotions, such as fearing for one’s life. So anyone who says, “It was nothing” will have to mean it. Let’s see if this technology pushes riders to new extremes.

Nokia Push Blog