LED isn’t just for flat panel TV sets. UCO has introduced its new Clarus LED Lantern, a collapsible, rugged and waterproof light that can provide up to 150 lumens of diffused white light. With up to 70 hours of run time it can be used as a lantern or a flashlight, making it the one light that can do multiple jobs while out in the wilds.
Category: Personal Electronics
Give It a SoloShot
We’ve seen a number of products – including poles and even a UAV aircraft – that can provide a different way to film the action with a rugged action camera. The latest twist is the SoloShot, a device holds the camera on a tripod and automatically records a person wearing a small GPS transmitter.
The robotic camera system can thus lock onto the wearer and provide an additional perspective that includes the ability to track or pan. Unfortunately this can’t tilt or zoom, nor does it allow the camera to be controlled remotely, but along with other options it could still be a great way to get that all so excellent long shot for a montage video! Video after the jump
Weekend Reading List (02.02.2013): Is X the Danger Zone, 2013 Ski Preview, Fixtation Guru, USADA Truth or Consequences
Is X the Danger Zone
From Men’s Fitness: Are the X Games Too Dangerous?
The death of 25-year-old snowmobiler Caeleb Moore has us wondering: Is the extreme sports competition stupidly unsafe? Continue reading Weekend Reading List (02.02.2013): Is X the Danger Zone, 2013 Ski Preview, Fixtation Guru, USADA Truth or Consequences
Wearable Airbag for the Ski Slopes
We’ve seen inflatable airbags to help protect skiers during an avalanche but now Dainese has devised an airbag system to help protect downhill ski racers in case of a crash. The company’s new D-AIR Ski Project could even be in place by the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. This safety system features three integrated accelerometers and gyroscopes plus a GPS unit and an onboard microprocessor to detect any sudden movements.
Together this system can detect a crash and deploy the airbag to protect the rider’s neck, shoulder and collarbone and the full process can take just 45 milliseconds. Given how fast skiers travel it is clear they’d need something even faster and the D-AIR system looks like it could help skiers stay safe on those very fast slopes.
Add Aerial Shots to GoPro
What has been missing from most action camera videos are those great aerial shots – the kind we see in pro bicycle races and other sporting events. Of course most people don’t have a helicopter at their disposal but what about a UAV – because they’re not just for shooting at the bad guys anymore.
The Lehmann LA100 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle works with the GoPro Hero 2 and 3 cameras and can fly to heights up to 300 feet for five minutes – which could be enough to time to get some aerial “b-roll” for your next daring video. Video after the jump
Garmin Re-approaches Golf
It was a little over two years ago that Garmin hit the links with its Approach S1 Golf Watch, and now with the golf season just weeks away the company is back in the swing with the Garmin Approach S2 Golf Watch. This new GPS watch comes preloaded with maps to 30,000 international golf courses, with updates four times a year. This is non-touchscreen device – unlike the S3 – but the S2 offers a club selection and gives users yardage to the front, middle and back of the green, plus layup and dogleg distances to improve usability over the entire hole.
Camera Helmet
We’ve seen numerous cameras that can mount to a helmet, but now the Video Head is a camera system built into the helmet. This solves the problem of ensuring that a camera is positioned correctly, and also helps reduce the risk of injury from wearing a camera on top of a helmet.
The Video Head helmet features an integrated lens along with all the electronics within the brain bucket. The lens is positioned directly to the front of the helmet, while an LED along with beeps as audio cues let the wearer know the camera is operating. Three levels of helmet systems will be made available, and range from a basic model that offers VGA resolution with 60-degree angle lens to 720p (30fps) version with 120-degree lens, and finally to a top of the line version with 1080p (60fps) resolution with 127-degree angle. All three models will include a mini mic for audio recording, and Video Head will be ready to go this spring.
Get in the Picture
Why aren’t YOU in the picture? Most action cameras provide a “first-person view” as in the camera sees more or less what you see. What is missing is… YOU. But now Dutch film producer Thijs Vrij has created an action camera mount for GoPro and other cameras called the 3rd Person View.
This device essentially consists of three parts, which includes a waterproof adjustable waistband with a carbon fiber backplate, an alloy adjustable camera pole and a locking/release mechanism to mount the camera. As with other camera extenders it puts you into the action but this one is a wear and forget, and allows you to be in the action. Vrij is currently looking to raise funds via a Kickstarter project. Continue reading Get in the Picture
Moves App Monitors Your Activity from Your iPhone
Activity monitors are great, but you have to remember to put them on or the investment means nothing. You know what device you probably never forget to have on you? Your phone. Moves app from ProtoGeo is an app that uses your iPhone to monitor your activity. Continue reading Moves App Monitors Your Activity from Your iPhone
Donut Seal for Digital Cameras
As Homer Simpson might say, “mmmm, donuts.” But then we’d tell him that the Dust Donut isn’t meant to be eaten, even by a fictional cartoon character. Rather this is a way to help create a weatherproof seal for any DSLR lens.
Dust and moisture don’t play nice with that high end digital camera with the removable lens, but now you can use the Dust Donut to add a seal between the camera and lens. California-based photographer Tyler Sterbentz created the Dust Donut and is look to bring out it out via a Kickstarter project. Video after the jump
2013 CES: Sherpa Carries the Power
In Nepal the Sherpa is the guide who carries the equipment, but Sherpa is also what can bring the power. New this year is Goal Zero’s Sherpa 50, a portable solar-charging device that can provide anytime, anywhere power. Built for use in the wilderness this is a rugged system.
It features two small solar panels that can put out 13.5 watts of power, but can fold up for portability, and weights just three pounds. It includes a multitude of outputs including USB and 12-volt. The power will flow later this year and for those who depend on their electronics this is one Sherpa that you’ll want to have with you.
Qmountz Up
The iPhone has created a revolution in tech fitness, and it actually isn’t a bad camera for capturing those moments on a bike. We’ve seen a fair share of special mounts for it, and the Qmountz case, which is waterproof and shock/shatter-resistant, could be the thing that truly turns the handset into a durable and reliable action camera. The Mapta-produced case offers options for helmet mount, handlebar mount and even chest mount. Mount up with the Qmountz.
High or Low Activity Watches
We don’t normally associate skiing with diving and these are probably not the sort of things you can do back to back. But that said it is good to know that Werdelin will have you covered with its Dive & Ski Instruments, which are so much more than mere sport watches. These digital timepieces feature anodized aluminum cases, sapphire crystal screens and four button menu systems.
The Rock is designed for those going high, as in hitting the ski slopes, and it can measure altitude, and air temperature; while the Reef can track depth, oxygen percentage and water temperature. Rock and Reef, we like that.