Software | Evolving Consumer

An Object in Motion

While the Wii was a huge hit with casual gamers – including those who wanted to get off the couch – the Wii U hasn’t exactly delivered for Nintendo. Instead it could be that Apple TV could fill the void with games such as Motion Tennis, which utilizes an iPhone for a controller. The game takes advantage of the iPhone’s magnetometer, gyroscope, and accelerometer to accurately interpret your movements.

For those who want to go from Mii (the onscreen characters on the Wii) to I – as in the iPhone, then Apple TV might get you there.

Motion Tennis Official Website

Strava Gets Real

When out and about it is important to keep it real, and Strava announced this week that it is doing just that with its Real-Time Segments, which provider runners and cyclists live performance updates during their segment effort. This adds another layer of motivation to Strava Premium, where athletes can see exactly where they stack up on a certain segment the instant they complete it.

These instant segment times can be sent right to the phone, so instead of waiting until the activity is finished, runners and cyclists can see the results as they happen. Continue reading Strava Gets Real

Weekend Reading List (07.06.2013): Knee’d To Heal, Wear IT, AAA Bike Service

Knee’d To Heal

From Runner’s World: The Body Shop: Band Aid
Use these six simple moves to help cure and prevent knee pain Continue reading Weekend Reading List (07.06.2013): Knee’d To Heal, Wear IT, AAA Bike Service

Health Guard

This week the Army National Guard announced the launch of Guard Your Health, a website developed to be central place for Army National Guard Soldiers and family members to find information and resources on health topics and medical readiness. To this end the site is tailored to the unique health and wellness needs and experiences of Army National Guard Soldiers and families.

Visitors will get access to health tips, expert commentary on health related topics and community forums on a variety of topics including nutrition, exercise, stress, sleep, dental health, readiness and family resilience.

Guard Your Health Official Website

Nike Golf App Goes 360 Again

Wherever your travels take you the Nike Golf NG360 app will be there with you. The new app, which launched in the United States last May, will now be able to track rounds on more than 30,000 courses in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Sweden and France. Available for iOS it can provide golfers with an innovative digital tool for swing analysis, game tracking and gear recommendations.

The app allows golfers to score rounds and track various statistics including scoring average, driving accuracy, greens in regulation and average putts per round. The NG360 app allows golfers to see how they stack up by monitoring results and beating their personal bests.

The training section also helps golf athletes get into golf shape thanks to Nike Golf’s partnership with the Gray Institute, the foremost leader in Applied Functional Science. The Gray Institute has developed the NG360 Functional Performance System that is tailored to golf movements that the body makes, a clear distinction from other training systems; while golfers can also navigate the latest Nike Golf products in the app that are suitable to their needs. These include the Nike Golf Ball Recommender, which makes it easy for golfers to find the right ball for their game, while athletes can get dialed from tee to green, driver setting recommendations and game analysis are included in the app.

Nike Golf Official Website

E3 2013: Game Over?

We apologize for the lack of reporting from the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) this week, but we noticed a trend this year – fitness games are over! While Nintendo did announce Wii Fit U, it won’t be in stores until December. The only other “fitness” game that we saw on the show floor was the dance focused Zumba Fitness World Party, but that series has always been as much about the dancing as getting in shape.

While we’ve also questioned whether video games are really an effective form of exercise, we’re sad to see that this trend has run its course. At least there were still plenty of shooters at E3, as somethings never change!

Off to E3 2013

This week we’ll be reporting from the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo. We’ll be reporting on what Sony and Microsoft have in store with their new video game consoles and what this might mean for fitness tech.

Check back all week for coverage from Los Angles

Jet Powered Glasses

Recon Instruments have introduced a range of heads-up displays that can be used for skiing and snowboarding as well as skydiving. These can provide speed, distance and other useful information. However, the goggles for skiing aren’t exactly going to work while running on the beach.

To this end Recon has gotten Jet powered, and has introduced a stylish pair of sun glasses that provide the same heads-up display but in a much smaller package. These were revealed at the Google I/O event last month.

The Jet features a dual-core processor, dedicated graphics, GPS, HD camera, speaker and microphone. The glasses offer wireless connectivity to compatible devices via Wi-Fi, Ant+ and Bluetooth 4.0. The Glasses are ready to give the display for runners and cyclists and could change the way athletes are presented with real-time fitness data. Video after the jump

First Person Shooter

We do love our first person shooter video games, but these don’t really provide much of a workout. While we’ve worked up a sweat from playing these it isn’t the kind of “good sweat” that you get from actually running around. Tek Recon could be the new ultimate first person shooter.

It isn’t as messy as paintball and doesn’t really require a special place to play like laser tag. This game has players use special “blasters” that shoot soft projectiles up to 75 feet, while these can be integrated with an iOS or Android device that provides a heads up display, radar tracking and even in-game chat. The result is an action game that is very much like a video game but one that requires real world activity.

The developers are now engaged in a Kickstarter campaign. We think of this as their way of doing a little recon for Tek Recon. Video after the jump

The iScope

Not everyone can be born to be a crack shot ala Sgt. Alvin York, but now there is an app out there that might help you better site the target. The Inteliscope mount system attaches and iPhone or iPod Touch to any firearm with a Pictatinny (Mil-STD-1913) or Weaver tactical rail.

The onscreen, heads-up display of the Inteliscope app features selectable crosshairs, 5X digital zoom, video record and playback, sight-in with ballistics and windage data, and even offers a built-in compass. There is GPS positioning, and this app features a shot timer as well as 5X zoom. There is even a flashlight and strobe as well.

This system features high-strength composite-reinforced polymer and ruggedized tactile rubber finish with quick-release portable protective cover. There is an adjustable mount position and the handset can be used in either portrait or landscape orientation.

About the only thing this system won’t do is pull the trigger for you.

Inteliscope Official Website

Next Generation of Zumba

httpv://youtu.be/vKOZ3Y6z0Yc

The party won’t stop – the video game fitness party that is. Majesco Entertaiment Company announced today that Zumba Fitness World Party will launch in October for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii U and Wii game systems. This fitness game will also arrive later this year for the upcoming Xbox One from Microsoft.

The new game promises to deliver more than 40 high-energy routines with an international soundtrack featuring Lady Gaga, Pitbull and Daddy Yankee, and allow gamers to burn up to 1,000 calories per hour. Continue reading Next Generation of Zumba

Secure Liberty

While not everyone likes guns, even gun owners agree that having a quality way to secure them up is a good idea. Liberty Safe has introduced the latest addition to its line of portable and wireless alarm system. The SafElert is a compact 3x2x1-inch wireless high-tech communication device that can be employed almost anywhere. While ideal for helping secure a firearm, it could be used with the liquor cabinet, dresser drawers or in other applications.

The alarm and reports can be sent as texts or emails through a home’s Wi-Fi system, or sent via email messaging to a mobile phone via the Elertus Cloud service. Up to five people can receive this information as well The alarm can notify the users if any safe or door is jarred, hit, pried, moved, opened or over-heated. The system can also report on weekly humidity to help users know that their treasured positions are in good order.

Liberty Safe Official Website

Cycling Emblem

Who wants a “boring” bicycle? Not Craig Pelletier who has launched a Kickstarter project with a collective of bicycle and computer enthusiasts. They believe that every level of cyclists should be able to design their own bikes.

They’re working to create the Emblem Bike Company, which will provide a streamlined, easy to use website that provides “no-brainer explanations on every decision you make to help you decide on parts you want.” Emblem isn’t exactly offering custom bikes but rather is offering highly customized bikes, beginning with a selection of frames. The idea is something unique that should satisfy the customer. Video after the jump