Hands On: Kinect for Xbox 360

Kinect for Xbox 360 delivers a whole new way to interface with games, as advertised. Just be sure to have a seven-year-old on hand to help mount the hardware. Shaun Conlin, editor of Evergeek.com explains.

There’s no denying that Nintendo took Microsoft by surprise when its comparatively wimpy little Wii became a runaway hit with general consumers, not just gamers. Wii’s simple and somewhat sloppy motion-sensitive controllers were key to its success.

After some presumed head scratching, Microsoft set about the none-too-small task of one-upping the competition. Taking the controller out of motion-controlled gaming altogether, the Xbox people delivered last week a true evolution of interactive entertainment, one where the player’s body waves and flails and prances about – and sometimes speaks – to invoke on-screen actions of the playable character on screen. Awesome idea there, Microsoft. Continue reading Hands On: Kinect for Xbox 360

Swimsense Tracks Performance in Pool

We’ve seen no shortage of devices for tracking your progress whilst running or cycling, but what about those in the pool? In fact, we’ve often heard from various heart rate makers that it is actually difficult to track an athlete while they’re in the water. But someone has had the sense to find a way around that, and now FINIS has introduced the Swinsense (powered by SportsSense).

This groundbreaking training tool can actually capture critical performance data. It is worn much like a wrist watch and it uses an accelerometer, magnetometers and proprietary algorithms to help users identify how they swim. Out of the pool users can analyze their performance on the dive with pace times, distance (calculated in meters/yards or even laps), stroke count, stroke rate, distance-per-stroke and of course calories burned across all four major strokes.

User cans further take the performance data and have it uploaded to the FINIS Swimsense training log for additional analysis, and keep a running log with historical review. The Swimsense Performance Monitor will be available this holiday (MSRP: $199.99). Think of it as your sixth sense for your swim training.

FINIS Swimsense Performance Monitor

Hit The Links at TPC Scottsdale via aboutGolf’s PGA Tour Simulator

If you can’t make the trek to Arizona, you can still feel like you’re on the course at TPC Scottsdale, as the course is now exclusively available for aboutGolf’s PGA TOUR Simulator as part of its partnership with the PGA TOUR. All 18 holes on the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, including the famous 16th hole stadium green and challenging 11th, a 469-yard par 4, are fully 3D rendered, which is critical to realistic play. The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale is the second course released as part of the aboutGolf exclusive TPC Collection, which also includes TPC Sawgrass, released May 2010, and TPC Louisiana, which will be released early 2011.

“TPC Scottsdale is a perfect blend of challenge and playability,” says Tim Hawes, Senior Vice President of Retail Licensing at PGA TOUR. “aboutGolf has once again masterfully brought a TPC course to life on the PGA TOUR Simulator, making TPC Scottsdale accessible to more golfers.”

aboutGolf’s PGA TOUR Simulators use 3Trak, the most advanced machine vision golf tracking technology available in the world and advanced 3D golf-software design. aboutGolf’s graphics lead the industry, featuring highly-detailed terrain, reflective water, varying weather conditions, tee signs that can be read (and hit), and moving clouds, grass and flags that blow in the direction and intensity of the wind. The simulator uses data that is based on Global Positioning System (GPS) information and photographic survey data enabling rendering accuracy to within two inches. The TPC Collection retails for $1,500 and is now available online.

aboutGolf Pro Shop

CyclingForums.com Announces 2010 Product Review Contest

Our friends at CyclingForums announced  a new contest that will run from this coming Sunday, November 15, through December 31. The 2010 Product Review Contest is help the premier cycling website showcase its new product review feature.

The 2010 Product Review Contest will feature more than $12,000 in prizes. It will offer readers a chance to win some of the best gear in the industry, including products from Guru and Bellweather. Readers are encouraged to write a review of their favorite products, and every review will count as an entry – with winners being selected at random at the end of the contest’s run.

CyclingForums.com

Hands on: Water Bottle Round-up – Elite Corsa

KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.

Serious athletes are often considered the elite. But does the Elite Corsa water bottle, which is used by professional cycling teams including LiquiGas and HTC during major races including the Tour de France,  have what it takes to stand up to the true elite? And does it have what it takes for those who tend to use the bottles over a season instead of tossing them to the road after a single use? Here is what we found.

Elite’s Product Description: Soft squeezable construction; New triple- function cap with soft push-pull nozzle is easy on the mouth and  delivers fluid fast; Easy to grip bottle with ergonomic shape; wide mouth opening for easy filling and cleaning; dishwasher safe and BPA- free; 550ml liquid capacity

Bottle Sizes: 550ml (approximately 22oz). The Super Corsa is available in 750ml
Plastic: Polyethylene
Country of Manufacture: Croatia
Retail Price: $7.00 (est.) Continue reading Hands on: Water Bottle Round-up – Elite Corsa

Pushing the Extremes From the Base Layer

There is no denying it, but we’ll keep saying it, winter is coming and that means cold weather. There are a few options, including setting up camp in doors until the spring thaw or taking your base to new extremes. Craft Apparel will let you go for the second option with its line of Zero and Zero Extreme Windstopper garments that provide full wind protection, while still offering maximum breathability. These include lightweight and elastic wind protection with strategically positioned panels to keep the cold air from blowing through you.

The collection include tops, bottoms and accessories and each is soft with close fit. The Pro Zero further stays in contact with your body, to pull away excess moisture. This is a key to staying warm – if you start to cool down the wind chill can make that sweat feel like you’ve splash with icy water. The Pro Cool outer fabric further allows air to circulate around your body to promote moisture expulsion while also keeping you from getting too heat up during a workout.  Antimicrobial treatment is also included to keep the garments smelling fresh and to keep that “gym” odor from setting in. This will help you push your training to new extremes even in extreme weather.

Craft Apparel Official Website

Kinetic(Mis)Shift: Bladder Problems

Camel Back, good. BeerBelly, bad. Not much else needs to be said about this product, which is apparently marketed to allow people to sneak  alcohol into the ball park. The truth is that most users probably already have put on more than a few pounds before even using this product, and we suspect they also have a true beer belly. With this on their gut they’ll probably look downright obese.

Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefits.

Panasonic In the Heart of It

This week Panasonic announced that it will sponsor for the 2011 World Heart Day that will take place on September 29, 2011. Currently, according to the World Health Organization, heart disease and stroke remain the world’s leading cause of death, claiming 17.1 million lives each year. World Heart Day was created by the World Heart Federation in 2000 with the goal of informing people around the world about the risk of heart disease and stroke.

“We are thrilled to welcome Panasonic, as a new sponsor of World Heart Day in 2011, said  Kathryn Taubert, Senior Science Officer from the World Heart Federation. “Their support will mean we can further raise awareness about heart disease and stroke, and educate people on the steps they can take to lower their risk.”

Earlier this year Panasonic changed its subsidiary name form Panasonic Shikoku Electronics Company to Panasonic Healthcare Company. It also has announced the formation of CardioNexus Corporation, an initiative to enter the application-specific device market and a step toward establishing a leadership position in the field of Personalized Preventive Medicine through early disease detection and home healthcare.

 “Panasonic strives to be a leader in Personalized Preventive Medicine and by sponsoring the 2011 World Heart Day – we want to help emphasize the importance of living healthy lifestyles, and understanding the risks associated with heart disease,” said Joseph M. Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Panasonic Corporation of North America. “Working together with the World Heart Federation, a global entity, makes this a powerful platform to educate the world with medical facts, as well as participate in local activities.”

To further the company’s commitment to Personalized Preventive Medicine and the importance of heart health, Panasonic will exhibit at the 2010 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions show to be held in Chicago from November 14 – November 17, 2010 at booth number 1831, to unveil the company’s flagship diagnostic technologies. 

World Heart Federation

Panasonic Healthcare Co. Ltd.

Hands On: Water Bottle Round-up – Nalgene ATB Bottle with Black Closure

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. That is unless you have a water bottle like the Nalgene with you.

As part of our round-up of water bottles, we’re starting with this the Nalgene All-Terrain Bottle. It says all-terrain but how does it really stand up?

Nalgene’s Product Description: You can rely on the NALGENE All-Terrain Bottle wherever you go. It’s great for carbohydrate/energy beverages, easy to use, and simple to clean. Your ATB fits standard bicycle cages 

Except the 32oz. That does not fit in any cages, waist packs or backpack pockets. The hinged Co-polyester mud-cap keeps the drinking spout clean, and the slim profile and textured grip give you firm handling in virtually all conditions. The wide neck opening easily accommodates ice cubes for chilled drinks, and the neck configuration works with most major water purifiers and filters.

Bottle Sizes: 22oz and 32oz
Plastic: Low Density Polyethylene
Country of Manufacture: USA
Retail Price: $7.58 (22oz) & $6.83 (32oz) Continue reading Hands On: Water Bottle Round-up – Nalgene ATB Bottle with Black Closure

Will Disc Brakes Change Cyclocross?

Our friends at BikeRadar.com asked an interesting question recently, whether disc brakes would be the future of cyclocross. As we recently reviewed the new Redline Team Conquest cyclocross bike this is something that we’ve been thinking about as well. While the braking is good with the cyclocross bike it doesn’t quite have the same feel as a true mountain bike, especially in more technical off-road conditions. This has remained a common complaint amongst many riders, with the question being asked how much better disc brakes would make the bike. Continue reading Will Disc Brakes Change Cyclocross?

The Kids of Red Team Are Alright With Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge

This week it was announced that the Trips for Kids (TFK) and its “Red Team” of supporters won the CLIF BAR 2 Mile Challenge, a nationwide, six-month long campaign to fight climate change by encouraging people to ride a bike instead of driving a car, especially for trips of two miles or less.

The friendly competition of young riders in the Clif Bar 2 Mille Challenge further resulted in Trips for Kids receiving a bonus grant of $25,000 following the initial grant of the same to each of the three non-profits that support the event. A portion of the awarded funds to Trips for Kids will go to chapters in good standing so as to purchase needed equipment and to create information sharing and program materials, while funds will also be used to create new TFK chapters. Continue reading The Kids of Red Team Are Alright With Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge

Hands On: Water Bottle Round-up, Let it Flow

Working out requires that you remain hydrated. For those on bikes that means bringing liquid refreshment in water bottles, Camel Backs and other similar containers. The water bottle concept isn’t really all the unique either. Since ancient times travelers in hunter/gather societies carrying a variety of packs to bring water while on the go.

The earliest “water bottles” were made from animal skins and organs, as well as from clay pots. Each presented its own distinct problems. Over time liquids were carried in glass and metal containers, but in the post-World War II era, plastic became the miracle material for transporting liquids. Some could probably argue the tin can, but for long rides plastic bottles remains the de facto container. While the familiar shape means many bottles look alike, advances and innovations have come a long way. This week we begin a round-up of the state of water bottles.

This water bottle round up has been in the works since Interbike 2010 at the end of September. It was delayed by either the manufacturers delivering product to KineticShift or defective product that needed to be replaced. We ended up with almost 15 bottles to evaluate and it did not seem fair to do a side-by-side comparison since the features and functions differed. This is a roundup of the bottles at Interbike that are currently on the market now and any comparisons that are made will be to either a previous model of the same bottle or the classic Specialized cycling water bottle – considered by most to be the standard.

All of the bottles had to pass a few basic standards:

  1.  Hold cold liquid without leaking when the valve was closed and the bottle was squeezed with the same pressure that is required when in use
  2.  Hold cold liquid without leaking when the valve was closed and the bottle is turned upside down
  3.  BPA free

After the basic tests, each bottle was rinsed and water was filled and tasted to see is there was any lingering plastic taste or smell. After that, each bottle was tested to evaluate the main individual manufacturer’s claim of that bottle. Those claims ranged from ‘won’t retain taste and orders’ to ‘simply rinse to clean’. Accelerade Sports Drink was used in any bottle that claimed to retain no taste or smell from an energy drink.

Please check back over the next few days as we offer the results of our hands on bottle test.

OptiShot Puts the Green on a PC

With Halloween becoming a distant memory, Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas decorations up at the mall there is no denying that for much of the country the carefree days on the golf course are far and few between. But you can stay in the swing of things with a golf simulator.

There are plenty of choices with the ultra high-end models, but for those on more of a budget (and with limited space) the OptiShot Simulator by Dancin’ Dogg is the next best thing to trekking out to the back nine. This virtual golf program promises to be easy-to-use for both casual golfers and diehard hackers alike. Best of all it is replicates world-renowned courses, so can think of it as a mini-vacation every time you boot up the Windows compatible program (MSRP: $399.95).

And as we mentioned that space can be a serious issue, the OptiShot needs just eight and a half feet of swing space so you can get teed off in a home office or den. The plug and play program allows up to four players to compete with one another by hitting real balls, foam balls or even no ball at all. The device relies on infrared sensors and a durable swing pad to accurately record club head speed, face angle and swing path. Caddies not included.

OptiShot Simulator