While most of us may never have a swing like the golf pros, today there are plenty of tools that can help improve the swing. In the old days it just meant endless practicing but today that practice can include a digital helper in the form of a wearable sensor on the glove.
The GolfSense provides real time response, and Jason Fass, CEO of GolfSense tells us how it can improve your swing. Continue reading Sunday Q&A: Making Sense of Golf Strokes
Those sticky screen protectors often get in the way. But if you take your phone along on strenuous workouts, you know that screen is subject to a few scratches. Liquid-Armor from Dynaflo is a spray on liquid that coats the screen so any scratches that happen scratch the coating, not the screen.
There are a few videos on YouTube that test Liquid Armor’s abilities. One review from LinusTechTips drags a control and a coated BlackBerry from a motorcycle to compare scratches. This is when the reviewer discovered that Liquid Armor coats the screen.
To apply Liquid Armor you need to clean your screen with an included cloth, then rub the spray into the screen with the same cloth. We hope it’s more foolproof than bubbly screen protecting stickers.
While winter means hitting the training bike, spinning is something that can be done year round, and Madd Dogg Athletics have announced the updated Spinning app, v6.35 for iOS and 1.51 for Android. This app, powered by Digifit, provides a complete workout tracking system for those who want to get into the spin.
It can track heart rate, distance, duration, caloric burn, weight loss and it isn’t just limited to spining. The app can work with cycling, running, walking and hiking as well. Workouts can be tracked in real time, where users are provided feedback and motivation as they work out, and data is transferred to a personalized Spinning.com account. From here users can view, share, graph and trend their progress. Continue reading Madd Dogg Gets Spinning
At the SIA Snowsports Show in January we got to see an early model of the Sanpei Optics audio-adaptable glasses. It’s a combo pair of sunglasses and earbud headphones that work together to discretely fit into the ears. Sanpei Optics is currently running a crowdfunding program on Indiegogo.com, and will begin shipping its product soon. Continue reading Sanpei Optics Produces Its Audio Adaptable Glasses
There are fitness monitors that can tell you everything and seeming do everything. The Scosche RHYTHM isn’t one of those devices. It works on the KISS principal – keep it simple stupid. This fitness monitor eliminates the heart rate strap that is commonly found with most monitors, but it also features a lightweight interface that is in a word, simple! Video after the jump
From Surf Magazine: Summer’s End
They say Labor Day marks the end of the summer, and what better way to end it then with a sizable south swell tearing through California.
Continue reading Weekend Reading List (9.15.2012): The Ending Summer, Cycling Apps, Shoe Tests, US Army and NFL Team Up
Tablets are great devices for surfing the web, reading an e-book, playing a game – provided you’re careful with the darn things and aren’t actually planning to take them out in the real world. These things are as fragile as a newborn, but Getac doesn’t believe this needs to be the case.
The company has released a rugged Android tablet, the Getac Z701, which can be used in places besides an airport or couch! It features a glove-friendly touchscreen display made of Gorilla Glass, a capacitive touch sensor and LED backlighting. More importantly it was created to MIL-STD 810G/IP65 specs so it can survive a drop from up to six feet, and is certified for resistance against dust and liquid. It can even endure temperatures from -4°F to 122°F. Continue reading Android Tablet That is as Hard as a Stone Tablet
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) this week finalized standards for sports and fitness equipment using Bluetooth wireless technology sensors. The guidelines are for Bluetooth v4.0, which is a low energy technology. These guidelines are geared toward sensors using Bluetooth that measure spead and cadence for running and cycling activity. The new standard dictates specification for applications that can include running cadence, stride length, total distance or cycling speed, distance and pedal cadence. Continue reading Bluetooth Sets Standards for Sports and Fitness Device Market
If you have an iPhone or an Android device you already have a potentially excellent cycling computer, and thanks to GPS and any number of apps you can monitor speed, time and distance. What you can’t track is cadence, but Velocomputer has a new mobile app that will do the above but thanks to the SmartSensor 4 that can sync with the mobile handset via Bluetooth it can also track cadence and more. Continue reading Velocomputer Rolls Out SmartSensor and App
Soundmatters is offering a back-to-school promotion, “Accessorize Your FoxL,” which runs from August 17 through September 30. Customers purchasing a foxLv2 Bluetooth pocket-sized wireless speaker will receive a free foxL Mini Travel Trunk or free foxL bicycle mount. Each of the freebies are a value of about $30. Continue reading Soundmatters Back-to-School Promotion Accessorizes Your Bike
Capturing the moment of triumph on video is easier than ever thanks to numerous wearable cameras, and this year the industry leader GoPro looks to maintain that lead by offering an iPhone/Android app that is compatible with the Wi-Fi BackPac, so users can control up to 50 Hero2 camera from a handset! This could allow large organizers in bike tours to capture action from multiple angles, or let race organizers in a variety of sports record footage from around the course without the need of multiple cameramen.
The app will allows users to view recorded footage, but the next step coming from the app will be the option to stream live video to a smartphone. The app will reportedly be free while the Wi-Fi kit is just $99.
[Via BikeRumor: GOPRO BRINGING LIVE STREAMING, CAMERA CONTROLLING SMARTPHONE APP]
Nike is finally bringing its popular Nike+ Running app to the Android ecosystem. The app, which was originally released in 2010 for iOS, connects to nikeplus.com and lets runners track, share, and compare their runs using their smartphone.
Nike has simultaneously updated the iOS version of the app to version 4.0 and it too has assumed the Nike+ Running name. The GPS-enabled app now includes a widget option that lets you start a run from your phone’s home screen. You can also configure a list of “power songs” to start playing when you need a little motivation on the track.
Like most fitness apps, Nike+ Running lets users share their workout data on Facebook or Twitter. A new feature also lets you record the shoes you run in along with your cumulative mileage for that specific pair of shoes. Video after the jump
Consider this the “main course” for fitness buffs who want to compare stats with others. MapMyRide has unveiled the Courses feature that should inspire some (hopefully friendly) competition) for users of the service on iPhone, BlackBerry and Android.
The Courses offers four categories including climbs, descents, member create routes, and actual stage races events. As with Strava the “fastest rider” in any of these can get social medals, but it is also more than just having the best time. With all the official courses there is also a new monthly point system, complete with leader board that track event leaders, those with the most points in climbs and descents, the “guru” or person who rode a course the most times, and even the fastest times. For those who want to just push themselves there is the ability to track personal bests. Continue reading MapMyRide Adds Courses
