App | Evolving Consumer

Misfit Fits

There are plenty of ways to get fit, and Misfit Wearables will show you how to Shine – that is with its Shine elegant physical activity monitor that you can wear anywhere. This small monitor can track activity (steps, calories, distance) and sleep (light, deep), and it syncs wirelessly and effortlessly with smartphones. It is also powered by a coin cell battery for up to six months, allowing users to forego cables for syncing or charging

The company announced this week the Shine App for Android. Available for devices running Android 4.3 and above with Bluetooth 4.0, the app users to sync their Shine, set their personal activity goals, see visual summaries of how they’re doing each day and week-to-week, among other features.

Misfit Wearables Official Website

Time to Cliiiimb

Strava certainly lets users push themselves, but often times you can’t tell how you’re doing until the ride is over. But now the personal mapping and tracking system for runners and cyclists is working with 4iiii’s, which produces special glasses that can stream data directly to the lenses.

The new Cliiiimb app can now pull live segment data from Strava and relay it to the Sportiiiis heads up display. Just be sure to keep your eyes on the road! Video after the jump

There is an App For That – But Beware

The Canadian Avalanche Centre has warned backcountry users not to rely on smartphone apps. These, were are marketed as “transceivers” can give users a “false sense of protection” warned the agency.

The CAC found a number of issues with the technology, including compatibility and frequency range. According to the CAC all avalanche transceivers should conform to the international standard of 457 kHz, so that regardless of brand these can be used to search and find one another.

“Not only are these new apps incapable of connecting with other avalanche transceivers, they are also incompatible between themselves, so one type of app can’t find another,” explained CAC Executive Director Gilles Valade.

The 457 kHz standard was chosen because it transmits very well through dense snow, is not deflected by objects such as trees and rocks, and is accurate. However, according to the CAC the apps don’t come close to this standard, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both significantly weakened when trying to pass through snow.

“We are warning all backcountry users to not use any of these apps in place of an avalanche transceiver,” added Valade.

Canadian Avalanche Centre Official Website

PUSH It and Then Some

Salt ‘n Peppa comes to mind when we say “Push it,” but fitness company PUSH could be joining the band – well not the hip hop trio of course. The PUSH Band is an app-enabled wearable fitness tracker that can provide in-training tracking as well as analyzing strength performance.

It utilizes scientifically-validated metrics to visualize an athlete’s training performance. The Band part communicates with a PUSH App and can plan workouts, optimize training routines, review collected data and share results. Post-workout it can breakdown the metrics and wallow you know what you accomplished, while also monitoring progress in real time to help reduce the risk of injury by “over doing it.”

Users can compare performance with others view the live view feature, which makes it possible for coaches and trainers to access performance results as well. Users will be able to “PUSH” themselves a bit further beginning next spring when the devices will be released.

PUSH Official Website

Hammer on the Road

Hammering while riding means going all out and possibly a bit more, but the Hammerhead Navigation system could be a way to help you navigate streets and trails with ease. This compact, portable device affixes to the handlebar and guides you via an LED light array.

This system, which communicates with an Android or iOS app via Bluetooth Smart, provides turn-by-turn directions. This can include crowd sourced route suggestions offering the best possible options to get from point A to point B. It is even designed to work with bike share programs including Bixi and B-Cycle.

Hammerhead Navigation is now looking to Dragon Innovation to raise funding.

Hammerhead Dragon Innovation Site

Kinetic Keeps Rolling

Kinetic Trainers have helped us get through those long cold winters, and for 2014 the company has revamped the line – the first time since 2007. This included greater 29er compatibility, enhanced ergonomics and best of all lighter weight. The new line up even comes fully assembled so you can take these out of the box and get rolling.

The Kinetic Trainer also replaced the cantilever design of its flagship model, the Rock and Roll, with a design that centers the pivot point and rider weight over the elastomer stack, reducing rider-induced bounce and sag and allowing lower bolt tension to give a more active side-to-side motion. Continue reading Kinetic Keeps Rolling

Swing Right With the Swingbyte

Golf has been around for a long time, and while the game has evolved over the years with new equipment the last decade has seen the game on the green really go high-tech. Among the newest advances are apps, and the Swingbyte is one that works with Android and iOS and features a simple device that attaches to any club including driver or putter. It is paired with a mobile device via Bluetooth and automatically records details on swings including club head speed, acceleration and club face angle.

With this users can analyze each swing and see what they were doing right and wrong.

Swingbyte Official Website

GoPro Goes With Added App Functionality

GoPro has introduced a new revised app that will boost the functionality of its Hero2 and Hero3 action cameras. These new tweaks will enable users to take full remote control of a camera’s functionality, and make it easier to take stills or start recording. The apps further allow the transfer of content wirelessly from a mobile handset or tablet and even share with social media. the new app is available for Android and iOS.

With this new app there is no reason to miss on the action. Video after the jump

Apps Take Aim

While Apple doesn’t do those “there’s an app for that” commercials these days, here is one we wouldn’t expect them to air. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has released its new Where To Shoot mobile app — available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices — that locates shooting ranges near you.

Available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play, Where To Shoot puts North America’s most comprehensive directory of shooting ranges in the palm of your hand. It also includes video tips for shooters, news and firearm safety information.

Users can reportedly search by current location or zip code and find specifics about each range, including shooting activities offered, accessibility and contact information. The app also makes it easy to get directions to the range.

The app is modeled after NSSF’s popular WhereToShoot.org website and is updated frequently with range information in every U.S. state and Canadian province. New tips for hunters and shooters are also added regularly.

Where To Shoot 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

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

Weekend Reading List (04.27.2013): Move Down, Slow Cycling Start, Block Head

Move Down

From SportTechie: LetsMoveDown: The App That Gets Fans Closer to the Action
We have all been there before. Heading to the game and then making a move towards more promising vacancies in the lower level shortly after tip-off or first pitch. Squatting in empty seats closer to the court or playing field will usually get you thrown out by an usher or embarrassed by the actual ticketholder. Well, now there’s an app for that. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (04.27.2013): Move Down, Slow Cycling Start, Block Head

Learn From a Pro

Want to play like a Tennis pro? Just like playing at Carnegie Hall it comes to down to practice, practice, practice. But even with practice you need to know how to do it right and some new apps from Vstrator might help. These are designed to collaborative social coaching tools that allows users to capture, create and share videos of “coachable moments” and further allows coaches to train athletes remotely. Currently Vstrator has apps for tennis, strength training, golf and football. Game on.

Vstrator Official Website