‘Personal Electronics’ Articles
Written by Enid Burns on 16 March 2012
While spring is upon us and that means it is time to get those rides in outdoors, there is still much to be said for spinning. Now Mad Dogg Athletics, the creators of the Spinning indoor cycling program , along with Digifit, a mobile wireless health and fitness developer, have announced the launch of the Spinning app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, as well as the Spinning Tracker website.
The new app and website will allow riders to get into the spin with a complete system for heart-rate and cadence tracking as well as a progress-management solution for fitness trainers. The new Spinning app is designed to track heart-rate, cadence, caloric burn and several other metrics, which are measured by the app for reference during and post workout. Each Spinning session is digitally documented and instantly transferred to a personalized online Spinning Tracker account where users can view, share and edit exercise results. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Android, App, Digifit, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mad Dogg Athletics, Spinning Tracker
Posted in Equipment, Mobile Phone, Personal Electronics, Software | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 16 March 2012
Those who use mobile personal training will soon get to bulk up – at least in terms of the software they use to help to stay fit. This week Cybex International Inc., exercise equipment manufacturer, and PumpOne, professional personal training solutions developer, announced a partnership that will provide users of online and mobile fitness applications with increased access to Cybex technology and research.
“PumpOne is on the cutting edge of fitness technology, and Cybex is proud to partner with them to provide exercise and programming content that will help FitnessBuilder users maximize their workout results,” said Ray Giannelli, senior vice president of research and development for Cybex.
In the coming months, official Cybex exercises will join the more than 2,000 exercises featured in PumpOne’s FitnessBuilder platform, available online and on iOS and Android mobile devices. In addition to the individual exercises at the core of the platform, FitnessBuilder will provide full workout programs designed by Cybex Research Institute (CRI) experts, and give users access to CRI’s fitness advice and innovative research.
“We’re excited to welcome Cybex into the FitnessBuilder family as we continue to build on the world’s largest exercise library,” said Craig Schlossberg, co-founder of PumpOne. “Cybex’s top-of-the-line equipment is an integral part of workouts for athletes, trainers, and gym members at all fitness levels, and the Cybex Research Institute’s expert advice will be invaluable to FitnessBuilder’s users.”
Pump One Official Website
Cybex International Official Website
Tags: Android, Craig Schlossberg, Cybex, Cybex Research Institute, FitnessBuilder, iOS, Mobile Phone, PumpOne, Ray Giannelli, smartphone
Posted in Exercise, Mobile Phone, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 15 March 2012
Dubbed the Nightfire, this incredibly small flashlight from River Rock Designs is just slightly longer than its battery and let it blasts away with 100 lumens. And impressively it is powered by just a single AAA battery.
The key to this is the LED light, which offers effective power project to over 50 yards, and the ability to light up a 30×30-foot room. It has a one hour run time, which really isn’t bad for the battery and it has rubber O-rings to help make it water resistant. For $29.99 it can certainly cast a whole lot of light.
River Rock Designs Official Website
Tags: flashlight, LED, Nightfire, River Rock Desigsn
Posted in Equipment, Gadget, Outdoors, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by Les Shu on 15 March 2012
While everything around us seems to be going wireless, when it comes to headphones most are us are still tethered. Anyone who uses headphones during a workout or activity knows how cumbersome they can be when they’re flailing around. New wireless technologies like Bluetooth, however, have allowed headphone manufacturers to cut the cord. One such product is the Phiaton PS 20 BT Stereo Headset ($149), a pair on in-ear headphones that are Bluetooth 3.0 compatible, which provides amazing sound quality, according to Phiaton.
When paired with your phone you can answer calls without removing them; you can pair up to eight devices at once, while using two of them simultaneously. Other features include the “Echo-Off” noise reduction; 14.3mm drivers that Phiaton says produces pure and accurate sound; a “half in-ear” design that’s ergonomic, and offers “excellent bass response of in-ear style buds with the crystal clear high frequency response of open-ear style earphones”; “MaxBass” technology with a dual-chamber structure to reduce or eliminate vibration and echo; and calling time of 6 hours, music-playing time of 6 hours, and 250 hours of standby time.
Phiaton Official Website
Tags: Bluetooth, headphones, Phiaton, PS 20 BT Stereo Headset, smart phones, wireless headphones, wireless headset
Posted in Audio, Gadget, Mobile Phone, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 14 March 2012
Brother Randy and Michael Gregg have come up with a novel new way to hunt – not with a rifle but with a camera. Actually more to the point it is a camera that looks like a rifle. It allows a hunter to get a “Kill Shot” without actually making a kill.
The brothers, who are avid hunters, came up with the idea while out in the woods where they used a camera phone to get a shot through a rifle’s scope. Thus was born their project, which is still in the development stage. The idea is that Kill Shot would allow users to take a photo when taking a shot. The basic shape of the device would resemble a rifle and feature a built in scope.
Randy and Michael, along with third brother Daniel have since started a Kickstarter project, and see this as a way for those who want to hunt without killing to have the ability to track animals as in a real hunter, or allowing novice hunters to learn the basics. Either way it is apt that the website of the trio is called “Harmless Hunter.”
Harmless Hunter Official Website
Harmless Hunter on KickStarter
Tags: Camera, Daniel Gregg, Harmless Hunter, KickStarter, Kill Shot, Michael Gregg, Randy Gregg, rifle
Posted in concept, Gadget, Outdoors, Personal Electronics | 2 Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 14 March 2012
We’ve seen numerous ways of bringing a laptop when traveling on a bike. Most solutions call for the computer to ride in a bag or side pouch, and last December we saw the Samsung Galaxy Tab bike – but now Peugeot is taking it a step further with its DL122 bicycle.
The company, which started producing bikes in 1882, has introduced a lot of bicycle innovation and the concept here is that a laptop can ride within the frame. Actually it makes use of what is traditionally the open front triangle of the bike between the down tube, seat tube and top tube, and by placing a heavier object here – instead of on the side or back – it should help with the center of gravity. It also helps protect the laptop should the rider fall or crash – of course this is because the rider is also providing that protection, but given how some value their laptops, this might be a small price to pay.
[Via Gizmag: Peugeot’s elegant DL122 – the bicycle with a laptop compartment]
Tags: computer, Cycling, laptop, Peugeot DL122, Samsung Galaxy Tab Bike
Posted in concept, Cycling, Gadget, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 14 March 2012
Does the military use smartphones? Actually there is more and more crossover and likely some military personnel as well as those who work alongside the military might use an iPhone. So the good news is that iCA have introduced the iCA Military Edition, a camera case that turns the handset into a camera lookalike.
As has been noted, it even makes the iPhone look like the old Leica range finders that military photographers used to carry. It features a viewfinder, top mounted shutter button, and offers the ability to attach a macro or fisheye lenses. Of course this case, which is available for pre-order for $70.00, promises to be durable enough for the military, but available to civilians. Additional images after the jump
Tags: Gizmon, iCA, iCA Military Edition, iPhone, Leica
Posted in Gadget, Mobile Phone, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 13 March 2012
Heart rate monitors can share a lot of information, but trying to read it while working out means taking the eyes off the road. While that can mean taking the eyes of the prize, it can also be dangerous. Now Heart Zones USA CEA Sally Edwards has announced the founding of ZONING Fitness, which will release four wrist-top heart rate monitors that utilize the ZONING fitness program.
The idea is hart rate monitors that blink according to your workout, so instead of squinting at tiny numbers you can see a light – blue indicts low intensity, yellow at moderate and red when you’re going all out. The monitors further work with the ZONING solution, which just received a U.S. patent for cardio-training.
“There are hundreds of heart rate monitors on the market, but they are just watches with numbers,” said Sally Edwards in a statement. “The Blink gives you instantaneous and continuous feedback on how hard you are walking or cycling or doing any cardio exercise.”
Users should be able to help blink their way to better fitness.
Zoning Fitness Official Website
Tags: Blink, heart rate monitor, Heart Zones USA, Sally Edwards, ZONING
Posted in Exercise, Gadget, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by Mike Prendergast on 10 March 2012
Could this be the next level of performance enhancing for sports?
Flow has been maddeningly difficult to pin down, let alone harness, but a wealth of new technologies could soon allow us all to conjure up this state. The plan is to provide a short cut to virtuosity, slashing the amount of time it takes to master a new skill – be it tennis, playing the piano or marksmanship.
New Scientist: Zap your brain into the zone: Fast track to pure focus
Tags: ArcAttack, Gravel Metric, Radio Controlled, Tesla
Posted in concept, Gadget, Personal Electronics, Software | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 09 March 2012
This week at the Taipei Cycle Show in Taipei, Taiwan the JD Group presented its award-winning automatic-shift bicycle gear system, the Automatic Gear Transmission Bike+ (AGT Bike+). This handlebar mounted, computerized unit automatically determines when the rider needs to shift and puts the bike in the proper gear. This system features a maintenance free self-charging Lithium battery that attains ranges of up to 500km. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: AGT Bike+, Automatic Gear Transmission Bike+, Cycling, JD Group, PST AGT E-bike, Taipei Cycle Show, TranzX
Posted in concept, Cycling, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 09 March 2012
There is nothing like sitting around the campfire, having the stars overhead and the iPad on your lap. That doesn’t sound right, but as more and more people take the iPad to the great outdoors some companies have stepped up to make it a little easier to use.
X-Doria has provided such an accessory, aptly named the CampFire, a padded stand of sorts that helps prop up the tablet. This custom sleeping bag case also doubles as a protector to ensure that the iPad can handle a bit of roughing it as well. And when the time comes to call it a night, the iPad will have its own sleeping bag to bunk down for the night. Additional images after the jump
Tags: CampFire, camping, iPad, tablet, X-Doria
Posted in Equipment, Gadget, Outdoors, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 08 March 2012
While probably not much of a problem this season, in years with deep snow or when regions get lots of natural snow, some skiers might find themselves trying to find lost skis. This no doubt cuts down on the fun. It seems like a small problem, but enough that Ski Retriever has come to the rescue with a homing system.
This is simple enough, where a homing tag attaches to each ski (or snowboard) and a radio-based receiver unit picks up the signal. LED and audio prompts will let a user know when they’re getting close – sort of a treasure hunt on the slopes. The system reportedly works up to 400 feet, while conditions including depth under the white stuff and weather can affect the distance.
The company has reported positive response since the product was introduced in January at the SIA Snow Show in Denver. This could be a case where a problem was solved that people didn’t they had – until they tried to dig out their skis!
Ski Retriever Official Website
[Via Gizmag: Ski Retriever tracks down lost skis better than a St. Bernard]
Tags: SIA, ski, Ski Retriever, Skis, Snow Show, snow sports, snowboard
Posted in concept, Gadget, Personal Electronics, Snow Sports | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 07 March 2012
Rugged is the name of the game this season with point-and-shoot digital cameras and Sony isn’t going to be left behind. The company announced last week a new line of Cyber-shot cameras, including the rugged DSC-TX20. It can get wet and wild and be submerged up to five meters in water and dropped from 1.5 meters, while also being dustproof and freeze proof. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: By Pixel Super Resolution, Cyber-shot, DSC-TX20, Rugged Camera, Sony, TX20
Posted in Gadget, Outdoors, Personal Electronics | No Comments »
