The sound of your voice is different than how you likely hear it, in part because part of the sound is transmitted through the bone to the inner ear. This is why people typically sound different when their voice is recorded, and now this same bone-conductivity can be used to allow you to talk on the phone – with a little help from the SpeakGoggle G33 from Buhel. These goggles connect to a smartphone or other handset via Bluetooth and feature a bone conduction microphone that is built into the frame.
So instead of the mic picking up normal sound through the air, it actually picks up what you’re saying as the sound waves travel through your own jaw bones and skull! The result of course is little to any background noise – so you could basically talk while skiing as wind won’t be an issue. Video after the jump
When we ride our bikes on the road we ride where we want to go, and while most riders appreciate some directions and even a tip or two as to where to ride, chances are everyone has that special ride. So why not share it? If your friends can come to ride with you, with Kinomap, which was shown at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show, you can record a course, upload it and then share it.
Unlike other virtual riding programs, which are built upon courses the companies decide to give you, this one is about community.
“Currently Kinomap is available for download and playback on the iPad and iPhone,” Laurent Desmons, CEO and founder of Kinomap told KineticShift.com. “The iOS devices can sync with existing monitors when the bike is on the trainer. When those devices arrive for the Android, we’ll have a version for that platform as well.”
While the big carriers in the United States have no shortage of mobile handsets for virtually any user, even the smaller carriers are getting on board with mobile phones designed for those who go off the beaten path. One recent example is the Sonim XP 3400 Armor ultra-rugged handset for use with C Spire. This handset is engineered to exceed military-grade specification, and is waterproof and submersible to up to 6.5 feet for an hour, dustproof and shockproof, where it can survive a 6.5 feet drop onto concrete. This handset has been certified against salt, fog, humidity, transport shock, thermal shock and can operate in temperatures from -5° F to 130° F.
This handset could be ideal for those who work outdoors or just like to get away from it all. It features an integrated FM radio and has a 2megapixel camera with an LED light that doubles as a flashlight. The screen is 1.5mm thick and is made of scratch and shock resistant Corning Gorilla glass. It offers noise cancelling with the microphone, while the speaker is water-resistant. Thanks to the hardened rubber molded reinforced fiberglass looks pretty tough too! Chances are most users aren’t as tough as this handset! With a two-year contract and $50 reward card rebate this phone is also just $49.99. Maybe the smaller carriers do have something serious to offer! Video after the jump
The iPhone can be a great cycling computer, but this means exposing the expensive smartphone to the elements. For those who go off road there is the StormCruiser from Joy Factory, a bicycle mount designed to tackle spills and the elements. The StormCruiser is designed for the iPhone 4/4S, and the scratch resistant case offers protection from water, dust and grease. It can be mounted on the body frame, between the handle bar, or on the top tube.
At just $49.95, Joy Factory’s StormCruiser adds just enough protection, while allow riders to concentrate on the trail and not have a little less worry about their expensive handset.
If you bring a camera, mobile phone, MP3 player or other electronic device on a long ride chances are it could end up out of juice before you do. But now Silverback is offering a way to use pedal power to power up your digital devices. The German bicycle company has added a USB port, powered by a dynamo hub, to its Starke 1 and 2 models.
The USB port is located in the head tube of the nickel alloy frame bicycles, which also feature Shimano components including front and rear hydraulic disc brakes. The dynamo hub also provides power to the bikes’ lights, while the Starke 1 even features an integrated electric motor that provides pedal assist.
The only drawback so far seems that devices can only be powered when the dynamo isn’t being used. So if you were hoping to do some riding to power up the mobile phone, or to listen to some tunes while resting your legs you might be out of luck. But it is still a good way to juice up your devices. The Silverback cycles will be ready to roll as part of the company’s 2012 line up.
The idea of “life proofing” portable electronics is a good one, especially with mobile smartphones. These things get dropped, get spilled on and get put through conditions that frankly they weren’t designed for. After dropping an iPhone many users probably have a moment of fear and do a quick “proof of life” test to see if it still works. Instead of worrying whether that fall or spill “killed” the handset, LifeProof it instead.
Earlier this year Abvio previewed its 5.0 version of its trio of iPhone apps, which included a Runmeter, Cyclemeter and Walkmeter. Now the developer has announced the 6.0 version that includes advanced support of the Wahoo Fitness ANT+ system. These three GPS fitness apps deliver the power of an expensive bike computer or GPS watch to a user’s iPhone by tracking workouts with a host of features designed to help you improve performance and fitness.
Post workout, users can utilize the social sharing features, which include support for Twitter, Facebook and dailymile.com. This functionality can provide extra motivation with a fun twist: where your friends, family and coaches can reply to your posts on these social sites, their replies are then spoken using text-to-speech technology during your workout. Read the rest of this entry »
Bianchi Bicycle owners can be a dedicated bunch, and we don’t blame them for loving their finely crafted Italian made machines. Now they can share their joy with a new app for Android mobile smartphones that follows the release of the iPhone and iPad launches – and don’t worry a BlackBerry version is also in the work.
The free to download app offers users the ability to surf the whole Bianchi range of products with itemized images and technical features, news and updates from the official Bianchi website and geolocation search so users can easily find the closest Bianchi dealer. And what would a Bianchi app be were it not highlighted in Celeste green?
Love it or hate it, cardio workouts are a must if you’re trying to tone up or lose weight. But if you’re like most people, the thought of spending 30 minutes on a treadmill is a motivation zapper. Fortunately for iPhone users, there’s an app that can help.
Created by Beau Taillefer, Forumla 55 ($4.99) is an iOS-based app designed to keep your cardio sessions fresh by pushing you out of your comfort zone. Formula 55 workouts incorporate squats, sprints, hills, and more to ensure you never get stuck in a cardio rut. Just plug in your measurements, select your goals, and the app automatically does the rest.
The app also lets you import playlists so you always workout to your favorite tunes, and once you’re done you can blast your workouts through cyber space thanks to the app’s built-in Facebook integration.
“And that’s not all,” is sort of the feeling we had when Wahoo announced its new Bike Pack that features the Wahoo Bike Case along with the Wahoo Fitness Speed and Cadence sensor. These items are now offered together as a combo pack that might make iPhone users ditch their cycling computers.
Wahoo Fitness instead allows users to wirelessly connect the iPhone to an ANT+ fitness measuring device and includes the bike case to ensure the mobile smartphone can survive a spill on the road, while mounting the handset on the handle bars! The case fits iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 in both Verizon and AT&T versions.
If you have a pulse and are familiar with Apple’s iPhone, you’ve heard the slogan “there’s an app for that.” With the number of apps exceeding 350,000 for just the iPhone and iPod Touch iOS platform, and ten of thousands of apps for the Android, BlackBerry and other smartphones, there are countless medical apps available. And just like Apple’s well known modern slogan, there is also another phase which is much older, scientia potentia est or “knowledge is power” – this is the phase that worries the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA is now proposing guidelines to regulate a small number of medical apps and oversee those that they deem could be dangerous to the general public if the information presented is wrong. All of these apps are medical related and will only be regulated if the information presented could put an individual at risk if the apps does not work as intended.
The policy advisor to the FDA, Bakul Patel, states that some of the apps have a simple goal of helping consumers manage their own health and wellness, for example the National Institutes of Health’s LactMed app, which gives nursing mothers information about the effects of medicines on breast milk and nursing infants. While there are other apps help health care providers improve and facilitate patient care – the Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM) app gives health care providers guidance on diagnosing and treating radiation injuries. Read the rest of this entry »
We’ve seen a lot of watches, and it isn’t that uncommon to have a device strapped to your wrists that can tell time, include alarms and even have a calculator (how 1980s is that). Much of this technology can now be included in mobile phones, so many people have stopped wearing high-tech watches altogether. That is until you want to work out, then the phone becomes the hassle and the watch is more useful – especially with the calorie counting and heart rate monitor functionality.
But now French-based VEA is rolling out a fitness watch that could make you want to ditch the mobile phone when you workout. The VEA Sportive Mobile Watch actually features a built-in MP3 player, pulse rate monitor, camera and even basic phone functionality. It is Bluetooth compatible, offers 8GB of storage and has an SOS button should you need to call for help.
However, you’ll have to run to Europe to get one. It will be released later this month for €399, but that price will reportedly run up to €499 in September, so if you’re a gadget connoisseur you might want to act now.
Surfers like to catch waves, and typically do so where there tends to be a bit of sun. There are times that people surf in less than sunny locations, but not a new innovation will want them to catch waves, and catch some rays of the sun as well.
Tony Jones of Coral Reef Wetsuits essentially added a solar panel to his custom board, and it adds power to the deck, enough to just up cameras, flashlights, mobile phones and portable radios. So while he’s out riding the waves, the solar power charges a 2200 mA lithium battery. The solar panel doesn’t even need direct sunlight to charge efficiently, but with the board on the roof it could even trickle charge the car’s battery.
This is certainly an interesting twist on getting positive energy!
The sound of your voice is different than how you likely hear it, in part because part of the sound is transmitted through the bone to the inner ear. This is why people typically sound different when their voice is recorded, and now this same bone-conductivity can be used to allow you to talk on the phone – with a little help from the SpeakGoggle G33 from Buhel. These goggles connect to a smartphone or other handset via Bluetooth and feature a bone conduction microphone that is built into the frame.
When we ride our bikes on the road we ride where we want to go, and while most riders appreciate some directions and even a tip or two as to where to ride, chances are everyone has that special ride. So why not share it? If your friends can come to ride with you, with Kinomap, which was shown at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show, you can record a course, upload it and then share it.
While the big carriers in the United States have no shortage of mobile handsets for virtually any user, even the smaller carriers are getting on board with mobile phones designed for those who go off the beaten path. One recent example is the Sonim XP 3400 Armor ultra-rugged handset for use with C Spire. This handset is engineered to exceed military-grade specification, and is waterproof and submersible to up to 6.5 feet for an hour, dustproof and shockproof, where it can survive a 6.5 feet drop onto concrete. This handset has been certified against salt, fog, humidity, transport shock, thermal shock and can operate in temperatures from -5° F to 130° F.
The iPhone can be a great cycling computer, but this means exposing the expensive smartphone to the elements. For those who go off road there is the StormCruiser from Joy Factory, a bicycle mount designed to tackle spills and the elements. The StormCruiser is designed for the iPhone 4/4S, and the scratch resistant case offers protection from water, dust and grease. It can be mounted on the body frame, between the handle bar, or on the top tube.
