TAO Wellness has updated the design for its TAO WellShell, the portable, interactive and motivating exercise tool that turns exercise time into game time. The unit is set to be delivered to backers of the Tao-Wellness Kickstarter campaign this fall, and the new version of the WellShell will feature a smooth black top surface with a silver base that makes it easier for the user to exert uniform pressure from a variety of positions.
Category: Gadget
Galaxy Armor
There are plenty of cases on the market for the iPhone, but Urban Armor Gear have introduced a new phone case for the Samsung Galaxy S5, which combines style, functionality and protection – and still made it easy to use the handset while its armor is up.
This distinctive one-piece design features a hard armor shell that guards against sharp objects, while a soft rubber core and bumpers resists impact from drops and abuse. It even utilizes a high definition adhesive screen protector to protect against scratches. Each product is independently tested to meet military standards for drop and shock (MIL-STD 810G), and it offers UAG’s feather-lite construction, which results in a patented form fitting design that adds minimal size and weight to the Galaxy S5.
Smart Thinking
Researchers at the University of Oxford found that the human brain can notice symbols faster than it notices generic lights, and with this in mind a group from the school developed Brainy Bike Lights, which feature an LED “cyclists” symbol instead of just a row of bulbs.
In tests the team found that people were able to quickly identify that it was a bicycle and more importantly reacted more quickly to it. Those in the study reacted about 100 milliseconds faster, which for a car traveling at 30 mph could mean the distance of 1.34 meters. That could make a difference for those on the bike!
The lights are reportedly visible from a distance of 20 meters and provide a field of view of almost 180 degrees. The headlight version can run for about 50 hours while flashing, and the tail light can run for 200 hours. That should be plenty of time to get noticed.
Garmin Back on the Edge
Garmin has remained on the cutting edge again. This month it unveiled its Garmin Edge 1000, which will carry over many of the training features from its Edge 819 but also add the navigation features of the Edge Touring. This new cycling computer features a 3-inch touchscreen display with full-color 240×400 resolution.
The new cycling computer will come loaded with maps and points of interest including parks and trails, and can provide riders with turn-by-turn directions. It can synced with ANT+ products including heart rate monitors, power meters and speed/cadence sensors. The Edge 1000 is even compatible with Shimano’s Di2 with D-Fly system to display the current gear on the screen. This unit can also be paired with a smartphone so riders can view incoming calls and even text messages.
Once again Garmin could very well give riders an edge in more ways than one!
X4 Lights the Spot
There are plenty of ways to be seen while riding or running at night, but Edward Ward of London has created the Commuter X4, a wearable, fiber optic rear bike light that helps drivers judge distance, width and even speed of the cyclist. Ward’s design was even selected as one of the final 20 of the British Inventors’ Project at the Gadget Show Live 2014. His design features four fiber optic light guides and this system can be worn over the back and can also be attached to bags and backpacks. What makes this system also stand out said Ward is that the human eye typically judges distances by focusing on two more focal points and the Commuter X4 provides much more than a single light.
This system is also designed to sit at the optimum height for all road users – again ensuring it can’t be missed. Ward has now launched a Kickstarter campaign to help the X4 get noticed by investors. Video after the jump
Shine Like a Eagle
The Eagle 600 bike light from Magicshine doesn’t necessarily soar higher than most lights, but it does have a little magic of another sort. Unlike most cycling lights this light features an OLED display that shows remaining battery and runtime.
It can be fully charged in about four hours and can run on full power for about 1.5 hours. It also has low modes plus flashing mode to preserve the battery life. On full blast it offers 600 lumens, which is enough to light the road ahead. The best feature is still that lets you know the runtime that is left with the light so you’re not left out in the dark.
GoPro Goes Double
GoPro has doubled down so to speak with the introduction of the new GoPro Dual HERO system, which can capture synchronized footage that can be converted to 3D. This set up will also allow users to capture simultaneous photo and video footage. It is compatible with two HERO3+ cameras (sold separately) and the system will retail for $199.
XBand on the Run
Tracking runners once just required a stopwatch, but today coaches have more options and now the XBand Speed Pro offers coaches as way to track speed and agility metrics through a new wearable device. A wearable body module is paired with a finish line module and smartphone adapter and can be used to interpret data and display the results in the accompanying app. It utilizes a microwave sensor, accelerometer and RF modules to precisely measures and transmits key performance data to a smartphone app as runner’s train, and with this information runners can improve their speed and performance.
The XBand Speed Pro is being developed via a Kickstarter campaign, and the designers hope to have it off and running later this year. Video after the jump
Taking a Dive
Victorinox, the makers of the Swiss Army Knives, has long made watches and this spring the company launched a limited titanium edition of its Dive Master 500, which is limited to just 500 pieces. It features a 43mm case in Grade II titanium and is water resistant to up to 500 meters. It also features protected screw down crown and push buttons.
Rocket Powered
When heading out into the wilds less can be more as the new Rocket Torch from Pyle Audio proves. This sleek cylinder is both a multi-functional speaker and flashlight equipped. It is equipped with Bluetooth technology, FM radio, mini SD card slot and AUX-IN jack. It is water resistant yet weighs less than a pound, while the Bluetooth technology allows users to connect to any iOS, Android or PC device and listen to music and phone calls up to a distance of 32 feet.
It also offers a bright, energy efficient LED flashlight that can be clipped to a backpack or even a bike for traveling at night. This is one rocket that will light the way and rock out the tunes.
GoPro Mounts Up Again
GoPro has introduced a number of new mounts for its rugged action cameras that offer users even more flexibility in capturing the magic of that special moment. The new stealth Blackout Housing($49.99) promises to delivers the ultimate in low profile shooting. It features a non-reflective black matte finish and LCD concealment stickers to ensure low visibility and eliminate light reflections. The new housing is perfect for the sportsman, tactical, professional or any user who wants a covert look for their HERO3+ or HERO3.
Two additional accessories, Gooseneck and The Frame, are also designed for maximum ease of use and greater versatility in shooting. The Gooseneck ($19.99) offers a seven-link flex neck along with a quick-release base plate for capturing hard to reach shots around corners or underneath objects; while the reengineered Frame ($39.99) promises to be the smallest, lightest way to mount the HERO3+ and HERO3 camera. The Frame features full-time access to all camera ports for convenient data offload, live-feed video and charging, an integrated latch to make securing and removing the camera quicker and easier, and a compact mounting design that allows for optimal audio recording. Video after the jump
Double O Light
The Double O isn’t exactly something we’d expect 007 or any other British super spy to use, but these are being developed in the U.K. by Paul Coksedge Studios through a Kickstarter campaign. The Double Os put out 80 lumens up front and 45 lumens in the rear. The designers suggest that this round style uses less bright LEDs but more and that results in a more visible light – without being blinding or otherwise distractive to drivers and other cyclists.
These charge up in 90 minutes via USB and have three modes – steady, which can run for about 2.1 hours; flashing at 4.2 hours and Eco at about 10 hours. Video after the jump
Trail Recorders
Trail Cameras has introduced two new outdoor rugged cameras, the Browning Strike Force and Dark Ops Trail cameras and both are small enough to be virtually undetectable by animal or human eyes.
Each of these outdoor cameras is powered by six AA batteries, while offering easy set up. These feature time, date, temperature, moon phase, and camera ID on the data strip of every image, along with trigger speeds of .67 second, recovery times of 2.1 seconds, and increased power efficiency allow the cameras to capture more than 10,000 images on a single battery charge. These provide infrared images with an auto-adjusting illumination feature that prevents overexposed images in nighttime photos and videos; while the extended illumination feature brightens the field of view and eliminates dark edges.