Android | Evolving Consumer

Bike of Valour

The Valour smart bike will ensure you find your way. Its makers called it the first ever connected carbon fiber bike, and by this it means that it offers integrated Bluetooth 4.0 that allows the bike to connect to a companion Android, iOS or Pebble compatible app.

Users can use the app to tell the bike their destination and receive turn-by-turn navigation directly on the handlebars. The bike also features built-in sensors including an accelerometer, magnetometer and a speed sensor that can track calories burned, monitor speed and distance. The system can even suggest the best possible route should you desire to avoid hills or other difficult terrain.

The designers, which are based in Toronto, launched a Kickstarter campaign to help develop the Valour and at present it looks like they’ve reached their funding goals so it is likely we’ll be seeing this one on the streets in the not too distant future. Video after the jump

TICKR Run to Reduce Injury

Fitness trackers can monitor your results and progress, while some can even track your stance, posture and form. Now Wahoo Fitness has introduced what it calls the world’s only heart rate monitor with activity tracking that provides real-time analysis of a runner’s form, helping to improve efficiency and avoid injury rates. The TICKR Run is Wahoo’s new heart rate monitor that pairs with Android and iOS smartphones and devices.

It utilizes triple axis motion sensors along with an accelerometer that together can measure a runner’s form in three planes: vertically, side-to-side and front-to-back. Those sensors and Wahoo’s fitness app for Android and iOS produce a measurement of each runner’s form called Running Smoothness, a sophisticated algorithm that assigns varying levels of importance to each axis and combines them into a single, easy-to-understand index.

With Running Smoothness athletes can improve their form to avoid unnecessary body motion, which improves efficiency and reduces the risk of common running injuries. Using Wahoo’s app, runners can even track Running Smoothness through their workout history to see improvements over long periods of time. Continue reading TICKR Run to Reduce Injury

Special Ops App

MOJO Outdoors has released a GPS powered Waterfowl app for Android and iOS devices. It is a hunting app that has been created by those who claim to know a thing or two about Waterfowl. It offers MOJO Maps, Legal Shooting Alarm, Duck Identification, Weather Pro, U.S. Migratory Bird Regulations and more.

The app even contains a flashlight feature and camo mirror to help apply the “war paint.”

MOJO Outdoors Official Website

ROK Solid

Rokform has launched a Kickstarter campaign that has a goal of bringing out a universal mounting system for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – which will provide hands free solutions for those with active lifestyles. This can include taking the mobile handset on a bike or on other adventures – and ensure it is “Rok steady” as well. Video after the jump

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.

Under Armor Gear Official Website

Wahoo on Google

Wahoo Fitness is now offering its mobile fitness app for Android devices and it can be found in the Google Play Store. With it Android users can combine the app with Wahoo Fitness products and sensors to track heart rate and stride rate data, cycling speed, cadence, and power data for running and cycling activities. At launch, Wahoo products supported by the Android app include: TICKR, BlueHR, BlueSC, RPM and the KICKR trainer. Additional products will be supported in the coming months.

“Over 80 percent of the smartphones shipped around the world run on Android. That’s well over a billion athletes that can now leverage the full power of Wahoo products and sensors to enhance and inspire their workout,” said Chip Hawkins, Wahoo’s CEO. “The most powerful fitness device that most athletes have access to is the smartphone right in their pocket. True to our belief that athletes should have the right to choose, we’re clearly very happy to bring another OS platform to the Wahooligan community.”

Google Play: Wahoo Fitness

Blue Logic Cadence

BioLogic has introduced a new wireless speed and cadence sensor that can transmit directly to a mobile device via Bluetooth 4.0 and is thus capable with Android and iOS. The sensor is powered by a single CR2032 battery that is said to provide up to 700 hours of riding data. The Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence sensor (MSRP: $45.95) will be available in the second quarter of 2014.

BioLogic Official Website

Move Your Mbody

There is no shortage of shorts that provide compression, but the Mbody system from Myontec does much more than just provide some compression to the legs. These Finnish made athletic shorts are designed to get you across the finish line by helping track your muscle activity.

The MShorts as these are called are equipped with an Mcell module that plugs into the apparel and displays the processed data on a mobile device. The sensors monitor that activity of the quadriceps and hamstrings and transmitted to a user’s Android mobile device. This allows users to tell if one leg is working harder than the other and allows users to change up their activity as necessary.

Mbody Official Website

Pyle It On

Pyle Audio has introduced the Bluetooth Heart Rate Monitor and Watch (PSBTHR70), which measures heart rate, average speed, distance traveled, number of steps taken, lap speeds and calorie consumption. This data can be wirelessly transmitted – by Bluetooth of course – to various third party apps on compatible Android and iOS devices. Supported apps include RunKeeper, MapMyRun and WahooFitness among others.

This watch, which is available in black, green, blue or pink for around $70, can display time in a 12 or 24 hour format and features optional hourly chimes and daily alarms, as well as a built-in calendar system. Continue reading Pyle It On

Making Tracks

If hitting the slopes early means a lot to you then the First Tracks app for Android and iOS devices is something that should be on the phone. This isn’t just an alarm, it actually will wake you early if snow has fallen and there is fresh powder to enjoy. On the other hand if conditions remain unchanged then the alarm will go off at the normal time so you can get your beauty sleep.

First Tracks Official Website

Shimano Gets in on the Action

This month Shimano announced that it was entering the action camera market. The CM-1000 Sport Camera (MSRP: $299) will be available in May and is the first product from the company’s Lifestyle Gear Division, which targets both the fishing and cycling markets, and will be able to be integrated with existing Shimano electronics.

This HD camera can record video and stills, and features an F2.0 lens that will be good for low-light conditions, and offers dual, standard angle 135 degree and super wide 180 degree modes, while also providing a 90 degree increment auto-image rotation. That feature will allow users to flip the camera and still maintain a horizontal image plane.

The CM-1000 weighs in at 86 grams and will be waterproof to 10 meters without an external case. It offers ANT+ wireless connectivity as well as Wi-Fi and works with its own Android and iOS apps.

Shimano Official Website

Mobile Running Coach

Sometimes a good coach can motivate you to work harder and go further. Since not everyone can have such a coach the Personal Running Trainer app will be there instead. Designed to help beginning runners train for distance running it provides professional and motivational coaching instructions that voices over personalized music selection, and with this is there to tell you when to change pace and when to rest.

Users can even track other runners using the same program. It is the next best thing to your own coach, and this app is available in nine languages and for Android and iOS devices.

Personal Running Trainer Official Website

Reign It In

There may be a new fitness monitor that is looking to take the top spot. The Reign Activity Tracker from Jaybird rules by providing more flexibility – not so much in letting you slack off in your workouts, but rather by featuring materials that shape to your wrist over time. There are eight interchangeable size options and this provides just enough customization. This activity monitor is compatible with Android, iOS and web apps and features wireless connectivity. It tracks your sleep and daily activities and helps you “reign” in your workout.

Jaybird Reign Activity Tracker Official Website