Category Archives: application

Fitnet Helps You Get In Shape At CES

February 9, 2015Android, application, ces, fitness, health, Interview, iOS, Special Media, videoces, CES 2015, fitness, fitnet, Health, Interview, smart band, video, wearableStacey Hall

It can be hard to find the time to exercise, especially if there are other things you’d rather be doing. But exercise doesn’t have to be boring. Jamie spoke to Bob Summers of Fitnet about how his company is making getting in shape simple and fun.

Fitnet is an interactive, highly-personalized fitness tracker app that makes it easy to set fitness goals and create a custom weekly fitness plan to help you achieve them. With guidance and video tutorials from real-life fitness trainers, you’ll be getting in shape in no time. Easily squeeze workouts into your schedule whenever you have the time– you only need as little as 5 minutes! It’s perfect for parents, businesspeople, road-trippers, and anyone else with a busy lifestyle and a desire to get fit.

Fitnet is available for free now in the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.

Interview by Jamie Davis of Health Tech Weekly.

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On3 PowerCliq Smart Battery Case

February 8, 2015Apple, application, battery, Bluetooth, ces, Interview, iPhone, Special Media, videoapp, Apple, battery, bluetooth, ces, Interview, iPhone, videoAndrew

Combo battery cases for the Apple iPhone are commonplace from no-name clones to well-known manufacturers whose brand is almost synonymous with the product. On the other hand, combined case, battery and Bluetooth headset packs with smart battery management are really quite rare. In fact, On3‘s PowerCliq is the only one I know of, so watch Don get a hands-on demo from Brad Yasar of On3.

The PowerCliq is a 2700 mAh battery case for the iPhone which has two additional features. The first is a Bluetooth 4.0 headset that slides into the back of the case for both storage and charging. The second is that the charging features of the external battery can be controlled by app on the iPhone. When plugged in, most battery packs simply charge until the smartphone is fully charged and then keep it topped up; there are some schools of thought that suggest this can be detrimental to the long-term performance of the battery.

On the PowerCliq, the app can be used to set a minimum battery level such that the recharging doesn’t kick in until the iPhone’s battery falls to that level and once fully charged, turns off. This larger discharge / charge cycle is supposed to improve the life of the battery.

The PowerCliq is fundraising on Kickstarter with early birds getting in at $88. Update: since CES, the Kickstarter campaign has been cancelled. There’s a note on Instagram saying that this is to allow for new developments and the campaign will restart soon.

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.

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Babolat Play Connected Racket Raises The Game

January 31, 2015application, Bluetooth, ces, Interview, Special Media, sport, videoapp, Babolat, bluetooth, ces, Interview, sport, tennis, videoAndrew

Babolat‘s pedigree in tennis is hard to beat, going right the way back to the 19th Century, when the company helped create the first racket strings. Today, it’s pushing forwards into the 21st Century with a new connected racket based on their AeroPro Drive to help both tennis professionals and keen amateurs improve their game. Don chats with Jean-Marc Zimmermann, Babolat CIO.

The Babolat Play racket looks like an ordinary racket on the outside but with sensors integrated into the handle, players now have access to a wealth of information – power level, impact position on the racket head, type and number of strokes (forehand, backhand, serve, overhead smash), top spin or back spin, all provided through a smartphone app for both Apple and Android. Incredibly, there are no sensors outside of the handle, so the racket can be treated like any other racket when it comes to match preparation and re-stringing. The racket can be taken on court for six hours between charges, which is plenty for a couple of matches, and holds over 150 hours of performance information.

The Babolat Play racket will be on sale in mid-January for $349. Two further models will be on sale; one lighter for junior players ($299) and one with a larger head (if I understand correctly), also at $349.

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor.

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StickyPassword Password Manager at CES

January 20, 2015application, ces, Interview, Security, smartphone, Special Media, tablet, videoapp, ces, Interview, password, Security, smartphone, Tablet, videoAndrew

One of the plagues of modern life is the need to remember umpteen passwords and it’s getting worse as hackers get more sophisticated and passwords need to get longer and more complex. The ex-AVG team at StickyPassword have put together a comprehensive cross-platform password management solution. Todd sits down with Thomas to learn more.

StickyPassword Premium is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Amazon devices, and can synchronise between multiple devices either via direct wifi or through the Amazon cloud. Security appears to covered with AES256 encryption and the data file is encrypted before transmission minimising the risk of interception during a sync. Where available, i.e. the iPhone, fingerprints can be used to secure the app and data: for everyone else it’s a single master password.

If you want to try it out, there’s a free version that has everything except the sync. For that it’s $19.99 a year.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Brinno Time-Lapse Cameras at CES

January 18, 2015application, camera, ces, Interview, smartphone, Special Media, videoapp, Brinno, camera, ces, Interview, smartphone, time-lapse, videoAndrew

Amongst other things, Brinno specialise in time-lapse cameras, recording life one frame at a time. Their products have proved very popular with the construction industry who often want to record the rise of a new building. The Gadget Professor, Don Blaine, chats with long time friend Chris Adams, Brinno President.

In a TPN world premiere, Brinno show off the TLC120, an update of the TLC200 Pro into a smaller package. The addition of wifi and a complementary app lets the user see what the camera sees on their smartphone. The TLC120 will go into a production in about a month.

To bring an extra dimension to time-lapse movies, Brinno are bringing out a rotating camera platform that can be controlled by wifi from an app too. The direction and rate of turn can be adjust by the owner and when combined with a relative rapid frame capture rate, creates great panoramic shots.

There are some cool time-lapse videos on Brinno’s site, from flowers blooming to an aircraft landing and moving a bridge, and there’s more on YouTube.

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor.

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Smart Hearing Aids from Siemens at CES

January 14, 2015application, ces, health, Interview, smartphone, Special Media, videoapp, ces, Health, hearing, Interview, Siemens, smartphone, videoAndrew

As people get older, one of the more common complaints is of hearing loss. Many of those getting older now have grown up with technology and expect more than brown lumps of plastic which simply won’t do in an Apple-designed world. Today’s hearing aids are small, discreet and smart. Todd hears about the latest products from Thomas Powers of Siemens Hearing Instruments.

Siemens’ latest assistive hearing device is the Binex, which uses signal processing to help people in traditionally difficult listening environments, especially those where there’s a high level of background noise, such as restaurants or trade shows. The aid intelligently reacts to the noise, filtering out the unwanted sound while keeping nearby voices clear.

Worn around the neck, the easyTek streams audio from a Bluetooth-connected device directly into the hearing aid so it’s great for listening to music from a smartphone or tablet. The easyTek can be controlled by the easyTek app for Android and iOS smartphones to discreetly adjust programmes and volume, listen at a preferred level without disturbing others or direct the microphone towards the next person at a restaurant.

Available now, the smart hearing aids cost around $1500-$2000 which includes assessment and fitting.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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Perfect Bake with Connected Scales at CES

January 13, 2015Android, Apple, application, ces, cooking, Interview, iOS, IPAD, smartphone, Special Media, tablet, videoAndroid, app, Apple, baking, ces, cooking, Interview, IOS, IPAD, kitchen, smartphone, Tablet, videoAndrew

Although the Internet of Things is very much of the moment, sometimes all you need is a connected device. In this case, the device being connected is a set of kitchen scales. Todd and Todd start cooking with Darin Barri and Perfect Bake Scale and App.

Targetted at cooks and bakers, Perfect Bake combines digital scales with a tablet app to make sure that the weight (or more correctly mass) is just right. Connected via the audio jack, scales can weigh in real-time, showing the quantity on the tablet screen. The app has hundreds of recipes and can walk the baker through the steps with mixing times and instructional videos. The scales come with colour-coded preparation bowls to help too and the app can adjust quantities to suit appetite.

There’s an even an oven thermometer to make sure the temperature is right, so whatever’s baked, it’s baked perfectly every single time.

The app available for both Android and Apple devices, the Perfect Bake Scale and App is available now for $69.99 from Brookstone. A Bluetooth wireless version will be available later in 2015.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Todd Aune of The Elder Divide for the TechPodcast Network.

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TrackR has a New App for iOS and Android

January 6, 2015application, cesTrackRJenThorpe

TrackR brought the latest incarnation of its mini trackers, the TrackR bravo to CES 2015. They have also rebuilt the TrackR app into a whole new one. The app is for iOS and Android.

The new TrackR app was made after listening to all the feedback that came from their customers. The app has been rebuilt from the ground up. One new feature is “quicker finding”. A single screen shows you the distance from the device, from the ring device, and lets you see GPS location of the thing you are trying to find.

The new device list enables you to quickly access items easier without the sliding and the hassle. The new menu makes it easier to manage separation alerts, safe zones, and Crowd GPS settings. The app also has better connectivity. The team has rebuilt the Bluetooth stack and the Bluetooth performance has been upgraded.

You can find more information about the TrackR on their Indiegogo page. Visit TrackR at the Sands Expo Booth #74335 at CES 2015.

Apple Watch Starts and Unlocks Car with Viper App

January 6, 2015application, cesSmartStart app, ViperJenThorpe

Everyone could use a way to remotely start, unlock, and lock their cars. It just makes life more convenient. Viper, a 30-year leader in car security, has announced the Viper SmartStart app at CES 2015.

The SmartStart app will give users the ability to start, lock, unlock, and track their cars from virtually anywhere in the world with their smartphone. It will integrate Android Wear and Apple Watch accessibility in early 2015.

Viper’s smart watch functionality will be available for free download for Android and iOS through the company’s newest version of the Viper SmartStart 4.0 app. This app is compatible with all Viper SmartStart hardware. All existing and future Viper SmartStart users who purchase an Apple Watch or Android Wear product will be able to take advantage of the smart watch features at no additional cost.

The Viper SmartStart 4.0 app has been updated with a more intuitive home screen. It now offers faster access to the primary controls, including interactive overlays to walk customers through how to use the app.

Consumers can visit the Viper website to purchase a Viper system from an authorized deal and learn more about Viper SmartStart 4.0. Pricing starts at $149.99. Visit Viper at Booth # 1215 in North Hall at CES 2015.

TrackR Bravo Goes to CES

January 3, 2015Android, application, Bluetooth, ces, Gadgets, iOS, smartphoneAndroid, app, bluetooth, ces, IOS, smartphone, TrackRAndrew

Indigogo darling TrackR is at CES 2015 to show off the latest incarnation of its mini trackers, the TrackR bravo. If you aren’t familiar with TrackR products, they’re small, coin-sized devices which easily attach to valuable items that you want to track, from keys to laptops and pets. And if you do misplace something precious, the TrackR app for both iOS and Android, can locate any lost item in seconds by ringing your missing item or point the way using TrackR’s Distance Indicator. If it’s really lost, you can use Crowd GPS to track it down.

The latest version, the TrackR bravo, raised over $1 000 000 in funding at Indigogo and is in the closing stages of development with full production expected in February 2015. It’s only 3.5 mm thick and 31 mm across, making it easy to attach and there are accessories such as a pet collar attachment and a waterproof housing. The TrackR bravo can be pre-ordered for $29.

TrackR received a batch of the latest development samples just in time for the CES and they’ll be at the Sands Expo Booth #74335. Pop round and see the TrackR bravo in person.