World's first iPhone powered bike trainer, the Wahoo Fitness KICKR Power Trainer launches in the UK

Wahoo Fitness, the leader in iPhone powered cycling, running and fitness, launches the Wahoo Fitness KICKR Power Trainer in the UK. The KICKR Power Trainer is the world’s first iPhone powered bike trainer, allowing cyclist and triathletes to set resistance, accurately measure power and complete App based workouts, all from their iPhone or iPad. Available now from wahoofitness.com/eukickr. 

Using Bluetooth 4.0 (Smart) and ANT+ technology, the KICKR Power Trainer connects to the iPhone or iPad, allowing full resistance control during a training session. While pedaling, users can increase or decrease resistance, structure interval workouts or even simulate real world bike courses all from their iPhone or iPad. Resistance adjustments are instant, making it easy to replicate everything from a flat or rolling hill course, to the coast down a hill after a hard climb. 

With a ‘wheel off’ design and super flywheel, the iPhone connected bike trainer is engineered to produce an ultra-realistic road feel. A direct power measurement at the hub provides consistent and accurate power readings for every grueling mile.

Wahoo Fitness KICKR Power Trainer features include:

• Resistance adjustment via iPhone or iPad for structured rides or real world course simulation using top cycling Apps and computer-based software including TrainerRoad, Kinomap Trainer, PeriPedal, PerfPro Studio, iMobileIntervals, and more. Please visit www.wahoofitness.com/KICKRPowertrainer for a list of the current compatible Apps and software programs
• ‘Wheel off’ design allows direct power measurement at the hub, providing the most
  accurate and consistent power measurement throughout every mile.
• In ride adjustments simulate across all intensities from coasting downhill to cranking up a
  15% grade (600-2000 watt resistance)
• Custom-engineered flywheel designed to provide an ultra-realistic road feel
• ANT+ and Bluetooth 4.0 compatible
• ANT+ compatibility allows for power, speed and distance data to be sent to your ANT+ enabled bike computer
• Quiet – tested to be one of the quietest trainers on the market
  

"Cyclist and triathletes will be blown away by the feel of the KICKR,” says Chip Hawkins, CEO of Wahoo Fitness. “We spent lots of time engineering the feel and fine tuning it for the most realistic ride we’ve ever experienced on an indoor bike trainer. With the wheel off design, there is no need for calibration; the power is consistent and accurate every single time. The electronic resistance is driven by your iPhone or tablet during a ride, you can go from hammering up a 15% grade to coasting downhill, instantaneously.”

Wahoo Fitness has fully integrated the iPhone into all aspects of cycling fitness. With Wahoo’s Blue SC Speed and Cadence sensor for iPhone, the Blue HR Heart Rate Monitor for iPhone and the KICKR bike trainer, Wahoo users can now track and power their cycling with their iPhone on the road, the trail and the trainer. Wahoo Fitness’ iPhone cycling system allows users to monitor all the vitals including power, speed, cadence, heart rate, pace, distance, location, course and more.

Pricing and availability

The Wahoo Fitness KICKR Power Trainer is priced at £999.99 and is available now from wahoofitness.com/eukickr. The KICKR will also be available from www.apple.com in early August.

Introducing Sony SmartWatch 2 - the world’s first water-resistant smartwatch with NFC connectivity

• A multi-functional message notification device, Android app interface and music remote, all in a sleek and water-resistant design
• Combines Sony’s technology and design expertise with one-touch connectivity and premium build quality
• Next-generation Sony SmartWatch offers improved performance, intuitive interface and standalone capability
• Reaffirms Sony’s leadership in smartwatch and wearable technology segment** 

25^th June 2013, London – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today introduces Sony SmartWatch 2 SW2, the most advanced smartwatch available*.

Sony SmartWatch 2 is a second screen for your Android smartphone that, as well as enhancing existing phone functionality, offers unique new benefits. Combining form and function in a sleek design, it serves as a multi-functional watch, notifier, Android app interface and phone remote control, all-in-one.

Openness with Android

App expandability is key to Sony SmartWatch 2. It can be personalised with more dedicated apps than any other smartwatch* to seamlessly suit your needs, whether you are on the go, keeping active, in business meetings or simply at home.

Download a host of SmartWatch apps and experience a range of unique functions - many of which can even be enjoyed without ever needing to reach for your phone: 

• Handle your calls by a simple touch of your wrist
• Take a photo remotely from your SmartWatch, using a smart camera app
• Control your presentations remotely using Presentation Pal
• Taking a run or on the bike? Select a mapping app on SmartWatch to check your route with a quick glance at your wrist
• Read previously downloaded e-mails when not connected to your phone
• Use lifestyle apps like Runtastic to map and instantly track your fitness activities on the go
• Quickly and easily adjust the tracks and volume on your music player, without ever taking your phone from your pocket

SmartWatch 2 is also both sleek and reassuringly robust thanks to its water and dust resistant design, giving you the freedom to enjoy it on the beach or simply on the go – come rain or shine.

An increasing market in wearable tech

A typical smartphone user reaches for their phone many times a day to read messages, check the time, view and make social media updates, use their favourite apps, take photos, listen to music and play mobile games. SmartWatch 2 addresses this need by offering you a convenient touch screen device so you no longer need to remove your phone from your pocket or bag 

“Sony is the proud leader in the smartwatch market** since introducing our first Bluetooth watch in 2007,” says Stefan K Persson, Head of Companion Products at Sony Mobile Communications.

“Competitors are only now launching first generation devices, while we are already launching a 3^rd generation device with all the insight gained from over half a million customers combined with Sony’s wealth of technology expertise to create the best ever smartwatch experience.

“The future of wearable devices is incredibly bright with analyst research predicting 41 million ‘smart’ watches will be sold by 2016,” continues Persson. “We have over 200 unique apps dedicated for Sony SmartWatch with over one million downloads to date and we are continuing to work with our strong developer network to deliver ever more compelling smartwatch experiences.”

The best of Sony in a SmartWatch

If you use Android, on either smartphone or tablet, Sony SmartWatch 2 is your ideal smartwatch partner.

It’s easy and convenient to access notifications from your wrist such as messages, calls, email, Facebook™/Twitter™, Calendar, or use it as a remote for your Walkman™ or other digital media player. This wireless accessory is ideal for pairing with large-screen devices, such as the newly announced Xperia™ Z Ultra, in situations which call for discrete usage.

SmartWatch 2 introduces new features as a natural successor to the current Sony SmartWatch such as NFC connectivity for one-touch pairing, stunning premium design and a range of technologies including higher resolution for sharper viewing, better visibility even in sunlight, longer battery stamina, more intuitive interface, standalone watch functionality and a wide range of pre-installed and recommended apps.

When not connected to your phone, SmartWatch 2 works as a standalone digital watch. Read previously received notifications, access the time, set your alarm or even use as a light when searching for your keys.

SmartWatch 2 can also be personalised with any standard 24mm wristband and new Sony watchstraps will soon be available for further expression of your personal style. 

Using groundbreaking design, Sony continues to introduce new technologies and has the largest range of NFC accessories available from wireless headsets to portable speakers, TVs, SmartTags and SmartWatch.

Key features for Sony SmartWatch 2

• Screen brightness (sunlight readable)
• Longest battery life for a smartwatch* (battery level indicator shows low battery warning)
• Water-resistant (IP57)
• Easy setup (NFC pairing and connecting)
• Standalone watch functionality
• Standard micro USB cable for charging
• User interface similar to Android UI so it is more intuitive  
• High quality materials (aluminium body and stainless steel wristband)
• Extended compatibility (works with most Android phones)
• Swappable wristbands – personalise with any standard 24mm strap

Sony SmartWatch 2 SW2 will be available worldwide from September 2013.

For all the latest news, views and info on Sony Xperia products, follow @SonyMobileNews on Twitter.

KitSound Introduces New Waterproof MP3 Player

Because music is KS’s top priority, we’ve created a waterproof MP3 player to make it easier to listen to your tunes while you’re working out.

 

The Triathlon's simple five button control features all the standard control functions, including play, pause and skip, while downloading songs is easily done by connecting the device to your PC, laptop or Mac and copying your music files across. With up to 4GB of memory, you can store around 1,000 songs in either MP3 or WMA format and the built-in rechargeable battery gives up to five hours of music play time.

 

It may have been engineered for swimming and other water sports, but the KS Triathlon waterproof MP3 player is supplied with extra earbuds for use on dry land, so you can use it when you’re cycling or running too.

 

KitSound products are available in most high street and online retailers, with the Triathlon coming at an RRP of £49.99. 

 

For further product information and details on where to buy, please visit www.kitsound.co.uk

Siri speaks louder than Google to most voice-control users

The dulcet tones of Apple's Siri and Google Now are getting high marks from most users, but Siri's enticing them to more tasks more often, according to a survey by market research firm Parks Associates.

Adoption rates for voice control are up from last year, climbing to about a fifth of broadband users, and both Apple's Siri technology and Google Now are commonly used for many functions.

But in most cases, save for sending text messages, Siri edges out Google Now in adoption.

Among Siri users, 48 percent turn to the feature for five or more activities a month, versus 39 percent among Google Now users. To look up information, Siri is the source for 77 percent of users versus 70 percent for Google Now. And more than half of Siri users play music or schedule events with the technology, a much higher rate than Google Now users.

In text messaging, Google Now has a slight lead: 74 percent adoption compared with Siri's 71 percent.

Earlier this month, Apple unveiled a new look for Siri with new voice options, actions, and some hot integration, including in-car options and music streaming. A recent software tweak had Siri prodding inquirers to keep their questions simple.

"Roughly one-half of those using these features say it is 'very important' to have voice control on their next smartphone, and our research shows this consumer demand is expanding to TVs and other connected home devices," John Barrett, the firm's director of consumer analytics, said.

Google voice search comes to desktop this year, via Chrome and the Chrome OS.

Source: CNET

The 6 most underrated games for Android: May 2013 edition

 

There are a lot of fun games on the Google Play Store, but it's difficult to find a game that isn't overshadowed by a game that has millions of downloads and high ratings. So just like last month, we've gone into the depths of the Google Play Store searching for some of the best underrated games, and we're back to show you what we've found. As usual, if you'd rather watch the video, just head down to the bottom of the article...

Read the full story here. Source: Android Authority  

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch and 10-inch announced

Samsung has revealed its latest tablets in the Galaxy Tab lineup: the dual-core Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch and Tab 3 10.1-inch slates, with Jelly Bean and the latest features from the Samsung Galaxy S4.

The Tab 3 series is a pair of new slates with dual-core processors and high definition screens, both packing the latest version of Android, 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

The 8-inch Tab 3 arrives to take on the likes of the Google Nexus 7 and iPad mini. It packs a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor under the 8-inch, 1,280x800-pixel high-definition screen.

Samsung says the 8-inch model is designed to be held in one hand, with physical keys on the bottom. There's a 5-megapixel camera on the back, and a video-calling camera in the front.

The 10-inch model boasts a 1.6GHz dual-core processor, but for some reason only a 3-megapixel camera.

The tablets also include features first seen on the Samsung Galaxy S4 smart phone, including the clever S Translator lingo decoder, and WatchOn, which turns your tablet into a TV remote control.

Samsung promises a 3G, 4G, and vanilla Wi-Fi version of both Tab 3 series tablets. They hits shops "later this year", with exact details of release dates and prices to follow.

Source: CNET

DOMINO’S SET TO MAKE ITS PIZZAS FLY?

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a DomiCopter! Scooters and cars could one day be swapped for 21st century flying machines following exciting technological research undertaken by Domino’s Pizza.

The DomiCopter is a lightweight flight aircraft, capable of travelling vast distances at high altitudes all whilst carrying Domino’s pizzas. 

Sci-fi comics and movies have illustrated the next generation of flying machines for years. The DomiCopter can potentially climb hundreds of metres to reach its destination without the need to refuel, whilst also being incredibly eco-friendly – meaning a revolutionary way to deliver food.

As shown in the video, which is now available at http://bit.ly/GDCopter pizzas would be carried by the DomiCopter in the Domino’s Heatwave bags. The bags, which were a key breakthrough in Domino’s pizzas retaining their heat, could now be utilised with another technological breakthrough – the DomiCopter. 

“At Dominos we’re always looking to innovate and find new ways to deliver our pizza and a DomiCopter could fit the bill perfectly,” said Simon Wallis Sales and Marketing Director at Domino’s. “We are the number one pizza delivery company and we are committed to staying in that position. What better way to totally avoid the traffic than to fly – if anything this will now make us even quicker! We think it’s a great way to reinforce that Domino’s go to more lengths than anyone to deliver great pizza.”  

A Domino’s Flight Academy is also rumoured to be in the pipeline should the DomiCopter delivery service take off. 

Lambda Labs launching facial recognition API for Google Glass

Dystopian future, here we come! Google Glass is about to receive access to a new facial recognition API, courtesy of Lambda Labs. The new API should be out within a week, provided that all goes as it should.

Who is Lambda Labs? They are a small startup that released a non-Glass facial recognition tech API just last year, and currently have over 1,000 developers using it. Now they are taking this experience and tailoring it specifically to Google Glass apps.

This means that the door could soon be open to Glass apps that allow you to match names with faces, get detailed info about landmarks and much more. Of course there is also a pretty big limitation here – it doesn't work in real time, due to the Google mirror API.

The Mirror API doesn't allow for live streaming camera data to be sent over to a developer's server. That means that you will need to snap a picture, send it in to Lambda, and then wait for it to be analyzed. After a few seconds, you will then receive a notification with the results.

So does this technology mean that a perfect stranger could look at you, snap a picture and receive detailed information about you? Short answer, no. Long answer, it can only take data specifically from Lambda's database, which includes things like pictures of well-known celebrities and important landmarks...

Read the full story here. Source: Android Authority 

Apple Reportedly Testing 1.5-Inch OLED Displays for Smart Watch

Japanese blog Macotakara points to a pair of reports in today's edition of Taiwanese newspaperEconomic Times addressing rumors surrounding Apple's smart watch effort. According to the first report, Apple has begun sampling 1.5-inch OLED displays from RITEK subsidiary RiTdisplay. 

The report also claims that RITEK's joint venture RitFast will be supplying the touch sensor technology for the watch. 

Today's report echoes a December claim about Apple's plans for RiTdisplay's 1.5-inch displays and word that Intel is involved in Apple's effort, but includes a detail indicating that Apple had originally hoped to use a 1.8-inch display in the smart watch. That display, however, proved to be too large and the company shifted to the smaller 1.5-inch display size. 

The second report offers an overview of the smart watch industry, with "market rumors" indicating that Foxconn has already received orders for Apple's smart watch. But with order volumes said to be around 1,000 units, the production run would clearly be a small-scale trial. 

Rumors of an Apple smart watch ramped up in the months following that December report about Apple and Intel working together, with The New York Times later reporting that Apple was "experimenting" with curved glass smart watch designs and Bloombergfollowing up to claim that Apple has 100 product designers working on the project. 

"iWatch" rumors peaked in February and March of this year amid claims that the device could launch "as soon as this year", but things have been relatively quiet for the past several months. 

Source: Mac Rumours

Lamborghini Egoista concept looks like a space fighter

We've seen some pretty out-there limited-edition cars from luxury manufacturer Lamborghini, but its newest may have just taken the biscuit and sped off with it.

The Egoista, unveiled at the closing gala of the 50th anniversary Grande Giro tour, was designed by Volkswagen's head of design, Walter De Silva, and it's meant to be the ultimate in self-indulgence.

"This is a car made for one person only, to allow them to have fun and express their personality to the maximum," De Silva said. "It is designed purely for hyper-sophisticated people who want only the most extreme and special things in the world. It represents hedonism taken to the extreme, it is a car without compromises, in a word: egoista (selfish)"...

Read the full story here. Source: CNET

Hands-on with Google Glass: Limited, fascinating, full of potential

The frothing excitement around this prototype, titanium-framed wearable computer has the tech world tripping over itself in a mad dash for Glass access. Ten thousand or more Google Glass units are now shipping to beta testers and winners of the If I Had Glass contest -- for a $1,500 price tag. But the big what, why, and how questions remain.

The answer, for now, is simple: Google Glass is Google on your face. These early frames ship with the ability to take the very most recent communications from your smartphone or Google accounts and show them to you in a head-up display. They take phone calls. They send texts, take photos and video, and show maps. They deliver search results. If you've played with Google Now, the Glass interface is strikingly similar...

Read the full story here. Source: CNET

CES 2013 | Best Lifestyle Product

CES 2013 has certainly given us a look into the future, with some products a year or more off being in our hands, but others just around the corner. There have been plenty of highlights in each section, but in the Lifestyle category, one product stood head & shoulders above the rest.

With many of us sitting in front of a desk, hour after hour, five or six days a week, it is important to get in some serious activity. There are plenty of products that try to encourage this, with FitBit being one that caught my attention early last year.

FitBit make these little sensors … think of them as high tech pedometers if you will, but then look at how much more information they actually offer. They track your activity, steps taken etc, with some models even tracking floors climbed and sleep patterns too.

Their newest product, the FitBit Flex moves away from their other clip-style trackers and puts the technology onto your wrist. The 'Flex' also adds the ability to sync your data with various devices (iOS and some Android) via Bluetooth 4.0, as well as talking nicely with Mac & Windows PCs. Once the sync has completed, you get a very nice user interface in your browser to help you analyse your progress. The Flex is due out soon and available to pre-order now on the FitBit website. I am looking forward to bringing you some video coverage very soon.