In a “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” type paradox, this multifunctional smartphone accessory has mysterious origins. Did someone slap a backup battery on a mediocre Bluetooth keyboard as a redeeming feature, or was a Bluetooth keyboard added to a backup battery for added value and more incentive to carry it around? More »
Some people have a hard time keeping up with their smartphones at home in the office. I think my wife may lose her smartphone at least three times per day inside the house. She can never remember where she set it down, and we end up having to walk around the house listing for it ring what I call it. If you have a similar issue keeping up with your iPhone, Cirago has a new product that will make keeping up with your device simple called the iAlertTag.
The iAlertTag is a Bluetooth 4.0 smart device that can be used to wirelessly secure, alert, and locate your iPhone if lost. The system is designed specifically to help you not leave your iPhone or other products behind. The iAlertTag creates a wireless link using Bluetooth between your phone and the tag causing both the phone and the tag to vibrate when separated.
An audible alarm also sounds when device and the tag are separated. While the iAlertTag supports the iPhone, it will work with several other devices as well. The company says if you’re using the system with a Windows computer, the tag can automatically lock the computer when you walk away so it stays secure.
An iPhone companion app is available free on the App Store that allows the alarm to play any tune from the iTunes library. The app also supports the management of multiple tags at the same time. The iAlertTag IAT1000 supports the iPhone 4S, third generation iPad, and Windows computers using Bluetooth 4.0. The system is available for $49.99 online and in some retail stores.
Cirago iAlertTag makes it easier to keep track of your iPhone is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
The folks at Hillcrest Labs have revealed a brand new addition to their Freespace MotionEngine software family: MotionEngine Lite – made specifically for in-air cursor control with Smart TVs. Systems with this software will be able to bring on Smart TV motion control action with lower cost and simpler implementation than the larger cross-section of solutions on today’s market. This little magic wand-waving solution will be working with Texas Instruments ZigBee RF4CE and Bluetooth connected devices starting this week.
One of the most fabulous elements in this software solution is the lack of a need for the end-user to calibrate anything. It just works right out of the box. Stig Torud of Remote Control Strategic Marketing and Wireless Connectivity Solutions for Texas Instruments spoke on the product this week, noting how pleased TI is to have the Hillcrest crew bringing their tech together with the next generation of Smart TVs: “Hillcrest’s MotionEngine Lite software combined with TI’s ZigBee RF4CE and Bluetooth low energy solutions bring low-latency and high-performance cursor control to Smart TV, set-top box, and PC motion remote controls.”
The software being used here, Freespace MotionEngine Lite, works with both accelerometers and gyroscopes to bring on Smart TV navigation as well as web browsing and point-and-click gaming galore. Orientation (or roll) compensation is in place here, as is precise cursor control and no-effort real-time sensor calibration. MotionEngine Lite is able to function with Hillcrest’s host-based Gesture Recognition Engine for cursor gestures as well. This means that the controller is able to make more than 50 pre-defined gestures right out of the box and that it comes with an SDK for developers to be able to create more gestures in the future.
The device you’re seeing above and integrated into the MotionEngine Lite logo are the Hillcrest Scoop Pointer. This device is used to demonstrate the software and give a visual to the software before it’s implemented on a variety of hardware setups. Texas Instruments’ ZigBee RF4CE and Bluetooth low energy solutions will have the software pre-integrated while a collection of Hillcrest’s remote control OEM partners (including their preferred partners SMK and UEI) will have the next-generation solution in place soon as well.
MotionEngine Lite revealed with Smart TV intentions is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Fitness gadgets are great, but you never quite know what you’re going to get when it comes to calorie counts, or a reading of how many miles you’ve run. That could change, though, thanks to a set of standards the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is adopting with regard to fitness devices. These two certifications, which apply to running and cycling gadgets, respectively, affect the way data (e.g., cadence, speed, distance) is transmitted to paired devices like smartphones, sports watches and cycling computers. As far as SIG is concerned, too, more standardization means OEMs will have an easier time bringing new products to market — not that there’s any current shortage of options to choose from.
Filed under: Wearables, Wireless
Bluetooth SIG releases certifications for fitness devices aimed at runners and cyclists originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We see plenty of pictures of athletes pushing their physical boundaries every day, but it’s difficult to know what they’re really feeling from pictures alone. That’s why researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS have created a super small, intelligent camera that can record other metadata aside from just HD images and video. They’re calling it INCA, and it’s an Android based camera that comes complete with “a diversity of sensors that provide data on GPS position, acceleration, temperature and air pressure.”
It’s easily mounted on a helmet, allowing viewers to see the events through the athlete’s eyes. It isn’t limited to what it can do by its tiny size, however, as it also comes with the ability to connect wirelessly to other devices through Bluetooth or WLAN. This means an athlete could connect the camera to a harness to track heart rate, and the INCA can also work with “object recognition and voice detection systems.”
Of course, the hardware it comes equipped with only skims the surface. Since it’s Android-based, the INCA can meet the needs of many different situations through apps. Fraunhofer says that the camera is “powerful enough to handle professional film and TV productions” and process that video in real-time despite its small, 2x2x8 cm size. Don’t let the size fool you however, as the INCA is capable of handling less-than-pleasant conditions. The INCA can handle bouts with sand, dust and cold, which means that it isn’t going to cut out if athletes are using it to broadcast an extreme sports competition.
Wolfgang Thieme, who managed the group of researchers that developed INCA, says that the camera can offer so much while being so small because of its OMAP (Open Multimedia Applications Platform) processor. “As the heart of the camera, this is comparable to a CPU that you find in any ordinary PC,” Thieme said. “The difference is that additional function blocks for various tasks have been integrated into the OMAP. Without these blocks, the system would neither record HD video images nor process and issue them in real time.”
INCA isn’t available at the moment, and Fraunhofer’s announcement gives no indication of when it will be. The announcement does say that attendees of IBC in Amsterdam will be able to try it out though, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for more news around then. Stay tuned, because this could potentially give us a new and interesting way to watch sports.
New INCA mini-camera gives metadata on your favorite athletes is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
A pair of new fitness-centric profiles for Bluetooth devices have been revealed, aiming to streamline the short-range wireless technology’s usefulness in running and cycling applications like Nike’s Fuelband. The new Bluetooth Smart 4.0 profiles will support data collection such as running cadence, length of stride, and total distance for runners, or alternatively speed, distance and pedal cadence for cyclists.
Existing products doing similar things already exist – the Nike+ Fuelband wrist strap is one example, sending exercise data to a Bluetooth-tethered iOS device – but currently each must use its own data implementation. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)’s goal is to shift all of that onto a set of standardized profiles, akin to the file transfer and A2DP wireless stereo audio profiles already supported by the wireless technology.
The news already has support from a number of device manufacturers, including Intel and Broadcom. “Historically, sports and fitness sensors capable of tracking speed and cadence relied on proprietary technology, limiting their reach and functionality” Bluetooth SIG CMO Suke Jawanda said in a statement today. “The Running S&C and Cycling S&C profiles unlock these sensors, allowing companies to build products that can connect with the tens of millions of Bluetooth Smart Ready devices already in the market, and the hundreds of millions on the way in the coming quarters.”
Bluetooth Smart – the rebranded Bluetooth 4.0 – is of particular interest to device manufacturers because of its significantly curtailed power requirements. Whereas earlier implementations of Bluetooth could consume power at a rate of knots over the course of a day, v4.0 promises to dramatically trim that using intelligent power and sleep management states.
Several companies already have Bluetooth Smart compatible hardware already on the market. Apple’s recent new iPad and iPhone 4S both support the technology, as does Samsung’s Galaxy S III.
Bluetooth Smart adds running and cycling profiles for wireless health tracking is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Just a month after being announced in Europe Sony’s latest Sound Bar the HT-CT260 has finally been made official this morning in Japan! The CT260 comes with S-Force PRO Front Surround technology developed by Sony to create a 3D audio effect with just two front speakers in a single bar and a 300W of total speaker power. The CT260 has a wireless sub-woofer that delivers dynamic base from the tightest spaces. Pick it up, place it anywhere, it’s light and compact and free from the clutter of …
There are many desktop speakers out there, but most of them require that they be wired to your audio source. Audyssey’s latest desktop/bookshelf speakers are wireless. The speakers are supposed to provide better sound for this form factor, while still taking up minimal on your desk or shelf. The wireless capability you to place them optimally around your home office or bedroom without having to run cables to them.
Audyssey Wireless Speakers are Bluetooth-driven, and feature .75-inch tweeters, and four-inch passive radiators behind three-inch drivers. This strengthens low frequencies without the addition of a massive subwoofer. Peak SPL is a whopping 106 dB at 1 meter, meaning these should be plenty loud for most normal-sized rooms.
The speakers have a small button to pair them up with A2DP compatible Bluetooth devices. Once they are paired, they will reconnect with the device within a 30-foot streaming distance. From the looks of the back of them, they also support direct wiring as well. The design is minimal and neutrally-colored, so they’ll fit in almost any decor.
The Audyssey Wireless Speakers are available directly from Audyssey for $299.99 (USD) for a pair.
[via Cool Hunting]
The Exoxgear Ecoxbt enables you to make a conference call from the swimming pool. Measuring 4-inch x 9-inch x 2.8-inch and weighing 1.5 pounds, the waterproof Bluetooth stereo speaker is compatible with iOS and Android devices. It is equipped with a pair of 2-inch full-range stereo speakers and a rechargeable 1,800 mAh battery that provides enough juice for up to 10-hour of operating time. The Exoxgear Ecoxbt Bluetooth Speaker is currently available for only $99 each. [Geeky-gadgets]
This week we’ve got our hands on the next generation in Bluetooth (or wired!) stereo sound with the SuperTooth DISCO 2 A2DP wireless speaker. This device touts the ability to connect with style to any Bluetooth A2DP device – including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch – as well as a variety of PCs, MP3 players, and more. This next-generation device takes all the great qualities of the original SuperTooth Disco and adds a whole new body, color collection, and an upgrade to Bluetooth 4.0.
The previous version of this device brought on 28 Watt RMS audio power while this “2″ model brings just 16 Watt RMS – but before you go scratching your head wondering why SuperTooth would deliver a lower number on a newer product, you’ll want to check the price. While the first generation DISCO would and still very well may cost you close to $150, this DISCO 2 model is popping up for $99.00 – savings in the blaster department.
While the first model does have some more hardcore specifications to back up its price – this model still on the market and going strong, mind you – the DISCO 2 appears more appealing for the youth generation simply because it’s prettier. You can get this device in Black (as seen in this review), Pink, Yellow, or Red. It’s an machine that’s undeniably simple to operate, it’s a hundred bucks, and it blasts audio right in your face.
You’ve got apTX protocol compatibility so you can keep the sound levels of your original audio files each time you hook up with the unit. Sound quality remains powerful regardless of if you’re using the basic 3.5mm stereo analog audio input or the wireless Bluetooth connection this device was made to show off. With 2 speakers up front and a “high efficiency bass reflex system” as they call it on the back, your ability to get loud is quite apparent.
This device comes in at 182 mm tall and 108 mm wide with a depth of 70mm, and the whole thing weighs just 552.7 grams – aka just over a pound. You can plug this speaker into the wall for as much life as you want, or you can use its internal rechargeable battery for several hours of completely wireless action. On average we’ve gotten several full-length 2 and 3 hour movies played with this device as the sole wireless speaker without need for a charge – quite nice indeed.
Check out your options and let us know if you plan on picking this speaker up SOON – check out SuperTooth’s online shop for availability – for $99 USD right out the gate. Also check out our timeline below for additional SuperTooth review and hands-on experiences!
SuperTooth DISCO 2 Review is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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