Hasta La Gadget!

Pulse Oximeters are an essential hospital tool and serious athletes rely on them to track the efficiency with which they pump oxygen into their blood stream. Masimo’s new iSpO2 puts these rather important health metrics within reach of the consumer by tying the sensor to your favorite iOS device through an app. The device, available now for $249 through Amazon, feeds your blood oxygen level, pulse rate and perfusion index (the rate of blood flow to your finger) to an easy-to-read app. In addition to just large raw numbers, the app also offers a history-tracking graph, along with a confidence rating for the reading — so you know when the data coming in and out is reliable. The device itself is primarily light soft-touch plastic and rubber, with a slightly glossier clip that goes over your finger. At the opposite end of the device is the standard 30-pin connector for plugging into your old-school iOS devices. Though, frequent upgraders will be happy to hear that Lightning adapters work perfectly fine with the iSpO2.

Primarily the monitor is aimed at athletes and aviators who tend to find themselves in unpressurized aircraft. Beyond that, there could be general health applications for those with chronic circulation issues or other blood-related health problems. The sensor even works when under stress from constant movement — an important feature since Masimo expects runners and hikers are expected actually wear the device when active. For a bit more, check out the gallery below and the video after the break.

Continue reading Masimo iSpO2 hands-on: track your pulse and blood oxygen with your iPhone

Filed under: Wearables, Software

Comments

Canopy promised a whole new world of smartphone control with its Sensus iPhone case in the fall, and we’ve at last had a chance to gauge how well it works here at CES. If you’ll recall, it delivers 10-point touch input across the back and sides that lets apps add interaction without blocking the screen — think of the PlayStation Vita’s back touch and you’ve got the idea. That theoretically sounds great for gamers, but we’d like to see how well it works outside of a dedicated console.

In practice, the case isn’t much different in dimensions to a standard protective iPhone case, if a little chunkier along the base. The whole thing locks in to the iPhone 4’s connector. although there’s still another port to charge through there. The case also has integrated apps attuned for the blind, with Braille entry possible using all those multiple touchpanels. We’ve got a quick tour of how it all works after the break and you can expect to land this summer, where pricing will be somewhere between $59 and $99.

Mat Smith contributed to this report.

Continue reading Canopy Sensus case adds backscreen and side touch to iPhones (hands-on)

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Peripherals, Mobile, Apple

Comments

Source: Canopy

We’ve been seeing Bluetooth speaker after Bluetooth speaker debut as of late, but Felt Audio’s $99 rechargeable Pulse is one of the smallest of its kind. It supports Bluetooth for up to 40 feet, and it pairs with enabled devices in about three seconds. Battery life is rated for about four hours, and the speaker recharges via micro-USB. The controls are intuitive: you can manage calls and change the device’s volume via buttons on the side. A clip on the back can be used as a stand for propping the device up during conf calls and the like.

Felt also showed off its larger Rewind speaker (also for $99), which adds more functionality in the form of built-in earbuds that retract up to three feet. When we cranked up some tunes on an iPhone, the 9.2mm drivers cranked out enough noise to be heard over the raucous CES showroom floor. Both the Pulse and Rewind can attach to optional cases — currently only available for the iPhone, iPod and iPad. Both speakers will be available in April, though pre-orders begin in March. Get a closer look in our hands-on gallery.

Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.

Filed under: Peripherals

Comments

It’s no fun being deaf or hearing impaired. Especially if you are fond of the great outdoors and all the weather-related perils that come with it. Siemens knows this and developed the Aquaris hearing aid, the only one to receive an IP68 rating for continuous submersion under water (to three meters). It’s also dust- and shock-proof, if you’re further up the extreme activity lifestyle ladder. It’s not just about keeping the elements out, it’s also got Bluetooth meaning wearers can listen to music on smartphones and other devices while under water.

The device itself is what you might imagine a hearing aid to look like, if it was given the sports treatment, which makes it attractive to younger folk, and those of an active disposition. Most importantly, it works impressively well, which was amply shown by the demonstration we were given with the device permanently submerged in water at the booth, streaming its audio to another device. The waterproof functionality doesn’t come at the expense of the sound, either, with the Aquaris sporting High-definition sound with 48 channels with frequency resolution and a 12 kHz frequency range. Given the nature of the device, you’ll need to speak with your physician or ENT / otolaryngologist if this sounds like something for you. Available now.

Sean Cooper contributed to this report.

Filed under: Misc

Comments

It wouldn’t be CES without a big showing from the folks at Sony. So, what can we expect from the company’s event at its Las Vegas Convention Center booth? Cameras? Phones? TVs? Laptops? Tablets? Sony-contracted celebrities hamming it up for an audience of tech bloggers? The answer is mostly like a big “yes” to all of the above. You too can join in on all of the fun at this very link.

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Home Entertainment, Laptops, Tablets, Sony

Comments