(Gadget) The Schwinn CycleNav Bike Navigation – keep your eyes on the road

When you need to get from point A to B, you plug in the directions on your phone and make your way to where you need to go. This can be the case for walking, biking, taking the bus, and more. However, it’s easiest to keep track of where you’re going in your car as there aren’t exterior sounds to drown out what your GPS says, and it can sit right in front of you. When walking, you don’t need directions to come at you as quickly, as your pace isn’t going to be too fast.

However, when riding your bike you might want your information to be a bit more readily available. It’s not so easy to pull out your phone and check if you’re on the right path. If you wish you had a bit more assistance in finding your way, then the Schwinn CycleNav Bike Navigation system might be able to help you out. This is a Bluetooth device that will attach to your handlebars, and tell you which way to go.

This has an app which you will need to use on your smartphone, and it is compatible with both iOS and Android (4.1 or later). Since this is taking front and center on your bike, it only makes sense that this would also be an LED bike light to help you navigate when the sun is no longer making an appearance. If you don’t want to rely on pulling out your phone or keeping in earbuds to be able to hear what directions your phone is spitting out, this is a $50 purchase that will get you the CycleNav Bike Navigation, a bike mount, rechargeable battery, and a charging cable.

Available for purchase on Fancy, found via Redferret

[ The Schwinn CycleNav Bike Navigation – keep your eyes on the roadcopyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

(Apps) Apps of the week.

There's no better time than a Saturday afternoon to sit down and check out some new apps for your Android, and we hope to kick off that weekend content discovery with our Apps of the Week column. Once a week we round up an app from each of the writers here at Android Central, and get a quick explanation of why they chose that particular app.

This week we're looking at a couple of great game choices, an Android Wear watchface, a Passbook alternative for Android and a few other picks to round out the list. Read along with us this week and see the apps that Android Central is using.

Phil Nickinson — Leo's Fortune

If you're looking for a mindless, ad-ridden, 8-bit game to take your mind off whatever's ailing it for a few minutes at a time — well, Leo's Fortune ain't that. What you get here is stunning imagery, thought-provoking puzzles, and a fun little story line. Leo's lost his gold, and he's on the hunt. Was it a family member? Something else? I'm still playing my way through it, so I honestly don't yet know. But Leo's cute in that ugly sort of way, the game is challenging but still fun — and basically it's the best fiver I've spent all week. If you don't download this game, there's something wrong with you.

Download: Leo's Fortune ($4.99)

Jerry Hildenbrand — Ain't Got Time! WatchFace

'Cause ain't nobody got time for that.

Download: Ain't Got Time! WatchFace (Free)

Richard Devine — PassAndroid

Apple has Passbook on the iPhone for loyalty cards, boarding passes and whatnot. But what some folks might not be aware of it that Passbook passes aren't some mystical, wonderful format only the iPhone can interpret. If you can download Passbook passes, then you can use them on your Android device with PassAndroid.

It's nothing more than a wallet for Passbook passes and it'll scan, find, store and display them on your Android device. Not all of them will work, though even Apple's own, brand new iTunes Pass seems to open up OK. How much would that mess with an Apple Store employee if you went in and asked him to top it up for you on your Galaxy S5?!

Download: PassAndroid (Free)

Simon Sage — Topia

Topia is a fun little sandbox sim that allows players to play god. Alter terrain to form your own little dream planet, drop creatures to thrive with (or feed on) one another, and otherwise enjoy the view. There's not much of an actual game here, but rather just a chance to bask in your own power and see what you can come up with given the strong toolset available. With a mere touch, you can carve canyons, raise mountains, expand seas, and grow lush forests. The graphics are altogether gorgeous and the editing is highly responsive. Once you're happy with your creation, you can save it to mess around with later and start up a new one based on your tastes.

Overall, Topia is a nice, casual power trip.

Download: Topia ($1.99)

Andrew Martonik — Walk Me Up! Alarm Clock

I've never been one to rely heavily on an alarm clock, as I usually can get up when I need to, but sometimes when the occasion calls for it and you need to get up super early, the right alarm clock app can make all the difference. There are many out there that have different schemes to make sure you wake up completely, but Walk Me Up is probably one of the best ideas I've seen.

Just as the name implies, you must pick up your phone and walk a certain number of steps — which you determine — before the alarm will turn off. And no, shaking your phone doesn't work — just like pedometer apps know the difference between a shake and a step, so does Walk Me Up. If you really need to wake up, you can even disable the "snooze" button — walk, or keep hearing that alarm tone.

It's a free app as well, which makes it even easier to give it a try. There are a few in-app purchases for $0.99 each, or you can unlock everything for just $1.99.

Download: Walk Me Up! Alarm Clock (Free, In-app purchases)

(Tech) NVIDIA SHIELD gaming tablet allegedly coming July 29, starting at $299

NVIDIA has a Shield gaming tablet based on Android coming out very soon. We just saw an image of the device leak yesterday, but today we're getting all the details on the tablet. Ready for an 8-inch 1200p tablet with a Tegra K1 SoC? Yes you are. Read on for full details and specs on the SHIELD tablet.

The upcoming SHIELD Tablet will feature a Tegra K1. It's a new mobile processor from NVIDIA and will be the first system-on-a-chip to include a full cluster of 192 CUDA cores.

Here are the specs you care about:

8-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS LCD displayWiFi + LTE (32GB model) or WiFI only (16GB storage) modelMicroSD card support (up to 128GB)Stylus support4K Ultra-HD ready

Hit up the source link for all the specs.

The SHIELD Tablet is expected to be announced on July 22. It will then be available for customers in the United States and Canada on July 29, followed by Europe on August 14. Other regions will get the SHIELD tablet sometime in fall 2014.

There are two models of the SHIELD tablet. The WiFi + LTE model will come with 32GB of onboard storage and cost $399. While a WiFI only model is available with 16GB of onboard storage for $299. The SHIELD controller will set you back $59.

Anyone interested in a gaming focused tablet running Android? Sound off below and let us know which model you'll be picking up.

Source: VideoCardz.com Via: 9to5Google

(Gadget) Logitech +trip and +drive mounts.

Logitech has come up with its fair share of accessories in the past for mobile devices like the Logitech PRO slim protective case, and it does not look as though the Swiss-based company is going to stop anytime soon. In fact, they have just lined up a couple of new accessories that will be released later this August, calling it the +trip and +drive mounts. The +trip will be able to quickly clip to any air vent in your vehicle so that your smartphone remains secure and in view at all times, where a magnet securely holds your smartphone to the +trip mount, letting you handle audio, navigation and phone calls with aplomb. It is small but definitely stylish, and has been specially designed for use during daily commutes and business trips. Each +trip mount will be accompanied by a pair of universal adapters, making it play nice with just about smartphones of all shapes and sizes.

As for the more modern looking +drive mount that you see above, it can be attached to your windshield or dashboard courtesy of a single twist-activated suction cup, while a magnet ensures that your smartphone remains securely in place. The +drive will feature a couple of universal adapters as well that can hold any smartphone or case vertically or horizontally. Expect the Logitech +trip air vent mount and +drive windshield/dashboard mount to arrive later next month for $29.99 and $49.99, respectively.

(Gadget) Text your friends even when you don't have service.

Ever needed to send a message to a friend from the boonies? A company called goTenna has just launched a device that connects to your phone via Bluetooth and turns it into a low-frequency radio with a range of several miles (up to 50 miles). Using an iOS or Android app, that'll let you text or share GPS locations (no voice calls) over an unlimited, free ad hoc network with other goTenna users. The team behind it says that everything is encoded, and the app will automatically retry until your message goes through -- in case you're hiking in difficult terrain, for instance. The company's planning on selling a limited number for $150 per pair on its site to raise $50,000 in funding -- after that, it'll run $300.

(Gadget) New Slingbox Makes Streaming Cable TV to Your Gadgets Easier Than Ever

The new $150 Slingbox M1 is the cheapest Sling-branded way to stream from your home TV to a laptop or mobile device.  Sling Media

After the Supreme Court ruling against Aereo, many people wondered what it would mean for the future of streaming services and devices that didn’t have the full blessing of the major networks. Indeed, an emboldened Fox is already making legal moves to ban the Dish Network’s Hopper DVRs due to their integrated “Sling” functionality, which lets users stream live programs to other devices.

None of this seems to be deterring EchoStar, the sister company of Dish and the owner of Sling Media, though. Today, the company announced a new entry-level Slingbox as well as a rebranded version of the higher-end Slingbox 500. The former, the Slingbox M1, doesn’t offer a huge jump in terms of functionality over the Slingbox 350 it replaces—bad for potential upgraders, but good for those who feared Aereo’s defeat would have an immediate chilling effect. The M1 will be the cheapest Sling-branded way to stream from your home TV to a laptop or mobile device.

The main thing it adds to the 350’s feature set is Wi-Fi connectivity. You had to connect the 350 to your router via an Ethernet cable, but now you just connect the box to your home Wi-Fi network during setup. What’s still missing is an HDMI-in option from your cable box to the Slingbox. The signal feeding into the Slingbox M1 is done via an included component-video cable.

Aesthetically, there are some minor changes, too. The Slingbox M1 is a low-key, VHS-tape-sized black box, and lacks the textured finish and space-Toblerone stylings of previous Slingbox hardware.

You can change channels while you’re watching the feed away from home, and the approach to doing so is pretty antiquated. There’s an IR emitter built into the M1, as well as an included emitter cable that gives you more flexibility when you’re positioning it. When you change the channel via the Slingbox app, you’re literally changing the channel at home. Literally meaning literally.

Because the feed is streaming from your home, you have access to your local news, sports, and other broadcasts when you’re thousands of miles away. There’s no geoblocking involved. You can also extend the feed from your cable box to other sets in your home (or your other homes) via a Slingbox app for Roku, Apple TV, and other set-top boxes.

Streaming from the Slingbox to the browser-based desktop or laptop browser is free, as is streaming to the desktop app for Mac OS and Windows. However, streaming to a mobile device will cost you, and you can’t use the browser in that scenario. The iOS and Android versions of the SlingPlayer app are $15 apiece, and buying one of those apps is required to make the Roku and Apple TV features work. The set-top boxes use your phone, which must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, as a receiver.

The Slingbox M1 costs $150 and will be available starting July 20. But unless you plan on watching everything on a laptop or desktop, tack on that extra $15 for the mobile app.

The other “new” device is the $300 SlingTV, which is the same hardware as the Slingbox 500 running new firmware. The new platform is HTML 5 based, with its own app ecosystem, custom pop-up displays, and sports tickers that can run on top of live programming. All those new features are also available as a firmware update for the Slingbox 500. The rebranded box and firmware update are both due at the end of August.

(Innovation) Google strikes smart contact lens deal to track diabetes and cure farsightedness

With Glass and Android Wear, Google has already invested a lot of time and resources into developing the next-generation of wearables, but it's another of its eye-focused projects that has today received its first major boost. The search giant's secret Google[x] team has confirmed that it's licensed its smart eyewear to healthcare specialist Novartis, which will develop the technology into a product that can improve eye care and help manage diseases and conditions.

As part of the agreement, Google[x] and Novartis' eye care division Alcon will create smart lenses that feature "non-invasive sensors, microchips and other miniaturized electronics" and focus on two main areas. The first will provide a way for diabetic patients to keep on top of their glucose levels by measuring the sugar levels in their tear fluid, feeding the data back to a smartphone or tablet. The second solution aims to help restore the eye's natural focus on near objects, restoring clear vision to those who are only farsighted (presbyopia).

Google's role will be to develop the tiny electronics needed to collect data and will also take care of the low-power chip designs and fabrication. Alcon, on the other hand, will apply its medical knowledge to develop commercial versions of the smart contact lens. "Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturization of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people," says Google co-founder Sergey Brin. "We are very excited to work with Novartis to make this dream come true."

SOURCE: Novartis

(Gadget) Gauging the Wind

Every school serious about science should have a weather lab, but if yours can’t afford one, Vaavud’s Wind Meter for Smartphones is a good start. At $50, it is a fraction of the cost of a full weather center, but is accurate to within 4 percent and was developed using the wind tunnel at the Technical University of Denmark. The two-cup anemometer snaps into an iPhone or Android’s earphone jack and communicates with the phone via a Bluetooth link; it works with all recent iPhones and some Android phones. The app not only shows current speed, but averages and a histogram of recent wind movement; it works with metric and English units.
Cost - $50

(Utilities) Hammer-Proof Smartphone Screen is Thinner and Cheaper Than Gorilla Glass

As long as we’ve had smartphones, we’ve been afraid of dropping them. With price tags of $500 and above, smartphones are delicate technological flowers that can be killed by a single drop of water or a collision with the ground. That’s why we’re excited about a new screen protecting material called Rhino Shield. Made from a custom-formulated polymer, the material is able to withstand full-on strikes with a hammer, and it’s poised to make Gorilla Glass look like flimsy wrapping paper.

Developed by Cambridge-based Evolutive Labs, Rhino Shield has a shock-damping layer that is “able to take at least 5 times the impact energy of Gorilla Glass 2.”

To prove their point, the makers of Rhino Shield videotaped an impact test in which they struck the screen of a iPhone 5 with a hammer. If you’re an Apple lover, it might be hard to watch – but don’t worry, the poor little phone lives to tell the tale. Even a 9 ounce steel ball dropped from a height of over 19 inches failed to scratch the screen and left the phone ‘fully usable,’ reports The Daily Mail.

The protective polymer sheet can be fitted to the iPhone 5, 5S and 5C, and it does not affect the touchscreen’s sensitivity, according to the designers. “The screen comes with a self-adhesive silicone back and as the user wipes a cloth along the front of the film, it clings to the phone’s screen, but can be removed if necessary.”

Watch a 'drop test' on hammer glass - watch

Best part? It’s retailing for less than $30.

Via The Daily Mail

(Utilities) E-Tip Gloves By The Northface

Spending a day on the mountain is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of today’s technology-centered society and just enjoy nature. But wait- you hate the song that’s playing on your iPod. You need to tweet about your friend crashing into a tree (the coworkers will love this one). And your Farmville crops need harvesting. Oh god. Panic sets in. But The North Face Etip Glove has a gripper palm and click-wheel compatible thumb and forefinger so you can access your devices without leaving your delicate fingers open to cold air. Crisis averted. Imagine how much imaginary money you would have lost if those crops had rottedThe silicone grip pattern on the palm of these gloves will prevent you from dropping your precious phone from atop a ski lift or any other precarious position you get yourself into.