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Oakley and Intel's sunglasses put a personal trainer in your ears
Running can be a pretty lonely sport, but you may soon get a companion that's always ready to go. Oakley and Intel have teamed up to create a sunglasses-smart-earbuds hybrid that will tell you how you're doing during your run or bike ride. The Oakley Radar Pace will be available Oct. 1st for $449. I tried out a preview unit and, even though I'm not a serious runner, I'm actually really excited about what the device can do.
Intel and Oakley present sports glasses that coach you
Last year, Intel purchased Recon Instruments, the makers of a pair of smart glasses designed for runners and cyclists. At the same time that the deal was going down, however, the firm was also signing on with Oakley to produce a similar device under its own steam. Radar Pace is "smart eyewear" that you'll wear while running and that monitors your performance as you go. Once it has a firm grasp on your technique, it'll offer voice coaching, in real time, to help you improve your technique as if you were running with a coach. Radar Pace is due to launch in late 2016, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich announced on the CES stage.
Intel's button-sized Curie will enable low-power wearables
Intel is going full throttle into wearables with the release of a button-sized piece of hardware called Curie at CES 2015. The module is composed of several elements, the main one being the company's minuscule system on a chip, called Quark. It also comes equipped with a Bluetooth Low Energy radio, six-axis sensor with accelerometer and gyroscope, as well as 384kB flash memory. Intel says Curie hasn't been authorized by the FCC yet, but if all goes well, it's scheduled to ship out in the second half of 2015. Since Quark was designed to run for extended periods and be very energy-efficient, the module can help make it easier (and faster) for manufacturers to design and produce low-power wearables. Plus, since the module is tiny, it can be incorporated into a wide range of objects to create devices such as smart rings and pendants, or even smart buttons.
Ray-Ban and Oakley are working with Google Glass
Google only recently announced versions of its Glass headset attached to conventional specs and sunglasses (shown above), but a new partnership with Luxottica -- the company behind brands including Oakley and Ray-Ban -- will give it a significant boost. Described as a strategic partnership to "design, develop and distribute" Glass eyewear, it promises headsets "that straddle the line between high-fashion, lifestyle and innovative technology." Oakley has shown off its own heads-up display equipped goggles already, and one wonders if the two projects will merge or continue separate development. Andrea Guerra, CEO of Luxottica Group, says his company is proud to "set the pace in the eyewear industry once again," but offers few details on how or when that will happen, with more info to be released later. The Google Glass G+ post is a bit more revealing, highlighting Luxottica's more than 5,000 retail locations and distribution channels that will come in handy later. Of course, those big name brands will also help Glass expand beyond the 40 or so variations offered currently in its Titanium Collection (seen in the gallery below) and make the product something people don't want to snatch off of your face. Google's "Captain of Moonshots," Astro Teller, sees the deal as a way to push "smart eyewear" forward -- although wearers may want to wait for the law to catch up.
Jim Jannard steps aside, hands the Red Camera reins to Jarred Land (updated)
With Red Camera's industry footing now quite solid, CEO Jim Jannard is relinquishing his position at the helm. Jarred Land, the company's president, will become the new face of Red. Jannard announced the change in a post today over at Reduser, the forum he's used to announce everything from a lawsuit against Sony earlier this year to a DSLR replacement that never quite saw the light of day, way back in 2008. Today's thread, titled "My Final Post," details Jannard's nearly eight years at the company he founded, which began with the NAB 2006 debut of Red One and ran through shipping the Dragon upgrade, the component that essentially served to make "Obsolescence Obsolete." What's next for Jim? Retirement might be in order, and with upwards of $2 billion in the bank following his sale of eyewear and apparel maker Oakley, he certainly has the financial footing to back some pretty posh R&R. Update: While Jannard will not continue posting, he is not retiring or leaving the company. He'll continue working at Red, but behind the scenes, with Jarred Land representing the firm publicly.
Oakley gives Bubba Watson a hovercraft to replace his golf cart (video)
While there's plenty of tech to improve your swing, the golf course itself doesn't see too much innovation which is why this attention-grab from Oakley and Bubba Watson is even more enjoyable. The audacious golfer decided that he was tired of pootling around courses in a golf buggy, so his new sponsors enlisted the help of Neoteric Hovercraft to build him a whip that isn't restricted to the cart path. In fact, with the BW1 hovercraft, Watson can take shortcuts across water hazards and through sand traps while shaded under the traditional golf buggy canopy -- making it the perfect ride for the eccentric 2012 Masters winner. If you'd like to see the other golfers stare in slack-jawed disbelief, then head on past the break for the video.
Oakley unveils Airwave ski goggles equipped with Recon's MOD Live heads-up display, iOS app
Remember late last year when Recon Instruments introduced its MOD Live Android-enabled heads-up display for the likes of ski goggles?Joining the ranks of other optics makers, Oakley's partnered with the company to seamlessly integrate the unit into its own goggles, dubbed Airwave. It's not just another shell for the system, either, as Oakley will be providing a companion app that'll work with iOS -- which seems to be first official instance as such since Recon itself said it would be coming earlier this year. The MOD Live itself is otherwise the same right-eye positioned system (providing a perceived 14-inch display at five feet away) we've seen for almost a year now, so don't expect to get the clearest picture if you're left eye dominant or use contact lenses for distance. Furthermore, there's still GPS for tracking friends / navigation, and Bluetooth to work with a water-resistant wrist remote that allows you to control your smartphone and the display itself. Of course, this also means Recon's Android SDK will also be workable, as will your Contour camera. If you're interested in Oakley's spin on the MOD Live, the Airwave will hit Apple stores on October 31st for $600 in your choice of black with a black Iridium lens, or a white with black graphics and a "fire" colored variant of the lens -- yes, they're interchangeable just like most of Oakley's other specs. If you're curious for further details in the meantime, check out the simulation video and press release after the break. Now, how about those full-on smart glasses to take on Google Glass as the company's CEO mentioned in April? %Gallery-169431%
Engadget's back to school guide 2012: bags and cases
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we're helping you keep all your gear organized -- and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Trying to pack a load of gadgets, peripherals and a laptop into your average book bag usually isn't the most ideal setup -- especially when it's time to grab what you need throughout the day. To solve that dilemma, we've selected more than a handful of sacks and cases that'll keep your gear at hand and organized so that you'll spend less time rummaging for your gizmos and more time exploring your campus. Best of all, you can rest assured knowing many of the selections past the break are goods that we here at Engadget even rely on to get our gear in and out of the various events we attend -- jump past the break to see our picks.
Oakley cooking up its own smart glasses, hoping to trump Project Glass with improved style
Oakley's Thump glasses haven't exactly succeeded in fending off the competition when it comes to portable music playback, but that isn't stopping it from working feverishly to develop the next round of vaguely intelligent eyewear. CEO Colin Baden told Bloomberg that the company has been toying with ways to project information onto sunglasses since 1997, hoping to start by augmenting the world of sports before ultimately blending into more consumery pursuits with shades that could run solo or pair up with a smartphone. Functionality is only part of the puzzle, says Baden, as aesthetics play an important role. "People get very particular when they put stuff on their face." This, perhaps, explains the lack of sales of the aforementioned Thumps.
IRL: Spotify, Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 and Oakley's AP backpack 3.0
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. In this, our last edition of IRL before worldwide eat-Chinese-food-and-go-to-the-movies day, we're unpacking our gifts a few days early. Darren replaced his document scanner after his old one went to wherever it is that deceased scanners go, Joe finally settled on a gadget bag stylish enough to go with his skinny jeans and Brian's given himself the gift of a Spotify premium account. So how's it going, here in real life? Head past the break to find out.
Engadget's back to school guide 2011: bags and cases
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we're walking around with new bags in tow -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Cutting a bag free from an oversized cardboard container isn't nearly as exciting as unboxing the latest, well, anything else -- but you're probably gonna need one, unless you don't mind biking around campus with a laptop under your arm. We've rounded up some of our perennial favorites that are sure to keep your gadgets safe on any budget. And see that messenger bag up above? It's stuffed full of some of this season's hottest gadgets -- and we're giving one away to 15 of you. Simply leave a comment below and at each of our other back to school guides to be entered to win, and check out our giveaway page for more details.
Oakley's 3D specs are a perfect blend of gaudiness and Tron: Legacy
Think run-of-the-mill 3D specs just aren't cutting it? Need the sort of eyewear that ENCOM International would approve or? Here's perhaps a better question: got a infinitesimally-deep hole burning in your pocket? Oakley's recently-announced "optically-correct" 3D glasses are getting a special Tron: Legacy edition in honor of the upcoming internet documentary. Expect graphic art on the frames that, in some of the most amusing and illustrative words we've read in a press release for some time, "salute the cinematic story." Asking price is a steep $150, but fashion doesn't run cheap -- besides, how else are you going to stand out in a dark room filled with bespectacled people all facing the same direction?
Oakley announces plans for line of 3D eyewear
We've already seen a few attempts at some premium 3D glasses, and it looks like you can now also count Oakley as being aboard the bandwagon. The company has just announced that it's developed what it describes as the first 3D eyewear with "optically correct" lenses, and that it will be rolling out its first 3D glasses sometime before this holiday season. Those glasses will be of the passive polarized variety, and use Oakley's so-called HDO-3D technology, which promises "unparalleled visual clarity," along with a wider peripheral viewing angle and a truer alignment of 3D images. No word on pricing just yet, but Oakley will apparently be rolling out a range of different designs that will be sold though premium optical distribution channels in the US -- a worldwide launch will follow in 2011. Full press release is after the break. [Thanks, Colin]
Nokia's limited edition Oakley N97 mini is a match made in Dog heaven
Nothing says, "I don't play sports but I want you to think that I do" quite like wearing a pair of Oakley shades. And no smartphone has had a tougher time earning respect than the mini version of Nokia's N97 debacle. To its credit, the N97 mini has become a very successful device for Nokia despite its namesake with not one, but two special edition runs already under its belt. Now we've got three with this limited edition model handed out to Oakley-sponsored Winter Olympians. Other than a laser-etched back, the Noakleyia mashup also comes packed with exclusive Oakley team content. Just 200 were produced so if you see it on eBay, you'd better be fast with the snipe. Gratuitous N97 mini video of Shaun White after the break because over-saturated is not in your vocabulary.
Oakley's Split Thumps: Jamiroquai style
Oakley's Split Thump MP3 player sunglasses' fashion offenses are too numerous to mention, and we're not sure this is helping matters. According to the folks over at Tech Digest, the wrap-around music players will be getting a very special 500-piece, 1GB Jamiroquai edition, replete with purple and white camouflage design and two new remixes from the disco-aping singer's 1993 album Emergency on Planet Earth. Grab your glasses, get out your floppy hat, slip on some Mickey Mouse gloves, and crack open a bottle of Vicks VapoRub -- it's time to party like you don't know any better.
Crapgadget CES edition, round 16: Music Player Sunglasses
The "Most Newest" concept of MUSIC PLAYER... for when Oakley's Thumps are just too classy.Coming soonest.
Oakley's Split Thump: the relentless pursuit of fail
We're not sure why Oakley keeps gluing MP3 players to semi-fashionable sunglasses and expecting us to be impressed, but they've gone above and beyond this time by calling the latest model the Split Thump. Apart from sounding like a kitchen accident, it's the same old Thump concept you know and avoid, only this time with controls integrated into the O logo and detachable earpieces so you can just be a straight-up Oakley guy instead of a giant Oakley nerd. Pricing should make you feel similarly chumpish, with 512MB going for $249, 1GB for $299, and 2GB for a whopping iPod touch five Zune 30s Archos 605 $399. Coming your way in black and white soon, according to Oakley.[Via Acquire, thanks, Bernard]
Motorola O ROKR Pro Bluetooth sunglasses hit the FCC
It looks like Motorola and Oakley have decided to try their hands at another pair of Bluetooth-equipped sunglasses, with the pair's new slimmed down O ROKR Pro shades now making their first appearance on the FCC's website. Unlike Oakely's various Thump shades, these don't pack any storage of their own, relying instead on a Bluetooth connection to stream music from your cellphone or Bluetooth-equipped portable music player. What's more, the O ROKR Pros also support AVRCP to let you control your music directly from the shades, and they can double as a wireless headset, although not one we'd recommend using during your next business meeting. According to the user manual, you can expect to get about five hours of use on a charge, which can be done either by plugging 'em into your computer's USB port or by using the included wall charger (or optional car charger). Of course, this being the FCC, there's no word on price or availability, but it doesn't seem like word of that should be too far off. Click on through for a few more pics.
The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Wearable Device of the Year
Now's your chance to cast your ballot for the 2006 Wearable Device of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Sunday, April 15th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best tech win! The nominees: Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headset, HAL-5 robotic suit, Motorola / Oakley O ROKR, Nike + iPod, Shure E500PTH, and Sony Ericsson MBW-100 Bluetooth watch. %Poll-233%
First pics of RED "Spike" camcorder prototype surface
It's been quite awhile since a single camcorder, of all things, got as much hype as the elusive RED machine from Oakley founder Jim Jannard, but this mysterious beast is escaping the treacherous realm of vaporware and emerging into reality according to the man himself over at DVXuser. Aside from shooting HD footage at 60fps with those fine 11.4-megapixels, the all-aluminum cam is finally making its debut, and a few glamour shots of the first prototype, dubbed "Spike," have now been released. It's noted that actual production units will not sport a shiny finish (sorry, blingsters), and the official forums will open up tomorrow at RedUser.net. Ole Jim also mentioned that the machined prototype "should be operational" within days, and hopes to garner a good bit of attention at the next NAB expo. While the initial batch of $17,000 pre-orders are long gone, the firm just might take more orders for a small window of time in "early 2007," but it's shakily committing to a "May 31st" or earlier ship date for those lucky (and loaded) individuals already on that coveted list. Be sure to tag the links below for more very-not-fuzzy sneak peeks.[Via DVGuru]
