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Recon Instruments putting heads-up display, extra layer of 'cool' within ski goggles
It's a match made in heaven, really. A GPS-linked heads-up display system, and ski goggles. Together, at long last, forever. Recon Instruments is reportedly developing said technology right now, and if all goes well, a HUD-equipped set of alpine goggles will indeed be on sale to the general populace next fall for between $350 to $450. The device is expected to tap into your cellphone, and if said phone has a GPS chip within, you'll be able to see where you're at, where your fellow snow bunnies are and where you're headed. It'll also provide all sorts of other vital information, such as hang time off of the rail jump, altitude gain / loss, a stopwatch and temperature. There's no word on whether it'll alert you when too much powder starts building on that front-side edge, but here's hoping these things are durable enough to survive the face-plant that'll inevitably ensue when that scenario plays itself out.
Nissan and AIST partner up to make foot-sized Segway shoes, enable first tracks all year
For the northern half of the world it's almost ski season, and thus a curious time to debut a pair of devices that allow skiing in the summertime. Nevertheless Nissan and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology are introducing this pair of two-wheeled, self-balancing devices. Lace up your fresh New Balance kicks, grab onto the handlebars, then hop on to go for a ride. Each one detects weight shifts and motors itself in the direction you want to go -- or at least the direction you're leaning. They don't look particularly stable nor safe, but they could enable some sweet concrete hot doggin' in the summertime -- and some sick splits if you don't have your snowplow perfected.
BlackBerry credited with saving skier's life, serendipity left hanging
Not that we haven't heard a few miraculous gadgets-saving-lives stories before, but this one is in a league of its own. According to the always-embellishing Sun, one David Fitzherbert is thanking his smartphone after coming entirely too close to falling 700 feet to his death. As the story goes, he got wedged between a pair of rocks after losing control of his skis in the Matterhorn, and while we aren't quite sure why he chose RIM's BlackBerry over -- say, chap-stick, car keys, his wallet or a fattening breakfast -- he credited it with adding just enough width to his person to keep him wedged. Two hours after finding himself between a rock and a hard place, rescue crews arrived and flew him to a hospital where he used the "0.5-inch wide" phone to tell his wife that he had survived a nasty spill. We still say David owes a round of thanks to genetics, luck and Zeus, but hey, what do we know?
ATC3K action cam beautifully retrofitted into ski goggles
Remember Oregon Scientific's ATC3K digital action camera? Yeah, it's back and better than ever. Over at Biobug, one rather talented modder has decided to integrate said device into his UVEX ski goggles, and the result is nothing short of breathtaking. All that was required was a soldering iron, some cabling, a Dremel cutting tool, an ATC3K camera, AA battery box and a small plastic case. Oh, and time -- lots and lots of spare time. Hit the read link for a pictorial trip down assembly lane, and feel free to create your own for this winter's best-ever YouTube vids.
Norwegian ski billboard gets snowy when texted
We've certainly seen mobile-activated bus stop ads before, but the cool factor on this one was just too impressive to overlook. Tryvann Winter Park, a ski resort that sits just 15 minutes away from downtown Oslo, was searching high and low for ways to better market itself to residents of the bustling Norwegian city. In order to do so, it turned to JCDecaux, who conjured up the brilliant idea you see to the right. Essentially, this advertisement packs a few internal fans and a bucketful of faux snow; whenever it starts snowing up at the ski resort, someone sends a text to the billboard and the flurries start to fly. This way, residents and workers in Oslo can easily see when conditions are good some 500 meters up. We're told that Tryvann "loved" the campaign and the resulting crowds that came, though there's no mention of whether it'll be implemented next season or elsewhere in the world.[Via textually, thanks Charles]
Ask Engadget: Best rugged, waterproof point-and-shoot camera?
In the spirit of winter, we felt that Ben's recent question about a camera fit for the slopes was just perfect. And if you'd like to toss out a warm and fuzzy question of your own, just send one to ask at engadget dawt com and keep tuning in. "I'm going skiing over spring break, and I've been reading a lot on some of the newer waterproof, rugged cameras. There are just so many out there to choose from, I was wondering what you guys thought about some of the better ones." So, what camera should Mr. Ben procure in order to have worry-free shooting days at the slopes? He probably wouldn't mind one that withstands minor bumps and bangs either, 'cause we all know what inevitably happens the first time down a new double black.
Namco hosting We Ski event at the Nintendo World Store
The folks at Namco Bandai have announced that they'll be hosting an event in celebration of their title We Ski. It all goes down at the Nintendo World Store in New York City this Saturday, between 12pm and 4pm. Demo kiosks will be available to demo the title, either with the Wiimote and nunchuk or using the Balance Board. There won't be much in the way of goodies available, but the first 500 people to pick up the game will get a free poster.%Gallery-17418%[Via press release]
A trio of We Ski videos
GameSpot has uploaded three new movies from Namco's We Ski, depicting, well ... gameplay. That's what we all want to see, right? And considering that this title will make use of the Wii Fit Balance Board, we're doubly anxious to see how fun it is. While we sit around and wait for the game's release, we'll just have to settle for game footage. Check past the break for another two videos.
O'Neill's GPS NavJacket with integrated display and audio
Ever get lost in a euphoric off-piste blaze of snow and emotion only to emerge truly lost somewhere on the mountain? Good, the NavJacket is for you. The GPS equipped jacket from O'Neill is the result of a partnership with MyGuide. The Gore-Tex jacket features integrated audio in the hood and a display in the sleeve which shows your speed, updated weather forecasts, and time and distance to après-ski. A "friend finder" function helps track your new "friends" long after the slobbering begins. All the important tech bits about communication, controls, and that flexible display (not to mention the price!) are still missing. No worries, it's not due for another 9 months as part of O'Neill's Fall/Winter 2008/2009 collection. 'Til then you'll have to rely upon your keen sense of gravity to get you to the bottom of the hill. [Via Pocket-lint]
Satski GPS system charts adventures on the slopes
Just in case your iPod-equipped helmet, head-mounted camera and Bluetooth-enabled parka weren't enough to distract you from actually paying attention to your fear when looking down the mile-long slope ahead, how's about fiddling with the Satski rather than focusing on that pizza wedge? This handhald unit gives skiers, snowboarders and everyone else out there trying to make it down in one piece the ability to record position, altitude, speed and distance while on the mountain. Additionally, you'll find options that enable you to avoid black runs, plot a course, listen to MP3s and play a few games while riding the lift. Heck, there's even links to emergency contacts in case that halfpipe trip goes terribly wrong, and the built-in software lets users export data to Google Earth for future bragging purposes. Reportedly, this intriguing device will be priced at an almost unfathomable £1,500 ($3,087), but those strapped for cash can supposedly rent it for around £28 ($58) per day at participating resorts. Of course, it remains to be seen how well the touch panel responds to those ginormous gloves we all love to wear.UPDATE: Seems that US-based snow bunnies can get this same type of functionality on their current Garmin / Magellan GPS -- and for a lot less cash, too.[Via ShinyShiny]
PS3 Fanboy review: Go! Sports Ski
Go! Sports Ski is the latest title from Sony in their casual Go! series of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, following the Go! Puzzle pack released earlier this year. Dubbed a 'ski simulator' by Sony, Go! Sports Ski offers the usual bundle of features for most of Sony's PSN offerings -- including 1080p support, online leaderboards, and a cheap price (a mere $2.99).What sets Go! Sports Ski apart from many of the other recent titles is fairly robust online multiplayer support. The game has several different online gameplay modes, including time trials, battle runs and slaloms -- as well as the ability to download the ghosts of the top players in the world. Once you've downloaded the ghosts you can either watch them for tips or compete directly with them in the single-player game. It's a nice little inclusion and I hope that Sony starts offering this level of online multiplayer support for all of their upcoming PSN titles.Go! Sports Ski's real hook though is that it is controlled exclusively by the Sixaxis motion controls. Yes, like Lair and Super Rub-a-Dub, you control your character entirely via tilting the controller around -- the surprising thing is that it actually works pretty darn well. To move your skier forward, you tilt the controller forward. To turn your character to the right, you tilt the controller to the right. To do a sharp turn, you tilt the controller in the direction you want to turn and tilt it back at the same time. To jump, you simply jump the controller up quickly. While there is a bit of a learning curve (like all motion controlled games), it only takes a couple runs to get comfortable with the controls -- and once you do, you'll be surprised at the precision that is possible with it. %Gallery-5022%
Portable splint instantly hardens around broken limbs
If you always thought the inkjet approach to healing broken bones was too much of a stretch, you'll probably be interested in the plastic portable splint. Designed by Ching-Sui Kao, Geremi Durand, and Maxime Ducloux, the device is intended to be used by extreme sports participants (guess that includes Wii Sports?) that typically set records in either completion times or amount of damage done to their bodies, and can set your newly-broken limb into place right on the side of the mountain. By wrapping the limb with a set of flexible plastic strips, linking them up with Velcro, and finally applying a sodium citrate-based gel over top, a chemical reaction creates a rigid structure that forms a cast around the arm or leg. Of course, doctors can remove the material at the hospital and apply a more medically-approved rendition, but if you're looking for an easy way to excuse yourself from class or work without actually forging a doctor's note, here's your ticket.
Camelbak teams with Skullcandy on speaker-packed Hellion hydration pack
Joining the growing array of wintry kit suited to help your day at the slopes be a bit more like you never left your AV center, the Camelbak Hellion SC delivers a hydration pack, gear compartments, and few electronics to boot. The brand best know for its wide variety of liquid-toting backpacks has teamed up with Skullcandy on its latest offering, and while the whole color / design scheme is a bit too flamboyant for our tastes, the spec list isn't half bad. Aside from all the random pockets for your keys, gloves, Cheetos, and deodorant, you'll find a 100-ounce sack to keep your Kool-Aid chilled as well as a battery-powered LINK system that pipes audio from any 3.5-millieter audio out jack into the integrated speakers. Sadly, there doesn't appear to be any Bluetooth connectivity or a way to dictate anything other than volume from the strap-mounted "soft touch panel," but boarders that don't already have DAP access on their helmet, coat, or beanie can snap this up right now for just under $250.[Via Talk2MyShirt]
Reusch's Solaris ski gloves pack internal warmers
While you've got your H-Bomb to keep you nice and toasty while surfing through chilly waters, and the Airvantage vest to keep your chest warm while braving the bitter cold, even the most hardcore skiers will probably admit that their fingertips go numb just a few hours after they hit the slopes. Reusch's latest pair of high-end ski gloves looks to solve the chilly finger dilemma (sans USB power), as the new Solaris gloves pack iThermX heating technology, which was developed by Interactive Wear AG. Beneath the supple exterior is an electronics unit with a 16-bit microcontroller that "manages the intelligent power and temperature control and executes application-specific programmable heating algorithms," effectively turning up the heat whenever a user-selected temperature is reached. The heat is powered by two flat, lightweight Li-ion batteries, which can purportedly provide a hand-based oven for "around five hours" before needing to hit up the lodge for a quick recharge. There's even an onboard selector / LED indicator to switch from constant heat to "temperature-defined heating," and while we've no idea just how pricey these gloves will end up being, we're fairly sure any skier who has dealt with freezing fingers will do nearly anything to own them.
The Ktrak: half-ski, half-track mountain bike
We know what you're thinking: extreme ski biking is cool now? Or alternatively, who the hell would get on one of these? Just take our advice, next time you find yourself off-piste, keep your eyes peeled for Ktrakers -- crazy people who've bought a universal attachment that replaces the wheels of a mountain bike with a track drive and an optional front ski. Apparently the Ktrak's insane appeal comes from its ability to let cyclists ride over previously inaccessible surfaces like snow and sand, as the company's videos demonstrate. Due for a production run in early 2007 (priced at a reasonable $400 for the track and $140 for the ski), the Ktrak is apparently very easy to install and ride, and adds only 5-pounds to the average mountain bike's weight. If you can manage to convince your brain that this thing actually exists, your biggest problem is going to be getting your hands on one before everyone else: to that end, you can reserve a kit for $300, as long as you get your pre-order out before January 1.[Via Spluch]
Burton and Motorola intro Audex helmet
While it's the dead of summer here in the States, it's probably snowing somewhere, and Burton has teamed up with Motorola to drop the feature-packed Audex Helmet to keep your skull intact while carving that powder. At the 2006 Burton New Zealand Open Snowboarding Championships, this Bluetooth-enabled brain protector was unveiled to give riders the ability to manage a cellphone and audio player without the hassle of wires. While the helmet looks fairly standard, it rocks detachable stereo headphones -- optimized to handle the wind and noise -- that avid boarders will likely appreciate. Integrated Bluetooth, a 3.5mm line-in jack, Bluetooth audio controls, and a built-in microphone round out the technology crammed inside the Audex. Riders can pair up their cellphone for hands-free operation, and although Burton would need a mighty windscreen on the mic if anyone expects to hear you while busting a 720, at least you can brag with ease when back on the lift. Thanks to the line-in port, users without Bluetooth-enabled DAPs are still taken care of, though you won't be able to utilize the glove-friendly volume / track selectors that control functionality in Bluetooth equipped units. Available in a myriad of colors, the headgear will be shipping this month, so if you're not already rocking the Audex jacket, or just want a snazzy way to protect your neck (and cranium), you can pick this up for around $250.
