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Moov made a heart rate sensor you wear on your head
When representatives from the fitness tracking company Moov first told me they had made a heart rate sensor that you wear on your head, I thought the idea was ridiculous. But after I saw the Moov HR Sweat headband and swim caps (Moov HR Swim), it all made a bit more sense. The new device sits firmly on your forehead to get what Moov says is a more accurate pulse reading than from your wrist or chest. It then relays that information to a companion app that coaches you to work out better.
MasterCard and Coin bring payments to your fitness band
Right now, you don't have many choices for paying for things from your wrist: there's the Apple Watch, the Microsoft Band (at Starbucks) and not much else. MasterCard and Coin don't think you should have to suffer from this lack of choice, though. They're teaming up to bring credit card payments to all kinds of wearable devices, including fitness trackers and a wider variety of smartwatches. Coin will supply the necessary hardware and software, while MasterCard will unsurprisingly handle the service side of things.
Moov unveils a sleeker wearable that tracks your precise motion
Moov made a name for itself last year with its first fitness wearable, which did a whole lot more than count your steps: It actually tracked your body's movement in three dimensions and used that data to power mobile personal trainer apps. Now, the company is back with the MOOV NOW, a smaller and slimmer device meant to help you achieve the ultimate workout. It works pretty much the same as the original MOOV: You can strap it to your wrist, arm, or ankle and use a variety of apps to track specific workouts. You also receive advice from a virtual fitness coach based on your exact movement, for example if your running stride is too hard, or if your swimming strokes aren't strong enough. But while the first device was practically as big as a typical watch face, MOOV NOW is around the size of a quarter. It also relies on replaceable watch batteries for up to six months of typical usage, while its predecessor had to be charged every few days. You can preorder MOOV NOW today for $60 (it will retail normally for $100), and it's expected to ship later this fall.
Engadget giveaway: win a pair of motion-tracking wearables courtesy of Moov!
It's the hump day of seasons, as it were, and soon many of us will be trying to make up for overindulgence during the dark days of winter. Not to worry, Moov is a fitness wearable that can help you get back in shape using AI technology and motion-tracking in addition to basic activity stats. That extra info transforms the Moov app into your own personal fitness coach, delivering commentary and advice to help fine-tune your workout in real-time. Custom experiences include running, swimming, boxing and cardio workouts, with more on the way to cover yoga, golf and cycling. Strap them on your ankle or shoe for details on cadence and landing impact or put them on each wrist to track the speed and power behind your punches. Moov has provided us with three sets of trackers for a trio of lucky Engadget readers this week to help burn those accumulated calories or simply improve on an existing workout. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning a pair of these wearables along with a digital coach to help you look good and feel good. Winners: congratulations to Matt P. of Canton MI., Scott R. of Lafayette LA. and Darren P of Gahanna OH.
Switched On: Return of the digital hub
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. In the heyday of Palm organizers, when even the speeds of 3G data seemed like a distant fantasy, a debate raged as to whether the future of pocket devices could belong to one or two devices. Those who favored two devices argued that you didn't really want all the bulk and battery consumption of a pocket computer in a small device that you wanted to use primarily to make calls. They failed to anticipate that technology's relentless integration would enable these "pocket computers" to become the minimal-millimeter smartphones of today and that data networks would support access to apps ranging from social networking to mobile video that would trump voice for many users.
Crowdfunded Project News: The best of Kickstarter, Indiegogo and the rest
Every week, TUAW provides readers with an update on what new or significant crowdfunded Apple-related projects are in the news. This update is designed to give readers a heads-up on projects they might find interesting enough to back. Note that we're not covering those "projects" on Indiegogo where people are trying to get someone else to cough up money for a new computer or tablet... If a project reaches at least 80 percent of total funding and provides us with review material, we may choose to write a detailed post about it. Holy guacamole! We're just full of crowdfunded projects this week! Let's get it started, first with a fascinating independent project: Moov wants to be Siri for fitness. Taking pre-orders for a limited quantity of devices at this time for only US$59.95, Moov promises to coach you verbally as you're working out or engaging in your favorite sport. To be honest, I'm not sure I'd be thrilled having Siri telling me to "run faster" or "lengthen your stride." Here's video: And now the hot Kickstarter projects of the week. The Carbon wearable solar charger is a wearable with a difference. Rather than acting as an extension to your smartphone, it only exists to do one thing -- charge your technology. With photovoltaic cells on top of a small battery, Carbon can charge itself up in two to three hours in full sunlight, then give your iPhone about a half-charge in 25 minutes. Carbon uses a standard watch strap so you can change your style to fit your needs. Right now you can back Carbon and get one for as little as $115. It's currently about 16 percent funded with 25 days to go. The Right Arm is already 286 percent funded with ten days to go, but you can still get in on the funding action. The Right Arm is touted as a universal tablet stand and mobile stand-up desk, using a long flexible arm that ends in a metal plate covered with a polyurethane gel that holds onto just about anything. You can still back The Right Arm for $104 or more. Remember my recent review of the Jumper Card, a credit card-like set of charging cables with a battery and flashlight that fits in your wallet? Well, TravelCard wants to do the same thing with a thin aluminum-cased battery/charger/flashlight. One big difference: TravelCard has already achieved initial Made For iPhone (MFi) certification. TravelCard is almost 250 percent funded with almost a month to go. it's available in four different finishes; black, white, silver and metallic blue. I sometimes wonder why some accessory manufacturers end up Kickstarting something that is already being made... That's the question I have for AirBulb, which is amazingly similar to the oddly-named AwoX Striimlight I reviewed in January. I wasn't particularly impressed with the Striimlight and hopefully AirBulb can do better, but do we really need multitasking light bulbs? The Bumprz iPhone bumper is funded. The Kickstarter campaign for this minimalist iPhone case should be over by the time you read this; at the point I wrote this, Bumprz was 117 percent funded. Bumprz look like they'll now be made in black, gold and silver. Congratulations to the Bumprz team for getting these little metallic corner covers funded and into production. Last year I backed the iBlazr, a tiny little 4-LED light that plugs into your iPhone and provides light for photos or video. I wish I had waited. Ember is a battery case with a back covered with LEDs. Ember is going to make anyone who does night photography or videography very happy. At this point, it's about 41 percent funded with 17 days to go. Another photography project on Kickstarter is the Mibo, a full-featured microscope kit for your iPhone. It's just about fully funded with just two days to go -- let's hope that TUAW readers can push this one over the goal line! For educational purposes, Mibo will also come with prepared slides for your close-in viewing pleasure. Somebody finally listened to me! Although I love leather iPad cases, most of them are just too darned thick to make them enjoyable. Heming is a really thin and beautifully-designed iPad case that doesn't add a lot of bulk while still keeping your tablet protected. The great thing is that Heming has already reached its funding goal, but you can still get a limited edition case for as low as $76. And on Indiegogo: Remember Fuse Chicken? They're the design shop that created the incredibly cool Une Bobine iPhone stand a while back. Now they're back with a couple of new products. First, there's togoDock -- it's a magnetic charge cable / dock for iPhone that sticks almost anywhere you can stick a magnet. togoDock is 77 percent of the way towards funding with just less than a month to go. You can push it over the top for as little as $30. Fuse Chicken will also throw in the cool PLUGdock or a Une Bobine at some of the pledge levels. This next project has a long way to go, but it could be just the thing to save a life if it does get funded. The Lifesaver Case for iPhone not only protects your iPhone, but if you're ever threatened, you slide a single switch and it instantly (and silently) streams your GPS location, sends your vital information, records what is happening in sound and video, and makes an automatic E911 call. The campaign just started, but The Lifesaver Case looks like a great idea to me. You can back the project and get one for as little as $59. The planet apparently needs another messaging app, as vText just went live today on Indiegogo. The app will be cross-platform on iOS and Android, and it does provide some compelling features. It's apparently three times faster than traditional messaging platforms, secure (nothing is stored), smart (reminds you of birthdays and limits texting while driving), and simple to use. And last but definitely not least, there's another fascinating "Internet of Things" connected home device that's just starting up. Notifon is billed as the "notifying object" that can be connected to just about anything to notify you of events. Put it on your garage door, it will tell you if the door is opened or closed. It can inform you of water leaks, send a tweet when your business is open or closed, and more. The team is planning on shipping by September of 2014. If you're aware of any other crowdfunded Apple-related projects, be sure to let us know about them through the Tip Us button at the upper right of the TUAW home page for future listing on the site.
Moov's fitness tracker works as a personal trainer to improve your workouts
There are quite a few fitness trackers out there now that all do exactly the same thing: monitor how much you move. While there are tons that can tell you you're not moving around enough, there isn't really anything out there that focuses on the quality of your movement over the quantity of it. That's where the makers of Moov are hoping to fit in to the fitness space; their $59 device aims to work as a personal trainer of sorts, helping your improve you workouts The easiest way to describe Moov is as a wearable Leap Motion. The waterproof disc can be worn on your wrist like a watch or strapped around your ankle or arm, and can capture movement. While you're working out, it pays attention to how you're moving, and offers real-time suggestions on how to improve. For instance, when you're running, the app might suggest you shorten your stride or tell you that your landing is too hard -- something that could ultimately cause an injury. Moov also notices things like your shoulders not being directly over your hands when you're doing pushups, or even that your not kicking fast enough when you're swimming laps.
The Moov wireless case for iPhone streams video to TV
A company named Olion has introduced a neat add-on for the iPhone called The Moov. It's a case for the iPhone 4 that connects to the dock and streams out video wirelessly. The presenter in the video (which you can watch after the break) calls it the "first mobile to TV solution," but of course, that's not true -- we've seen lots of ways to get video out of the iPhone and onto the TV. Still, this one's pretty elegant, and it's all wireless, even though that means it's limited by about three hours of battery life. The speed in the video looks good, and the case sends off a signal to any WHDI receiver. Olion doesn't have a price or release date yet -- the Israel-based startup is still looking for manufacturing partners, apparently. But it's a cool idea with what seems to be a nice implementation. We'll keep an eye out for it. [via Engadget]
Olion's Moov caught on video beaming an iPhone to a TV using a little WHDI and a lot of magic
Chubby DIY iPad cases aside, there aren't too many options if you want to bring video wirelessly from a mobile device to a wall-mountable TV. The Moov from Olion is one of the few, but sadly it doesn't really exist just yet. Don't be thrown off by a name shared with a windshield-mounted GPS, this is a battery-packing case for iPhones. Slot one in and you get instant, wireless streaming of data to a WHDI-compatible receiver. Video resolution is fair at 1,024 x 768 while latency is said to be less than 1ms at up to 30-feet in range. That's quick enough to get your Need for Speed on, as shown after the break, while the internal battery is said to provide enough juice for three hours of video streaming. Olion doesn't have a shipment date or price in mind right now, still searching for partners of the manufacturing kind. If you have the requisite means of production maybe this could be a match made in silicon -- and in love. [Thanks, Aviram]
Mio's Tegra-powered Moov V780 puts maps, 720p video, and the interwebs on dashboards
We're not suggesting playing a 720p vid while at the wheel, but Mio's Moov V780 -- or "premium PND," as they call it -- sure is a jack of all trades. We spent sometime playing around with the 7-inch tablet at the company's CeBIT press conference and came away surprisingly impressed with the entire experience. It's tapered edges and smooth plastic back remind us a lot of the Dell Mini 5, though Mio's gone with a NVIDIA Tegra chip (we were told Tegra 2, but our friends at jkkmobile sneaked a peak at the device's console and discovered it was apparnetly rocking the progenitor Tegra chip, at least on the show floor) and created a nice 3D user interface on top of Windows CE. Though it doesn't support multitouch, the capacitive screen made flicking through the coverflow-like interface a breeze and the virtual keyboard was a pleasure -- those who wish to use the device to fire off e-mails can always pick up the carrying case pictured above. So yes, overall we definitely like the Moov V780 and its Internet tablet/PND capabilities... but not enough to pay the 599 euros the company expects to sell it for. Perhaps the video below will convince you, but for now we'll be waiting for this one to drop in price when it starts shipping this summer. %Gallery-87351%
Mio stuns at CeBIT with ultra-sleek Moov V780 MID
Uh, folks -- we've an identity crisis on our hands. Is this a MID with a penchant for navigating? Is this a PMP with pre-loaded maps? Is it an ultra-sleek navigator that just so happens to play music? There's a fair chance the world will never know, but we'll soon be stopping by Mio's booth at CeBIT in order to get a view of things ourselves. At any rate, the Moov V780 is undoubtedly one of the most appealing things to come from the outfit in quite some time, offering up 720p multimedia playback, an HDMI output, digital TV support, a 7-inch (800 x 480 resolution) display, 600MHz CPU, 512MB of memory, 4GB of onboard flash and a pretty tremendous list of supported file formats. Sadly, it's humming along on Windows CE (rather than, say, Android), but at least it ships with WiFi and optional WiMAX. There's no mention of a price or release date, but we'll be on the hunt for those tidbits as soon as the show floor opens up.
Mio's Moov S501 and S401 finally go legit
After Mio basically non-confirmed / confirmed these to us in April, letting us know the pricing was off, but saying nothing else about the leak, it was really just a matter of time until the two navigators broke into the realm of officialdom. The Moov S401 and S501 bring 4.3-inch and 4.7-inch displays, respectively, along with a new "Spirit" interface and some new functionality like Google Send-to-GPS, NavPix for pulling location from geo-tagged photos, text-to-speech for spoken street names and MioMore 2 PC software for calculating mileage and fuel economy. The S501 is Mio's thinnest PND ever at 0.64-inches, and includes 12 million POIs, while the S401 is inexplicably thicker at 0.71-inches, with 4 million POIs. They go for $200 and $180, respectively, and will go on sale in June.
Mio S401 and S501 nav units leak out, due in May
It's been a while since we've seen a new Mio navi hit Stateside -- Mitac seems to be concentrating on the Magellan brand here -- but it looks like there's still some kick left in those boots: say hello to the Moov S401 and S501. Baby brother 401 will sell for $129 and has a 4.3-inch screen and four million preloaded POIs, while the $169 501 bumps it up to 4.7 inches and 12 million. Both have Mio's newish "Spirit" interface, but we're most intrigued by the repeated mentions of gas price searching and Google Send to GPS in the docs we were leaked, which suggest integration with a service like MSN Direct. We'll find out soon -- these are set to land in Radio Shack in mid-May.Update: Mio just pinged us to say that these prices are wrong, but they didn't tell us anything else, so stay tuned.[Thanks, Anonymous]
Mio launches four new Moov navigators at CES
There's no Turbo Boost or anything involved with this bunch, but Mio has launched four mildly interesting navigators for 2009. The new Moovs all sport an improved "Spirit" software platform, and while the S300 features a 3.5-inch panel, text-to-speech and 12 million POIs, the S500 steps up to a 4.7-inch panel. The Moov S556 keeps the same 4.7-inch display but adds in Bluetooth and Junction View, while the S700 breaks out a 7-inch panel. The whole lot is supposed to ship before the second half of this year for $199.99, $249.99, $299.99 and $299.99 in order of mention.[Via GPSTracklog]
Mio's Knight Rider GPS gets reviewed, high-fived
Sure, we've been totally into Mio's Knight Rider GPS, but how does it really stack up? PC Magazine took it out for a test drive and found that the device is essentially a Moov 300, which they say has solid route calculation times and a straightforward menu system. The Knight Rider version comes pre-loaded with maps for the US, Canada and Puerto Rico -- an improvement over typical Mio US-only map packs -- and the reviewer likes the device's 58 POI categories (compared to the Moov 310's paltry 35). The biggest knock on the unit is the lack of live traffic on-board; you have to purchase a subscription and a separate receiver (not yet available on Mio's web site). Of course, you could always go for the aforementioned 310 with a built-in traffic receiver (and $20 lower price tag), but how cool would that be? Not cool at all. Don't take our word for it, though, hit the read link and check out the whole review for yourself.
Mio Moov 380 SIM card-equipped GPS unit clears the FCC
It may not speak with the voice of KITT, but Mio's new Moov 380 GPS unit looks like it'll pack some pretty desirable features nonetheless, not the least of which is a built-in SIM card for some Dash-like two-way communication. That'll of course also let you make and receive calls and text messages straight from the device without having to jump through the usual Bluetooth hoops, although there's no word as to what carrier Mio might be teaming up with or what the rates will be. Otherwise, it seems you can expect the usual array of GPS and non-GPS-related functions, along with the requisite microSD card slot and Mio's trademark MioMore Desktop software for some PC connectivity. No word on a price or release date just yet, but its recent trip through the FCC would seem to indicate that those details should be cropping up sooner rather than later.
Mio's Moov GPS units hit the States
If you've been waiting on the edge of your seat for Mio's new GPS satnavs to hit the States, it's time to break out the party favors. The PND-maker has just launched its Moov 200, 210, 300, and 310 touchscreen GPS units in the US, all equipped with SiRFstar III chips (with SiRFInstantFix II technology), pre-loaded maps of the US and Puerto Rico, and real-time traffic reports (on the 310 and 210). Prices range from $179.95 for the 3.5-inch 200, up to $249.95 for the 4.3-inch 310, and all four should be available on April 1st.
Mio springboards Moov GPS lineup at CeBIT
Thanks to a little digging at the FCC, we knew good and well Mio had a few Moovs on the way, and it's really no surprise that it chose CeBIT to make things official. Aside from looking incredibly sexy, the new Moovs all feature MioMore to unearth local gems and points of interests, SiRF GPS chipsets and InstantFixII for acquiring your location in a jiffy. Up first is the Moov 330 Regional (€180; $273) / 330 Europe (€230; $350), which each boast a 4.3-inch display and differ only in the expansiveness of their European maps. Next up is the €280 ($426) Moov 370 Europe, which ups the ante on the previous two by including Bluetooth and traffic information. Lastly, we've got the Moov 200 Regional (€150; $228) / Moov 200 Europe (€180; $273), which look to boast 3.5-inch displays and pack the same features as the 330 series. Mum's the word on availability, but folks situated across the pond aren't apt to miss a design like this.[Via NaviGadget]
Mio Moov and Moov XL finding their way to US release
Mio's apparently got two new units, um, moving through the FCC: the Moov and Moov XL, which will feature Bluetooth, a new UI, and a 3.5 and 4.3-inch displays, respectively. We'll let you know when they go legit.
