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Nike’s Adapt Huarache are self-lacing sneakers you’ll actually want to wear
This probably isn't shocking to anyone who knows me, but I love sneakers perhaps too much for my own good. So when Nike introduced the Adapt BB with power laces earlier this year, I was pretty intrigued: It brought two of my favorite worlds together, sneakers and technology. But for me, the problem with the Adapt BBs is that they're designed to be a performance basketball shoe, meaning they're bulky and not something I could wear every day. Now Nike has created the Adapt Huarache, a reimagined version of a classic lifestyle sneaker from 1991, which also features its FitAdapt self-lacing technology.
Unboxing Nike's self-lacing Adapt BB sneakers is like opening a smartphone
It was exactly a month ago that Nike took the wraps off of Adapt BB, its latest pair of shoes with power laces, and now the company is finally ready to bring them to the masses. The Adapt BB will launch globally on February 17th, although some lucky people have already been able to get them through Nike's SNKRS app. Unlike the HyperAdapt 1.0 from 2017, which were more of a concept project, the Adapt BBs are intended to be performance shoes for basketball players. They're also smarter than the HyperAdapts, thanks to a mobile app that pairs with the shoes via Bluetooth and lets users adjust how the laces fit. You can also use the Adapt application, available for iOS and Android, to change the two LED colors on the shoes.
A closer look at Nike's Adapt BB auto-lacing basketball shoes
Back in December of last year, Nike revealed during its quarterly earnings call that it was getting ready to introduce a $350 self-lacing basketball shoe. Ever since, sneakerheads have been highly anticipating the successor to the 2016 HyperAdapt 1.0, Nike's first consumer-grade sneaker with power laces. And now it's finally here. Enter the Adapt BB, an auto-lacing, app-controlled basketball shoe that's packing a ton of technology inside it. The highlight here, as you might expect, is a smart motor that automatically adjusts the lacing system to fit perfectly around your foot as soon as you put the shoe on.
Nike teases self-lacing shoes you can control from your phone
Ahead of the launch of its first self-lacing basketball shoes this week, Nike just posted a major tease to get people hyped. And while we can't see what the sneakers actually look like, it does appear you'll be able to adjust their power laces using your smartphone, based on a video featuring various NBA athletes trying them out. This would be a notable change compared to the HyperAdapt 1.0 from 2016, which had no wireless connectivity and, instead, came with physical power buttons that let you lace up the shoes. Another big difference is that the upcoming self-lacing sneakers are only expected to cost $350, much less than the $720 of the original HyperAdapts. That's all we know so far, but we'll find out everything about "the future of the game" of basketball tomorrow, so stay tuned to our site for more coverage from Nike's event.
Nike's first self-lacing basketball shoes go on sale in 2019 for $350
If you've always wanted to play basketball in a pair of self-lacing shoes like Marty McFly's Nike Mags, you will get your chance next year. On the company's quarterly earnings call executives revealed plans for an "Adaptive" performance basketball shoe in 2019 that will cost around $350. Two years ago we got our first look at the HyperAdapt self-fitting technology in a $720 low-cut training shoe, but this technology will be cheaper and probably lighter, and obviously more athletically-inclined than the 2015 Nike Mag (shown above).
NASA starts testing a more precise landing technology (update)
NASA wants to visit celestial bodies we've never been to before, so it has started testing a precise landing system that will first be used for future trips to Mars. The engineers at Jet Propulsion Laboratory used a rocket by Masten Space Systems called XA-0.1B "Xombie" (a reusable test rocket that launches and lands vertically) to perform two test flights back in December. They integrated the Autonomous Descent and Ascent Powered-flight Testbed (ADAPT) computer onto the rocket, which is then loaded with the new landing system. In both instances, Xombie had to reach an altitude of 1,066 feet before it started its descent and the two-part landing system kicked in.
DARPA builds an Android-based, low-cost ground sensor (video)
This isn't an ignominious box you're looking at -- it's the potential future of military sensors. The device is DARPA's first reference design for a ground sensor based on ADAPT (Adaptable Sensor System), a modular Android processing core that does the hard work for surveillance gear. The mobile technology inside is miserly enough to run on its own power, and smart enough to simplify both networking and remote control. More importantly, it should be cheap: DARPA expects to cut sensor development times from several years to less than one, with lower costs to match. The agency starts field testing the ground sensor this summer, and it's already contemplating air- and sea-based ADAPT designs. Catch an example of DARPA's airborne sensor experiments after the break.
You bring the speakers. Outdoor Technology's Adapt brings the Bluetooth.
Earlier this week I took a look at Outdoor Technology's Bluetooth-based Turtle Shell mountable speaker. After that review, the company invited me to take a look at their Adapt gadget. For US$40, this teeny adapter transforms any speaker system or headset into a Bluetooth-powered audio solution. All you need is a standard 3.5mm port. The Adapt takes care of the rest. Tired of weaving your headphone wires over your shoulder and into a backpack? Adapt takes care of that for you. Just plug into the device instead of your phone, and attach the adapter to your shirt. It's perfect for anyone who exercises without pockets. Within seconds, my normal earphones became a mobile Bluetooth solution. I tied up the excess cord, and went out for a lovely walk. It was lightweight, convenient and much simpler to use than a direct iPhone connection. That phone, as usual, sat in my backpack. I felt as if I were using my nano instead of the far less walker-friendly iPhone. I then took the Adapt home and tested it out on my home TV and my husband's speaker system. In both cases, it offered convenient plug-and-play conversion, which was helped, I admit, by the fact that I had long since adapted both systems to use 3.5mm audio input. So what are the downsides? I did encounter tiny sync glitches -- even when I was in close proximity to the Bluetooth source. They weren't frequent, but after an hour of listening, they did happen three or four times. Second, the unit's battery functions for about six to eight hours, so you do need to charge it after use. It's not really meant as a permanent installation feature. If your car has a built-in 3.5mm plug adapter, just attach the Adapt at the start of the trip, but remember to take it with you when you arrive back home. Charging is easy -- just connect to USB. The physical feel of the unit was really rugged. It felt like it would stand up to lots of sweaty walking use. The clip worried me a little -- it's a fixed "U" curve rather than a spring-based clip like you find on the nano -- but it stayed on just fine during my testing. Joggers and runners may want to take more care in that department. In the end, the $40 price tag isn't cheap but the Adapt seems to offer good value as a device and it's a really clever way to flexibly add Bluetooth to your listening arsenal without being tied to a single output system. The Adapt ships in black, pink and aqua. One last thing: I can't help but wonder if the Adapt's logo was inspired by a certain mythological creature who supposedly inhabits North America's woods.
Nexon CEO says consoles will F2P or die
Never one to mince words, Nexon America CEO Daniel Kim stated that the traditional game console's days are numbered -- if it doesn't adapt to the market. "Console developers are starting to realize that as well, that unless they make accommodations or think about changing their own business model they're going to quickly go the way of the dinosaurs," he said in a GamesIndustry.biz interview. Kim predicts that there will be no way for the console market to grow without free-to-play. His perspective comes from Nexon's research in Korea, which indicates that market developments have shifted players away from the old way of doing things on consoles. He also said that F2P puts the onus on the developers to "earn the business" of players instead of taking their money up front and running. "It's really hard to beat free-to-play as an offering," Kim said. "I know it's tough for [console developers] to just cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to say 'OK, we're going to go free-to-play and make our bed here,' because that's going to piss off a lot of people who they already have an existing business relationship with."
Raid Rx: Adapting to healer deaths without combat resurrection
Every week, Raid Rx will help you quarterback your healers to victory! Your host is Matt Low, the grand poobah of World of Matticus and a founder of No Stock UI, a WoW blog for all things UI-, macro- and addon-related. Catch his weekly podcast on healing, raiding and leading on the Matticast. Just a quick heads up for healers: If you haven't visited Plus Heal in a while, do check it out, as it has undergone a facelift. If you've registered there in the past, you'll need to re-register, because user information was not able to be transferred. On to this week's post. This is a classic case study for healing leaders and handling player deaths -- healer deaths, to be specific. In this case, I goofed up big time. We were tackling the heroic version of Atramedes. There are two ways that this encounter can be done: Option 1: Move everyone together as a single unit. Option 2: Split the raid in half and assault Atramedes on both sides. We went for the second option. I split the healers up, four in one direction and three in the other. Somehow I ended up with three priests on one side and a mix of shaman, druids and paladins on the other. I wasn't thinking properly; for Leap of Faith reasons, I wanted at least two priests on that one side. So what else happened?
InterHome learns from inhabitants, adapts to save energy
We've seen all sorts of devices that learn over time, though most of them fall into the humanoid category. Now, a team of gurus over in the UK has developed an entire home that can learn from those dwelling in it and react in order to curb energy waste and even prevent unauthorized entry. InterHome, a model designed by researchers at the University of Hertfordshire, is scheduled to be unveiled at the Microsoft Imagine Cup finals, and it should make other home automation systems look rather antediluvian in comparison. By sensing how the owner(s) like their climate and such, it can reportedly save up to £300 a year in energy costs alone. Furthermore, it can "take decisive action and text if it is being burgled or the door has been left unlocked," and the whole system can be monitored remotely and controlled via the web. Too bad we're terrified that it could one day turn on the owner and refuse to allow entry to anyone other than leaders of The Resistance, but other than that, it sounds pretty nifty.
Adapt MPJ-101 pico projector: tiny, cute, available
Go ahead, you can admit it: you're really, really into picos -- the best of us are. Adapt's update to its pocket projector, the MPJ-101 -- which is nearly identical to the previous model -- shouldn't fill us with joy, but it does. This little (125 x 55 x 23 mm) monster's got 1GB of built in memory, an SD slot, and two .5 watt speakers. It projects up to 10 lumens of brightness at a resolution of 640×480 from around 6 to 50 feet. All this excitement doesn't come cheap, though -- expect to shell out about a thousand bucks for this teeny bundle of joy. Oh boy.
EVE's 'Orca' mining vessel facilitates suicide ganks against miners
Among the changes to EVE Online introduced with the Quantum Rise expansion is a new class of ship, the 'Orca' industrial command ship.The ship is intended to be a major asset to mining operations in New Eden, but it's a flexible ship -- and this writer has been waiting to see what clever uses players will have for it. It looks like that day has come... The Orca's substantial cargo capacity, a ship maintenance bay, and corp hangar have made it an ideal base of operations for criminals operating in highsec, with an aim to suicide gank T2 mining ships. In other words, use fully insurable Tech I ships to gank specialized, expensive, and largely uninsurable Tech II ships. Suicide ganking is nothing new, but one of the major changes CCP Games put into place to dissuade players from committing highsec suicide ganks was to substantially increase the security status penalties players are hit with when committing aggressive acts in high security (Empire) space. But no matter how low one's security status drops, all players can move about in highsec in their ship's capsule. It's only when a criminal enters a ship in highsec space that CONCORD takes action. That is where the Orca comes in. Criminals can board new ships housed within the Orca at a safespot and then warp in on their victims en masse, in multiple waves of suicide ganks. When their suicide gank ships are blasted apart by CONCORD, they can fly in their pods back to the Orca and gear up for the next wave.
Adapt's ADPP-100 pocket projector shown on video
Another week, another pocket projector sighting. In an attempt to get known before it gets buried by the hundreds of alternatives sure to pop up here in the coming months, Adapt has hosted a short video of its mX ADPP-100 mini projector. Said beamer features LCoS technology, a rechargeable battery, an SD card slot, inputs for "almost any device," and the ability to project a 50-inch image (however blurry) onto the wall. Not much else is known right now outside of that, but you can check it out in action just after the break.[Via AboutProjectors]
Aging creatives: Adapt or die
Not all game designers are like the youthful Cliffy B. or David Jaffe, some are quite chronologically enhanced. One such aging creative, J.D. Alley, has written a piece about facing his own extinction. The 62 year-old discusses how he's survived in the gaming industry. Although there is a lot of explanation, bending and weaving throughout the piece, it's actually an interesting story of how to survive in the long term, like this gem quote, "We operate in a tough, demanding and competitive business that rewards success modestly and almost inevitably punishes failure with extinction. There are not many second chances in our business and those studios that have survived a gross miscalculation more than once can be counted on one hand."J.D. Alley lays it all out there and in the end makes it sounds like the older you get, the more cutting edge you've got to be. Those young whippersnappers are always ready to take over, but having the wisdom and influence that comes with age, coupled with the recognition that one must always be riding the wave of innovation is how to make it in the long term.
Magicbox intros Imp Adapt WiFi radio / media player
Magicbox has unveiled a smaller, sleeker version of the original Imp, and is apparently catering to the Squeezebox crowd by throwing in a fair bit of expandability and streaming options. Aside from the obvious ability to tune into internet radio stations wherever there's a WiFi source, this device can also plug into your home theater speakers for surround sound goodness. It also sports a "superbright" LCD, supports WEP / WPA security, six preset channels, "archiving" abilities, headphone out, clock / alarm functions, and a wireless remote to boot. Of course, it will also sync up to your PC in order to stream MP3, WMA, and AAC "to anywhere in your home." The Imp Adapt is available now in the UK for around £114.99 ($219).[Via Tech Digest]
Adapt intros TomTom Go clone for Europe
As if we needed another Europe-only GPS device that brings nothing new to the table, Adapt is busting out their all-in-one navigation system which sports a few PMP features and an SD slot, but looks just as bulky as the rest of the similarly-specced devices on the market -- with a particular TomTom Go flavor. The 279 Euro ($354 US) unit sports a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, and is powered by a 400MHz processor from Samsung, along with that ubiquitos SiRF Star III chip and software courtesy of Route 66. There's 64MB of built-in storage, and some sort of music / photo / movie/ eBook playback ability, but we're not sure about formats or codecs. No word on the release date for this little guy either, but we're sure it and five other West Europe-only units will make it to market in the time it takes us to get a single one onto our lowly shores.
PS3 pad loses DualShock name and vibration but picks up Wii-esque motion detection and wireless connectivity
In a shocking turn of events, the PS3 controller has gone from banamerang to wireless DualShock 3, except without the DualShock name and vibration.If you take a good look at the back of the new control pad (see the close-up above), you'll notice that the DualShock 2 brand name imprinted on the old controller has now been supplanted by a row of LED lights to show which input has been set, either wirelessly or via the wired USB recharge port. Sony's now the only name in-line for PS3 controllers either on the pad or in the press releases (see "the new PS3 controller").
