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DribbleUp’s ‘smart’ soccer ball helps you train with an app
We live in a time when even the most conventional things around us, like balls to play sports, are becoming smart in some way. Over the past few years, brands such as Adidas and Wilson have introduced sensor-laden balls designed to track performance data, including shot accuracy and trajectory. But those products have been far from perfect: they're not always precise and, in the case of Adidas' miCoach Smart Ball, having to charge it is a tedious process. Here's where DribbleUp, a startup based in Brooklyn, hopes to shine with its new app-enabled soccer ball.
Adidas is working on new, 'open' digital fitness products
The acquisition of Runtastic gave Adidas a major boost in its fitness tech efforts, and it didn't hurt that the $238 million purchase included Runtastic's 100-million-plus user base. Since 2015, the year it bought the popular app, Adidas has focused on making Runtastic a bigger part of its business strategy. Last month the company announced it would be shutting down its MiCoach platform, which had been powering a suite of health and fitness products, in favor of consolidating that ecosystem with Runtastic's. The next step, according to Adidas' Head of Digital Sports, Stacey Burr, is to work with third parties on making more "personalized" experiences.
10 high-tech gadgets that will improve your tennis game
The sport of tennis is no stranger to incorporating new technologies -- from the electronic line judges of the early '70s to today's Hawk-Eye system with its multi-camera array. These days, players at all levels have a variety of high-tech tools to help them up their games. We've already taken a look at how modern technology can help if you're training for golf and soccer. Now it's time to check out some options you might want to consider the next time you hit the courts. Below you'll find devices to smarten up your racquet and your shoes, as well as fitness trackers and apps designed to up your game no matter what level you are. Tennis anyone?
Adidas' next move is to keep young students fit and healthy
In the US, child obesity is an ever-growing concern that's desperately in need of a remedy. Knowing this, Adidas is now looking to help the cause and, in the process, make it fun for young people to get fit. The sporting gear company has teamed up with Interactive Health Technologies (whose mission is "empowering individuals to self-manage their health") to bring its miCoach technology to schools Stateside. A few years ago, IHT began implementing a heart rate monitoring system for gym classes in the US, and now Adidas wants to take that initiative one step further. By combining miCoach's activity tracking with IHT's heart rate system, Adidas believes it can get students to motivate themselves.
Adidas miCoach teams up with MyFitnessPal, combines fitness and nutrition tracking
Balls, shoes, watches... Adidas miCoach line of smart things has been expanding to track your activity, no matter what you're into. Until recently, the fitness platform was a closed one, meaning all that precious data was siloed from non-Adidas software. Now, the company has partnered with MyFitnessPal so that your digital coach can know what you're eating in addition to how hard you have (or haven't) been working out. Users can choose to automatically sync their data with MyFitnessPal, which, according to Adidas, will let folks "gain new insights that will enable them to balance nutrition and exercise." Exactly what insights it'll provide remain unsaid, but at the very least you'll be able to compare your caloric intake and expenditures in one place -- self-imposed guilt trips have never been easier.
Adidas is opening its miCoach platform to developers so more apps can integrate your training data
If it's not the lure of delicious new gadgets, it's stone cold bribery. Either way, the reasons to stay slumped on the couch are evaporating quicker than the sweat off a runner's head. Adidas looks set to slay some more, too, as we've learned the sports giant is opening up its miCoach fitness-logging platform to third-parties. The as-yet announced set of developer tools could see your miCoach workouts incorporated into a whole new range of new apps. Nike did something similar a fair while ago with its Nike+ platform, something that helped apps like Lose It and MapMyFitness make use of the all that hard-earned NikeFuel. But, if you're a three stripes kinda gal/guy, then the idea of miCoach spreading its wings to find its way into, say, a life-logging app, or wellbeing tracker is probably just as appealing. Of course, there's still some new compatible hardware on its way, if you're still craving a bit of (calorie free) self indulgence.
One for the future: playing with the new Adidas miCoach Smart Ball
I still remember my old, favorite football like it was yesterday. It wasn't made by Nike, Adidas or even Diadora, but it lasted me for about seven years, from when I was 7 until about 14 or so. And even though, toward the end of its life, it started to look as if it had been living in a waste dumpster, never, ever did it let me down. Despite the battle scars collected over the years, like the faux-leather gradually falling off or needing to get pumped up every time before a game, that cheap, low-tech ball always did what it was supposed to: Be, well, a ball you could have fun with. In recent years, however, things have changed quite drastically. As technology evolves, sports balls continue to get smarter and smarter, with a great amount of research and development money being spent by manufacturers. Here's where Adidas' recently announced miCoach Smart Ball comes in.
Adidas' miCoach Fit Smart uses your wrist to measure health data
Less than two weeks after making an unofficial appearance, today Adidas is formally introducing its new wearable, the miCoach Fit Smart. Revealed in San Francisco, during the Wearable Technologies Conference 2014, this wristband is capable of measuring your burned calories, heart rate, distance covered, pace and more fitness stats. Better yet, it wants to look good while doing so. It's going to be available in black and white, featuring a strap made of soft-touch silicone (similar to Nike's FuelBand SE) and a small strip of LEDs which can change color depending on the intensity of a workout. While the Fit Smart isn't Adidas' first entry into the wearable fray, one that's now more crowded than ever, the sports gear company says it is approaching things differently with its new product. It wants to appeal not only to die-hard runners, like with the Android-based Smart Run watch, but also to those people who would like to start running and working out on a more consistent basis.
Improve your skills with Adidas' miCoach Smart Ball
In an effort to expand its miCoach line of sporting gear, Adidas has now launched a smart ball for football (aka soccer) players. With an array of motion sensors featured inside, this new intelligent, kickable sphere can track a ton of data and send it right to your iOS device -- Adidas hopes it will all be useful to help you improve certain skills during training. The freshly announced miCoach Smart Ball, which has been in development for more than a year, uses your iPhone (or iPod touch and iPad) to show you exactly where and how hard it is being struck. In addition to that, you can use the miCoach system to see the visual trajectory of the ball, as well as the exact impact points.
Adidas announces new smartwatch for runners, available on November 1st for $399
Just a day after Nike launched the Fuelband SE, Adidas' head of interactive, Paul Gaudio, has just announced a new smartwatch at GigaOm's Mobilized conference in San Francisco. Primarily aimed at runners, he said that it'll have GPS and will not only measure speed and distance but also provide personal training coaching based on your heart rate thanks to the built-in heart rate sensor. This won't only show up on the screen, but there'll be audio coaching via Bluetooth headphones as well. Unlike other smartwatches, Gaudio says the watch can act as a standalone device and will have a media player onboard so you can use it to listen to music. We don't really know too much else about the watch, but we're assuming it's an extension of Adidas' existing miCoach fitness brand. We'll be sure to update this post once we find out more details. It'll launch on November 1st for $399, or £350 in the UK. Update: Looks like Adidas' new device is called the miCoach SMART RUN. Curious folks can check out the press release after the break for more details.
Adidas bringing miCoach fitness app exclusively to Nokia's Lumia phones
Wish that your beloved sportswear brand would bring its connected fitness app to your preferred smartphone platform? If your mind instantly substituted "Adidas" for the former and "Nokia" for the latter, then boom! You're in luck. Adi Dassler's firm is bringing its miCoach fitness app as an exclusive to Nokia's Windows Phone 8 devices. The app, already available on iOS and Android, lets you control playlists, use Bluetooth SMART (where available) for heart-rate monitoring and will even offer voice coaching from LA Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez. Now all we need is to scrape together the cash for a pair of adizeros and we're good to go.
Adidas miCoach X_Cell hits FCC, looks ready to track your sporting life
Judging by a recent FCC application, Adidas is about to add a new player to its miCoach lineup: the X_Cell performance monitor. According to the manual, the wee device can either be worn on your clothing or strapped to your chest for use in sports like football, soccer and tennis. So attached, it'll store seven hours or more of your sprinting speeds, dodging and cutting forces, jump forces, workout times and heart rates. You can then connect via Bluetooth to the miCoach iOS app to monitor your progress or brag about it on Facebook or Twitter. Adidas has yet to announce it, so there's no word on cost or an arrival date -- but when it does come, coasting through practice might be a thing of the past. To see a flip-side image, hit the break.
Adidas labs unveils 99-gram adizero soccer boot and smart ball to help raise your game
Adidas isn't shy about embracing technology. In fact, sometimes it takes that a little further than you might expect. Today, however, it's very much about genuine performance enhancement as we were invited down to a not-so-secret location in central London to look at its latest innovations in (to use the local parlance) football. Think you've got Premier League potential? Even if you don't, Adidas thinks its got a few tricks that might help you at least get a few steps nearer, so to speak. Jog past the break to find out what it's been working on.
Adidas miCoach Elite System set to equip all MLS teams in 2013, creates world's first 'smart league'
Today was yet another marvelous day for football buffs everywhere, as Adidas and MLS have announced Major League Soccer will be the first intelligent circuit on the globe. Having already planned an official debut for the German company's Elite System, now the pair's made it known that the wearable technology is going to be expanding well beyond next week's All-Star Game and into the MLS 2013 season. To refresh your mind a bit, the miCoach Elite System tracks an array of instrumental player data, such as speed (even if painfully slow like the Rio Ferdinand of late), acceleration, position, heartbeat and even the intensity of play -- which is then pushed instantly to, you guessed it, a coach's miCoach-equipped iPad. Adidas didn't mention when, or if, the Elite System will be adapted elsewhere, so we'll have to wait and see how long it takes others to join the "smart soccer" fun.
Adidas miCoach out now on European Xbox 360s and PS3s, connects to cameras and own hardware
Those looking to hone their own olympian body in preparation for this year's Games can grab Adidas' miCoach title for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Tapping into both consoles' respective motion-sensing cameras (and Adidas' own sensors and units), there are six sports to dabble in, with over 400 different exercises that can be synced with existing miCoach accounts. There's also a raft of Adidas-emblazoned athletes to take you through those motions. The games are priced up at £21 (around $32) a piece in the UK, but American indoor athletes can expect their version to arrive around July 24.
Adidas MiCoach game launching this summer, headed to Xbox 360 and PS3
Despite being involved in that peaceful conundrum with THQ, we knew Adidas still planned on launching its MiCoach video game at some point in the near future. Now, after weeks of keeping those lips sealed, the German company announced it's teaming up with publisher 505 Games to finally bring the fitness-driven title to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 -- where it'll primarily use the Kinect and Move add-ons. While 505 will handle all publishing duties, Adidas notes the MiCoach game is in the works by UK developer Chromativity "under exclusive license." Of course, the F50 creator couldn't leave its big name reps out of this one, which is why sport celebs like Kaká, José Mourinho and Dwight Howard are going to be teaching "Masterclasses" within the game. Hey, at least now you know you won't have to be out on the field to put that tracking system to good use.
Adidas MiCoach now published by 505 Games following THQ kerfuffle
505 Games will finish publishing duties for Adidas MiCoach, the game at the center of a multi-million dollar lawsuit and subsequent settlement between embattled publisher THQ and the sportswear maker. The Adidas MiCoach fitness game will be completed by UK developer Chromativity for Xbox 360 and PS3, and will launch this summer.Adidas sued publisher THQ for $10.6 million back in March over the publisher's breach of contract to deliver MiCoach 24/7 by January. The case was settled later in the month, when THQ announced it would not publish the game and that a "third party" would reimburse THQ for certain development costs and work with Adidas to bring the game to market. Turns out 505 Games was Adidas' mystery date.
Adidas debuting miCoach tracking technology in this year's MLS All-Star Game (video)
While it's been a few months since Adidas launched those intelligent F50 miCoach cleats, it finally looks as if the German outfit's ready to test the tech on the football pitch. Adidas announced earlier today that its adizeros will be a part of the "world's first smart soccer match," during the MLS All-Star Game on July 25th in Philadelphia. With the help of the miCoach's tracking system, coaches are able to measure a player's speed and acceleration, how much ground was covered, the intensity of play, as well as spotting weaknesses and strengths. Naturally, the end results can then be analyzed on a computer or directly from an application on one of Apple's slates. Adidas says this is only the beginning, as it plans to bring the technology -- detailed in video form just after the break -- to other leagues around the world in the near future.
THQ and Adidas settle miCoach lawsuit [update: THQ statement]
THQ and Adidas have settled their $10.6 million lawsuit over the fitness game miCoach 24/7, reports Gamesta. A THQ representative informed the site that THQ will not be publishing miCoach. Details regarding the settlement are scarce, though an Adidas representative noted that the companies "amicably resolved the dispute, which will allow Adidas to get the miCoach game to market without delay and without compromising any of its unique features." Furthermore, "each party was recognized for and compensated for their important contributions to the game."The lawsuit made the news earlier this month, with Adidas seeking $10.6 million in damages and alleging that THQ refused to turn over its publishing materials, thus keeping miCoach 24/7 from moving to a different developer. While we don't know how much money exchanged hands in the settlement -- THQ is in no shape to lose much cash right now -- it appears that miCoach 24/7 has indeed been moved to a new publisher.We've contacted THQ for confirmation and further details.Update: THQ has responded to Joystiq with an official statement regarding the lawsuit. The settlement dictates that Adidas will dismiss the suit and "a third party will reimburse THQ for certain of its development costs." Said third party will work with Adidas to bring the game to market. Finally, "THQ has no financial liability to Adidas or any other party in connection with the game." The full statement can be found after the break.
Adidas settlement avoids 'messi' THQ lawsuit over missing miCoach game
Adidas and THQ have decided to down swords and settle their differences out of court. The German sportswear company was lobbing $10 million worth of litigation at the software house after it failed to produce a tie-in game for the miCoach intelligent football boots soccer cleats. The game will now be finished off and published by another one of Adidas' partners after both parties were "properly compensated for their important contributions" (read: they split the bill). Hopefully we can expect the software to arrive soon as we're aching to find out how many meters we cover in our usual games of five-a-side.
