Cycling Gadgets That Improve Safety

Cycling has taken on a new lease of life as the world turns to greener forms of transport and the need to get everyone fitter and healthier. Although it has never really been out of fashion as a means of transport, or as a sport, the impetus given by the British team’s success at the Beijing Olympics has breathed new life. Additionally, the cost of keeping a car on the road, the recession and even the cost and difficulty of finding good parking has all had an effect. As the profile of cycle riding has risen again, it appears that the gadgets available for the cycle rider have become more up to date and relevant and thankfully increasingly based on safety. People are encouraged to wear protective clothing such as helmets and perhaps even knee and elbow pads, but now there is further emphasis on being seen particularly by motorists and perhaps more importantly, at night.

Pedalite produce a fantastic range of innovative products which are based on increased safety for the modern cyclist. Pedalite 360 degree pedals are battery free pedals which have a flashing light in them which can be seen from every angle. The pedals cleverly use energy from the cycle and continue flashing even when the bike is at rest or free wheeling. The small windows in the three outer pedal edges mean that whatever angle you are approaching the cycle from, you will easily be able to see the cyclist, and provide a wider berth. In addition to this there are toe clips which can be fitted to these pedals. This has the advantage of improving pedalling efficiency. There is little chance of your feet slipping off the pedals, as the toe clips give better support for your feet. Another advantage is that because of the open design of the clip, there is little chance of getting your toes caught in the clips if you come off the bike suddenly, or you need to dismount in a hurry. The clips are easily fitted using two screws with the fitting kit.

Another innovative product is the Baglite, which is especially good for children. The Baglite fits over the shoulders, and any rucksack, and attaches to the straps. The unique design provides a red floodlight at the back and two white lights at the front. The lights can be set to shine continually rather than flashing, or can be set to the off mode in good visibility. Such is the design of the Baglite that it can be seen day or night from up to one kilometre away, and it can be seen from any angle, therefore giving maximum visibility to any approaching driver. Even when not riding, the bike is useful for children walking to school and even hikers can use this product. The product charges in both artificial and natural sunlight and gives six hours supply of light, so it can be charging whilst you are at the office or school.

 

In a similar vein is the Anklelite. This flashing light system attaches to the ankle and is useful for cycle riders and horse riders too. The light can either be worn over trousers or boots and is self charging via natural or artificial light. It has extra visible strips as well as the light itself for extra visibility, and is small enough to fit into the pocket when not being used. The Anklelite is visible through three hundred and sixty degrees. It is durable and comfortable to wear.

 

Another device worth considering is the Bicygnal light. This can be attached to the front and rear of your bike. It is a wireless system which allows the rider to set the beams to flashing or full beam. Fully operated by a switch on the front unit, the lights are magnetic and detachable for storing when not in use.

With the incredible popularity of satellite navigation products it was not going to be too long before the cycling world had it’s own useful destination finding products. One example is the Garmin Edge 705. This is basically an on-board cycling computer which attaches to the bike frame. It combines a GPS receiver, heart rate monitor and a power metre unit. It supplies an enormous amount of information and can help you plan and record your journey. A joystick and two well placed, and well designed buttons, which can easily be used even when wearing gloves provide information which can be seen on a number of split screens. The different mode and zoom functions are easily accessed as are the stop/start recording modes.

Motorola hot on the tail of iPhone?

The latest mobile phone from Motorola has been released, the Evoke QA4, and is being hailed as the very latest in smartphones and a worthy competitor to the ever popular Apple iPhone and also the Palm Pre mobile phone . Whether this is the case remains to be seen and its going to be a little while until we can fairly judge it as the Evoke QA4 mobile phone is not expected to reach the UK market until mid 2009.

The mobile phone specifications of the Evoke QA4 are expected to include a 2.8” screen, QWERTY touchscreen keyboard, with the resolution delivered expected to be 240 x 400 pixels, accelerometer , voice regognition, email and text messaging, a rather disappointing 2 megapixel camera, MP3 player, MicroSD slot Bluetooth including A2DP, MicroSD / MicroSDHC support, weighing 128 grams and measuring 108 x 17.5 x 50.5 mm. The Evoke QA4 mobile phone will have a GPS navigation system, web browing, sync options with Google contacts, YouTube, access to news, weather headlines etc.

We look forward to seeing the Evoke QA4 mobile phone in the flesh with its expected capabilities, but are reluctant to say at the moment whether this will be a good alternative to the iPhone, certainly the camera could have been improved upon to gain some edge. The iPhone is in the process of having some major updates and with the imminent launch of the Palm Pre mobile phone we wonder if Motorola may have just missed the boat to make any kind of impact. The look of the Evoke QA4 mobile phone may miss the mark also, the sophisticated uncluttered styling of the iPhone is something that is bang on and the design of the new Evoke QA4 though attractive is now looking a little dated.

Get your 3D specs on – 3D home entertainment on its way

A new report released today by Screen Digest the media analyst company predicts a massive growth in 3D home entertainment technology. At present to enjoy the superior 3D visual experience people mostly need to visit the cinema to watch 3D movies, wearing the rather peculiar 3D glasses that make the whole enhanced viewing experience possible. There is expected to be a growth in demand for 3D home entertainment in the very near future, however although the ability to release films in 3D for home entertainment is possible at present, there are a few factors that remain as stumbling blocks to a larger distribution of this service. The first is the need for specialist equipment including 3D glasses the second is the shortage of films released in a 3D format.

Screen Digest anticipates that the home entertainment 3D market will gradually increase due to the continued advancement in 3D technology namely the development of autostereoscopic systems – this technology will not require the use of special 3D glasses and the expectation of the end user to have sufficient content to warrant further expenditure for the new home entertainment 3FD technology. At present film studios are releasing only a very small quantity of films, in 2008 there were only seven 3D films released, in 200 there are expected to be seventeen new releases and in 2010 there is expected to be 28 films released. It is expected in the early development of the technology that the most releases will be from animated film companies as this technology is much easier to adapt than mainstream films.

The Screen Digest report also focuses on the need for a unified standard of home entertainment 3D technology so as to avert the possibility of any technology format wars, although they expect this to be via the high definition capabilities of the Blu-ray disc. The report also focuses on projected market distribution with an anticipated 10% of world markets by 2011 rising substantially to 16% in 2015 which equates to 2.8billion sales of 3D home entertainment equipment.

Loc8tor the simple solution for finding just about anything

Recently exhibiting at the Gadget Show Live 2009 was a company supplying a very handy device for locating lost or mislaid important items such as keys, mobile phones or even a car in the local car park. Loc8tor is a fantastic gadget that will bring some comfort to those that have panicked not knowing where they have parked the car in a multi-storey car park. However there is another extremely handy use for this gadget and that is locating children, pets or even elderly confused relatives.

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Samsung Tocco Lite, will it be light on price too?

Samsung have announced that they will be releasing an entry level Samsung Tocco in May, the new mobile phone is called the Samsung Tocco Lite (though it has previously been reported as being the Samsung S5230). The new Samsung Tocco Lite, is a full size touchscreen mobile phone that offers a very similar spec to the LG Cookie and comes with less rather than more of the standard Samsung Tocco features.

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Nissan GTR Review With Photos and Pictures

Back in 2001, the first pictures of the concept car which would eventually take the form of the Nissan GTR. Since then there have been sightings and rumours of launch dates, but at last the car is now available and has rightly claimed its place as Japan’s top super car.

There is enough evidence to back up the claim. The car boasts 473 bhp, which is almost 200bhp more than the previous model. It also has a range of specifications which would make the most sceptical of drivers envious. A twin turbo V6 engine, with double clutch gearbox, gear shift and traction control, advanced four wheel drive and aluminium and carbon fibre construction, all combine together to produce an awesome car. The engine is so far advanced that it has to be produced in a clean room in the Yokohama factory in Japan where the car is made.

Practically, the car is a delight to drive. Previously, a gentleman’s agreement had existed which restricted Japanese cars to 280bhp. This has now lapsed and allowed Nissan to produce an awesome beast to mark the occasion. At low speed the GTR is not particularly responsive, in comparison to the Porsche 911, but take the car past 3000rpm and the 3.8 litre V6 engine makes this a seriously powerful car. The GTR roars along at 0-60 in only three seconds even though the engine noise is businesslike rather than inspirational. Nissan has agreed to ensure that the car is not easily adaptable for the after market tuning specialists, using steel instead of ceramic turbochargers, but this has had the effect of allowing the car to pick up more rapidly.

The speed in acceleration is aided by a six speed twin clutch gearbox. Although similar to the Volkswagen DSG system it is slightly more mechanical. However, up shifts are instant, and throttling down is very smooth. This works spectacularly well when driven at speed, but around town is slightly less inspiring, where it sometimes seems to be less smooth, and sometimes when the wheel is on full lock you can feel the four wheel drive system struggling to meet wheel speed.

Surprisingly, even though the dampers have three modes, including comfort, the ride of the car is quite uncompromising and does not compare well to a Porsche 911 or BMW3, and can misbehave on some road surfaces. In general, with its super stiff body shell, which weighs more than a Porsche 911, the Nissan GTR is stable and secure on the road. Steering is responsive and meaty and thanks to the four wheel drive system, pulling out of corners is reactive and easy. The front engined, rear gearbox design of the car has produced a well balanced and driver friendly car. Added to this, the braking system is superb.

The beauty of this car is that it is not too fussy. You ask it, it responds. As simple as that. There is no battling with this car. It just needs your guiding hand, and the car does the rest. No drama or mishandling to make you think twice about your purchase.

Inside the car, not much has effort has been spent in making the car beautiful. Space is minimal, and there is a feeling that you are sat well forward in the car, which may be a bit scary if braking at speed. The car is perhaps more functional than designer, but the car is likely to be well equipped for the British and European market. The dashboard resembles a computer game set up, with buttons for the transmission. You can choose R for race mode if you wish. The middle of the three switches controls the dampers, again you can choose R for race and you will end up with a car which is rock solid over the road surface. Choosing Sport or Comfort will make your ride more armchair like. Push the third button the Vehicle Dynamic Control and you can switch on or bypass all of the devices which prevent spins and slides giving you a more back to nature feel for your driving experience.

The game like experience is not over with the appearance of a multifunction metre high up on the dashboard, which will give you all the information you will ever need. Information includes water temperature, fuel consumption, oil pressure, turbo boost, throttle boost and even steering angle. There is even a metre displaying levels of G-force. The car is quiet; it has minimal wind noise, the ride is comfortable yet firm, and the seats support the driver well enough.

Easy, comfortable driving, yet you know with just a flick of a switch, you are only a split second away from driving excitement.

Audi R8 Review With Pictures

There is no doubt that when the Audio R8 first appeared on our television screens in the advertisement, there was almost an audible gasp as this beautiful machine revealed itself. It is a thing of beauty, and many a viewer would have been secretly hoping that the lottery numbers would come up, so they could get their name down on the list to own one.

The R8 is Audi’s attempt to place itself amongst the elite super car manufacturers, Porsche, Maserati, Aston Martin, BMW and Mercedes. There is no doubt that the Audi R8 is a head turner, and no doubt will draw crowds of eager aspiring owners, but it has the power to deliver performance as well. Audi has combined a lightweight aluminium chassis and body with a 420bhp V8 4.2 litre engine which can propel the car to a top speed of 187 mph, and from a standing start to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds. Audi insist that the R8 will be a good seller on it’s own, but there is no doubt that the idea is to use the magic of the R8 to influence sales across the rest of the brand, and there will be fewer finer cars available that have the kind of influence that Audi were looking to achieve.

The designer of the R8 had in mind the Audi principles of elegant strong lines, but they also had to manage to allow huge amounts of cooling air to force its way through to the engine and brakes, hence the car has two large air intakes either side of the Audi grille. Twelve LEDs just below the headlamp cluster enhance the sleek appearance of this super car. The pronounced wheel arches added to the strong lines have a more practical use rather than simple good looks. These are designed to capture air and direct it along the contours to the engine bay.

Viewed from the rear, the V8 engine is visible through the glass case and the finned rear air intakes above the fuel pipes have been designed for maximum visual impact. The manufacturers have included an automatic spoiler which pops up when the car reaches speeds of 62mph or more. This drops down below 22mph, but has been designed so as not to ruin the sleek lines of the car.

Internally, the driver’s seat evokes the feeling of being in a single seater fighter plane. The dashboard has two cam shaped instrumental panels divided by a screen, rather than a usual symmetrical shape the centre console has been designed to allow greater flow of air from the vents. The console is completed with an open gated gear knob surrounded by a metal plate giving the appearance and feel of a precision tool. The gear stick handles superbly and adds to the sporty feel of the car.

The driving experience of the Audi R8 is something which has attracted huge attention. Audi seem to have got the balance of power and weight exactly right. Although the consensus is that the automatic version is best avoided, the manual gearbox has been described as one of the best manufactured anywhere. Audi have always had the ability to produce cars which are fine going in a straight line, but the R8 has meant a radical departure for Audi in that they have now managed to produce a car with this type of performance which has great handling capabilities. The outstanding road holding of the chassis combined with all wheel drive, produces smooth cornering and safe handling at speed. There is an optional ‘magnetic’ ride which alters the dampers to take into account driving conditions.

So all the driving that you will do in your free time on open roads with the wind blowing through you hair are well catered for, but it is in the area of everyday driving which the Audi R8 owner may feel slightly let down. The boot of the car is tiny and the back seats are replaced with a small ledge, leaving very little room for all your shopping items. Thick pillars at the front of the car and noticeable blind spots around the car mean that there are likely to be the odd accident and scrape whilst changing lanes or parking your pride and joy. The optional ceramic brakes are not particularly smooth, and appear to be very keen. Audi have been made aware of this fact and say they will correct this.

There is no doubt that the Audi R8 is an aspirational car, and with its first attempt, Audi has propelled itself into the big league. With only a planned 3000 being made each year, the demand is likely to be very high. Audi has laid down a marker and it will be interesting to see how the competition responds.

Plug pulled on war game ‘Six Days in Fallujah’

Further to our recent report on the war game due to be released next year from Konami entitled ‘Six Days in Fallujah’, we can now confirm that the game has been abandoned by the Japanese gaming company.

The game has been withdrawn after mounting pressure from war veterans and families of soldiers either killed or injured whilst fighting in Iraq. The video game Six Days in Fallujah was based on one of the worst and bloodiest battles in the Iraq conflict and was regarded by many to be grossly insensitive to those who have survived and also the families of those that did not. There were also calls from serving members of the British armed forces to withdraw the game due to the fact that the conflict is still ongoing.

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Eyes on the side of your head with the Contour HD camcorder

If you are an adrenaline junkie or X games fan and are really into all the extreme sports action such as paragliding snowboarding, Freeskiing or maybe one of the crazy guys who love Parkour or Freerunning then you are going to really want one of the wearable Contour HD camcorders from Twenty20.

The makers of the latest wearable camcorder, Twenty20 are based in Seattle and have created the camcorder as a result of their own interest in downhill skiing. The developers Marc Barros and Jason Green were committed to finding a simple solution so that they could share their exploits with family, friends and like minded individuals. They set about developing their helmet camera in 2003 and after many improvements on the original concept have now released the very latest HD Helmet Camera.

The Contour HD camcorder could not be simpler to operate and can even be operated with gloves on, there is a large sliding control which is moved forward to record the action and moved back to stop recording. The team at Twenty20 have even though of a simple solution for perfectly lining up the shot each time by using two lasers which can be lined up horizontally ensuring that the shot is then completely aligned.

The Contour HD camcorder is so flexible and can be fixed either on goggles, handlebars, helmets or even a vehicle by using the various mounts available. The all-season, shock resistant, super strong body will withstand the worst that any extreme sportsperson can throw at it including snow, mud, dirt and the elements, as well as withstanding extreme vibration and impacts. The High Definition camcorder will record up to 8 hours and allows for 135 degree full widescreen action, filmed at 30 fps and 1280 x 720 pixel or for super fast action 60 fps. The latest microphone will reduce wind noise and distortion to allow for the best possible sound recording possible.

Priced at a tad over £200 this is an essential bit of kit for all extreme sport people, from base jumping to snowkiting, skydiving to mountaineering whatever your rush you can film it with the Contour HD camcorder from Twenty20.

Want a slice of the T-mobile Blackberry unlimited browsing package?

T-Mobile have found the way to get the punters breaking down the door to get their paws on the Blackberry Pearl smartphone, offer an unlimited internet and email package. T-Mobile is the first service provider to offer a ‘pay once’ browsing package and it will most certainly be an attractive option for all consumers but especially the small business user.

The T-Mobile package supplies one silver Pearl Blackberry smartphone complete with unlimited use of the internet and emails but without any calls included. Users will need to pay for making calls and sending texts by topping up their credit in the usual way.

The T-Mobile Head of Internet and Entertainment, Mr Richard Warmsley was reported as stating the reasons for the decision to offer the new pay-once package was to allow people the flexibility to enjoy communicating with friends and families in today’s busy world without the worry of payments for internet access for a whole year.

T-Mobile are not the only service provider to be looking at ways to add value and entice customers through the door, by providing a low-cost mobile phone solutions to the consumer. The rival mobile phone company 3, have pre-empted the latest announcement by T-Mobile by offering their customers an unlimited Skype to Skype mobile phone package.

The Blackberry Pearl 8110 smartphone pay-once package will likely set you back a one off fee of £179.99, plus of your calls and texts. There are no specific requirements to top up to a certain amount each month so it is entirely flexible to your needs. Although this isn’t the top spec Blackberry it is certainly a very good entry level smartphone and is going to impress those that have always wanted one but have felt it would work out to costly. The Blackberry Pearl 8110 smartphone pay-once package will be available from 1st May.

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