BW Communities

Appcessories Galore!

BW Online Bureau Nov 08, 2014

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[App-what, you ask? Appcessories, as in apps + accessories, are gadgets that plug into iPads or iPhones (some work with Android phones as well) and pair up with companion apps on your device. The unique marriage of hardware and software practically sings on these babies, allowing you to do previously unimaginable stuff with your phones!   Jawbone Up ($99.99, http://bit.ly/rrFcr6): It's a wristband you wear all day, but unlike the Livestrong variety, this one watches you, tracking and analysing your every motion. Plug it into an iPhone via the 3.5mm audio plug and it transmits the data over to the iOS app. Now, since the up is watching every move of yours (literally, it's an accelerometer at its most basic), it can present a ton of useful information about how your day or night was. Want detailed graphs on how many hours you slept or how long it took you to nod off, or even how many steps you took or how much you burned while exercising? You got it! Probably the most understated feature of the Up is the smart alarm feature that will wake you up during a light sleep cycle, within a specific range of time. For example, you could set up your Up to wake you up between 6:00am and 7am, and because it wakes you up during a light sleep cycle, you'lll theoretically wake up feeling more refreshed. I'm not so very convinced with the food tracking feature, which encourages you to track what you eat by taking a photo of your meal, and then tracking how you feel—felt more gimmicky than useful. The Up has great all-day potential, and if you've got friends who've got one as well, you can challenge them to contests like "Who walked the most today?" with the built in social networking component.   <img src="/businessworld/system/files/AppBlaster2-200px.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right;" width="200" height="148">appBlaster ($45, http://bit.ly/ujBjxt): Been working too hard and need a break? Whip out your iPhone, plug it into the appBlaster plastic gun and fire up the free companion shooting game. The game uses the camera on your phone, works in some Augmented Reality trickery, and superimposes aliens floating above your furniture, or around your office cubicle walls. Pull the triggers and two capacitive pads touch the screen to fire at the invaders that only you can see. Aliens not your preferred letting-off-steam target? You can choose empty cans or clay pigeons too! Of course, there's the minor issue of what happens when your iPhone rings safe to say you're going to feel more than a little daft holding a gun up sideways to your head! With a game so addictive, you're probably not going to care much for those phone calls anyway.   <img src="/businessworld/system/files/Beacon_Nexus-One_150px.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;" width="150" height="281">Griffin Beacon ($80, http://bit.ly/sQXJvj): You have your phone with you all the time, so it makes perfect sense for it to be the TV remote too, wouldn't you agree? Pair up your iPhone or Android phone over Bluetooth with the Beacon, install the free remote control app and the device converts your phone's Bluetooth signal into infrared commands that your TV, DVD or Blu-ray player understands. Now, be warned that a lot of US-only functions such as TV listings may not work, but as a universal remote, this should be the one-stop-shop you need. It has the footprint of a coaster, is powered by 4 batteries and the app conveniently shows you the battery status. The best bit? You can call your remote if it goes missing! If you are a fan of keeping things minimal, then the Beacon is a perfect buy. Remotes in the cupboard, iPhone in the pocket, Beacon does the rest.   Nest Thermostat ($250, http://bit.ly/vIRs1f): If you can afford central air conditioning for your house, this is the thermostat you should splurge on. Designed by a former Apple iPod and iPhone hardware development head, the Nest touch-controlled thermostat promises to learn how warm or cold you like your house at different times of the day, and then set that temperature automatically. Nest aims to save homeowners tons of money on their electricity bills with its learning algorithms, motion-sensor based auto-cutoffs and user-friendly interface. You'd notice it demonstrates an eye for visual design, no surprises given its origins. The free companion app for iPhones (soon on Android too) allows you to control the Nest remotely, so the house is at the perfect temperature when you return, plus it lets you keep an eye on energy usage as well.   Withings Wi-Fi Body Scale ($159, http://bit.ly/sq4Diy): Withings has taken a product most of us dread and, with the Wi-Fi Body Scale, given it a makeover. The scale not only looks ridiculously stylish with its tempered glass surface, brushed metal lining and inverted LCD display, but also serves a variety of functions as a scale - it's able to measure both your weight and body mass index, giving you a better idea of your fitness and health levels, and thanks to a built-in WiFi connection it can upload that data to a website allowing you to monitor your weight and BMI over time in convenient graph form. And the icing on the cake - it connects to your iPhone/iPad and automatically transfers your weight, your lean/fat mass and your BMI to the companion app, and lets you track your weight over time. Also comes with the ability to set up profiles for the entire family!   <img src="/businessworld/system/files/Parrot_AR.Drone_200px.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" width="200" height="179">Parrot AR.Drone ($280, http://bit.ly/skkY2E): Take a quadricopter (like a helicopter but with 4 rotors), add a camera onto it, and pack in iPhone/iPad/Android connectivity, and you have the AR.Drone. Piloted via simple onscreen controls from your phone, the AR.Drone has two cameras - one for a first-person view of the front of the toy, and the other camera in the belly offers a bombardier's view of the ground directly below. Warning: insane amounts of fun guaranteed!   Garmin ANT+ ($49.99, http://bit.ly/t98O96): Paired with the Garmin Fit iPhone app, the ANT+ fitness accessory tracks your running, cycling or running route and speed, plus how many calories you've burned per session. Unlike the Up, this baby can connect to specific gym equipment like treadmills, exer-cycles and rowers to track your exercise routine. technocool at kanwar dot net twitter@2shar