BlackBerry to run Android apps on future QNX devices?

One of the biggest gripes from BlackBerry users is the lack of apps, which is why RIM hopes to boost sales by adding Android compatibility in future devices -- DroidBerry, anyone? According to Bloomberg, sources familiar with the matter say RIM may add support for Android apps on future QNX-based devices, enabling access beyond RIM's relatively limited App World. The feature is said to go live in the QNX-based devices tablet by the end of the year, but there's no word yet whether the 2012 line-up of QNX phones will get a Google-friendly makeover. Rumor has it that anyone who bought the most recent batch of BlackBerrys won't get to have a taste of Gingerbread, Honeycomb or any other mouth-watering Android flavor for that matter. Guess they'll have to settle for plain old vanilla.

Adidas Wearable Coach prototype promises to help you find the perfect pitch

The idea is a simple but ingenious one; the device plays musical notes that correspond to certain movements, strike just the right ones and you know you've gotten in the zone. What's more, while the device has only been tested with pitchers so far (with some successful results), it's not hard to see how it could also be applied to a whole range of other sports and activities.

Working on elementary physical education curriculum and instructional software - take a listen to the podcast if you want to learn more www.pesoftware.com/podcast/index.html about what we are working on this year.

Garmin Edge 200

The Garmin Edge 500 and 800 are pretty sweet GPS-enabled cycling computers, but they're also pretty expensive. The new Edge 200 shaves a cool Benjamin off the price of the aging 500 by cutting back on non-essential features. There's no navigation function or even the ability to pull in data from power meters, heart rate monitors or cadence sensors. It will, however, map your rides, let you download them over USB and share them via Garmin Connect. The 200 offers up basic info like speed, distance, calories burned and time without the need for additional harfware or a complicated set up. You can keep on pedaling for quite a while too, thanks to the roughly 130-hour memory and 14-hour battery life. The Edge 200 should start popping up sometime in Q3 for $150 and, before you go, check out the PR after the break.

Take a look

New Bionic Leg Thinks and Moves Like a Real Limb

This new leg—using recent advances in motor, processing, and sensor technology—walks and reacts just like a real leg. Here's how:

Developed at the Vanderbilt University the leg uses both a powered knee and powered ankle, operating in unison to lift the foot and swing it forward naturally, eliminating the dragging-gait seen with traditional prosthetics. It also uses an advanced sensor suite to monitor the leg's motion, momentum and position, feeding that data into processors that predict the user's intention and react accordingly. The leg's anti-stumble routine, for example, monitors the leg's position and momentum. If it senses the user stumbling, the leg automatically lifts the foot clear of the obstacle before replanting in on the ground.

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200 Medical Animations

The University of Pennsylvania Health System provides nearly 200 video animations and explanations of injuries, diseases, and body systems. The animations, like this one of a balloon angioplasty, are concise which makes them good for general reference purposes.

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A Back-of-the-Hand Touch Interface

The device was designed by Kei Nakatsuma, a PhD student at the University of Tokyo. Combining a series of infrared detectors and piezoelectric sensors, it can detect input on the back of your hand as well as sound input from your gestures. It's not without its limitations; it can handle pinch or rotate gestures just yet, and harsh sunlight makes it harder to see your fingers, but this promises to makes interacting remotely with your smartphone possible.

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August 2011 Podcast

Using Technology in Physical Education podcast for August is posted at http://www.pesoftware.com/podcast/index.html

Motorola Considering Nike+ Sport Watch Contender

It looks like Motorola might be prepping to give the Nike+ SportWatch a run for its money. An intrepid tipster sent along a screenshot from a recent survey showing off what looks like a tricked out nano watch. Described as an "all-in-one fitness and music personal fitness device" (redundant much?) that packs a GPS for "accurate performance tracking," the as of yet unnamed gadget also sports a "smart music player" that compiles a list of songs based on the tunes that help you sweat your best. It also lets you wirelessly sync to your PC for workout analysis, and apparently does the same for Android devices. Among the possible names listed in the survey is the MotoActive, hinting at, but certainly not pinning down, Motorola branding. Of course this is just an online survey, so we wouldn't get too excited about your new running mate just yet.

Take a look: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/motorola-considering-nike-sportwatch-contender/

Using Technology in Physical Education NEwsletter

Just posted Using Technology in Physical Education Newsletter - August edition at http://www.pesoftware.com/technews/news.html

MacBook Air

There comes a time when that giant, corporate-issued laptop stops fitting into your lifestyle. When dragging around a Kensington roller case just won't do. When you start to hear the siren lilt of something thinner, lighter, and maybe a bit more alluring. For years the MacBook Air has been that svelte temptress hollering your name, but it's always been a bit too slow -- all show and no go. It didn't have the power and the longevity to make it a serious contender for your serious affections.

Take a look: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/macbook-air-review-mid-2011/

Garmin Forerunn 610

Getting into shape is hard! A good gadget can distract you from the drudgery of exercise. Like the Forerunner 610, a shiny and impressive watch to make you forget about that aneurysm as you delve into its mighty feature set.
Why It Matters

Garmin's newest Forerunner is a great hybrid. It's a fitness tracker that clocks your speed and distance using GPS, as well as your heart rate, calories burned, elevation, and basically every major data point you need as a runner. But it's also svelte and stylish and could pass as a normal wristwatch.
Using It

The watch is largely idiot resistant, if not proof. It has three buttons on the edges, as well as a touchscreen. One button activates the start/stop, another checks off laps, the third turns it off. You can use the touchscreen to cycle through screens as you run, swapping from time, to speed, for example. You can turn the GPS off indoors to save the rechargeable battery (or it can do that automatically if it doesn't get a signal). When you get back inside from a run or a ride, it will automatically upload data to Garmin's Website, so you can crunch the numbers from your run.

Check it out:

http://gizmodo.com/5825377/garmin-forerunner-610-runs-fast-but-touched-me-in-a-bad-place