Most of us gym-goers are dependent on our carefully tailored workout playlists to keep our legs moving during an otherwise dreary exercise. Needless to say, this entertainment is difficult to achieve underwater, but that hasn't stopped well-known swim gear brand Finis from helping swimmers have some fun, too. With this in mind, the company has updated its unique waterproof MP3 player, the SwimP3. Version 2 is carefully designed for comfort and practicality, and it's sure to sound a lot better than the splashes of a freestyle stroke.
Like the first version, SwiMP3 v2 uses bone conduction technology. It consists of two "earpieces," which are attached by a cord that loops around the back of the neck. But rather than placing each unit over your ears, you affix them to your cheekbones where vibrations from the player are passed from the bone to your inner ear.
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Finis)
As a recreational swimmer, I had to take this gadget for a dive. My first attempt to wear the player was on the pool deck, and let's just say there were some curious looks involved as I fidgeted with the parts like a complete newb. (In a moment of insecurity, I ran to the bathroom for an assisting mirror.) Here's how it works: First comes the swim cap, followed by goggles on top (the usual routine). Finally, the units of the SwiMP3 player clip right onto the goggle strap, and lay directly on the cheekbones.
After swimming laps with my SwiMP3 player, I was very satisfied with my workout. The music is a definite motivator and, contrary to my expectations, the sound quality was impressive. It's nothing like putting on a pair of Bose headphones, but it's more than adequate for an underwater player. Plus, it attaches on your person more securely than something like the Freestyle Audio SoundWave or the Dolphin Swimmer, and there are no earbuds to easily slip out and no cumbersome wire connecting your head to your arm.
Avid swimmers will find the SwiMP3 to be a good investment, since it delivers a technology superior to a waterproof case and headphones. However, the $150 price tag isn't a fit for everyone, particularly occasional swimmers.
On Sale Now: $122.47
View the latest prices for Finis SwiMP3 v2
Nadya Vessey's prosthetic tail is mostly constructed from wetsuit fabric and plastic molds, and covered in a digitally printed sock.
(Credit: stuff.co.nz)Good: double amputee gets prosthetic legs so she can walk. Better: double amputee gets realistic-looking mermaid tail so she can swim. Awesome: it's developed and built by Weta, the special-effects company that did work for the "Lord of the Rings" movies, as well as "King Kong" and "The Chronicles of Narnia" series.
Nadya Vessey's legs were amputated below the knee when she was a child due to illness. At one point, reports Stuff, a child asked her what happened to her legs and she told him she was a mermaid. The idea stuck with her, so she wrote to Weta Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand, two years ago asking for a mermaid tail. To her surprise, they said they'd do it.
Now she has a fully functional mermaid tail with an attached suit, making her look practically just like a real mermaid (if, you know, mermaids were real).
She can swim well and says the prosthesis feels quite comfortable. We're not sure if anything like this could go into mass production for amputees, but we wouldn't be surprised if 10 years from now there are mermaids swimming about in your local pool.
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Fins 4 Fun)
While everyone else is pulling out their hair trying to make the slimmest iPhone case possible, the geniuses over at Fins 4 Fun are going in the complete opposite direction with their swim fin-shaped cell phone holster. If you just can't get enough negative attention, this holster's gonna pull you out of your rut, one earful of sand at a time.
The fin isn't quite as big as an adult swimming fin, but it's just large enough to make you look like a total loser. And just so you know they're not completely joking with the design, the "heel strap" is adjustable to fit all the latest smartphones, as well as other small items like MP3 players and digital cameras. Heck, you can even put a pack of Altoids in there, as long as the dimensions don't exceed 2 inches wide by 4.75 inches high and .75 inches deep.
Buyers will appreciate the disclaimer on the Fins 4 Fun Web site that reads: "WARNING: This product may attract a lot of attention! Celebrate good times." Understatement of the year. I don't know about you guys, but the first person I see using this little guy is going to get an ice cream cone on their head, courtesy of one Justin Yu--maybe they should add that to the warning. The Fin holster is available now for $19.99.
More images after the jump.
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(Credit:
BornRich)
Yes, this is only a concept, but what a concept it is. The "PC of the Swim Rings" would turn the most hapless landlubber into a water rat, creating a floating computer and media center.
Displayed at the Next-gen PC Design Competition, this aquatic marvel would include "a GPRS receiver, Bluetooth, finger-touch input, solar power-driven processor, water-cooling system, magnetic charging interface, and waterproof design." Hey, if you're going to dream, might as well go all the way.
And just to show that it isn't entirely frivolous, according to BornRich, the "amphibious PC" can also be detached to double as a land-based computer with a 7-inch LCD, Webcam, stereo speakers, and even a backlit keyboard for nocturnal use. As long as we're talking fantasy, we request that it be combined with the "RadioRaft"--especially its six stainless steel cupholders--to make it the greatest pool invention ever made.
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uCan)
As any music-loving swimmer will tell you, the last thing you need while doing laps is something cumbersome strapped to your head. And while there have been a number of waterproof MP3 players on the market, this latest wearable version makes that oft-repeated claim of being "the world's smallest."
Based on its appearance, Ubana's "uCan" does look less bulky than other models we've seen--and more important, it appears less likely to slip or fall off. The player has 1GB of built-in memory, claims 15 hours of playback time, and can be submerged up to 10 feet, according to Pocket-lint. And just in case it does slip off, it floats for "easy retrieval."
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Liquid Image)
Underwater cameras are nothing new. Many cameras can accept waterproof casings for wet shooting, and the Olympus Stylus 790SW and Pentax Optio W30 can take a solid dunking without any armor. Still, until now I haven't seen an underwater camera you can strap to your face.
Liquid Image has revealed the Underwater Digital Camera Mask, a strange hybrid of bulky swim goggles and a waterproof point-and-shoot camera. It comes in 3- and 5-megapixel flavors, both offering 16 MB of onboard memory and 18-25 fps variable rate VGA video. It runs on two AAA batteries, and accepts microSD memory cards for additional space (and since 16 megabytes will only hold 30 or so photos, you'll need it).
The mask uses a silicone skirt and tempered glass lenses to help keep the water out of your eyes while you swim and shoot. Its displays and controls are extremely simple, consisting of a small LCD screen and two buttons. Of course, if you're enjoying a swim you might not want to fiddle with a lot of buttons, and the goggle-mounted shutter button lets you pretend to be Cyclops from the X-Men, which I think is a pretty significant bonus.
Liquid Image officially launches the Underwater Digital Camera Mask next week at CES in Las Vegas, though it won't start shipping until March. The 3-megapixel model will retail for about $80, while the 5-megapixel mask will go for $100.
In a piece headlined "Rube Goldberg meets Aquaman" a few weeks ago, we wrote of something called PowerSwim--a contraption developed by DARPA that would allow Navy SEALs and others to swim 150 percent faster and with less effort than they would with regular fins. In describing it, we had to rely on an illustration done by Popular Mechanics. Apparently PM never saw the thing either, because it looks nothing like that picture. Here, thanks to the understanding and generous folks at DARPA, is the real deal: The photo's a little muddy but, after all, it's under water.
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DARPA)
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DARPA)
"What the #*%^?" is a common question heard every year from hundreds of bobbing heads attempting the famous Alcatraz swim across San Francisco Bay; arms and legs flail furiously, but it seems they're no closer to the beach.
The government has an explanation for this swimming phenomenon: You suck!
It's spelled out in this month's Popular Mechanics. "Humans are terrible swimmers, converting roughly 3 percent of their kicks, strokes and general underwater exertions into forward motion. We can boost our efficiency to 10 percent by adding fins, but dolphins, by comparison, can turn 80 percent of their energy into thrust."
Fear not, the government has a program to make it all better, or at least for those who swim in the line of duty. The video below shows the old way--Pentagon brains want SEALs to do it the new way.
DARPA, the Defense Department's R&D wing, is working on a contraption that allows Navy SEALs and others to swim 150 percent faster and with less effort than they would with regular fins. A rubberband airplane-looking thing, the PowerSwim is kind of like Rube Goldberg meets Aquaman.
Appearances aside, it aims to replace the flutter kick with something resembling a dolphinic undulation, causing a hinged foil to oscillate while a "propulsar foil" cuts the water along side. The approach to swimming is similar to that exhibited by many fish and aquatic birds, according to the DARPA Web site, "more than 85 percent efficient in conversion of human motions to forward propulsion."
Still, there's no free ride--as in a battery pack. The gadget requires muscle work and training. "The swimmer is essentially relaxing into a slightly bent position, instead of forcing or pushing the foils through the water," DARPA's Barbara McQuiston told the magazine. "This takes the emphasis off the small muscle groups used to kick, and allows larger muscle groups, such as the glutes and quads, to take over."
(Credit:
Spluch)
Who needs the ocean anyway? This artificial lagoon and swimming pool in the San Alfonso del Mar resort in Chile is eight hectares in size and contains 250,000 cubic meters of water, equivalent in size to 6,000 standard domestic pools.
Via Spluch
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Aquapub)
Falling off a barstool has never been this refreshing.
The Aquapub is either the best idea ever, the worst idea ever, or somewhere close to either hash mark. It's been available for a while, but it's hard to find any pricing info on the official site. Other blogs claim it costs around $1,400.
The six-person table weighs about 90 lbs. and can be used both in the water and poolside. The Aquapub's surface is made from recycled materials, and the table itself is filled with polyurethane to keep it from sinking.
Obvious pros include having your very own swim-up bar, being able to use the table on solid ground as well, the inclusion of an umbrella, and the table's somewhat incredible ability to support just one person without teetering over.
Obvious cons include having a bunch of drunks always hanging out in your pool, the high price tag, and your neighbor Ron, who will totally do cannonballs and soak everyone sitting at the table.
