By Ron Aiken
While we’re not quite to Batman’s utility belt just yet when it comes to having any conceivable gadget at our fingertips, smart watches, fitness trackers, health bracelets and more have brought the latest technology to your wardrobe closet.
TIME HAS COME TODAY
SMART SLEEK
Samsung’s Gear S2 looks good and works smart, with customizable watch faces to match your style, 3G/4G connectivity for calls, texts and emails, Bluetooth availability, and built-in speaker and microphone. Plus, its partner apps give you news, scores, calendars, health trackers and more, all at your wrist. It’s compatible with most Android Smartphones. $300.
855-726-8721; samsung.com
SMART OUTDOORS
A watch that’s smart enough to guide you through camping, hiking, fishing or other outdoor activities requires a very particular set of skills. The Casio WSD-F10 Smart Outdoor Watch is rugged, water resistant, easy to read in bright sunlight, equipped to measure altitude,
direction, and atmospheric pressure, and able to graph tides and personal activity levels. And it tells time. $500.
888-280-4331; amazon.com
LOST & FOUND
WHERE ARE MY KEYS?
Does it seem like your keys go missing of their own free will, especially when you’re running late? Fear not. Attach a Tile tracker to your keys, and the Tile app on your phone guides you right to them. Also works for any other items you can slap a tile on. $25.
team@thetileapp.com; thetileapp.com
WHERE’S MY PHONE?
Separation anxiety can set in quickly when your phone is missing, but this unobtrusive little doodad — the Protag Duet — wards off distress with a sensor that sounds whenever the two of you are parted. That way, you find it before it’s lost. The colorful tags also attach to laptop sleeves, keychains or wallets. $30.
800-999-1984; theprotag.com
WHERE’S MY DOG?
Have a dog that likes to wander? The DogTelligent Connected Collar lets you track your pup’s precise location, with the added benefits of virtual fence technology that cues your dog when he strays too far and a microphone that lets you call to him remotely. It’s not available until September, but you can preorder now. $144.
619-630-0383; dogtelligent.com
SPORT TECH
SEE EVERYTHING
GoPro action cameras have literally changed the way we view sports. The easy-to-use GoPro Hero is an entry-level tool for recording athletic endeavors, with options for shooting high-quality videos or 5-megapixel stills. User-friendly features include a one-click button for quick recording, fast-action-sequence shooting, time-lapse mode and more, all in a lightweight, wearable and waterproof package. $200.
888-600-4659; gopro.com
SWING BETTER
Zepp’s golf-swing analysis and training tool attaches to your golf glove and does just about everything but hit the ball for you. You get a 3-D picture of your swing, your club speed, your backspin rotation, hip rotation and more, plus training tips, all delivered right to your phone via the Zepp app. $130 for kit, includes sensor, mount and USB charger.
888-280-4331; amazon.com
Ron Aiken is a freelance writer from Columbia, South Carolina. His monthly column also appears in South Carolina Living, the statewide electric co-op magazine of the Palmetto State. Product inclusion on this page does not imply endorsement; product availability and prices are subject to change.
