Home 2018 February

Biostrap activity tracker fitness band review

Did you start the new year off with a resolution to become more active and healthy? How’s that working for you so far? Resolutions and goals are wonderful things but sometimes we need some extra help with motivation. One way to “see” your progress is to track stats like daily activity, calorie burn, etc. Wearable fitness trackers are good tools to help you monitor your progress. Today I’m going to tell you about the Biostrap fitness tracker which uses a clinical-quality PPG sensor to gather and analyze extremely precise heartbeat data.

What is it?

The Biostrap is a full body fitness tracker that pairs a wrist-worn tracker with a shoe pod sensor. The wristband counts your steps, monitors your sleep, tracks your resting heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. The shoe pod is used for recording workouts with their activity classification feature.

What’s in the box?

The Biostrap total health set includes:

  • Wristband Sensor (Pulse Oximeter, Gyro, Accelerometer)
  • 3 Wristband straps
  • Shoepod Sensor (Gyro, Accelerometer). Required for workouts.
  • Shoe clip
  • Dual-coil Induction charger base
  • USB Cable

Design and features

The Biostrap includes a traditional tracker that you wear your wrist and a separate sensor that you attach to the laces on your shoe.

The wrist tracker is the main tracker that you’ll wear all day. The waterproof tracker is housed in a silicone wristband.

The tracker can be removed from the strap to clean it or to clean the strap itself. The Biostrap Total Health set comes with 3 wristbands of different colors so you can choose the color you like best. The strap has a metal button with two sets of “teeth” that snap into slots in the strap. I found it awkward and difficult to put the Biostrap on my own wrist. I’m not a fan of these types of wrist straps because they aren’t easy to put on and I just don’t find them to be very comfortable.

The shoe pod sensor is a small module that snaps into a plastic clip that you slide under one or more shoe laces on your shoe.

Here it is clipped to one of the laces of my steel toed work shoe. Although you might think that the shoe pod is a pedometer that will count your steps, it’s not. The shoe pod is only used to collect activity data when you work out. It can help collect better activity data when you’re running, playing golf, hiking, playing tennis, and many more activities.

Note that the shoe pod is splashproof but not waterproof.

The Biostrap and the shoe pod are charged through a wireless charging dock that you plug into a free USB port on your computer or into a USB power adapter. The charger has two slots, one for each sensor, and two status LEDs that glow white when the sensors are fully charged or the charger is empty.

When the Biostrap and shoe pod are placed on the charger, the LEDs glow yellow until the sensors are fully charged. Then the LEDs turn white.

The Biostrap will only last about 2 days per charge and the shoe pod will last about 3-4 days per charge – if you’re lucky. This one of the biggest issues I found with this fitness tracking system. Battery life is just too short and it felt like I was always needing to charge the tracker on my wrist or the shoe pod.

The Biostrap app

To start using the Biostrap, you have to install the Biostrap app on your iOS or Android device and set up an account which will ask for your gender, weight, and height. You can customize your daily goals for steps, active calorie burn, hours of sleep and workout length.


The app provides a view of each day’s stats that include how many steps you walked, sleep, workout length, calorie burn, heart rate, and breathing data.


Clicking each item lets you see a more detailed view of the data. For example, for steps, it will show you an hourly graph of the time you were walking and more details about the calories burned while walking along with distance and duration.



Here’s what the sleep data looks like.



The app shows you a lot of data about your heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation levels. Why would you want to know these things? These stats show your overall heart health. According to the Biostrap site:

Our clinical-quality PPG sensor allows us to gather extremely precise heartbeat data. Biostrap captures over 2,000 heartbeats every 24 hours. Every single pulsewave is analyzed for 29 different parameters, then analyzed against all of your other heartbeats from the last 24 hours.

Each day you can check to see if your stats were low, high, or normal. The app will also show alerts at the top when it detects problems like not enough sleep the night before.

I wore the Biostrap wristband and shoe pod for a full week to track my steps, sleep, etc. Other than some difficulty putting the wristband on my wrist and having to charge the sensors frequently, I didn’t have problems with the hardware itself. But I did notice some issues with the Biostrap app (Android) that were a little annoying. Mainly the app / band would think I was sleeping when I was lounging on the couch for a few hours. I can understand how that can happen and at least the app allows you to delete faulty sleep sessions.

The main problem with the app is that it’s really slow syncing data after you’ve completed an activity like taking a walk or working out. I would check the app to see how many steps I’d walked after a walking session and it would show a very low number which would confuse me. But if I would flip back and forth between days and come back to the current day, the step count would increase each time.


Sometimes it would show weird totals like the image above on the right. This problem with syncing speed led me not to trust the data because I never knew of the stats were up to date or still syncing.

What I like

  • Heart rate data
  • Automatic exercise tracking
  • Wireless charging dock

What needs to be improved

  • Battery life
  • Wristband comfort
  • App is slow to sync data
  • Expensive

Final thoughts

Having more data about your health and fitness is obviously not a bad thing, so this tracker does have that going for it. The heart rate variability and respiration tracking data is a feature missing with most other trackers that are currently on the market. But, what are you going to do with that data? Is it really useful for most people? I’ll admit that after the first day testing this fitness tracker, I didn’t really pay much attention to those stats. Because I didn’t really care how many breaths that I take per minute.

Since this fitness tracker is pricier than a lot of other trackers that you can buy right now, you’ll need to ask yourself if the extra health data are important to you. If they are, and you don’t mind that the app is sluggish when it comes to updating stats, and the sensors need to be charged frequently, the Biostrap might be the fitness tracker that can help motivate you to reach your fitness goals.

Price: $250.00
Where to buy: Biostrap
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Biostrap.

Shoot incredible video with the Rylo 360° camera

Creating great video often involves a lot of planning, a production crew, and even more post-production editing. Former Instagram and Apple employees have teamed up to create Rylo, a new 360° camera that uses advanced software to create awesome cinematic videos.

Rylo’s dynamic dual lenses capture everything around you in 360° in 4K resolution. Unlike many other 360 cameras, Rylo’s innovative app not only includes incredible horizon-leveling and stabilization technology but also allows you to produce traditional HD video from any camera angle you choose. Choosing a camera angle ahead of time is no longer needed, you simply record everything and then choose the camera angle when editing the video.

The smartphone app connects to the camera via a cable, so there’s no waiting for the video to transfer. You can edit and share videos from wherever you are. Powerful features such as front and back view, smooth panning movements, speed control, and object tracking make this app able to produce videos on par with many high-end post-production suites.

Not only does it make editing easier, but it allows for the creation of multiple camera angle video clips from a single 360° capture, eliminating the need to use multiple cameras to capture the same event.

The price of $499 does seem a little steep at first, but it includes a selfie-like stick they call a case, a 16GB microSD card, battery, charge cable, sync cable, and protective pouch.

Want to be impressed? Head on over to the Rylo website to view their sample videos.

Tapplock one smart fingerprint padlock review

Today most of the products we use are more secure than ever and security features like fingerprint sensors are commonplace in high-tech items like phones, tablets, and laptops. Now Tapplock has taken that technology and put it into a paddock. The Tapplock one combines today’s technology with unbreakable durability. It’s the padlock reimagined and I got the chance to review one for the Gadgeteer. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

Quite simply the Tapplock one is the world’s first smart fingerprint padlock. It’s available in 3 colors Sterling Silver, Gun Metal, and Midnight Black.

Whats in the box?

  • Tapplock one
  • Charging cable
  • User manual

Design and features

The Tapplock one has a bold and sturdy design. The first thing you notice is that the combo dial has been replaced by a fingerprint sensor and a small power/mode button. Say goodbye to keys and combinations. The lock’s body is forged using Zamak 3 zinc alloy, with a 7mm cut resistant stainless steel shackle, and it has a double-layered lock design with anti-shim and anti-pry technologies making Tapplock one virtually unbreakable. All in all, it’s really a nice modern take on the boring old padlock.

The lock is rust-proof, water resistant up to IP66, and has full functionality between 14 and 140 degrees F. The users manual, however, does point out that “Tapplock one is not waterproof when it is unlocked. Water entered through open socket may cause permanent damage.” 

Tapplock uses a rechargeable battery that allows it to run for an entire year per 2-hours charge time (or 3,500 unlocks per charge). It charges using a USB charging cable that magnetically attaches to the locks charging port.  

Setup

Setting up your Tapplock is quick and easy, just download the free Tapplock app from the App Store or Google Play. After a quick account setup, which includes entering an e-mail address and a password you will receive an activation code via the e-mail address you provided. Once activated you will be asked to add a new Tapplock.

After the lock has been added you’ll be asked to add a fingerprint. Enter the name of the fingerprint owner, which hand, and which finger you want to be recorded. Then simply place your finger on the sensor and voila you are now ready to start unlocking your Tapplock with your fingerprint.

3 ways to unlock

Not only can you unlock Tapplock with your fingerprint it can also be unlocked with Bluetooth using your phone or Morse-Code by pressing long/short combinations on the power button.

Opening Tapplock with your fingerprint is as easy as it sounds. Push the power button to turn the Tapplock on (Status Indicator light will glow white) then simply place your finger on the sensor to unlock it. Tapplock uses state-of-the-art captive fingerprint sensors that allow unlocking in under 0.8 seconds. You can even store up to 500 different fingerprints to allow access for multiple users.

To unlock your Tapplock using the app push the power button twice to activate Bluetooth mode(Status indicator light will flash blue). Then using the app tap unlock to open the Tapplock. While in Bluetooth mode the app allows you to check Tapplocks battery percentage, edit your fingerprint, and access the lock settings.

In lock settings, you can add a profile pic, name your Tapplock, setup Morse Code, and check for firmware updates.

Morse Code allows you to open Tapplock without using your phone or fingerprint. To setup Morse Code in the app, choose a pattern of short and long presses of the power button anywhere from 6-12 presses long. To activate Morse Code mode press the power button 3x (status indicator light will flash green) then enter your chosen short-long button press code to open the lock.

Shareable wireless access

Using Bluetooth and the Tapplock app you can share & control access remotely to unlimited users. The app also allows you to control the type of access each user has. You can set permanent or limited access, down to a specific date and time. And you can revoke access at any time.

Sharing is easy. Enter the e-mail address and choose a username for the person you want to share access with. That person will then receive an invite via e-mail asking them to download the Tapplock app. Once they set up an account they will be granted access to your Tapplock.

Using the app you can also track and monitor access history. The app will show which user accessed the lock, when they accessed it, and the location. The app even keeps track of fingerprint access.

What I like

  • Cutting-edge fingerprint technology
  • It’s water and weather resistant
  • There are 3 different ways to unlock it. (Fingerprint, Bluetooth, and morse code)
  • Shareable wireless access
  • It’s virtually unbreakable

What needs to be improved

  • Might be a bit pricey for some.

Final thoughts

I’ve been using the Tapplock on the locker at my gym in replacement of an inexpensive combination lock and using the fingerprint sensor really beats having to fumble with the combination dial, especially after a tough workout. I’ve even gotten a few comments and questions about the lock from other guys at the gym. Once the weather here in Michigan turns a little less harsh I plan on using Tapplock on my standalone storage shed.

The Tapplock one is everything you could want in a high-end padlock. It’s water/weather resistant and is virtually unbreakable. Add to that the ability to unlock it via state-of-the-art fingerprint sensor and Bluetooth technologies. The ability to share/control access to multiple users with the Tapplock app and the piece of mind of being able to track the locks access history. And the Tapplock one may be the last padlock you ever buy.

Price: $99.00
Where to buy: Tapplock
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tapplock.

Build your own VW Van before summer

The VW Bus T1 Campervan 3D puzzle from Ravensburger won’t be big enough to drive to the beach this summer, but it will decorate a bookshelf nicely.  It’s designed after the Samba, in the United States also known as Sunroof Deluxe, which Ravensburger says was the most luxurious version of the T1.  The puzzle is made of all plastic pieces that fit and stay together without needing glue.  You’ll build the body on the included wheeled base, and you can assemble by eye or by checking the numbers on the back of the pieces if you run into a snag.

The design is printed directly on the plastic pieces, so there are no glued on papers to get damaged or peel off.  Building the van is a great family activity for children ages 10+.  Once it’s completed, the van measures 11.75″ x 5.5″ x 6″.

You can purchase the Ravensburger Volkswagen T1 Campervan-162 Piece 3D Puzzle for $29.99 at Amazon.

Things 3.4 update adds automation and linking

In the latest version 3.4 update of Things for iOS and Mac OS, automation support has at last been added, making this useful task manager even more powerful.

The linking, automation and handover actions come in the form of a new things:/// URL scheme, allowing the application to launch and add tasks with pre-filled information in the form of variables. URL schemes have been a staple of iOS automation apps such as Workflow and Launch Center Pro, allowing users to launch complex tasks with a single tap.

For example, I was able to create a workflow that asks for a list of groceries that I need that day, parses that multiple item list and adds those items as tasks to my Grocery list with a due date of Today.

There are more examples on Cultured Code’s blog post, as well as full documentation and a nifty link builder tool.

I expect several automation apps will quickly incorporate Thing’s new URL scheme and variables to make workflow building even easier.