Slashdot Mirror
Recon Instruments' Sports-Oriented Smart Glasses Now Shipping
First time accepted submitter krouic writes Earlier this week Recon Instruments started shipping their long-awaited Recon Jet heads up display for sports, to real-life actual consumers.
Jet's core features are designed for the cyclist and runner, and allow automatic upload of stats to activity tracking services. They feature an on-board GPS generating real-time performance metrics, an on-board high definition camera for short videos and photos, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ANT+ for connectivity to 3rd party sensors for heart rate, cadence and power data and smartphone connectivity for caller ID, text messages and music player access and control. Initial review by DCRainmaker.
Jet's core features are designed for the cyclist and runner, and allow automatic upload of stats to activity tracking services. They feature an on-board GPS generating real-time performance metrics, an on-board high definition camera for short videos and photos, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ANT+ for connectivity to 3rd party sensors for heart rate, cadence and power data and smartphone connectivity for caller ID, text messages and music player access and control. Initial review by DCRainmaker.
Obnoxious auto-playing audio at first link. I have JavaScript disabled and don't have Flash installed and it still played.
(too bad alt txt is not important to them)
Recon Jet starts shipping, a look at my first month with it
April 16, 2015 by DC Rainmaker|Blog|Comments (40)
IMG_9485
Earlier this week Recon Instruments started shipping their long-awaited Recon Jet heads up display for sports, to real-life actual consumers. Completing a journey that began just over two years ago upon announcement of the product. In fact, a few DCR readers tweeted me to let me know they had received shipping confirmations. Folks in California (closest to Recon’s manufacturing and distribution locales) would have started receiving them yesterday.
At the same time, for the last month I’ve been using the device on various rides and runs – getting the feel for wearing it. As well as letting the greater Parisian neighborhood get the hang of seeing someone wear it. You see, while head-based wearables such as Google Glass might be common in the USthat’s not so much the case here in Paris (or Europe at large).
This post isn’t a full review. Largely because the final production software just hit in the last few days, which is certainly not enough time to test everything. Also, I just got the final-final production unit this weekend. Previously I’ve been using a so-close-but-not-quite-final unit. With that new unit, I see slight differences (all for the better). So my plan is to continue using it for the next month or so, and then push out a typical in-depth review sometime in May.
For now, let’s do a quick sweep through how it works.
Inside the Package:
IMG_9320
The Jet arrives in a UFO saucer-like protective case, somewhat oddly appropriate. The case contains the Recon Jet itself, along with slots for different lenses and for the micro-USB charging cable, as well as a small cleaning cloth.
IMG_9331
IMG_9334
Obviously, if you’re going to travel with it – I’d recommend putting it in the protective case. While I’m usually the last one to worry about protective cases, I feel like the opportunity for failure is higher here. If you don’t use the case, but rather a simple sun glass soft bag, I’d recommend just popping off the two side pods instead while travelling, that way it doesn’t get snapped off when you jam your bag under the seat in front of you on the airplane.
IMG_9338
Here’s a bit of an unboxing video I put together, showing you all the saucer-like goodness:
As part of my in-depth review I’ll get into weights and size comparisons with products like Google Glass.
The Basics:
IMG_9479
To start, let’s look at some of the basics of the unit. First up is that it’s essentially a highly custom pair of sunglasses with two pods that attach/detach to it. One pod is the battery, and the other pod is the computer/display.
IMG_9435
They’re designed so that if you wanted to just wear the glasses without the pods (say after finishing a workout and going to 7-11 for a giant Slurpee), you could do so and be a bit less conspicuous than with the pods hanging there.
IMG_9438
Additionally, this allows you to swap batteries. The unit will actually permit you to pop-off the battery mid-activity, and not lose state or the activity upon adding the battery back. In talking with Recon, they sounded rather focused on the ‘Thou shall not lose data’ mantra when it came to folks using the device. They’re sending over a second battery here soon, so I’ll be looking forward to testing the crap out of this concept.
IMG_9439
Right now the battery life isn’t terribly awesome on the Jet however. It’s one of the areas they saying they’re focused on over the next few months. At the moment getting more than a couple hours hasn’t seemed to happen for me. They’re aiming to get it up to about 4 hours though, so enough for many rides – but not quite enough for an Ironman bike. S
fucking retarded
Mann developed look-through reality mediation/augmentation devices back in the 90s and the technology has progressed easily to the level of mass marketability since then. Yet another "here's a small screen bolted to your head" device is as useful as just hanging my cellphone from a hat.
A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
Nothing like releasing your review the day after units start shipping, ie when it's too late to find out the unit's faults.
Goddammit I hate embargos...the only reason they exist is to hide flaws and problems from people who could get a refund. Ray, stop being the industry's bitch. You have a ton of readers, tell gadget makers to pound sand if they tell you that you can't release a review before it ships.
Please help metamoderate.
If they are anything like their previous product, very limited, and not useable.
We tried to use the goggle setup they have sold for years. They sucked, the Dev kit was horrid, and the goggle device was buggy as hell.
Maybe by the 5th generation they will get them right and not so small use but open so that anything can be installed.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
This post is a perfect case study for when the "Oxford comma" would really improve ease of reading!!!!
Like this....
Earlier this week Recon Instruments started shipping their long-awaited Recon Jet heads up display for sports, to real-life actual consumers.
Jet's core features are designed for the cyclist and runner, [sic] and allow automatic upload of stats to activity tracking services. They feature an on-board GPS generating real-time performance metrics, an on-board high definition camera for short videos and photos, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and ANT+ for connectivity to 3rd party sensors for heart rate, cadence, and power data, and smartphone connectivity for caller ID, text messages, and music player access and control. Initial review by DCRainmaker.