The way we take photographs has changed drastically in the past decade. So, too, have the instruments we use. Now more than ever, our important moments are being captured on cell phones and sports cameras like the GoPro. Casio is taking us one step further toward the future of photography with the Exilim EX-FR10, a camera that splits in half to double its photo-taking power.

The Exilim looks a lot like a normal (if somewhat clunky) digital camera in its connected form. It can be used in this form for taking photos, or the viewfinder can swivel around to help you take the perfect selfie. The camera goes one step further, though, by detaching entirely into two parts. The lens unit and controller unit can then be placed and used in separate locations.

The camera’s lens unit comes with accessories that let it be worn on a strap around the user’s neck, on a hat, on a wrist, or clipped to a backpack strap. It can be attached to a tripod for standard, steady shooting.

When separated, the control unit lets the user preview and frame shots. It also comes with a clip and loop so it can be attached securely to the user’s clothing or gear between shots.

Bluetooth lets the two pieces communicate, and both are tough enough to handle dust, rain, and fall of up to two meters. With HD video capability and decent (if somewhat surprisingly low-res) 14 megapixel stills, the Exilim EX-FR10 might be the next must-have adventure camera for outdoor selfie enthusiasts.

The post Camera Goes Two Pieces to Capture All of Your Activities first appeared on Gajitz.

Getting a cat to exercise (or anything else you want them to do) is like, well, herding cats. But indoor cats that aren’t stimulated enough can get bored and become destructive, which can lead to some pretty unpleasant times when you come home from work.

One Fast Cat is an exercise wheel for kitties that helps keep them active and physically fit; it’s basically a giant hamster wheel for felines. Once you teach your cat to use it – which, according to the company behind it, takes no time at all – Whiskers can keep herself entertained all day by indulging her primal urge to run and play.

The device snaps together quickly with no tools needed, and it sits on a lightweight stand that can be moved easily to other places in your home. The inside of the wheel is made from a closed cell EVA foam that prevents claws from getting stuck and allows them to run naturally – claws out – to keep their even footing.

The wheel is made of recycled plastics and comes in four bright colors. When it needs to be cleaned all you need is a hose or a damp cloth to rinse it off. The product sought to raise $10,000 on Kickstarter to start production and ended up raising more than $340,000, so cat people are definitely taking notice. Pre-orders are available at $249, which is extremely affordable when you compare it to the cost of replacing the sofa your bored cat decided to rip up while you were gone.

The post Catercise: Giant Hamster Wheel Keeps Kitties in Top Shape first appeared on Gajitz.

Fitness apps are great motivators – for some people. For others, seeing the number of miles they’ve run during the week is no motivation to actually get up and run some more. Run An Empire from PAN Studio is a new idea that its creators insist is not a fitness app. Rather, it is an “alternate reality” game that uses the actual layout of your neighborhood to motivate you nerd-style: with the promise of winning a game.

Run An Empire is a strategy game wherein you “claim” your territory by walking or running – and then defend it from others who would dare to invade. The map on your smartphone screen is actually a map of your real neighborhood. The app shoes your territory on a map; the more times you run or walk that route, the more you fortify your defenses against invaders.

When other players venture into your territory, they may claim some of it, but you can win it back by being more active. Your phone’s accelerometer measures your pace and keeps track of your route. Each time you get out and “defend” your territory from others, the stronger your defenses become and the harder other players have to work in order to grab any of it.

The creators of Run An Empire have struck upon a very novel idea. Not only because this alternate reality game is so unusual and interesting, but because, as they say, an active 80 year old can win against a lazy 20-something. And cheating won’t get you ahead of your friends and neighbors – the app can detect when you’re in a car or riding a bike. The app’s Kickstarter project surpassed its funding goal far in advance of its deadline, proving that people really can be motivated by territoriality.

The post Smartphone Fitness Game Pits You Against Other Runners first appeared on Gajitz.

We’ve seen a lot of wearable fitness trackers over the years, each with their own way to entice you to move more: earning points to play games, competing with friends, or just beating your own personal record. However, most rely on you to provide the ambition to get up and move in the first place. The Garmin Vivofit is designed to actually get you up and doing some regular exercise by reminding (shaming?) you into moving around every hour.

As scientists have been telling us recently, prolonged sitting is a killer. Spending all day at a desk can reduce fat-burning enzymes in your body, creating the dreaded “Office Butt.” The Vivofit is a wearable wrist-mounted device that gives you a goal for the amount of steps you should take that day. It monitors your activity, heart rate, and calories you’ve burned, then adjusts your goal as necessary.

But the main feature that sets the Vivofit apart from other fitness trackers is its inactivity alert. After you’ve been stationary for an hour, a red light appears on the wrist display. For every additional 15 minutes that you stay seated, more red bars pop up. It doesn’t emit an embarrassing sound – but you know it’s there, and something about human psychology just makes you want to defeat the device and make the red bar disappear. When you get up and move around for a while, the red light goes off and you can give yourself a pat on the back for staving off laziness-induced death for a while longer.

The battery in the Vivo is able to run for over a year without a single charge, which is a huge benefit over other trackers that have to be charged daily. Garmin offers several colors of interchangeable wrist bands; if you get tired of one, you pop the Vivo out and put it into a different band. The device syncs with your smartphone over Bluetooth, letting you track your progress and change up your routine when necessary.

The post Wearable Fitness Tracker Uses Gentle Shaming as Motivation first appeared on Gajitz.