While touring Norway as a BMX rider sponsored by GoPro, Didrik was approached by the FlowMotion team to test out a new GoPro stabilizing mount that could be mounted to helmets and bikes as well as hand-held using an extendable pole. Like any proof of concept, the first iteration was less than beautiful. “This thing weighed at least half a kilo,” recalled Didrik, “there was a huge plate and wires were hanging off of it!”

By the second iteration of what would eventually become the FlowMotion ONE, Didrik quickly realized that Lars Flesland and Eirik Dyrseth, were on to a device that could revolutionize videography in the extreme sports industry. He quickly joined the team as their CMO and official spokesperson.

From the beginning, Didrik and the FlowMotion team wanted to “make everything from scratch and control everything in house”, so no royalties or fees for usage rights. Even though Lars, Eirik, and Didrik could have hit the easy button and payed to use a patented 3-dimensional stabilizing formula, they decided to build their own (AKA hire someone “who was way smarter than us!” -Didrik)

“The device runs via two sensors, an accelerometer and a gyroscope,” Didrik explained to me in layman’s terms. “Those two sensors gather data at 1000 times per second, which is enough to know how the GoPro is moving in all three dimensions in real-time.” With that much data, you can tell the small motors in the FlowMotion ONE how to move to correct for shaking, jostling, and general instabilities.

As the FlowMotion team refined the stabilizer, they realized they needed to make a hard pivot to reinvent their product for the cellphone industry. “We developed a GoPro Stabilizer for a long time, then we realized there is so much more you can do with your smartphone,” said Didrik. “Not only did we expand our market, but now users don’t have to move to different devices to shoot, edit, and share their video content.”

Focusing on cellphone videography meant the team could now add Bluetooth technology to the stabilizer as well as a compatible smartphone app. “Customers can give us direct feedback via the app… it’s a great way for us to stay connected with our customer base.” FlowMotion is one of the first accessories I’ve seen to fully utilize the capabilities of a smartphone through user feedback; offering tutorials and tips as users access new features as well as monitoring user behavior and updating the app accordingly.

By the time the stabilizer and app were in their final iterations, the FlowMotion team put their product in front of consumers for the first time with one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns ever. “We were something like 4400% over our expected goal of $30,000,” said Didrik, “… and right now we are focusing on shipping out to our Kickstarter backers; they are our core focus right now.”

Didrik and the FlowMotion team have no plans of cashing out after their September launch. “The future of making videos is not going to look the way it does now; its shifting from professional cameras to the phone and we have some really cool visions of how we can solve the problem of making video in the future.” Didrik couldn’t give away any more than that, saying that “its all under the radar right now,” and the team is completely focused on the launch of the FlowMotion ONE.

For more on FlowMotion, or to preorder your own FlowMotion ONE, visit Flowmotion.co.

The post Revolutionize the Way You Tell Your Story With FlowMotion ONE appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

[vrview img=”http://www.factorytwofour.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SAM_100_0029.jpg” width=”100%” ]

Meant to be paired with a Samsung Galaxy S6 or higher as well as the Samsung Gear VR, the Gear 360 is the link between viewing and creating virtual reality content. The Gear 360 is competitively priced at $210 and supports 360-degree image quality up to 7776 x 3888 (approximately 30 Megapixels), however, 360 video quality drops to 3840 x 1920 at 30 frames-per-second.

The connected Gear 360 app on my Samsung Galaxy S6 makes shooting 360 content a breeze. After I Bluetooth connect from my S6, I get a live view of what my gear 360 is seeing and I can capture images remotely without having to run away while a timer ticks to zero. The camera includes time lapse and video looping modes as well as regular photo and video.

When I first began using the Gear 360, I quickly realized that my basic camera tripod was not suited for 360 degree shots. Although the Gear 360 is built to screw into any ¼ inch tripod head, the size of most heads means that the bottom of my 360 image is blocked by an awkwardly stitched plastic mass. I ended up going with the SmaTree SmaPole (don’t know about the name), an extendable monopod with an attachable three leg base. Its only downside is it looks terribly creepy when set up in the middle of a trail, looking as if it might scurry toward you at any moment!

My favorite aspect of this little camera is the life it brings to my pictures and videos, as well as native support on Facebook. I went for a quick hike in Valley Green, a small reserve outside of Philadelphia, and captured some great shots of rocky paths, graffiti-ed bridges, and my old friend William Penn.

[vrview img=”http://www.factorytwofour.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SAM_100_0023.jpg” width=”100%” ]

When I post these photos to Facebook, I feel like friends and family can experience what it was like to be there in the woods with me. As VR headsets become more and more mainstream, I believe that demand for 360 photo and video content will skyrocket. I’m predicting a future of full length 360 movies available for rent similar to your traditional On-Demand rental system.

I’m jumping into the VR game while the water is warm. What about you?

The post Samsung Gear 360: A Virtual Content Creation Essential appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Offroading and adventure riding is different beast. Sure, you’re only going 30mph down that dirt road, but you’re falling often and when you do you’re regularly greeted by sharp rocks and happy little trees that make you not so happy. When I first got my dualsport bike for training I immediately donned some old combat boots and a no-name discount armored jacked who’s zipper didn’t even last the 6mos I was training with that bike. Once I upgraded to the “big” BMW adventure bike it was time to get serious about donning real protection for my squishy bits.

Luckily, true adventure wear is a small world and Klim was the natural choice. They have the most experience with this type of gear, they’ve outfitted plenty of well-publicized expeditions, and their staff has been crazy friendly with helping us get just what we need for our planned adventures. I picked up a full Badlands suit for both myself and my competitor/nemesis (we’re twinners!) and I gotta say: I get it now. I get why people wear this stuff. Where before I cast a sideways glance at getting all suited up for a ride, once it’s on you it becomes clear that ultra-modern moto wear is much better than leather and denim for staying cool and comfortable while in the saddle for hours. The Klim Badlands just works. It’s got strategic vents to keep you cool, zippers and straps to keep you dry when it rains, and is full of fun little features like medical info pockets and zippers built to be used with chunky gloves on.

I spent a 9 hour trip through 90-100 degree heat in my Badlands and never really worked up a sweat. With all the vents open, and at speed, I was totally comfortable. The lightweight materials also make moving around in the suit easy and immediate. You don’t realize how much leather and thick denim slow you down and mute your senses until you try something different. Did it get hot when I was standing in traffic getting to gas stations? Yes. Show me any kind of real moto wear that doesn’t do that. The Badlands suit is full of armored sections with the coolest kinetic material you’ve ever seen. Normally it’s pliant and flexible, but once it encounters a sufficiently hard impact it stiffens up 100-fold to protect you. This means you can easily move around in Klim’s suits, but they still protect you in a crash.

Crashes is something I’ve had plenty of in my Badlands. Offroad training on my BMW has not been kind to any of my equipment, but I’ve yet to do anything to my suit other than make it dirty. No rips, tears, burns, or even scuffs have materialized on my kit – and not for lack of trying. Probably my favorite feature is the built in pocket for a drinking bladder right on your back panel. This means not external Kamelback to make your back sweat, and one less piece of equipment to keep track of.

I can’t believe they’ve converted me to a full on motorcycle suit guy, but Klim has done it. I still wouldn’t don it to commute to work or run to the shops, but if I’m touching freeways to go camping or go on a long tour, I’ll be sporting my Klim Badlands and I’ll be quite happy about it. Plus, it looks pro as hell!

The post Gear for The Bet: Klim Badlands Suit appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Companies like Zadar Ventures are transitioning from their uranium-focused mining in Canada and focusing on the Clayton Valley lithium brine parcels, which is a stone’s throw (not really, but close) from the Gigafactory. It’s a transition of major proportions, showing not only evolution of mining operations but highlighting the focus of companies like Zadar to invest heavily into green-energy development.

At the core of these changes for the industry are a few thoughts. For lithium mining of the past, the raw elements were mined in Canada, shipped to the UK for processing, then off to China for battery making, and then off to their respective automotive manufacturers. This whole process took not only excess energy but opened itself up to potential and catastrophic risks along the way. With Zadar coming to Nevada to work at the doorsteps of the manufacturing plant, the risk is minimized, reward is increased, and the green energy boom gets the boost it needs for the next step.

In G. Joel Chury’s article Lithium Facelift: Zadar Ventures Accelerates After Rebranding with Company-Making Lithium Acquisitions, and Strategic Personnel Additions, Zadar Ventures [OCTBB – ZADDF, TSX.V – ZAD] is highlighted as an up-and-comer in the field, while also highlighting the experience the group brings with it to Nevada’s Clayton Valley. This is not the game for amateurs to be jumping in, and with Zadar’s experience in the alternative energy resource, the approach is going to be smart, controlled, and calculated.

[blockquote pull=”” align=”left” attributed_to=”G. Joel Chury” attributed_to_url=””]Prior to Zadar’s first round of drilling that would target the inferred lithium layers, the company will conduct more detailed geophysical surveys. First, the company must more accurately determine the basin’s shapes and target depths.[/blockquote]

As I look to our future, to the future of alternative energy, I find solace in knowing that there are companies out there looking for not only the environmentally smart decisions but also investing in what will truly be a green revolution. By consolidating the energy production, companies and Zadar Ventures and Tesla will be taking the biggest step to providing zero-emission vehicles to the masses.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Zadar. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post The Energy Revolution Starts in Nevada appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The problem with most online shopping is that you have to spend hours wading through middling products to find anything of quality. It’s the Walmart problem. Enter ShopRunner. This membership-based site is more like an upscale shopping mall – everything here is curated and from the best name brands. Obviously membership sites come at a cost (in this case $8.95/mo or $79/yr) but Shoprunner has the perfect promotion for the holidays. Right now if you spend $100 on the site – easy to do this season – you’ll get a whole year’s membership for free. And what do you get with a membership besides their careful curation and aggressive pricing? Try unlimited free 2-day shipping (suck it Amazon Prime), free return shipping, special pricing, express checkout, and more. Yeah, you’re gonna want these kinds of deals on brands not available on Amazon Prime for more than just this crazy month.

While Shoprunner runs the gamut of sexes and preferences, Uncrate is just for the men in your life. This site is all about collecting the hottest products of the moment and showcasing them daily. Most of the time there is no deal involved, and there are a lot of sponsored posts to watch out for. Not to mention that many of the featured tech can run into thousands if not tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. But if your gift recipients need the coolest stuff out there and price is no object, Uncrate is the place for you.

If cool simply isn’t cool enough for you, and you have hipster friend who needs things pre-cool (or you just want to let everyone know you are ahead of the curve), you want Product Hunt. This brand new site showcases the newest of new tech and products and letting them percolate up through a voting system. Think of it like reddit for new stuff. Product Hunt is a startup that is the talk of Silicon Valley right now and it is easy to see why. By surfacing all the latest tech without descending into Kickstarter’s morass of failed campaigns and missed deadlines, Product Hunt offers you minty-fresh products you can actually buy and have delivered in 7-10 business days.

You’re down to less than 30 days of holiday shopping, but this is no time for a full-on fruitcake panic. If you step your online game up, you can come out of this looking like a pro. How you navigate awkward family dinners, however, is up to you.

Shoprunner.com is the best way to shop online for the stuff you love. Visit www.shoprunner.com/2014holidayoffer to sign up! Plus, for a limited time only, make a $100 purchase at a partner store and get a 1-year membership to ShopRunner.com for free! A $79 Value!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of ShopRunner. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Bro, Do You Even Shop Online? appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Flirc: The familiarity of a remote control is a game changer.  Using a remote control allows even the most basic users to easily navigate interfaces without a keyboard or mouse.  This USB dongle allows you to do just that by transforming any IR code into a keyboard stroke.  Flirc makes it possible to use any of your existing IR remotes to control any device that supports a USB keyboard.

Kodi:  It isn’t very often that an open-source software product rules the roost.  Kodi (formerly XBMC or Xbox Media Center) has deep set roots in helping users take control of their own media.  These roots first found purchase during the original Xbox “mod” rage.  Users created Xbox “mods” to function as an Atari or Nintendo emulator, content pirating machine, or media center.  Kodi left the Xbox branding behind as it has branched out to almost every platform.  This powerful and stable center is used by most cord-cutting devices to organize or stream media.  Almost every review in this series will include the functionality and performance of Kodi.

Input Devices:  Even if you have a Flirc, keep a keyboard and mouse handy.  Initial configuration and testing will require some typing.  Most devices do provide an on-screen keyboard.  If you liked the 2003 style of texting (multiple button pushes per letter) skip the keyboard.  Just prepare yourself for a maddening configuration.

Cables, Cables, Cables:  Most of the devices are going to come with an HDMI cable.  Not one of the devices has arrived with an HDMI cable that supports CEC.  A $10 cable may bring your TV’s native CEC control to life.  I will also discuss the following cables:  USB extension, Optical / Coaxial audio, and micro-usb hub / OTG devices.

Router: When streaming media, your router can make all the difference.  Every review will compare the connectivity between a two year-old N router and a high-end AC model.  If your router doesn’t support at least N, plan on using wired connections only.

Now the introductions are made and the stage is set – all we have to do is review each device and its optimal configuration.  Do you have a device that FactoryTwoFour should review?  If so, please contact me here.

The post Make your own smart tv – Part 2 appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The Ring Video Doorbell partners with your existing iOS or Android devices.  As long as the device is connected to the internet, you can monitor the Ring.  The product designers planned for most install scenarios.  The packages includes the hardware needed for a new install or an upgrade.  This well thought-out assortment even includes a micro-level.  The level is attached to the mounting plate and makes an aesthetically pleasing install simple.  I was activating my installed Ring only 22 minutes after I removed the old doorbell button.

My first test subject arrived a few hours after the install.  The notification popped up and I accepted the ‘call’.  I spoke into my phone and greeted him with, “How can I help you today?”.  A slightly spooked dealer of wares turned his head to my Ring and said, “This is interesting.”.  The conversation did not go much further.  I politely assured him that I was not interested in Arizona beach front property and pressed the end button.

What if your visitor decides to knock instead of using the doorbell?  Motion sensors are included for this very purpose.  The app allows complete customization of the motion sensor range.  Adjusting the zones and range to match your front stoop will make sure that all visitors are announced.  This feature alone sets Ring apart from competitors.

This addition to your home will provide the luxury of a high-rise intercom system without the price tag.  Eliminate lengthy conversations with unwanted visitors, document exact times of package deliveries, or you know, tell the food delivery person that you need a few minutes to put your pants on…

The post Ring: Your Front Door Watchman appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Funny name aside, this USB-powered strip of LED lights is set to solve a plethora of outdoor and adventure needs. Encased in waterproof silicone, this 4 1/2″ strip of lights can bend, bunch, tie, and drape its way to lighting just about any conceivable surface or angle. Add in a couple magnets for hanging on car projects or from your porch roof, and you’ve still just scratched the surface of the Luminoodle’s possible uses. Best of all, stuff the whole strip in the included carrying bag and you’ve got yourself a handy lantern. Slick stuff that.

This string of lighted goodness is currently up on Kickstarter – don’t worry, all of Power Practical’s campaigns always meet and exceed their goals – but we got an early hands-on test and put it through it paces. In fact, you’ll notice a certain Porsche Project in the Kickstarter video… We found the Luminoodle to be very bright, tough, and easy to work with. The imbedded magnets made suspending it under the car, or around an axle, an absolute breeze. Best of all, after a dirty night of wrenching, the silicone cover wiped right off and looked good as new.

We are unashamed fans of what the Power Practical team is up to, and this light strip is no different. It is versatile, tough, bright, and fills a need that hasn’t been solved yet. We highly recommend picking one up and getting your noodle on.

The post Power Practical Luminoodle: Let There Be Light appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

It’s not like you’re unaware of the problem. You see the same people we all do – couples ignoring each other, friends staring at their phones instead of talking, people walking into lampposts as they browse /shitredditsays. You see these same people, then you pick up your phone to Instagram them to the world while bitching about how they won’t put their phones down. Stop being one of them.

You know it’s rude. Make the conscious decision to keep it inside your pocket more than out. It will take practice, and time, and patience, but every second will help. Every second will help you make or improve a social connection, or notice something about the world, or invent a solution to some problem that is vexing you. It is worth putting away to get to know yourself again.

Your phone is designed to take advantage of you. Your lizard brain responds to the beeps and buzzes by sending pleasure signals out every time you have a new notification. Thats how gambling works. Your brain is releasing endorphins everytime you get a message to reward your nervous system for the action. That’s why you are physically addicted to checking your phone.

Now we no longer live in a world where you can go cold turkey phone-sober forever, but you are strong enough to fight the urge several times a day. Leave your device in your pocket at the grocery line. Don’t text and walk at the same time. Tell your friends or date that you have an important message coming and you need to keep your phone face up on the table. Realize that everyone is messaging you about their life, and you’re reading it instead of living yours.

Live your life outside your phone and realize that being bored is good for you. You solve problems. You chat with strangers and make new connections. You actually have a short term memory.

You see the head-down-phone-up addiction just as much as the rest of us. Be the person in your social circle to elevate above it. Engage with your friends, don’t ignore them and ask them not to ignore you. Just put your damn mobile device away.

So help you god if you are reading this on your phone right now…

The post Put Your Phone Away Dickhead appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The most exciting thing to happen to the simple door lock occurred when a crowdfunding campaign launched for a bluetooth-enabled lock that could be operated by your phone. Keep your smartphone in your pocket, as the door already knows you’re there. The whole world collectively thought: “its about time!” Kwikset smartly snapped up the company and have released the device under the Kevo brand. Right now, the Kevo is the best and the brightest of this new breed of smart locks. The device even lets you assign short-term “keys” to others so they can unlock your door with their phone inside a 24 hour period.

If you’ve got a stranger at the door, Brinno has stepped in with their Peephole Camera that snaps a quick video of anyone who sets off a peephole mounted motion sensor and camera. The idea is that you can arrive home after work and review everyone who has come to your door during the day. The device nicely works with the existing peephole insert already in most doors, so installation is a snap. This cool device can be up and running in your house inside 10min. Now you’ve got yourself an easily browseable video log of every visitor who comes to your door.

But what if you want to bring video protection to more than just your front porch? Enter Dropcam and their easy to set up and expand series of home security cameras. Dropcam has become the go-to name in simple to set up home camera systems. Whether you want 1 or 15, these cameras are easy to set up and get working together. If you’re looking elsewhere for another camera, stop. Drop it in the trash and go buy a Dropcam. ‘Nuff said.

Home security has seriously stepped up in the last 5 years, and the next 5 are going to be even more interesting as more and more major manufacturers roll out their internet of things brands that truly connect you home and give every homeowner an end-to-end security presence. Now that’s peace of mind. Even if it is just for your next Amazon package.

The post Home Security 2.0 appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

We’ve all been there – our phone is in the dreaded single-digits of battery charge and we know the end is nigh. You’ve got a USB and your laptop, but you’re going out for the night in an hour and need as much charge as you can get in that 60 minutes so your phone makes it past last call. Plug the USB into the laptop, then plug it into your phone, then feel the relief wash over you as your phone begins to charge. But not so fast kemosabe. You’re going to be seeing those single digit charge numbers for quite a while. What’s the deal with that? Despite letting it charge for the hour, you never break 10% charge, your phone dies at the bar, you loose your friends, wander home alone, and wind up in your bathtube missing a kidney. Like I said, we’ve all been there.

You could have avoided this fate, and can still save your one remaining kidney if you’ve got a Practical Meter. This handy little device offers a quick readout of how much power your device is actually getting as it charges. In our example, you’d soon see that the data cable you’re using to charge your phone with is throttling the power transfer and you’re never going to get anywhere with it. An even better use case is with portable solar panels while you’re camping or hunting zombies. Rig up the Practical Meter to the solar panels, then rotate the panels till you see the most amount of power being supplied to your preferred device. No more guessing or praying to the sun gods. Genius.

And that stupid data cable that doesn’t allow for fast charging? Well the company behind the meter, Power Practical, has thought of that. Included with the Practical Meter is their Fast Charge cable that not only provides the fastest charge times regardless of power source, but also comes packing three different device plugs (Micro USB, Mini USB, and the larger iPhone dock style). It’s like they’ve thought of everything.

I’ve tried all kinds of combinations of the Practical Meter, power sources, and the Fast Charge cable. All I can say is, they work. And work well. If you’ve got power problems with your devices, whether mobile charging or solar-powered fun, I cannot recommend the Practical Meter enough. It’s hard to review something that just plain works.

The post Charge Up with the Practical Meter appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.