The Oakley Meta Vanguard are high-end displayless AI glasses designed for sports, featuring excellent Garmin integration, a wind-blocking design, long battery life, and a built-in camera, but they are very expensive and unrepairable.
Nike is launching new 'neuroscience-based' shoes, the Mind 001 and Mind 002, embedded with foam nodes designed to stimulate the foot and activate the brain, aiming to enhance focus and performance, though scientific evidence is yet to be released.
Nike is developing a motorized sneaker called Project Amplify in collaboration with Dephy, aiming to enhance mobility for athletes and impaired users, as part of its broader push for innovation to regain market share amid competition from newer brands. The company also introduced shoes that stimulate the brain for better mental focus and a cooling sports jersey for the World Cup, signaling a focus on cutting-edge sports technology.
The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses are a surprisingly effective and versatile device that serve as sunglasses with a camera, microphone, and speaker, replacing traditional action cameras like GoPro for many sports activities. They lack a display but excel in capturing high-quality photos and videos, integrating seamlessly with Garmin, Strava, and Apple Health for detailed workout data, and offering features like live translation and hands-free voice commands. Despite some quirks and limitations, they represent a significant step forward in smart sports eyewear, making them a compelling choice for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
Apple Vision Pro will feature live streaming of select LA Lakers NBA games in immersive 3D format for the 2025-26 season, offering a courtside experience with high-resolution, 180-degree stereoscopic video, enhancing sports viewing through advanced immersive technology.
Originally Published 3 months ago — by Sportico.com
Apple TV+ has integrated iPhone 17 Pros into its MLB broadcasts, using the phones for unique camera angles and shots that blend seamlessly with traditional broadcast equipment, showcasing the potential for smartphones to revolutionize sports coverage with high-quality, cost-effective imaging.
Microsoft will provide NFL teams with artificial intelligence tools to enhance in-game decision making, leveraging advanced technology to improve team strategies and performance.
Sony has introduced new noise-canceling headsets designed specifically for NFL coaches, featuring advanced noise cancellation, weather resistance, and secure wireless communication via Verizon's 5G network, replacing Bose as the league's official headset provider.
A large study from Aarhus University reveals that running-related overuse injuries often occur suddenly during a single training session rather than gradually, challenging previous beliefs and highlighting flaws in current injury prevention algorithms used in sports watches. The research advocates for new, real-time guidance algorithms to better prevent injuries, emphasizing that existing methods are based on weak scientific evidence.
China hosted its first fully autonomous AI robot football match featuring humanoid robots competing in three-a-side games, highlighting advancements in robotics and AI, though the robots still struggled with basic gameplay. The event was used as a testing ground for humanoid robots, with university teams competing and Tsinghua University winning the championship. The event showcased the potential for future human-robot sports interactions but also revealed the current limitations of robotic agility and coordination.
Faith Kipyegon, a renowned Kenyan runner and Olympic champion, aims to break the four-minute mile barrier for women in Paris, a feat never achieved before by a woman. Nike is supporting her with innovative gear, including a lightweight 3D-printed sports bra, as she attempts to make history.
Body Rocket, known for its real-time aerodynamic drag force measurement system, has revealed a road bike prototype that brings integrated CdA measurement to bikes without aero bars, coinciding with the approach of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The system aims to provide similar insight into aerodynamics as wind tunnels without the cost, and is designed to give real-time feedback during rides and track progress over time. The prototype, which integrates seamlessly with road bikes, is being developed to help Olympic triathletes perfect their aero tuck on drop bars, and the brand has also launched its latest funding round on Crowdcube.
Apple is entering its second year of streaming Major League Soccer matches as part of a $2.5 billion deal, aiming to attract more fans and money to the 28-year-old league. The "MLS Season Pass" offers a sleek streaming package allowing fans to globally stream every game without blackouts for $14.99 per month or $99 for the season. Apple's efforts include glossy studio shows, expanded coverage, and integration of MLS content across its ecosystem of products and services. While actual viewership numbers are undisclosed, the package reportedly surpassed two million subscribers, with a significant surge after soccer superstar Lionel Messi's debut. Despite potentially low viewership, the $250 million yearly cost for Apple is considered a worthwhile investment to pull people into its ecosystem, given soccer's global popularity and the young demographic MLS attracts.
CBS Sports is set to power its Super Bowl LVIII broadcast with 165 Sony cameras, including a significant increase in 4K Zoom-capable cameras, enabling enhanced zooming potential and aiding referees in making accurate calls during video reviews. The cameras, recording in 4K and high framerates, are hardwired and will provide unprecedented fidelity and top-of-the-line technology for viewers at home, with nearly a thousand people working the event to ensure a seamless broadcast. Additionally, the use of smaller FX-series Sony cameras with cinematic capabilities and HDR-capable cameras will add an artistic and visually stunning touch to the broadcast.
The Apple Vision Pro, with its MLB and NBA apps, offers a new level of immersion and interactivity for sports fans, providing 3D renderings, spatial audio, and immersive video experiences. The apps allow users to view games from different perspectives and access real-time player and team stats, potentially posing a challenge to traditional sports bars. While the technology is still evolving, it has the potential to revolutionize how sports are watched, with possibilities for future applications in other sports like the NFL.