One specific type of technology that has made hugely impressive improvements, especially since the introduction of the internet, is our smartphone devices. The mobile phone options today certainly offer up more functionalities and power than the phones of old, which could only house games like Snake and take horrifically grainy images. These days, our smartphone devices offer up an array of sophisticated features alongside the option of downloading a comprehensive selection of apps on both iOS and Android.

Today’s smartphones can house practically anything. There is a selection of art and drawing tools for art lovers; gamers can enjoy free spins bonuses for 2021 on a selection of slot games, then there is the option of conducting banking enquiries using an app, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet with the help of an app put together by industry experts, and even finding a soulmate using a dating app also. We’re barely even touching the surface there, too.

With a selection of smartphone apps proving popular in 2021 already, we thought we’d go through some of the best of them.

fuboTV

Popular with movie and sports lovers alike, fuboTV offers an extensive list of sports and entertainment channels that can be accessed on a number of different devices. You can follow the big game, watch a movie on-demand, and even stream a live event too. If you’re keen to watch more content on your smartphone, then fuboTV is a solid option.

Comixology

A must-have app for comic book readers, Comixology offers an extensive library of comic books, all easily accessible via your smartphone or tablet. It’s free, although for $5.99 per month, you can access even more familiar titles from the genre.

Duolingo

(Image via https://twitter.com/duolingo)

Keen to learn a language or brush up on one you already know in 2021? Then download Duolingo. A language learning app with a great reputation, Duolingo is easy to use and gives people the chance of learning a variety of languages. The app supports the likes of Danish, English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, German and a whole lot more.

Adidas Running App by Runtastic

A popular app with the running community, Adidas Running App by Runtastic helps track your favourite routes and offers clear and information-rich maps to help you plan future running sessions. The app is also popular with hikers, cyclists, and walkers.

Adobe Lightroom CC

Spruce up your social media images with the help of Adobe Lightroom CC. A powerful photo-editing app, Adobe Lightroom CC offers a selection of helpful tools to elevate your pictures further. You can add colours, add noise reduction, make profile-based lens corrections, and plenty more.

Bitdefender Mobile Security

Only available on Android, Bitdefender Mobile Security will help you keep any hackers at bay. This reliable security app offers superb phishing protection, Android Wear integration, and powerful antitheft tools. It works by scanning your phone in a matter of seconds and then removing anything harmful.

Cookpad

With its vibrant array of recipes, Cookpad is a popular app at the moment. Giving people inspiration in the kitchen, Cookpad also offers users the option of adding favourite recipes, managing shopping lists, and it recommends new recipes based on what the app thinks you might like too.

This collaboration sees the birth of a new model running shoe, dubbed the Prime SP Parley, of which features a Primeknit upper made mostly (95 percent) from marine plastic debris. Adidas says about 11 bottles of plastic were used for each shoe, with the set being part of the company’s overall commitment to sustainability. On the shoe, the upper combines adidas’ 360-degree Primeknit technology, creating a lighter yet snug fit, whilst fusing together a double layer of Parley knitted yarn to reduce stretch and ensure ultimate support and breathability during performance.

Unfortunately, these won’t be available to the public – yet. 

Why is this on SA VIBE, you ask? Because these are some high-tech shoes, friends, and I suspect some of you out there in the Burbs enjoy a spot of running now and again, in between complaining about things being on SA VIBE and coding. While the bright, blaze orange upper alone is enough to turn heads, these shoes have plastic springs instead of a sole. These springs add a bit of “lift” each time you step, essentially springing your foot back into the air after each footfall.

I’ve been a minimalist runner since 2010, first using New Balance and then trying various models from Hi-Tech, Adidas, and most recently Niike Airs. After a fairly complete and debilitating injury during rugby training, my running days are pretty much shot, but I still try to get at least 15km in a week. It’s not much, but hey, I’m not running for Mr Blog SA. I’m also fairly slow.

[frame src=”http://savibeza.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/spring1.jpg” link=”” target=”_self” width=”” height=”” alt=”Premium WordPress Themes” align=”left” prettyphoto=”false”]

That said, running with the Springblade has been, if not a revelation, then quite surprising. I’m a bit more tired running in these than in minimalist shoes, which is normal. These are about 340 grams and those 16 springs on each foot add just a bit of weight. However, I’ve seen my maximum speed increase from 8 minutes per 1.5km to about 7:50 – a measure taken at my peak speed using a Nike+ GPS watch – an improvement that is fairly important for a slowpoke like me. I also felt less pain in my shins and ankles and a distinct difference in the tiredness I felt after my 5km runs.

Do I think it’s the shoes? Sure. The soles are far springier than I’m used to and I honestly enjoy them over the last pair of full running shoes I bought, the New Balance M1080v2. They also wore me out far faster and I definitely felt a distinct soreness in my calves that I hadn’t experienced in a while. In short, at the very least these shoes changed my stride slightly.

Would I recommend them over minimalist shoes? I’m not sure. NB’s helped me out of a bout of plantar fasciitis, which has not flared up to this day. I have fought shin splints and other knee issues that I believe are weight related and I know I could use a more solid pair of shoes to perhaps take some of the strain off the ankles and joints. These could do the trick. These shoes expel energy forward and work best while running on concrete and less well on soft surfaces like sand or trails. I was worried they’d get caught up in the buckling Free State sidewalks but I noticed no issues. Apparently these are extensively tested to ensure the springs don’t break or buckle and, if anything, they look wild.

[frame src=”http://savibeza.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/spring.jpg” link=”” target=”_self” width=”” height=”” alt=”Premium WordPress Themes” align=”left” prettyphoto=”false”]

The shoes are available for R1999 – quite pricey for their weight – but they are a fascinating improvement to the standard, mushy thick-soled running shoes that I’ve eschewed for a number of years.

I’ve yet to see many experts weigh in on these shoes, I’m under no illusion that these shoes are more than an interesting gimmick that may shave off a few seconds at your fastest pace. But as a sheer feat of technical improvement to the tired running shoe, I applaud Adidas for attempting something so bold. I would expect these to rise to the level of the Nike Free over the next few months as people try them out simply for the novelty of the design. While I’m not exactly sure if I’ll stick to these over the long run, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

*Adidas Springblade provided by SVA Media