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Wearable Technology

Watches

Swatch Prepares to Launch NFC Equipped Watch

October 19, 2015

Swatch Bellamy NFC China

Swatch has charted an unusual path into the smartwatch market. The Swiss watch maker has decided to favor devices that serve specialized purposes instead of embracing do-it-all wearables such as the Moto 360 and Apple Watch. Heck, the company’s first connected watch was designed for volleyball! Continuing the trend Swatch has announced a new watch which only features NFC. The Swatch Bellamy can be used to make mobile payments and open compatible locks and hotel doors. The NFC chip is configured via your Windows Phone or Android device. I would not expect the Bellamy to be able to be configured with an iOS device since the watch does not have Bluetooth and Apple does not allow developers open access to NFC. The approximately $91 device will launch in China at the beginning of 2016 and will later be released in the us and Europe.

I can understand Swatch wanting to stay away from building a wearable that tries to do too much. It is easy for such a device to end up not doing anything well. Smartwatches can be a slippery slope and unless a company is open to constant improvements, refinements, and software innovation, it is a difficult space to be in. And, even if you do all of that, you are far from guaranteed a success. Swatch’s CEO Nick Hayek comes across as a bit cynical though when he refers to devices such as the Apple Watch as “toys.” While all-purpose smartwatches might struggle to find a market, Swatch’s approach ends up overly crippling them. Selling a premium priced plastic watch that only adds NFC seems very narrow sighted. The Swatch Bellamy will likely not draw any new customers to the brand. People seeking this functionality will pay slightly more for wearable devices that can do more. And let us not forget that the Bellamy is also not compatible with iOS devices, which represent nearly half of the mobile market. The only customers Swatch is likely to find for the watch are people who want a Swatch anyways and figure, “Why not pay a bit more so I can pay for things?”

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by Doug Parker
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AmpStrip FitLinxx Fitness Indiegogo Refund
Wearable Technology

“AmpStrip” Wearable Drastically Changes After Crowdfunding

October 16, 2015

AmpStrip FitLinxx Fitness Indiegogo Refund

It is no secret that pledging your support to a crowdfunding campaign carries risk. Typically the danger is that the product takes much, much longer to come to market than originally projected or that it doesn’t materialize at all; this year we have seen some very high profile Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns fail to produce a product with supporters left empty handed. What is more unusual, though, is to see the direction of a product completely shift after a successful crowdfunding campaign. But that is just what happened with AmpStrip.

AmpStrip made its debut this past January at CES and received a ton of extremely positive press. The Band-Aid like wearable device contained a thermometer, accelerometer, and heart rate sensor. The idea was to provide a wearable device for fitness that provided a comprehensive view of your body while being simple and barely-there. AmpStrip appeared to be a near ready-to-launch product at the time and the company behind it, FitLinxx, turned to Indiegogo to fund the launch. They raised over $530,000 with an initial goal of $50,000. Things appeared to be moving forward perfectly until March, at which point FitLinxx went silent for 3 months, not responding to emails or providing an update about the product. While never a good sign, when they did emerge from the shadows, FitLinxx claimed everything was still on track and that beta testing was proving successful. FitLinxx then crawled back into the darkness until this week, when it emerged to announce that AmpStrip would no longer exist in its current form and will no longer have any fitness focus. The only explanation provided was that the company didn’t have enough resources to focus on AmpStrip being a medical device and a fitness device.

Every inch of the Indiegogo page is covered with information about using the device for fitness, the product’s website still shows the tagline “Train To The Edge,” and it was being made by a company called ‘FitLinxx.’ AmpStrip was always first and foremost a fitness device. Clearly it was gathering health information but that was never an intended market for the wearable. Given that the product was already in beta testing, it is curious that FitLinxx would make such a drastic and sudden shift in the product. There really only seem to be two explanations behind this; either there were insurmountable issues related to the device when working out that were not found until widespread testing or the company signed an offer that could not be refused to focus on AmpStrip being a medical device. No matter the reason though, the way FitLinxx behaved was a disservice to its customers and disrespectful. With that level of consumer funding, companies owe it to their supporters to be more transparent. The good news at least is that FitLinxx is doing the right thing and offering to refund people’s money. If your money got caught up in all of this silliness, you can find a refund form on the company’s website.

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by Doug Parker
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Blocks Modular Smartwatch 1080
Watches

Blocks Modular Smartwatch Launches On Kickstarter

October 13, 2015

Blocks Modular Smartwatch 1080

It has been over a year since we first heard of Blocks, a modular smartwatch designed to let you add functionality simply by trading out customized links in the device’s wrist band. Similar in concept to Google’s modular smartphone, Ara, the idea behind Blocks is that not everyone is looking for the same functionality out of their devices. While I might want a device that tracks my Max VO2, you might have no interest in that and would prefer to be able to make NFC based payments. Additionally, as new technologies emerge, such as an optical sensor to detect glucose levels, you wouldn’t need to purchase a new smartwatch to add the functionality – just add a new module. While the concept is intriguing, I am not sure I fully embrace it (for either a watch or a phone). I don’t feel the need to regularly tinker with devices I depend on daily and from a usability standpoint, I believe it is better for the user if the software is built around a unified experience. Additionally, more often than not, once compelling new technologies hit the market, I am usually already at the point when my device needs upgrading anyways. But clearly there are a lot of people who believe that modular is that way of the future, which is amazing for Blocks. The smartwatch went live on Kickstarter today and has already well exceeded its funding goal of $250,000.

Scheduled to ship in May, 2016, Blocks will be compatible with both Android and iOS. For $195 you can receive the core body of the watch and a strap (no modules). Unsurprisingly, nearly nobody has pledged this level. Instead, almost 900 people have already pledged the level that also includes 4 modules (as of publication, the price is $275). The initial modules will include an extra battery, a GPS, NFC Payment, a heart rate sensor, and a sensor for altitude, temperature, and pressure. Later the company plans to add everything from a cellular antenna, to a fingerprint sensor, to a camera. All of the links are hot-swappable, so can trade out modules on the fly. Blocks is an intriguing product and we would love to hear from you about whether you think modular technology is the future or not. Head past the break for their Kickstarter video:  

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by Doug Parker
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Asus ZenWatch 2 Launch
Watches

Entry Level Priced Asus ZenWatch 2 Launches On October 9th

October 6, 2015

Asus ZenWatch 2 Launch

As we approach the Holiday season, what would a week be without another smartwatch launch! This time it is Asus’s turn; the Asus ZenWatch 2 will be available in retail beginning Friday, October 9th. While we were a fan of the design of the original ZenWatch, we were less than excited when the followup was announced this summer. The company took everything we loved about the original design and made it worse and did not address any of the visual shortcomings (we are looking at you, giant bezel). Hardware wise, little has changed except an improved charging system. Asus is boasting improved software but that is most likely due to improvements of Android Wear over the past year. There are two pieces of good news though. First, there will be a 36mm version, which is downright tiny for an Android Wear device. Second, it will be one of the least expensive current model smartwatches for the Holidays: $149.

With the 2015 versions of several smartwatches costing more than their predecessor, it is nice to see that Asus has actually reduced the price of the ZenWatch 2 by $50 versus the original. Incorporating such minimal hardware updates and lazy design decisions, it was probably smart of Asus to go after the lower end of the smartwatch audience. Despite once being a flagship product, Asus seems to recognize that it is not going to be able to successfully compete against the Apple Watches and Moto 360s of the world. While from a wearables perspective we are not impressed with the new smartwatch from Asus, it will serve the $150 price point well and could prove to be a vehicle to spur an uptick in the adaption rate of connected watches.

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by Doug Parker
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Microsoft Band 2
Wearable Technology

New Microsoft Band With Curved Screen Officially Announced

October 6, 2015

Microsoft Band 2

After rumors and leaks, Microsoft has officially announced the second version of the Microsoft Band. The original version of the band was launched just over a year ago and, while advanced at the time, it has not aged well from either a tech or style perspective. We thought the original was decent, but not great; it was very restrictive in what it could do and was not very comfortable to wear. The follow up device looks to improve on at least one of those issues. The Microsoft Band 2 is a much sleeker device, trading in glossy black plastic for metal accents, moving from a constrictive, flat display to a curved screen, and shedding most (but not all) of the batteries on the inside of the wristband. For those hoping for a true Microsoft smartwatch, the wait continues; at its heart, the Microsoft Band 2 is still a fitness tracker. That means it tracks your sleep quality, steps, calories, heart rate, and VO2 Max. The company, as rumored, has also added a barometer to the device which functions like the one on your smartphone to track altitude change (think: number of floors climbed). The band also retains the original’s GPS chip. Hopefully there have been some improvements made to it though; we found the original took a tremendous amount of time to find itself and consumed a ton of power. Thankfully Microsoft has dumped the plastic screen of the previous model, which scratched it you looked at it wrong, and is using Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3.  

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by Doug Parker
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LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition
Watches

LG’s Watch Urbane 2 Is First LTE Android Wear Smartwatch

October 5, 2015

LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition

LG has announced the successor to their Android Wear smartwatch Watch Urbane. The original Watch Urbane only launched in May, so we are bit surprised to be hearing about the  Watch Urbane 2nd Edition already. While the original device was applauded for being one of the best Android Wear devices at the time it, most reviewers were still quick to find shortcomings. Among them, a bulky design, lackluster screen, no ambient light sensor, and internals that were about a year old. Thankfully LG’s Watch Urbane 2nd Edition will introduce some (small) hardware upgrades. First, the screen increases in pixel density (from 245ppi to 348ppi), RAM sees a slight bump (from 512MB to 768MB), and the battery shifts from 410 man to 570mAh. The improved battery isn’t just there to increase the watch’s run time though; the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition is the first Android Wear smartwatch to support cellular connectivity, with the device including a LTE antenna. LG previously released a WebOS version of the Urbane with a cellular antenna and Samsung makes Tizen based watches with a mobile connection, but this will be the first time the Android Wear OS and the vast library of smartwatch friendly apps offered through Google Play will be available to watch users who prefer to leave their phone behind. LG has not announced pricing or timing of the device.

Smartwatches with cellular connectivity are an interesting segment of the market. We get the appeal, but don’t see it becoming more than a niche segment for a while. First, I don’t think people are looking for one more device that they have to pay for and manage on their cellular plans. Second, I don’t think the technology is there yet. My phone barely makes it through the day and its battery is much more significant than what can be fit into a watch. Large strides need to be made in battery storage and mobile radio power efficiencies. Finally, I don’t think the software is there yet to make using an untethered smartwatch a compelling experience.

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by Doug Parker
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Watches

Samsung’s Gear S2 Smartwatch Goes On Sale Today

October 2, 2015

Samsung Sear S2

A month ago, Samsung officially unveiled their new flagship smartwatch, the Gear S2, and today it goes on sale. After 2 years of odd designs, Samsung finally paid attention to what was happening in the wearable market around them and introduced a sleek, round device. Starting at $300, you can find the smartwatch at Amazon, Best Buy, and (oddly) Macy’s. The device is available in two models, the S2 and the S2 Classic. The Classic features a smaller watch face and, breaking the pricing mold, is actually $50 more expensive than the larger S2. Interestingly, the Classic is one of the smallest Android Wear watches available currently. In a first for Samsung, the Tizen powered device is compatible with other makes of Android phones, no longer limiting its audience to Galaxy users. The S2’s standout feature is its rotating bezel, which behaves similarly to Apple’s Digital Crown, providing users an input method to interact with and control apps. Note: a version of the S2 with a cellular antenna will be available “later this Fall” for an undisclosed price at AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

With a smart design and a wide range of compatible devices, we can see that the Gear S2 has the potential to be a big hit. With several compelling Android compatible smartwatches hitting the market this Autumn at similar prices, including the 2015 Moto 360 and Huawei Watch, it will be interesting to see where consumer interest falls.

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by Doug Parker
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