SUBSCRIBE

Category

Wearable Technology

TAG Heuer Smartwatch
Watches

TAG Heuer Announces Plans For Smartwatch

December 17, 2014

TAG Heuer SmartwatchSeems that luxury watch maker TAG Heuer has had a change of heart. Back in September, when Apple unveiled their Apple Watch, TAG Heuer’s interim CEO (and head of LVMH’s watch division), Jean-Claude Biver, was one of the first detractors of the device. Biver was not a fan of Apple’s design but, more importantly, not a fan of smartwatches. At the time Biver said that smartwatches will soon be outdated while “luxury always has something timeless.” What a difference a few months make. Biver has now changed his mind and sees value in TAG Heuer developing a smartwatch. Likely the company is starting to sense consumer demand for the devices and does not want to risk being left behind if the product category finds success. The watch industry already took a huge hit from smartphones and smartwatches could be the final nail in the coffin for a company not able to adapt. Biver says TAG Heuer started exploring the concept 4 months ago and has already formed partnerships with Intel and Google. They do not want to release anything unless it feels “first, different, and unique.” The device is expected to utilize traditional watch mechanics in addition to a bevy of sensors. TAG Heuer’s smartwatch is unlikely to launch before late 2015.

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Watches

Google Launches Designer Watch Faces

December 16, 2014

Rebecca Minkoff Android Wear Watch Face

Google has made its first foray into offering designer watch faces for its Android Wear devices. Unsurprisingly, Rebecca Minkoff is the first big name designer to dive in and offer watch faces. The label has made a name for themselves in 2014 by being very progressive with technology. This year Rebecca Minkoff has launched RFID enabled smart dressing rooms and two wearable devices, a Charging Bracelet and a Notification Bracelet. The new watch faces are rolling out as part of Android Wear 5.0, which includes an API for the creation of watch faces. Some of the other bigger names jumping into the fray with virtual watch faces include Porsche and X-ray artist Hugh Turvey. Check them all out on Google Play. The move by these designers is made more interesting by the fact that several other designers and watch brands have just revved up their legal engines to go after anyone offering digital clones of their watches.

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Jawbone Up For Groups
Wearable Technology

Jawbone Wants To Make Your Office Healthier

December 12, 2014

Jawbone Up For GroupsCompanies are figuring out that the easiest way to keep employees healthy and happy is to help facilitate physical activity. We have seen that with the rise in company sports leagues and even onsite gyms.  One of the latest trends is deploying activity monitors company wide. Jawbone has just made that easier with the launch of their UP for Groups software and purchase program. UP for Groups allows companies to purchase either UP Move, Up24, or UP3 at bulk discounts. The specialize software allows the bands to be easily administered and collects aggregated statistics. The statistics can be used to remind employees to move around, create leaderboards, or even to understand patterns regarding how active employees are throughout the day. As long as the information gathered is used for good and not evil, it seems like a win-win.

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Watches

HTC’s Upcoming Wrist Worn Wearable Not A Smartwatch

December 11, 2014

HTC Non Smartwatch WearableHTC has been publicly contemplating entering the wearable tech market for almost a year. The company has now disclosed that it will announce a wrist worn wearable at CES this January, but it is not a smartwatch. In fact, HTC says it is unlike any device on the market. This is the latest chapter of HTC disclosing things probably before they should. In February, HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang said that the company would launch a smartwatch by year end. But in September it came out that the smartwatch had been canceled. A month later HTC stated that the postponed device would launch in 2015. Now we find out the wearable is something other than what HTC considers a smartwatch. Hopefully the confusion is not a sign of turmoil, but instead an indicator that HTC really wants to get this right. In October the head of HTC America, Jason Mackenzie, had this to say: “When we come to market with our product we want to make sure the product has a strong point of view and there is a really compelling reason to strap it on your wrist.”

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Clothing

Bionic Bra Adjusts Fit For Any Activity

December 10, 2014

Bionic BraWe all know taking care of your breasts is important for your health and we have heard the statistics such as 85% of women are wearing bra’s that don’t fit them. Researchers at the University of Wollongong in Austria believe that the fault of the poor fit lies with the bra. For the past 15 years they have been working to create a bra that can adjust to fit you perfectly and adapts to whatever activity you are partaking in. Professors Gordon Wallace and Julie Steele recently unveiled their prototype. The Bionic Bra looks like a souped up sports bra and is designed to sense how much support is needed and adjust the fit of the bra accordingly. So if you are sitting in a car the Bionic Bra will loosen and if you are working out it will tighten. At this point the bulky prototype is not washable and doesn’t adjust to your body to create the perfect fit. The researchers are now working to solve that and to make the Bionic Bra more fashionable.

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Eyewear

Intel Announces Partnership With Luxottica

December 4, 2014

Intel Luxottica PartnershipIf it wasn’t clear from Intel’s first foray into wearable devices, the company is serious about creating stylish connected devices you would actually want to wear. They are also serious about working with other companies to ensure the devices are stylish. To that end, Intel has announced a multiyear partnership with luxury eyewear company Luxottica. In case you aren’t familiar, Luxottica is an Italian eyewear behemoth and are the people behind Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, and a large number of clothing designers’ eyewear. Although Luxottica already has an agreement with Google pertaining to Google Glass, the company is quick to point out that they are very different agreements. With Google Glass, Luxottica is working to incorporate the product into their Oakley and Ray-Ban brands. With Intel, the two companies are exploring new possibilities together in a more blue sky manner. Intel expects the first product of this relationship to be unveiled in 2015.

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Watches

In Surprise Twist: FES is really Sony

December 2, 2014

FES Watch Is Really Sony

The other week we wrote about a crowdfunded piece of tech in Japan called the FES Watch. The e-ink based watch was on its second successful turn at raising money through a Japanese equivalent of Kickstarter, Makuake. This week, things took a decidedly Scooby-Doo like turn when the mask was peeled off of Fashion Entertainments (FES) to reveal that it really is Sony. As it turns out, Fashion Entertainments is a Sony unit created to explore how to utilize e-paper in fashion. Utilizing the FES name instead of “Sony” allowed the team to gain a better understanding of interest and demand, without a brand name coming into the mix. Before Sony came clean about its FES involvement, there was some confusion after Sony said it was working on an unique e-ink watch and band, with media outlets pointing to the FES watch as having already beaten them to the punch. People in Japan who preordered the device should expect to receive it in May of 2015. Hopefully with it being a Sony product, the clever customizable watch will launch in other markets also.

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment