SUBSCRIBE

Category

Wearable Technology

Apple Watch 2 Keynote September 2016 GPS Thin battery LTE
Watches

Apple Poised To Announce Updated Apple Watch 2 Tomorrow

September 7, 2016

Apple Watch 2 Keynote September 2016 GPS thin battery LTE

Tomorrow is Apple’s annual marque event to launch new iPhones. The keynote usually focuses mainly on the phones and the software that drives them. This year though, it looks likely a new Apple Watch will make an appearance. A quick browsing of Apple’s online store shows that nearly every model is sold out (all of the stainless versions are no longer available). There have been very few supply chain leaks about the wearable. This could mean that the smartwatch isn’t hitting the market immediately (often Apple uses their September event to announce items that will ship sometime before the holidays) or that Apple has simply done a better job managing leaks. There are a few tidbits that have bubbled to the surface though.  

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
ASUS ZenWatch 3 smartwatch IFA Android Wear 2
Watches

ASUS Shows Off Completely Redesigned ZenWatch 3

September 1, 2016

ASUS ZenWatch 3 smartwatch IFA Android Wear 2

ASUS likes to keep us guessing with the ZenWatch. When the original debuted in 2014, it stood out from the crowd with a striking, slightly curved square display. With recessed details along the sides, the wearable had a simple elegance that we loved and cutting edge internals. What we didn’t love was the 40mm screen dwarfed by the 51mm watch face. To say it had a giant bezel would be an understatement. Last Fall we had high hopes for the ZenWatch 2 and could not have been more disappointed. Instead of releasing a smartwatch that reflected an iterative improvement, addressing issues people complained about with the original, the ZenWatch 2 barely offered an update. ASUS hardly touched the aging internals and the design actually got worse. While the watch shrunk to a more reasonable size, the bezel seemed to stand out even more. And the handsome recessed line was removed and a fake “digital crown” was stuck onto the side. The result was a cheap looking wearable. The good news – the ASUS ZenWatch 2 was comparatively cheap: $150.

This year for the ZenWatch 3, ASUS finally remembered where the drawing board was and went back to it. The ZenWatch 3 is a completely new smartwatch from ASUS.  

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Corning Gorilla Glass SR+ Wearables Sapphire Apple Samsung smartwatch
Manufacturing, Watches, Wearable Technology

Corning’s New Gorilla Glass SR+ Is Designed For Wearables

September 1, 2016

Corning Gorilla Glass SR+ Wearables Sapphire Apple Samsung smartwatch

It is no secret that wearable devices take a beating. They are constantly exposed, being subjected to not only the elements but also the objects you encounter everyday. There is nothing more frustrating than your watch ramming a door handle as you walk by or scraping along the wall when you reach for something. Sapphire glass is used for numerous of wearables for just that reason – sapphire is the second hardest material, only behind diamonds. But sapphire glass isn’t perfect. To start with, it is expensive (estimated to cost 3 to 4 times more than typical Gorilla Glass) and heavy (67% heavier than typical Gorilla Glass). Also for how great it is protecting against scratches, sapphire glass shatters very easily. Finally, the optics of sapphire glass, especially in direct light, are not nearly as good as traditional glass products. Looking to address all of these issues, Corning has developed Gorilla Glass SR+.  

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Samsung Gear S3 S2 Watch Wearable Smartwatch IFA 2016 LTE GPS iOS
Watches

Samsung Announces Gear S3 Smartwatch With GPS, LTE, & iOS Support

August 31, 2016

Samsung Gear S3 S2 Watch Wearable Smartwatch IFA 2016 LTE GPS iOS

It is almost September, which means it is time for companies to unveil their updated product lineups for the Holidays. We are already seeing several companies announcing new wearables they hope will be on the top of people’s wish lists. Today at IFA, Samsung debuted the new Gear S3, available in 2 flavors: Classic and Frontier. The S3 is the successor to last year’s Gear S2, Samsung’s marque smartwatch. Unlike the S and the S2, which couldn’t have been more different, the S3 continues along the path forged by the S2. Like it’s predecessor, the Tenzen based wearable features a completely round screen (no flat tire) surrounded by a rotating bezel.  But that is about where the similarities end.

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
STEP-iT McDonalds FItness Activity Tracker Pedometer Recall Happy Meal
Wearable Technology

McDonald’s Recalls Fitness Tracking Wearable Over Risk Of Burns

August 23, 2016

STEP-iT McDonalds Fitness Activity Tracker Pedometer Recall Happy Meal

Earlier this month McDonald’s launched a fitness tracking wearable. Included in Happy Meals, the wrist-worn STEP-iT was a great step forward in providing kids with the data they need to try to be healthier and more active. The plan was for almost 30 million kids to have access to the activity tracker. Even though it was just a glorified cheap plastic pedometer (that rattled all the time), it was an honorable plan to provide kids with technology they might not otherwise have. Unfortunately, like so many other fitness trackers, users have been reporting skin irritation and, worse, burns. McDonald’s has issued an immediate recall of all units and will no longer offer the wearable in-store. Reports of the issue started coming in a few days ago and the fast food icon began to quietly pull TV ads and remove mention of the tracker in-store. If your kid has a STEP-iT, McDonald’s is encouraging you to stop using it immediately and you can bring it in to the restaurant to trade for another toy.

Most of the time these types of recalls are due to skin reacting to chemicals in the band. With the STEP-iT, the issue is reported to be related to the 2 red LEDs on the back of the device. Of course these LEDs serve absolutely no purpose, which has to make this recall very frustrating for McDonalds.

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Android Wear 2 Together Social Interactive Watch Face Axe Google
Watches, Wearable Technology

Ahead Of Android Wear 2.0 Google To Suspend “Together” Watch Face

August 12, 2016

Android Wear 2 Together Social Interactive Watch Face Axe Google

Google is preparing to suspend several Android Wear apps alongside the launch of the wearable platform’s first major update. First on the chopping block appears to be the “Together” watch face; which will stop working September 30th. The face, which began shipping with Android Wear 1.3 last August, was one of the platform’s original interactive watch faces. It was designed to facilitate watch-to-watch communication similar to the Apple Watch. Users could share emoji, photos, current activity stats, or scribbles with just a tap. While the “Together” watch face might be going away, Google is promising when Android Wear 2.0 launches this Fall, similar features will be baked into the entire operating system.

While it is great news that the social features of the “Together” watch face will be included in Android Wear 2.0, not all watches will be able to run the new OS. Killing the services behind the watch face is a slap in the face to Android Wear users whose hardware is not supported by the new software. This includes the LG G Watch, Moto 360, and most likely any smartwatch with similar hardware, such as the Asus ZenWatch. If you have an Android Wear device older than last Fall, not only are you most likely stuck on Android Wear 1.x but you also are going to be loosing features. With a strong reliance on cloud based tech, it is not surprising that Android Wear would retire services, but it seems extremely aggressive to only allow the newest hardware to upgrade while simultaneously suspending services to older devices.

For those lucky enough to be able to upgrade to Android Wear 2.0, Google has introduced a number of meaningful updates. The changes focus on improving how users interact with the device for fitness, messaging, and glanceable information. For the latter, 3rd parties can now develop complications which can be added by the user to any watch face that supports complications. In the past, developers needed to include a custom watch face with their app. Using the wearable for fitness is about to become even easier because apps now have a “stand alone” mode, giving apps have the ability to operate without a cell phone being present, pulling data from the watch’s WiFi or cellular connection. This allows you to go to the gym with only your watch and a pair of Bluetooth headphones and be able to stream music from Spotify. A side benefit of “stand alone” mode is that you can also browse and install apps directly from your watch. This is a huge boon for iOS users, who previously were reliant on the built-in apps. Your smartwatch will now also be able to automatically recognize various activities and trigger a specified app (i.e. Strava when you are cycling). Perhaps the biggest change with Android Wear 2.0 is with messaging. Not only are notifications revised (shifting from a small banner to a card that slides up to fill the screen) but the way you reply is also updated. When you receive a text you can reply via emoji triggering scribbles or voice recognition, and now via handwriting recognition, contextual smart replies (similar to the Apple Watch), or a full keyboard (with swipe support).

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment
Basis Peak Intel Recall Overheating Shutdown Shutter Mandatory Burn Blister
Business, Watches, Wearable Technology

Intel Recalls All Basis Peak Smartwatches And Shutters Brand

August 5, 2016

Basis Peak Intel Recall Overheating Shutdown Shutter Mandatory Burn Blister

When the Basis Peak was released in the fall of 2014, it was one of the most appealing wearables on the market. Straddling the line between smartwatch and fitness tracker, the Peak was a comparative steal at $200. The device was able to receive notifications and alert you to phone calls, texts, and emails in addition to tracking your movement, sleep, and heart rate. But with the looming threat of the Apple Watch and a ton of competing products hitting the market at the same time, the Basis Peak had a tough time find an audience. But apparently that was the least of its issues.

Intel, who purchased Peak in mid-2014, has announced a full recall of all Basis Peak watches and accessories. It came to light in June that users were reporting the wearable would overheat and cause burns and blisters. At the time, Intel advised owners that a firmware update to address the issue would be released eminently and to abstain from using the device until then. With yesterday’s recall announcement, Intel released a statement that a software fix could not be found without crippling the device. The chip-maker is providing a full refund for all eligible products returned. To emphasize that this is a mandatory recall, Intel is shutting down all Basis services and servers by the end of the year. Intel is making it clear, if you have a Basis Peak, it will be bricked without the servers.  

Continue reading
by Doug Parker
Leave a comment