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CES 2016

Under Armour HTC UA HealthBox Band Scale Heart Rate
Sports, Wearable Technology

Under Armour And HTC Launch Ecosystem Of Connected Devices

January 20, 2016

Under Armour HTC UA HealthBox Band Scale Heart Rate

While Under Armour has seen amazing growth in the sports apparel industry over the company’s 20 year existence, it has not found the same level of success with wearables. The company’s two previous efforts (the E39 and Armour39) amounted to nothing more than niche products. Perhaps they targeted the wrong audience, offered the wrong feature set, or were just too ugly – but Under Armour has hit the drawing board and is trying again, this time with the help of HTC. The new effort from Under Armour features a suite of connected devices designed to promote fitness, call UA HealthBox. While they each work well as individual product, Under Armour has designed them to be most beneficial as a set.

First up is an activity tracking band. Similar in looks to the Nike+ Fuelband and Garmin Vivosmart, the cleverly named UA Band tracks daily movement and sleep, has a heart rate monitor, allows you to log the type of workout you are doing, and connects to your phone for notifications and music control. The device is water proof up to 10 meters, has a touch sensitive monochrome PMOLED display, and a 5 day battery life. Unfortunately the $180 silicon / plastic fitness band is only available in black (with a few red accents) so if you are not a fan of the coloring, you are out of luck. The data recorded by the UA Band is fed via Bluetooth to the UA Record app  on your phone. This app is what Under Armour claims makes their suite of devices so special.  

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by Doug Parker
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Withings Go Activity Fitness Tracker e-ink e-paper button watch
Wearable Technology

Withings Introduces Budget Oriented e-Ink Wearable

January 8, 2016

Withings Go Activity Fitness Tracker e-ink e-paper button watch

Withings has announced a new fitness tracking wearable. The new button shaped device is the cheapest tracker yet from the company, which makes everything from connected blood pressure monitors, to sleep aid machines, to activity tracking watches. The new Withings Go is approximately the size of a coin and predominately features a round e-ink display. The device automatically tracks your movement and sleep, showing your progress via a dial on the screen. The only button on the Go is hidden beneath the display; simply tap on the display to switch from the “progress” view to a watch display. The new wearable reminds us a lot of Misfit’s devices, the Jawbone Up Move, and the Fitbit Zip. The main difference though is the e-ink display, which to us is a huge improvement over the competing devices; if you have ever tried to tell the time on a Misfit Flash or Shine, you will see the appeal! The Go uses a replaceable button-cell battery to achieve an 8 month battery life and it is waterproof up to 50 meters. In fact, the device can even recognize swim strokes and automatically record when you go swimming! When Go launches later in Q1, it will list for $69.95 and will be available in 5 colors, wearable as either a clip or a watch.  

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by Doug Parker
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WiseWear Socialite Smart Bracelet Wearable Notifications Alarm Alert Safety
Jewelry

WiseWear Smart Bracelet Designed To Keep Women Safe

January 6, 2016

WiseWear Socialite Smart Bracelet Wearable Notifications Alarm Alert Safety

Walking alone at night is a stressful experience for a lot of women. The fear of an attack is real and rarely is there time to alert anyone if you need help. Some women carry around personal attack alarms or hold down the ‘dial’ button on their cell phone until they are safely home, but these solutions only work if you are anticipating something happening. WiseWear has developed a line a wearable smart bracelets, named Socialite, designed not only to help women track their activity and receive notifications but to also keep them safe. By simply tapping the device 3 times, a message is instantly sent to a preset list of contacts indicating you need help. The message also includes a map with your location marked. The bracelet can even trigger an audio recording of your surroundings. Looks wise, WiseWear has developed an extremely clever modular system so that it doesn’t look like you only own one bracelet. The brains of the wearable is in the bottom half of the bracelet. The top portion can be swapped out to create completely different looks. Currently the company has 3 designs which are all interchangeable and plans to release more in the future. You will just need to decide if you prefer all of your Socialite bracelets to be gold or silver. The Socialite costs $299.95, has a 3 day battery life, and is currently available for preorder in 3 styles. WiseWear has not yet posted pricing for additional modular styles. Head past the break to see all the looks.

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by Doug Parker
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Belty Smart Belt Fashion Tech Self Fitting Adjusting French Emiota
Fashion, Wearable Technology

Smart Belt Belty Returns to CES Completely Redesigned

January 6, 2016

Belty Smart Belt Fashion Tech Self Fitting Adjusting French Emiota

At last year’s CES, Belty was one of the surprise hits. In case you don’t remember, simply put on the “smart belt” and tap the buckle when it is comfortably fitted. Belty will then track your movement throughout the day, vibrate when it is time to move, and (best of all) automatically adjust its tightness to maintain a constant fit as you sit, walk, and eat (too much). The model on display last year was an early prototype and while the company behind the high-tech fashion accessory, Emiota, had hoped to ship it by the Holidays, they instead opted to completely redesign Belty. The new version looks much less techie and more like a traditional belt. Belty is now constructed from premium French leather and significant weight has been shed from the buckle by utilizing more plastic parts. Finally, Belty’s vibration system has been completely overhauled. Besides alerting you when it is time to move around, the belt also can alert you to drink water, to de-stress with a breathing exercise, assist you in taking a 5 minute power nap, or even help you settle into efficient, rhythmic walking pace. Belty is currently available for preorder but won’t ship until December 15th. You can purchase the buckle and one strap (in either brown or black) for $395 or both straps for $495.  

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by Doug Parker
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OMsignal OMbra smart sports bra shirt women wearable fitnesstech
Sports, Wearable Technology

OMsignal Announces Smart Biometric Sports Bra

January 6, 2016

OMsignal OMbra smart sports bra shirt women wearable fitnesstech

OMsignal has been promising a solution for women looking to use the company’s smart shirt. The problem has been that the sensors integrated into the OMsignal smart shirt are only designed to work when properly fitted to a man’s body. Instead of introducing a new version of the shirt for women, the company has done one better and has managed to integrate the same technology into a sports bra, the OMbra. This results in a product that is seemingly superior to the men’s shirt; most guys probably do not wear a compression shirt, but women are more than likely donning a sports bra when they exercise. Despite the reduced size versus the shirt, no features were shed. The OMbra records heart rate information, breathing data, and activity metrics to a small black box attached to the garment. The black box can then either wirelessly transmits the data to your phone in real time or store it for retrieval later. The OMbra will ship this spring alongside a new app called OMrun. The new app offers information catered to runners including running economy and breathing rhythm.  

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by Doug Parker
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Misfit Ray Fitness Activity Tracker New Design Watch Necklace
Wearable Technology

The Misfit Ray Is The Company’s First Radically New Wearable

January 5, 2016

Misfit Ray Fitness Activity Tracker New Design Watch Necklace

Notice anything different about the new Misfit Ray – that’s right, it’s not round. The Misfit Ray represents a major move beyond the disc-like design of the Shine and Flash. Shaped like a AAA battery, only shorter and slightly wider, the new wearable is a radicle redesign from a company that thus far hasn’t veered from its original design. The new shape means new ways of wearing the device, which also means new accessories. Misfit envisions wearing the Ray on your wrist with either a leather, woven fabric, or rubber band. The Ray can also be worn around your neck, attached on one end (like a pendant) to either a metal or woven fabric necklace. Unfortunately, if you were expecting anything else new from the device you will be disappointed. But that isn’t all bad news; Misfits have a fantastic 6 month battery life that is continued in the new activity tracker. Ray also borrows some of the Shine 2’s best new features including vibrating notifications utilizing a multicolor LED light and a capacitive touch surface to do things such as take a photo or control your music. The Ray ships this Spring and is currently available for preorder for $99.99. The price also includes a TPU rubber wristband. For $119.99 you can preorder the Ray with a leather band.

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by Doug Parker
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Huawei Watch android wear smartwatch women ladies elegant jewel
Watches

Two Models Of The Huawei Watch Announced For Women

January 5, 2016

Huawei Watch android wear smartwatch women ladies elegant jewel

The Huawei Watch is easily one of the most attractive and feature laden Android Wear smartwatches on the market. The company has announced it is expanding its Watch family with two news models designed especially for women. The new wearables feature thinner wrist bands and 10 new “feminine” watch faces. The least expensive of the two models is the Watch Elegant. The $499 version of the Watch is rose gold plated and features a face surrounded by 3 rows of fine dots. If that sounds a bit understated, the $599 Watch Jewel might be of more interest. The rose gold plated device is surrounded by 68 1.5mm Swarovski Zirconia crystals to give it a diamond-like appearance. Otherwise the two new models are identical to the original device (which starts at $350); that mean a 42mm watch face with a sapphire crystal and a 1.4inch, 400×400 display. Both new watches are set to launch sometime during Q1 of 2016.  

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by Doug Parker
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