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Wearable Technology

Official iOS Support For Android Wear Arrives Today

August 31, 2015

iOS Android Wear iPhone

Today Google announced the immediate support of Android Wear devices with iOS. Google’s official iOS Android Wear app launches today and will unlock an entire ecosystem of wearable devices to iOS users. To start with, only 3 devices will be iOS compatible: the Huawei Watch, the Asus ZenWatch 2, and the LG Watch Urbane (which is the only watch of the 3 available to buy today). Moving forward, all future Android Wear watches will be compatible. Unfortunately, the bargain priced first version of the Moto 360 is left out of the iOS party.

From a functionality stand point, without the deep, system level hooks Apple is able to use for the Apple Watch, the Android Wear experience is a bit shallower. You aren’t able to edit your iCloud based calendar, reply to iMessages, or respond to emails through Mail. You also cannot currently install any third party apps or watch faces onto Android Wear devices, because they depend on the Google Play store. The good news is that  

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by Doug Parker
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Watches

Fossil Shows Off Upcoming Smartwatch & Wearables

August 19, 2015

Fossil Intel Android Wear Smartwatch

We have heard that Intel and Fossil were working together on some wearable devices, but we finally caught of first peek of them this week at the Intel Developer Forum. Fossil will release 3 devices in total: a connected bracelet, a connected watch, and a smartwatch. The smartwatch is (obviously) powered by an Intel chip and is stylistically similar to the original Moto 360 watch; it is fairly large and thick with a round face that has a flat part at the bottom. It will run Android Wear and is expected to hit the market sometime around the Holidays. Beyond that, very little is known about the 3 devices. Fossil has promised to release more information closer to launch.

The reveal of Fossil’s first smartwatch closely follows news that US watch sales fell the most in seven years. The NPD Group, who conducted the survey, found that smartwatches, especially the Apple Watch, were a large cause of the sales erosion. The segment of the market hardest hit was the mid-tier level where Fossil resides. Unless Fossil has something more up their sleeves, I am not sure this is going to be the success they are hoping for. Already an uphill sales message (after all, what exactly does Fossil know about technology), it is going to take more than a seemingly recycled year-old design running a stock Android Wear OS to get people excited. It will be interesting to see how the market receives the watch, but I would guess “me too” products, as this appears to be, are not the correct path forward for traditional timepiece makers.

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by Doug Parker
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Watches

Olio Releases Second Batch Of Smartwatch, Now In Gold

July 31, 2015

Olio One Gold

We poke fun at it, but finding a good looking wearable feels like a fool’s errand. A very few are well made and striking looking but they are still, well, tech-y. A few months ago we covered a watch that looked ready to change that, the Olio One. The limited edition watch focused on traditional watch looks, a subtle custom interface, and quality materials. The concept resonated and the stunningly designed wrist piece sold out in a matter of days. Yesterday the company opened up orders for its second batch of smartwatches. In addition to adding gold and rose gold options (priced close to $1,000), Olio has also slashed the price of its stainless versions by $250 dollars!

The news comes on the heels of an announcement that Olio has raised $10.2 million in VC to continue creating the smartwatch. At Circuits and Cable Knit, we are looking forward to hearing from people who were able to secure one of the initial Olio Ones, scheduled to ship in August. The interface throughout the watch was created to thoughtfully displaying information in unique and informative ways. The iOS / Android compatible smartwatch is based on an intriguing app-less concept. Olio plans to integrate needed functionality directly into the watch’s OS and has already expanded the watch’s software so that it can do things such as control your Nest or start your car. Designed to be a niche device, it will be interesting to see how the Olio One is received. The watch starts at $395 and if you are interesting in securing one for Fall delivery, I would not dally; approximately half of the allotment has sold out over the past 24 hours.

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by Doug Parker
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Watches

Dot: The Smartwatch For The Visually Impaired

July 29, 2015

Dot Braille Smartwatch

Smart devices are pretty amazing, but those glossy, smooth touch screens don’t provide much tactile feedback for those who are visually impaired. Accessibility features on phones have helped the situation but not solved them and most smart watches have, at best, very limited accessibility features. The visually impaired have largely been left behind in the digital revolution due to real-time digital text. Whether it is information on an ATMs touch screen or a text from a family member, if you are visually impaired your best option has been to have the device read the screen to you. Active Braille technology, which displays changing Braille in real time, does exist but up until now has cost thousands of dollars. Active Braille not only allows for a much more personal and intimate experience than having a computerized voice read things out loud, but also allows electronic books to be displayed in Braille (only about 1% of books are printed in Braille). Unfortunately the price has stalled adaption of the technology and, as a result, literacy is a becoming a serious issue among the blind.

Dot is aiming to disrupt the active Braille market with their $300 smartwatch. The bluetooth device can display four letters at a time at up to 100 letters per second. Using voice commands,  

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by Doug Parker
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Asus ZenWatch 2
Watches

Asus ZenWatch2 Makes Questionable First Impression

June 3, 2015

Asus ZenWatch 2

This week at Computex, Asus showed off their new ZenWatch 2 smartwatch. The original ZenWatch was released last fall and was easily one of the best looking smartwatches that had been released at the point. It featured a beautiful, slightly curved, square screen and impressive detailing along the sides. The Android Wear device’s biggest issue, stylistically, was its large size and the giant ugly bezel surrounding the screen. Our hope at the time was the when version 2 hit, Asus would trim down the size and the bezel.

Well, we got one of our wishes; the ZenWatch 2 now comes in two sizes, 45mm and 49mm, both of which are smaller than the original’s 51mm size. Considering that a lot of people felt the 38mm Apple Watch was too large, these sizes will not work for everyone. Also, we are left wondering who the person is that feels like a 45mm watch is just not large enough for them. The bezel, on the other hand seems, to only have gotten bigger. And, man is it ugly. In fact, the whole watch seems to have got uglier. Gone are the beautiful recessed metal side, replaced by a disproportioned “digital-crown” knock off that makes the whole watch look cheap. With the ZenWatch 2, Asus seems to have only emphasized the things we disliked about the original. That combined with the knock off product video of watch bands connecting while floating in a white space and rumored near-identical tech-specs, we are left with a bad taste in our mouths. Head past the break to see the video: (UPDATE: someone must of agreed that the product launch video seemed a little too copycat; it has been removed from YouTube. Thankfully someone has reposted it. Video is now working again after the break)  

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by Doug Parker
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Disney Testing Other Wearable Devices As MagicBand
Watches

Disney Explores Using Guests’ Existing Wearables As Magic Bands

June 1, 2015

Disney Testing Other Wearable Devices As MagicBand

Disney has invested a tremendous amount of effort and money ($1 Billion) over the past 5 years to develop their Magic Band technology and ensure it is so compelling that the RFID bracelet would be the must have accessory when visiting a Disney theme park. In the two years that the band has been available to guests, more than 11 million of them have been used. The band is designed to make the process of visiting Disney as frictionless as possible, with the band serving as a FastPass entry, room key, park admission, and payment for food and merchandise. There are even restaurants where the tech allows the hostess to know who you are when you walk in and preordered food to automatically be brought to whichever table you seat yourself at.

But as wearable technology likely becomes more and more common place, why should guests have to wear two pieces of tech, especially when they have redundant internal circuitry? According to a report, this is a question that Disney hopes it can solve. The goal is to test whether a comparable all-inclusive experience could be provided through other wearable technology, such as our smartwatches. The concept would provide an even more seamless experience to park guests. Even though Disney is exploring feasibility, there is no timeline for the project – if it ever comes to fruition.

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by Doug Parker
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Apple Watch Review Coming
Reviews

Initial Thoughts About The Apple Watch

April 30, 2015

Apple Watch Review Coming

The Apple Watch has been shipping for almost a week. The team at Circuits and Cable Knit was lucky enough to get our hands on one. Almost 7 days in, the Watch has been a very interesting experience. We are excited to be providing a review but want to do it right. With that in mind, we have decided an extended use review was important. Yes, the Watch is an amazing little device, but how will we feel 4 weeks from now when we strap it on our wrists? Will it become something to rely upon or will we even take notice if we forget it one day? A device like this is so nuanced that we have come to the conclusion that this is the only fair way to review the Apple Watch.

That said, here are some brief initial thoughts.  

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by Doug Parker
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