Philips, the Dutch electronics powerhouse, is dipping into the connected health business with a line that includes a body monitor scale, blood pressure cuff, in-ear thermometer, and motion-monitor wristband. The company hopes to use its strong brand and FDA approval to help differentiate itself. The company (disclosure: I worked for a small obscure division of Philips … [Read more...]
Intel Pulls Plug on Basis Fitness Tracker; Will Shut Down Hub at Year End
Intel appears to have thrown in the towel on its Basis fitness trackers, telling all users to send them back and saying it will turn off the server they need at the end of 2016. Basis was an early and fairly successful wearables startup, with a wrist device that was one of the first dedicated to serious athletes. Intel, which had never been in a consumer-facing business … [Read more...]
Fitbit Promises New Trackers This Year, Probably Including NFC
When Fitbit announced its quarterly results yesterday, CEO James Park said that the company would announce "more new products for this holiday season that we've ever had before." Given the company's iffy record of making holiday ship dates, that may translate to "two or three." The top of the company's line are the Charge HR, the Surge, and the Blaze. The Blaze was announced … [Read more...]
Wearables AR Pioneer Skully Hits the Wall
We're seeing reports that Skully -- the company that made an augmented reality motorcycle helmet that was one of the first high-profile wearables startups -- has fallen apart. And those reports indicate that the end is not peaceful. Skully's helmets were essentially heads-up displays mounted inside the visors, giving wearers views of their bikes controls as well as … [Read more...]
Samsung Licenses Valencell’s Ear-Worn Sensor Tech
We get many announcements of corporate alliances and licensing deals crossing our desk every day, but the one between Valencell and Samsung looks particularly provocative. Valencell makes interesting biometric sensor sets that sit in the ear. If you've got earbuds that count steps or track your pulse rate, odds are good that they use Valencell tech. But there aren't many of … [Read more...]
BAE Gives the Military a Wearable Charge
When we ran across a headline recently that defense contractor BAE was turning to clothing tech, we thought we might be onto a real old-fashioned scoop. After all, BAE produces some of the most cutting edge technology for the defense, aerospace, and security sectors all over the world. Now they’re moving into fashion? Well, no. As we might have expected, the clothing to … [Read more...]
Smartwatch Sales Plunge, says IDC, and It’s All Apple’s Fault
IDC is out with its latest quarterly numbers for the smartwatch industry, and it shows a whiplash kind of decline. Overall, shipments fell 32 percent in the second quarter of 2016 compared to a year previous, with Apple's sales dropping by 55 percent. Even at "only" 1.6 million watches shipped, Apple remains far and away the market leader, with 47 percent of the market. … [Read more...]
Pokémon GO Plus Wristband Went Fast
You’d have to be living in a fallout shelter not to have heard of Pokémon GO, Nintendo's augmented reality game, over the last few days. But lost in all the hype is Pokémon GO Plus -- the Poké Ball-shaped device that vibrates and flashes to alert the wearer to any Pokémon in the immediate vicinity. Press a button, and the Pokémon is yours. Pokémon GO Plus sells for $34.99 … [Read more...]
Google Reportedly Readies Android Wear Watches of its Own
The website Android Police is reporting that Google is getting ready to ship a pair of Android Wear smartwatches under its own brand. This bodes ill for the health of Android Wear. The whole point of Android Wear was to create a software platform that OEMs could basically plug into hardware, but only about a half-dozen companies -- all of them pretty big, but at least one of … [Read more...]
Converse ‘All-Wah’: Soft Shoe Goes Hard Rock
Converse, the shoe company that brought color to high-top sneakers and basketball shoes, is now bringing high tech and sound to same. The company’s Chuck Taylor All-Wah (you see what they did there, right?) doesn’t look much different from your regular or garden variety Chuck Taylors. That is, until you notice the connector in the side of the sole and right above that two holes … [Read more...]