The frequently accurate site 9to5Mac is reporting that the forthcoming Apple Watch will be powerful but its battery will be hard-pressed to last a day. Estimates like this are tough, because it's not at all obvious how people will actually use the watch. Apple, the report says, is wringing 2.5 hours out of the watch in heavy application use, and about 3 hours if the watch … [Read more...]
Google to Halt Sales of Glass, But Don’t Write the Obits Yet
Google says it will stop taking orders for its iconic Google Glass next week, and is closing its "Explorer" software dev program. The BBC reports that Google says responsibility for the project is being moved out of the Google X division and into the consumer products division (with Nest) under Tony Fadell. At first glance, this might look like the welcome end of Google … [Read more...]
Proteus, Oracle Reach Deal to Manage Clinical Trials
We love the idea behind Proteus Digital Health, not least because of all the data that it can gather for clinical trials. So, presumably, does Oracle, which led a $45 million funding round nearly two years ago. Now comes news that adherence data gathered by Proteus will integrate directly into Oracle Health Sciences data cloud. The idea is that Proteus will use its patch and … [Read more...]
Could the GoBe Actually Work as Advertised?
The story of the Healbe GoBe is not a pretty one. The company crowdraised $1.1 million for the wristworn calorie counter and has blown multiple delivery dates while fighting back allegations that its central claim -- to measure caloric intake -- is nonsense. The BBC more or less cornered the company's CEO at CES last week and challenged him to a demo once and for … [Read more...]
Little-known Sarvint Sues Tech Clothing Industry for Patent Infringement
A small and little-known Atlanta company is suing leaders in the technology clothing business for patent infringement, claiming that those companies have fallen afoul of exclusive licenses granted by Georgia Tech. Sarvint on Friday filed suit in U.S. District Court in Atlanta against Adidas North America, Victoria's Secret Stores, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Athos Works and … [Read more...]
CES Day 1: Intel Introduces Curie Wearables Platform
Intel pretty much invented the idea of ever-faster ever-smaller processors; Gordon Moore, for whom Moore's Law was named, was an Intel founder and chairman. Yesterday, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich unveiled Curie, a button-sized module that the company hopes will be the intelligence in the next generation of wearables. The Curie is a follow-on to the Edison module, which was the … [Read more...]
CES Day 1: Epson Enter Sports Wearables Market
Epson, which has had some success in the enterprise wearables market with its Moverio eyewear, has decided it likes the space and is getting into the sports tech business with a new series of consumer-level wearables. The Epson Active product line has three pieces: the Pulsense continuous heart rate monitor, Runsense GPS sports and running monitors, and the M-Tracer golf … [Read more...]
CES Day 1: New Garmin Smartwatch Updates
Garmin changed up its smartwatch line at CES, introducing three new devices. The Vivoactive is the most watch-like of them, a lightweight GPS-enabled watch with running and golf apps. It pairs with other fitness devices such as heart-rate monitors. It'll ship this quarter for $250. The epix is less a fitness device than a GPS map on your wrist. With a 1.4-inch color … [Read more...]
CES: Lenovo VB10 Wearable Unveiled
There were reports in October that Lenovo (the Chinese company that first bought IBM's Thinkpad line, then most recently swallowed Motorola's phone business) was coming out with an activity monitor. The company officially announced the product today at CES. The Vibe VB10 is essentially a notification device that features an e-ink display, which helps with seven-day battery … [Read more...]
CES: Misfit Gets the Swarovski Crystal Treatment
What fitness trackers apparently need is some bling, and Misfit and Swarovski will give it to you. The companies announced today a new line of Swarovski Shines: a clear crystal model and a violet one that can do solar charging. (Misfit Shines, it should be noted, use watch batteries and run for the best part of a year.) You can pre-order now at misfit.com; retail sales … [Read more...]