“Why should we cling on to a dying business?” -- Sonny Vu, CEO of Misfit Wearables, maker of the Misfit Shine fitness tracker. Quoted in the Wall Street Journal about his company's deal to license its software to Pebble. … [Read more...]
Pebble Watches Will Now Run Misfit Software
Once Google announced Android Wear, we started to worry whether excellent products from Misfit and Pebble might be toast. Now comes word that they're building an ecosystem of their own, with Pebble devices tracking steps using Misfit software. The Misfit trackers are lovely, but have a scant user interface. Pebble watches aren't bad, but are primarily notification devices … [Read more...]
Withings Introduces the Activité, an Attractive Wrist Wearable
"The problem with fitness trackers," says nearly everyone, "is that they're ugly." Withings responds with the Activité, a remarkably good-looking Swiss watch that hides a fitness tracker. It looks like, well, a nice watch. Round analog face, in black or white, with a leather strap and a stainless steel case. Two hands for the time, and a third hand on a second dial marked … [Read more...]
Glass Roundup: New Frames, New Market, New Boss?
We're probably going to hear a lot from Google this week because its I/O developers conference kicks off this week. But before the balloon goes up, there are some small Glass-related items to report on. The long-expected Diane von Furstenberg frames for Glass are now available. For $300 above the $1500 base price, they're actually not bad, especially if you like the hipster … [Read more...]
New Android Wear Features Video From Google
Expect to see a lot of Android Wear information (not necessarily "news" as most of us understand the term) in the next couple of weeks. Google has just released a video for developers showing more of the user interface, which is unsurprisingly based on its concept of "cards." The video comes in advance of the Google I/O developers conference, at which there will be lots of … [Read more...]
“Details” Emerging About Apple iWatch
Reuters and the Wall Street Journal are both reporting this morning that Apple's much-expected iWatch health monitor is about to enter production in anticipation of an announcement "as early as October." This certainly would fit with Apple's normal product cycle and would be in time for holiday shopping. Both outlets say that the device will be built by Quanta, in Taiwan. … [Read more...]
Fleksy Keyboard Comes to Samsung Gear 2
Many devotees of Android devices love the Fleksy keyboard, which seems to be among the best at predictive text entry. Samsung picked the open-source Tizen operating system to drive its Gear 2 wristwear, but Fleksy has now shipped a messaging app that will run on the Gear 2. Our expectation is that it will be available for other Tizen devices as they hit the market. We also … [Read more...]
Spire Breath Monitor Opens for Pre-Orders
The Spire breath monitor is a belt-clip or bra-clip device that claims to not just track steps and movement, but breath and breathing patterns. Early sales have started. Any yoga devotee can tell you that the quality of your breathing is both a good indicator of your state of mind and your health -- and has a direct affect on them. Whether you believe that or not, it's an … [Read more...]
No Rush Here, But Nike Finally Releases Android FuelBand App
Nike's been on the market with the FuelBand for about two years -- long enough to make a big splash with it and then more or less climb out of the pool. For all that time, the FuelBand has worked only with iOS devices. You use Android? You're not using Nike. Now that Nike has apparently stopped developing the hardware (while sticking with software and ramping up … [Read more...]
Token Wristband Concept Puts Your Money on Your Wrist
The Seattle design studio Artefact Group has a neat design concept for a way to meld wearable tech with financial management. The Token wristband -- which is strictly conceptual and not something you'll be able to buy anytime soon -- presents hardware and interface ideas that simplify the processing of spending and tracking money. Think of it as Coin rethought. And since … [Read more...]