At a time of rumors that the fitness wearables market might be slackening, there is a continuing increase in the use of the technology in helping people with far more serious problems than getting their 10,000 steps. Intel and Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva, for example, have recently agreed to collaborate to develop a wearable to track disease progression in people with … [Read more...]
Managing Runway Stress with Style
British fashion designer Hussein Chalayan recently partnered with Intel to give the clothes in his new show that little added something—electronics that monitor stress levels. This can only have been for both companies to show off a little, especially for Intel to make a fashion case for its Curie module, an itty-bitty computer. Chalayan has previously commented that “Only … [Read more...]
Microsoft Abandons the Band
Sure looks like Microsoft is breaking up the Band. The excellent Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet is reporting that all references to the Band 2 at Microsoft's online store have disappeared, as has the SDK. That can't be good, and Foley reached a Microsoft spokesman who says the company has sold its inventory of Band 2s and has no intention of releasing another Band this year. They … [Read more...]
A Rebranded Snapchat Launches Spectacles Wearable Camera
We're somewhat optimistic about Snapchat's Spectacles, which the company (now apparently known as Snap Inc.) dumped on the world Friday afternoon. They're $130 brightly colored shades -- teal, coral, and black -- with a small camera and a couple of radios (and a rechargeable battery) built into the frame. The glasses take up to three 10-second videos and dump them, through your … [Read more...]
Is That a Computer on Your Jeans or Are You Just Glad to See Me?
Spoiler alert: This product is under development, but does not yet exist in the way that most people understand "existence." The Dutch design group Nieuwe Heren (New Gents), basically Erik de Nijs and Tim Smit, have announced a new, well, concept: controlling your laptop by means of a keyboard, mouse, and speakers imbedded in an apparently ill-fitting pair of jeans. OK, … [Read more...]
Flexible Thermocell Battery Brings in the Volts
Batteries are the one part of your wearable device that still seem old school. Although we’ve seen improvements in size and endurance, the chemistry and physics of batteries are just plain hard. A lot of scientists are investigating the alternative of energy harvesting or scavenging; that is, producing usable energy from natural sources, such wind, sun, or human … [Read more...]
Pokemon Go Plus Reappears
Pokemon Go Plus, the wrist-worn device that notifies Pokemon Go players when they’re around Pokemon or Pokestops, and allows capturing without a visual cue, originally sold out before its official release date. Now Niantic Labs, the developer, has announced the $35 gadget will be back on the market “in most countries” on Sept. 16. Pokemon Go Plus communicates with both Apple … [Read more...]
AmazFit’s New Tracker: Fitness as a Fine Art
AmazFit, manufacturer of the Equator and Moonbeam fitness trackers, is owned by Huami, one of the top wearable companies worldwide, and has sold 24 million fitness trackers in China through the company’s partnership with Xaiomi. Xaiomi’s Mi Band, originally sold only in China, is second only to Fitbit in global market share. The AmazFit Equator marks the company’s expansion … [Read more...]
Dubai Runners Will Move to the Light
Athletes wearing LED-enhanced gear seem to be trending since Team Britain’s shining shoes at the Olympic closing ceremony. Now they are about to light up the wrists of runners in the 5K nighttime. In the Electric Run 2016 in Dubai on Nov. 4, 10,000 race entrants will receive Pixmob Electrobands as part of their registration packets. Electrobands are like technologically … [Read more...]
IDC Says Basic Wearables Growing Fast; Fitbit, Xiaomi, Apple, Garmin Top Vendors
IDC is out with its quarterly count of the fitness tracker market, and it's finding that basic models are growing fast, while more advanced gadgets aren't. The market researcher breaks the world down into "basic" and "smart" wearables; the latter supports third-party apps, the former doesn't. If you accept those definitions, and we think it's a little simplistic, IDC's count … [Read more...]