Ars Technica weighs in on the newest iteration of the Moto360 smartwatch, which it correctly pegs as the most iconic hardware expression of Android Wear. The verdict: OK, but nothing to get all fussed about. The new Moto360 has a faster chip than the older one -- a Qualcomm Snapdragon rather than a TI OMAP. The crown was moved from 3 o'clock to 2 o'clock, as many other … [Read more...]
Pebble Debuts the Pebble Round Smartwatch
Punditry that suggested that Pebble would be roadkill in the face of the Apple Watch and Android Wear is turning out have been somewhat overheated. The smartwatch pioneer has announced the Pebble Round, a thin round watch that merrily goes its own way. What's remarkable about Pebble is that it succeeds by doing only a few things well. Its watches are essentially notification … [Read more...]
Omate Announces TrueSmart Standalone Smartwatch Update
Omate was one of the first smartwatch companies, and carved its own path with standalone devices that used SIM chips and didn't need to be tethered to a smart phone. The company today announced its latest update: the TrueSmart+, based on Android 5.1 (Lollipop) and a custom UI. Apps for the watch will be downloadable from Omate's "OStore." A 1.5-inch touch screen is the main … [Read more...]
Apple WatchOS 2.0 Released
It was supposed to hit the streets last week, but QA found a show-stopping bug. Things seem to have now been resolved, and Apple has released WatchOS 2.0 to the public. You can update over the air from your Apple Watch iPhone app. We haven't tried it yet, and we don't know what the bug was. We'll update as necessary. … [Read more...]
Iron Man to Enlist?
In the not-too-distant future, every U.S. soldier could sport an expert marksman badge, thanks to Mobile Arm Exoskeleton for Firearm Aim Stabilization (MAXFAS), developed at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Aberdeen, Maryland. The device is still a stationary prototype; however, developers are already looking at ways to make MAXFAS mobile. Similar medical technology … [Read more...]
Apple’s Revving Up for the Holidays
In another move away from Apple’s once vaunted isolationism, T-Mobile and Sprint will be selling the Apple Watch in store starting Sept. 25, the same launch date as for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. (This must count as an accessory for them, as there's no network connectivity or plan involved.) Not long afterwards, on Oct. 5, Apple and Hermes stores will carry a luxury … [Read more...]
Fitbit’s B2B Business is now HIPAA Compliant
The big players in fitness trackers have long since figured out that the big money will be in business-to-business sales; one big corporate contract can make an entire quarter. Fitbit has announced that Fitbit Wellness, its corporate offering, is now HIPAA-compliant, meaning the information it gathers and shares meets the U.S.-mandated privacy standard. It's an important … [Read more...]
Has Google Glass Gained a New “Aura”?
There were media reports last night that Google Glass is now living under the name "Project Aura," and that the company has snapped up a bunch of people from Amazon's Lab126 hardware development group. Also, Business Insider notes that one recent Google hire is Adrian Wong, the lead electrical engineer for Glass, who had left to join Facebook's Oculus group but returned to … [Read more...]
Apple Holds Up on WatchOS 2.0
Apple was supposed to release today along with iOS9, but TechCrunch is reporting that the company has found a bug that's big enough that they're holding back the release. Developers have been looking forward to the new OS because it gives them direct access to the watch's sensors, and also lets them design apps that are less reliant on the tethered iPhone. Apple doesn't … [Read more...]
Early Buzz About Everysight Raptor Cycling Glasses
We're starting to hear buzz from our cycling friends about an Israeli company called Everysight and a tech visor they're building called the Everysight Raptor. Think of a heads-up display, like the Recon, but dedicated to road and mountain biking. Details are very few, but the company's Facebook page indicates that it's been running demos for bike journalists for the last … [Read more...]