The problem with modern “smart” gadgets is that many of them become pretty dumb once they’re no longer supported by the manufacturer. So when Microsoft discontinued the Microsoft Band 2 wearable activity tracker a few years ago, it was helpful that the company continued offering support its companion website and mobile apps… until mid-2019. That effectively […]
Tag: wearables
Qualcomm launches Snapdragon Wear 4100 and 4100+ chips for smartwatches
Two years after releasing its last smartwatch chip, Qualcomm is bringing two new models to market. The Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 and Snapdragon Wear 4100+ are faster, more efficient chips based on newer technologies. The new chips also support devices with cameras up to 16MP and offer optional support for 4G LTE. Qualcomm says we can expect […]
Rufus Cuff wrist computer might actually ship… 6 years late (crowdfunding)
Back in 2014 a company called Rufus launched a crowdfunding campaign for a wrist computer called the Rufus Cuff. At a time when the Pebble Steel was pretty much state of the art in the smartwatch space (and a year before the first Apple Watch was announced), the Rufus Cuff was… a very different take […]
Redmi Band is a $14 fitness band with 14-day battery life
Xiaomi’s Mi Band line of fitness trackers already offer some of the best bang for the buck in the wearable space. But what’s better than a $35 activity tracker with a color display and long battery life? How about a $14 one. The Chinese device maker’s latest wearable is the Redmi Band, which features a 1.08 […]
Fitbit Charge 4 coming April 13th for $150 (First Fitbit device since Google acquired the company)
4 Comments on Fitbit Charge 4 coming April 13th for $150 (First Fitbit device since Google acquired the company) The new Fitbit Charge 4 is an activity tracker that also supports mobile payments, smartphone notifications, Spotify controls, and GPS — making it the first Fibit device that can use satellite navigation to provide real-time distance and pace details even if you leave your phone behind when you’re out for a run or bike ride. […]
Adidas’ new shoe insole can track soccer player movements thanks to Google Jacquard technology
3 Comments on Adidas’ new shoe insole can track soccer player movements thanks to Google Jacquard technology Google, Adidas, and Electronic Arts have teamed up on a new smart shoe insole that combines physical activity, digital activity and… video game rewards. The new Adidas GMR insole sells for $40 and it can be used with any set of soccer (football to most of the world) shoes. By tracking the motion of your […]
Oppo Watch is a $215 Apple Watch clone (powered by Android)
Remember when Chinese phone makers had a habit of cloning iPhones and slapping their own Android-based software on them? That doesn’t happen quite as much as it used to. But Oppo is reviving the practice… for watches. The company’s first smartwatch looks like a very nice device for a reasonable price. But the Oppo Watch also […]
This $18 wristband is a programmable smart bracelet
There’s no shortage of cheap wearable devices that you can use as step counters, fitness trackers, or smartwatch companions to your smartphone. But for the most part they’re designed to run proprietary software. If you’re looking for something a little more versatile/hackable, the LILYGO TTGO T-Wristband may be up your alley. At first glance, it […]
Wearable gadget shipments nearly doubled in a year (thanks to smart earbuds)
Wearable electronic devices had a record quarter according to new figures from research firm IDC. The company has put out a report estimating that 84.5 million “wearable devices” were shipped in the third quarter of 2019, which is nearly twice as many as shipped during the same period a year earlier. Why the big boom? […]
Google is buying Fitbit for $2.1 billion, promises Google-made wearables
The rumors were true. Google has announced plans to acquire Fitbit in a deal valued at $2.1 billion. Fitbit is a 12-year-old company that currently dominates the wearable activity tracker space, but which has struggled to move beyond fitness devices. Google, meanwhile, has been developing software for wearables for the past five years… but the […]