Just when we thought Back to the Future Day couldn’t get any better after the new Hendo Hoverboard news, we find out that Nike has done the impossible! The shoemaking giant has lived up to its name and has finally made the Back to the Future’s self-lacing shoes a reality.
The company had been teasing something big on Twitter a few days ago that got fans all excited. You would be too if you read this tweet.
The tweet was for Micheal J, Fox, who played Marty McFly in Back to the Future. As you all must be knowing by now that October 21, 2015 was celebrated as Back to the Future Day around the world. This is because this is the date to which Marty and Doc Brown travel to in 1989’s Back to the Future II. In the film’s version of 2015, Marty gets a pair of self-lacing Nike Mags sneakers, among other futuristic toys. And yes, they were the coolest kicks in 2015.
On Thursday, Nike made the ‘future’ happen by launching the self-tying shoes in the best way possible: by having Micheal J. Fox try out the first pair. And it was a beautiful sight to see.
Micheal J. Fox was as excited as anyone else about how the ‘future’ has finally arrived, and expressed his joy on Twitter.
The company announced a possible 2016 release for the shoes. The announcement also mentions that the shoes are limited edition models at the present and will first be sold via auction with all the proceeds going to the Michael J. Foundation for Parkinson’s Research some time next year.
“By imagining the future, we create it,” reads the statement from Nike. “Product that comes alive, with on-demand comfort and support when you need, product that senses you and adapts to you is right around the corner.”
Laces on Nike MAG tighten when person slips on shoes, also manually adjustable pic.twitter.com/1l3I9gokGm
It might be a while before these sneakers hit the market, but right now we can simply take pleasure in seeing that the McFly shoes are now a real thing. This is the future, and it looks really good.
Apple is all set to launch the Apple Watch in India. The company’s India website now features a Watch option on the top along with other Apple products. The smartwatch will hit the stores on November 6th, according to the website.
The Apple Watch was first unveiled in March and began rolling out in April with a few countries at a time. The Watch is available in two variants – 38 mm and 42 mm. The US price of the Apple Watch’s base Sport model is $349 (around Rs. 23,000), which can be expected to cost close to Rs. 30,000 in India. The company has launched close to 34 combinations of the Watch with prices going as high as $10,000 for the Watch edition.
Apple has been mum on how well the Apple Watch has been doing. The company has also refused to disclose how many units it has sold till date. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the information was privileged and that he didn’t want to “help the competition.” That hasn’t stopped analysts trying to come up with an estimate. Some analysts have said that Apple has managed to ship 4.2 million units in the last three months.
Apple recently unveiled the new watchOS 2, the updated system software for the Apple Watch, which brought features like activation lock, native apps, email reply and more. You can also use Messenger on the Apple Watch.
The biggest challenge is whether the Indian market is ready for wearable technologies like a smartwatch. It may be a while before consumers are ready to have something expensive around their wrists, and initial sales may not be as big as one is used to when an Apple product launches in India. However, the news has already gotten Indian developers building apps for the Watch, and some of the first ones include the likes of Cleartrip, HDFC Bank app, and Avaamo among others.
We’ve all seen Apple, Samsung and Motorola coming out with smartwatches, and people are slowly but surely getting used to the idea of having a watch that also functions as a phone. So it only makes sense that a brand that has been in the watch making business forever comes out with a smartwatch and joins the next-gen party. Fossil has unveiled its newest Android Wear smartwatches headed by the Q Founder. The Q Founder is the flagship device and is part of Fossil’s Q lineup of connected wearables.
Fossil has four new smartwatches in its kitty – the Q Reveler, Q Dreamer, Q Grant and, of course, the Q Founder. The first three are standard analogue timepieces with electronics built into the bands. The Fossil Q Grant is an analogue fitness tracker while the Q Reveler and the Q Dreamer are a pair of connected smart bracelets. Moreover, the Q Reveler and Q Dreamer are $125 each, while the Q Grant is priced between $175-$195.
The flagship Q Founder runs Android Wear and features a full touchscreen display. The Founder will start at a price of $275. While many companies have opted for Qualcomm-powered chipset in their Android Wear, Fossil and Tag Heuer have announced watches with an Intel CPU. Fossil has not revealed the official release date of the device but sources suggest that it could come in time for the holiday season.
This is a major game changer in the smartwatch department since Fossil will give brands like Apple and Motorola a run for its money. Fossil not only has a more traditional looking design with its smartwatch, but it also knows the business a lot more and its retail footprint means people are more likely to notice Fossil’s Android Wear device than those that are only seen online or at electronic stores. Tag Heuer will also launch its own smartwatch some time in November.
LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition is now officially the first Android Wear device with a 4G LTE support. Though this feature is enough to make waves in the tech world, the Watch also carries many other interesting things sure to lure buyers into giving this device a try.
https://youtu.be/FdRymDRtPJA
Firstly, on the display and resolution front, Urbane is equipped with a 1.38-inch fully circular P-OLED display, and 480 x 480 pixels along with 348 ppi. Secondly, Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC, 768MB of RAM, and 4GB of built-in memory are some of the other features to be part of the deal. Lastly, the Watch aims to win the buyers over with its built-in sensors which include accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer, heart rate sensor, and GPS.
The IP67-certified stainless steel body of the gadget -44.5 mm in width and 14.2 mm in thickness -further makes it a device worth noticing. All of this along with a 570 mAh hexagonal battery by LG Chem constitute the long list of fancy components of the Watch.
LG has shown great utilisation of Android Wear, Google’s operating system for Android wearable devices, in the past as well. LG Watch Urbane, the all-metallic luxury previously launched by the company is an example of this. The Watch came with a 1.3-inch circular P-OLED (320x320p resolution) display, along with Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset paired with 512 MB RAM, along with a 4GB inbuilt memory and 410mAh battery.
Clearly, its successor, Urbane 2nd Edition is a significant upgrade in display, battery and RAM. While all the other specs are mostly similar, these additions definitely gives an edge to LG’s latest edition to the world of Android Wear.
The Netflix experience is about to get a whole lot better. Samsung announced the newest edition to Gear VR in collaboration with Oculus , along with a slew of new features and apps. The headset will have a redesigned trackpad, a new Xbox-style Gamepad with dual analogue design, and a new, lower price that’ll be available this November in the United States.
The Gear VR is also getting a major media boost with Netflix, Hulu and Twitch among the few new services that will be available for the headset. The Netflix app, for example, creates a virtual living room for the viewer to watch in. The virtual television in front of you will have the Netflix UI on the screen. You simply look to move the cursor and tap the touchpad on the side of the Gear VR to make your selection. Currently the app allows almost no choice for the user in terms of the environmental changes or the distance of the screen.
The Oculus -made Samsung Gear VR will work with the whole 2015 line of Samsung Smartphones including the Note 5, S6, S6 Edge, and S6 Edge+, and will be priced at $99, a $100 less than the previous Gear VR.
“Virtual reality that’s accessible to consumers is still very young and so it was all about developing the ecosystem,” said Jim Willson, director of immersive products and VR at Samsung. “We had to make sure there was enough content, both in terms of video content … and on the gaming side.”
Wilson hinted at a captive audience that an app like Netflix can provide with more number of hours being spent with these media apps. Apart from Netflix, Oculus also announced 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate, as well as Hulu, Twitch, TiVo and Vimeo for VR apps.
Samsung is looking to expand its consumer base and is looking to make the Gear VR not just a device for niche audience. It may take a while before people take to the virtual reality experience, but with PlayStation also working on its VR gaming technology, the future of media technology looks pretty clear. So, for those who want to experience the next season of Daredevil in virtual reality can get their hands on the Gear VR from November.
The wait is almost over for Apple fanatics in India who have been itching to get their hands on the Apple Watch. The Economic Times reported that the Apple Watch will enter the Indian market next week. Just a few days ago, Apple had launched its new iPhones and iPads as well as an upgraded WatchOS 2 to the Apple Watch.
While the new iPhones are scheduled to come out in mid-October, the Apple Watch will be here before the festive Navratri period which starts in October. The Apple Watch has been introduced in limited countries and the company is also set for the software upgrade. The upgrade will introduce Facebook Messenger and an app called iTranslate.
Apple has tied up with Hermes for brand new bands. But whether the gold and rose gold bands will make it to India next week is still not known, though Apple CEO, Tim Cook, has stated that the new options will be available in all the 24 markets where the watch is currently sold.
The Apple Watch is expected to be priced somewhere in between Rs 25,000-30,000. It will be interesting to see whether the watch will make it big in the Indian market as it has not seen much popularity in wearable technology, yet.
Latest rumors suggest that HTC is working on an Android Wear smartwatch codenamed ‘Halfbeak’. The company has been associated with Android Wear from the very beginning. However, they have never entered into the smartwatch game, which has already been played by Apple, Samsung and LG, to name a few.
From what we’ve gathered so far, the smartwatch will come with a round display, with a 360×360 resolution. HTC has shown keen interest in wearable tech since it showed off the HTC Grip earlier this year. The Grip is a sports band and watch, but does not run Android Wear.
We have mentioned earlier on HTC’s big ‘dual-flagship’ launch scheduled to take place on the 29th of September. Chances are that the company may take some time out to introduce the watch on that day as well. Given that HTC delivers on beautiful smartphone designs, the watch could follow suit. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Jawbone, the San Francisco based company of wearable technology is going to soon become a part of the Indian market. The company has sent out press invites for its launch scheduled for 10th September.
Founded in December, 1999, Jawbone products give a better understanding of sleeping patterns, diet and physical movements. With over 1000 patents to its name, Jawbone is one of the leading names in the wearable industry.
The company is introducing its UP product range in the country which includes UP2 and UP3 to be made available for sale on Amazon. This technology allows you to monitor your diet, sleep patterns and physical movement. The app in the gadget is equipped with Smart Coach – Jawbone’s coaching system which turns data into personalised guidance, giving you insights and challenges to help you improve your sleep, activity and diet. The UP activity trackers are of three kinds:
UP Move: This is an entry-level tracker that connects with Jawbone’s UP platform and Smart Coach to help the user lose weight an maintain over-all fitness. It’s available in five different colours and allows 6 months of battery life. Powered by MotionX technology, it enables the user to track their daily progress. It is available at a price of 4,999 rupees.
Jawbone UP Move
UP2: Slimmer and sleeker than its predecessor by a 45%, this fancy little gizmo offers all the features of the UP technology including a vibration motor to power its Smart Alarm, Idle Alerts and Reminders, along with Smart Coach. Priced at a 9,999 rupees, it also lets you connect with friends for added motivation. It is available in an adjustable, one-fits-most-size in Black Diamond, Light Grey Hex and Violet Circle.
Jawbone UP2
UP3: Equipped with Jawbone’s most advanced technology in activity trackers, UP3 tracks heart rate, detailed sleep stages and automatic workouts through advanced multi-sensors. The multi-sensor platform of the tracker includes a tri-axis accelerometer, sophisticated bio-impedance sensors, and skin and ambient temperature sensors. This version of the UP tracker is also equipped with Smart Coach and is available in Black Twist, Silver Cross, Ruby Cross, Indigo Twist, Sand Twist and Teal Cross at a price of 14,999 rupees.
Jawbone UP3
Since it is the first time Jawbone is entering the Indian market, it would be interesting to see how the market responds to them. The brand is also likely to face stiff competition with companies such as Xiaomi and Fitbit; which have already established a base in the country.
The Samsung Gear S2 was announced on the 31st of August, and has since been receiving relatively good feedback, as compared to Samsung’s previous smartwatches. It came with a 1.2” circular Super AMOLED display with 360 x 360 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, a 250mAh battery, a rotating bezel, a stainless steel body with IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and most importantly was compatible with all Android devices with Android 4.4 and up with more than 1.56GB of RAM.
With all the above specifications and more, it seemed to have become a seemingly strong competitor to the Apple Watch. As mentioned above, it is compatible with all Android phones with Android 4.4 and up with more than 1.56GB of RAM. So, this category would easily cover, Asus, HTC, Huawei, Kyocera, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, Xiaomi etc. But, here’s the crazy new thing – Samsung is doing for its new smartwatch – it’s extending it’s compatibility to the iPhone. So, now iPhone users who are envying Samsung’s Gear S2 can actually use it now. Well, here’s to Samsung finally catching up.
It seems like Samsung decided to leave nothing for the IFA Berlin 2015. Unlike last year, when we witnessed the unveiling of the Note 4 and Note 4 Edge at the mega electronics festival, this year Samsung has already unloaded all its blockbusters.
Coming to the new smartwatch – it is 11.4millimeter thin, comes with a 1.2-inch screen with a 360x360resolution (302ppi). To power the device, Samsung has used 1GHz dual-core processor and provided the option of 3G Connectivity. The Gear S2 runs on the company’s very own Tizen OS and uses a rotating bezel, along with the Home and Back buttons, for navigation. Samsung has also added NFC for mobile payments.
The Samsung Gear S2 reflects Samsung’s most progressive innovation. It is the perfect complement for any occasion, easily taking you from day to night, from work to workout
Perhaps, the highlight of the device would be the fact that the company claims it lasts upto 2-3 days on a single charge. Since a wearable is an extra ‘smart’ device that you need to carry around, a long-lasting battery is a necessity. One of the exciting announcements is that the smartwatch has been announced in two variants – Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic. Other than the design, the only major difference between the two is their size. The Classic has been built smaller and lighter than the Gear S2. For its timeless design, we’re leaning towards the Classic which comes with a black dial and a leather band.
Samsung also announced that there will be multiple apps already optimised with the watch when it is made available. Though they did not elaborate further on the same. We’re also currently awaiting a word on availability and pricing.
Features
Samsung Gear S2
Display
1.2-inch, Circular Super AMOLED, 360×360, 302ppi
AP
Dual core 1.0 GHz
OS
Tizen based wearable platform
Storage Memory
4GB Internal Memory
RAM
512MB
Connectivity
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® 4.1, NFC
Battery
250mAh Li-ion
Misc
IP68 Certified Dust and Water Resistant, Wireless Charging
Finishing the day off with some good news for iPhone users – Android Wear will finally support Apple’s smartphones. In an official blog post, Google announced that they will be rolling out Android Wear for iOS.
Starting today, the LG Watch Urbane will work with iPhones and all upcoming Android smartwatches, by Motorola, Asus and Huawei, will be also iOS compatible. By this, we’re assuming Google was hinting at the upcoming Moto 360 (Gen 2), Asus ZenWatch 2 and Huawei Watch.
With a smartwatch one doesn’t have to constantly be on their phones in order to check the time, reply to emails, take calls, respond to text messages etc, instead all these activities can be completed by a few glances and voice notes.
Android Wear for iOS is rolling out today. Just pair your iPhone (iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6, or 6 Plus running iOS 8.2+) with an Android Wear watch to bring simple and helpful information right to your wrist.
We’re a fan of cross-compatibility – if we would like to pair an Apple product with a Google product, their interactivity should be easy and seamless. For iPhone users, up until now, the only choice of a smartwatch was the Apple Watch, which has received mixed reviews. On the other hand, Android watches are cheaper and in some cases, more readily available. With this move, Google gives (nearly) everyone the option to buy and use Android watches.
Apple’s very first wearable was unveiled last year along with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Today, a year later, there is no sign of it in India. However we have some good news for those waiting to get their hands on the device – it arrives in the country next month.
The wearable went on sale in March, worldwide, after the Apple Spring Forward event. Although the Cupertino-based tech giant claims India to be an important market, it did not launch the Watch here at the time. The Apple Watch comes in three variants – Sport, Regular and Gold Edition. Apple Watch Edition (pure solid gold edition), available in a block of 18 carat yellow, or rose gold went on sale starting at a whopping price of US$ 10,000 for the 38mm version, however, this watch will not be released in India just yet. And if we are to believe sources, then the Apple Watch Sport will be priced starting Rs. 24,999.
The Apple Watch is created in order to make interaction simpler and intimate. One doesn’t have to constantly be on their phones in order to check the time, reply to emails, take calls, respond to text messages etc, instead all these activities can be completed by a few glances and voice notes. It also has some unique gesture supports that will make it easy to use and to interact with others. Here is the catch, you have to have an iPhone (or any product by Apple) too so that all the information from your device can get synced to this new iWatch.
Kenwood USA, famously known for its multimedia system and car audio components, have ventured into a new category of products. The company has officially entered the headphone market and had invited a few selected retailers in an enclosed meeting area at the CES this year to give a glimpse of the new product.
The company debuted with three sets of headphones- two in-ear and one over-the-ear models, namely KH-CR500, KH-SR800 and the KH-KR900. All the headphones are designed for specific purposes. The in-ear KH-CR500 headphones have an $80 (Rs 5,104) suggested retail and come with three sets of memory-foam ear cushions and three sets of silicone. The waterproof KH-SR800 sports headphones cost $120 (Rs 7,656) and are designed to be worn without interfering with glasses, the cord and clip snaking behind the neck. They come with silicone and open-type ear pieces, the latter allowing ambient noise to flow in for runners and bikers. Both in-ear models have 10mm drivers. The third model, KH-KR900, has an over-ear, fold-flat design with 40mm drivers and a $200 (Rs 12,760) price tag. The housings feature four ports that are each tuned to specific frequencies, which Kenwood called its “Quad Duct Engine.” A detachable, 4-foot flat cord is included.
Each headphone is fitted with neodymium driver units and can be used with any Apple or Android devices.
Dave Hoag, Vice President of Sales, said
These headphones are part of a significant shift in our product philosophy, but it’s not the beginning of that shift. We understand that these days, on-the-go entertainment doesn’t always start or end in the vehicle. That’s why we’ve put so much into creating a connected in-vehicle environment, to allow consumers to enjoy streaming music services and digital downloads with a quality audio experience. These new headphones represent a continuation of that effort: letting drivers enjoy high-quality Kenwood sound wherever they go.
For now, the devices are available only in specific retail stores in the US and its availability in India isn’t known as yet.
‘Tech Wear’ is a relatively new concept that perhaps began with the introduction and launch of the Google Glass on April 4, 2012. There was a huge frenzy about the Google Glass and the things it promised its wearer – such as direct visual access to friends, schedules and Internet. But Google Glass did not work. Why? What makes products like Google Glass, the Neptune Pine, the Pebble, fitness trackers and other technological wearables not popular enough to cater to the taste of the general public?
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz
Firstly, these are luxury products. They cater to the needs of the general public but make themselves available to only a certain strata of society. For example, the Apple Watch is created in order to make interaction simpler and intimate. One doesn’t have to constantly be on their phones in order to check the time, reply to emails, take calls, respond to text messages etc, instead all these activities can be completed by a few glances and voice notes. Here is the catch, you have to have an iPhone (or any product by Apple) too so that all the information from your device can get synced to this new iWatch.
To get an idea of the approximate amount of money we might have to spend to buy an iWatch and support it, let us look at its INR value. The Apple Watch Sport Edition: Expected price tag in India for 38mm case model is Rs. 25000 and for the 42mm case model is Rs. 30000, plus the other Apple product to support it, for example an iPhone 6 (Silver 16GB) which is Rs.42,920 (on Ebay). The total amount would be Rs. 67,920. The prices differ in different countries and the accessibility of the product also differs, but to the average Indian, an iPhone update makes no serious change to his lifestyle.
Secondly, even with a large portion of the world being able to afford tech wear, they are still looked at sceptically or cautiously by investors. Why? What makes a product stable in the market? The necessity of a product. Although, further research shows a changing trend in the demands of the consumers. Fashion experts say that most of these products look ugly, in fact, the New York Times even tagged them as ‘ugly tech’ instead of ‘wearable tech’.
The consumer’s taste is now much more sophisticated than it used to be, he/she is not going to wear anything on his wrist that looks like a mini Kindle. And this is where Apple comes in with its slick and fashionably created Apple Watch. The ‘iWatch’ comes in various belts, both leather and metal, and is styled in a way that is appealing to all. Perhaps following suit are smaller fashion-focused tech companies, with a handful of partnerships between tech companies and big-name fashion brands.
So far, the investors and critics were skeptic of these wearable products, but now with the coming of the fashionable and efficient iWatch, their predictions have changed. Gene Munster, managing director and senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, predicted a 3 million dollars’ worth Apple Watch sale on 9to5mac.com, and thinks that 2017 will be the device’s ‘breakout’ year. What changed?
The reviews for the Apple Watch have been somewhat stable; most of the critics encourage the use of this wearable technology that is more compact, fashionable, efficient, modern, and advanced in its settings and features. For example, the product description states that the custom-designed chip at the heart of the Apple Watch is encapsulated in the resin to protect the electronics from the elements, impact and wear. Configuring an entire computer system on a single chip is an industry first; settings like these and many others make the Apple Watch user friendly. Although despite this commendable attempt by Apple, critics still suggest that there is room for improvement as far as speed, efficiency and battery life are concerned but that these are problems that can be rectified by perhaps an iWatch 2.
Similarly, The New York Times states that earlier this year Fitbit announced a partnership with the designer Tory Burch to make fitness trackers stuffed inside a hinged bracelet and pendant necklace. Google Glass has partnered with DVF and Luxoticca to make the geeky specs, stylish. Rebecca Minkoff and Case-Mate announced a new line of techie jewellery, including a gold bracelet that pairs with a smartphone. Intel has also partnered with Barney’s New York and Open Ceremony to create a bracelet with a curved sapphire screen and built-in wireless radios called the MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory.)
Image source: New York Times
As far as reviews are to be trusted, they give us a realistic take on the new influx of wearable technology and its appeal. What has changed therefore, is the taste of the consumer and now that modern technology is being able to steadily cater to it, wearable technology might actually carve a stable niche for itself in the years to come.
YU Televentures is venturing into the wearables segment and is starting with the YuFit fitness band. The registrations for the band will start from 21st July and will go on sale on 29th July. The Yufit band has been priced at Rs.999 and will be available exclusively through Amazon India.
The YuFit has an OLED display that tracks steps taken, sleep cycle and alerts about incoming calls and messages. The fitness band comes along with an accompanying app called HealthifyMe. This app calculates the calories of any food material you click along with suggesting a healthier alternative. On the fitness front, it gives access to group coaching, social fitness, motivation and more.
YuFit Band.
The company will also offer a free personal trainer for the first 1000 YuFit users. Along with the fitness band, YU also revealed another device known as the HealthYU cassette. This device measures body vitals such as ECG, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiration rate and is is priced at Rs. 4,999. This small device can fit into your pocket and has two suction cups that help in attaching the device to a smartphone’s back cover. The device then pairs with an app working on the phone with Bluetooth, and once the pairing is complete, you can keep four fingers on the four sensors on the HealthYu to start tracking the body vitals.
