Category: Wearables

Smartwatch, Apple Watch, Moto 360 , Samsung Gear, Gear Fit, Galaxy Gear, watches smart wearables and all the latest news on iGyaan

Xiaomi’s Next Band to Embrace One-Touch Mobile Payment Technology

Xiaomi’s smartbands are assumed to be the next big thing by the tech world; much because they are rightly speculated to be cheaper than the present offerings by other brands. According to a recent disclosure by a Chinese online publication, the next-gen Xiaomi smartband will incorporate a mobile payment solution, providing users a safer, more convenient payment experience.

Huami, the Chinese start-up set to partner with Xiaomi for fitness wearables, declared that it has inked a strategic cooperation in AliPay. The tie-up is aimed at developing a wearable device that fits modern one-touch payment system. The idea is to speed up the payment process and eradicate the need of providing passwords at retail stores.

With this, whenever a user will come in the range of an AliPay client, the mechanism will activate automatically, establishing a link with the client. Through the technology, the payment will be done directly through the wristband.

The smartband works in conjunction with smartphone to function. The band gets connected to the handset through Bluetooth to verify the user’s identity, thereby acting as a channel to enable payments. Once the identity is established, the Xiaomi band then authorizes it to make payments via AliPay client.

Xiaomi smartband payment system

Xiaomi smartband payment system

The start-up further mentioned about the verification technology stating that it uses industry standard encryption measures to make the payments secure. In this, every user is provided with a unique identifier which verifies the status of users after eliminating the password link.

However, the mobile payment technology is not new and many big names in the technology sector have already embedded it to their devices. Though this will widen the reach of the technology. As Xiaomi offers products at a reasonable price, the forthcoming band is expected to become a common accessory and bring a larger change in the retail payment mode used in China.

April 2, 2015
Sony’s Augmented Reality Glasses Goes Up for Sale in 10 Countries

Sony dipped its toes in the field of augmented reality two months back with the launch of SmartEyeglass. The electronics maker is now putting the transparent lens eyewear on sale in 10 countries across the globe.

The smart glass going on sale is the Developer Edition of AR eyewear and comes at a price of $840. The 10 countries where it will be accessible are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, UK, and the USA. It is a Developer version, the general audience will get their hands on the device in a while. Only the business customers of the following countries would be able to get their holds on the AR tool.

For a while now, an influx of augmented reality devices has increased in the technology sector. Earlier Google came up with the Google Glas, which was pulled back from the market recently. Microsoft also stepped in the arena with the introduction of the HoloLens and gathered appreciation for bringing alive a cordless, self-contained Windows computer with holographic capabilities.

The Sony SmartEyeglass is a see-through binocular that superimposes text, symbols and images into the natural field of view. It projects a virtual image through the holographic elements to the user. The wearer can get updates of bus times, directions, and much more in front of their eyes. The device connects to the Android smartphone and mimics the behaviour of the SmartEyeglass.

For in-depth information on its working, check the video below:

https://youtu.be/Bx7O_h09HKA

March 28, 2015
Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition Goes on Sale Tomorrow at Best Buy Retail Stores

Samsung is all set to bring out its Virtual Reality headsets, the Gear VR in the hands of the consumers. The Korean electronics firm along with Oculus is rolling out the Innovator Edition of VR headset to the developers who will be able to purchase it from the 100 Best Buy retail locations. The sale of the VR Headset Innovator Edition will start from tomorrow i.e. March 27, 2015.

For now, the virtual reality headset will be available in the retail stores of the US. One can stroll into a Best Buy store and grab one for $199. The Innovator Edition of VR Gear is compatible with Galaxy Note 4 smartphone. Drop the Note 4 or the Note Edge into the VR headset and the phones display will do all the work. It lets the user indulge into the immersive virtual experience and gives you a tour of an alternate world. The Best Buy has exciting offer in store for those who don’t own a Galaxy Note 4. Willing buyers can buy a combo of the Note 4 and VR Headset at discounted rates.

We got a chance to try out the Gear VR at Samsung’s event in Bangkok and we were quite impressed by the graphics. The device lets you watch movies while sitting in a giant empty theatre. If you don’t like the empty theatre then you can easily shift to the Moon, yes with the Gear VR you can watch your favourite movies on the moon with the Eagle lunar module next too. We loved the brief experience and hope Samsung gets it to our shores soon.

With the launch of its new flagships, Samsung has also unveiled a new version of the VR headset. The new iteration is compatible with the two latest handsets, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The latest edition is built to fit the smaller screen of the smartphones and is not on sale till yet. It is likely to arrive post the arrival of Galaxy S6 and its edgier counterpart on April 10.

March 26, 2015
About 40 Percent of iPhone Users Willing to Buy Apple Watch: Reuters Poll

Apple devoted a huge amount of time and thought to bring out a smartwatch that can outshine all other gadgets in the wearables category. The Apple Watch is a distinctive piece and sports many features like digital crown and Force Touch that are not found in any other smartwatch. But is it really getting the traction expected by the company? International news agency, Reuters, did a survey to find out the demand for the Watch and discovered that around 40 percent of the American iPhone users are interested in buying the Apple Watch.

The poll includes adult iPhone owners of the US of age 18 years and above. The primary reason to consider iPhone users in the first place was that Apple Watch requires iPhone for most of its functions. So, iPhone users automatically come into the picture to be the initial buyers of the product.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted a survey between March 9 and March 17 in which a total of 2,469 American adults of 18 years and above took part. It was found that 24 percent of the participants showed interest in Apple Watch, out of which 10 percent described themselves as very interested. Another survey of 788 iPhone users across the globe by the same firm speaks of 39 percent interested buyers, out of which 17 percent are ‘very interested’ in the product.

These numbers from the survey might not look uplifting at this moment for Apple, but considering the 100 million active users of iPhone in the US, and nearly half a billion in the whole world, the resultant buyers may turn out to be a huge number. According to Reuters, Analyst Walter Piecyk of BTIG marketing firm considers the survey inspiring, “The survey was “pretty encouraging” for a product that has not been seen in shops, even if it was unclear how much of the interest would translate into purchases.”

It is yet uncertain how many interested buyers will convert into purchasers, as the price of the smartwatch is the major roadblock. Its price ranges from $350 for a regular edition to $17000 for the 18-karat gold edition, which makes it the most expensive smartwatch yet.

March 19, 2015
TAG Heuer Collaborates with Google, Plots its Way Through the World of Smartwatches

Tag Heuer, the world renowned high-end watch making company, will soon be announcing that it is working on building its own smartwatch. Chief Executive Office, Jean-Claude Biver told Bloomsberg in an interview that the company will be officially making a statement tomorrow about its partnership with Google and Intel. As Switzerland lacks the necessary resources in technology, the partnership with Silicon Valley giants will only benefit the company.

Intel has been signed to supply the processor, while there is no official word on how Google will be of help. It’s an easy assumption to make that the company would be incharge of providing a seamless OS experience, with Android Wear. Tag Heuer has taken us the mammoth responsibility of designing the watch-case and crown. Biver is also suggesting a Tag Heuer smart watch may come with dials, such as an analog watch.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Stéphane Linder” author_title=”CEO, TAG Heuer”]

I don’t see us taking a big risk unless we find a way to make luxury watches looking like real luxury watches that provide very easy-to-use, smart information that isn’t complicated—and don’t just replicate the mobile phone.

[/quote]

Tag Heuer stated that the craftsmanship of making this particular model will be very different than its traditional watches. Hence, the Research and the Development Business department has been split up into two.

In this age of Smartwatches, traditional Swiss Watch industries might be heading towards extinction. Swatch co-inventor Elmar Mock has said that the Apple Watch might put a lot of pressure on traditional watchmakers in Switzerland, and he anticipates an ice age for the industry.

We could be looking at a luxury Android Wear smart watch. Its availability and price have not been revealed. We will have to wait till tomorrow to find out the answers of these questions.

March 19, 2015
Apple Watch Rumoured to be Coming to India in June

If rumours are to be believed, you might get a closer look at the Apple Watch sooner than you expected. During the massive ‘Spring Forward’ event, Apple had announced the arrival date of the Apple Watch, however only for a few lucky countries.

10th April onwards, in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US, Apple Watch will be available for preview, try-on by appointment at Apple’s retail stores, and available for pre-order through the Apple Online Store. Although, in the usual Apple style, the actual ‘on sale ‘date lands later on 24th April.

Unfortunately, India did not feature in the list of the first countries. But according to gizmodo.com, the potential sale of the Apple Watch in India might be a result of the country emerging as an important market for many brands.

The base model of the Apple Watch is estimated to start at a price of Rs. 35,000 (approx). The Apple Watch incorporates fitness tracking and health oriented capabilities along with the ability to integrate with iOS and other Apple Products.

The device will be coming in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. And will be compatible to use with the iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

To know more about this device, click here.

March 17, 2015
Report : Xiaomi is Building its First Smartwatch

Xiaomi smartphones have been well received world over. The company has expanded itself to various sections with Mi purifiers, power banks and pen drives. The Chinese electronics producer had not shown any inclination to smartwatches till now, but the rumour mill suggest another story. Xiaomi seems to have taken the recently launched Apple Watch as a challenge and according to a report, the China’s Apple is working furiously to gain a foothold in the smartwatch segment.

GSM Arena recently reported a few features of Xiaomi’s first smartwatch. According to the source, the Xiaomi smart watch will be clad in an elegant metal design and boast a circular dial. Also, it is said to equip a pulse wave velocity determiner that keeps a check on the stiffness of arteries. Overall, Xiaomi’s upcoming smartwatches will gauge your internal body activities all the time.

Xiaomi isn’t only known for its smartphones, the company recently unveiled a super affordable action camera.

For the time being, these are just reports and there’s no solid proof of its authenticity. Very scarce details are known about the watch, but from the little information, it can be said that Xiaomi is prepping to answer back to its competition. The company is renowned for providing superior specs at affordable prices like the new Mi Pad, Mi Note, and most recently, a super cheap action camera. It’s an easy conclusion, if the news turns out to be real, Xiaomi’s first smartwatch will be priced lesser than the other wearables in the market.

March 16, 2015
Check Out the World’s First Pain Relieving Wearable

Not every wearable is about sleep tracking or counting steps. Among the many wearables showed at CES 2015, a useful one was called Quell. It is a drug-free service that helps in relieving chronic pain. The technology used for this device has been developed by Neurometrix, a company from Harvard Medical School which specialises in Neurotechnology.

This device consists of a strap that is worn around the affected part of the body, with its electrode touching the skin. When activated, it stimulates the nerves, in turn sending a message to the brain to release endogenous opioids- the body’s natural defence against pain. This brings relief within 15 minutes.

The main advantage of this device is that it is portable and can be carried along almost anywhere. The correct stimulation has to be attuned the first time, and Quell then automatically selects the same each time. iOS already has a supporting app and Android one is on its way.

The only shortcoming would be the user will have to keep on buying the electrodes periodically. Normally, this would cost $250 (approx Rs. 15,773), but pre-ordering would cost $199 (Rs. 12,555). Details about its mass availability is still uncertain, though the device is currently up for pre-order on Indiegogo. The device has already reached $250,000 in pledges.

March 14, 2015
Timex Run x50+ is a Training Tool That Works With Both Android and iOS

Major smartphone brands like Sony, Samsung, Motorola, and recently Apple, have jumped into the smartwatch division and have left behind the traditional watchmakers. The iconic timepiece brand Timex is putting all efforts to restore its image and has added a device to its connected devices portfolio.

The new Timex IRONMAN Run x50+ is a tech-driven smartwatch made especially for athletes. It is basically for folks who undergo aggressive training and want the features of a smartband in a smartwatch.

The International Marketing Manager of Timex Sports & Outdoors, Bart van Schijndel, said –

For nearly three decades, Timex has provided athletes with technology solutions to enhance their training experiences. The brand is excited to launch the new Run x50+ watch – an evolved training tool for runners of all levels.

The Run x50+ sits comfortably at the wrist and connects to your phone, whether Android or iOS. It lets you stream and control the workout information through the fitness apps in the smartphone. For now, the feature is limited to iOS only, but it will soon arrive for Android handsets as well. One can get notifications like incoming calls, text alert, Facebook notifications, emails, and more on the sunlight-readable display.

Other pivotal features include volume control, pause, play option that can be controlled through the Run x50+ on a smartphone. The free Timex Connected app lets you set watch features. You can set appointment reminders, phone finder and watch finder as per your convenience. The latest addition to the Iron Man series can survive water splashes and go deep in water up to 5 metres.

Timex hasn’t provided any information on the price and availability of the watch, but we expect it’ll arrive in India soon.

March 11, 2015
Thanks to Apple Watch, Swiss Watchmakers Headed Towards Troubled Times : Swatch Inventor

Apple’s has finally brought its long awaited Watch to the market, and there have been mixed responses to the new offering. Now the co-inventor of the Swatch watches says that the new device from Apple can cause serious troubles for Switzerland’s famed watch industry.

Swatch co-inventor Elmar Mock has said that the Apple Watch might put a lot of pressure on traditional watchmakers in Switzerland, and he anticipates an ice age for the industry soon. He said that anything in the range of $500-1000 should be a cause of concern for the industry.

Wristwatches are one of the many prominent offerings from Switzerland along with cheese, chocolate and, of course, the banking system for stashing huge funds. The watch making industry employs tens of thousands of workers and the smartwatch craze might affect their livelihood.

Mr. Mock said that the Swiss watch industry hasn’t been innovating enough to keep up with the new challenges from the tech industry. He cited the quartz crisis of 1970’s and 80’s when cheap watch offerings from Japan took over large market shares from Swiss watchmakers. He said that the Swiss industry has the technology to deliver competent product in the age of smartwatches, and they should take proactive efforts to tackle the assault from the tech industry. Elmar Mock warned that if corrective actions weren’t taken, the watch industry might face severe troubles in two to three years.

Smartwatches as a segment has a long way to go, and the most glaring deficiency of these devices is the battery life that mostly tends to last a day or two. It adds on as an extra device that regularly demands its moment on the charging plug while a regular watch runs for months or even years on a single battery. This is one of the major causes that discourages folks from buying these new devices. So the watchmakers should anticipate a comfortable run till the time the tech companies figure out the battery side of things.

March 11, 2015
Apple Watch Battery Life to Last Up to 18 Hours

Apple fans over the world were eagerly waiting for this. At the Spring Forward event, Apple, at last, has told us everything there is to know about its new wearable.

The smartwatch is a personalised device and comes with different watch faces. Users can customise the device with widgets for the faces like stopwatch, calendar, date, etc. The Watch supports iOS 8.2 and comes with many pre-installed apps like Uber, Shazam, WeChat, Twitter, Apple Pay and health apps.

The Apple Watch works in tune with the iPhone. Any notification that appears on the handset can pop on the Watch as well. Apple Pay is an important component of the smartwatch that lets users pay through the watch on their wrist. There is a built-in speaker and microphone on the Watch that lets you receive calls on the go.

However, one of the biggest concerns with a wearable is its battery life. With the number gadgets in our lives, we don’t need another gadget that needs to be constantly fuelled. Earlier reports had worried us, however it seems like the company managed to deliver a decent battery life. The company claims, on a day of normal usage, the Apple Watch will last you a decent 18 hours.

The Apple Watch will come in three variants – Sport, Regular and Gold Edition. The Sport Edition comes in Silver or Space Gray colour and ranges from $349 for the 38mm Sport to $399 for the 42mm.

The Regular Apple Watch edition is a traditional stainless piece and comes for $549 – $1,049 for the 38mm and $599 – $1,099 for the 42mm. The 18-carat gold edition is the most expensive and starts at $10,000. All the three watches will be available from April 24^th onwards.

March 10, 2015
Apple Watch Edition is Officially the Most Expensive Smart Watch

Apple has lifted curtains on the new Apple Watch and different elements variations including the aluminum version Apple Watch Sport which starts at US$ 349 for the 38mm and US$ 399 for the 42MM versions. The Apple Watch made from a custom version of stainless steel forged using special alloying techniques starting for a price of US$ 549 for 38mm and US$ 599 for the 42mm version, the strap you select will affect the pricing of course.

The Apple Watch Edition, aka the pure solid gold edition, available in a block of 18 carat yellow, or rose gold will go on sale starting at a whopping price of US $ 10,000 for the 38mm version, and the price will only increase as per the edition you decide to buy.

The Apple Watch edition is set to target the high-end watch market, mainly from the name brand watches, the likes of Omega and Tag Heuer will see a shift in buying from the users.

The biggest reason, watch enthusiasts would stay away from smart watches would be the general availability of smart watches vs the exclusivity and high end precision with which the traditional watches were made.

With Apple creating a similar market for the Watch Edition, making it available in select quantities and in select stores across the world. Apple is basically pinging the high end watch lovers.

The question however remains; Would a high end watch enthusiast drop his/her precision hand made watch that potentially would never need a charge for a watch that would require to be charged daily?

Will the Apple Watch Edition end up being a high price novelty? Especially considering that we might see a new version in about 365 days of launch.

March 10, 2015
24th April Onwards Apple Watch Will be Available in Nine Countries

While we have known most details about the Apple Watch since Apple’s last major event, the company officially announced the smartwatch today. It is one of the newest entrants in Apple’s ecosystem. Tim Cook, Apple CEO, had earlier announced that we would be able to buy the device sometime in April, we have now been given an exact date for the same.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Tim Cook” author_title=”Apple’s CEO”]

Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it,

[/quote]

It will be available on 24th April to customers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US. While 10th April onwards, in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US, Apple Watch will be available for preview, try-on by appointment at Apple’s retail stores, and available for pre-order through the Apple Online Store. Customers who purchase online or in-store from Apple will be offered Personal Setup to customise and pair Apple Watch with their iPhone.

Want to know more about the Apple Watch? Click here.

March 10, 2015
Pricing of Huawei’s Premium Smartwatch Revealed

The Chinese electronics producer Huawei, at the Mobile World Congress, announced its first Android-powered smartwatch last week. It was a wearable with timeless design and with all the major elements required to make a high-end watch. The Huawei Watch has finally got a price tag and as per Amazon.de, the wearable can be grabbed at €999 ($1,080 = more than Rs. 67,500).

The company was careful at the Mobile World Congress revealing only the basic information about the Watch, and not the price and availability. But through the Amazon listing, it is evident that all the three variants of the Huawei Watch (black, silver, and gold) will cost €999 with prime shipping.

Meanwhile, the e-commerce website doesn’t state any details about its release date. Moreover, it is little dubious of the three variants having the same price range, as gold and silver edition were expected to be priced a little higher than the black version.

Recalling the features,the Huawei Watch is undoubtedly an excellent choice and incorporates a sapphire crystal display that is absent is many smartwatches. A 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, along with 512MB is equipped with the device. The onboard storage capacity holds at 4GB, and additional features include a heart rate sensor, call notifications and many other essential features.

March 9, 2015
Here’s What You Can Expect From Apple’s ‘Spring Forward’ Event

Apple will be holding an event today, the 9th of March where it will finally launch its long teased Apple Watch. This is a whole new product segment for Apple, and the industry is waiting to get their hands on the device to see for themselves if it matches the hype.

There might be some hidden surprises at the event, but here’s what you can expect to see:

The Battery Fiasco

The battery has been a cause of concern for the potential consumers. It has been claimed in multiple reports that the Apple Watch might have a dismal battery backup. Some reports even went on to say that the device might just have a battery life for 5 hours of active usage while others said it might run for two-three days on low power mode. Replying to the concerns, Apple Chief, Tim Cook recently said that the Apple Watch will run for a full day, and its charging will be faster than the iPhone. We will finally get to know more details on the battery performance and will also learn how Apple plans on increasing the battery efficiency of the device.

Apps Maketh The Watch

Apple Watch is first of all a smart device, and the smartness of the device depends on the apps it has to offer. During its launch, Apple showed some amazing clock faces including the amazing Astronomy and Disney based watch faces. It also has some unique gesture supports that will make it easy to use and to interact with others.
At present, the apps on the device will work in conjunction with the iPhone apps. The company plans to bring native Watch apps in the future. Apple has already said that the Watch will support Apple Pay, which means the device has NFC so we might also see some NFC-based apps too. Tim Cook has already said that Watch might replace the car keys in the near future.

What’s The Price, Eh?

During the unveiling of the Apple Watch, its price was stated to be $349, which is expected to be the price of the basic variant of the device, the Watch Sport. The price of Apple’s other Watch offering is yet unknown. Apple has also brought the Edition collection of the watch which are made of premium materials such as Rose Gold surface and Sapphire Crystal display. These smartwatches will also come with a multitude of strap and accessory options. Though, for Apple customers, pricing is not a major issue, but this time around they’ll probably be cautious before buying an all new device. Some reports have indicated a price of above $1000 as the average price for the device, which sounds a bit exorbitant. With that hefty a price tag Apple has to make a good case for its product to attract users to its Watch corner.

Hmm… What Else?

Apart from the major Apple Watch launch, the Cupertino-based tech giant is also expected to bring out some new upgraded devices in its other product line-up. 9to5mac had reported in January that Apple might be ready to bring a 12 inch-notebook that would probably have a body similar to the current 11-inch MacBook Air. This new device is only expected to hold two ports, a headphone jack and the new C-Type reversible USB port. This new laptop will also do away with the internal fans and the touchpad, so this seems to be one of the usual experiments of Apple for the market whose success can influence future product designs. The lack of ports might disappoint potential buyers, but Apple might just end up introducing a new accessory to address consumer plight.

Apple might also introduce iOS 8.2 with Apple Watch support. This new update will have the new companion app for the Watch and will let you use the device in conjunction with your iOS devices. The new emoji’s, which got the fans excited will only arrive after a few months when Apple brings out the iOS 8.3.

To Conclude

Overall, it’s a show about the new Apple Watch and it is targeted at the customers who have been eagerly waiting to own the companion device for their iPhones. While we know about most of the features of the Watch, Apple will be making its final case before bringing the device out for the customers to try. The smartwatch segment of the market is slowly coming to maturity and with Apple’s addition to the list, all major brands have placed their contenders in the market. We have to wait till next quarter to know how Apple’s latest product segment is received by the public.

Come back to iGyaan to know more about the details of the Apple event on Monday.

March 9, 2015