Category: Wearables

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

LG Brings Out a Sleek and Wireless Headset for Rs. 10,990

LG, the South Korean electronic giant, has launched new wireless neckband ‘LG TONE INFINIM’ based on ergonomic design for better comfort and sound. The new wireless headset is engineered by Harman Kardon and can be paired with smartphones via Bluetooth. The TONE INFINIM is available in India at Rs. 10,990.

INFINIM has essentially a crisp audio rather than a bass-heavy sound. The gadget includes the company’s retractable wire management technology, a metallic finish and an ergonomic curved design. Its ‘Easy Control’ feature includes control with Jog switch to control music with one fluid motion.

It comes with a handful of features such as Current Time Alert, SMS/SNS Replay, Speed Dial, Direct Dial, Favourite Call and Advanced Vibration Alert. During incoming calls, the device alerts the user with its caller ID. The battery status of the headset can be checked on the smartphone at a glance.

The LG Bluetooth Stereo Headset reads out the most recently received SNS or text messages. Users can directly call the previously saved contacts via the headset without taking out their smartphones. Users can designate up to five contacts on their headsets using this USP. This USP can only be used after saving contacts on the application, Tone&Talk. Users can set different vibration patterns for SMS and SNS so that they always know the type of message received in advance. It also informs about the current time on the smartphone with a simple button press.

LG has given these sleek new headsets a classy look which are available in metallic silver and gold colour variants.

November 12, 2014
Moto 360 Gets New Metal Straps, Watchface and Fitness App

Even though a lot still consider it is too early for smartwatches to break into the full scale commercial market, Moto 360 managed to turn heads with its design when we first saw it at Google I/O 2014.

However, the much-loved smartwatch was limited to only two colours and material choices at the launch. But, Motorola now wants to give you more options. The company has also begun selling the Moto 360 with metal options, which are now available with either dark or light grey finish in the regular 23 mm band size for $299.99.

Announced in a blog post yesterday, the company said, “Crafted from aircraft-grade stainless steel, these bands feature a modern, contemporary tri-link design that complements the round face of Moto 360. Starting today, Moto 360 with light and dark metal bands are available on motorola.com for $299. Coming soon, we will offer Moto 360 with new slim bands, which is an option for smaller wrists or for people who want a different look. Slim bands will be available in time for the holidays in light metal ($299) and a brand new champagne gold finish ($329).”

The bands were earlier listed on Amazon.com, however, they are official now. Along with this, Motorola also announced new accessory bands that can be purchased separately in stone, black, or cognac leather, along with dark and light metals. Plus, they have partnered with brands like DODOcase (stitched leather bands) and TYLT (silicone bands) to offer even more options.

The company has also rolled out a new update of the Moto Connect app. The update introduces the an attractive ‘My Design’ watch face that allows you to customise everything from the background image to the style of the tick marks and watch hands. Motorola also added the Design Face-Off winner’s watch face to the collection.

Finally, the Schaumburg-based giant is introducing Moto Body, a fitness-inspired experience app that tracks your steps, distance, heart rate, and calories. Moto Body will be available through the new Moto Connect app.

November 7, 2014
Samsung Gear S Smartwatch Goes Up for Pre-Orders in India

Samsung’s Tizen-based Gear S smartwatch, announced earlier this year, is now available for pre-orders in India. The smartwatch is priced at Rs. 28,900 and is available for pre-order on the company’s online store for just Rs. 1,000.

The Gear S smartwatch sports a 2-inch curved AMOLED display with a resolution of 360×480 pixels. The watch will be powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1 GHz and a 512MB RAM. It comes with 4 GB of storage and a 300mAh battery support, which Samsung claims can last up to two days.

However, the standout feature of the watch is a SIM card slot, which allows voice calling via 2G or 3G SIM. The watch also supports Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity, though it does not sport a camera. Unlike Samsung’s other Tizen-based Gear watches, it has a standalone music player.

That being said, the Gear S smartwatch is not a standalone device and requires one of the compatible Samsung smartphones to activate it and download apps for your watch.

November 6, 2014
ASUS ZenWatch: The Best Smartwatch is Yet to Arrive!

India’s smartwatch shelves are filling up while major companies are releasing their models in the country. ASUS surprised everyone with its latest smartwatch at IFA Berlin this year. The ASUS ZenWatch is touted as the best Android Wear smartwatch in the market currently and it has received some rave reviews. The smartwatch looks real classy and has options for user-replaceable 22 mm watchband. The ZenWatch is expected to arrive soon to the Indian stores.

ASUS ZenWatch comes with a 1.63-inch 320×320 AMOLED display. The screen is curved to give off a 2.5D effect and the watch is powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, along with a 512MB RAM.

The ZenWatch is stylish, classy and slim.

The feature that makes it desirable is the user removable 22 mm watchband. You can adjust its size according to your convenience. It is rated IP55 for water and dust-proofing, so it can tolerate accidental splashes. The ZenWatch also has a 9-axis sensor for tracking activities and movements like step counts, heart rate and relaxation levels. In short, it’s a personal wellness manager that helps users keep a close watch at their fitness goals.

ASUS has inducted several gesture controls and pre-loaded features on the device, and they set it apart from its competition. It provides features like unlocking your phone or tablet by tapping on the face of the ZenWatch, auto-opening a function you set with a double-tap. To mute the watch, you can just cover it. The device also helps you to find your phone and operate the camera remotely. However, for these feature to work, you are required to install a separate, ASUS-created Watch Manager app in addition to Android Wear on your companion device. But that won’t be too much trouble, and you’ll get used to its convenience really soon.

Overall, this is one heck of a device that you simply cannot miss. If you were still making up your mind on which smartwatch to buy, then the ZenWatch can be your no-second-thought-needed purchase.

November 5, 2014
Flipkart Launches the First Indian E-Commerce Android Wear App

All the industry giants are pointing towards wearable technology as the next leap in consumer electronics. But the market has given the segment a lukewarm response. It must have to do with the technology being relatively new and in its beginning stages. But Flipkart seems to be confident of the success of this form factor and so, they have launched the first Indian e-commerce app on Google Android Wear.

To get the app on your device; you need to update the latest version of the Flipkart app. Once you have paired the device with your wearable, the app will be available automatically on it.

The Android Wear app can assist you in your shopping by giving you tracking information, one-touch wishlist, notifications about price drop and personalized offers’ notifications. It has also got support for voice-based searches.

Flipkart is the exclusive address for the Moto 360, which has been the best smartwatch yet. It will surely try to target the segment in the future. Introducing an app in a new operating system environment will give Flipkart some first-mover advantages. We’ll wait and see how it works out for this e-commerce giant.

November 3, 2014
Collapsible and Wearable Smartphone Kyocera Proteus Sets a Benchmark

No smartphone calls for as many speculative rumors as much as the iPhone. Before every iPhone release, there is one render that keeps making a comeback. It shows a flexible device that can collapse and become a wearable. Well, Apple won’t be making any such device anytime soon, but a Japanese company Kyocera has beaten the brand name to bring such a device for the world to drool over.

Meet the Kyocera Proteus, a device with unmatched innovation. It can transform from a flat, bar-shaped phone into a bracelet and can be draped or wrapped around a thin rail, like a cycle handlebar. This device when mass-produced can make all of the present mobile technologies obsolete.

The Proteus concept was presented at CEATEC, which is Japan’s largest consumer electronics show. The concept is ultrathin, almost see-through, and superlight.

When folded from the bar mode to a wearable mode, the phone turns on its sensors and you can start your health tracking on the device. When riding a bike, the device can become your GPS guide. The possibilities of this device are endless.

The Proteus is expected to have AMOLED display. The concept looks great in its initial stages, and it’s a great one-device solution that everyone was looking for. The company is currently in the process of figuring out the battery technology to be utilized to make the device fully functional. There are multiple suggestions being given. According to a source, one of the most innovative suggestion is the inclusion of piezoelectric generators that will convert kinetic energy into electric charge. Hence, the battery can be completely avoided and the device can be charged even on the move.

Kyocera deserves credit for bringing the fantastic product to reality. We just hope they get rid of all the glitches and take us into the future as soon as possible. Now who is working on those damn jetpacks?

November 3, 2014
HP Teams Up With a Fashion Designer to Debut a Sleek Smartwatch

With an onslaught of smart wearables these days, HP has engineered a watch with designer Michael Bastian to create a traditional-looking timepiece called the ‘MB Chronowig’.

This wearable will be compatible with iOS and Android, and comprises all smartwatch features along with a design that emanates traditional watches. The MB Chronowig facilitates users to control music from their wrist, as well as displays email/text notifications. The watch can also sync with your calendar and alarm. This innovative piece does all these nifty little tricks while looking quite elegant – courtesy, the fashion designer.

The smartwatch will be up for sale on the website Gilt.com from 7th November. The range starts from $349 for the base silver-plated model. If you’re willing to shell out $649, there’s also one that comes in black with a sapphire glass and an elegant alligator strap.

November 1, 2014
Everykey: A Single Wristband That Would Replace All Your Keys and Passwords

A new start-up called Everykey launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund production of its stylish wristband that replaces keys and passwords with one easy-to-use device. A month old fundraiser started on 29th October and the company has pledged to raise $100,000 in this one month.

The Everykey wristband is designed to store your passwords and keys securely for easy access. Available in a multitude of fashion-forward colors, Everykey is an innovative universal access device for everything that requires a physical key or password. It allows immediate access to a user’s password-protected electronics such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer, as well as physically locked items including doors, car doors, bike locks, and other access devices that need to be controlled.

“When the Everykey wristband is within the range of a user’s device, the wristband will allow the user to bypass that device’s password or physically unlock it automatically, eliminating the need for complicated passwords and cumbersome keys. Everykey also manages a password keychain, which can be used to seamlessly log users into their online accounts when they’re close to one of their devices. When the wristband goes out of range, the device automatically re-enables security mechanisms so it is safe and secure when out of trusted hands.” reads Everykey’s Kickstarter page.

“We just came up with a conceptual idea, we didn’t think it was our place to develop it because its hardware would take a lot of money to develop,” Chris Wentz, Co-Founder of Everykey, said in an interview. “But at the end of the class, the professor shook our hands and said, ‘You guys should consider doing this as a real business.’ And he offered to invest his own money. We realized, ‘Oh, this could potentially be a big idea.’”

Everykey uses military grade encryption, allowing only you to access your personal property and accounts. Like a credit card, you can instantly disable your Everykey if it ever gets lost or stolen.

November 1, 2014
Microsoft Outs its Fitness Wearable with 10 Sensors Onboard

Microsoft has just listed its new fitness offering on its official website. ‘Microsoft Band’ will go on sale today for $199 at the company’s online and physical stores, for US customers only, and in ‘limited quantities’.

Microsoft Band is a 10-sensor fitness tracker which would last two days on a charge, according to the company. In addition to the obvious optical heart rate monitor, which is evident on the design itself, the new Microsoft’s wearable includes a UV sensor to keep track of your sun exposure, a galvanic skin response sensor to measure stress, and a built-in GPS.

Designed by Quentin Morris (who also developed the Xbox One controller), it comes with 18.5 mm band, which is made up of thermoplastic elastomer making it soft and quite stretchy. It has got a 1.4-inch touchscreen display with 320×106 resolution and is powered by two 100mAh lithium-ion batteries.

The new fitness band is a part of Microsoft’s Health initiative to track and analyze world’s health data and is also just one way to collect it. It is to be noted that the company has opened it up for use on devices and platforms built by others. Microsoft plans to let people use the Health app with other personal trackers.

Also, not only is the device cross-platform ready, it is said that Microsoft will look for other companies (maybe Samsung, HTC, Pebble, Fitbit) to make their devices Microsoft Health compatible. That way, they can sync into the data and notifications immediately, all powered by the Microsoft backend.

One of the main highlights of this device is that it comes with a microphone to issue voice commands to Cortana. However, it will only work if you pair the band to a Windows Phone device. In addition to that, the Microsoft Band will be able to perform usual task of Smartwatches such as e-mail messages, calendar reminders, phone calls, Twitter and Facebook notifications, weather and stock information.

Microsoft has already partnered with major health-related service providers such as Jawbone, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper. Another feature that the company has added is its ability to share data from the HealthVault with your medical provider. Microsoft is aiming for folks active both at work and in the gym and according to them, they have come up with a perfect system for such consumers.

October 30, 2014
Fitbit Unveils Three New Motion Trackers Including a GPS Watch

After nine months of interval, Fitbit on Monday announced three new devices for the wrist: Charge, Charge HR and Surge. Last year, the company was highly criticized for Fitbit Force as it caused skin irritation and blistered the wrists of some owners.

The devices measure activity and sleep, and when you pair them up with your smartphone, they give you an idea of how active you’ve been through the day and how well you’ve rested. The Charge is essentially a replacement of the Force and has been priced at $129.95. It encompasses the same features of the Force, including the caller-ID function.

Fitbit Charge is priced at $129.95

Also, Fitbit has finally cracked the code for automatic sleep tracking. That means no more adjusting the alarms before you sleep. The design has changed slightly since last year, and now it’s made up of a softer rubber with slightly textured surface. But for the most part, the Charge is a direct clone of the Force. It’s roughly the same size, has the same basic feature set and even the same seven day battery life.

Charge HR costs $149.95and comes with a LED heart rate sensor

The Charge HR, which cost $149.95, adds an LED heart rate sensor. The company says that the sensor will work continuously whether you’re working out, working on your computer, or sleeping. Data from the heart rate sensor isn’t used to measure your sleep, though that could come in the future, which would make sleep tracking more accurate. Battery life, Fitbit says, is five days.

The third Fitbit offering, the Surge, is priced at $250. The company dubs it as a “super watch”, something between a fitness tracker and a full-on smartwatch. It is essentially a basic sports watch with light smartwatch capabilities. The Surge includes GPS, heart rate monitoring, bluetooth LE-based call and text notifications, and also supports different workout modes like runs, weight training, or elliptical use. It is bigger in size than the usual sports watch and claims to have seven days of battery life.

The ‘super watch’ Surge is bigger in size than usual sports watch

Fitbit has also made a few updates in its mobile app. It now includes challenges, so you can compete with other Fitbit users and get motivated. Also, the company has added some simple fitness coaching which will automatically calculate your heart rate zones and divide them into three basic areas – fat burn, cardio, and peak performance, rather than the more complex five to seven zones that elite athletes practice.

October 28, 2014
New Update for Moto 360 Brings Better Battery Life and User Interface

Motorola Mobility is known for its timely updates for its widely popular Moto G, Moto E and Moto X handsets. It looks like the company is continuing its update strategy with its smartwatch Moto 360 as well. Motorola has rolled out a new software update for the circular Moto 360 smartwatch. It promises better battery life and UI among some other tweaks.

The company said that the new update will automatically turn off the ambient mode and hence, will save upto 15% of the battery life. The ‘Mood Lighting’ feature will adjust the brightness of the device according to the lighting conditions for a better ambient viewing experience.

‘Ambient Screen Off’ comes as a default setting and is preferred by most users. However, ‘Ambient On’ gives you an experience that more closely models a traditional watch with a watchface that is visible without any twist and tricks on your wrist. Motorola has also tweaked the device, and now one can connect bluetooth headsets with it.

Along with this, the company has added a new gesture for better notification viewing. This new gesture allows you to see the full watchface without permanently dismissing the alert. Now, you can just touch the notification, swipe it down, and it will show you the message again when you have another high priority notification coming through. This way, you can easily navigate through the messages without them covering the entire elegant watchface.

The company’s official blogpost reads, “We will roll out the new software in phases. Look for the update notification on your watch! You will be prompted to install it. To install the update, make sure that you’re connected to your phone with an internet connection and that your watch has at least 80% battery.”

The company also mentioned that they have added some bug removal application in the update for better overall user experience.

October 27, 2014
Now it’s Microsoft’s Turn to Bring Out a New Smartwatch!

After the main forces in the mobility business, Google and Apple unveiled their smartwatches, Microsoft is readying itself to get into the fight. The desktop mega-power has been unsuccessful in making a solid mark in the mobility market. But the company has kept its pursuits in the business strong and with an edition of wearables’ segment, the company can make a claim in the market.

The company plans to unveil the devices in the near future. The devices will have features like health-tracking capabilities, including a heart-rate monitor. What will make it really attractive is its ability to work with competitive devices such as iOS and Android. The device is expected to hold on to its battery juices for up to two days, which might help it find many takers.

Microsoft had previously made efforts into the field when it partnered with Fossil, Suunto, and Swatch on high-end, touch-screen models that cost as much as $800. It was part of its Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) initiative. The project shut down in 2008.

Overall, the device does sound competent, and it tries to bring in the best of all devices in the market into one device. There is no talk of a solid release date but most probably the company will try to make hay while the festive sun shines so expect an announcement soon. Microsoft’s Windows 10 OS seems really promising, and if the wearable works on this operating ecosystem, it might shine out too. Now we have to wait for the device to come out to know for sure if it can live up to the hype.

October 20, 2014
Samsung Gear S Smartwatch Launched in India for Rs. 29,500

Along with the launch of latest flagship Galaxy Note 4, Samsung has also launched Gear S, the company’s newest smartwatch. The new smartwatch will be available from October 17th at the price tag of Rs. 29,500. Along with that, the company announced the partnership with Vodafone to give 2GB Data free for the users 2 months.

The new Tizen based smartwatch is the first smartwatch from Samsung with built-in 3G connectivity, and have ability to connect to 3G and 2G networks on its own, meaning users won’t need to keep it wirelessly connected to a smartphone in order to get notifications or make calls.

The Samsung Gear S has a 2-inch curved AMOLED display. It is topped with dual-core 1GHz CPU inside along with GPS, heart rate and motion sensors. It is powered by a 300mAh battery which Samsung says can last up to two days. It runs Tizen instead of Android Wear, with pedestrian navigation available from from Nokia’s HERE and support for Facebook.

It also lets you reply to incoming messages using the onscreen keyboard, or S Voice functionality to complete your tasks. You can also make and receive calls directly from your wrist, or get calls forwarded from your smartphone.

The 2-inch curved AMOLED display is kept at a 360 x 480px resolution, which comes out to a fairly impressive 300 pixels per inch. The smartwatch does not sport a camera, and unlike Samsung’s other Tizen-based Gear watches, it has a standalone music player.

October 14, 2014
HTC Forays in Wearables with the New RE Camera

HTC has essentially held its ground as a Mobile Smartphone manufacturer in the past years. With the new Nexus Tablet, reportedly being made by HTC and the launch of this new RE camera, it seems like HTC is in for a change of events.

Green

Orange

Mounting Strap

The new HTC RE camera is a take on GO Pro style action cameras but HTC calls it the first camera that is designed to be held, and fits naturally and comfortably in the palm of your hand. It will come in various colors and sizes with various mounting options and accessories.

Specs wise the RE is pretty impressive too, A 16MP 1/2.3” CMOS sensor with an Ultra wide angle: 146° lens (f/2.8) captures 1080p, 30fps FHD video and 720p, 4x slow motion video and it also has a Time-lapse video recording mode.

Inbuilt is an HD microphone and speaker along with rating for durability – IP57 Dust & Water Resistant IPx7 (body), IPx8 (with cap). The camera houses a 820 mAh battery which is rated for 1,200 16MP photos; 1 hour 40 min of continuous FHD video recording. it comes with an 8GB card loaded and supports upto 128 GB cards offering good storage capacities.

The RE is fairly lightweight at only 65.5 grams, and measures just 96.7 x 26.5 mm, and for sensors you have a Grip sensors and a Gyroscope. The camera will work over Bluetooth 4.0 and Wifi N and will work with iOS 7 and above along with all KitKat equipped Android phones.

The best thing, it comes with a standard 1/4 inch tripod thread and separately bought battery charger that screw in to the bottom to add additional battery capacities.

The idea and the design will replace most bloggie-selfie cameras and especially for Video Loggers and Video bloggers this might become a handy accessory.

Stay tuned for our hands on.

October 9, 2014
New Update for Moto 360 Fixes its Battery Backup Issue

The Moto 360 was the single most awaited wearable this year. On its launch, the device found a lot of customers willing to get their hands on it. But one of the major issues with the much sought after device was its battery backup. Some users even claimed that the device didn’t even work for an entire day. An iFixit teardown also found that the battery was less than what was claimed by Motorola. Motorola released an update recently to address the issue, and it seems to be working.

The Moto 360 comes with 1.56 inch LCD display along with 4GB of internal storage and 512 MB of RAM. Its power source is a 320 mAh battery and has been the cause of worry for the device owners.

Several owners of the Moto 360 on Reddit have claimed that the battery performance has dramatically increased following the new update. Some have even claimed that the dreaded ambient light which drained most of the juice is also performing well.

The usual complaint was that the battery wouldn’t last a day, but users are now reporting that the issue has also been solved to an extent. But it is still a software based tweak and can be affected by future updates. But as of now it is a necessary update that will give a full day’s worth of functionality of the device.

The Moto 360 will be arriving on Flipkart around the first week of October, and this seems like a good news for potential customers. The folks who were reconsidering their Moto 360 purchase can now stop. But the update is still software based. Motorola needs to find a way to extend the battery life further, otherwise it will add to the menace of chargeable devices one needs to take care of at the end of a work day.

September 29, 2014