Tag: wearable

Microsoft’s Future Smart Glass Might be Able to Read Emotions

To remain interesting, wearables are continuously being upgraded. They have a massive potential, and major tech companies are constantly looking to improve their last offering. From smartwatches to smart glasses, possibilities of technology seems only limited till the emotional spectrum. Recently, it seems that Microsoft may have overcome this barrier. The US technology giant, known for making its mark in the computing world, have recently been awarded a patent for a smart glass that would be able to detect or interpret emotions of people within its range.

This patent, filed as ‘a wearable emotion detection feedback system’, was originally filed in October last year and has been announced this week. By judging different variations in speech rhythm and amplitude, choice of words, type and speed of gestures,eye focus and body posture, the glass would be able to determine the emotion of a single person or a group, without them knowing about it. It will use sensors like depth cameras and a microphone under the nose bridge to pick up the audio and video information about the subject.

According to Wall Street Journal, its uses were not specified, but one can imagine it will come very useful during interrogation questioning where devices would be able to measure changes in the person’s body temperature or pick up small shifts in the voice tone. According to the patent, this device can communicate with another same device, thus allowing the share of information. This also gives the user a 360-degree view, and can be used in gaming or security work.

Again, the possibilities seem endless. Let’s wait and watch how Microsoft takes this innovation forward.

May 4, 2015
New Wearable ‘Wankband’ Uses Rapid Hand Motion to Charge Your Gadgets

The internet can be a place full of filth if you know how to find the content you are looking for. But what if all the “dirty” content can actually come in handy (pun intended) to charge up your devices. Pornhub, which is one of the biggest storehouse of adult friendly content has come up with a new wearable that can charge any device after generating energy from the user’s rapid hand motion.

Meet Wankband, this wearable has weight inside a small band that generates electricity when a user jerks his/her hands rapidly. The unisex band can then charge other devices through a USB port.

The Wankband is on developmental stages at the moment and users can sign up to become Beta tester for the project. This, of course, is a gimmicky device and wouldn’t actually be capable of generating enough energy to power up any of your devices completely. It still is a great device to generate some power out of efforts that usually get wasted.

Feel free to check out the video before, it’s definitely safe for work:

February 28, 2015
Next-Gen ASUS ZenWatch’s Battery Might Last One Whole Week on a Single Charge

Smartwatch battery is a big issue that has taken centre stage and it seems like ASUS is taking this matter gravely. The Taiwanese multinational company is working on its ASUS ZenWatch successor, which is said to be have a battery life which would last an entire week. Smartwatches are judged on the basis of their battery life; no one wants another device that needs constant recharge.

The ASUS Chairman has hinted of the extended lifespan of the next smartwatch saying that the forthcoming ZenWatch will have a more simplified central processing unit (CPU) and operating system (OS). The lighter version will lead to a battery support that can go for up to seven days on a full charge. If the company stands true to its words then the ZenWatch 2 can hold the limelight this year as usually all smartwatches have a battery support of maximum two days. Recently Apple faced the heat when rumours emerged about Apple Watch’s terrible battery life.

The electronics giant also stated that the upcoming smartwatch will be independent and one will be able to make voice calls without being tethered to a smartphone. The original ASUS ZenWatch touts a 1.63-inch AMOLED touch display, 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 4 GB of internal storage capacity.

ASUS is geared to launch two low-price wristbands this year. These wristbands will combine health tracking features like keeping a record of footsteps, heartbeat, pulse and blood sugar.

The ZenWatch 2 (temporarily titled) will only be available by the third quarter of 2015. It is expected to launch at a price tag of $199.

January 27, 2015
Google Glass to Make a Comeback in 2015 With Intel Chips

A new report by The Wall Street Journal has revealed that 2015 will see the launch a new version Google Glass which will be powered by an Intel Chip and will offer longer battery life than the present Explorer Edition. Intel has joined hands with Google as a part of their strategy to push their market in the wearable segment.

Google Glass has already gone through some minor changes since its launch, one to add compatibility with prescription lenses and another to double the RAM; however, entirely new chipset could mean some serious changes. The Intel chips will replace a processor from Texas Instruments Inc. included in the first version of the Google Glass.

According to the WSJ, Intel plans to promote the Glass to hospital networks and manufacturers. Google launched the web-connected eyewear in 2012, but it carried a hefty price and was regarded as something that only nerds would wear. Limited battery life and an impractical four-figure price tag worked against the Glass’ widespread adoption up until now. With a more modern processor and a refreshed design, it might see consumer interest rekindled.

Intel chips are mostly used in personal computers and servers in data centres, but the company has targeted the tablet and wearable markets for new power-efficient versions of its x86-based processors. It competes with rivals such as ARM and Texas Instruments. At CES 2014, it showed off smart earbuds that can measure a runner’s heart rate. In March, Intel purchased the high-end health tracker maker Basis Science. The chip maker’s XMM6321 3G cellular radio was incorporated into MICA, a fashion bracelet that was unveiled in September.

Google has been pushing Glass as a workplace-computing device. Recently, through a program called Glass at Work, Google is working with software developers including Augmedix and APX Labs to encourage use of Glass in industries such as health care, construction and manufacturing where employees work with their hands but need information.

December 1, 2014
GizmoPal Wearable Allows Kids to Call their Parents with One Button

Well, why should adults have access to all the new gadgets that are changing the way we live and do our work. That’s what LG thinks, and in line with this, LG introduced KizOn in South Korea earlier this year. KizOn is a wearable device for children that makes it easy for them to communicate with their parents.

Now, the toddler-focused wearable is sailing to the west with the launch of GizmoPal (US nomenclature) on Verizon. The GizmoPal is designed for kids anywhere from pre- to middle- school to easily make and receive phone calls using a single calling button and auto-answer feature.

It only requires a pre-configured number setup and, then using a single button, kids can easily make or receive a call. All what the child has to do is press the button to make or answer a call, followed by speaking into GizmoPal and listening through its speaker—no complicated steps that can cause confusion.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Dr. Jong-seok Park” author_title=”President and CEO of LG Electronics”]

GizmoPal was developed in response to customers’ opinions that technology should be used to improve the lives of all consumers. It occurred to us that children had the most to gain because they’re the most vulnerable.

[/quote]

The GizmoPal also comes with a companion app available for iOS and Android. This app uses GPS to allow parents easily monitor their child’s location at all time. Obviously, it will need Verizon service to work as intended, the fee itself is only $5 per month. The new wearable is available now on the carrier’s site for $80, while it will go on sale from 11th December in physical stores.

November 27, 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
The Smartwatch Battle Begins! Apple Watch vs Moto 360

Apple’s first attempt on the still nascent wearable market was huge, with people eyeing Tim Cook’s wrist the moment he entered the stage. Apple Watch (not iWatch) will be priced at $349 and will be available by early 2015. It will come in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. The wearable will be compatible with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

There are already quite a few competitors trying to define what should a smartwatch look like on your wrist. However, Google beat Apple in that race by just a few months by releasing Android Wear. One of the crowd’s favourite is Moto 360 which was launched last week, priced a hundred dollars less at 250$.

The smartwatch technology is still in its infant stage. Apple is known for its innovations and setting trends like it did with iPods and iPads; the Apple Watch is anticipated to have the same impact. However, both Moto 360 and Apple Watch both have their strengths and weaknesses. A quick rundown to help you decide which one to buy, once the devices are available.

Interface

Both companies have provided several interestingly themed watch faces which can be changed easily to suit your mood. Agreed that our watches are getting smarter, but the basic function of the watch is to tell time every time we look at the device. Apple Watch display turns off when you aren’t looking at it. When you turn your wrist, it’ll light up again only showing information when you want it.

In Moto 360, colors pop on the display, and everything is easily viewable, even in direct sunlight. However, when the display is dimmed it darkens after a few seconds of inactivity, but the time is still visible. Though, it is very hard to see outdoors. Waking up the watch is as simple as lifting your wrist; same as on the Apple Watch.

On-The-Go Information and Notifications

Main aim of smartwatches since their earlier days has been to minimize handset use by integrating phone notification with the smartwatch on your wrist for a easy and more convenient experience. In Apple Watch all notifications coming through your phone will pop up on your watch. If the app developer chooses to, they can enrich that notification to let you do a lot more with it — replying to messages or even taking actions, like accepting a Facebook friend request. All together, it sounds fairly decent.

Google’s smartwatch platform is all about notifications, which uses most of its interface. In Moto 360, all of your notifications are routed to it, and you can swipe through the phone to view them all, dismiss them, and even act on some of them. That said, you can’t use them as easily as Apple hopes to allow.

A good smartwatch, in my opinion, is the one gives you what you want, when you want it, without having to do to much. To some extend both Apple and Motorola have achieved that. Apple promises that the person sitting next to you would not be able to tell that you’ve received a notification. The notification buzz will simply give the effect as if someone is tapping you lightly on your wrist. You can customise the apps which you’d like notifications from. It will use the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi from the iPhone for all communication purposes. The built-in speaker phone and microphone can be used to receive calls and use the built-in Siri. With a simple tap on the digital crown, Siri can be activated.

The Moto 360 can do a number of things, such as display incoming calls and texts, measure your heart rate, pull up directions from Google Maps, count your steps, and tell you the weather. The idea behind Android Wear is that the watch should display contextual information before you even need to ask for it. Google Now has always been really capable, and its ability to predict and surface information that you’re interested in is built right into Android Wear. So, for example, if your favorite IPL team has a match at 7 p.m. tonight, Android Wear would display that information on your wrist automatically.

Health and Fitness

The Moto 360 has a heart rate monitor on the underside, that’s good for getting a causal fix on your overall health, but it will not be much of use for vigorous workouts sessions. On the Moto 360 are three pre-installed apps for measuring your overall health. Fit shows how many steps you’ve taken during the day, can measure your heart rate, and lets you set a goal for the number of steps you take each day. In a similar vein, Heart Activity displays how many minutes you need to be active during each day (it’s set at 30 minutes), and how close you are to completing that goal.

Apple Watch promises to take over and take it to a whole new level. Instead of simply tracking daily activities, the watch will actually encourage you to be more active. It has two key apps for this; the first will map your fitness activity through the day, while the second and the more important one, will help you set goals and then help you achieve them.

Thirty-Party Apps

For wearables to entice prospective buyers, third party apps were needed and both Motorola and Apple understood that. Apple has already experimented with certain third-party apps. Developers will be able to create custom notifications for the home screen. For example, the City Mapper will remind you to get off at the right station, the BMW app will direct you to where you would’ve parked your car and the Nike app will allow you to challenge your friends to go for a run.

It’s been a few months, and Google says there are already thousands of apps that support Android Wear. Facebook Messenger, for instance, will now send messages to Wear and can accept responses dictated over voice. Though, we’ve seen a handful of good apps that run specifically on Wear, but no one has actually gave us any breakthrough app yet.

Style

Since watches are worn all the time, it’s important that they look good. The design and style should suit you well. The Apple Watch will be available in six designs. The watch comes with a mechanism which would make it super easy to switch between the straps. The straps include a sport band, soft quilted leather and stainless steel options. And since one size does not fit all, Apple has also developed smaller sizes.

The Moto 360’s 1.56-inch-diameter round display is big, bold, and feels a lot larger than a square display. It has a 320×290 resolution, effectively, at 205ppi. Actually, it’s not fully round there’s a bit of a black bar on the bottom. Apple has done great job by giving us variety, but Moto 360’s round dial and sleek look has already garnered many fans.

A biggest setback is that the Apple Watch will be compatible with only with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus, on the other hand the Moto 360 isn’t as exclusive or biased to its own brand. Apple definitely stands out with its sophisticated and extensive sensors. Unlike Moto 360, Apple Watch seems to do much more than just showing you notifications. It seems both the devices have the right components, they just need to get some developers to come up with more compelling apps.

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September 10, 2014
New Details About Apple’s iWatch Design Leaked

Apple’s September 9th event is few hours away and rumors are still flying high. A latest leak on Reddit supposedly depicts the specs and diagrams of Apple iWatch. While plenty of images purporting to be the new iPhone 6 have made it to the internet, Apple has managed to keep the iWatch under wraps – until now.

The images, posted on Reddit, allegedly show CAD design drawings of the iWatch chassis and components, including a mic and speaker. Descriptions accompanying the images claim that the iWatch will feature a multi-touch, flexible screen that will “add a new dimension to the UI.”

The Reddit user who posted the images, called OwenCarlyle, says the watch will also support Siri, Apple’s voice command system. The Reddit user also claimed that the iWatch will last for more than a day on a single charge, will be waterproof to 60m and won’t have any external connection points which could line up with past reports of the smartwatch features wireless charging.

The leaker also claims that the device will go into mass production sometime this January while describing the wearable computer as “the most complex and expensive product to manufacture to date.” Purported schematics are labeled as coming from Quanta, which has been reported to be Apple’s manufacturing partner for the device.

Other images show renders of various components of the devices, such as the microphone and speaker, although one blurry photo purports to show the iWatch housing, which is rectangular in shape. Apple is widely expected to unveil a wearable device alongside new iPhones on today. The event is due to start at 10:30 IST.

September 9, 2014
Apple iWatch Rumored to Come in Two Sizes with NFC and Curved OLED Display

This may be the last round of rumours surrounding Apple’s most mysterious wearable. We’ve been waiting to have a Apple product wrapped around our wrist for quite some time. Now we’re wishing and hoping that Apple unveils it on its 9th September event.

The latest leaks have pointed out to the fact that the expected iWatch might come in two sizes, both with curved OLED displays, will be able to track health and fitness data, and will include NFC for to make mobile payments directly from your wrist.

OLED display has been criticised for having over-saturated colors but now, Apple may use the OLED display for its first ever wearable. An OLED display only needs to light up pixels that are actively in use, meaning that Apple’s watch could potentially display some basic information such as an analogue watch face while leaving the rest of the screen black. Using OLED display can save battery in the smartwatch.

The addition of NFC in the smartwatch comes in line with rumors of inclusion of the same technology in iPhone 6, too. This will simplify the process of pairing an iWatch and an iPhone as well as both can be used for encouraging mobile payment directly from the smartwatch, which many companies are trying to achieve but have failed until now.

It is said one of the main features of Apple’s upcoming iWatch is the variety of health sensors. However, the details about this has been scarce. A heart-rate sensor is believed to be one of them. As far as display sizes goes, reports have varied, however, earlier reports have pointed to sizes between 1.3-inches and 2.5-inches. If this to be believed, Apple’s iWatch will have one of the biggest watch face in the smartwatch market.

September 5, 2014
Sony’s Promo Teases Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact and a Mysterious Smartwatch

Japanese electronic-giant Sony is believed to launch another tablet and a waterproof smartwatch at IFA 2014 in Berlin. Well, a week before the expected launch, both upcoming gadgets have been supposedly spilled by the company.

The picture, posted on a Facebook promo page for the Smartband illustrates a 7 or 8-inch tab and a sweet new smartwatch in the hands of a person enjoying some poolside entertainment. The tab could be, in all likelihood, the expected Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, whose existence was released a week ago in a client’s manual for a Bluetooth speaker charging dock. Now, we’ve got a full look at the mini-tab, which is a the new size in Sony’s tablet lineup.

The photo is captured by a swimming pool, clearly an inference to the brand’s waterproof logic. With all the leaks, it may feel like there’s nothing more to learn about the Xperia Tablet Z3 Compact. The intelligent watch, however, is still a mystery.

The photo is captured by a swimming pool, clearly an inference to the brand’s waterproof logic

The tab shown in the image appears to be an 8-incher, and will come with Sony’s traditional waterproof features. Additionally, an alleged Android Wear smartwatch can be seen on the wrist as well, suggesting that it will have water-resistant qualities too.

The device is expected to use Sony’s custom-built platform based on Android, instead of Android Wear. As usual, the watch will be water proof and dust resistant, though one should expect something new this time around. While we’re not sure if it’s a mistake or if the company wants to tease its upcoming products, it should still come as an exciting news for Sony fans.

Sony is also expected to launch an updated QX len-style camera at the event as well. Stay tuned, we’ll update you as soon as Sony officially reveals its upcoming devices at the IFA 2014 event in Berlin.

August 25, 2014
New Teaser Reveals Moto 360-Like Round LG Smartwatch

Last week, we heard that LG is working on a refreshed version of the LG G Watch. And now, a leaked teaser shows that this second generation G watch will be round in shape; same as the much appreciated design of the upcoming and highly anticipated Moto 360 smartwatch. A brief 30-second teaser trailer, posted as unlisted on LG Mobile Global’s YouTube page, doesn’t tell much about the new wearable. In fact, it only reveals one (important) detail —its round shape.

LG, which officially launched one of the three Android Wear smartwatches (the LG G Watch), appears to now be focusing on individuals’ preference for round watch faces. The LG watch seems to look like the Moto 360, with a superbly round face that, at any rate as per the teaser, stresses the way that it doesn’t need to leave a little window at the base, as does Motorola’s wearable.

The design also looks to feature a more traditional case with external lugs, vs Motorola’s design, which might be more appealing for those looking for something that more typically resembles your average, innocuous Timex or Casio.

The original G Watch was released only two months ago. The new design so quickly could mean that both these watches were developed around the same time. The first-generation G Watch could have been just to test the waters of the wearable market and to get a headstart and be one of the first companies in the Android Wear device market.

It is said that, LG will be showing off this device at IFA 2014 next week, which means we don’t have to wait too long to get official details.

August 25, 2014
Top 5 Wearables You Can Buy In India Right Now

Wearables are huge these days – with technology giants like Samsung, Google, Apple and basically everyone else investing huge sums into this relatively new technology. While there are a myriad of wearables available in the international market, only half the number show up on the Indian shore. We are listing top 5 wearables you can buy in India right now.

Pebble Smart

Pebble Smart is a toned down version of more expensive and metal-clad Pebble Steel which is not available in India. This one features a 1.26 inch, 168×144 display along with an ARM Cortex M3 CPU and supports Bluetooth 4.0 LE. The design is also waterproof so you can go for a swim without worrying. Performance and battery life are very good. It may not have the sharpest display, but it would last you several days of heavy usage.

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Sony Smart Watch 2

Unlike most smartwatches available in the market which beg you to connect the device with your phone, Sony Smart Watch 2 is more like a stand alone smartwatch. However, it can still be paired up with the Sony Xperia Z2/Z Ultra/Z1 for notifications. It includes three capacitive buttons underneath the display, which measures 1.6 inches and has a 220×176 resolution. There’s an array of app support with more than 300 apps supporting the watch, including Facebook and Twitter. It’s also dust and water resistant plus it has that attractive Xperia-like design.

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Misfit Shine

A lot of fitness gadgets that track your progress are bulky and only come in certain wristband styles. Misfit Shine is the size of a quarter, and can be worn anywhere. The design is diamond-cut from a block of aircraft-grade aluminium and runs on a replaceable battery that lasts up to six months. The Shine syncs easily with its app by placing the metal dot on your phone screen to download data in seconds. It tracks walking, jogging, running, cycling, and swimming (the Shine is waterproof too), and weighs less than 10 grams.

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Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 Neo

As its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 Neo features 1.63 inch Super AMOLED display, a dust and water-resistant body and a 2 megapixel camera with auto focus. It is a toned down version of the original’s futuristic metallic body. A neat addition is being able to attach your own straps to the Gear 2 Neo. Tizen OS is in place instead of Android and this helps to extend the battery life while focusing more on fitness. A heart sensor and pedometer are included for the same purpose.

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UP by Jawbone

UP is a fitness tracker that provides you feedback on your activity, calories burned, diet, and sleep, and then guides you towards achieving your goals. The design is fantastic, it is extremely comfortable and pleasant to wear as well.

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August 13, 2014
Sapphire Glass Troubles Apple, iWatch Release Date Delayed

Rumors of the release of Apple’s iWatch have been flying high for a long time. Seems like we’d have to wait a little while longer before we have the device wrapped around our wrists. The latest speculation suggests that the device could be delayed from September to October, while some even believe that it might be slated for a November release.

Apple has supposedly been working on their version of a smartwatch since 2011. Well, it has taken them way too long, hopefully they’re working on something substantial and path-breaking, which would be worth the wait.

Meanwhile, Apple refuses to confirm the development or the existence of the smartwatch. Re/Code, independent tech news reporters, which are considered reliable sources, said the rumored wrist item would be introduced in October. “People familiar with Apple’s plans tell Re/code that the company hopes to schedule a special event that month to show off the device,” their website quoted. It is also purported that the iWatch will likely to be integrated with the new Healthkit app that is to be introduced with iOS 8. It is said to display all the essential health-related information recorded by the watch.

Apple’s iwatch concept

In June, Reuters revealed the Cupertino-based company’s plan on making multiple screen sizes and designs for market release this fall, which was supported by a leaked patent from USPTO indicating a multitude of smartwatch devices. The patent mentioned of a device called “iTime” that deals with convertible and removable parts from a central unit. Apple has also allegedly sought an “iWatch” patent in Japan recently.

According to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who also, has been a reliable source for predicting Apple product plans in the past, said that the iWatch is believed to debut later than expected, due to complications related to both the new hardware and software. “We have pushed back our estimated time of iWatch mass production from late-September to mid/late-November. We also lower our forecast of iWatch 2014 shipments by 40% to 3 million units,” said Kuo.

The reason, Kuo pointed out, is the ongoing issue of sapphire glass covered lens production. This suggested further that Apple could only be shipping half of the targeted units with sapphire-covered features while the other half with the old Gorilla Glass close, at the end of the year.

It is also reported that Apple is taking the luxury route, targeting the “geek to chic” market by wooing Swiss watchmakers ‘Swatch’ to partner with them. “Fashion is the name of the game; most expensive model is likely to be priced at several thousand US dollars. Referring to the rules of the fashion market, we predict the iWatch casing and band will come in various materials. The most expensive model of the iWatch line will carry a price tag of several thousand US dollars,” Kuo added.

August 11, 2014
Samsung to Launch Stand-Alone Smartwatch ‘Gear Solo’ This September

We think the idea of stand-alone smartwatches is not yet feasible in the present market scenario, but Samsung thinks otherwise. Reports indicate that Samsung is moving ahead with plans for a smartwatch with its own SIM card and hence, doesn’t need a paired phone. It seems likely that we’ll hear about it as soon as next month.

Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo reports that Samsung intends to unveil the Gear Solo watch at the big IFA conference in September. As speculated, the Gear Solo will not require a smartphone for communication functionality, and will be able to place calls, send texts and emails, and perform other tasks with its own SIM card, cellular radio, and service plan.

Samsung Gear 2 Neo

The inclusion of SIM support in a smartwatch would enable users to make phone calls from the device, but it is yet to be revealed how Samsung has tackled the issue of heavy battery drain. Samsung has launched three Tizen-powered versions of its Gear smartwatch to date, and one Android Wear model in the form of the Galaxy Gear Live.

Samsung released the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo at this year’s MWC, less than six months after their predecessor. The logic of releasing a smartwatch alongside a smartphone makes sense, but in this case the Gear Solo won’t depend on tethering itself to any other device, hence will get a different sort of treatment in the market.

However, Samsung used last year’s IFA to launch the original Galaxy Gear, so it seems a good time as any to unleash a new smartwatch frenzy. Timex Group also announced a smartwatch with its own cellular connection, letting it transmit data without needing to be connected to a smartphone. The company calls it the Ironman One GPS+, and while it may have features commonly found in a smartwatch, it is made mostly for athletes like its predecessors.

August 11, 2014
Timex Unveiled a Smartwatch That Has its Own 3G Data Connection

Timex Group is launching a smartwatch with cellular connectivity and a high-visibility display from Qualcomm Inc. It’s a 3G-connected smartwatch that doesn’t even need to pair up with a phone. Unlike earlier smartwatches, Timex’s watch has its own cellular connection, letting it transmit data without having to be connected to a smartphone.

The company calls it the Ironman One GPS+, and while it may have features commonly found in a smartwatch, it is made mostly for athletes like its predecessors. It has the capability to upload your run data to a fitness website with one tap. You can even assign contacts to monitor your run in real time.

Priced at 350$, this version comes with a heart monitor like Samsung Gear Fit and a chest strap. Timex’s move into smartwatches is among the first by traditional watchmakers and follows products from electronics companies including Samsung and Sony that have failed to garner major support from consumers.

The device, due out later this year, is made with a chipset from Qualcomm as well as Qualcomm’s Mirasol low-power display technology, which can easily be viewed in direct sunlight.

Timex has a 160-year history of making watches, which led it to a decidedly different vision for a smartwatch. This one doesn’t get notifications from your smartphone and doesn’t tell you what’s next on your calendar. It’s a connected wearable intended to help athletes and adventurers be safer, smarter, and just a little bit more connected. It’s quite simple, not like anything we’ve seen before.

August 6, 2014