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Jawbone's Up3 finally ships on April 20th, but don't take it swimming
November 2014 almost seems like a lifetime ago and folks who've been itching for a Jawbone Up3 since it was announced that month would probably agree. There's good news, though: the wearable finally starts shipping come April 20th. So long as you're one of the folks who pre-ordered from the company website, that is. Jawbone vice president Travis Bogard says that the reason behind the Up3's delay has to do with its water resistance. Apparently, not every single unit met the 10-meter claims Jawbone promised and that didn't come out until ramping up production. Now they're "comparable to, and in line with" other sensors. All that to say, you can't swim while you're wearing one but it should be okay if you take it in the shower or are caught in an April rainstorm. If that lets the wind out of your sails, Bogard says that you can cancel your pre-order without penalty.
Will.i.am is working on a luxury smartband with Gucci
Even though Will.i.am's Puls wristband has yet to exit its invitation-only stage, the artist-turned-entrepreneur is already working on another wearable project. He's now teaming up with Gucci Timepieces, a branch of fashion brand Gucci, to introduce a luxury smartband that doesn't need to be tethered to smartphone to work. As it stands, details are scarce, but the new device looks pretty similar to the Puls, which Will.i.am debuted last October. It could very well be a rebrand of the Puls with Gucci's name attached to it, but no one will tell you that.
Lenovo's E Ink fitness band is amazingly affordable for its looks
Yes, 'tis yet another fitness band featuring a curved E Ink screen, but Lenovo's Vibe Band VB10 is a much better looker than Sony's offering from four months ago. First of all, the main body here is actually wrapped in metal -- either black, gold or white -- to give it a more premium feel, but together with the rubberized strap, the VB10 weighs just around 30 grams, so you may easily forget that you're wearing it. And since it's an E Ink screen, Lenovo claims that you can get up to seven days of battery on a single charge, while the device continuously monitors your steps, calories, travel distance and sleep quality. Oh, and you also get notifications from your phone -- via Bluetooth LE -- on that handy always-on screen. Want one? Too bad, as this $89 waterproof smartband won't be coming to the US when it launches this April. Still, you might get lucky with an e-tailer that ships globally.
Razer's smart wristband is finally arriving December 2nd
Razer's Nabu wristband has been long in the making, but it's finally here... well, almost. The gear maker has announced that its hybrid activity tracker and smartwatch will be available in North America on December 2nd. According to the company, that nearly year-long wait makes sure that it lives up to its promises, including social networking features that pop up when you meet fellow Nabu owners. It'll normally be available for $100, although the the first 5,000 Razer Insider members who pre-order can score a unit for $80. The Nabu is a bit late to the party given that rivals like Fitbit have stepped up their game in recent months, but it may be a nice complement to your gaming laptop.
Lenovo's me-too Smartband will unlock your PC
Lenovo may be late to the activity tracker craze with its unannounced Smartband, but it could have an ace up its sleeve. The company has quietly posted the wristwear on its site, and we now know that the device can automatically unlock your PC so long as it's nearby -- handy if you hate entering passwords. While the Smartband otherwise clones what you've seen in other trackers, such as heart rate monitoring and basic phone notifications, that proximity-based sign-in could be a nice complement to your Yoga 3 Pro. Just don't expect to pick up this wearable yet -- although Lenovo has a listing for the Smartband, there's no way to buy it at the moment.
Razer's Nabu smart band nears launch with a trip to the FCC
You'd be forgiven if you don't remember Razer's Nabu smart band. The company unveiled the activity tracker at CES in January, only to delay the release to late spring... and then to remain mostly silent as that launch window came and went. At last, however, there's light at the end of the tunnel -- the Nabu has just received FCC approval, suggesting that it's close to release in at least the US. The filing doesn't reveal any mysteries (shocker: it's a Bluetooth wearable), but it's nice to know that you'll soon have intelligent wristwear that matches your gaming laptop.
Lenovo's fitness-minded Smartband shows up unannounced at the FCC
Lenovo doesn't want to miss out on the wearable device trend, it seems. A couple of months after filings hinted that a Smartband was in the works, the unannounced activity tracker has surfaced at the FCC. Between photos and a user manual, the approval leaves little to the imagination. The Bluetooth-based device will keep tabs on your running, heart rate and sleep habits while syncing up with Android, iOS and Windows 8 devices. It's not certain that the Smartband will launch in the US any time soon, if at all -- it was a no-show at last month's IFA event despite rumors to the contrary. If this fitness-savvy wristwear does arrive stateside, though, its black-and-orange design could be the perfect complement to your Yoga 2 laptop.
Huawei's making an Android Wear smartwatch, too
Having built up a consumer-facing business over recent years with smartphones and tablets, Huawei made its first move into wearables this year with a fitness tracker-cum-smartwatch (pictured above). The company is far from finished in this burgeoning product category, though, as Huawei's CEO Richard Yu has told us the company's prepping another wearable that'll launch next year -- this time running Android Wear. He wouldn't reveal too much more during an interview at IFA, but said it'll be both "innovative and beautiful."
Sony outfits the SmartBand Talk with an e-paper screen and voice calling
When does a fitness band become a smartwatch? We'd argue that an e-paper display is one feature you can use to make that distinction, which is exactly what Sony's added to its "lifelogging" SmartBand. A display isn't the only thing new about the SmartBand Talk, because as the name suggests, you can also make/take calls on the wearable thanks to an embedded microphone and loudspeaker. You can only do this when paired with a smartphone, of course, which will also respond to a limited number of other voice commands barked through the wearable. There's an ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit processor to power the whole thing, with 2MB of flash memory and that 1.4-inch black-and-white display to keep you updated on progress. As you might expect, a Core is at work here as well, with edge-mounted volume and menu buttons to round out the onboard controls. And yes, you can swap out the band as the need arises. The IP68 waterproof and dustproof wearable connects to any Android 4.4 (and above) device via NFC and Bluetooth to wrangle tasks for up to three days before needing a charge. If you're looking to get a bit more active, €160 (around $210) will be the cost of admission when the SmartBand Talk arrives this fall in four different color options.
Xiaomi's $13 fitness band can also unlock your phone
The "one more thing" at the Xiaomi Mi 4 launch was the Mi Band, the Chinese company's first smart wearable, and it's obviously aggressively priced: Just CN¥79 or about $13! Like many of its competitors, the Mi Band tracks your movement (walking or running) plus sleeping pattern, and you can also use it as a smart vibrating alarm to wake up feeling better. Interestingly, a single charge on this waterproof device will last up to 30 days, which easily beats its competitors that tend to last for a week or less. Better yet, the band doubles as a security token that automatically unlocks your phone -- likely just Xiaomi's for now -- when within proximity. There's no word on availability just yet, but as always, Xiaomi should be debuting this in China where it'll instantly sell out.
Engadget Daily: how to disappear, the deal with 3D printers and more!
Today, we review Sony's lifelogging SmartBand wearable, investigate the ins and outs of 3D printing, learn how to escape the clutches of the internet and take a look at SportsCenter's new home. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Sony SmartBand review: a fitness tracker that goes beyond fitness
When you hear the word "wearable," there's a good chance you think of a wristband, probably one that tracks your activity. Ever since Nike launched the FuelBand, your lower arm has become the main focus for fitness tech. Already the rot is setting in, though. Nike is rumored to be leaving the game completely (even if recent events suggest otherwise). Everyone else is still trying to decide what exactly a wrist-worn gadget should do. No one device appears to have figured out the magic formula. Most bands stop at counting steps and logging sleep. But Sony decided to try something different with its $100 SmartBand wearable. It still does the step-tracking thing, just along with other stuff -- like, y'know, logging your entire life. As much as it can with a motion sensor and mobile phone, anyway. So how is it? I strapped one on to find out.
Sony's $99 life-tracking SmartBand lands in the US
Let's flash back to the heady days of CES 2014, shall we? Sony embraced the wearable bandwagon (again) with the "tiniest gadget" it's ever made, and now the Americans reading this can go out and nab one of their own. Here's what you've got to remember: it's not just an activity tracker. No, Sony fancies it as a "life tracker," and for once that's not complete marketing doublespeak. It works in tandem with an Android app to paint a portrait of what did you each day that extends beyond mere movement -- the sensor and the app track how you slept, where you went, what content you consumed, and when all of that happened. It's a neat enough twist on what otherwise could've been a dry formula, but there are (as always) some caveats to be aware of. Alas, the SmartBand only syncs with devices running Android 4.4 KitKat, and anyone hoping to use this wrist-worn gadget as a timepiece will be sorely disappointed. Does it stack up well against other players in the field? Did Sony stumble over a winning wearable formula? Our review unit just landed, so stay tuned for more detailed impressions to come.
Razer delays Nabu wearable launch to avoid Fitbit-like skin complaints
Razer's Nabu wearable won't launch until late May or early June, according to various developers who've received an email regarding the delay. The "smart band," which took home our People's Choice Award at CES this year, was originally supposed to be available by the end of March. According to said email, Razer's in council with "medical professionals" and running "stringent tests to ensure Nabu is fully certified hypoallergenic" before it reaches consumers. This is obviously a reaction to Fitbit's recent problems with its Force fitness tracker, which had to be recalled after thousands of reports of rashes and other skin troubles by its users. Whether Razer's just trying to make the best product possible or simply wants to avoid a PR disaster is irrelevant, we guess, as long as wrists are safe. It begs the question, though: shouldn't such tests have been factored into wearable development as part of reasonable due diligence, rather than just an afterthought? [Thanks, irawrr!]
Sony's Core-equipped SmartBand and Lifelog app arrive in March (video)
We caught a glimpse of Sony's Core activity sensor back at CES, and it seems the masses will be able to outfit their wrists with one this spring. At Mobile World Congress, Sony announced that the SmartBand (SWR10) that houses the Core and its accompanying Lifelog app will be available in March. If you're in need of a refresher, the Bluetooth and NFC-compatible activity tracker is waterproof with a micro-USB port and will arrive in only in Black... initially. Color options are set to arrive after launch with a 2014 FIFA World Cup model as part of the group. The Lifelog app is the control center for the Core, collecting your daily stats, tracking sleep, logging places and storing other activity on an Android device. Similar to other activity tracking software, Lifelog allows you to set goals and monitor progress right from your mobile device. When you're heading out of range or when you need to get out of bed, the SmartBand will alert you to keep things in check. Tweets, emails, calls and other messages will prompt the SmartBand to vibrate as well. When used alongside Sony's Walkman app, the wearable can be used to play, pause, and skip tracks. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing, but we're sure to get more info on that when the exact release date is announced. Update: We've just been informed that when the Core launches in Europe it'll do so for a price of 99 Euros, with the dollar price likely around the same.
Huawei's first smartband has a pop-out earpiece for voice calls (video)
Huawei hasn't exactly been keeping quiet about its very own wearable device, so today's announcement of its TalkBand B1 should be no surprise to anyone. As shown in the earlier leaks, it has a 1.4-inch flexible OLED display on the band, but what hasn't been obvious until now is that it also supports wireless calling -- there's a removable earpiece tucked inside it, which explains the 14.6mm-thick bulk. Like any good wearable, the device also has fitness tracking features: It records how many steps you've taken, how far you've travelled and how many calories you've burned. It's also a sleeping pattern monitor, so you can use the smart alarm function to wake up at the optimal time. There's NFC here for pairing with phones, and the 90mAh battery promises six days worth of usage (but takes two hours to charge up). There's no price announced just yet, but the B1 will be out in China next month, whereas Japan, the Middle East, Russia and Western Europe will have to wait until Q2 2014. Update 1: Huawei's Richard Yu just announced that the TalkBand will be available for €99. Update 2: We've been hands-on with the TalkBand and now it sorta makes sense! Check out the video after the break.
Sony's Core isn't a wearable, it's a sensor (hands-on)
The Core is tiny. Thick as two sticks of gum, but twice as smart, this is Sony's renewed effort for wearables and it really couldn't look more different from the SmartWatch we saw in 2013. It's a different device to begin with: an activity tracker with no screen. Sony's still keeping it all pretty vague, but going on the details of the colorful, oddly appealing app, it's more life logger than health monitor. The idea Sony is chasing is to collect what you do in your life, your movement, your photos, music listened to and your social network goings-on, and collate them into a sort of automated journal -- a new LifeLogger app that will launch alongside the hardware. You'll need to hook the Core up with your smartphone (through Bluetooth) to see what's happened activity-wise, and we've been told the battery should be good for up to five days on a single charge: it's tiny but there's no blinking lights or vibration to sap power. There's a micro-USB port for recharging, but the whole thing is also waterproof. Sony promises to reveal all the details at MWC next month, but we did get a glimpse at one of the places the Core will reside and, in true CES 2014 style, it's a wristband. We've got a quick video peek and a few more details after the break.
Keepin' it real fake: China's Codoon SmartBand pays homage to Jawbone Up
Viewing it from afar, you could easily mistake this gadget for Jawbone's Up fitness band. What we have here is actually the SmartBand from Chinese fitness accessories maker Codoon, and it's almost a carbon copy of the Up in terms appearance and functionality. Bend this strip around your wrist to track your movement and sleeping patterns (with the ability to wake you up with vibration at the optimal sleeping cycle; just like the Up), and afterwards, plug the hidden 3.5mm headphone jack into either an iPhone or an Android device for analysis and sharing through Codoon's website. After we reached out to Baidu regarding the Baidu Cloud logo on the SmartBand, a spokesperson told us that it's the first wearable developed on top of Baidu's PCS (Personal Cloud Service) to sync and share data, and Codoon's upcoming Bluetooth fitness products will work on the same platform (likewise for the Baidu Eye project). Still, it's a real shame that the startup couldn't come up with its very own design for its first hero product. Expect this rip-off to hit the market in early June for an unknown price -- but you can already get an Up in China, anyway.
