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Fitbit's Surge fitness watch will soon track your bike rides
The Fitbit Surge is now useful for tracking more than just your running when you're outside. An April update to the GPS fitness watch will let it track outdoor bike runs, so you'll know if you beat your previous best time or got your heart thumping on that uphill route. On the mobile app, you'll also have a history that shows whether or not that last ride was as intense as you thought it was. And Surge cycling isn't the only big Fitbit update in the works -- you can finally link multiple trackers to a Fitbit account as of this week, so you don't have to wear your exercise gear to the office just to maintain an accurate step count.
Microsoft Band arrives in more US stores and the UK
You no longer have to head to a Microsoft Store in the US to put the Band on your wrist. Microsoft's smart wearable is now available through Amazon, Best Buy and Target in the country at the usual $200 asking price, and it'll go on sale in the UK on April 15th for £170. Fitness-minded Brits can pre-order today, with Amazon, Curry's PC World, Dixons Travel, Harrods and O2 all promising to carry stock. And you won't have to rush quite so quickly to get a Band this time around -- the crew in Redmond is planning both more frequent shipments and larger supplies in each batch, so shortages won't be as common.
Xiaomi and Li-Ning are working on a pair of 'smart' running shoes
Chinese mobile juggernaut Xiaomi is already in the wearables game, but it'll soon equip runners' training sessions. The phone and accessory maker is working on a pair of "smart" running shoes with Li-Ning -- a China-based footwear company with a list endorsers that includes Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade. Each pair will have chips in its soles to track activity, beaming data to a mobile app to keep tabs on progress, analyze form and celebrate training milestones. The tech is being developed alongside Huami Technology, the wearable manufacturer that lent a hand with Xiaomi's Mi band. There's no word on pricing or availability just yet, but runners in China can expect "an affordable price," according to a Li-Ning statement.
Fitbit Surge review: a top-notch tracker with a flawed design
Confession time: I'm a bit of a wannabe when it comes to self-quantification. The idea of counting every step I take, every calorie I eat, every day I don't have a cigarette and every minute I lie in bed restlessly tossing and turning sounds great. I want to be able to look at my life as a series of easy-to-understand numbers that I can act upon to improve myself. And every time I review a new wearable or fitness tracker I think, "This'll be the one to make it stick." The latest in the long line of would-be life-changers is the $250 Fitbit Surge. The combination of GPS running watch, step counter and sleep tracker appeals not only to the number nerd in me, but also to the semi-serious runner as well. It also appeals to the "someone trying to cut down on the clutter in their life" part of me. Why do I need a separate pedometer, GPS running watch and a regular watch? But the big question is: Can the Surge lock me into not just an ecosystem, but also a system of life-tracking and life-changing habits?
This BMX bike sensor is ready to track your off-road adventures
There's no shortage of bike sensors that will track your performance. However, they usually assume that you're on a garden variety road bike. What if your definition of biking involves BMX races or trick jumps? Never fear -- you now have an activity tracker to call your own. Iddo has launched a crowdfunding drive for what it says is the world's first BMX bike sensor. The angry-looking add-on (seriously, it's a little metal skull) will capture 'boring' details like speed and GPS position, but it also includes a 9-axis motion sensor and an altimeter to detect your air time and tricks. The companion smartphone app will even score stunts, so you have an added incentive to master that bunny hop or tailwhip. If you're racing, Iddo will let you map tracks and measure your lap times.
Withings' Activité fitness watches now talk to your Android phone
If you've been aching to try Withings' Activité fitness watches but couldn't because you don't carry an iPhone, you can relax. The company has announced that both the original Activité and the Pop will support Android as of March 2nd. While the Health Mate app will largely go unchanged, you'll be glad to hear that Withings' data will plug into Google Fit so that you can easily share it between devices. Given that the Pop hasn't reached US stores yet, this is good timing -- you can pick up the new wristwear knowing that it will likely work with your handset of choice. Don't miss out on all the latest news, photos and liveblogs from MWC 2015. Follow along at our events page.
AT&T is bringing LG's Watch Urbane and HTC's Grip to the US
Looks like you won't have to wait too long if you want to try LG's ritzy Watch Urbane or HTC's sporty, $199 Grip tracker in the US. AT&T has revealed it will be the first American carrier -- and first American retailer, really -- to carry these devices. It's not disclosing the ship dates or the Watch Urbane's pricing just yet, though it's reasonable to presume that the Watch Urbane won't be cheap: The G Watch R already sells for $299, and the Urbane's higher quality materials are bound to carry a further premium. Don't miss out on all the latest news, photos and liveblogs from MWC 2015. Follow along at our events page.
Study says phones are just as good as wearables at tracking fitness
Think you have to wear a dedicated fitness tracker to get accurate data? Don't worry -- you may have a good excuse to skip the wristband. The University of Pennsylvania has published a study showing that smartphone apps' step counts are reasonably on the mark, at less than a 7 percent variance between their data and what observers saw first-hand. With wearables, it's all over the map. Some are very accurate, like Fitbit's One and Zip; others don't give you much of an advantage over a phone, and Nike's Fuelband was sometimes off by a wide margin.
Healbe GoBe review: Can a fitness band really track your calorie intake?
In 2015, a simple activity-tracking wearable just doesn't cut it. Unless, perhaps, it's cool-looking, or dirt cheap. Being able to keep tabs on how active you've been (or not) is certainly helpful; the problem is it's only one part of the picture. A fitness tracker might know I hustled my way through a 5K run this morning, but it doesn't know about the waffle-mania breakfast I enjoyed straight after. Some products work around this by letting you log your food intake. I'm prone to "forgetting" to log my meals, though, including the guilty, post-run carb-fest breakfasts. The dream fitness wearable, then, would be one that tracks your activity, auto-logs your sleep and knows what you've eaten without you telling it. Enter GoBe, by Healbe, a $300 wearable that promises to do exactly that.
Misfit's Flash activity tracker will soon control connected devices
We first heard of Misfit's plans to move beyond activity-tracking with its wearables at CES, and today the company took its first step. With the $50 Flash, you'll soon be able to control a range of connected devices with the unit's Smart Button. As you might expect, Misfit's light bulb, Bolt, is top on the list of supported items. But in March you'll be able to play or pause a Spotify playlist, or even set the perfect bed-time temp with Nest. In addition, the company is working on making Flash play nice with over one hundred behaviors through the automation service IFTTT, Logitech Harmony smart home tech, Yo messaging, the August Smart Lock and others. There isn't an exact arrival date for any of those just yet, but you can catch a glimpse of what the wearable will do on the other side of the break.
Bellabeat Leaf activity and health tracker can also monitor reproductive cycle
There was a time when "gadgets for women" were silly novelty items or pink-colored, Swarovski-covered versions of existing devices. Well, OK, those still exist, but at least there are now decent gadgets for women with features we actually need, like Bellabeat's Leaf. The Leaf isn't even available yet, but the huge pre-order sales (where Bellabeat earned $1.2 million in revenue) prompted the startup to add a new feature: the capability to track your reproductive health. Leaf will be able to monitor and notify you about your ovulation, contraceptive intake and incoming period, making it a valuable tool for those who want to conceive (and those who don't). A lot of existing apps out there can already do those, of course, but if you're already thinking of getting this device, that's a nice plus.
The Belty motorized belt keeps you comfortable, tries to keep you active
Fitness and activity trackers come in many shapes and sizes. Some you wear on your wrist; others you stick in your ears; and some you clip onto your belt. Emotia's prototype activity tracker actually is a belt; or more specifically, a belt buckle called Belty. As you'd expect, it measures steps like every other tracker, and connects to your phone via Bluetooth to feed this data into an app, which acts as a virtual fitness coach. You can also set it to vibrate when you've been sedentary for too long and, more importantly, it can keep tabs on your changing waist measurement, which can be a good indicator of your risk of developing weight-related conditions. What I've described so far is all well and good, but forget that, because this belt buckle is also motorized, and capable of tightening and loosening itself to keep you as comfortable as possible at all times.
Epson's first fitness trackers reach the US
After a brief wait, Epson's first batch of fitness trackers is reaching the US. To get things started, it's launching a new golf swing analyzer (the not so elegantly titled M-Tracer MT500GTII, below) that attaches to your club's grip and sends real-time feedback to your phone, ranging from the swing path to the ball impact. It'll arrive in stores in March for $299. The company's Runsense GPS watches are coming along for the ride, although you won't have the option of the basic SF-310 that launched in the UK. Instead, you'll have to consider the stride-tracking SF-510, altitude-aware SF-710 and heart rate monitor-equipped SF-810 (above) when the lineup ships sometime in the second quarter of the year. With prices between $250 and $350, they're squarely in competition with watches from the likes of Garmin and TomTom -- you'll want to comparison shop before you commit to buying sport-minded wristwear.
Misfit eyes the connected home in addition to new wearables
Misfit debuted a new (and more budget-friendly) activity tracker back in the fall, but the company has plans to tackle more than just wearables. The outfit will keeping working on its existing line of gadgets, but in the months to come, the connected home will garner attention as well -- in addition to some "advanced wearables" that move beyond those worn on the wrist. CEO Sonny Vu wasn't ready to offer up specifics, but he did note that a number of products in the household space were on tap for the immediate future. "If you actually have to wear something 24/7 to get data, it's kind of a disadvantage," Vu said during a chat with Re/code. "But if you can just buy something that you plug into the wall, and it works, it can really add value."
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.
Activity trackers to help decide personal injury cases
Don't look now, but the activity tracker on your wrist may be the key to victory in the courtroom -- in the right circumstances, at least. A Canadian woman embroiled in a personal injury claims case will soon use Fitbit data as evidence that an accident significantly limited her activity levels. She'll wear a smart band for several months to determine whether or not she's sufficiently active for someone in her age group and job. If she's clearly behind the curve, she may have strong proof that she deserves compensation.
Fitbit's activity trackers vanish from Apple's online store
Those rumors of Apple pulling Fitbit activity trackers from its stores appear to have been well-founded. SlashGear and others have noticed that Fitbit's gear is no longer available from Apple's online store; search for "Fitbit" and you'll come up empty.. We've reached out to Apple for more details of what's going on, although many have suggested that the forced exit is due to Fitbit's refusal to share tracking data with iOS 8's Health app. Apple typically sells accessories that are showcases for its products, and it might not want to offer a less-than-complete fitness experience in its shops -- even if you'd likely be happy in the long run. The disappearance is unfortunate if you were hoping to pick up a Fitbit Charge alongside that new iPhone, but there will still be plenty of other outlets willing to take your cash.
Google Fit for Android is ready to compile all of your fitness stats
We first heard about Mountain View's activity-tracking plans back at I/O, and now the Android faithful can get their hands on the goods. The Google Fit app, the company's answer to Apple Health, is now available for download, compiling all of those collected fitness stats in the same spot. By leveraging your phone's sensors, the software monitors walking, running and cycling activity, allowing you to set specific goals and benefit from some friendly advice. Fit also plays nice with third-party apps and devices -- and of course, Android Wear gadgets -- so that you can get an overall view of your progress from one place. Strava, Withings, Runtastic, Runkeeper and Noom Coach were specifically mentioned in the announcement and MapMyFitness is opting in as well. What's more, the initiative can be accessed on the web should the need arise (once you've logged in on your phone). Looking to get moving? You'll need a handset running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or above, but if you meet the requirement, the app is available for download at Google Play.
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.
