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Save $50 on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Active 2 ahead of Black Friday
The pre-Black Friday sales continue with a solid discount on Samsung's latest smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Active 2. Amazon has discounted both the 40mm and 44mm models by $50, making them $229 and $249 respectively. Additionally, all three color options -- "Aqua Black," "Cloud Silver" and "Pink Gold" -- that Amazon offers the watch in are included in the sale.
Save $50 on Fitbit's new Versa 2 smartwatch at Amazon
While it's only been out since September, Fitbit's Versa 2 smartwatch is getting a decent discount ahead of Black Friday. Amazon is currently selling the silicone and woven band models for $149 and $180, down from their usual $200 and $230 price tags. According to price tracker Camelcamelcamel, $149 is the lowest price on the Versa 2 from the online retailer.
Alphabet is reportedly interested in buying Fitbit
Fitbit is apparently quite serious about exploring a sale. Reuters sources said Alphabet has "made an offer" to buy Fitbit for an as yet undetermined amount. The insiders warned there was no guarantee the talks would lead to a deal, but the indication of interest is still huge by itself. We've reached out to Alphabet and Fitbit for comment, although they declined to comment to Reuters.
Huge leak spoils Huawei's Mate 30 event
It doesn't look like Huawei has any more surprises left up its sleeve ahead of its Mate 30 launch event tomorrow. Yesterday, renders of the whole phone range leaked, now real-life images have emerged on Weibo (above), and it seems that details for event's entire line up have found their way into the public eye. As revealed by Android Headlines, Huawei appears to be getting ready to announce the Watch GT 2 smartwatch, a new fitness band, a TV, and the worldwide release of the MediaPad M6 Android tablet.
Apple Watch bands may one day identify you by skin pattern
The United States Patent and Trademark Office just granted a trio of patents to Apple for Apple Watch smart bands. While bands with the features detailed in the filings might never reach retail shelves, they give an intriguing look at what Apple may have in store.
Fitbit will play a key role in Singapore's public health program
Never mind getting a fitness tracker through your insurance company -- in Singapore, the government will encourage you to get one. Fitbit has unveiled a partnership with Singapore's Health Promotion Board on an initiative, Live Healthy SG, that will spur the city-state's residents to adopt fitness trackers. If you commit to a year's worth of Fitbit's Premium health coaching service and agree to share that data with the Board, you'll get a free Inspire HR tracker. The aim, as you might imagine, is to both keep Singaporeans in good shape and "enrich" the Board's health promos with useful info.
The latest TicWatch Pro includes 4G LTE to free you from your phone
Mobvoi's second generation TicWatch Pro is available today, and the company hopes it will free you from your phone. The Wear OS-powered TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE offers wireless connectivity, so you can receive voice calls and app notifications, send and receive texts and use popular messaging apps. You can also hit an SOS button that will dial 911, and it will automatically sync your data with the cloud -- all without tethering you to another device.
Your sleep tracker might make insomnia worse
Sleep tracking can help you determine if you're getting a good night's rest, but it might exacerbate your problems in some circumstances. Scientists talking to the New York Times have warned that sleep tracker apps and devices can worsen insomnia both through inaccurate data and by making your anxieties that much worse. In a study, for instance, it led to people both spending too much time in bed (to boost their sleep stats) and reporting non-existent conditions that resulted in wasted treatment.
Samsung’s $100 Galaxy Fit tracker focuses on the basics
It's been more than a year since Samsung last updated its Fit line of activity-tracking bands, and it's high time for a refresh. After first announcing the new Galaxy Fit in February alongside the new Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Watch Active, the company is finally ready to roll it out in the US. Starting today, you can get the Galaxy Fit for $100. That puts it in direct competition with the Fitbit Inspire HR, which launched earlier this year for the same price.
The $70 Fitbit for kids is now available
Last summer, Fitbit introduced its kid-focussed fitness tracker, Ace. Now, the company is back with a new model, Ace 2, and it's dropped the price by $30. Fitbit teased Ace 2 in March, when it announced its Inspire and Inspire HR wearables, but the kid-friendly device is just now available and listed at $69.95.
Garmin's fitness watches are getting period-tracking via an update
Garmin has added a feature for tracking menstrual cycles to its line of connected wearables and smartwatches. Women can now track their menstrual cycle and log symptoms through the Garmin Connect app. They can opt-in to receive reminders for periods and fertility windows on their Garmin smartwatches or wearables. With its new period tracker, Garmin joins other major fitness tracking apps such as Fitbit and Apple Health in giving their female users an option to track their reproductive health.
Fitbit Versa Lite review: The basics aren't enough
I wasn't sure what to expect when Fitbit announced the Versa Lite smartwatch. It's supposed to be a pared-back iteration of last year's Versa, which itself was already a watered-down version of the company's first true smartwatch, the Ionic. For $200, the Versa was actually a pretty compelling mix of an Apple Watch-inspired design, capable fitness tracking and a robust operating system at a reasonable price. But it begs the question: How much more stripped down can you get? Apparently about $40 more. Fitbit somehow managed to squeeze $40 of tradeoffs out of the Versa to deliver the Versa Lite. It brings over most of my favorite features from the more expensive watch, but it might be too "lite" even for the first-time smartwatch buyers the company is targeting.
24 hours with Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active
Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active is cute. That's obviously not the only thing going for the company's latest workout-friendly wearable, but its relative cuteness is surprisingly important here. After all, it directly affected the components Samsung used here, not to mention the overall experience of living with the Watch Active. And at $200, it's also relatively inexpensive for a fitness-focused Samsung smartwatch.
Fitbit now has cheap, updated fitness trackers for the whole family
You might have missed the news, but earlier this year Fitbit quietly released a pair of new wearables — the Inspire and Inspire HR — through its Health Solutions division. You couldn't walk into a store and pick one of these up; you ever got one, it would probably be because your workplace or your insurance company gave you one. These kinds of big, specialized device sales deals might represent the future of growth for Fitbit, but the company this morning announced it would sell these updated fitness trackers direct to consumers, too.
Fitbit's new Versa Lite smartwatch is all about the fitness basics
Last year's Versa smartwatch was a big hit for Fitbit, and there was no way the company couldn't make a sequel. The follow-up we did get, though, isn't exactly what some were expecting. This year's Versa Lite is exactly what its name implies — it's not a next-generation wearable so much as it is a pared-back version of last year's watch. That might not sound like the most exciting development to come out of Fitbit, but it's definitely one of the most practical. At $160, the Versa Lite is about $40 cheaper than the original, and the company hopes it'll be enough to sway people who have never wanted a smartwatch before.
This jump rope has brains and a built-in HUD
Do you remember the last time you jumped rope? If you're a fitness junkie, gym regular or kid on the playground, you may still be swinging this classic exercise gear around. For most people, though, this simple, yet effective exercise routine has fallen by the wayside. Some of the team at Tangram's New Jersey office, however, have been jumping rope on the regular and decided to use their UX and design skills to add some technological flourishes to the old-school form factor. They took their "Smart Rope" concept to Kickstarter recently, exceeding their fundraising goal by a wide margin. The product has now moved into active development and is slated to begin shipping pre-orders by September. I had a chance to test Tangram's first prototype to get a feel for how this focused fitness device would play out in the real world.
Engadget giveaway: win a pair of motion-tracking wearables courtesy of Moov!
It's the hump day of seasons, as it were, and soon many of us will be trying to make up for overindulgence during the dark days of winter. Not to worry, Moov is a fitness wearable that can help you get back in shape using AI technology and motion-tracking in addition to basic activity stats. That extra info transforms the Moov app into your own personal fitness coach, delivering commentary and advice to help fine-tune your workout in real-time. Custom experiences include running, swimming, boxing and cardio workouts, with more on the way to cover yoga, golf and cycling. Strap them on your ankle or shoe for details on cadence and landing impact or put them on each wrist to track the speed and power behind your punches. Moov has provided us with three sets of trackers for a trio of lucky Engadget readers this week to help burn those accumulated calories or simply improve on an existing workout. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning a pair of these wearables along with a digital coach to help you look good and feel good. Winners: congratulations to Matt P. of Canton MI., Scott R. of Lafayette LA. and Darren P of Gahanna OH.
Which fitness bands are worth buying?
We spend a lot of time in front of our computers, which could be why we're so keen to track all the times we actually step away from our screens and get a little walking or running done. To that end, every manufacturer seems to be coming out with a fitness band to brandish on your wrist. But when one wearable looks like the others, and they each operate in different ecosystems, it's hard to know which will best suit your needs. We've taken a look at a few recent releases and their reviews, narrowing the field to seven of the better models out there -- plus one you should avoid.
Razer's new fitness tracker cuts the screen, price
Last year at CES, Razer revealed the Nabu smart band aimed at gamers to track their fitness (or lack thereof) and send notifications via an OLED display. The model still isn't on sale in stores, but that hasn't stopped Razer from launching another model: the Nabu X. It said the goal with the new model was to "eliminate ... price and complexity," so it killed the display of the original model in favor of three simple LED indicators. That means no more message previews, but the new model does everything else: vibration and LED notifications, fitness tracking via a built-in accelerometer and social sharing using a Bluetooth-connected smartphone. It'll run 5-7 days on a charge, with 30 days of standby time.
Garmin's stylish new fitness tracker is one you might actually want to wear
And you thought Garmin was done announcing wearables for the day. Well! You thought wrong, didn't you, Engadget readers! In addition to all those high-end sports watches the company unveiled just an hour ago, it's also showing off a lower-end wristband called the Vivofit 2. It's -- yep, you guessed it -- the follow-up to Garmin's original Vivofit fitness tracker. Actually, if we're honest, calling it a follow-up seems like generous wording on our part: It's nearly identical to last year's model, what with its rectangular OLED display, water-resistant design and colorful silicone bands. A big update this is not.
