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This is what Samsung's Gear Fit 2 (probably) looks like
As much as it's possible to know anything about a company before it's had the press conference, we know Samsung's got wearable ambitions. In addition to a pair of Bragi-like wireless earbuds, the firm is putting the finishing touches to an updated version of the Gear Fit smartwatch it released in 2014. If this leaked publicity shot is to be believed, then the Gear Fit 2 will look smaller and sleeker than its predecessor. It chimes with earlier rumors that claimed the device would pack a 1.84-inch AMOLED screen, integrated GPS and 4GB of built-in storage. As for a release date, it's pegged for June, but take everything written above with the traditional pinch of salt.
US Navy to arm its submarines with 'Blackwing' spy drones
The Navy recently announced its plans to deploy an armada of stealthy spy drones from AeroVironment aboard its submarines and UUVs. Specifically, the Navy is going with the small-form "Blackwing" UAV, a four-pound flyer with a 20 inch wingspan that collapses down to fit into a 3-inch diameter launch tube. It will use its array of electro-optical and infrared sensors as well as its anti-spoofing GPS capability to act as the submersible's remote eyes and ears.
New phones let Japan's government secretly track its citizens
The Japan Times is reporting that local mobile network NTT DoCoMo is embracing government surveillance. The company launched five new smartphones on Tuesday that lets the authorities to track a user's location without their knowledge or consent. Existing handsets, however, currently alert a user when their position is being accessed by a third party. The move is in reaction to a change in the law back in June 2015 that withdrew the requirement to gain a subscriber's permission before sharing their GPS data.
Pal smart strap turns your Pebble Time into a fitness tracker
The Pebble Time smartwatch (and Steel variant) launched with the promise of extended functionality via "smartstraps" connected to the magnetic charging port. So far, however, there are very few bands out there, and the extra functionality is limited to NFC payments, wireless charging and mid-air hand gestures. A company called Powerstrap wants to make something a bit more useful with the Pal, a smartstrap that effectively turns the Pebble Time into a sports tracker.
SpaceX wins its first military launch contract
Elon Musk has been fighting to be treated with the same level of respect as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and it looks like his persistence has paid off. Reuters is reporting that the US Air Force has handed SpaceX a contract worth $83 million to launch the next GPS satellite into orbit. It's a big deal, because until now, only Lockheed and Boeing (through the United Launch Alliance) have been permitted to fling objects into the heavens on the Air Force's behalf. The launch will take place in May 2018 from Florida atop a Falcon 9 rocket, although while Musk has won the battle, he might also be well on the way to winning the war.
FreshTeam is a messaging app that tracks employee locations
Traveling salespeople of yore could get away with plenty because, hey, who was ever gonna find out? These days, there's a smartphone in your pocket and a boss at the other end of the internet expecting an answer. That's where FreshTeam comes in, which is an Android and iOS app designed to let employers keep track of employees without needing to harass them. By harnessing the sensors in your smartphone with its own algorithmic secret-sauce, the app is capable of detecting your presence without your input. The service allows your boss to know where you are, what you're doing and how much battery you've got left on your device without ever having to ask. Yep, it does sound like a privacy nightmare, but the team's reasoning does make some sense, at least on paper.
Twitter taps Yelp for detailed location tagging in the UK
The next time you decide to add a location to one of your tweets, expect to see a lot more businesses and popular places in your list. That's because Twitter has teamed up with business listing and review site Yelp to supply location services for UK and Japanese users inside its app. It's very similar to the deal the social networking giant struck with Foursquare in the US last year, giving brands and (more importantly) followers a little more context around what it is you're doing.
Garmin's Approach X40 fitness tracker is made for golfers
Over the past few years, Garmin has focused on two different sets of wearables: activity trackers and watches for people who play golf on a regular basis. Now, with the Approach X40, the company is bringing the best of both worlds into one product. The new device features 1-inch touchscreen (similar to Garmin's Vivosmart band), a heart rate monitor and tracking for calories burned, distance and steps. It's also water-resistant and can handle a slew of smartphone notifications, such as incoming calls, emails, texts and calendar reminders.
Inrix Traffic app uses AI to learn your driving habits
It's been awhile since we've heard from Inrix, the company that uses OpenStreetMap and its own traffic analysis to guide you via GPS. It also supplies connected car tech to Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and other automakers. The company just completely redesigned its iOS and Android Traffic apps, adding machine learning features, calendar integration and more. While there are tons of such apps to choose from, Inrix's app is geared toward frequent drivers who do routine trips where they often battle traffic.
TomTom's Golfer 2 GPS watch tracks your swing
TomTom's original Golfer GPS watch can give your distance and score, but the latest golf devices from Piq and Game Golf also track your swing and distance stats. To keep up, TomTom has launched the Golfer 2, a watch that measures your swing using a built-in motion sensor and gyroscope. That lets you "see at a glance glance how far you've hit each ball, show your distance potential, and create a detailed post-round analysis" on the MySports app, according to the company. It only counts one shot in a 10-foot area, letting you take as many practice swings as you need.
Waze helps you plan future trips based on expected traffic
Traffic can ruin your careful planning for that appointment in the 'burbs, but Waze can help with a feature called "planned drives." After you enter the destination, date and time, it will open a special screen that shows how busy your route will be at a given hour. "This takes into account expected traffic conditions based on smart algorithms, aggregated traffic history and predictive analysis," according to the Google-owned company.
Scientists plot sea levels using GPS satellites
Accurate sea level measurements are more critical than ever, but there are a limited number of radar satellites designed for that purpose. However, a team from the UK's National Oceanography Centre (NOC), University of Michigan and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have discovered a new way to do so using much cheaper and more plentiful GPS satellites. The technique is called GNSS-R, and involves bouncing low-powered signals from GPS satellites off of the ocean's surface and measuring the reflected signal with a GNSS-R receiver. That lets the sat-nav constellation act as a type of distance-measuring radar without disrupting its regular job -- guiding cars and airplanes.
Garmin's restyled Vivoactive is a big improvement
It's fair to say that we weren't blown away by the Vivoactive smartwatch last year. But Garmin's recently announced Vivoactive HR feels a lot better. Functionally, it shares a lot with its predecessor. It has a similar low-res color touchscreen LCD and comfortable watchband, the same built-in GPS, the same week-long battery (Garmin says eight days in activity tracking mode). But it's all in a smaller, more attractive package.
Microsoft Band 2 gets better battery life with new GPS mode
Despite its flaws, the Microsoft Band 2 is an improvement from Redmond's first attempt at wearables. With an update, the version 2.0 is getting a fix for one of our biggest gripes with the device: battery life. Thanks to a new GPS Power Saver mode, you can extend your tracking time by up to four hours, according to Microsoft. The option tells the wearable to nab your GPS location in intervals rather than monitoring your movements continuously. Power Saver mode is ideal for activities like running and bike riding, and the Microsoft Health app will still map your course on both mobile and the web.
Uber is using smartphone data to alert it to bad drivers
Although Uber's review system allows both riders and drivers to submit feedback on a recent journey, it can be hard for the company to know what really happened. Did a driver constantly break the speed limit or was a customer totally unfair with their feedback? Without evidence, it's simply one person's word against another's. Uber has a plan to change that, though. Using gyroscopes and GPS chips built into driver and passenger smartphones, the company's new scheme will log when a driver is (or isn't) driving dangerously. Feedback will still be welcome, but the idea is to back up words and scores with cold hard data.
Government testing smart parachutes that stay on target
GPS is not foolproof -- especially on the modern battlefield, where electronic warfare systems can interfere with the satellite guidance. And when packages miss their mark, soldiers often have to venture into hostile territory to retrieve them. That's why the US Army is developing a joint precision airdrop system, or JPADS, that guides equipment towards its target using only visual cues.
DokiWatch lets kids make video calls and share their location
A cellular watch that can make video calls? You won't find many of them because smartphones are so much better at doing that, but we've probably all longed for this seemingly futuristic concept when we were young (just as our own James Trew confessed in his Neptune Pine review). Thanks to the folks over at Doki Technologies, kids these days will get to realize this dream. The DokiWatch is a rugged Android smartwatch with a 1.22-inch touchscreen, and it packs all the essentials for keeping an eye on a child: It comes with 3G radio (1900/2100 MHz; works on AT&T and T-Mobile) plus a Micro SIM slot, as well as location tracking (using GPS, WiFi and cellular signal), an SOS button and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera -- the part which makes it stand out from the other kids smartwatches.
360Fly's new camera captures 4K video
360Fly unveiled at CES this week a new 360 degree camera that captures 2880 x 2880 4K video -- quadruple the resolution of its predecessor -- at 30FPS while generating immersive, VR-capable content. What's more, the new unit boasts a host of fresh capture modes and now tracks telemetry data as well. These capture modes include 2560 x 1440 resolution forward facing, time lapse; and motion-, acceleration- and audio-triggered recording. Additionally, the 4K 360Fly incorporates a GPS sensor, barometer/altimeter and accelerometer. It can even output 360 degree video in real time with the addition of an optional Micro-HDMI accessory base.
Garmin bike headset warns about traffic behind you
There are already bike-friendly smart headsets that will tell you how you're doing, but they won't usually say much about traffic. How are you supposed to know when a car is getting uncomfortably close? That's where Garmin thinks it can help. As part of a larger CES launch, it's unveiling a Varia Vision headset that not only gives you vital cycling data (directions, notifications and performance) but also teams up with the Varia Rearview Radar to warn about traffic behind you. In other words, you'll know about trouble right away, without losing focus. It won't be cheap when it ships this quarter for $400, but it could be justifiable if you regularly bike on busy streets.
Altec Lansing wants to end the frustration of lost earbuds
What if your earbuds had a feature that helped you locate the accessories when you forgot where you put them? Well, you'll soon be in luck as Altec Lansing will do just that with its Freedom True Wireless in-ear headphones. The earbuds nix the cord entirely, using two separate units to handle the Bluetooth audio in each ear.
