ifa 2019
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What's next for fitness wearables?
At IFA this year, we've seen devices, like Withings' Move ECG and ASUS' VivoWatch SP, that bring more ECGs to more people -- technology that first appeared in mainstream wearables with Apple's Watch Series 4. I've been thinking about the future of wearables, and it increasingly looks like we're at the final frontier of what fitness wearables can do. Five years from the announcement of the first Apple Watch, and it looks like, soon, there's not going to be much to distinguish one wearable from another.
Catch up on Nokia's IFA 2019 event in under 10 minutes
Nokia hosted its IFA 2019 event yesterday in Berlin, where the Finnish brand revealed some new products for your smartphone-averse friends and family. The Nokia 110 and Nokia 800 Tough are modernized candybar dumbphones, while the Nokia 2720 Flip is -- you guessed it -- a flip phone. The company also announced iterations to its midrange Nokia 6 and Nokia 7 smartphones, emphasizing their triple camera setups and photo processing muscles. Nokia's Power Earbuds are getting an update as well: The new case can charge the earbuds up to 30 times.
Sony's 40th anniversary Walkman is a cassette-free nostalgia fail
Even though it's a long time since cassettes have truly been in vogue, it's still disappointing Sony's 40th anniversary Walkman doesn't let you play music from magnetic tape. If you do pick up the NW-A100TPS, you'll have to make do with a cassette tape interface and screensaver, the color of which changes depending on the type of file you're playing.
Google Assistant's Ambient Mode turns Android devices into smart displays
Google wants to put your device to work even when it's charging or resting on a living room table or kitchen counter. Today at IFA, the company announced Ambient Mode for Google Assistant. The new feature will turn the latest Android devices into smart displays.
Puma's first smartwatch was designed for athletes
Puma has teamed up with the Fossil Group to enter the smartwatch market with a device that stays true to its brand. Like many other new wearables in the category, the company's first smartwatch is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset and runs on Google's Wear OS. It was, however, specifically created to help athletes -- or even sporty non-athlete users who stay active -- train and track goals.
Michael Kors' new smartwatches include its lightest one yet
Michael Kors has introduced the second versions of its Lexington and Bradshaw smartwatches, as well as a brand new model designed to be its lightest smartwatch yet. The Michael Kors Access Lexington 2 and Bradshaw 2 run on Google's Wear OS platform and are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 3100 chip. These new iterations now come with a speaker you can use to take Bluetooth-enabled calls whether you have an iPhone or an Android device, thanks to a proprietary app rolling out this month.
8K Association lays out 'key performance attributes' for 8K TVs
More manufacturers are selling 8K TVs or have models going on sale soon, and ahead of the IFA 2019 tradeshow an industry group has released its "performance specification" for consumer TVs. The 8K Association includes members like Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Panasonic, Intel, Hisense and TCL.
