samsunggeariconx
Latest
Samsung Gear Sport review: A versatile fitness-first smartwatch
As the holiday season approaches and New Year's and its inevitable fitness-related resolutions draw near, wearables makers are scrambling. Major brands like Apple and Samsung have realized that smartwatches need to at least be good activity trackers for users to keep wearing them. Samsung decided that "good activity tracker" wasn't enough, though, and built a device around exercise that also packs a slew of smartwatch features. The Gear Sport does so much that it's one of the most versatile health-centric smartwatches in this price range.
Samsung's refined Gear IconX earbuds now talk to Bixby
The Gear Fit 2 Pro and Gear Sport aren't the only products Samsung is unveiling at IFA 2017. Today, the company also introduced a revamped version of its Gear IconX wireless earbuds, which feature better battery life (up to five hours of streaming) and support for its virtual assistant, Bixby. That means you can now use your voice to control your music or paired phone, all by simply tapping and holding the side of the IconX earbud. And because runners may be into these, Samsung added a Running Coach mode that gives you real-time, in-ear status updates as you're working out.
The best true wireless headphones so far
By Lauren Dragan This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. We tested 11 of the most promising true wireless in-ear headphones (as in, no wires connecting the earpieces like traditional Bluetooth earbuds). All of them, we found, have some flaws in fit, functionality, or convenience. Because this is the first generation of the technology, manufacturers are still working out the kinks. As a result, we can't make an overall pick that we think would work for most people. What we can tell you is which sets are the better options right now, and what they offer in terms of pros and cons. Depending on how you plan to use your headphones, we have picks for iPhone/iOS users, budget-oriented folks, those who prioritize sound, fitness buffs, and Samsung users. This way, you can decide for yourself which, if any, will fit best into your lifestyle or be worth your money.
Sony's Xperia Ear is not the hands-free assistant I wanted
In theory, Sony's newest wearable sounds promising. The Xperia Ear is a single Bluetooth earbud that lets you dictate messages, get weather updates and smartphone notifications, and carry out other little tasks just by talking to it. It's like having an Amazon Echo in your ear, except with far fewer skills and third-party integrations. Sony also promises a long-lasting battery that can endure a full workday of talk time with the included charging case, so you can have the assistant ready for your commands all day. Unfortunately, the Xperia Ear simply doesn't do enough to justify its $200 asking price.
