Sleep
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Withings' entry-level Move smartwatch arrives with custom colors
Back in January, smartwatch maker Withings announced the Move, a low-cost fitness tracker watch that could be customized by the user. Now, a month after the company initially promised shipments would begin, you can finally get hold of the first versions.
Withings adds sleep apnea detection to its tracking mat
There are countless products available that help you track your sleep, giving you insights into your sleep patterns and quality. But there's been nothing to help snoozers identify sleep apnea, a potentially-serious condition that could traditionally only be diagnosed by a sleep clinic. Now, health device maker Withings has released a new update to its sleep tracking mat that could help users recognize the symptoms of this disorder.
Samsung Health adds Calm's sleep and relaxation tools
Samsung had a surprise in store at Unpacked last month, when it revealed its Galaxy S10 camera app will include an Instagram mode. The company is adding another, more laidback third-party integration as Samsung Health users can access content from mindfulness service Calm as of today.
Hupnos sleep mask gets to work the minute you start snoring
I have a confession: I am a loud snorer, and that's bad news for my wife. As funny as this may sound, it's a real problem for many couples, to the point where they would end up sleeping in separate rooms. I'll need to start slimming down to tackle my snoring (and potentially sleep apnea) in the long run, but in terms of immediate solutions, there are breathing devices that I can wear while sleeping. I've been hesitant to try such products given the mixed feedback, but at CES, I came across the Hupnos smart sleep mask which seems like a good place to start.
Mood-enhancing Auri light packs Alexa smart home control
Wellness-oriented smart lights and scent diffusers have been around for a while. They don't always play nicely with modern smart homes, though, and Ling Technology aims to address that. It's crowdfunding a smart light, Auri, that aims to improve your "mental wellbeing" while integrating with other connected devices. Like you'd expect, it combines colored lighting and sound (through a 36W speaker) in a bid to help you sleep, sharpen your focus or otherwise alter your mood. However, it also makes healthy use of Alexa -- you can play your own music and control the rest of your smart home. You won't need a separate smart speaker for those moments when you aren't looking to calm down.
Garmin's Vivoactive 3 Music brings tunes to weekend warriors
Garmin has been rolling out GPS watches with music playback for a while now, but the current options aren't what you'd call trivial expenses for non-athletes. Thankfully, it's pushing the price of entry down a bit. It's launching the Vivoactive 3 Music, which (surprise) brings Bluetooth audio and 500-song storage to last year's model. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing -- you now have a soundtrack while you monitor 15 activities and shop with Garmin Pay. The seven days of battery life in smartwatch mode (five hours with GPS) doesn't hurt, either. This is also one of the first watches to support Garmin's advanced sleep monitoring in its Connect app, which might make it worthwhile by itself.
Bob Ross can mellow you out through a mobile app
Be honest: if you've watched Bob Ross' The Joy of Painting, it was probably more for his ultra-relaxing voice than his artistic advice. More than a few people have admitted to nodding off to his episodes. If so, you'll be glad to hear that his dulcet tones are available on-demand through your phone. Calm has released an officially approved Bob Ross Sleep Story recording for its mobile app (simply titled Painting With Bob Ross) that, as you might guess, uses snippets from the artist's PBS show to help your slumber. You no longer have to leave a YouTube video open or find a way to grab the raw audio.
Tech wants to solve our tech-related sleep problems
Technology is bad for sleep. It keeps us constantly exposed to an endless cycle of bad news, and the blue light emitted by smartphone and tablet displays suppresses our ability to produce melatonin. Combine that with the feelings of inadequacy generated by watching other people's picture-perfect lives on social media, and it's no surprise that we're all restless. Sleep technology exists to solve this issue, and there were plenty of companies exhibiting new devices here at CES 2018. Many of them intend to tell you how well, or poorly, you have slept each night, in the hope you'll make better decisions the following day. But, as well as becoming more commonplace, sleep gadgets are going to become far more diverse, at least according to what we saw at the show.
Somnox’s robotic pillow is designed to snuggle
We're all having trouble sleeping, and at least one group of researchers in the Netherlands believes it's because we're not cuddling enough. That's the thinking behind Somnox, a breathing robot that's designed to nestle in your arms and make you think that you've got a special friend over. At the same time, the unit will offer up soothing sounds, like a heartbeat, lullabies or nature sounds, depending on your preferences. And, it's entirely possible that you'll form an attachment to the giant gray McNugget.
Dreamlight's smart eye mask is designed to help you sleep
For everyone but the journalists covering the show, CES 2018 is apparently all about catching up on, and improving the quality of, your sleep. One company focused on getting you better-rested is Dreamlight, which is building an eye-mask that, so its founder claims, will help you get some more shut-eye.
Sensorwake will crowdfund a nighttime scent diffuser in April
Sensorwake burst onto the scene with a smell-based alarm clock that was built on the premise that scents are better than sounds. Now, the company is attempting to make a further in-road into our bedrooms with its next product, the Oria night-time diffuser. The idea is that folks will sleep easier if all they can smell is the sweet perfume that's being pushed out while you catch some shut-eye.
Spire's health tracker sticks on clothes and never needs charging
Wearable fitness monitors promise a lot but research shows that nearly a third are abandoned in junk drawers because they're too fiddly, require too much maintenance or users are simply forgetting to put them on. Health monitoring company Spire thinks it's found the answer to these woes with the Spire Health Tag, the smallest ever fitness tracker that doesn't need to be charged and never has to be taken off.
FDA clears implant that treats severe sleep apnea
Sleep apnea (where your brain doesn't properly send breathing signals while resting) is horrible enough by itself, but the solutions to it can be scary: you may have to take medication, rely on ungainly breathing machines or opt for invasive surgery. You might have a gentler treatment going forward, though. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved an implantable device, Respicardia's Remede System, that fights more serious cases of sleep apnea.
The always-cold pillow is no longer a fever dream
The cold side of the pillow is one of life's oddly satisfying phenomena. But no sooner have you felt its gratifying chill caress your cheek than it vanishes. The cold side of the pillow could be more than just a pleasant sensation for your conscious mind, though. It's pretty well known that your body dumps heat as you drift off to sleep and your core temperature follows a rough nightly cycle, much like brain activity, hormone levels, breathing patterns and so on. There are various studies that suggest you can game the system, cool yourself down and minimize those restless nights. That's the intent behind the Moona smart pillow pad: A temperature-regulating pad that keeps the cold side of the pillow cold, indefinitely.
MIT uses radio waves and AI to more accurately study sleep
Sleep tracking has moved to the bedroom, with apps, peripherals and wearables that use movement or your device's microphone to figure out when you're sleeping or awake. Those with sleep disorders, however, are still stuck with large, disruptive arrays of physical sensors for sleep studies. Now, however, researchers at MIT have started using radio signals and artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze patients' sleep stages without physical sensors and they're reporting a high rate of accuracy. This could help people with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and epilepsy, all of whom can have sleep disruptions that are hard to detect. Eventually, it may help all of us.
Engadget giveaway: Win a Nightingale home sleep system!
While some city dwellers have developed the ability to tune out loud noises, not everyone can ignore disruptive sounds come bedtime. Using optimized frequencies and decibel levels, Nightingale can do what white noise machines and fans fail to accomplish, by interfering with the brain's ability to comprehend noise when you're ready for bed. These unobtrusive units plug directly into wall outlets, while providing a pass-through for plugging in other electronics. You can control Nightingale with its free app (iOS and Android), and also choose if you want to add LED lighting effects in a variety of colors to help set the mood for a peaceful night's rest. The company has provided use with two home sleep systems for a pair of lucky winners this week. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning one of these Nightingale home sleep systems. Good luck! Winners: Congratulations to Austin R. of Honolulu, HI and Will S. of San Jose, CA!
Apple just bought a popular sleep tracker
Those rumors of Apple Watch sleep tracking just got more tangible. Apple has acquired Beddit, a company whose business revolves around a sleep monitoring device as well as companion iOS and Watch apps. The fate of Beddit's products isn't clear (we've reached out to both Apple and Beddit), but they're surviving for now -- the only difference is that you're now subject to Apple's privacy policy instead of Beddit's own. Neither side has discussed future plans, but the implications are clear.
Toddlers who use touchscreens sleep less, study says
Toddlers really need their sleep. It's crucial when our brains are first developing, so early problems can ripple across your lifetime. That makes a report by Birbeck University of London researchers somewhat disturbing -- they found that toddlers between six and 11 months who play with smartphones or tablets get slightly less sleep than those who don't. According to the study of 715 parents, every hour of touchscreen use results in 15.6 minutes less sleep, or 26.4 minutes less total per night and 10.8 minutes more during the day, on average.
Ford's baby crib isn't a car, but it feels like one
When it comes to getting a baby to fall asleep, sometimes a car ride is the only thing that will do the trick. I know that all too well because that's the tactic my parents used when I was a tyke. Of course, cranking up the car driving around just to get your child to nap burns fuel, so Ford designers in Spain developed a baby crib that simulates the experience of a ride in the backseat.
Fitbit unveils a stylish Alta band with heart rate tracking
It's been around a year since Fitbit unveiled the Alta, its first stab at a wearable that's both thin and attractive. Now Fitbit is introducing a new model that delivers one of its most requested features: heart-rate tracking. The $150 Alta HR looks a lot like its predecessor, but turn it over and you'll see the telltale signs of a new sensor. As with other Fitbit devices, the Fitbit HR can give you real-time heart-rate measurements throughout the day, and the new feature will also help you more efficiently measure the calories you burn.
