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Dell mulls entry into wearable tech, says tablet sales aren't so hot
Wearable technology is all the rage these days, and Dell isn't immune to the peer pressure: its global VP of personal computing, Sam Burd, tells the Guardian that his company is "exploring ideas" in the field. While it's not clear just how serious plans would be at this stage, Burd notes that the idea of a Dell smartwatch is alluring. He can't champion his firm's tablet sales, however. Dell has reportedly sold just "hundreds of thousands" of Windows 8 and RT slates like the Latitude 10 and XPS 10. The executive predicts a sales boost as corporate customers adapt to Windows' new interface, but he's cautious -- he believes that the young platform has to grow before clients (and rivals) take notice.
Pebble watch strikes deal with Best Buy
Pebble, the Kickstarter darling and harbinger of the smartwatch revolution, will break free from its online-only shackles shortly, as Best Buy has revealed that its stores will begin carrying the crowdfunded device on July 7th. Up until now, the ultra-capable timepiece was only available via the Kickstarter campaign or through the company's own pre-order program. The watch will cost the same US$150 through Best Buy as it does when ordered straight from the makers. The Pebble has already popped up on Best Buy's online shop, but as of the time of this writing there is no option to pre-order via the big-box retailer. According to AllThingsD, the watch will be available via Best Buy in black and red, though only the black model is currently showing via the store's own website.
Best Buy may be Pebble's first brick-and-mortar retailer, leaked image suggests
According to information obtained by 9To5Mac, Best Buy may begin selling the Pebble smartwatch as early as this Sunday. The outlet's sources claim management briefed them that their stores would start selling the watches, and one supplied the above image. This picture of Best Buy's internal inventory system clearly shows an in stock date of July 7th, or, this Sunday, when the firm's weekly circular goes out and its new sales start. If this news is correct, it would mark Best Buy as the first -- and at this time, only -- brick-and-mortar retailer of the "appcessory." Also gleaned from the submitted photo is news that the smartwatch won't be eligible for home delivery, but we can't imagine not being able to order online and then pick-up in-store. We've contacted Best Buy for more info and will update if we hear back.
The Daily Roundup for 06.27.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
WSJ: Google working on an Android-powered game system, smart watch and new Nexus Q
According to the Wall Street Journal, Google might make another foray into living room hardware as it's currently developing an Android powered gaming console. Since that's just not enough of a rumor bomb, the talkative "people familiar with the matter" also claim a wristwatch and followup to its "postponed" Nexus Q project are on the way. If you believe the rumors, its reason for jumping into all these categories is to beat products Apple is reportedly developing in the same categories, with at least one of them launching this fall. Finally, the leaks indicate Google's next major Android update will be "tailored to low-cost devices in developing countries," and are ready to go in a much wider variety of devices. That could mean laptops or even appliances running the rumored Key Lime Pie flavor of Android, built by manufacturers like Samsung which is already working on a watch of its own. Also mentioned is HP, which the report goes on to claim is building laptops that run Android. Companies like Ouya, Mad Catz, Pebble and GEAK probably think Mountain View is already late to the party, but official OS-level support and heavily marketed hardware could take these segments to the next level.
Foxconn demos iPhone-friendly smartwatch with health sensors
Foxconn isn't waiting around for rumors of an Apple smartwatch to come true -- it's building a timepiece of its own. The company has just shown iPhone-compatible wristwear that previews Facebook messages and phone calls while tracking the owner's breathing and heart rate. Upgrades are also coming in the long run, such as a fingerprint reader that would lock down the wearer's health data. Foxconn hasn't discussed launch details for the watch, but it's almost more of a symbol than a product -- it represents the diversification of a business that still leans mostly on contract manufacturing for revenue.
WearIT brings its prototype smart watch to CE Week, we go eyes-on (video)
It'd be hard to go hands-on with the WearIT smart watch given that it's still very much a prototype and its touchscreen is ... well, it's not enabled yet. But we did get a chance to put our hands to the device and snap a gaggle of pictures, highlighting its 1.54-inch capacitive touchscreen and trio of buttons (each of which will correspond to specific applications, we're told). The concept with WearIT's watch is that it's a standalone device -- "We're getting closer to Dick Tracy every day," a company rep told us. While the device isn't quite up to Tracy's standards (no phone functionality, for instance), it assuredly packs more power than the aging detective's wrist gadget. A Cortex A8 600 MHz CPU and 256MB of RAM are at the heart of the smart watch, backed up by a 550 mAh lithium ion rechargeable battery. 4GB of storage is embedded inside, along with 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth / Bluetooth LE, ANT+, and a USB 2.0 port (when using the charging clip, included with the watch). Oh, and it runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, though it's pared down considerably for the screen size. We'll have a much closer look at WearIT's smart watch later this year -- the device is expected to arrive in the US starting in November and will retail for $400.%Gallery-192407%
The Daily Roundup for 06.25.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Agent smartwatch SDK released, developers can start tinkering
Four days after hitting its Kickstarter goal, Agent Watches has released the SDK for its smartwatch. The watches won't ship until December, but all developers need to start working is the emulator and a Bluetooth-compatible device. Windows Phone 8 Developer Mike Hole posted a link to the tools on his blog, plus detailed notes with sample code and a how-to for the emulator. With all this info, maybe you'll write a few of the apps for the hip and sexy people from that Kickstarter video.
Pebble Android App update brings Google Hangouts notifications
With all the work that Google's put into Hangouts lately, it'd be a shame to miss out when you're pinged to join one, no? If you happen to be sporting a Pebble smartwatch that scenario will be less likely, as version 1.8.2 of its Android app has arrived with notifications for the chat service. Though Pebble supports Google Talk notifications (along with call alerts, text messages, calendar reminders and email previews), Mountain View recently said that Hangouts is the future of Google Voice, making it a prime candidate for alerts. Apart from the extra wrist nag, the update also brings improved stability and developer enhancements. To grab it, check the source below or head to Google Play on your Android device.
Sony SmartWatch 2 unveiled: a water-resistant 'second screen' for Android devices
Sony's taking a second stab at the fledgling wearable category it helped pioneer with today's announcement of the SmartWatch 2. The Android-powered wristwatch retains the familiar remote functionality of its predecessor (i.e., allowing users to answer calls, read email and texts, snap photos, etc.), albeit now from a larger, 1.6-inch (220 x 176) touch display. Sony's packed all of this "second screen" functionality into a handsome, aluminum body design that's crafted to be dust- and water-resistant (IP57), much like the Xperia Z line before it. And for users that want a little variety, the company's also offering a pack-in stainless steel wristband that can be swapped out for any other 24mm strap (Sony plans to offer alternative straps sometime soon). The SmartWatch 2 also features support for NFC and Bluetooth 3.0, so you can easily pair it with compatible devices running Android 4.0 or higher -- something like the Xperia Z Ultra, perhaps. As for battery life, Sony claims the SmartWatch 2's rated for a maximum of four days with moderate use. But those with a lighter touch, or a penchant for digital wristwatches, may be able to eke out a full week's worth of juice. There's no pricing information to share at the moment, only a semi-concrete global release date for this September. Which is just about enough time for you (or, more likely, your Dad) to dust off that Dick Tracy impersonation. %Gallery-192233%
Sony teases new smartwatch announcement for next week
Sony's got us waiting on a super-sized Xperia smartphone, but it could have a new wearable to show Mobile Asia Expo attendees in Shanghai next week. In recent days, its Sony Xperia account has been tweeting cryptically about its existing Smartwatch, the demand for smart devices and (well, it is Sony) the company's portable tech heritage. Sony is set to host a Shanghai-based media event on Tuesday next week, and we'll be there to cover it.
GEAK Watch packs Android, WiFi and a plethora of sensors, claims to be 'world's first true smartwatch'
Nowadays, we can't help but be skeptical of products that claim to be a smartwatch. In fact, what is a smartwatch, anyway? Perhaps GEAK, a Shanghai-based subsidiary of content giant Shanda, has a somewhat convincing answer. Simply dubbed the GEAK Watch, this wearable device packs a surprising number of components, with the most notable one being the 802.11b/g/n WiFi module -- a feature that Motorola's MOTOACTV already boasts. This lets the Android 4.1 system download apps directly or even receive OTA updates, but you can also create a wireless ad hoc network to do instant messaging with fellow users nearby -- the watch can apparently do voice-to-text input. There's also Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC for device pairing, along with GPS and FM radio -- yes, there's a headphone jack, too. In terms of sensory features, the GEAK Watch offers to monitor the user's sleeping pattern, pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, mood and number of steps walked (some of these require additional accessories). The components that take care of all these are somehow tucked into the 8mm-thick body of the watch, with the brain being the rare 1GHz Ingenic JZ4774 that's based on MIPS architecture. The chip's accompanied by 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage and a suspiciously minuscule 500mAh lithium polymer cell -- no word on the battery life just yet, though. There's a 1.55-inch, 240 x 240 multi-touch OGS display to seal the device, and overall the watch is certified for a reasonable IPX3 water resistance. Honestly, this smartwatch sounds too good to be true, and it's only priced at just ¥1,999 or about $330. It'll be up for pre-ordering in China from July 3rd, so it shouldn't be long before we find out if the GEAK Watch is worthy of the "world's first true smartwatch" title.
Sony's Open SmartWatch project lets devs tinker with its firmware
Starting today, advanced developers can fiddle with Sony's SmartWatch with more freedom than ever before. With the Open SmartWatch project, the company is now allowing devs to create and flash their own firmware to the device, paving the way for greater exploration of its potential. Previously, third-party innovation was limited to the official Add-on SDK, but with a slew of resources posted on the project's website, Sony is looking to lure devs to its platform -- and potentially find inspiration for its own end user experience. To get the party started, Sony and Arduino are teaming up to host a hackathon in Malmö, Sweden on June 15th with the hopes of bringing firmware alternatives to the table. Of course, flashing the firmware will void the product's warranty, but for the developer with an eye on wearable tech, it might be a price well worth paying.
E Ink and Sonostar pair up for Mobius flexible-display smartwatch, we go hands-on at Computex
Earlier this week, E Ink announced its Mobius flexible display, a 1.73-inch touch-enabled panel for smartwatches. Now, the new screen has made its way onto the Computex exhibition floor in Taipei. Sonostar, a local manufacturer, has integrated the 320 x 240 grayscale panel within its new wearable, which the company is demonstrating for show attendees. Simply called "Smartwatch," the product is little more than a mockup at this point, but it is expected to hit production sometime in Q3 of this year. The two samples on hand were non-functional, unfortunately, but they did each contain a working Mobius panel -- one displayed a sample Facebook notification, while the second had the time and date with a small low-res picture of a dog, along with battery and Bluetooth indicators up top. The watch itself was very lightweight, and while glare was clearly an issue today, there's plenty of time for engineers to tweak things before this ships later in the year. The Smartwatch, which can stay powered for up to a week with each charge, will come in both black and white, and should be compatible with both Android and iOS devices. Pricing is not yet set, but representatives did confirm that it'll be coming to the US.%Gallery-190370%
E Ink launches Mobius flexible display for your next smartwatch
Although smartwatch makers have had access to e-paper for a while, there have been few such displays tailor-made for our wrists. E Ink is more than willing to fill that void with a new, watch-oriented version of its Mobius screen. The flexible, 1.73-inch panel won't floor anyone with its 320 x 240 grayscale picture, but it can be cut into timepiece-friendly shapes that take more abuse than a typical e-reader. More importantly for us end users, E Ink already has at least one hardware partner lined up: Sonostar is using the tiny Mobius for a smartwatch this summer, and the odds are that the company won't be alone.
Pebble firmware update 1.11 arrives with UI improvements, Simplicity watchface
Pebble's smartwatch might have launched with limited capabilities, but the list of things it can do keeps growing. Now that the company has released firmware version 1.11, you can add a few more features to that list. The update brings notification and set time UI changes, multiple notification viewing, the wearer's current speed measured by RunKeeper, swaps the music app's next and previous buttons and squashes a few bugs. It also installs the Simplicity watchface on the device that's sure to make minimalists happy. Sadly, there's nary a hint of a new game in sight so you'll have to make do with Tetris and Snake whenever the mood for smartwatch gaming strikes. To get version 1.11, launch your Pebble smartphone app and tap "check for FW update." David Fishman contributed to this report.%Gallery-189749%
The Daily Roundup for 05.22.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Agent smartwatch launches with Kickstarter campaign, promises 'unparalleled battery life'
There are few gadgets more associated with crowdfunding than smartwatches, due largely to the millions raised by Pebble. Now, you can add one more competing for your attention (and your backing). A Kickstarter campaign for the Agent smartwatch kicked off today, promising to deliver a device with better battery life than its competitors and a developer-friendly environment to attract some all-important apps (it's using the .NET Micro Framework, with apps able to be written in in C# using Visual Studio 2012). As for the watch itself, it packs a 1.28-inch memory display with anti-glare glass, an ARM Cortex-M4 processor (which promises to help on the power-consumption front), Qi wireless charging, motion and light sensors, and a water-resistent design with replaceable wrist straps. If all goes as planned, the company intends to begin full production of the watch in December of this year, with the final MSRP running $249 (or $299 including a Qi charger). Some of the Kickstarter options will get you one for less than that, although many of those have already been claimed.
Pebble receives $15 mil in funding, releases SDK and Sports API
The company behind the Pebble smartwatch, which not only looks awesome but connects up to your iPhone, has picked up US$15 million in funding from venture capitalists, and has released yet another version of its SDK. The funding is obviously a solid chunk of change, and should help Pebble not only fulfill its current orders (the company is still aiming to get watches out to all of its supporters from a successful Kickstarter bid), but push the company on into the future as well. This latest SDK release, called the PebbleKit, allows for two-way communication back and forth between the watch and your smartphone, which means there are lots of new options for apps to work with the watch as a display or even a remote control. The company has also released a Sports API, which should allow for GPS-enabled apps (like running apps) to send and receive information from the watch. Pebble's initial set of features was quite limited, but this API update should make a lot of new apps possible, and of course we'll likely see more in the future. You can pre-order a Pebble watch on the main website right now for $150.00. Or you may want to wait just a bit longer, if you happen to believe those crazy rumors about an Apple iWatch.
