Watch
Latest
Google will buy Fossil smartwatch tech for $40 million
Google's commitment to improving its smartwatch platform is about to extend beyond overhauling its software. The internet giant has agreed to buy some of the intellectual property behind Fossil's smartwatch technology in a $40 million deal. While the two aren't specific about the technology trading hands, the arrangement will see a "portion" of Fossil's research and development team sign on with Google. The purchase is expected to complete before the end of January.
Michael Kors' Sofie 2.0 smartwatch is about more than just fashion
When Fossil's Michael Kors label unveiled the first Sofie smartwatch, it had eye-catching looks... and not much else. You can't say the same for the just-unveiled Sofie 2.0, at least. Michael Kors has updated the wristwear with the same posh-looking exterior, but much more functionality under the hood. It now has heart rate monitoring, NFC payments, GPS tracking and the latest version of Wear OS. Much like a few other Fossil upgrades in recent months, the Sofie 2.0 is now far more functional.
Ressence's $48,800 connected mechanical watch arrives in April
If you like the thought of wearing a classic mechanical watch but wish it had some of the conveniences of the connected age, your dream wristwear is here... so long as you're willing to pay dearly for it. A year after unveiling a concept, Ressence has unveiled the finished version of its Type 2 watch. Like before, the timepiece (co-designed by Tony Fadell) uses an "e-Crown" that can set the watch to different time zones or check its 36-hour power reserve by either tapping the face or using a mobile app. You only have to set the watch the conventional way when you first take it out of the box. Solar cells hidden under the dial keep the e-Crown powered, and it relies on a true automatic movement that will keep ticking even if the digital side runs out of power.
Facebook might cut funding for some Watch news shows
Facebook plans to cut the funding for some news shows on the Watch platform, according to The Information. The social media just renewed four Watch originals and recently brought the tab to desktop and its stripped-down Lite app, signifying that it's doing quite well. However, it also announced that it's expanding the Watch video service worldwide, and that could mean the company needs to produce overseas news shows catering to more countries. In fact, The Information says Facebook's spending will remain the same ($90 million), but it will distribute the money to a broader array of programs.
The tiny synth craze has gotten out of hand
Calculator watch fans rejoice: there's a new contraption that makes your wrist wear a little more useful. Audioweld has made what it claims is the first synthesizer watch -- which is appropriately named Synthwatch. The husky contraption offers a set of seven keys for capturing tunes via a companion app for iOS and Android. With that software, you can control recording, access a sequencer and tap into a bank of 200 sounds. Of course, tiny instrument works on its own too, and you don't need to have your phone out to use it.
Casio's Transformers G-Shock is Optimus Prime's ticking heart
As leader of the Autobots, you'd think that Optimus Prime would always know what time it is. However, Casio, in collaboration with Transformer toymaker Takara Tomy, Casio has unveiled a special edition Transformer with a G-Shock watch installed right in his heart. The promotion celebrates the 35th anniversary of G-Shock, and the 35th anniversary of the Transformers in 2019, Casio said.
Apple releases watchOS 5.1.1 after previous update bricked devices
Apple has released its latest watchOS update, after the previous release caused a bricking issue on some Apple Watches. The watchOS 5.1.1 update seems to resolve the problem that led the company to pull version 5.1 soon after releasing it last week.
Apple pulls watchOS update that was bricking some Watches (updated)
There's another reason to be disappointed with the latest Apple watchOS 5.1 release besides the missing ECG feature. Some users have reported that the update has bricked their Apple Watches, according to a Reddit thread and 9to5 Mac. After the update, it gets stuck on the Apple logo, and rebooting the paired iPhone and Watch doesn't fix the problem. "Turns your Apple Watch into a nice, modern paperweight," noted one Reddit user.
Facebook and MTV are revamping 'The Real World'
Facebook's big push into original video content is only getting stronger. Less than two months after the worldwide launch of its Watch streaming service, which is also trying to lure in independent creators, the company is making some major show announcements. For starters, Facebook is now teaming up with MTV on a "reimagined" version of the popular reality series The Real World, which will have an interactive, social component that'll let viewers vote one housemate onto the show before it airs. The new seasons of The Real World, set to debut exclusively on Facebook Watch in 2019, will be produced in Mexico, Thailand and, of course, the United States.
Garmin fitness watches can finally play music from Spotify
Garmin's initial music support for its fitness watches has been limited to Deezer and iHeartRadio, which is odd to say the least -- most people don't use those services, and you weren't about to ditch a subscription to something else just so you could replace the gym's soundtrack with your own. Thankfully, Garmin is aware of your plight -- it's rolling out support for offline Spotify music on its wristwear, starting with the Fenix 5 Plus series. Download the relevant app in the Connect IQ store and you can save songs, albums and playlists to the watch using WiFi, giving you the chance to catch up on your Release Radar while away from your phone.
Soundbrenner watch includes a metronome, tuner and decibel meter
Soundbrenner is far from a household name in the music industry, but having apparently sold over 50,000 Pulse wearable metronomes with endorsement from notable musicians, this Hong Kong startup isn't doing so bad. Today, the company hopes to make a bigger bang with a follow-up model. Using the original Pulse as the foundation, the new Soundbrenner Core adds three functionalities in the hopes of making life easier for musicians: It's also a watch, a tuner and a sound level meter. "We see ourselves as one of the few players in the music-making space... that solve real problems," said Soundbrenner CEO Florian Simmendinger. "Our goal is to create a must-have companion device for musicians, from beginners all the way to professionals."
Apple Watch Series 4 review: Small tweaks make a big impact
The first time I strapped on an Apple Watch was three years ago. A friend had been needling me about how badly I needed one and how it was the first truly new Apple product since Steve Jobs died and how cool Digital Touch was. I caved, and 45 minutes later, I had claimed a slice of Apple's history for myself. My friend was right: The Apple Watch was cool. What he didn't tell me was that the Watch's underpowered hardware and the scarcity of must-have apps made Apple's first wearable kind of feel like a dud in those early days. Eventually, I let a coworker borrow it. When she left the company, I didn't try to get it back. What can I say? I didn't really miss it. That wouldn't be true with the Series 4. During the past three years, Apple has dutifully added features and refined the overall Watch experience. Series 2 pivoted to focus more on fitness. Series 3 had an LTE radio, so you could feasibly leave your phone at home. It wasn't until this year's Series 4, though, that the Apple Watch finally seemed to step out of the iPhone's shadow. The Series 4 is bigger and better in every way that counts, and more important, it now feels like a fleshed-out, worthy device in its own right.
Casio's see-through G-Shock watches are an icy blast of nostalgia
Casio's G-Shock watch line is enjoying a bit of a renaissance on its 35th anniversary (you can even get a full metal model if you like), and the company is making the most of it with some particularly eye-catching wristwear. It just introduced a Glacier Gold collection of G-Shocks that are virtually guaranteed to stand out while scratching that nostalgic itch. Each model has a semi-transparent resin casing and band, with a gold-colored watch sitting at their heart, recreating both the look of classic G-Shock models and the clear style of 1996's stand-out DW-6900K.
Polar's latest watches know if you're maximizing your workouts
Polar has a way to compete against ever more fitness-savvy smartwatches: offer exercise tracking that's difficult to match. It's launching two fitness watches, the Vantage V (above) and Vantage M (below), that promise more insights for particularly committed athletes. Both include a Training Load Pro system that melds cardiovascular, muscular and perceived loads into a single metric that gives you a sense of just how effective your workouts are. You'll have a better sense of whether you're overreaching or need to ramp up the intensity. The pro-oriented Vantage V adds a Recovery Pro system whose daily and long-term tracking help you understand when your body has had enough rest.
eBay now verifies the authenticity of luxury watch sales
eBay's Authenticate program now covers more than high-style handbags. The online shopping giant now verifies the authenticity of luxury watch sales from more than 30 luxury brands, including Audemars Piguet, Breitling, Patek Philippe and Rolex. Sellers who pass muster will receive an "authenticity verified" badge that makes clear the watches they sell are the real deal. That's rather important when watches like Audemars' Royal Oak or Patek's Nautilus can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Facebook's app will personalize navigation to fit your social habit
Facebook adds new features on the regular. It has recently revamped its Marketplace section, made its news feed more friend-focused and changed algorithms to reduce fake news and clickbait. Now, Facebook is redesigning the navigation bar in its mobile app to better show you shortcuts to things you use most often. The company said that the new system should roll out globally in the coming weeks.
Apple quietly kills Modern Buckle Watch band in the US
Apple regularly kills off products in silence, simply yanking it from stores without so much as a notice. That's how its super expensive gold Edition watches and even something as big as the iPod Classic went the way of the dodo. This time, Apple has killed the Modern Buckle Apple Watch band, which was one of the first styles available for the device. It's not quite as huge as an iPod, but its removal could disappoint those who've been eyeing it for a while. 9to5mac first noticed that it's not available from Apple's online store anymore, and upon checking with Wayback Machine, the last time it was up for purchase was back in mid-March.
Garmin's Fenix 5 Plus watches help you survive mountain climbing
Garmin is no stranger to catering to fans of specific sports with its GPS watches. Its latest wristwear, however, takes that devotion to another level. It's upgrading its Fenix 5 outdoor watches with the Fenix 5 Plus series, whose star attraction is a new Pulse Ox Acclimation sensor that gauges your blood oxygen saturation levels when you're climbing at high altitudes. If you're not coping well with an arduous mountain ascent, your watch will let you know it's time to take it easy.
Facebook is paying for news shows as it continues to fight fake news
Today, Facebook announced a new section of the Watch tab devoted exclusively to news programming. The first round of shows available (which are funded by Facebook) will be "On Location" from ABC News, "Chasing Corruption" from Advance Local, "Undivided ATTN:" from ATTN:, "Anderson Cooper Full Circle" from CNN, "Fox News Update" from Fox News, "Mic Dispatch" from Mic and "Real America with Jorge Ramos" from Univision. You can see descriptions of all these shows over at Facebook's announcement post.
ASUS VivoWatch BP keeps track of your location and blood pressure
ASUS might have pulled out of the Android smartwatch race after the ZenWatch 3, but it's not quite done yet with wearables. At Computex, the company surprised many by unveiling the VivoWatch BP, a follow-up to the original low-power VivoWatch from three years ago. We're looking at a handful of new features and improvements here, with the highlight being a built-in blood pressure monitor -- a rare feature in the smartwatch category. The only other recent direct competitor is the Omron HeartGuide, which is also due to launch later this year.
