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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 drops to $199 at Microsoft's store
It’s currently selling Samsung’s 40mm non-cellular Galaxy Watch Active 2 for $199, or a full $80 off the official price. And at this price, the battery is easier to forgive considering other advantages.
Students develop a smart bra for early breast cancer detection
Students from the Swiss university EPFL have developed a smart bra designed to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. They believe it's the first piece of clothing that can be used for cancer prevention. They even claim that it's comfortable and that the tech is "nearly imperceptible."
Apple Watch might detect your blood oxygen levels
In the future, your Apple Watch might detect more health trouble than an irregular heartbeat. Tipsters talking to 9to5Mac claim that Apple is working on the ability to detect blood oxygen levels through its wristwear. If your blood's oxygen saturation fell below a certain threshold, you'd receive a notification much like you do now for unusual heart rates. It's not certain if this will require new hardware or a software update, although our money's on the former at the moment when Fitbit's approach uses a mix of red and infrared sensors to detect oxygen variation.
Google survey hints at big plans for Wear OS health tracking
Wear OS is struggling, in no small part due to its so-so health features -- there's a good reason Google bought Fitbit. However, Google has hinted that it intends to catch up. Droid Life has learned that an ongoing User Experience Research survey that asks participants how they would fix Wear OS, and there's a strong emphasis on adding health features -- many of them crucial features.
US will investigate Fitbit and Garmin following Philips complaints
The new year isn't getting off to a great start for some wearable device makers. The US International Trade Commission has agreed to investigate Fitbit, Garmin, distributor Ingram Micro and two Chinese manufacturers (Inventec and Maintek) over Philips' patent violation claims. Allegedly, the Fitbit and Garmin devices are infringing on technology such as activity tracking, alarm reporting and motion sensing. Philips maintained that it had been negotiating with the companies for three years before talks fell apart and forced its hand.
Eargo's next hearing aid promises improved sound in the same tiny size
Eargo has made a name for itself by doing things differently when it comes to hearing aids. Instead of the usual range of over-the-ear devices, all the company's products are "invisible" (completely in the canal, or CIC). That in itself isn't unusual, but the branding, packaging and user experience are all much more akin to consumer smart products than medical-grade devices. Last year's Neo buds were good, but this year's Neo HiFi promises to be even better (even if it doesn't stream music, as the name might suggest).
A smart running shoe insole detects your gait to offer coaching advice
There have been smart insoles before, but Nurvv is betting that its shoe companions could be particularly helpful if you're a runner. Its Nurvv Run insoles pack 32 sensors that, along with mobile apps and included GPS trackers, provide coaching both during and after runs. You can get updates on standard stats like cadence, step length and overall pace while you're mid stride thanks to audiovisual and haptic feedback. However, you can also venture into the app post-run to look at minutiae like your pronation (foot roll) and foot strike (how much of the forefoot hits the ground). You'll know whether a change in technique leads to practical gains.
Nuheara's latest hearing assistance earbuds are both cheaper and more powerful
If it wasn't already apparent that assistive hearing tech is thriving, it is now. Nuheara has followed up last year's IQbuds MAX with the IQbuds2 MAX, a new set of true wireless buds that represent an improvement across the board -- including the price. They still use EarID technology to automatically calibrate the sound to fit your hearing, but they now have larger 9.2mm drivers that improve sound quality, particularly bass. The design also fits "more processing power" into a similarly small design (Nuheara hasn't said what that means in practice) and Bluetooth 5 for a faster and longer-ranged wireless link to your phone.
Polar's Vantage fitness watches now offer daily training guides (updated)
If you're planning to counter all those holiday dinners with rigorous exercise, Polar might have your back. It's updating its Vantage V and Vantage M watches with some particularly useful coaching features, most notably the FitSpark personalized training tool. As on earlier hardware, it provides a daily training guide that suggests exercises based on your history, fitness level and sleep quantities. You'll have a better sense of whether you should be burning calories with cardio workouts or hitting the weights instead.
Fitbit Versa 2 drops to just $130 at Amazon
Deals during Black Friday week don't always represent the best discounts on a device, and you're looking at a textbook example of this. Amazon is selling Fitbit's Versa 2 smartwatch for $130, or $20 less than the steeply discounted price from late November. That could make it ideal if you're scrambling for a last-minute tech gift, or just want a full-fledged smartwatch at the price of a simpler fitness tracker.
Magic Leap shifts focus to business with an updated AR headset
Magic Leap's augmented reality headset reportedly hasn't sold well so far, but the company might have a way to turn its fortunes around: pitch the device as a business tool. It's launching an Enterprise Suite that includes a Magic Leap 1 headset (an update to the One Creator Edition) as well as two years each for dedicated support, device management tools, fast device replacements and extended warranties. You'll also have access to a host of AR-friendly work apps from third parties that cover areas like collaboration, "location-based experiences" (think museums and product tours) and 3D visualization for design and medicine.
North's next-generation smart glasses arrive in 2020
North only made its smart glasses widely available in September, but it's already thinking of the future. The Canadian wearable tech maker has revealed that it's releasing its next-gen eyewear, Focals 2.0, sometime in 2020. It's not saying much about what they'll entail besides showing a teaser image (which doesn't add more). However, it is promising that the new glasses will operate at a "completely different level" -- hyperbole aside, they're supposed to reflect a year of learning how to make and sell these devices.
Apple's AR headset might not arrive until 2022
You might not want to get your hopes up for an Apple augmented reality headset in 2020 despite evidence of progress. The Information sources claim Apple held an internal presentation in October where it expected to release the AR headset (really a mixed AR/VR headset) in 2022, and AR glasses in 2023. There would be reasons for the wait, however. If the leak is accurate, Apple will try to push the boundaries of AR technology.
Xiaomi’s first real smartwatch looks just like an Apple Watch
As Xiaomi gears up to launch its 108-megapixel phone at its November 5th event, the company has also unveiled details of its upcoming smartwatch -- and it looks awfully familiar. The device -- which will probably be called the Mi Watch -- bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Watch.
Alphabet is reportedly interested in buying Fitbit
Fitbit is apparently quite serious about exploring a sale. Reuters sources said Alphabet has "made an offer" to buy Fitbit for an as yet undetermined amount. The insiders warned there was no guarantee the talks would lead to a deal, but the indication of interest is still huge by itself. We've reached out to Alphabet and Fitbit for comment, although they declined to comment to Reuters.
Vatican launches $110 'click to pray' wearable rosary
The Vatican is hoping to attract tech-savvy youngsters to the Catholic Church with the launch of a "Click to Pray" eRosary -- a wearable device connected to a mobile app that's activated by making the sign of the cross.
Under Armour edition of Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active 2 arrives today
It's been a couple of months since we found out about Under Armour's spin on Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active 2. And all we heard back at IFA 2019 was that the wearable, which is geared toward runners, would be launching this fall. But, if you've had your eyes on it since its reveal in August, you'll be happy to hear that the Galaxy Watch Active 2 Under Armour Edition (say that ten times fast) can be yours starting today. As you've come to expect from most smartwatches, the UA Watch Active 2 features a heart-rate monitor and can show you stats like calories burned and distance covered. That said, where Samsung and Under Armour really want to make it shine is with its fitness coaching and training plans, which are customized for you using data from the watch during your runs. It can tell you how to improve your form in real time, for instance.
Tap Strap 2 adds gesture control to any Bluetooth-enabled device
Tap made a name for itself with its futuristic wearable keyboards, now it's introduced a new Minority Report-style feature guaranteed to make you feel like you're in a sci-fi movie. The Tap Strap 2's new AirMouse feature lets you control any Bluetooth-connected device with a simple, untethered wave of the hand.
The North Face’s high-tech Futurelight jackets are finally here
It uses a proprietary nanospinning technology that lets air move through fabric easily and according to the company offers more venting than ever before.
The best way to play ‘Untitled Goose Game’ is to dress like a goose
For Twitch streamer Dylan "Rudeism" Beck simply playing a menacing goose in Untitled Goose Game wasn't enough. He wanted to become the goose. In a livestream yesterday, Rudeism put on a homemade goose suit and played the game in a whole new way.
