Tag Archives: Wearables

Developed by former Samsung engineers, this walking assist wearable robot also lets you tone your legs

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Wear it as a harness: fasten the thigh braces and buckle up the fanny pack-like device around your waist and you can be in command of a mobility wearable robot that can assist you walk with better efficiency or provide resistance to your legs so you can add strength to your lower body.

While existing mobility assist robots are made for seniors with leg discomforts or are intended to help the differently abled to move with more freedom; the WIM mobility assist wearable device created by WIRobotics, is designed for younger consumers to walk better and exercise with the new age technique.

Designer: WIRobotics  

WIRobotics is a company formed by former Samsung Electronics robotics engineers with the intent to help people with limited abilities leverage the freedom of movement that new technologies can permit. With the Wearable Mobility WIM robot, the idea is slightly different. Even though it is a device for those who have issues with their legs and have problems walking longer distances, it would also cater to those who spend hours in the gym trying to strengthen their lower body.

Weighing much lighter than most other assist robots on the market, the WIM robot is also slimmer and more compact, but absolutely effective at providing powerful assistance force to the limb. It also analyses the gait of the user – and corrects it – in real-time. It comes with two different use modes: the assist mode, which does what it means – assist the user walking with more confidence and freedom while saving user energy by up to 20 percent. The exercise mode provides resistance – force comparable to walking in water – to the legs of the user for lower body strength.

Since this harness-style wearable exoskeleton is not a typical medical device, it doesn’t look like one. Provided in vibrant orange, electric blue, and subtle gray color options, the exoskeleton for hiking and exercise is designed like a fashion accessory that the Gen Z or even the millennial population wouldn’t mind wearing in their everyday routine.  The robot has a single-motor in the fanny pack-like belt strapped to the front of the waist, while both the thigh extensions have individual actuators. The ergonomics of the robot are maintained by aluminum joints in a plastic body to provide a non-restrictive design that can provide free and natural movement. The entire structure can be completely disassembled for convenience of storage and transportation.

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Nike self-lacing sneakers are losing their app and their biggest value

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Ever since Marty McFly first showed off the idea of self-tying shoelaces in Back to the Future, the footwear industry has been trying to figure out how to turn that fantasy into a reality. As the brand that actually made the movie prop, Nike has been at the forefront of that endeavor and has, in fact, already launched a few pairs of “self-lacing” sneakers years ago. It may have been a hit back then because of its novelty, but the shoe company no longer found any reason to make new ones or to continue supporting the ones that already exist. In fact, it just announced not only the discontinuation of this unique Adapt BB line but also of its app, which will leave some owners rethinking their purchase.

Designer: Nike

“Self-lacing sneakers” are not as magical as they might sound, simply utilizing magnets and electronics to tighten or loosen the shoes. For the Adapt BB line that launched in 2019, you could do this, along with other functions, by pressing buttons on the side of the shoes or, more conveniently, using a smartphone app. That app also provided settings you can’t very well make on the shoes themselves, particularly changing the colors of the buttons’ lights or saving three preset tightness settings.

Nike, however, has discontinued its self-lacing sneakers, and on August 6th, it will also be dropping its mobile apps. Owners of Adapt BBs don’t have to panic, at least not yet, because they can still install the app until that date, and the app will stay installed on their phones even when it disappears from Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. That does mean, however, that you can no longer install or even transfer the app after that day, so if you lose your phone or change devices, you’ll be out of luck.

Fortunately, the shoes themselves will continue working even without the app, but it will mostly be a manual affair without some conveniences. You will not be able to change light colors anymore, for example, and there will only be one preset remembered. You can, however, still tighten or loosen the shoe by pressing the buttons, which require you to bend over like any ordinary shoe. It might still seem a bit advanced, but no longer as mind-blowing as the original.

The announcement, however, does bring a few concerns and questions to mind. For one, the Adapt BB will lose one of its biggest appeal: its accessibility for people who might have difficulty lacing and unlacing sneakers. It also paints a somewhat dubious future for smart wearables like these. While people are used to changing phones almost every two years and for manufacturers to drop support sooner rather than later, most of us keep our wardrobe and footwear until they’re no longer usable, and manufacturer support is rare if not unheard of.

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CMF Watch Pro 2: A Customizable Smartwatch with Gesture Control and an AMOLED Display

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It’s usually said that October is the busiest time for phone launches. It’s often when Apple announces its entire iPhone lineup, and Google its Pixel lineup too. The term Techtober is often floated about to describe this busy time, but that era’s changed. With Nothing’s sub-brand CMF announcing gadgets on 8th of July, a speculated Google event in August, and IFA Berlin in September, it does seem like the tech rollout is starting well before October. CMF by Nothing is slated to announce three products tomorrow, with their first smartphone dubbed the Phone 1 (not to be confused with the Nothing Phone (1)), and upgrades to their Buds and Watch lineup. The Watch Pro 2, which has already surfaced online, sees a radical design change this year. Instead of the rectangular display on last year’s Watch Pro, the sophomore smartwatch from the brand pivots to a circular screen. It’s an interesting choice, given that CMF will have had to redo the entire UI and OS to match this new display shape.

The redesign isn’t without reason, given that the watch is now expected to come with detachable bezels (which may also play a part in the watch’s OS). A button on the side gets replaced with a rotating crown, and the Watch Pro 2 finally looks like it’s taking on a distinct aesthetic that makes it stand out from the rest of the smartwatches out there… and that can only be a good thing.

Designer: CMF by Nothing

As per the images, the CMF Watch Pro 2 features a classic round dial design with a 1.32-inch AMOLED display. This display technology promises rich colors, deep blacks, and excellent visibility even under bright sunlight. An exciting addition is the inclusion of interchangeable bezels, allowing users to personalize the watch’s look to match their outfit or occasion. The watch is confirmed to also come with gesture controls, although the specific gestures and their functionalities remain to be revealed. This feature has the potential to streamline user interaction with the watch, making it more intuitive and convenient.

Indian Actress Rashmika Mandanna models for the Watch Pro 2

Technical specifications like battery life and processor details are yet to be officially confirmed. However, its predecessor, the Watch Pro, offered a commendable 2-week battery life on a single charge. With the CMF Watch Pro 2, we can expect similar or potentially improved battery performance. The CMF Watch Pro 2 is expected to launch alongside the CMF Phone 1 on July 8th. While the pricing details are yet to be revealed, considering the upgrades, we can expect a slight increase compared to the previous model’s launch price of Rs 4,499 (approx $54 USD).

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Pet getting scared of 4th July fireworks? These quirky yet effective Dog Headphones with ANC can help

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Fourth of July can be a really fun time for the entire country, but a very stressful time for pet parents who have to deal with the extreme anxiety that dogs feel around those loud bangs and other noises. Dogs are highly sensitive to sound, so any loud noises, be it the pop of a firework or even the bang of a thunderstorm, can cause them high amounts of stress. Kirsten Brand nearly lost her dog Emma when a firework show on the 4th of July caused the pet to get so scared that she ran away from home. “After what seemed like hours, we found my furbaby, Emma, down the street. Thankfully, she had been taken into a garage by a neighbor, to ride out the rest of the firework show,” Kirsten mentioned.

That prompted her to design the Pawnix, a pet ‘helmet’ that covers their ears to dampen loud noises, while also playing calming and soothing sounds via Bluetooth. Sort of like ANC Headphones but for dogs, the Pawnix keeps your pets calm with relaxing audio, while also wrapping around their head to make them feel a sense of physical security and comfort.

Designer: Pawnix

Improved over various iterations, the Pawnix now comes with a foam-padded neoprene design, similar to the laptop sleeves you usually see people carry their MacBooks in. The helmet, shaped to look almost like a bonnet for your pet, wraps around the dog’s head, with pockets for the ears to fit in. The design works equally well for dogs with all kinds of ears, whether they’re erect, semi-erect, or hanging down. 4-way stretch Anti-microbial fabric with durable stitching means the Pawnix can go without being washed, and can definitely endure your dog trying to scratch at it or take it off.

On the inside, a set of audio drivers with active noise canceling and Bluetooth 5.0 let your dog listen to calming soundscapes instead of loud noises. Pop the headphones on, and you can connect your phone to the Pawnix via Bluetooth, choosing from a variety of calming sounds (you can actually find dog-calming tracks on YouTube). Alternatively, just the Pawnix itself should be able to drown out less intense noises like a dinner party with loud music. The Pawnix comes in 4 colors, and 4 sizes too, although there’s also an option to custom-make a Pawnix for even larger dogs.

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Pixel 9 and Pixel Watch 3 launch date set for mid-August

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It seems that some companies are moving up their schedules this year. Samsung has officially confirmed that its Galaxy Unpacked Summer edition will happen a few weeks earlier compared to last year’s event, setting the date for the 10th of July. Google, however, isn’t going to be outdone and is actually taking an even earlier date, more than two months in advance, in fact. Although details are still a bit scant at the moment, Google has more or less announced that its next product launch is being held in August instead of October, enough reason for fans to be excited and, at the same time, perhaps a bit perplexed at the sudden change in cadence.

Designer: Google

Pixel 9 Pro XL render

Picking a launch window for a product is actually a very complicated process. Companies have to take into consideration multiple factors, including the timeline of component manufacturers, their own previous products, as well as the movements of their rivals. For a few years now, Google has traditionally made October its stronghold while Samsung picked late July or early August and Apple has consistently used September for its own purposes.

Pixel 9 renders

Now Google is seemingly throwing caution to the wind and will launch its next new products on August 13th, two months earlier than usual. There are a few theories being pushed forward as to why the tech giant decided on such a drastic change, including how there won’t be significant hardware upgrades that would require waiting for components to arrive first. The favorite speculation, however, is that Google wants to put a heavy focus on AI just as it did at I/O 2024 last May. Not only will it need to get the word out early, it also needs to do it before Apple’s own “Apple Intelligence” iPhone debut in September.

Pixel Fold 2/Pixel 9 Pro Fold renders

Regardless of the reason, Google’s product lineup is expected to be packed this year with no less than three Pixel 9 models, four if you include the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, formerly known as the Pixel Fold 2. Google’s own teaser pretty much confirms the big design change that will happen this year, with the iconic visor giving way to a rounded rectangle bar across the width of the phone’s back. It will definitely be a divisive change, just as the visor design itself proved to be controversial despite being quite distinctive.

Also expected to land next month are new Pixel wearables, including the Pixel Watch 3 and a long overdue Pixel Buds Pro successor. Based on rumors, the Pixel Watch 3 will not have any big design changes compared to its previous two predecessors, while details on the design of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are almost non-existent. Either way, it seems that these two device lines haven’t made inroads in the design department, leaving a few Pixel fans probably a bit less enthusiastic about upgrading to them.

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Solos AirGo Vision are the world’s first ChatGPT-4o powered smart glasses for interactive input

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Smart glasses are the most practical wearables when it comes to your daily style statement. Compared to current generation AR headsets that are bulky, smart glasses are feasible and the buck only stops at how much tech can be fitted inside the compact frames keeping the overall weight down and form factor indistinguishable from a regular pair.

The idea has gone mainstream in the last year or so with Ray-Ban Meta and OPPO coming on board the bandwagon. The latter brought AI-capable Air Glass 3 to the industry in the early half of this year, and Solos has now upped the ante. They’ve revealed a smarter pair of wearables that are the world’s first to have OpenAI’s latest generative AI.

Designer: Solos

This is the AirGo Vision, the next iteration of the AirGo 3 glasses. Powered by OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT-4o, the wearable is also compatible with Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude models. You can expect hands-free operation aided by voice commands to answer any queries or provide real-time inputs for things like reading foreign language hoardings or getting assistance for city directions. The latter is aided by the latest versions of the GPT-4o and generative AI applications, first for any smart glasses. In essence, the glasses will be a visual extension of search information and bring interactive features to make them wantable.

The wearer can capture pictures hands-free and instantly inquire about information. Solos is also giving the option for swapping the main frame with a secondary one that doesn’t have any front camera. Yes, unlike other smart glasses, this one has the camera lens embedded in the arms, instead of the frame. This swap comes in handy for places where a more formal style is acceptable. To keep the wearer aware of any important notifications or calls, there are flashing LED indicators on the frame.

Solos hasn’t yet revealed details about the specific release date or the price, but we can safely assume they’ll cost more than $250.

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Apple Watch X Leaks: 10th Anniversary Edition Rumored to Feature Larger Display and Magnetic Band

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Apple is gearing up to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its iconic wearable, and anticipation around the upcoming Apple Watch Series 10, or possibly Apple Watch X, is building. This milestone edition is rumored to bring significant updates and design enhancements, as suggested by recent leaks and renders from 91mobiles.

Designer: Apple

One of the most notable changes, as highlighted by 91mobiles, is the larger 2-inch display, the biggest ever on an Apple Watch. This new screen size is set to exceed the 1.93-inch display of the Apple Watch Ultra and the 1.7-inch display of the Apple Watch Series 9. According to the renders, the dimensions of the Series 10 are approximately 46 by 39.7 by 11.6 mm, making it larger than the Series 9 but still smaller than the Ultra.

Source 91mobiles.com: Apple Watch Series 10 CAD render

Another intriguing rumor is the potential redesign of the band connection system. The Apple Watch Series 10 might introduce a new magnetic band attachment system, replacing the current slide-in mechanism. This change could free up valuable internal space, possibly allowing for a larger battery or additional components. However, the CAD renders from 91mobiles do not show clear evidence of this new band attachment system. If it does make its way into the final design, the magnetic connection could contribute to a thinner overall watch.

Source 91mobiles.com: Apple Watch Series 10 CAD render

Despite these possible changes, the renders suggest that the Apple Watch Series 10 will maintain several familiar design elements. The iconic square display, digital crown, and side button appear to stay in their usual places. This consistency ensures that while the watch may evolve, it retains the recognizable aesthetic that has become synonymous with the Apple Watch brand.

Source 91mobiles.com: Apple Watch Series 10 CAD render

Adding to the excitement, WWDC 2024 introduced several new features we look forward to seeing in the Apple Watch Series 10. One of the most anticipated is the enhanced mental health monitoring capabilities, which will offer users a more comprehensive view of their well-being. Another is the advanced sleep tracking feature, providing detailed insights and personalized recommendations for improving sleep quality.

The upcoming watchOS also promises better integration with Apple Fitness+, bringing more guided workouts and real-time metrics directly to the wrist. A redesigned Siri interface, now more intuitive and responsive, will make interacting with the watch easier and more efficient. Finally, the new low-power mode is expected to extend battery life significantly, a welcome improvement for users who rely on their watch throughout the day and night.

While these leaks and renders from 91mobiles provide an exciting glimpse into the potential features of the Apple Watch Series 10, it is essential to approach them with caution. The actual design and features will only be confirmed with the official announcement, expected to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 16 series in September.

As Apple continues to innovate and refine its wearable technology, the Apple Watch Series 10 promises to be a significant step forward. It will combine a larger display, potential new band attachment system, and familiar design elements with the exciting new features announced at WWDC 2024. Fans and users eagerly await the official reveal to see how these rumored enhancements will translate into the next generation of the Apple Watch.

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Cheaper Apple Vision design might have you connecting to an iPhone or Mac

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It hasn’t even been a year since it launched, but there are already talks of Apple’s next headset after the Vision Pro. No, it won’t be an upgrade that will make the $3,500 device obsolete but, instead, might even be considered a downgrade of sorts. In a way, this more affordable Apple Vision will be its own class, one that might have to make quite a few compromises to reach a desired price point. What those cuts will be is still unknown, but some insider insight suggests that the non-Pro Vision headset might offload its processing and software to an external device, requiring you to tether it to an iPhone or even a Mac or MacBook.

Designer: Apple (via Mark Gurman)

Impressive as the Vision Pro and visionOS might be, Apple’s spatial computing platform hasn’t yet taken the tech world by storm for one critical reason. The headset costs a whopping $3,500, far beyond the reach of developers without deep pockets or backing, let alone regular consumers. Apple has always planned on launching a more accessible Vision headset after the Pro model has taken root, but the big puzzle is how it would make it significantly cheaper without compromising on the experience too much.

The immediate answer would be to take the features down a few notches, throwing out EyeSight that shows your eyes to people on the opposite side of the glass, reducing image quality of passthrough visuals, or using less powerful processors. These, however, are the features that would differentiate the Vision from other mixed reality headsets, and a price tag of $1,500 would make it look even more expensive than the competition without these “killer features.” One alternative would be to have the headset connect to a device, either the iPhone or the Mac, making the Apple Vision focus solely on the optics and display.

This wouldn’t be the first phone-powered headset, and history has given us the advantages and disadvantages of that design. An iPhone would actually offer a bit more mobility and flexibility, especially if it will also power the Vision headset. It could, however, be the bottleneck considering the apps and experiences that visionOS supports. A MacBook, on the other hand, would deliver that much-needed power at the expense of freedom of movement and comfort.

This is definitely a conundrum for Apple, which isn’t always keen on degrading product quality in the name of price cuts. At the same time, however, it really has no choice but to make some concessions if it wants its spatial computing vision to be embraced by more people. It still hasn’t given up on the Vision Pro, whose successor is expected to arrive in 2026, but it will be pouring resources over the more accessible Vision for a 2025 launch, and hopefully, it will be able to hit the nail on the head in the end.

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Cheaper Apple Vision design might have you connecting to an iPhone or Mac

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It hasn’t even been a year since it launched, but there are already talks of Apple’s next headset after the Vision Pro. No, it won’t be an upgrade that will make the $3,500 device obsolete but, instead, might even be considered a downgrade of sorts. In a way, this more affordable Apple Vision will be its own class, one that might have to make quite a few compromises to reach a desired price point. What those cuts will be is still unknown, but some insider insight suggests that the non-Pro Vision headset might offload its processing and software to an external device, requiring you to tether it to an iPhone or even a Mac or MacBook.

Designer: Apple (via Mark Gurman)

Impressive as the Vision Pro and visionOS might be, Apple’s spatial computing platform hasn’t yet taken the tech world by storm for one critical reason. The headset costs a whopping $3,500, far beyond the reach of developers without deep pockets or backing, let alone regular consumers. Apple has always planned on launching a more accessible Vision headset after the Pro model has taken root, but the big puzzle is how it would make it significantly cheaper without compromising on the experience too much.

The immediate answer would be to take the features down a few notches, throwing out EyeSight that shows your eyes to people on the opposite side of the glass, reducing image quality of passthrough visuals, or using less powerful processors. These, however, are the features that would differentiate the Vision from other mixed reality headsets, and a price tag of $1,500 would make it look even more expensive than the competition without these “killer features.” One alternative would be to have the headset connect to a device, either the iPhone or the Mac, making the Apple Vision focus solely on the optics and display.

This wouldn’t be the first phone-powered headset, and history has given us the advantages and disadvantages of that design. An iPhone would actually offer a bit more mobility and flexibility, especially if it will also power the Vision headset. It could, however, be the bottleneck considering the apps and experiences that visionOS supports. A MacBook, on the other hand, would deliver that much-needed power at the expense of freedom of movement and comfort.

This is definitely a conundrum for Apple, which isn’t always keen on degrading product quality in the name of price cuts. At the same time, however, it really has no choice but to make some concessions if it wants its spatial computing vision to be embraced by more people. It still hasn’t given up on the Vision Pro, whose successor is expected to arrive in 2026, but it will be pouring resources over the more accessible Vision for a 2025 launch, and hopefully, it will be able to hit the nail on the head in the end.

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Are Smartwatches Becoming Obsolete? A Look at AI and Smart Rings

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Many of the devices that exist today were, at some point in time, inspired by science fiction, from personal computers to smartphones to tablets. Smartwatches, in particular, may have partly been imagined after seeing wrist-worn communication devices in some sci-fi shows and flicks. Of course, today’s smartwatches are more practical and less sensational, even as they demonstrate the marvels of technology squeezed in such a small space. But smartwatches aren’t the booming business that manufacturers hoped they would be, at least not compared to smartwatches, and every year brings doubts about this product category’s future. This year is no different, especially with new technologies like smart rings and especially AI trying to take center stage, even when it comes to health and fitness.

Designer: Apple

What Are Smartwatches For?

Defining smartwatches has never been easy. Simply saying that they are watches that can mirror notifications from your phone and track your activity is both a disservice and an oversimplification. Given all that they can do these days, seeing them as miniature smartphones on your wrist isn’t exactly inaccurate, though the user experience is significantly limited due to the small screen and feeble hardware. In fact, the very first batch of smartwatches from smartphone makers pretty much tried to sell that image with little success.

Designer: Google

It wasn’t until the Apple Watch and anecdotes of its life-saving features that this wearable really defined its identity in the market. It was, for all intents and purposes, a wearable health tracker masquerading as a timepiece. And depending on the brand and style of the smartwatch, it may or may not pass for a luxury watch, at least from a distance. It basically pushed fitness trackers out of the scene, with more advanced sensors, a more flexible user experience, and connectivity to a smartphone. Over time, however, people and even companies have also started to wonder why they still have a smartwatch, especially with upcoming technologies and designs that offer more choices especially when it comes to aesthetics and style.

True Wearables

Smartwatches are perhaps the world’s first taste of wearable technologies, but that’s hardly the only incarnation possible. Ideally, true wearables will be something you can, well, wear, including clothing, footwear, and especially jewelry. These weren’t possible years ago, but technology and manufacturing are thankfully catching up and, soon, people won’t have to ditch their heirloom mechanical watches just because they want to monitor their health 24/7.

Smart rings, for example, try to offer at least the basics of activity tracking and health monitoring but in a more discreet form that doesn’t get in the way, at least if you’re used to wearing rings all day. A ring would let you wear your favorite timepiece, or wear a different watch for any occasion, all without losing those important health stats. There are also attempts at developing other kinds of smart jewelry that also have health sensors or apparel that let you control your phone or other devices. These are wearables in the truest sense of the term, and they won’t be just science fiction soon.

AI Craze

Another trend gripping the tech industry as a whole is also putting the usefulness of smartwatches into question. AI can be found anywhere these days, from image generators to note-taking apps. Of course, tech companies have long been touting AI-powered services via cloud-based personal assistants, but the trend these days is moving the bulk of the work to the device itself. Smartphones might be powerful enough to support this kind of AI, but smartwatches don’t have that much silicon muscle, at least not without burning through their already meager battery lives.

Designer: Google

It’s actually curious that both Apple and Google have been rather silent about their latest AI features when it comes to their own smartwatches, possibly hinting they won’t be coming any time soon. It’s certainly possible for smartwatches to offload the work to the smartphones they’re connected to, but the latency might be too much to ask as well. It could still be good for the occasional verbal question to AI services, but nothing that actually makes a smartwatch a must-have for this purpose.

Distraction Station

If health monitoring and AI won’t be the exclusive domain of smartwatches, then one must wonder what other unique experiences they offer. Unlike a smart ring or even a fitness tracker, a smartwatch offers more advanced features related to a smartphone, like reading notifications in full, replying to messages, or even viewing some apps in a smaller form. But are these actually advantages or are they merely showing off feats of technology that actually become detrimental to users in the end?

Designer: Samsung

Smartphones are notorious for being sources of distractions, which is why there is a counter-movement of phones espousing minimalism or devices with distraction-free experiences. You can, of course, select only the notifications you really need to see on your wrist, but even smartphones have that same function anyway. In reality, smartwatches make it too easy to be distracted by those notifications without even pulling out your phone, and you spend more time looking at your smartwatch than you would a regular watch. Funnily enough, the people around you wouldn’t even have a clue that you’re wearing a smartwatch and would simply presume you’re being impatient.

Fringe Benefits

That said, there are definitely things that only a smartwatch can offer, at least for now. Smart rings, due to their size, can only offer a small selection of sensors to monitor your health. For more advanced biometrics, you’ll need a larger device to wear, like a smartwatch or a fitness band. There are also still some discussions on whether a ring or a watch is more accurate, though both naturally pale in comparison to medical equipment.

Designer: Apple

Unlike a fitness band, a smartwatch also offers more flexibility when it comes to aesthetics. After all, it can masquerade as a traditional watch given the right band and watch face. More active people might also want a fuller activity-tracking experience without having to wear a watch and a fitness tracker at the same time, and a smartwatch definitely bridges the gap between the two.

Final Thoughts: Smartwatches Today and Tomorrow

Just when the smartwatch market seems to have secured its footing, its future comes into question once again. Luxury brands that once tried to portray smartwatches as fashionable accessories have now pulled back from the market, leaving only tech companies to do the heavy lifting. Some of these tech companies, however, are looking into smart rings as well, and their AI endeavors don’t seem to have a place on smartwatches either. Smartwatches aren’t going to disappear immediately, and they might finally be able to have enough processing power and battery capacity to support even the most basic on-device AI features, but it might be time to again rethink what role smartwatches play in our modern world.

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