The Exetech XS-3 Provides Smartwatch Diversity

Posted on 13/03/2014 by Stephen Colbert

People come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities, so their devices should vary in the same way, so don’t be surprised to see iterations in new technologies.

Most of the demand for smart watches is due to a desire for a second screen device. A separate and supplementary device to present notifications and run simple apps, powered by the central hub that is a standard smartphone.

However, not all people are looking for an additional device. There is also a demand for a miniaturized smartphone that is portable and always available, very much in direct contrast with the likes of large screen “phablet” devices such as the Galaxy Note series.

Exetech is one of the first companies to fill this desire with the Exetech XS-3, a full blown Android smartphone, miniaturized into a watch form factor.

The XS-3 isn’t exactly the most advanced when it comes to specifications, though. It will ship with Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, a nearly 2 1/2 year old Android version. The processor is a dual core processor from MediaTek and it will have 2GB on onboard storage, bolstered by an available SD card spot.

Due to the hardware and form factor, there are a couple inherent limitations for the XS-3. First, it will not be the best option for running most apps. Although many apps may be optimized for the screen size as smartwatches become more prevalent in the future, it will initially be a major stumbling block for the device.

The second is battery life. Since the watch is so small, only a 420mAh battery could be installed, meaning only a handful of hours if it put through any reasonable workload. The significance of battery impact is usually negated with watches that are used as a supplementary device since the workload can be divided between the battery on the watch and the phone.

Although the Exetech XS-3 may only be a nice solution for a select few, it also serves as proof that no single device can fully encompass all the needs of every user. Most geeks that want to get the most out of their technology will need to look to a variety of device types, be it a smartphone, smartwatch, or a headset like Google Glass.

Of course, not everyone is looking to maximize the number of features they have access to, which is exactly why something like the XS-3 exists in the first place.

Source: Engadget

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Google Glass Banned From Bar For Fear Of Secret Recordings

Posted on 07/03/2014 by Kristin Silva

Google Glass is one of the most exciting things to happen in the gadget world ever, and everyone seems to love it. Or that’s what it seemed up until now.

The CBS from San Francisco has reported that a local bar in the South of Market neighborhood has banned patrons from wearing Google Glass. The reason behind this ban? Well, they don’t want any secret recordings happening in their fine establishment. People in the area will spot a sign with a picture of the gadget and a red circle and a slash over it meaning forbidden. As they explain, customers “have expressed concerns with being recorded while enjoying themselves.”

These events follow a case where a social media consultant was reportedly attacked at Molotov’s for wearing Glass. Apparently, Molotov’s has also put up a sign banning the use of any recording devices at all (does this mean patrons can not use smartphones at all?). When the line between what is private and what’s not starts to become faint thanks to the technology, that’s a definitive sign that the times are changing.

Source: LA Times

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Blippar Brings AR Advertising and Image Recognition to Google Glass

Posted on 26/02/2014 by Alexandru Chiuariu

Wearables were meant from the beginning to offer the means for new ways of advertising and new search methods. Blippar’s implementation of AR advertising and image recognition into Google Glass is firm proof of that.

Ambarish Mitra, the CEO of Blippar, showcased at MWC in Barcelona the app that makes all of this possible. Certainly, the idea of augmented reality advertising isn’t new, as numerous companies have already played with this technology, Cadburry and IKEA being only two examples.

Mitra explained that “Glass today can be likened to what mobile phones were in early nineties. We at Blippar anticipate that if Glass reaches a couple million users in its first year of launch, it will be a good business opportunity for us to develop in the space. We are investing in the potential of Glass.” I have to admit that the CEO of this company is right. Smart glasses are still a new thing, and people are currently only scratching the surface in terms of the applications that these wearables could have.

Blippar wouldn’t mind at all if the user base of Google Glass went beyond one million, especially since its app is used by five million people worldwide. In terms of brands and publishers, Blippar offers its AR advertising service to 750 companies, a number that will certainly grow in the future.

Besides Android, which is obviously the operating system Google Glass comes with, Blippar also works with smartphones running iOS, Blackberry OS or Windows Phone. Assuming that these operating systems showed up one day in a pair of smart glasses, it wouldn’t be difficult for Blippar to port their app to the wearables.

The demonstration that Mitra conducted at MWC also included the recognition of images, products, and even human faces. The last aspect is a bit scary, especially since Google claimed that it won’t implement face recognition into its smart glasses.

While Google Images is able to recognize pictures and can even decipher some product logos, the face recognition and AR advertising technologies that Blippar brings to the table are definitely innovative, especially in the context of smart glasses. In time, tech companies will hopefully come with even more diverse applications for wearables. I’m confident about this, as smart watches and smart glasses are only the beginning of the adventure.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Häagen-Dazs AR Concerto Timer and Microsoft IllumiRoom.

Google Glass Prompts Fight in San Fran Bar

Posted on 26/02/2014 by Darrin Olson

Woman claims attack for wearing Google Glass A woman posted on her Facebook page that she was attacked by fellow patrons as a result of wearing her Google Glass in a local San Francisco bar on Friday. Sarah Slocum posted that while wearing the device she was confronted by two women and then had the wearable device ripped from her face by a man.

“OMG so you’ll never believe this but… I got verbally and physically assaulted and robbed last night in the city, had things thrown at me because of some *** Google Glass haters …”

wrote Slocum.

From witness reports, it appears many people were interested and excited to see the new technology in action however others nearing the “last call” expressed concern about being video recorded in public which prompted a fight outside the bar between another man and Slocum’s male companion. Slocum recovered the Google Glass device but was also robbed of her purse and phone, which have not yet been recovered.

It seems apparent that this is not the first or the last report of concerns when individuals wear Google Glass in public, as Google has recently published a “How not to be a Glasshole” guide. Geeks pay heed.

CBS San Francisco

Google Glass Code of Conduct Revealed

Posted on 19/02/2014 by sumayah

Google Glass is a new form of wearable technology that is about to revolutionize the way the world works. While it is a source of excitement for many, the problems and teething troubles that will...

Epson’s Glasses Try to Conquer Middle Ground

Posted on 18/02/2014 by Stephen Colbert

Not everyone is stoked about Google Glass and many that are still frown at the price. Epson may have a cheaper alternative for those that are still interested.

It is important to note that “cheaper” means a little less than half the price, which is still $699. A steep price to pay as an early adopter. Especially when the technology doesn’t have any practical application yet.

The Epson Moverio BT-200 is comprised of a set of a set of glasses connected to a smartphone sized touch pad. The two serve as a full Android system, just with a separated touch screen, whereas Google Glass is a single unit running a minimal version of Android.

This difference marks a very distinct and separate use case for each device. Google Glass is intended to function almost solely in the background with just a tiny screen in the users’ peripheral for notifications and minimal visualization. Google Glass is not designed to be your primary focus when you are using it, while the Epson Movorio is something that is intended to be the front and center of your attention.

The use case intended by Epson isn’t clear, since the places it would be acceptable (or safe) to use such a device are all places where it is safe and acceptable to use a laptop or tablet. The Movorio does have a big upside when it comes to portability, though.

It might actually be more accurate to compare it to the Oculus Rift than Google Glass since it represents a nearly full field of view and uses an accelerometer and motion sensors to aid in navigation, but the Movorio does occupy an awkward space between both devices that might be considered the lowest common denominator than the best of both worlds.

Until wearables are a more common part of our gadget repertoire, we can expect to see quite a few variants as the technology fights to find its niche. The Epson Movorio BT-200 isn’t the first and it won’t be the last, but as we saw with MP3 players and smartphones, eventually they’ll get it just right.

Source: Wired

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GPOP Google Glass Skins: Looking Okay Glass!

Posted on 31/01/2014 by Lambert Varias

Heads up, Google Glass Explorers! Here’s a way to make your wearable computer draw even more attention to yourself. A company called GPOP is selling vinyl skins for your Glass. The skins are 3M vinyl cut to fit the various parts of Google’s tech.

There skins have a variety of designs, from simple matte white and black…

To skins with graphics printed on them.

GPOP also has fake carbon fiber and fake wood skins.

Okay browser, head to GPOP to buy the skins. Each set costs around $10-$16(USD). Just to show to you that its really ahead of the gadget skin game, GPOP also sells skins for the Pebble smart watch.

[via The Gadget Flow]

Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 and Galaxy Glass smartwatch tipped

Posted on 28/01/2014 by shane

Some new reports are circulating around the web that Samsung is working on a refresh to the Galaxy Gear smartwatch and a competitor to the Google Glass wearable device. The new watch is tipped to be...

Google Glass Arrives with Four Prescription Options

Posted on 28/01/2014 by sumayah

Google has always been about thinking big. The Granddaddy of Search Engines truly goes for the moon-shot. Well, have we got news for you. Its Google Glass has come up in an exciting series of...

New Take on Google Glass

Posted on 23/01/2014 by forbes

I’ve come around a bit on Google Glass. Not entirely, but perhaps 270°. To clarify, I’d be surprised if I ever adopted Glass personally. I’m just an old guy, stuck in some rut from the...

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