Wearables

Fitbit has launched its Fall 2020 collection

Available in late September 2020

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After the pandemic finally blows over, the world will find new ways to care about health and disease. Even now, it’s extremely important to start detecting the onset of a new sickness before it can materialize. With health awareness on the rise, health-oriented industries — like the smartwatch industry — are stepping up. For example, Fitbit has launched its Fall 2020 collection, touting new and improved functionalities like stress detection and skin temperature sensing.

Fitbit Sense

First of all, Fitbit has debuted its most advanced smartwatch to date. Besides the usual gallery of health sensors, the Fitbit Sense is armed with new features for stress management, heart health, and COVID-19 detection.

The new stress management system can detect both the psychological and physiological symptoms of stress. The device uses an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor to analyze physical effects of stress. With the new sensor, the Fitbit Sense can detect the small body changes caused by stressors. Users can also perform a quick stress check by placing their palms on the watch’s face. It can then calculate how stressed you are, based on the sensor’s data, heart rate, and sleep activity.

The Fitbit Sense also has a new PurePulse 2.0 technology, allowing for an advanced way to analyze heart rates. For one, it scans a user’s heart rate 24/7. It can send notifications when heart rate dips below or peaks above normal.  Further, the Fitbit Sense is the first Fitbit device to detect atrial fibrillation, a condition affecting more than 33.5 million people. Fitbit also says that you can share their data to your doctor for medical purposes.

Besides the new features, the Fitbit Sense comes with what you’d expect from a Fitbit watch. It comes with on-board GPS, more than 20 exercise modes, automatic activity tracking, and advanced sleep tools. The watch can also now detect skin temperature, allowing it to notify you of potential fevers, illnesses (like COVID-19), or a new menstrual phase.

It is compatible with voice assistants and contactless payments. The device can last for more than six days on a single battery life. Finally, buying the watch comes with six free months of Fitbit Premium.

Fitbit Versa 3

Fitbit is also launching an upgraded version of its iconic watch line, the Fitbit Versa 3. The Fitbit Versa 3 comes with the same upgraded functionalities such as on-device GPS, in-app workout intensity maps, PurePulse 2.0, and Active Zone minutes.

Further, the new Fitbit Versa 3 can manage a connected smartphone just as well with built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It comes with Fitbit Pay to ease online payments. It also comes with more than six days of battery life and fast charging.

Finally, the Fitbit Versa 3 has partnered with global designers Pendleton and Victor Glemaud for stylish and comfortable watch straps.

Fitbit Inspire 2

For a lighter experience, the Fitbit Inspire 2 packs in a lot of features in a smaller package. For one, the device’s battery can last a whopping ten days. It packs in more than 20 goal-based exercise modes, advanced sleep tools, 24/7 heart rate tracking, menstrual tracking, and food intake tracking. Finally, it comes one free year of Fitbit Premium.

Pricing and availability

All three devices are now available for pre-order and will ship out starting in late September.

The Fitbit Sense will retail for US$ 329.95 and will come in carbon/graphite stainless steel and lunar white/soft gold stainless steel.

Meanwhile, the Fitbit Versa 3 will retail for US$ 229.95 in black/black aluminum, pink clay/soft gold aluminum, and midnight/soft gold aluminum.

The Fitbit Inspire 2 will retail for US$ 99.95 in black, lunar white, and desert rose.

Finally, Fitbit Premium will sell for US$ 9.99 per month.

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Samsung will debut its Vision Pro rival next week

Project Moohan is coming.

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It’s not often that other brands are trailing behind Apple on an innovation; usually, it’s the other way around. But that’s not the case with the Vision Pro. However, given how lackluster the headset is, it’s no surprise that Apple’s rivals aren’t quickly jumping on the new segment. Now, more than two years since Apple’s debut, Samsung is ready to unveil its own mixed reality headset.

Today, Samsung has officially issued invites for an upcoming event on October 21. There is no mystery as to what’s coming next week. The company has explicitly stated that the event will reveal “a new category of AI-native devices”. The announcement even names Project Moohan, the current codename for the brand’s mixed reality headset.

In contrast to Apple’s native software, Samsung’s headset will run on Android XR, Google’s newest platform for mixed reality hardware, co-developed with Qualcomm. It will also, predictably, infuse the platform with AI-based features.

Looks-wise, the invite comes with a tiny sneak peek at what the headset looks like. Half of the graphic has the familiar dome shape of a typical headset, made to look like the curvature of the globe.

Other than that, we’ll just have to wait a week for the headset’s launch. If anything, the segment is finally warming up. A few months ago, vivo unleashed the Vision, its own take on mixed reality headsets. There’s also some expectation that Apple might finally update the Vision Pro in a more consumer-friendly way.

SEE ALSO: vivo Vision undoubtedly wants to take over Apple’s Vision Pro

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Wearables

Tag Heuer announces a $2,000 smartwatch with New Balance

It’s based on Android.

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Did you hear that? That was the sound of a nepo baby opening their wallet for a new piece of ostentatious luxury. For those dissatisfied with the sheer number of convenient smartwatch options out in the market, Tag Heuer has just partnered with New Balance for a new sporty watch.

Now, if a luxury watch brand like Tag Heuer started offering smartwatches meant for sport, I wouldn’t usually give a second glance. Leaving the sporty features to the ones with experience sounds like a better idea, anyway.

However, the new Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E5 40mm x New Balance Edition has some pedigree behind it. The running shoe brand is lending its experience in sports to help produce a worthy smartwatch.

Shining in lilac and mint green, the smartwatch is quite the looker. Yes, it does look like it’s asking me to get in the effin’ robot, but the color combination works. The curved glass and the textile strap adds to the premium-but-functional feel.

Inside, the Connected Calibre E5 has a good array of sensors you might need for an active day, including a heart rate monitor, GPS, an altimeter, and a sleep tracker. It also comes with workouts tailored by New Balance.

It comes with a hefty Snapdragon 5100+ processor and Tag Heuer OS, which is based on the Android Open Source Project.

As a downside, the battery lasts only a day-and-a-half on full power, and only two days on low power mode. It can charge to full in just 90 minutes, though.

And now for the price. Just like any Tag Heuer watch, the Connected Calibre E5 40mm x New Balance Edition costs quite a lot of pennies — US$ 2,050, to be exact.

SEE ALSO: Unboxing the latest Apple Watch × Hermès

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Suunto joins Strava in legal battle against Garmin

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Last week, Strava started a surprising legal war against Garmin. The latter allegedly infringed on several software patents. Now, another company is joining the fight. Suunto is also suing Garmin for hardware-related patent infringements.

Strava’s issues stem from software-related issues. Some features, especially Garmin’s heatmaps, are allegedly violating Strava’s own patents. Thus, Strava is asking the courts to stop Garmin from selling its infringing devices, which coincidentally makes up most of the company’s lineup.

In contrast, Suunto’s issues are geared towards Garmin’s hardware. However, the desired end result is the same: stopping Garmin from selling its watches.

Via Canadian Running, Garmin reportedly violated up to five hardware patents. These patents supposedly cover a variety of features including antenna positioning, golf swing detection, and the case’s design.

The suit was filed on September 22, so it’s a fairly recent development too. Much like Strava, Suunto wants financial compensation and an injunction against Garmin selling affected smartwatches. Coincidentally, the devices affected once again include most of Garmin’s devices.

Last week, it felt unlikely that Strava’s lawsuit would lead to the collapse of Garmin’s business. However, with two companies now fighting against the one, the fight just got more interesting. To be fair, the cases might still end up with nothing happening, but it’s still worth following.

SEE ALSO: Strava is suing Garmin over alleged patent infringements

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