Wearables
Fitbit has launched its Fall 2020 collection
Available in late September 2020
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.
Discreet wearables are finally a thing. Though huge screens are still thriving in the market, there is a growing demand for wearables that don’t make it obvious that they’re wearables. Besides smart rings, we now have screen-less fitness bands, highlighted by the new Google Fitbit Air.
Fitbit has been known as a wearable brand for a long time now. However, the wearable has since mellowed out since getting bought by Google, especially after the launch of the Pixel Watch. Now, Google is aiming for a resurgence of Fitbit in the screen-less market.
Today, Google is launching the Fitbit Air, a screen-less band that’s designed for subtlety and comfort, while maintaining the brand’s prowess in fitness tracking. On the outside, the new wearable presents itself as a modest customizable band. On the inside, a pebble-shaped device rests comfortably between the band and your skin. This little pebble packs all the tech that can give you a rundown of your fitness.
Since the Fitbit Air doesn’t have a screen, you can control everything via the new Google Health app. It also has automatic workout tracking which starts when the device detects activity. Users can then view their workouts afterwards on the app.
Besides workouts, the Fitbit Air has an optical heartrate monitor, a 3-axis accelerometer, a gyroscope, an SpO2 monitor, and a temperature sensor. There’s also a vibration motor for alarms.
A single charge can reportedly last up to seven days. Plus, a five-minute charge is enough for a day’s worth of battery.
The Fitbit Air will ship starting May 26. It starts at US$ 99.99. A special Stephen Curry edition retails for US$ 129.99.
It comes in Obsidian, Fog, Berry, and Lavender. You can also get a sweat-proof Active Sport Band (US$ 34.99) or an Elevated Modern band (US$ 49.99).
When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.
According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.
If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.
Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.
To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.
However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.
SEE ALSO: Apple Vision Pro gets M5 chip upgrade
News
Samsung Galaxy Glasses revealed in leaked images
It’s out first glimpse since getting teased by Samsung.
Samsung’s next major project is now making its first peek from the shadows. The upcoming Galaxy Glasses recently surfaced in a major leak.
Being an unannounced device, Samsung has not revealed anything substantial about the new glasses yet. We know it exists, though. Months ago, the company made direct allusions to “next-generation AR glasses.” Now, for the first time, the so-called Galaxy Glasses are real, albeit via a leak.
Revealed by Android Headlines, the Galaxy Glasses look like a standard set of frames but with some tech built inside. It’s not a complete package yet, though. Codenamed “Jinju,” the first iteration of the wearable will not have a display. Instead, it will have a built-in camera, which users can interface with via Android XR.
It’s not the only thing, too. Though the leak depicts the Jinju, Samsung is reportedly working on a second iteration already. Codenamed “Haean,” the second generation will have a micro-LED display. That pair might debut in 2027.
In the meantime, the Jinju is expected to launch later this year at an undisclosed date. The likeliest candidate is the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked in a few months.
Though undisclosed, this might not be the only time we’ll hear about the Galaxy Glasses. Next month, Google is hosting its annual I/O event. Android XR will likely make an appearance, so expect Samsung’s wearable to be bandied around even if it’s just a mention.
Additionally, Samsung won’t be the only player. Google is also expected to launch its own pair of glasses soon.
SEE ALSO: Samsung is teasing smart glasses again
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