March 3, 2014 at 17:2511 wearable devices presented at # MWC2014
On February 27, the largest mobile technology exhibition, MWC in Barcelona, ended.
A lot of mobile innovations and interesting technologies were presented at it.
We were interested in everything related to “wearable electronics” and “Internet of things”.
Availability and price: April 11, 2014. Then the price will be announced.
Compatibility: Dozens of devices from the Samsung Galaxy family.
What is it? Samsung Gear 2 is a smartwatch that can display notifications from your smartphone. They can also be used as a fitness tracker, thanks to the built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor. Unlike the first-generation Samsung Gear, the new watch is created on the Tizen platform, not Android.
Advantages: Gear 2 has a built-in heart rate monitor. They have a built-in IR transmitter (for controlling equipment). Waterproof. Lighter and thinner than the Galaxy Gear and look much better on the wrist. The watch strap can be easily replaced with any other 22 mm diameter. Hours increased to 2-3 days.
Disadvantages:Only compatible with Galaxy series devices. Still large enough.
Availability and price: April 11, 2014. Then the price will be announced. It is only known that it will be cheaper than Gear 2.
Compatibility: Dozens of devices from the Samsung Galaxy family.
What is it? Samsung Gear 2 Neo is an analogue of Gear 2, but without a camera. The case is made of polycarbonate (unlike the metal Gear 2), which makes it even easier than Gear 2.
Advantages: The same as the Gear 2, plus less weight (55 grams for the Neo VS 68 grams of Gear 2).
Disadvantages: Only compatible with Galaxy series devices. Still large enough.
Availability and price: April 11, 2014. Then the price will be announced.
Compatibility: Devices of the Samsung Galaxy family.
What is it? Samsung Gear Fit is a fitness bracelet that can display notifications from your smartphone. Measures heart rate, analyzes sleep cycles and physical activity. It works on Real-time OS (not Tizen and not Android). Unlike the Gear 2 smartwatch, it does not have a microphone and a camera.
Advantages: Gear Fit has a built-in heart rate monitor, sleep tracker and pedometer. Incredibly light (only 27 grams). Bright AMOLED 1.84-inch display. Work time: 3-5 days.
Disadvantages: Undeveloped application ecosystem. Only compatible with Galaxy series devices.
I note that the Gear Fit received the award "Best Mobile Device".
Learn more about Gear Fit .
Availability and price: March 2014. The price in Europe is 99 euros (on the morning of March 3 it was about 5000 rubles).
Compatibility: Devices on Android 4.4.
What is it? Sony Smartband is a fitness tracker that can display notifications from your smartphone.
The unique idea of the bracelet is to use the Lifelog mobile application with the tracker. By clicking the button on the bracelet, you can create a “bookmark” and the application will remember where you were and with whom, it will sort the photos taken in this place and collect a brief summary of the time and place of the event. All data stored in the application is displayed as a visual log of your life.
Advantages:Minimalistic design. The bracelet sits comfortably on your wrist. Water resistant. The presence of an NFC chip for interfacing with other devices.
Disadvantages: Lack of display. To view any information you need to get a smartphone.
Sony Smartband Features List:
Smartwatch Smartwatch 2 is not new, but a version of the watch, equipped with the Garmin application, which allows you to turn the Sony Smartwatch 2 into a navigator, was demonstrated at MWC.
I note that in the watch itself no changes have occurred.
The Garmin Xperia Edition app is installed on a Sony Android smartphone and bluetooth transmits navigation data to the watch.
The application itself is free, there are paid features, such as alerts about high-speed mode, instructions in which lane to move, traffic information and integration with social media. The listed features will be available for $ 2.95 per month after 30 days of test access.
All that can be done from the clock is to zoom in or remove the map section.
The Nymi bracelet was announced back in the fall of 2013 , but the company timed the start of collecting pre-orders for devices at the MWC in Barcelona. You can apply for a bracelet for $ 79 . At the time of writing reviews, nearly 7,000 people pre-ordered the device.
Availability and price: Second quarter of 2014. Price from $ 99 (about 4000 rubles).
Compatibility: Compatibility announced for iOS, Android, Mac and PC.
What is it?Bionim Nymi is a bracelet that uses your body and heartbeat data to create a unique digital signature that can be used to unlock various personal electronic systems and equipment (for example, open a car or a door lock, save you from entering a credit card pin code and much more) .
The Bionim team provides SDK documentation and is actively gathering developers to create applications for Nymi.
Availability and price: Second quarter of 2014. 99 euros (on the morning of March 3 it was about 5,000 rubles).
Compatibility: Devices on Android (2.3 and above) and iOS (5.0 and above).
What is it? TalkBand B1 is a combine from a fitness tracker and bluetooth headset. As a fitness tracker, it has a 1.4-inch non-touch OLED display. Keeps track of movement, calorie consumption, and hours of sleep.
A distinctive feature is the fact that you can pull out the tracker itself and use it as a headset (receive and make calls).
Advantages: The unique functionality of the hybrid allows you to reduce the number of devices that you need to wear. The strap has a built-in USB connector for recharging.
Disadvantages:The design of the bluetooth headset is mid-range. The strap is difficult to put on, and the operation of the clasp causes concern.
At MWC, Mio introduced the “female” version of its ALPHA Mio heart rate monitor. The new version features a purple border around the screen and a shorter strap designed for a narrow female wrist.
Availability and price: April 2014. 7990 rubles.
Compatibility: iOS 5.0 and above, Android 4.3 and above.
What is it? Mio ALPHA - a heart rate monitor that does not require the use of a chest belt. Unlike Gear Fit, the ALPHA functionality is limited only to active running training.
Advantages: Heart rate measurement at speeds up to 25 km / h. Battery life up to a month in standby mode and up to 10 workouts.
Disadvantages: Relatively high price. Sharpening for iOS platform.
They wrote about these glasses back in 2012, and appeared on free sale in January 2014 at a price of $ 1000 .
Availability and price: On sale. $ 1000 (about 40,000 rubles) in the official store.
Compatibility: Devices on Android (2.3 and above) and iOS (5.0 and above).
What is it? Vuzix M100 - smart glasses on Android, providing access to a mass of data.
Using preinstalled applications, you can record and play back photos and videos, receive notifications about appointments and events, manage your calendar and work with data from your phone. According to the developers, the M100 is compatible with thousands of Android apps.
Ion Eyewear introduced a prototype smart glasses that allow you to receive color notifications of new messages, letters and any other changes in the digital environment and control your smartphone or PC.
Availability and price: May 2014. The price will be announced at the start of sales.
Compatibility: Android, iOS, Mac and PC.
What is it? WeOn Glasses - glasses that can be connected to a smartphone or PC and set up receipt of new messages, notifications from WhatsApp, Facebook and any other services. Glasses use Bluetooth 4.0 LE for data transfer.
When connected to a PC or Mac, glasses can be used to control presentation slides. Or use WeOn as a remote shutter to take photos. The developers promise to provide an SDK in the near future, so the potential for using glasses is limited only by the developer's imagination.
The glasses have a “radar” mode, which is a voice signal that can be adjusted on the glasses and used to search for them.
The same team works on the glasses as Cartier points do (we are waiting for the horse's price tag because of this). They will be available in the same style at the start of sales. Battery life has not yet been announced, but the manufacturer promises that by using the Bluetooth 4.0 LE protocol, it will be weeks.
The price of the device will be comparable to a pair of stylish glasses (we believe that we are talking about $ 500-1000 for one glasses). Points will be sold in the UK and USA in May 2014.
Alcatel released its fitness bracelet. It will be sold complete with the flagship Alcatel smartphone line - IdolX.
We cannot note anything remarkable in the bracelet itself. Another “smart pedometer” with a funny title story. The bracelet was originally called Smartband, but Sony was ahead of Alcatel by announcing its bracelet of that name at CES in Las Vegas.
The bracelet urgently had to be renamed.
New Wearable Electronics at # MWC2014. Day One (review of Samsung Gear 2, Samsung Gear 2 Neo, Huawei Talkband B1, Sony SmartBand SWR10)
Samsung introduced Gear Fit fitness bracelet at # MWC2014
Eldar Murtazin’s report on visit to # MWC2014
As part of the MWC, a small startup from Boston introduced Spritz technology, which allows you to read at a speed of more than 500 words per minute. There was news on Habré . A detailed review of technology on iguides.ru .
A lot of mobile innovations and interesting technologies were presented at it.
We were interested in everything related to “wearable electronics” and “Internet of things”.
Samsung Gear 2
Availability and price: April 11, 2014. Then the price will be announced.
Compatibility: Dozens of devices from the Samsung Galaxy family.
What is it? Samsung Gear 2 is a smartwatch that can display notifications from your smartphone. They can also be used as a fitness tracker, thanks to the built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor. Unlike the first-generation Samsung Gear, the new watch is created on the Tizen platform, not Android.
Advantages: Gear 2 has a built-in heart rate monitor. They have a built-in IR transmitter (for controlling equipment). Waterproof. Lighter and thinner than the Galaxy Gear and look much better on the wrist. The watch strap can be easily replaced with any other 22 mm diameter. Hours increased to 2-3 days.
Disadvantages:Only compatible with Galaxy series devices. Still large enough.
Samsung Gear 2 Neo
Availability and price: April 11, 2014. Then the price will be announced. It is only known that it will be cheaper than Gear 2.
Compatibility: Dozens of devices from the Samsung Galaxy family.
What is it? Samsung Gear 2 Neo is an analogue of Gear 2, but without a camera. The case is made of polycarbonate (unlike the metal Gear 2), which makes it even easier than Gear 2.
Advantages: The same as the Gear 2, plus less weight (55 grams for the Neo VS 68 grams of Gear 2).
Disadvantages: Only compatible with Galaxy series devices. Still large enough.
Samsung Gear Fit
Availability and price: April 11, 2014. Then the price will be announced.
Compatibility: Devices of the Samsung Galaxy family.
What is it? Samsung Gear Fit is a fitness bracelet that can display notifications from your smartphone. Measures heart rate, analyzes sleep cycles and physical activity. It works on Real-time OS (not Tizen and not Android). Unlike the Gear 2 smartwatch, it does not have a microphone and a camera.
Advantages: Gear Fit has a built-in heart rate monitor, sleep tracker and pedometer. Incredibly light (only 27 grams). Bright AMOLED 1.84-inch display. Work time: 3-5 days.
Disadvantages: Undeveloped application ecosystem. Only compatible with Galaxy series devices.
I note that the Gear Fit received the award "Best Mobile Device".
Learn more about Gear Fit .
Sony Smartband SWR10
Availability and price: March 2014. The price in Europe is 99 euros (on the morning of March 3 it was about 5000 rubles).
Compatibility: Devices on Android 4.4.
What is it? Sony Smartband is a fitness tracker that can display notifications from your smartphone.
The unique idea of the bracelet is to use the Lifelog mobile application with the tracker. By clicking the button on the bracelet, you can create a “bookmark” and the application will remember where you were and with whom, it will sort the photos taken in this place and collect a brief summary of the time and place of the event. All data stored in the application is displayed as a visual log of your life.
Advantages:Minimalistic design. The bracelet sits comfortably on your wrist. Water resistant. The presence of an NFC chip for interfacing with other devices.
Disadvantages: Lack of display. To view any information you need to get a smartphone.
Sony Smartband Features List:
- The Lifelog app recognizes when you walk, run, ride a bike or train / car, and also tracks the cycles of your dreams
- Set goals and get notifications about how many steps / run and run to complete the goal
- The application monitors weather changes and alerts the user
- Keep important moments in your life with the Lifelog Bookmark feature
- Press the Life Bookmark button on SmartBand and everything that happens around you will be saved forever
- Waterproof
- Core sensor can be removed and used independently
- LED backlight
- Vibration when receiving calls, SMS and other notifications
- Play, Pause, and Rewind Music Tracks Using SmartBand
- Battery life up to 5 days.
Sony Smartwatch 2 and the Garmin App
Smartwatch Smartwatch 2 is not new, but a version of the watch, equipped with the Garmin application, which allows you to turn the Sony Smartwatch 2 into a navigator, was demonstrated at MWC.
I note that in the watch itself no changes have occurred.
The Garmin Xperia Edition app is installed on a Sony Android smartphone and bluetooth transmits navigation data to the watch.
The application itself is free, there are paid features, such as alerts about high-speed mode, instructions in which lane to move, traffic information and integration with social media. The listed features will be available for $ 2.95 per month after 30 days of test access.
All that can be done from the clock is to zoom in or remove the map section.
Bionim nymi
The Nymi bracelet was announced back in the fall of 2013 , but the company timed the start of collecting pre-orders for devices at the MWC in Barcelona. You can apply for a bracelet for $ 79 . At the time of writing reviews, nearly 7,000 people pre-ordered the device.
Availability and price: Second quarter of 2014. Price from $ 99 (about 4000 rubles).
Compatibility: Compatibility announced for iOS, Android, Mac and PC.
What is it?Bionim Nymi is a bracelet that uses your body and heartbeat data to create a unique digital signature that can be used to unlock various personal electronic systems and equipment (for example, open a car or a door lock, save you from entering a credit card pin code and much more) .
The Bionim team provides SDK documentation and is actively gathering developers to create applications for Nymi.
Huawei TalkBand B1
Availability and price: Second quarter of 2014. 99 euros (on the morning of March 3 it was about 5,000 rubles).
Compatibility: Devices on Android (2.3 and above) and iOS (5.0 and above).
What is it? TalkBand B1 is a combine from a fitness tracker and bluetooth headset. As a fitness tracker, it has a 1.4-inch non-touch OLED display. Keeps track of movement, calorie consumption, and hours of sleep.
A distinctive feature is the fact that you can pull out the tracker itself and use it as a headset (receive and make calls).
Advantages: The unique functionality of the hybrid allows you to reduce the number of devices that you need to wear. The strap has a built-in USB connector for recharging.
Disadvantages:The design of the bluetooth headset is mid-range. The strap is difficult to put on, and the operation of the clasp causes concern.
Mio ALPHA Indigo
At MWC, Mio introduced the “female” version of its ALPHA Mio heart rate monitor. The new version features a purple border around the screen and a shorter strap designed for a narrow female wrist.
Availability and price: April 2014. 7990 rubles.
Compatibility: iOS 5.0 and above, Android 4.3 and above.
What is it? Mio ALPHA - a heart rate monitor that does not require the use of a chest belt. Unlike Gear Fit, the ALPHA functionality is limited only to active running training.
Advantages: Heart rate measurement at speeds up to 25 km / h. Battery life up to a month in standby mode and up to 10 workouts.
Disadvantages: Relatively high price. Sharpening for iOS platform.
Smart glasses Vuzix M100
They wrote about these glasses back in 2012, and appeared on free sale in January 2014 at a price of $ 1000 .
Availability and price: On sale. $ 1000 (about 40,000 rubles) in the official store.
Compatibility: Devices on Android (2.3 and above) and iOS (5.0 and above).
What is it? Vuzix M100 - smart glasses on Android, providing access to a mass of data.
Using preinstalled applications, you can record and play back photos and videos, receive notifications about appointments and events, manage your calendar and work with data from your phone. According to the developers, the M100 is compatible with thousands of Android apps.
Weon glasses
Ion Eyewear introduced a prototype smart glasses that allow you to receive color notifications of new messages, letters and any other changes in the digital environment and control your smartphone or PC.
Availability and price: May 2014. The price will be announced at the start of sales.
Compatibility: Android, iOS, Mac and PC.
What is it? WeOn Glasses - glasses that can be connected to a smartphone or PC and set up receipt of new messages, notifications from WhatsApp, Facebook and any other services. Glasses use Bluetooth 4.0 LE for data transfer.
When connected to a PC or Mac, glasses can be used to control presentation slides. Or use WeOn as a remote shutter to take photos. The developers promise to provide an SDK in the near future, so the potential for using glasses is limited only by the developer's imagination.
The glasses have a “radar” mode, which is a voice signal that can be adjusted on the glasses and used to search for them.
The same team works on the glasses as Cartier points do (we are waiting for the horse's price tag because of this). They will be available in the same style at the start of sales. Battery life has not yet been announced, but the manufacturer promises that by using the Bluetooth 4.0 LE protocol, it will be weeks.
The price of the device will be comparable to a pair of stylish glasses (we believe that we are talking about $ 500-1000 for one glasses). Points will be sold in the UK and USA in May 2014.
Alcatel BOOMBand
Alcatel released its fitness bracelet. It will be sold complete with the flagship Alcatel smartphone line - IdolX.
We cannot note anything remarkable in the bracelet itself. Another “smart pedometer” with a funny title story. The bracelet was originally called Smartband, but Sony was ahead of Alcatel by announcing its bracelet of that name at CES in Las Vegas.
The bracelet urgently had to be renamed.
Related links:
New Wearable Electronics at # MWC2014. Day One (review of Samsung Gear 2, Samsung Gear 2 Neo, Huawei Talkband B1, Sony SmartBand SWR10)
Samsung introduced Gear Fit fitness bracelet at # MWC2014
Eldar Murtazin’s report on visit to # MWC2014
Bonus:
As part of the MWC, a small startup from Boston introduced Spritz technology, which allows you to read at a speed of more than 500 words per minute. There was news on Habré . A detailed review of technology on iguides.ru .
