Wearable

Mehler Protection has unveiled the ExoM armored exoskeleton designed to reduce the load on law enforcement and military operators while providing up to VPAM 8 class protection. The ExoM will greatly help reduce the musculoskeletal damage and fatigue that occurs from carrying over twenty pounds of gear during duty shifts.

Rokid and Hainan Airlines have partnered to offer passengers the world's first AR flights from February 7 until March 31, 2024. Using Rokid Max glasses connected to the portable Rokid Station, passengers can watch a variety of entertainment in flight on a virtual 360-inch screen.

Samsung has announced that its sleep apnea detection feature for the Galaxy Watch is now approved for use by the FDA. The tool tracks you in your sleep, monitoring for signs of the disorder and triggering an alert should it find anything. The feature will launch later this year and will be available via the Samsung Health Monitor app.

Apple’s EyeSight feature has been marketed as a key point of differentiation between its Vision Pro headset and other AR/VR headsets already on the market. However, in practice, the feature does not work anywhere near as well as it appears in Apple’s advertising.

Vision Pro early adopters have found - to their horror - that their new $3,500 is incapable of playing immersive spatialized pornography.

Early evidence of a new Huawei wearable has surfaced online. While the company has not officially commented on the device yet, it looks like Huawei is preparing a global release for later this year.

National University of Singapore researchers have showcased the latest prototype of their AiSee headset for the blind. Initially a University of Auckland project, the headset utilizes a camera, bone conduction speakers, and AI to speak object descriptions to assist wearers with vision impairments.

Rocket Homes and Wayfair have announced that they see the Vision Pro's (astronomical) value as the ideal new platform for their respective sales apps. Accordingly, those with Apple's first-gen headset can now view their next dream home in virtual and/or augmented reality (VR/AR) with Real Estate Search, then make it their own with the Decorify app.

Motorola has unveiled a new budget smartwatch in two colour options. Sold as the Motorola Moto Watch 40 in two colour options, the smartwatch is IP67 certified and synchronises with a popular Google health tracking platform.

JLab touts its latest wireless earbuds as an industry first in that they introduce Preferred Listening Response Curve tuning from Knowles to their market. The Epic Lab Edition buds also support the LC3 codec, Spatial Audio and "Smart" ANC. They are also Hi-Res Audio certified and are rated to get up to 56 hours of battery life thanks to their "dual-mode" charging case.

According to new reports, Garmin is preparing to deliver its first Forerunner smartwatch upgrade of 2024. Allegedly, the new Garmin Forerunner will feature an AMOLED display, amid other upgrades over its ageing predecessor.

A US judge has ruled in favor of Apple on an antitrust lawsuit filed by AliveCor. The complaint relates to ECG technology from the two companies and dates back to 2015. While Apple has welcomed the ruling, AliveCor indicated it would appeal the decision and noted several other patent infringement cases.

Following the launch of version 4.0.0.219 earlier in February, the software is now rolling out to another newer Huawei smartwatch. The most exciting element of the update is a tool that you can use to extend the battery life of the wearable. The software file is relatively large, bringing three tools to the watch.

The release of an Apple Watch Ultra with a microLED display has reportedly been delayed again due to problems with mass production. The wearable would be the first of its kind from the brand, with benefits including higher brightness and a longer lifetime. Plus, the model is expected to have a larger display than its predecessors.

Google's Wear OS smartwatch operating system will soon receive the long-awaited Material You update and a new grid view. Prospective users can already see what this will look like in advance.

The Google Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 wearables are receiving a February 2024 update. The Wear OS 4 software is rolling out in phases, with the first users reporting they have successfully downloaded and installed the latest version. Google suggests that all users should be able to see the update within the next week.

A European retailer leak has confirmed the impending global release of the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro. While a previous report suggested that the wearable would carry an €89 MSRP, the new leak outlines that this will not be the case.

Three new features are rumored to be on the way to Garmin smartwatches. One is related to workouts for extra data analysis, while the other two are related to the environment. As the company has yet to announce the features offically, their exact beta or public launch date remains unclear.

Garmin could soon make its Connect Home Page Beta Program available to the wider public, according to a recent report. The new look app is currently only offered to a few customers as part of a closed beta. The updated Connect home page is widely customizable, with several sections to help you prioritize various metrics and analyses.

Brazilian researchers have developed a biodegradable, plant-wearable sensor for the detection of pesticides on vegetables. Made of cellulose acetate and carbon, these sensors are inexpensive and simple to produce while being biodegradable and generally safe for long-term use on food.

Zepp Health is now pushing an update based on its latest operating system, Zepp OS 3.5, to a recent smartwatch. The software brings new features, including Zepp Flow, improved smart notifications and offline maps. Plus, the company has optimized several tools like the heart rate monitor and body composition algorithm.

The WearPico is a new smartwatch based on a Raspberry Pi. It is an open source project, which means it is relatively easy to build. The smartwatch is also relatively compact.

Six months after it launched in China alongside the Mix Fold 3, Xiaomi finally looks set to bring the Smart Band 8 Pro to the global market, with a new leak now revealing its pricing ahead of what could be an MWC debut later this month.

Incovenient: A new update for the Fitbit Charge 5 not only brings new features, but also massive problems that are said to be severely limiting the usability of the watch, according to numerous user reports.

Developer Christian Selig has just released Juno, a dedicated YouTube app for the Apple Vision Pro, weeks after YouTube stated that it will not be developing one. A more refined alternative to opening the YouTube website on Safari, Juno’s UI matches visionOS and provides most of the functionality one would expect. The app costs a one-time $4.99 to download.

A vlogger has gone beyond the ever-growing plethora of Apple Vision Pro unboxings and/or walkthroughs to reveal that the ~$3,500 headset is a surprisingly high drop risk. Then again, if it does fall, it might stand a good enough chance of survival - provided the user doesn't care about quite all its functional or structural integrity.

HMD has indicated that it will sell the personal electronics it makes under its own name rather than that of its best-known Nokia brand going forward. That includes its audio peripherals and tablets and well as its phones - smart or otherwise - all to be marketed under a new "Human Mobile Devices" tag-line in the near future. On that note, the OEM has hinted that its upcoming Nokia 3310 successor will have as much 5G as its next Android handsets.

The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring has been spotted in the company’s Good Lock app; the recently teased device is now listed as an option under a battery-related setting. It has been suggested that the addition of the unreleased wearable could mean an earlier-than-expected launch date.

The Rogbid M5 is a new smartwatch advertised with numerous features for a relatively low price tag. The display is based on AMOLED technology and promises strong color reproduction.

A new certification has outlined initial information about the Honor Band 9, a successor to the Honor Band 7. Arriving in at least two variants, the Honor Band 9 could make its way to MWC 2024 in Barcelona later this month alongside the Magic6 Pro.

Huawei is rolling out software version 4.0.0.219 to a smartwatch that was launched last year. The update contains three new features, one of which aims to extend the battery life of the wearable. As this is a relatively large update, the company suggests ensuring the smartwatch is connected to Wi-Fi before proceeding with the installation.

The Huawei Watch Fit 2 is reportedly receiving new software, version 2.1.0.211. The latest update brings several new features and optimizes various tools across health, wellness and smart notifications. While some users have already received the update, whether the software rollout is complete remains to be seen.

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 LTE and TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra smartwatch users have been invited to a new beta program. Successful candidates will receive the latest Wear OS 3 update and are asked to test the eSIM activation process. Plus, the software supposedly includes a small easter egg.

The launch of the next-generation Galaxy Fit appears to be imminent, as Samsung has just leaked the fitness wristband on its own website, officially confirming earlier rumors of a brand new design and a much larger display.

A popular Garmin smartwatch has now received a new beta update. Rolling out at Beta 9.19, the update contains a curious set of changes and alleged battery drain-related bugs.

The Coros February update is now rolling out to various smartwatches via a beta program; reports suggest a public version of the software will launch in early February. Update 3.0307.0117 contains three new features to help you check your running form, stress levels and overall wellness with a quick test.

Rollme is selling the Hero R1 smartwatch with features supposedly including an ECG and non-invasive blood glucose measurement. Other tools include exercise tracking and Bluetooth calling. However, customers may want to consider several points before they purchase the relatively inexpensive model.

Garmin continues to release odd updates to one of its latest smartwatches. Distributed as Beta 9.18, the update makes no obvious improvements over previous Beta Program builds. Garmin has now advised owners how to re-enable ECG functionality that earlier beta updates disabled, though.

Meta says it welcomes the launch of the Apple Vision Pro as it could help drive further sales of its own Quest-branded range of spatial computing headsets. The company says it would like to position its headset as the ‘Android’ alternative to Apple’s offering that offers a more affordable entry point into the technology.

Garmin has released an update for one of its recent Forerunner smartwatches. Rolling out with various bug fixes, including one dedicated to addressing 'slow notification updates', the firmware should be gradually making its way to units enrolled on Garmin's Beta Program.

A relatively new Garmin smartwatch is now eligible for a new software update. Currently restricted to Garmin's Beta Program, the update makes various changes aimed at improved an owner's overall user experience.

The new Model A smartwatch from Rogbid offers interesting and unusual features. Among other things, the Android-based watch offers an HD camera for video calls. Other features include blood pressure monitoring and a large battery.

The iHeal 5 smartwatch is now available in a stylish version with a stainless steel strap in two colors. The impressive-sounding features remain unchanged. Among other things, the manufacturer promises ECG and blood glucose monitoring on the wrist for $45.

Garmin has released beta software version 18.15 for the Forerunner 265 smartwatch series. This is the first update in the 18.xx cycle for the wearable, despite other Forerunner devices receiving upgrades earlier this year. The software includes several new tools and various bug fixes for the watch.

The Garmin Forerunner 255 smartwatch series is receiving a new beta update: version 18.15. The software is rolling out in phases, with one model able to skip the queue. The update brings a gesture-based feature to the wearable alongside several bug fixes, some addressing issues that could lead to crashes.

TORRAS asserts that its upcoming Apple Vision Pro accessory range is worth holding out for as the best way to keep one's $3,499 headset as mint and fully-functional for as long as possible. The OEM claims to have thought of everything in these terms, from relieving potential neck-strain to making sure the "spatial computing" is as clear as possible at all times. The line also contains an innovative way of keeping the Vision Pro going for longer.

Blue Spark has launched VitalTraq, a vital signs monitoring platform for remote healthcare. A disposable, wireless thermometer patch and a face scan enables physicians to detect abnormal vitals from anywhere in the world.

Fossil smartwatches have been around for quite a good amount of time. The company has stood as a key player in the Wear OS smartwatch range. But there has been little to no progress after the release of the Gen 6 lineup, which debuted over two years ago. Now, the company has chosen to call it quits.

Freeaim has updated their Freeaim VR shoes with improved features. VR users can more confidently walk about in SteamVR worlds by taking steps in real life. Improved stability turning, sidestepping, and taking tiny steps allow beginner gamers to take baby steps on their way to utilizing the full power of these wheeled VR shoes.

The Huawei Watch GT 4 is receiving new software with version 4.0.0.161. The update contains several new features and improvements across various functions, including privacy, security and alarms. It remains unclear whether the company has completed the rollout or if the software will arrive in phases.