Wearable Tech Catch-All

Hi gang,

I think we have a smattering of fitness tracker threads here and there and a few Glass-related posts in the Google Android thread, but no single, all-unifying Wearables thread so far. To rectify this, I hereby create the present thread.

My own interest on this topic: the Moto 360 Google Wear smartwatch. Damn it looks slick. The yesterday's leak that indicates that it could cost $250 at retail (as opposed as high as $400 as previously speculated) makes me very excited.

I'm also looking forward to this category. I have the Galaxy Gear v1 now and really like it. When the Motorola and LG watches come out I was probably be looking to upgrade!

Just out of curiosity, what-all exactly do you like about it?

I'm a little skeptical about these but have also yet to get 'up close' with one.

Evanatious wrote:

Just out of curiosity, what-all exactly do you like about it?

I'm a little skeptical about these but have also yet to get 'up close' with one.

Oftentime, I take my phone out of the pocket not to make or place a call, or even to surf some website, but to look at the calendar, or quickly check what is my next meeting, or what the weather is going to be like, or if I have any missed texts or WhatsUp messages...

I'm driving, and I get a notification on my phone. Not aloowed to touch my phone I look at my watch. It tells me that my wife would like me to pick up somethign on my way home.

I'm in a meeting and I get an important message from my wife, telling me that the thing I got from the store yesterday has grown legs and I need to come home immediately to kill it.

I'm out on a bike ride and my phone is in my fanny pouch. I see a pretty scene on the side of the road and I don't want to have to dig out my phone to take a pictue I use the impressive camera on my watch.
IMAGE(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ULgEY3D2nWc/U2_B3cyL4cI/AAAAAAAAktM/iuLV6jYf4dA/s837-no/20140511_143000.jpg)

EDIT
And not to mention that I can be out on my bike, phone in my phanny pouch and I get a call...Well i can pull over to teh side and instead of having to hastily retreive my bubble wrapped phone (yes I wrap it so it doesnt get bumped around) I can take the call from my phone.

I love my wearable.

I even created a Google Plus community for everyone to show off thier favorite watch photos.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communit...

OK, it only has 2 members so far.

Motorola held a contest for the best Moto 360 watch face design, and the finalists are in.

IMAGE(http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/entry_photo_images/10227785/moto3-blue-square_verge_super_wide.jpg)

I'm loving the concept of a dial with shaded sectors indicating the upcoming appointments.

I definitely could stand to get more use out of my Pebble. When Fitbit comes out with their replacement for the Force, I'm probably going to get one of those, and sub the Pebble out.

That Moto360 watch looks awesome.

TheGameguru wrote:

That Moto360 watch looks awesome.

I agree!
My Galaxy Gear is nice but that just looks sweet. The LG G looks nice too but not as stylish. The face in that feature pic above is my favorite, along with the "Ferrari"one

IMAGE(http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/entry_photo_images/10227813/will_rodriguez_copy_verge_super_wide.jpg)

For wearable tech, that is kinda hawt.

Photos from a watch. Cool.

Do wearable heart rate monitors count for this discussion?
It's very annoying to have to hold onto the bars of the exercise machines at the gym.

RolandofGilead wrote:

Photos from a watch. Cool.

Do wearable heart rate monitors count for this discussion?
It's very annoying to have to hold onto the bars of the exercise machines at the gym.

Take your pulse for 6 seconds and add a 0 to the end of whatever number you come up with.

billt721 wrote:
RolandofGilead wrote:

Photos from a watch. Cool.

Do wearable heart rate monitors count for this discussion?
It's very annoying to have to hold onto the bars of the exercise machines at the gym.

Take your pulse for 6 seconds and add a 0 to the end of whatever number you come up with.

Begone luddite!

Since hearing about wearable tech I've thought it's a pretty special level of dorkiness, but those Moto 360 designs are giving me second thoughts.

MrDeVil909 wrote:

Since hearing about wearable tech I've thought it's a pretty special level of dorkiness, but those Moto 360 designs are giving me second thoughts.

IMAGE(http://www.quickmeme.com/img/96/9623391c5e884ca29c39c1bc399e97ce32e558f9c2cb3716fc2af0ab8a44d77d.jpg)

RolandofGilead wrote:
billt721 wrote:
RolandofGilead wrote:

Photos from a watch. Cool.

Do wearable heart rate monitors count for this discussion?
It's very annoying to have to hold onto the bars of the exercise machines at the gym.

Take your pulse for 6 seconds and add a 0 to the end of whatever number you come up with.

Begone luddite!

Seriously. I see you, arch-nemesis!

I have these for every. single. ride.
IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/n9C2ztK.png)

But yeah, manually taking your pulse while riding, doing HIIT, etc. is basically impossible.

A "leaked" infografic:

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/J6rbryt.png)

Gogole IO is today. Very much looking forward to any news. I plan to get one of these Wear watches. Just not sure which one.

Can you use the moto 360 with any android or just motorola stuff?

Since it's based on Google's purportedly open Google Wear platform, I imagine all these watches are going to be interoperable with all KitKat phones that have BT 4.0 LE.

A video "first look" at the LG Watch over at The Verge. The UI is super slick, and the watch itself actually kinda looks OK too, in an understated way.

IMAGE(http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4674045/DSC_0514-330.jpg)

http://www.dailytech.com/Report+Micr...

I just realized the killer app for this tech: remote control, of everything in the home, including pc.
Got the idea after I thought I saw the word "hulu" while skimming the article.
Seriously could be brilliant, although anybody with enough to buy $200 wristbands might be able to afford an audio sensor network to control their home.
Still, this is so much better, because the trouble with remote controls is that you have to carry them! This could be with you always, even more than a cell phone.

RolandofGilead wrote:

http://www.dailytech.com/Report+Micr...

I just realized the killer app for this tech: remote control, of everything in the home, including pc.
Got the idea after I thought I saw the word "hulu" while skimming the article.
Seriously could be brilliant, although anybody with enough to buy $200 wristbands might be able to afford an audio sensor network to control their home.
Still, this is so much better, because the trouble with remote controls is that you have to carry them! This could be with you always, even more than a cell phone.

Thats a pretty awesome idea! Even if they just had a nice powerful IR blaster in them to work as a harmony style universal remote, it would make a day one purchase for me.

For me the make/break integration is wrist heart-rate monitor with decent GPS. No more chest straps!

Apple and Google move computing forward in identical-yet-incompatible ways
Op-ed: If you think ecosystem lock-in is bad now, just wait until the fall.

This isn't about which company is copying from which—this kind of integration is a logical next step for both Apple and Google after years of moving various operating systems and services closer and closer together. This is about ecosystem lock-in. All of these features sound like great, logical ways to extend both companies' platforms, since you can often assume that someone using an Apple phone will be using an Apple computer. They're also going to make it harder than ever for you to extricate yourself from a given company's ecosystem once you've become embedded in it.

[...]

Ars Reviews Editor Ron Amadeo called smartwatches "the ultimate ecosystem lock-in device" in his review of Android Wear, and it's true. We still haven't found hardware that we love, but assuming that we do, Android Wear only works with Android phones and tablets. Samsung watches only work with Samsung phones and tablets. The Apple wearable that's supposedly coming in October will almost certainly support iPhones and iPads exclusively. Most major apps are available on multiple platforms. Many of the most important services (chat, e-mail, social media) are available on multiple platforms. But there's no workaround that will let you use Google's watch with Apple's phone.

Malor wrote:

Apple and Google move computing forward in identical-yet-incompatible ways
Op-ed: If you think ecosystem lock-in is bad now, just wait until the fall.

This isn't about which company is copying from which—this kind of integration is a logical next step for both Apple and Google after years of moving various operating systems and services closer and closer together. This is about ecosystem lock-in. All of these features sound like great, logical ways to extend both companies' platforms, since you can often assume that someone using an Apple phone will be using an Apple computer. They're also going to make it harder than ever for you to extricate yourself from a given company's ecosystem once you've become embedded in it.

[...]

Ars Reviews Editor Ron Amadeo called smartwatches "the ultimate ecosystem lock-in device" in his review of Android Wear, and it's true. We still haven't found hardware that we love, but assuming that we do, Android Wear only works with Android phones and tablets. Samsung watches only work with Samsung phones and tablets. The Apple wearable that's supposedly coming in October will almost certainly support iPhones and iPads exclusively. Most major apps are available on multiple platforms. Many of the most important services (chat, e-mail, social media) are available on multiple platforms. But there's no workaround that will let you use Google's watch with Apple's phone.

That is very true, it is a great way to completely lock you into a system.

I wonder if there is space in the market for a third party to come in and make a fancy smartwatch that works with everything but still be as powerful as something like a Moto 360 or the impending Apple watch.

Apple's ability and willingness to forbid apps that compete with its own offerings mean that they probably won't allow a third-party watch to tie in anywhere near as well as an Apple offering, if they allow it to work at all.

Google's not quite as blatant, but they're steadily becoming less open over time, and I wouldn't be especially sanguine there, either.

Arise! I broke down and preordered a Basis Peak. After having my Pebble for quite some time, I'm basically uninterested in the smartphone integration, except for notifications. The Peak will do that, but not any more; however, it's going to have a pretty sweet suite of fitness trackers.

Tanglebones wrote:

Arise! I broke down and preordered a Basis Peak. After having my Pebble for quite some time, I'm basically uninterested in the smartphone integration, except for notifications. The Peak will do that, but not any more; however, it's going to have a pretty sweet suite of fitness trackers.

Looks pretty nice. Any word on the HRM accuracy? I know it's preorder, but I don't see many previews with actual content.

Cod wrote:
Tanglebones wrote:

Arise! I broke down and preordered a Basis Peak. After having my Pebble for quite some time, I'm basically uninterested in the smartphone integration, except for notifications. The Peak will do that, but not any more; however, it's going to have a pretty sweet suite of fitness trackers.

Looks pretty nice. Any word on the HRM accuracy? I know it's preorder, but I don't see many previews with actual content.

Only their press hype, which says it's dramatically improved over the original.

Tanglebones wrote:
Cod wrote:
Tanglebones wrote:

Arise! I broke down and preordered a Basis Peak. After having my Pebble for quite some time, I'm basically uninterested in the smartphone integration, except for notifications. The Peak will do that, but not any more; however, it's going to have a pretty sweet suite of fitness trackers.

Looks pretty nice. Any word on the HRM accuracy? I know it's preorder, but I don't see many previews with actual content.

Only their press hype, which says it's dramatically improved over the original.

Then I'll wait. I just dug through the dcrainmaker review of the Basis B1 and found from recent comments that he's doing a Basis Peak review "at/around launch".