Tag

Wearables

All articles tagged with #wearables

technology8 hours ago•2 min saved

New Snapdragon Wear Elite Chip Signals Faster Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite processor, codenamed Vienna, has surfaced in Geekbench listings as a 3nm smartwatch chip with a 5-core CPU (1x Cortex-A78C at 2.11GHz and 4x Cortex-A55 at 1.96GHz) and an Adreno 622 GPU (1 CU). In a test device with 4GB RAM running Android 16, it scored about 573 in single-core and 1,069 in multi-core, outperforming Samsung’s Exynos W1000 (371/683) by roughly 54% and 56% respectively, with the GPU compute score around 1,459 vs 993 (≈47% faster). If used in the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, the chip could bring a meaningful performance boost, alongside rumors of a brighter display (up to 5,000 nits), 64GB storage, and an 800mAh battery for longer life.

via SamMobile|

#galaxy-watch-ultra-2 #qualcomm #samsung

technology9 hours ago•6 min saved

BrainCo bets wearables, not implants, to scale brain-computer interfaces

Hangzhou’s BrainCo is pursuing non-invasive wearable brain-computer interfaces to broaden use beyond medical implants, leveraging FDA‑approved bionic hands and a sleep-wellness device, and backed by roughly 2 billion yuan in funding. The company envisions a staged roadmap—from aiding amputees and neurological conditions to consumer electronics—and plans to license its BCI platform to others. China’s Five-Year Plan backs BCI development and regulators have approved minimally invasive devices, underscoring a US‑China tech race. Debates persist over whether non-invasive approaches can deliver mass-market adoption and what data-privacy implications will arise, with market size still uncertain.

via CNBC|

#brain-computer-interface #china-technology-policy #non-invasive

technology14 hours ago•6 min saved

Fitbit Air: solid heart-rate tracking, but calories miss the mark

A ZDNET test compared the Fitbit Air to a Polar H10 chest strap during a gym workout. Heart-rate data were fairly close with minor lag, but calories burned were consistently underestimated—about 12% during treadmill work and up to ~30% during strength training. The results reflect how wrist wearables can miss rapid heart-rate changes and rely on formulas that combine HR with other factors, so use HR data for training and calorie estimates as rough figures. The author cautions that two tests aren’t enough to draw sweeping conclusions about overall accuracy.

via ZDNET|

#calorie-burn #fitbit-air #fitness-tracker

technology2 days ago•4 min saved

Pixel Watch 5 Price Hikes Hit US Markets Ahead of Google Event

Google's Pixel Watch 5 pricing appears to rise in the US: Wi‑Fi models (41mm) jump from $349 to $399 (+$50) and (45mm) from $399 to $429 (+$30); LTE versions climb from $449 to $499 (+$50) and $499 to $529 (+$30), signaling broader price increases ahead of the Made by Google event.

via Droid Life|

#google #pixel #pixel-watch

tech2 days ago•31 min saved

Meta’s 'super sensing' glasses could record 24/7 for an AI assistant

Meta is reportedly developing prototype “super sensing” smart glasses that could continuously record audio and take photos for Meta AI to query, with raw footage potentially not stored and only metadata uploaded to servers. The approach, described by the Financial Times, would raise privacy concerns amid ongoing scrutiny of facial-recognition features and recording indicators. Meta says privacy is built in, and an update can disable the camera if the privacy light is tampered with, though the LED may stay off during “AI Feature” or “super sensing” use. Executives have signaled glasses could become a day‑long personal assistant, and FT reports detail, though release timelines remain unclear.

via The Verge|

#ai #meta #privacy

technology3 days ago•375 min saved

Meta tightens privacy guardrails on its AI-powered smart glasses

Meta says it will crack down on users who disable a key privacy feature on Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses, a move aimed at preventing covert, AI-assisted recording and addressing safety concerns around wearable devices; the company told NBC News’ Joanna Stern it plans enforcement against those who bypass the privacy indicator on the gadgets.

via NBC News|

#meta #privacy #ray-ban

gadgets4 days ago•30 min saved

Tampering with Meta’s privacy light triggers camera shutoff in its smart glasses

Meta will update its Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses to automatically disable the camera if someone tamps with or destroys the privacy LED light, a move aimed at deterring modders who drill or block the light. The company has long warned against tampering and shown prompts when the light is blocked, but the new measure will actively shut off recording in such cases as privacy concerns grow and venues consider bans.

via The Verge|

#gadgets #meta #privacy

tech4 days ago•28 min saved

Solos cuts weight with camera-free AirGo A6 smart glasses

Solos unveiled the AirGo A6, a camera-free smart-glasses model weighing about 19g—roughly half last year’s AirGo A5—thanks to thinner temple arms and smaller internals, while still offering hands-free AI via voice commands, translations, and calendar reminders. It will support prescription lenses and come in multiple transparent styles, with pricing not finalized yet. Solos also announced privacy accessories for AirGo V2, including $39 transparent temples and a $49 privacy shield (bundled with sunglasses for $79) to physically block the camera, underscoring a privacy-first approach when smart features aren’t needed.

via The Verge|

#ai-artificial-intelligence #gadgets #news

gadgets4 days ago•16 min saved

Solos Introduces a Privacy Kit to Disguise AirGo Smart Glasses

Solos is making its AirGo V2 smart glasses more discreet with a $79 privacy kit that adds ClearView Temples, a Clip-On Privacy Shield, and a polarized lens; the AirGo V2 itself launches today at $299, and Solos is also introducing a camera-free AirGo A6 (availability TBD). The kit provides a physical privacy solution for camera-sensitive situations and could help wearers navigate bans in venues like cruise ships, courts, and standardized testing.

via Gizmodo|

#camera-shield #gadgets #privacy

technology4 days ago•1 min saved

Samsung Opens July 2026 Patch Rollout for Galaxy Watch 8 and 7

Samsung has started rolling out the July 2026 security patch to the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 7, making them the first Samsung devices to receive the update. The rollout is currently underway in South Korea, with the Bluetooth-only variants hitting first; the Watch 8 update is 170.04 MB (firmware L330XXS2AZF4) and the Watch 7 update is 165.28 MB (firmware L310XXS2BZF4). Samsung has not yet published patch details. To install, open the Galaxy Wearable app, go to Watch settings > Watch software update > Download and install.

via SamMobile|

#galaxy-watch-7 #galaxy-watch-8 #samsung

technology5 days ago•10 min saved

Apple shelves camera-equipped AirPods, signaling a rethink of wearables

Apple reportedly suspended work on its camera-enabled AirPods, a bold attempt to pair wearables with built-in cameras to counter smart glasses; the decision is tied to privacy concerns, price considerations, and testing challenges, leaving the innovative idea on hold for now.

via PhoneArena|

#airpods #apple #cameras

technology6 days ago•373 min saved

AI Glasses: Convenience on the Surface, Privacy Concerns in Focus

AI-powered smart glasses promise hands-free convenience, but critics warn they blur the line between daily life and surveillance, with cameras in public prompting privacy fears, workplace bans, public shaming, and new apps designed to detect hidden cameras.

via NBC News|

#artificial-intelligence #privacy #smart-glasses

technology6 days ago•101 min saved

A Week-Long Sleep Duel: Fitbit Air Outpacing Whoop MG for Everyday Sleep Insights

A reviewer tests the Fitbit Air on the wrist against the Whoop MG on the bicep for a week; after initial calibration, Fitbit Air’s total sleep times align closely with Whoop, though deep sleep and REM readings still diverge. The Fitbit app delivers quicker, clearer sleep summaries and a better everyday user experience, suggesting that for basic sleep insight the $100 Fitbit Air offers most of the value, while Whoop’s ECG and recovery features justify the premium only if those extras matter.

via Tom's Guide|

#fitbit-air #sleep-data-accuracy #sleep-tracking

technology7 days ago•8 min saved

iOS 27 Beta Hints at Camera-Ready AirPods Ultra or Apple Glasses

The second iOS 27 developer beta uncovers code for a device codenamed B790 that can relay two camera streams from the sides of a user’s head, fueling talk of camera-equipped wearables. While Apple’s AirPods Ultra and smart glasses are both rumored, Bloomberg notes a late-2027 launch window, and Visual Intelligence could power the on‑device Siri-enabled camera features in iOS 27 accessed through a new Camera app mode to identify landmarks, text, and objects.

via MacRumors|

#airpods-ultra #apple-glasses #ios-27

technology8 days ago•25 min saved

Oura Ring 5: A Smaller Ring That Excelled at Sleep, But Falls Short for Fitness Tracking

Oura Ring 5 is noticeably smaller with modest battery gains and some minor feature tweaks, delivering strong discreet sleep and daily-life tracking. However, its sports-tracking remains weak, heart-rate data isn’t reliably exported to Strava, and pairing external HR sensors can complicate data sharing. It’s best for users who want a tiny, non-watch tracker focused on sleep, not for serious workouts. Priced at $399 with a $5.99/month subscription, sizing requires a sizing kit, and real-world battery sits around 6–7 days.

via DC Rainmaker|

#hrv #oura-ring #sleep-tracking