MainTool aims to “make existing watches smart” – and believes there is a market gap

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Meet MainTool. This startup, based in Paris and Madrid, offers a different take on the smartwatch argument by providing a ‘smart’ strap allowing users to keep the more traditional yet dumb watch interface.

The inspiration for MainTool is straightforward enough. A survey released today from analytics platform provider First Insight argued that among consumers, while many liked the designs of the Apple Watch, the Garmin Fenix 3 Sapphire and the Motorola Moto 360 in particular,...

By James Bourne, 20 September 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Fashion, Smartwatches.

Michael Kors launches smartwatch in fashion wearable play

Picture credit: Michael Kors

Lifestyle brand Michael Kors is set to launch its Michael Kors Access display smartwatch, in another move which aims to put wearable technology in the category of fashion accessories.

The company has partnered with Google for the Android Wear smartwatch platform, with the Access watch being compatible with both iPhone and Android phones.

Features of the smartwatch include changeable display, social media updates, and app notifications. The watch also offers magnetic charging,...

By Wearable Tech, 08 September 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Fashion, Smartwatches.

Amazfit launches ceramic-based wearable to combine fitness and fashion

Picture credit: Amazfit

California-based firm Amazfit has introduced its first ceramic-based wearable activity tracker, which assesses biomechanical signals and daily activities.

The device connects the user's daily activities and biomechanical signals with smart data. It tracks a user's steps, distance travelled, sleep quality and calories burned. It also receives and transmits incoming call alerts through vibration.

Amazfit is a lightweight and slim activity tracker designed like a fashion...

By Wearable Tech, 26 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Fashion, Fitness, Smartwatches.

Omate’s third birthday: Why three years in wearable tech is a lifetime – and what’s next

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It’s been an amazing journey so far, and I’m so grateful to be a part of it. This milestone allows me to reset our SWOT analysis and share the overall strategy for the year to come with the team and I am glad to give you a glimpse at it here.

Three years ago, wearable tech was in its infancy. The whole industry has evolved a lot in just a few years – and I shared that evolution

By Laurent Le Pen, 01 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Analysis, Applications, Case Studies, Ecosystems, Fashion.

Google impresses with Project Soli and Jacquard updates at I/O 2016

(Image Credit: Google ATAP)

During last year's I/O developer conference Google unveiled a couple of early innovations to improve how we interact with our wearable devices in the form of Project Soli and Project Jacquard. At this year's event, Google has demonstrated how the projects have developed since.

Project Soli employs a radar-based system to detect small movements around the device – such as finger gestures – and uses the motion...

By Ryan Daws, 23 May 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Clothing & Textiles, Devices, Fashion, Google, Smartwatches.

Fossil to roll out wearables for eight brands in 40 countries through 2016

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Fossil Group is planning to launch over 100 wearables products covering eight brands in 40 countries by the end of 2016. The wearables, slated to feature in over 20 languages, will include display and non-display watches and trackers. The company will support the wearables with branded apps across all brands, three product categories, and two operating systems.

Fossil chief strategy and digital officer, Greg McKelvey, said: “One of the distinct advantages of a fashion company...

By Wearable Tech, 23 March 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Fashion.

Sensoria wins IDTechEX award, while new wearable tech company launches

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Sensoria has been awarded the 'Best New Wearable Technology Device' award for its smart socks at the 2015 IDTechEX Printed Electronics USA show.

The textile sensor-infused socks was selected by a panel of judges that included Sandisk Corporation senior vice president Henri Richard, head of fashion innovation agency at the London College of Fashion Matthew Drinkwater, and US Olympic Committee senior sports technologist Mounir Zok.

Each smart sock has three soft, thin textile...

By Wearable Tech, 26 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Case Studies, Clothing & Textiles, Eyewear, Fashion.

Wearable tech among hottest IBM Watson trends during holiday season

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Wearable technology is among the hottest retail trends for the holiday season, according to the latest data from IBM.

IBM has launched the Watson Trend app, currently available on the App Store, in order to help shoppers gain insight on the top trends during the holiday season while also helping them forecast the most-wanted products before they are out of stock. Wearable technology features among the top trends across three categories – consumer electronics, toys and health and...

By Wearable Tech, 20 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Fashion.

The musings of a startup in the wearable world: Respect the past and innovate

Picture credit: Omate

Today, the most important device in our connected life is our smartphone. It has totally changed the way we interact with each other. It is the first thing we check when we leave a place.

We may touch our pockets a few times a day just to feel safe – according to recent survey figures most US smartphone owners check their phones at...

By Laurent Le Pen, 16 September 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Case Studies, Devices, Fashion.

Wearable tech: Between awkward intrusiveness and useful value exchange

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As relatively new additions to our arsenal of tech gadgets, the current state of debate around wearable tech has to date focused almost exclusively around the nuts and bolts: the coolness of the device and features, the accuracy of the data points being tracked and the originality of how this is presented. The unspoken assumption is therefore that the features are the main driver of our decision to purchase and wear one of these devices.

Brushing aside the pomp and pageantry...

By Dean Adkins, 05 June 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Fashion, Opinion, Standards.

Wearables: It’s the text on the screen, as much as the device, which needs to be beautiful

Picture credit: Monotype

Wearable device manufacturers are proliferating at almost the same rate as wearable devices themselves. One look at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, or Mobile World Congress (MWC) in March, with their dedicated wearables rooms, made that plain to see.

With so much competition in the market, on platforms with limited memory, runtime and computing power, gaining an edge is key for OEMs. Increasingly, wearable devices have...

By James Bourne, 02 June 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Applications, Fashion, Smartwatches, Standards.

Putting the "you" in wearables UI and UX

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By Shuang Yu, Senior Manager, Solutions Marketing, IEEE Standards Association and Lloyd Green, Director, Engagement Marketing and Creative Community Services, IEEE Standards Association 

RFID-blocking jeans powered by anti-virus software. A jacket that can calm autistic children and PTSD sufferers by giving them a hug. A sports bra that doubles as a heart rate...

By IEEE Standards Association, 14 May 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Fashion, UI.

Why combining fashion and functionality is key to wearable tech uptake

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Anyone with a vested interest in the wearable tech market will recognise that at present, products are still very much in their infant stages in terms of take-up and overall popularity. Here at Apadmi we recently conducted some research into consumer attitudes to wearables in the hope it would shed some light on uncertainty surrounding the technology at present. Our results found that, as it currently stands, 35 per cent of...

By Hannah Pym, 19 March 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Ecosystems, Fashion.

£210k up for grabs for startups in wearable tech competition

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IC Tomorrow, a UK-based programme for growth in the digital sector, has announced the launch of a £210,000 innovation prize for startups and small businesses based around wearable devices and smart fashion.

The contest offers £35,000 in funding and the opportunity to trial a product with a big name in the industry. Sponsors include Disney, who heads up the ‘wearables for kids’ category; McLaren, who along with Loughborough University is marshalling the...

By James Bourne, 13 January 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Ecosystems, Fashion, Health & Wellness.

Misfit and Swarovski team up to push wearables further into fashion

Picture credit: Swarovski/YouTube

Misfit Wearables has launched two Swarovski Shine wearables at the Consumer Electronics Show in a partnership with the jewellery brand.

The wearables are available in a crystal and violet face, with the latter utilising a unique “energy crystal” technology which enables charging through exposure to light. Lest this innovation goes the way of the sundial, Misfit writes: “This is the world’s first wireless activity and sleep monitor that utilises an...

By James Bourne, 06 January 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Fashion, Smartwatches.

Cuff wins most beautiful wearable award in New York

Picture credit: Cuff/YouTube

Take a look at Cuff. The startup, which provides jewellery that serves as a fitness and activity tracker, has won an award for the most beautiful wearable of 2014 at the Decoded Fashion summit in New York.

The company’s collection, which includes necklaces and bracelets, are powered by interchangeable modules, called CuffLincs, which connect directly to iPhone and Android apps.

Cuff lasts seven days without charging, and comes with a single press, double press and triple...

By James Bourne, 21 November 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Fashion, UI.

Why wearables need to find their niche in retail rather than tech stores

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A wearable technology panel at the Apps World Europe event last week concluded that wearables are currently missing the market by being sold in technology stores rather than in general retail.

It's an interesting argument. Technology is already pervasive in certain items of clothing, such as running shoes, and we'd buy them without a second glance. But is this going to be the future for wearables?

Krispin Lawrence is co-founder and CEO at wearable firm Ducere Technologies....

By James Bourne, 17 November 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Brands, Fashion.

Will.i.am fixes wearables with "fashionology"

Musician and entrepreneur, Will.i.am, has long spoke of his intention to enter the smartwatch market. For perhaps the first time, it’s not just us wearable-enthusiasts who have been following developments, but also fans of fashion and his own unique-style.

Alongside the Puls, Will.i.am debuted a range of clothing which can act as a battery.

At Salesforce's Dreamforce event yesterday, Will.i.am took the wraps off of his 'Puls' smartwatch (although he prefers the term...

By Ryan Daws, 16 October 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Fashion, Smartwatches.

Top 5 most interesting Reddit wearable tech posts

My cake day is coming up and in pre-celebration I would love to share what I find particularly interesting on reddit, regarding wearables of course. And so after digging through all the memes, gifs, ELI5′s, and other wonderful surprises I discovered, I have compiled a list of five reddit wearable tech posts found in various subreddits that caught my eye.

1. Minuum AMA

Featured in our previous blog about wearables in the...

By Strap, 15 September 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Brands, Fashion.

Salesforce’s Adam Spearing: Wearable uptake will make smartphones look like Tolpuddle Martyrs

Adam Spearing, VP platform EMEA at Salesforce, has told WearableTech that he believes the uptake of wearable technology will be so rapid it will ‘make the smartphone revolution seem like the Tolpuddle Martyrs.’

Spearing was commenting as Salesforce announced a raft of updates to its Salesforce Wear platform, including a series of new hardware partners including Oculus, Jawbone and Epson, as well as new enterprise applications from ISVs.

“We see this as a big space,” he tells WearableTech. “We think...

By James Bourne, 04 September 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Enterprise, Fashion, Interview.