Displaying items by tag: Wearable Computing

Apple has made a decision about the data that is stored in their borrowed HealthKit API. The decision is to ban developers from sharing any of the data that the service collects to ad agencies. This move will be in effect the day that iOS 8 and will run until Apple changes their mind. This move is actually a very good thing and does cover some concerns about the amount of personal information that mobile devices are starting to amass.

Right now the going rumor is that Apple will unveil the world’s first true smart watch on September 9th (yes sarcasm). Just exactly what this new product will do has many blogs up all night in a lather of love for Apple. These sites comb through patent filings, rumors and even developer code to see if they can be the first to identify what Apple will really do when they finally get around to joining the rest of the world with a wearable product.

Well, with all of the news about Apple’s next round of products we thought we would chime in with our take on this. Warning Apple fans the following article is not based on analyst WAGs (wild ass guesses), but on information that is available publicly and, well through other means. Right now far too many analyst firms are looking to bolster their portfolios by talking up products from Apple that do not even have firm or realistic specifications attached to them. We are talking about Apple’s rumored iWatch, 12.9-inch iPad and large screen iPhone. All three of these are rumored to hit the market in September as Apple tried to catch up to the rest of the world and offer the same style of product that is already out there.

This morning’s news is full of posts about Google “following” Apple into the wearable fitness game. After Apple announced their Healthkit app and all that it can do Google quickly pulled the covers back on theirs. Now what all of these articles fail to mention is that other companies have been in the health game long before Apple decided to step into the waters. Nike, Polar, I’M Spa, and Even Samsung had health apps and wearables long before.

When we first saw Google Glass as a concept one question jumped to my mind: when will the bans start? The idea that you can wear a piece of technology that is capable of on demand recording of your point of view had to strike a nerve in someone. So far we have watched as Casinos, Bars… Adult entertainment clubs and even art galleries have outright prohibited the wearing of glass inside them. Now the one that we thought would be most vocal has finally spoken up as we see our first cinema chain refuse them.

So Apple could finally be entering the Smartwach fray this year. At least that is the current rumor and push from Analysts. If this is true it will be a big deal for both Apple and Tim Cook as this will be the first new product type since the introduction of the iPad. Tim Cook has even more riding on this than Apple does as it will be a make or break deal for him to show that he is capable of leading Apple into new markets and not just refreshing the same devices over and over.

Judging by the numerous rumors about smart watches, lately it would be easier to answer the question of who is not developing such a device. There have been new information about the Microsoft's solution.

A month after a one-day promotional sales campaign, Google has finally released the Glass for the retail sale. On the promotional day they sold large quantities of this gadget, stocks of white versions were completely sold out, and consequently in the company were satisfied with the action.

LG G Watch is one of the first smart watches based on Android Wear OS which could already  next month (in Europe) arrive to market, and equally unverifiable information say it will cost 200 euros.

When speaking about patent applications as indications of new products, a few companies come immediately in mind, usually old rivals like Apple and Samsung, especially when it comes to new product categories. But back in 2012 Microsoft decided to join the race. They recently published their patent application that describes the "Wearable Personal Information System" which is basically a smart watch, and sports armband.