Patent Shows Microsoft Has Been Planning a Smartwatch for 2 Years

Apart from a few words at its latest developer conference, Microsoft has been more or less silent on wearables so far, probably dreading comparisons to its failed Spot platform. But a patent suggests its wearable tech might be a larger part of its strategy moving forward.

The patent, which Microsoft filed in 2012 but was granted this week, is clearly for a kind of smartwatch. The accompanying diagrams and description reveal it will be a sensor-laden device capable of measuring a "biometric parameter" (i.e., heart rate). The illustration shows the watch displaying a simple interface for a generic fitness app that measures distance traveled.

As shown, the band is separate from the "computing device," which can be easily removed, similar in concept to the Sony Core life-logging gadget from CES, which was essentially a small sensor device that could be part of a wristband, brooch or something else.

However, Sony's device was more of a tracker, whereas Microsoft's is clearly more interactive, equipped with a "touch display" and communications interface (presumably to connect with a smartphone) to transfer the data it logs.

Microsoft plans to charge the device via a dock, similar to Samsung's Galaxy Gear. The illustrations show the display rotating 90 degrees while in the dock, which also functions as a stand.

Even though it hasn't said much about wearables themselves, Microsoft recently launched an initiative called Windows on Devices, which adapts the company's software for the "Internet of Things" — getting products that normally don't run Windows (or any OS) to run Windows. The first software development kit (SDK) is due this spring.


It's definitely possible Microsoft is planning its own hardware offering to kick-start the platform, similar to what the company attempted with the Surface and Windows 8. There's no telling when a Microsoft smartwatch might debut, but given that an upcoming event will be focused on the Surface Mini, it would probably be fall at the earliest.

IMAGE: USPTO

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Qualcomm's Toq Smartwatch Lets You Text Without Typing

Qualcomm's Toq smartwatch got the Dick Tracy treatment on Monday with a new feature dubbed "Toq Talk."

Powered by Nuance's voice-to-text technology, Toq Talk lets owners create and respond to text messages using their voices.

Nuance is one of the industry leaders in in speech recognition and natural language processing. It powers Siri on iOS and is embedded in many other systems spanning various industries. Nuance also powers the voice-input on the original Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

For now, the feature is restricted to the text messaging app. You're also limited to nine seconds of speech input — but that should be enough to compose a quick message or send a quick reply.

It's important to remember, however, that Qualcomm isn't selling the Toq through traditional consumer channels. It's designed more as a reference point so other manufacturers can see what's possible in the wearable space, rather than a fully-realized product.

It's not hard to imagine that this sort of technology — especially aligned with some of the cloud-based systems Nuance is investing in — powering a wide array of voice-controlled interfaces for the wearable market.

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Report: iWatch to Get LG-Made Flexible Display

The much-anticipated Apple iWatch may come with a flexible display manufactured by LG, a new report suggests.

According to Korean website Naver (and a translation via G for Games, LG will be the exclusive supplier for the iWatch's flexible display. This coincides with other reports that surfaced in January, indicating LG would be a major player in developing displays for the connected smartwatch.

Also in line with rumors, the sources said the iWatch will come in two sizes: 1.3 inches and 1.5 inches. We could also see the smartwatch debut with various material options, which could put some models into the thousands of dollars bracket.

LG is a longtime Apple supplier and provides many of the displays for the Cupertino giant's iPad tablets, iMac and Thunderbolt displays.

Although the launch date is still in question, September is still the month that's being tossed around.

The report also said Apple aims to sell about 9 million iWatch devices by the end of the year.

Image:  TODD HAMILTON

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The Rufus Cuff 'Wrist Communicator': A Step Above the Smartwatch?

Although we're still far off from the year 3000, one new gadget is straight out of Futurama.

The Rufus Cuff claims to be a step above the smartwatch because it offers users a connected experience similar to one they would get on a smartphone.

Aesthetically, it may resemble recently released gadgets such as the Pebble Steel or Samsung's Galaxy Gear, but the device — which will include a 3-inch screen, and run on Android — aims to offer more functionality.

"Smartwatches are cool — a good start to where we should be going — but this is where we should be," Gabe Grifoni, CEO and co-founder of Rufus Labs, the accessory's parent company, told.  

"We are a category beyond the smartwatch."

Grifoni said he was inspired to create the Rufus Cuff — named after his dog — during a four-hour drive home from CES 2013. He remembers loving the wearable technology he saw, but thinking that there was a better way to do it. Simply calling a device "smart" doesn't necessarily make it so for Grifoni, who said his longterm goal for the Rufus Cuff is to eventually have it replace our need for smartphones.

Although it won't be able to connect to a cellular network on its own, the Rufus Cuff will be able to send and receive calls or text messages when digitally tethered to a smartphone. Users will also be able to take advantage of its Wi-Fi capabilities. The gadget will be compatible with both Android and iOS devices, although use with the latter will be slightly more limited based on what Apple will allow.

The Rufus Cuff is being marketed as a full-on "wrist communicator." Grifoni said the device's large screen will give it an edge over competitors, and claimed it is easy to get used to, especially since the weight of the device is distributed over a larger surface area.

"I have the skinniest, nerdiest wrist in the world, and I built it for myself," he said.

The Rufus Cuff is raising funds via Indiegogo. As of press time, the crowdfunding campaign has reached just over $120,000 out of its $200,000 goal, with 13 days to go. If it can raise enough money, Rufus Labs plans to donate a portion of its profits to charity. A functional prototype is still in the works, and if all goes well, production is expected to begin in September.

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Will.I.Am Reveals Newest Project: A Smartwatch

During a recent appearance on UK talk show Alan Carr: Chatty Man, musician Will.i.am revealed his latest project to a surprised studio audience: a smartwatch.

At least, based on the brief on-camera demonstration, that's what the sleek, black device appears to be.

Revealing the device in a decidedly understated fashion while being interviewed by host Carr, Will.i.am said, "I don't carry my phone anymore; I just use this, [this] is my phone." He then began tapping the device's touchscreen to trigger the number key tones.

"There's a lot of smartwatches that need phones [to operate]. Mine doesn't need a phone; this is the phone," he added.

Will.i.am then tapped the phone a bit more, and the device began playing one of his songs.

Based on the limited visual demonstration, the device's swiping dynamic is reminiscent of the interface interactions used on the recently unveiled Android Wear, Google's operating system for wearables. However, Will.i.am did not reveal any of the device's specs.

And lest anyone think the smartwatch reveal is merely a belated April Fools' prank, the musician, widely known as a tech enthusiast, later confirmed on Twitter that he is planning a formal launch for the device soon.

Based on his tweets, the launch date for the as-yet-unnamed device is July.

"I started the company myself; I funded it, used my own money to develop it," Will.i.am said. "It's a phone; it has all my music in it."

Will.i.am also claimed the device can connect to Bluetooth headphones, and has Twitter, Instagram and Facebook functionality.

VIDEO: YOUTUBE, ALAN CARR CHATTY MAN

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Sony Currently Has No Plans to Use Android Wear for Its Smartwatches

Sony clarified that while it's currently focused on its own platform, there's still a possibility it might work with Google's Android Wear in the future.

"We're excited about the potential of Android Wear to extend the mobile OS experience into wearable devices. While we are currently focused on our in-market wearable offering, including SmartWatch 2, we continue to work closely with Google as a key partner and continue to evaluate opportunities across a number of areas as we extend our SmartWear Experience," the company told CNET in a follow-up statement.

Sony will not use Google's Android Wear platform for its upcoming wearable products, CNET reports.

Instead, Sony will keep using its Android-based SmartWatch platform, which was the basis for the company's SmartWatch and SmartWatch 2 products.

"We've already invested time and resources on this platform, and we will continue in that direction," Ravi Nookala, head of Sony Mobile's U.S. arm, told CNET.

Google has launched its Android Wear platform for wearables in March 2014. Consumer electronic bands including HTC, Asus and Samsung have jumped on the bandwagon, and Motorola and LG have already announced the first products based on Android Wear — Moto 360 and LG G Watch.

Sony was one of the first major brands to launch a smartwatch, and it already has more than 200 apps for its platform. The most recent wearable Sony has announced is the SmartBand, a wristband which enables you to log your daily activities.

Image: SONY

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Samsung Names Its Price for Gear Fit, Gear 2 Smartwatch

For those awaiting more details about Samsung's new Gear 2 smartwatch and Gear Fit wristband tracker, the company announced pricing and availability on Thursday.

According to Sammobile.com, which reported Samsung's official pricing for Taiwan, the Gear 2 will cost $299 in the U.S., while the Gear Fit will go for $199.

Samsung later told that the Gear 2 Neo, which is similar to the Gear 2 smartwatch but has a plastic exterior and comes without a camera, will also cost $199.

The devices will go on sale in April, but the pre-sale starts on Friday via BestBuy.com.

Last month, Samsung introduced the Gear 2 as its second-generation smartwatch, touting a heart-rate sensor, music player and infrared emitter that could be used to control a TV. It's also powered by Tizen; the previous Galaxy Gear smartwatch ran on Android.

Meanwhile, the Gear Fit comes with a curved Super AMOLED touchscreen with a built-in heart rate monitor. The waterproof fitness tracker comes with an adjustable band and connects via Bluetooth, so you can get notifications directly to the device from your smartphone. Like the Gear 2 Neo, it doesn't feature with a camera.

IMAGE: MANU FERNANDEZ/ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The First Android Wear Devices Are the Moto 360 and LG G Watch

Earlier this afternoon, Google officially unveiled Android Wear, its new platform for wearables. Now both Motorola and LG have announced Android Wear smartwatches.

Motorola, Google's former-subsidiary apparently has big plans for Android Wear. It's calling its watch the Moto 360. The device is notable because it has a round face — something we haven't seen before in a smartwatch.

Like the Moto X, the Moto 360 is also designed to take advantage of gestures. Twisting a wrist will show an alert or your next meeting. On its blog, Motorola is hyping what it calls "premium materials" and says the Moto 360 will be available in a variety of styles.

LG is calling its device the LG G Watch and the company says it will be compatible with a variety of Android smartphones. LG says it expects to release the G Watch in the second quarter of 2014 — so we should see it in just a few months.

The company released a mockup image, which looks similar to some other smartwatches we've seen — including Sony's Android-powered SmartWatch 2.

LG says it will release more details on the LG G Watch in the coming months.

The Moto 360 will be available in Summer 2014, first in the United States and then in the rest of the world.

Image: Motorola, LG

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There Is Now a 'Smartwatch' for Kids

Smartwatches are projected to become one of the hottest tech product categories in the upcoming years, so it was only a matter of time before the kids market took notice.

Tech toy company VTech introduced at the 2014 International Toy Fair the KidiZoom Smart Watch — or what the company is calling the world's first smartwatch for kids. Although it doesn't connect to the Internet like its adult-counterpart smartwatches (so it's not technically a "smartwatch"), the 1.4-inch touchscreen device allows young users to snap photos, take video and play games directly through the watch.

The software for the device, which will likely cost $49.99 when it hits the market this fall, looks so good that upon first impression it reminds us that full-fledged smartwatch concepts need step it up. With so much potential looming from the category — and valiant efforts have been made from Samsung and its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, as well as the Sony SmartWatch 2 — the pressure is still on for a company to shine in the connected watch sector. And sure, the KidiZoom Smart Watch won't compete as a true smartwatch, but it's easy to use and has colorful graphics, which is more than what others can say.

First and foremost, the device is a watch. Users can switch from a digital to analog clock and customize the wallpapers that sit behind the time. It's crisp and vibrant graphics. It was extremely intuitive to use — as it should be, especially with a target demographic as early as age 3. The company is still deciding on an age range, but said it will likely start there and go up to age 9.

The KidiZoom Smart Watch comes with only two buttons: one for the home button and another to capture video and still photography. A memory card is also built within the device, while a USB port allows users (or more realistically, their parents) transfer pictures, video and audio files to a PC. It's also considerably lightweight, so it doesn't weigh down on young users' wrists. It's only available in blue and pink for now, but the spokesperson said VTech is looking to add more design and style options in the future.

Because KidiZoom is VTech's range of cameras for kids and the smart watch is an extension of that brand, there's no surprise that the camera plays a big role in the device. The company hasn't said how many photos and minutes of video can be stored on the KidiZoom SmartWatch just yet, but it features special effects that include customized photo frames, filters and distortion effects.

Other features include a rechargeable battery, alarm clock, timer, stopwatch a voice recorder with voice changing effects (i.e. robot mode) and three built-in games, such as a a puzzle game, a matching game and a memory game.

IMAGE: VTECH

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Animated iWatch Concept Is the Most Realistic You've Ever Seen

Although Apple remains tight-lipped about any plans to release a wearable device, the persistent rumors and concept mock-ups continue to stir excitement among fans and industry analysts alike.

The latest conceptual take on the rumored iWatch is a video animation that presents an extremely realistic look at how the device might work if it becomes a real product.

Created by San Francisco-based professional interface designer Todd Hamilton, this new iWatch concept fuses the sleek design of the Nike FuelBand with the minimalist interface treatments of Apple's iOS 7.

Hamilton says the initial inspiration for the concept came from a similar mock-up that cropped up late last year.

“It was an impressive concept that got a lot of people excited including myself,” Hamilton wrote in a blog post accompanying the video. “However, it had a major flaw: The orientation of the interface made it impossible to use…I wanted to retain a slim form factor like the FuelBand and incorporate familiar UI components from iOS 7."

The new concept not only makes the concept iWatch easier to use from a practical standpoint by giving the interface a vertical orientation, but also updates the operating system in order to give viewers a better vision of what the operation of the device might really look like.

While Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, wears a Nike FuelBand and has dropped hints about new product categories, for now, this is closest and most realistic take on a possible iWatch we’ve seen.

Image:  TODD HAMILTON

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Apple's iWatch coming in 2014

 Apple's iWatch

  

  

Wearable computing devices such as Google Glass eyewear are widely seen as the next frontier in consumer electronics, following the huge popularity of smartphones.

Competition in the "smartwatch" market is heating up, with Google, Microsoft and Samsung Electronics racing to develop their own watch-type computing devices.

California-based Apple last month filed a trademark application for an "iWatch" in Japan.
Apple chief Tim Cook earlier this year forecast that there will be "tons of companies playing" in the wearable computing sector.

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