Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve seen our fair share of wearable tech here at CES already and LG is looking to cast its hat in the ring as well. A waltz through the company’s booth revealed the Smart Activity Tracker: a device that rests comfortably on the wrist, much like the Nike+ FuelBand or the Jawbone UP. Despite sharing some aesthetic similarities with the former gadget — like a dotted LED display, USB clasp and soft-touch rubber coating — LG’s model has a few more tricks up its sleeve. First, the Smart Activity Tracker is compatible with both iOS and Android using the Fitness Band app to track, monitor and share your fitness habits (no big surprise given LG’s handsets run Google’s OS).

As you might expect, the wearable touts Bluetooth for connecting to your smartphone and an accelerometer for tracking purposes. However, LG tacked on an altimeter for more accurate location data (the world ain’t flat, you know) and the display can show call info during a run while also offering media controls for navigating through those playlists. Speaking of the display, this one is swipeable, allowing the user to cycle through without pressing a button repeatedly. Smart Activity Tracker bands will also sync with LG’s smart TVs and fitness apps like Let’s Dance to offer a workout from the comforts of your living room. Unfortunately, these aren’t scheduled to arrive until sometime in the heat of summer, but when they do, there will be a few color options to suit those personal preferences. For now, a brief demo awaits after the break.

Continue reading LG’s Smart Activity Tracker wields a swipeable touchscreen and smart TV apps, we go hands-on (video)

Filed under: Wearables, LG

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One of the more entertaining posts we wrote up at last year’s CES was for the Golden-i, a head-mounted computer that lets field workers control their machines using voice commands and by moving their heads. The idea being: technicians, soldiers and other hands-on types ought to have their hands free if they’re going to do their jobs safely.

Since then, the Golden-i has been replaced by the Motorola Solutions HC1, which uses the same technology but is now rugged enough to withstand four-foot drops. It also has a much more comfortable, modular design. So comfortable, in fact, that you have to wonder why the original wasn’t designed this way. Now the padded inner lining is velcro-attached, so workers can adjust it about as easily as they would a bike helmet. That’s convenient for people who live in their headgear 40 hours a week, but it’s also nice for companies where employees share helmets — after all, it’d be nice to take out your own lining so that you’re not sharing the same sweat-soaked padding with someone else.

Additionally, workers can remove components like the speaker module, which they might need to if the headset’s in need of cleaning. There’s now a user-programmable button, which you can do to turn off features like voice commands. The eyepiece, too, is now attached to a sturdy, flexible boom, which lets you adjust the LCD position just so.

In terms of actual functionality, the core technology hasn’t changed much: this is still a heads-up display that allows you to control things using your voice or by moving your head. However, the software has been improved in such a way that you can now share your screen — or rather, your field of vision. So, for example, if a field worker is having trouble repairing something, he can have a distant colleague remote in and offer help — sort of the virtual equivalent of looking over someone’s shoulder. That’s it in a nutshell, but we’ve got photo and video of the hardware below. Apologies if you have a fear of mannequins.

Continue reading Hands-on with the Motorola Solutions HC1, a modular head-mounted computer

Filed under: Wearables

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Pebble promised some news during its CES press event today, and it’s now confirmed that, after a series of delays, the smart watch will finally begin shipping to Kickstarter backers on January 23rd. That includes some 85,000 orders in all, which will apparently take six to eight weeks to fulfil as it’s now looking at a production rate of about 15,000 units per week. The company will then begin fulfilling non-Kickstarter pre-orders after that. Eager for a closer look at what’s in store if you ordered? You can find our hands-on look at the finished device right here.

Filed under: Wearables

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We just got a glimpse of the CST-01 E Ink watch, the result of a partnership between Central Standard Timing and E Ink itself. The product has been in the prototype phase for a year, but it just went live on Kickstarter, with a funding goal of $200,000 and pre-orders available for $129 each.

The real standout feature here is the 0.8mm design, which is apparently thinner than a credit card. In any case, the stainless steel design is super svelte. The whole package consists of several flexible components that are laminated into a 0.5mm unit, which is then photochemically etched into a piece of flexible stainless steel. This is a digital watch, of course, but its form factor is more along the lines of a bangle than a Casio-style timepiece. An embedded Thinergy micro-energy cell charges the device in 10 minutes via an external dock. The external dock is also used for setting the time (military or 12-hour), as there are no controls on the watch itself. Battery life is rated for a month.

When we tried it out here at CES, the watch felt extremely light, though the edges were a bit jagged. This, of course, is because it’s not yet a final product — you can expect a much smoother finish on the final product. You can check out the CST-01 prototype in our hands-on gallery below, along with the video embedded after the break.

Continue reading E Ink demos CST-01, the ‘world’s thinnest watch’ (hands-on video)

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Source: CST-01: The world’s thinnest watch (Kickstarter)

Panasonic launched its own wearable cam today at CES, though, unlike some of its competition, the HX-A100’s camera is tethered to its controller by a cable. The IPX-8 compliancy badge does, however, mean that it can be submerged up to 5 feet underwater, and while there the in-built WiFi will see you sending your videos live to Ustream in 1080p at 60fps, 720p at up to 120fps and 640 x 360 at a very speedy 240fps. Our man James donned the Panasonic HX-A100 to give it a whirl at the booth this morning and while we didn’t get a chance to see any of the action cam’s video output while he wore it, he did remark that it was “not uncomfortable” and he did look kinda cool wearing it. The limitations for action cam fans might be found in trying to attach it to a car or other fixed spot when you consider that the memory card and battery sit in the control unit. No word on a date or price but we’ll keep an eye out for more info for sure. Check out some more poses from both James and the HX-A100 in the gallery below.

Filed under: Wearables

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