Samsung, Sony + others launch wearable tech at MWC 2014
If you’re looking for the latest devices in the Wearable Tech or Quantified Self arena, the Mobile World Congress may be the perfect place to find your next fitness tracking or life logging device. Here’s the latest from Barcelona:
Samsung
The South Korean company launched three wearable devices, the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and the Gear Fit. The three devices are all IP67 certified, which means they are water- and dust-proof. They all have optical heart rate monitors on the back plate and promises up to three days of battery life. Of the three devices, the Gear Fit is the dedicated fitness tracker, as the other two have other functions which allows the user to take and make calls, or send and receive messages.
Read more about Samsung’s devices here.
Huawei
The Chinese company unveiled a wearable device that looks a lot like Samsung’s Gear Fit, but the TalkBand B1 offers more than just a fitness and sleep tracker as it also doubles as a Bluetooth headset.
The TalkBand itself can be removed from the bracelet so a user can use it as a Bluetooth headset. The bracelet also doubles as a USB connector so you can easily charge your TalkBand B1. Though the screen of the device makes it look like its a touchscreen device, it’s not, you need a smartphone app to be able to control the information being displayed on the smartwatch. The TalkBand B1 is water- and dust-resistant, and will cost €99 or about $130.
Sony
Sony launched a new Life Log app at MWC that goes well with its SmartBand fitness tracker first seen at CES 2014. The SmartBand is more than a fitness and activity tracker as it syncs with the Life Log app, as well as communicate with phone-based software and sensors such as Facebook, camera app, GPS radio, and other apps to get to know your mobile activities.
Aside from Life Log and the SmartBand, Sony also displayed its concept for a life logging camera. The device is small and can be used as a clip on or like a necklace. Sony stated that if this does go into production, the shiny metal plate on the front of the camera could be a touch panel which could provide for more control for the user, like taking photos when needed aside from taking photos at random intervals.
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