Spice Smart Pulse Smartwatch With Voice Calling Launched at Rs. 3,999

Spice Retail has launched its first smartwatch, the Spice Smart Pulse M 9010. The smartwatch features dual-SIM support along with voice calling. Priced at Rs. 4,999 (MRP), the Spice Smart Pulse M 9010 will be available with an MOP of Rs. 3,999 via HomeShop18 from July 11.

The Spice Smart Pulse M 9010 supports 2G dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) and runs the company's proprietary Java-based operating system. It can be paired with Android smartphones via BT notifier app (download apk) offered by Spice. Once paired with a smartphone, users will be able to see notifications, receive calls, view call logs, read and write SMS, remote camera capture and music streaming.

Spice Smart Pulse M 9010 smartwatch features a 1.5-inch touchscreen with a 240x320 pixels resolution. Spice has not specified the smartwatch's processor details.

The Spice Smart Pulse M 9010 smartwatch comes with one digital (1.3-megapixel) camera for taking pictures. It supports an additional 8GB of storage expansion via microSD card, while the built-in storage is not specified by the company.

Connectivity options on Smart Pulse M 9010 include 2G (GPRS/ EDGE), and Bluetooth. It also has audio video player, FM radio and supports Hindi along with English language. The Spice Smart Pulse M 9010 packs a 420mAh Li-Ion battery which is rated for up to 180 minutes of talk time and up to 2 days of standby time.

The smartwatch measures 41.7x53.7x13.6 mm and will be available in Black and Blue colour. Spice is also bundling a free Bluetooth headset and two different colour interchangeable wrist bands with Spice Smart Pulse M 9010.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. T M Ramakrishnan, CEO Devices, Spice Retail Limited said, "The Smart Pulse is innovative for its dual-SIM functionality, utilitarian for its Bluetooth pairability, and fashionable for the changeable wrist bands that come with it, a unique feature for this category."

Asus to Launch Sub-$150 Android Wear Smartwatch This September: Report

Asus is reportedly working on its own wearable device, a smartwatch running Android Wear, which will be launching in September.

Techcrunch, citing sources familiar with Asus' plans, has claimed that the Taiwanese giant will launch an Android Wear smartwatch at a price point targeted to be below the LG G Watch (Rs. 14,999) and Samsung Gear Live (Rs. 15,900).

The report suggested that the company is setting a September launch for the unnamed wearable device and will pack an AMOLED display.

Further, the report goes on to claim that Asus might price its Android Wear smartwatch between $99 (roughly Rs. 6,000) and $149 (roughly Rs. 9,000) at launch.

The decision to wait for a later release of the Asus smartwatch was reportedly taken to avoid a "rush" in efforts. The report notes that LG, during the unveiling of the G Watch, had given time constraint reason for not including heart rate monitor in the device, which clearly indicated that the Mountain View giant must have set an Android Wear release window for the company.

As of now, there is no word on specifications of the unnamed Asus' Android Wear smartwatch.

Asus, earlier this year, was said to be working on a smartwatch that would feature a customisable gesture interface and voice-commands. However, this was before Google revealed its Android Wear plans.

Soon after Google's I/O, the LG G Watch, initially unveiled in March, was up for pre-order with 'Add to Cart' option at Rs. 14,999 in India. Meanwhile, one of the biggest news at I/O was Samsung joining forces with Google to launch its first Android Wear-based smartwatch, Gear Live.

The Samsung Gear Live, on the other hand, was listed on Google Play at Rs. 15,900 with a 'coming soon' tag. The other Android Wear smartwatch we know about, the Moto 360, will only be available later in the American Summer.

Another key iWatch hire shows how Apple could put other smartwatches to shame

The smartwatch market has suddenly got very crowded over the last year, in good part thanks to the five different smartwatches Samsung has released in the last eight months alone. So how will Apple differentiate itself when the iWatch finally comes to market this fall? From what we’ve heard, it seems Apple is going to position the iWatch as the ultimate fitness tracking machine that will reportedly pack 10 different sensors you can use to check up on your health. And now Network World has spotted a recent Apple hire who could help make the iWatch even better than what we’ve been expecting.

Alex Hsieh, the former lead software engineer at Atlas Wearables, joined Apple this month and Network World points out that he spent his time at Atlas working on “a fitness tracker akin to other wearable devices, albeit on steroids.”

What made this device so special? Even though it hasn’t yet released, Network Worldsays that it “promises to measure a user’s calories burned, heart rate, and distance traveled during a particular workout” and can also “purportedly evaluate a user’s form during various exercises while also keeping track of reps and sets performed.” It seems that the device is also pre-programmed with popular exercises that it can teach you if you’re looking for new ways to work out.

Since Hsieh only recently came aboard, it’s tough to say whether we’ll see anything similar on the iWatch when it comes out. However, his hiring definitely an indication that Apple is looking at making this device much more of an all-purpose fitness tracker and not just a smartphone for your wrist.

Rumor: Apple's 'iWatch' to have 'slightly rectangular' 2.5" display, wireless charging

A fresh set of rumors about Apple's anticipated "iWatch" were supplied on Thursday by mainstream media outlet, which was told by an unnamed source that the device will boast wireless charging capabilities, and will sport a slightly rectangular watch face.

 "iWatch" concept by Martin Hajek.

The face of the watch will measure about 2.5 inches diagonally, according to Reuters, which cited a person familiar with the unannounced product. That face is expected to protrude slightly from the band and create an arch shape.

The display of the watch is expected to be a touchscreen supplied by LG Display, and Taiwan-based Quanta Computer Inc. is said to be planning to start production of the device in July.

The source also claimed that the device will include a heart rate monitor from Heptagon that will track the wearer's pulse. That aligns with rumors from over a year ago that said the device is expected to focus on biometrics for health and fitness feedback.

The so-called "iWtach" also expected to feature wireless charging — something The New York Times also claimed earlier this year.

Apple is said to be planning a media event for this October where it's expected to introduce the company's "first wearable device," which is widely believed to be a wrist-worn connected device. The "iWatch" is believed to tap into the new HealthKit tools for developers that Apple will include in the forthcoming iOS 8 mobile operating system, which is currently available in beta for testing.

Other recent reports have suggested the device will sport a flexible OLED touchscreen. Such technology could allow Apple to introduce unique designs not possible with traditional LCD panels. 

Google Fit Health Platform for Android Tipped to Debut at I/O 2014

Google seems to be all set to introduce a new health-focused platform that will offer the ability to collect data from connected devices including wearable devices and apps, Forbes reports. The report is lent credence by the fact that both Apple and Samsung announced their own health platforms,HealthKit and SAMI respectively.

The report, citing multiple sources, claims that 'Google Fit' will be able to gather health-related data from wearables using open APIs, and can be expected to debut at the company's annual developers' conference, Google I/O, which is scheduled from June 25 to 26.

Forbes was unable to confirm whether the Google Fit platform will be a service integrated in Android's next version or a standalone app that can be downloaded from Google Play. Apple is doing both, also featuring its own Health app apart from the HealthKit platform.

The report further claimed that Google will also announce tie-ups with wearable device makers at its I/O conference later this month. However, does not name any of the companies likely to be part of Google's health-focused platform.

Another source cited by the report suggests that the rumoured Google Fit would allow wearables that measure health-focused data such as heart-rate and steps to share information with Google's cloud-based service. As of now, there is no official word from Google on such a plan.

If the report turns out to be true, then Google's anticipated Google Fit health-focused platform will be up against the likes of Apple's HealthKit platform, which will be available for general public this fall with iOS 8. HealthKit allows health and fitness apps (including Apple's own Health app) to communicate with each other to manage both in sync with both doctors and fitness trainers.

The rumoured Google Fit platform will also be up against the Samsung Architecture for Multimodal Interactions project (or SAMI) which was introduced recently.

It's worth pointing out that the rumoured Google Fit platform will be the search engine giant's second foray into the health sector. Previously, Google in 2011 pulled the plug on its Health and PowerMeter services that didn't do well since their debut in 2009.

Apple to Launch First Wearable Device in October: Reports

Apple is preparing to sell its first wearable device this October, aiming to produce 3 million to 5 million units a month in its initial run, the Nikkei reported on Friday, citing an unidentified parts supplier and sources familiar with the matter.

Specifications are still being finalised, but the devices are likely to sport curved OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays and sensors that collect health data from blood glucose and calorie consumption to sleep activity, the Japanese news service cited industry sources as saying.

Though the details of services have yet to be released, specs for the new product are being finalised, according to industry sources. It will likely use a curved organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touchscreen and collect health-related data, such as calorie consumption, sleep activity, blood glucose and blood oxygen levels. It will also allow users to read messages sent by smartphones.

Apple appears confident of the new product. According to a parts manufacturer, it plans monthly commercial output of about 3-5 million units, which exceeds the total global sales of watch-like devices last year. This confidence is backed by its partnerships with high-profile hospitals - it has teamed up with the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic, U.S. health institutes based in Minnesota and Ohio, respectively, to develop specific ways of analysing the collected data and applying it to actual health management

Meanwhile, a report in Re/code corroborates this view:

People familiar with Apple's plans tell Code/red the company hopes to schedule a special event that month to show off the device, which is designed to make good use of the HealthKit health and fitness information-gathering app it recently showed off at WWDC. Could things change between now and fall? That's certainly possible. But right now October is the target date.

The industry has long expected Apple to unveil some sort of smartwatch, following the release ofSamsung Electronics' Galaxy Gear watches.

Wall Street is hoping to see a new Apple product this year to galvanise the former stock market darling's share price and end a years-long drought of ground-breaking devices. CEO Tim Cook has promised "new product categories" in 2014.

Apple declined to comment.

Written with inputs from Reuters

LG Lifeband Touch: First Impressions

Smart capabilities have become the latest marketing pitch to sell more wristwatches, TVs, eyeglasses, refrigerators, cars and even toothbrushes. But have we figured out why they need to be smart?

I asked myself that as I wore LG's Lifeband Touch day and night for a week.

The new computerized wristband tracks workouts and calories burned and syncs with the LG Fitness app on an iPhone, iPad or Android device. It can also control music on a phone and alerts incoming calls and emails, at least for Android users.

The Lifeband marks the entry of LG Electronics Inc. into the fledgling market of wearable gadgets and follows smartwatches from Samsung Electronics Co., Sony Corp. and others. LG started selling the Lifeband in the US last month for $150. It will be available in parts of Asia and Europe in coming weeks.

The screen
As a fitness tracker, the Lifeband is meant to be used a lot outdoors. But its finger-length touch screen is hard to see in direct sunlight. I was unable to adjust the brightness, and I needed to find shade to make out the characters.

For just $50 more, you can get Samsung's Gear Fit  with a curved screen capable of displaying clear and vibrant colors and which is readable in direct sunlight. The LG's screen offers only black and white.

Odd fit
The Lifeband doesn't have a strap that can be fastened and adjusted to the size of the wearer's wrist. Rather, it has a bendable plastic band, with a gap that widens to let the wrist slip in. The band then locks itself in place once on the wrist.

Although not having a strap to buckle on and off makes the Lifeband easy to wear and remove, it will dangle if the band is too big. The Lifeband comes in three sizes, and if your wrist is narrower, you might have to pull the wristband toward your forearm. By contrast, you can adjust the Gear's strap.

I often had to take off the gadget while writing or typing on a computer because it was too thick and heavy. I described it to friends as a digital handcuff because it squeezed my arm and kept moving between my wrist and my forearm.

Fitness tracking
You click the device's timer before beginning a workout, such as a run. Afterward, the phone or tablet app shows the route along with the distance, calories consumed and speed.

The Lifeband also counts the number of steps walked throughout the day. It can also measure heart rate with a $180 companion earphone.

Fitness coaching
The Lifeband vibrated as I got closer to the goal I set of one hour of walking each day. At a quarter of the way in, it vibrated and displayed: "25 percent achieved." It also vibrates at random moments and tells you to "Stretch stretch" or "Move move."

That was more distracting than motivating. It's one thing to have a personal trainer at a gym tell you what to do. It's another to have a wristband that doesn't understand how my day was going. It wanted me to stretch when I was busy typing on a keyboard. It wanted me to move when I was having a coffee with a friend. Instead, I simply ignored the device.

I would have been more likely to exercise had the wristband been mindful of my daily routines. My only option was to turn this feature off.

Notifications
The Lifeband alerts you to incoming calls, but it cannot receive or make calls. I got a vibration for a call I would have missed with my iPhone in silent mode. To answer it, however, I still scratched my head wondering where I had left the phone.

The Lifeband also gives notifications for incoming emails but not when it's paired with an iPhone or an iPad. With Android, you get the sender's name and subject line, but none of the message itself. It's a common problem with the small screens on wrist devices, and it left me wondering why I would need one.

The bright side
Its battery lasted as long as promised - five days on a full charge. But other fitness trackers offer similar functions, often at lower prices.

The case for it?
Not compelling.

If it's meant to be an outdoor fitness device, then it needs a display that works outdoors. If it's meant to encourage you to work out, then it needs to avoid nagging and let you work exercise into your schedule.