Apple’s wearables business, which includes Apple Watch, AirPods, and Beats headphones, is rising quickly with a 60% revenue increase year over year.
This Smart Mask Can Alter Your Mind and Make You Horny
MIT has developed a smart mask that can alter your mind. It can make you horny or anxious by listening to your own breathing via feedback mechanisms. The device, called Masque, was created by artist and recent graduate of MIT Media Lab Xin Liu. In Ms. Liu’s thesis, she describes how Masque “caused wearers to feel more stressed and more sexually aroused, despite no registered change in their physiology.” She worked with industrial designer Hongxin Zhang to create it. It hides the electronics inside of its curved frame, with a temperature sensor placed underneath the wearer’s nose. Who knows? Maybe some day in the future you’ll find the Masque in your local sex shop.
CES - Healbe GoBe 2, a Wearable That Tracks Caloric Intake, Calories Burned, Hydration Levels
CES – Healbe demonstrated GoBe 2, the company’s wearable it claims can track caloric intake, calories burned, and hydration levels, all non-invasively. It uses five activity and stress sensors, with all data sent securely to the GoBe 2 app for iOS or Android. The company is also developing a portal that will allow users to send data to “trusted nutritionists/wellness coaches,” though Healbe didn’t elaborate. GoBe 2 is water resistant in fresh water, but not salt water, and it works up to 48 hours on a charge. GoBe 2 is priced at US$199, with additional strap color options available at $19 each. It’s available now.
Wearable Market Breakdown, Harry Potter AR, iPhone X Camera - ACM 437
Bryan and Jeff argue that the wearables market is breaking down into three competitors, Apple, Xiaomi, and Fitbit. All others are lolwannabes. They also think Harry Potter Wizards Unite will be way bigger than Pokémon Go, and talk about just how good the camera is on iPhone X.
Apple Watch Retakes #1 Slot in Wearables in Q3
Apple shipped 3.9 million Apple Watch units during the 3rd quarter, including some 800,000 Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular, according to estimates from Canalys.
Apple Watch Shipments Top 30 Million
Apple’s total Apple Watch shipments since the smart watch was first introduced in 2015 have topped 30 million units, according to Strategy Analytics.
Apple's Augmented Reality Glasses - TMO Daily Observations 2017-06-27
John Martellaro and Jeff Butts join Jeff Gamet take a look at Apple’s SensoMotoric purchase, augmented reality, wearable tech, and AR glasses.
Apple Dethrones Fitbit as the Top Wearables Maker
Apple has taken over Fitbit’s position as the top wearables maker for the first quarter of 2017. Wearable device shipments are on the rise, as are Apple’s sales, but Fitbit’s numbers are declining and the company laid off over 100 employees earlier this year.
Apple has a Secret Team Designing Diabetes Monitoring Sensors
Apple has a secret team working on non-invasive sensors to track blood glucose levels for diabetes patients. If the iPhone and Apple Watch maker is successful, it won’t be necessary to pierce the skin to get accurate blood sugar readings any more—something no other company has been able to figure out.
Pebble Update Lets Watches Work After Servers Shut Down
Pebble smartwatch owners got a welcome iPhone app update this week that removes the dependency on the company’s cloud servers for firmware updates and app installation. The update addresses a concern users and developers have had ever since Fitbit bought Pebble last year.
Jawbone Bails Out of Consumer Fitness Tracker Market
Apple and Fitbit are about to lose a competitor because Jawbone is ready to shut down its consumer fitness tracker business. The company is shifting to devices for health care providers.
CES 2017 Wrap Up - TMO Daily Observations 2017-01-09
With CES 2017 behind us, Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to talk about what stood out for them. They look at health and fitness, televisions, and more.
CES 2017 Expectations and Predictions- TMO Daily Observations 2017-01-03
CES 2017 is kicking off, so today Kelly Guimont joins Jeff Gamet talk about what they expect to be the big product categories at this year’s events. Be sure to follow along all week for The Mac Observer’s on-location coverage.
Apple Watch Sales Decline 71% in Third Quarter Thanks to Late Series 2 Intro
The mid-September launch of Apple Watch Series 2 wasn’t in time to help the company’s third quarter sales figures. A new report from IDC claims that Apple Watch sales fell sharply year-over-year, while cheaper wearables from companies like Fitbit surged.
