Tag: smartwatch

Smartwatch for kids from AT&T provides a practical upgrade

| November 17, 2014

This wearable technology has been designed to be easier to use and more durable than previous versions.

As mobile technology becomes increasingly child friendly and kids become smartphone owners on a rapidly expanding basis, it also makes sense that wearable technology such as the smartwatch would also cater to the youngest demographic.

Though Pebble, Moto 360, and Samsung Gear may not be appropriate, there are several models meant just for kids.

Among them, AT&T has been selling the FiLIP 2, which is an upgraded version of the model that was first released last year. That smartwatch was meant to function as a phone that is worn on the wrist and that also works as a child locator for parents who are worried that their kids will go missing through miscommunication or other circumstance that can cause a child to end up somewhere that he or she should not be. So far, this year’s version has been receiving applause from the first consumers who have had their hands – and wrists – on these devices.

The newest version of this smartwatch is easier for parents to set up and is more practical in the real world.

The FiLIP 2 is meant to be simpler for parents to connect to their own smartphones through mobile apps, and is improved for use in the real world. For example, the screen on this wearable technology is now considerably more durable than the previous version, which is important when worn by children, who are notoriously hard on their belongings – particularly when they are being worn in the playground.

The wristband has also been improved in order to make it more adjustable for a better fit – even after the child has grown – and more comfortable overall. This was a complaint about previous models, as the wristband was not able to change sizes in order to allow for children to get bigger over time.

Though this device isn’t cheap, at a current price of $100 (which will be increasing to $150 after the end of the holiday shopping season), in addition to $10 per month to add this smartwatch to an existing phone plan (meaning that by the end of next year, more will have been spent on connecting it to the phone plan than was paid for the device, itself), it does have a range of features that many parents and kids find highly appealing, if only the peace of mind of always knowing where the child is located.

Microsoft will launch a smartwatch very soon

| October 27, 2014

The company will be taking its first steps into the wearable technology category within upcoming weeks.

Microsoft is now preparing for an important new product launch as it will make its way into the wearable technology device category through its upcoming smartwatch device, according to a recent report from Forbes.

This wearable device will provide a range of features such as tracking the heart rate of the wearer.

One aspect that is quite interesting about the upcoming Microsoft smartwatch is that it is meant to be compatible with a range of different mobile platforms. Moreover, it will also have a considerable battery life that will last over two days when the device is used regularly, said the Forbes report.

This will place Microsoft in direct competition with the smartwatch rivals from Samsung, Motorola, and others.

Smartwatch - MicrosoftGalaxy Gear wearable technology from Samsung has already been released in several versions and generations. Equally, the Moto 360 has represented the first option in the category from Motorola. This also brings Microsoft into the wearables arena just as the lucrative holiday season will be getting going. That will bring it onto the store shelves ahead of the competition from Apple, which is not set to be released until sometime in early 2015.

The first reports of wearables from Microsoft began appearing earlier this year in May, when it was working on a gadget that would employ the Kinect division’s optical engineering tech and that would be able to sync not only with Windows Phones but also smartphones that are based on Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS.

At the time that this article was written, the company had not released any details with regards to what it intends to actually name its smartwatch. It also has not given any indication as to the type of price tag that should be expected on the device. This is not only a major step into a new product category for Microsoft, but it is also a large step being taken by the CEO of the company, Satya Nadella, as this territory is considered to be primarily an uncharted one.