Category: Technology News

The new Access wearable technology is designed to combine tech and fashion in one device.

The Michael Kors smartwatch, called the Access, has launched. It has been anticipated for some time now and beyond the tech, many have wondered what it would look like. Now that its design has been revealed, there are a few things that stand out. The first is that it is quite attractive. The second is that it is very big.

Until now, most smartwatches have been a chunky gadget that could be customized with its strap.

There have been choices in wearable technology in which consumers can pick either nice band or a nice face. That said, no matter what, wearables tend to be a kind of fashion statement unto themselves. The Michael Kors smartwatch looks as though it might be among the first – if not the very first – to bring high levels of wearable technology and fashion into a single device. This gadget was created by the celebrated American designer in the hopes of bringing the tech into the fashion world.

The Michael Kors smartwatch runs on Android Wear and is currently offered in two different styles.

The “Bradshaw” is the smartwatch with the more feminine appearance. It has an all metal design. The “Dylan” is the wearable technology being marketed toward men. It has a sportier design. Both the Dylan and the Bradshaw are quite chunky and are definitely statement pieces. The Bradshaw is 44.5mm and the Dylan is 46mm. Both devices have a starting price of $350.

According to a Mashable report, Michael Kors created its smartwatch due to the fact that people feel that being connected all the time is crucial, regardless of where they are or what they do. A statement from the company said that their wearable technology devices provide “the best of both worlds — reliable technology and great design. We didn’t want our fans to have to choose between fashion and technology, so we’ve made it possible to have both.”

The two Michael Kors smartwatch designs come with additional options. The Dylan has three color choices and six possible straps. Of those straps, two are leather and four are silicone. The Bradshaw comes in a larger number of different metallic colors and strap possibilities. Furthermore, the faces can be customized for highlight colors, as well as dial and hand colors.

Reports of device batteries catching fire may harm the brand’s reputation but suppliers will feel the financial pinch.

Samsung Electronics has announced a massive Galaxy Note 7 recall following a growing number of reports of exploding batteries. The devices have been catching fire while they were recharging. This could mean Samsung’s reputation may take a hard hit. However, the brunt of the financial impact could end up being directed at the company’s suppliers.

Samsung’s response to the rechargeable battery problems with the Note 7 has been a rapid one.

When the Galaxy Note 7 recall was announced, Samsung said it would provide a free battery replacement or after/service. That said, it has decided not to offer customers a refund. This has been interpreted as a strategy to reduce the impact of the incident on the brand. It has also been seen as a rather inconvenient offer for the customer.

The Note 7’s official launch was on August 19 in Korea. Media there reported the sale of over 400,000 units within the country. J.P. Morgan has estimated that there will also be a delay in the shipment of up to two million units, assuming the recall affects all the devices that have been made.

The Galaxy Note 7 recall may also play a large role in deflating the current market response.

J.P. Morgan’s report said “This could also cool down heated market response, but we do not expect a material impact on sell-through in the next three to six months.”

That said, the analysts have recently reduced the level of their downside risk expectations. They have predicted that they might drop from the level maintained at present to approximately 13 million units during the third and fourth quarters of this year. The J.P. Morgan analysts explained “The company plans to correct the recall-related supply bottleneck within next couple of weeks and we expect a solid sell-in/sell-through trend from later part of this quarter.”

It’s important to point out that the incidents leading to the Galaxy Note 7 occurred only during the wired charging. The wireless charging feature has not been associated with the fires.