Wearables
Sayonara HTC Grip, but hello HTC Health.
When HTC introduced the HTC One M9 and the Vive VR headset, the company also unveiled the HTC Grip, the company’s first wearable device. Fitness trackers and smart watches are becoming fashionable pretty fast, and while it would have been nice for HTC to jump on the wagon early in (it’s debatable how early 2015 can actually be), it seems like that’s not happening. HTC is having a pretty bad year, with disastrous feedback about the HTC One M9. Excitement surrounding the Valve collaboration for the Vive VR headset is keeping fans of the company afloat, but with the news of the HTC Grip being cancelled, there aren’t many things to look forward to from this company.
Fans are angry because while the One M9 is a good smartphone, the Asia-exclusive HTC One M9 Plus is better. Although people seemed to be very interested in the minimalist HTC Grip fitness tracker, it looks like HTC can’t put out, at least not anytime soon. The company is going to focus on other things, like improving their smartphone line-up and promoting the Vive and virtual reality, but that’s probably not the reason why the HTC Grip is no longer a possibility.
The HTC Grip release date is long overdue, as it should have been launched in Spring. But it seems like anticipation, hype and the potential for orders was not enough to go forth with shipping of the device. Whether that’s the reason for cancelling the HTC Grip or not is unclear. In a statement for Engadget, a spokesperson for the company said that the HTC Grip would be “realigned” with the rest of the health products that the company is going to launch later this year.
HTC has been teasing heart rate monitors, sleep monitors and various other medical- and health-related devices and wearables, and it seems like the company decided against the individual launch of the HTC Grip in order to create a more comprehensive health platform when the time comes. But we don’t know when that time will be right now. All we know is that HTC is prepping something in the wearable department and it should be awesome.
Wearables
Samsung Galaxy Buds Return to All-Time Low Price at Best Buy, Grab a Pair for $80 Today
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live may be the better option if earbuds with a stem design, like Apple’s AirPods, feel unpleasant or frequently fall out of your ears. These bean-shaped true wireless earbuds are among our top picks because of their cutting-edge design and excellent sound, which we found to be even better than the original AirPods Pro. And right now, Best Buy has the opportunity to get them for less than half the regular cost. Only today, you can save $70 and get a pair of Galaxy Buds Live for just $80, which matches the lowest price we’ve seen thus far.
One of the most affordable pairs of earbuds you’ll find in this price range is the Galaxy Buds Live, which retail for about $80. They have three microphones for active noise-cancellation, as well as a 12mm speaker that has been adjusted and improved for bass for rich, immersive sound. Although they still let in a good bit of background noise because of their open-ear design.
The Buds Live feature an IPX2 water-resistance rating, making them safe to use during workouts and resistant to sweat and splashing, but you shouldn’t use them in the rain. They can operate for up to 29 hours on a single charge, including top-ups from the charging case, which doubles as a wireless charger for your phone. There are smaller reductions on other colors as well, but this offer is only valid on the white and black color options.
Read more in the 2020 Galaxy Buds Live review by David Carnoy. He gave them an 8.2 out of 10 and stated, “They’re quite unique-looking, inconspicuous, and not only do they fit securely, but they’re comfortable to wear for long periods of time.”
Gadgets
In the upcoming fall, Sony’s wireless earbuds will support multipoint connections
Sony is not just using environmentally friendly materials to upgrade its wireless earbuds. Now, the business claims that multipoint audio functionality will be added to its LinkBuds, LinkBuds S, and WF-1000XM4 models this fall. This allows you to switch between the audio on two Bluetooth devices, just as other competing earbuds. For instance, while watching a video on your tablet, you can switch to a call on your phone.
Sony’s Headphones Connect app offers fresh firmware that is necessary for the enhancement. The multipoint update for the LinkBuds family should be available by November, while the WF-1000XM4 should follow suit this winter.
The WF-1000XM4 upgrade is fairly unexpected, as The Verge noted. Midway through 2021, when Sony first began to market that device, it had not even hinted at a multipoint update. The news won’t help you much if you have cheap headphones like the WF-C500, but at least you won’t feel left out if you spent a lot on wireless audio last year.
Sony now has a competitive advantage over some of its rivals, at least. While competitors like Apple’s AirPods offer smooth audio switching, you’re typically constrained to a single brand’s environment. If you don’t want to be restricted to specific platforms or goods merely to avoid slogging through Bluetooth device menus, Sony’s multipoint functionality might make more sense.
Gadgets
At $250, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 reaches a new low.
If you’ve had your eye on the brand-new Galaxy Watch 5 from Samsung but were awaiting a discount, one is now available. The 40mm model in three hues (Grey, Pink Gold, and Silver) is available for $250 on Amazon’s Woot site, saving you $30 or 11% off the list price.
In our previous review, the Galaxy Watch 5 received a strong 85 points, and we once again dubbed it “the greatest non-Apple smartwatch.” Over the Watch 4, Samsung concentrated more on improving it, giving it a longer battery life (up to 80 hours), stronger Sapphire Crystal glass, and an inactive temperature sensor.
The design and features are otherwise unchanged, which is a good thing. With a touch-sensitive ring surrounding the screen and a snappy 5-nanometer Exynos processor, it runs Wear OS and employs Samsung’s bezel-based navigation. This offers you access to a variety of apps, sleep tracking and coaching, health and fitness tracking, and countless other features. The body-impedance analysis tool allows you to take ECG scans, reply to messages, control music playing, and more. It also allows you to acquire a reading of your body composition.
The sensors are kept in contact with your wrist by the slightly curved underside, which is rated IP68, 5ATM, and MIL-STD-810H for durability (water, dust and pressure resistance). The biggest drawback is that, in comparison to the Apple Watch 7, battery life is significantly reduced with the always-on display. Even so, it’s the greatest Android smartwatch currently on the market, and discounts on such a brand-new product are uncommon. Remember that Woot’s offers have a shorter expiration date and a different return policy than its parent company, Amazon.
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