Wearables
Moto 360 2015 and Moto 360 Sport revealed ahead of IFA launch
As IFA Berlin 2015 and the many launches that it is supposed to host approaches, people are getting more and more excited about what manufacturers have to teach us about next-gen technology. Motorola is going to be at IFA, but that’s not where their main event this month is going to be hosted. The Moto 360 2015 or Moto 360 2nd generation, however you want to call it, is the next big thing from Lenovo-owned Motorola, as their new smartphone line-up has already been revealed last month.
The Moto 360 2015 release date is set for this week, but the launch event won’t concentrate at IFA, instead Motorola is hosting a very exclusive event in Beijing to launch their brand new wearable. Since yesterday the new Android Wear app was updated and launched in the iOS store, making the Moto 360 completely compatible with iOS, the new generation of the smart watch is garnering even more attention worldwide. The hype is growing and people are excited to see what the new Moto 360 2015 will look like. We can help with that.
Thanks to HelloMotoHK, the new Moto 360 2015 is now fully unveiled, or at least its design. We’ve seen renders of the device before a couple of times, and while renders and concepts can be a good guideline, the real thing is much more convincing. HelloMotoHK are pretty reliable when it comes to leaked information, so we trust that the photos they’ve shared with us are as authentic as possible at this time. Nonetheless, take the information with a grain of salt until the Moto 360 2015 release date comes around.
According to Lenovo, who has spilled the beans on Weibo this weekend, the Moto 360 2015 release date is set for September 8 and the event will be held in Beijing. Until that event, we’re sure that Motorola is going to show off the new wearable at IFA Berlin, too, seeing as it lasts until September 9. Motorola hasn’t confirmed the appearance of the new wearable at the fair, but we have a hunch that we’re in for a surprise this year.
Judging by the new leaked pictures, the Moto 360 2015 won’t be much of a design upgrade when it comes to display, as the black bar on the bottom is staying. Nonetheless, the watch will be decidedly premium as materials used in the manufacturing process of the wearable include aircraft grade aluminum, sapphire glass and even diamonds. Although almost all Moto 360 users testified online that the black bar doesn’t bother them and doesn’t impact user experience, Motorola remained a step behind Samsung this time. Samsung just launched the Samsung Gear S2, their newest smart watch, and it comes with a full circle display which seems to attract quite a few newcomers.
Specs and features of the new Moto 360 2015 aren’t final yet, but it is said that the wearable will have a bigger battery, of about 500 mAh and an autonomy of about 3 days. It will support both standards of wireless charging and Android Wear is going to be upgraded when the device is launched. Motorola has supposedly been working on a couple of new software features to implement in the Moto 360 2015, but information about them is scarce, so that’s going to be one of the surprises of September 8.
The Moto 360 2015 will be available in two different variants, similarly to the Apple Watch: the Moto 360 Sport and the Moto 360 2nd generation. The sport version will have a different design and it’s going to be waterproof with an IP67 certification, and the standard variant will be a stainless steel, gold-plated variant that will cost about $300 a pop. The Moto 360 Sport price is uncertain yet, because waterproof certification might add a bit to the price tag, but we suspect the watch to be between $250 and $450, tops, depending on variant.
Although unofficial, the Moto 360 2015 is already turning heads with its sleek design and thanks to the presumably authentic images, we can now adjust our expectations of the new device. Speaking of expectations: what would you like to see in the new Moto 360 2015? Does the Sport variant appeal to you more now that it’s out or do you think watches should remain luxurious and stylish?
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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