Welcome to The Wearable Weekly, your trusted guide to all things wearable tech. If you only have time to read one thing about wearables this week, this is it.
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Industry Highlights
This was definitely Microsoft’s week in wearable tech, with news on its latest fitness device and its much anticipated HoloLens. Microsoft debuted its second-generation Microsoft Band, which sports a sleeker, thinner design and more sensors, including a barometer and VO2 Max. The company also opened applications for developers to get access to its mixed reality headset, HoloLens, for a whopping price of $3,000. The company also showed off a new game for HoloLens called Project XRay which turns your environment into the game and puts and equips the player with a holographic weapon on their arm.
Zuckerberg confirms Facebook is working on augmented reality technology. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg confirmed at Vanity Fair’s New Establishment Summit that the company is working on augmented reality technology but that it is “a bit farther out.”
Space and wearables was a common theme this week as we saw the winner of the NASA smartwatch challenge be announced and the movie “The Martian” released an iOS/Apple Watch game. The NASA smartwatch app winner featured crew timeline as well as alerts, communication status and timers for International Space Station procedures in one Apple Watch app. Meanwhile, the widely popular movie “The Martian” engaged fans in the experience using their iPhones and Apple Watch’s as part of an interactive game.
Device Announcements
Loop Devices unveils Gemio, a connected friendship bracelet (Forbes)
Microsoft opens up applications for HoloLens to developers at price point of $3,000 (CNET)
Microsoft debuts its second generation Microsoft Band with more sensors and sleeker look (MobileSyrup)
ASUS ZenWatch 2 launches in the Google Store (Engadget)
Sensoria and OHI launching fall detection smart sock (MobiHealthNews)
Funding, Crowdfunding & M&A
Sony acquired computer vision startup SoftKinetic (Re/Code)
LookSee Labs successfully funds e-ink bracelet Eyecatcher with time on the clock (Kickstarter)
Modular smartwatch BLOCKS set to crowdfund its device next week (PhoneArena)
Loon Labs successfully funds its smart menstrual cup Looncup on Kickstarter (TechCrunch)
Apple Watch Hermès is now available starting at $1,100 (TNW)
Major Milestones
Microsoft demos Project XRay AR game for HoloLens (Engadget)
Apple now selling “Made for Apple Watch” lugs for third-party bands (MacRumors)
ASUS releases new app to allow for easy watchface creation (9to5Google)
NASA smartwatch app winner selected (Wareable)
Google Street View 2.0 gets Cardboard support (Slashgear)
The Martian movie launches Apple Watch game (Mashable)
InStyle partners with Jaunt to debut VR magazine cover (Reuters Canada)
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