Tag: wearables

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple launches repair program for Apple Watch Series 6 blank screen issue

Apple has launched a new service program for Apple Watch Series 6 smartwatches suffering from blank screen problems. The tech giant says that affected Series 6 owners can request a free repair directly through Apple or an authorized repair provider.

According to Apple, only a small number of 40mm Apple Watch Series 6 models suffer from this issue, which turns the wearable’s display blank permanently. Series 6 smartwatches affected by the issue were manufactured between April and September 2021.

If you want to check if your Series 6 is eligible for a repair, you can enter its serial number on Apple’s website. Apple says that the program covers the Series 6 for two years after the purchase of the smartwatch. The 44mm Apple Watch Series 6 is not affected by this issue.

For more on the Apple Watch Series 6, check out my review of the smartwatch from back in 2020.

Source: Apple Via: 9to5Mac

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Sony’s LinkBuds S offer advanced noise-cancelling and have a huge vent: leak

It looks like Sony’s upcoming LinkBuds have leaked online. According to leaker SnoopyTech, the company’s noise-cancelling LinkBuds S could be revealed soon.

The LinkBuds S/WF-LSN900 reportedly offer true noise-cancelling functionality that can shift to ambient sound mode and enable automatic playback by learning your behaviour.

Each bud features a huge vent, which is probably how it will enable the advanced ambient sound mode.

According to the leak, the LinkBuds S will come in grey and beige colour variants; however, The Walkman Blog says it’ll also be available in white.

Earlier this year, Sony released the original LinkBuds for $249.99. This model sports a big hole in the middle of the earbuds.

It’s unclear when Sony will launch the LinkBuds S.

Source: SnoopyTech Via: The Verge

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Leaked Pixel Watch photos offer the best look at the smartwatch yet

Leaks surrounding Google’s often-rumoured Pixel Watch have been appearing at a rapid rate over the last few weeks, but this latest image offers what seems to be the best look yet at the upcoming smartwatch.

According to a new report from Android Central, the publication was tipped off by someone who found an engineering sample of Google’s rumoured smartwatch in a restaurant in the United States. The source of the information asked the publication not to mention “their name or the restaurant name, including location, in order to protect their job.”

The leaked images back up what we’ve seen in several leaked renders, showing off the Pixel Watch’s circular design and Apple Watch-like Digital Crown on the right side.

Pixel Watch back

Android Central also mentions that the images show off a possible hidden button and that the wearable will use a propriety watch band. A recent leak indicated that the Pixel Watch’s current internal codename at Google is ‘Rohan.’ Google also filed for the ‘Pixel Watch’ trademark name in the United States.

It’s worth noting that this leak is strikingly similar to when Gizmodo reported on an iPhone 4 prototype that was misplaced at a restaurant. Though it’s still unclear, it appears that this leak surrounding the Pixel Watch could feature similar circumstances.

It’s likely that Google plans to officially revealed the Pixel Watch during I/O 2022 on May 11th and 12th next month.

Check out all of the leaked images of the Pixel Watch on Android Central.

Image credit: Android Central 

Source: Android Central 

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Users report Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 getting ECG update in Canada

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 seems to be getting an update that many Canadians have been looking forward to.

A new update that hit one of our Canadian reader’s wearable indicates that the Galaxy Watch 4 finally features blood-pressure and ECG monitoring in Canada. The update is available with Galaxy smartphones running Android 7.0 or later.

Back in February, Samsung made a blog post about the Galaxy Watch 4 getting ECG in Canada, but users say the update didn’t hit their devices in March like was scheduled to.

Now, many have turned to Twitter and the Samsung’s community forums, commenting that the update has finally arrived.

We’ve reached out to Samsung for official confirmation regarding the features’ release.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 always could monitor ECG, but without Canadian regulator clearance, the feature wasn’t accessible.

Source: @Da_Ali_G_Show, Samsung Community

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple Watch blood pressure tracking features reportedly delayed to 2024

Rumours regarding the Apple Watch featuring a blood-pressure monitoring feature have been swirling since before the wearable was even released, and it appears those eagerly anticipating the functionality will be forced to wait a little longer.

Several reports from last year indicated that blood-pressure monitoring could arrive alongside the Apple Watch Series 7 last fall, but those rumours didn’t turn out to be accurate. Now, a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests blood-pressure monitoring might not make its way to Apple’s wearable until 2024.

Bloomberg says that Apple is experiencing difficulties with the monitor’s accuracy. The report goes on to say that the Apple Watch won’t be capable of recording specific blood-pressure readings and that instead, will alert users about hypertension and suggest contacting their doctor.

Like blood-pressure tracking functionality, rumours surrounding blood sugar monitoring and the Apple Watch have been circulating for years. Gurman says that this feature is likely still several years away and that there’s currently no rumour regarding its target release date.

Apple’s upcoming watchOS 9 update is expected to feature refreshed older Watch Faces, expanded women’s health functionality, and a better low-power mode.

Source: Bloomberg

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Study suggests skin tone determines how accurately smartwatches monitor heart data

A new University of Toronto research suggests that people with dark skin colours might have been getting wrong heart rate readings from their wearables all along.

According to the UofT study, the light you see on the rear of wearables is the culprit. Traditional wearables measure your heart rate by beaming light through your wrist and observing how much of it is absorbed. A high rate of absorption signals high blood flow, and vice versa.

The reasoning behind this procedure not functioning optimally for people with darker skins is because of the presence of melanin in higher quantities.

Melanin is a naturally occurring chemical in the body, and it is responsible for determining your skin and hair colour. Coincidentally, Melanin is also a very effective absorbent of light, and that’s how it messes up the wearable’s heart readings.

“People need to be aware that there are some limitations for people with darker skin tones when using these devices, and the results should be taken with a grain of salt,” said Dr. Daniel Koerber, the research co-lead author, in a statement. “Algorithms are often developed in homogeneous white populations, which may lead to results that are not as generalizable as we would like. Ongoing research and development of these devices should emphasize the inclusion of populations of all skin tones so that the developed algorithms can best accommodate for variations in innate skin light absorption.”

This data comes from over 622 other published studies and four of which found that heart rate readings were “significantly less accurate” in dark skin individuals when compared to their light skin counterparts.

According to Koerber, algorithms for tracking heart rate in wearables are generally “developed in homogeneous white populations,” which also contributes to the inaccuracies when said wearables are used by those with dark skin.

The findings of the study will be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in April. Learn more about the study here.

Via: CTV News

Categories
Mobile Syrup

OnePlus will reportedly launch a mid-range watch later this year

OnePlus might be ready to step into the smartwatch market again.

For those who don’t remember, OnePlus launched the OnePlus Watch early last year, a device that was greeted with unfavourable reviews. The watch wasn’t as capable as industry staples like the Apple Watch, Fitbit and Garmin, making it difficult for the wearable to find a place for itself in the saturated market.

MobileSyrup staff reporter Bradley Bennett gave the watch a 5/10 rating and said, “With the OnePlus Watch, the company has built a decent beta wearable and I think with a few more cycles of refinement, it could have an excellent activity tracker on their hands.”

Since then, it appears OnePlus has gone back to the drawing board, and according to 91Mobiles, a new smartwatch, under the company’s mid-range Nord sub-brand might be on the way.

We aren’t sure if the smartwatch will make its way to Canada. According to the leak, the watch will release in India alongside the OnePlus Nord 3 sometime in the second half of 2022 for ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 (roughly $80 to $132 CAD). For reference, the original OnePlus Watch costs $219.

Though nothing is certain, 91Mobiles speculates that the watch will offer a range of health tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, SpO2 monitoring, sleep tracking, music control, smartphone notifications, along with a full touch screen colour display.

Source: 91Mobiles

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 will reportedly sport a bigger battery

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 is the perfect smartwatch for people firmly planted in Samsung’s ecosystem of devices. However, during my time with the wearable, I found that its battery life isn’t very impressive.

Its rumoured successor, the Galaxy Watch 5, will reportedly feature better battery life. Certification documentation first spotted by SamMobile indicates that the Galaxy Watch 5 will sport a battery of 276mAh. In comparison, the Galaxy Watch 4 ships with a 247mAh battery.

With a larger battery in the smaller variant, it’s also likely the Galaxy Watch 5 will feature a bigger battery as well.

Further, the Galaxy Watch 5 might also include a temperature sensor. According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Watch 5 will launch in the third quarter of the year, likely around August or September.

Source: SamMobile

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Mobvoi’s latest $125 smartwatch packs in advanced heart rate tracking

If you’re looking for a budget smartwatch with extensive heart rate tracking, this new TicWatch GTH Pro from Mobvoi could be a perfect choice.

I’ll start by clarifying that I’ve yet to test out this watch, so if you plan to buy it for legitimate medical reasons, I’d strongly suggest talking to a medical expert.

If you’re just trying to get SWOLE, keep reading.

This watch is an iterative update to Mobvoi’s poorly regarded TicWatch GTH. Still, the hardware that sets the watch apart is a selection of photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors on the side and bottom that work similarly to the electrocardiogram in Apple Watch Series 4 or newer.

Mobvoi is careful to stress that while similar, the technology isn’t the same. This is likely because selling a device as an Electrocardigam needs regulatory approval from Health Canada. What we do know is that it uses algorithms based on proprietary SphygmoCor technology from ATCOR, an Australian-based heart health company.

In a press release from ATCOR, the company claims that it’s been working with Mobvoi over the past two years to bring its central arterial waveform measuring technology to this “non-medical wearable device.”

Specifically, these new sensors can track your heart rate, exercise capacity, heart-stress index, arterial age and something called an Arty Score. This number is just a combination of some key factors into one tally to make it easier for users to get understandable/glanceable information to compare themselves against.

Since this watch is meant for fitness, I think this makes a lot of sense here. That said, it will only matter if Mobvoi can improve its fitness tracking.

Beyond these new heart tracking features, the watch is loaded with 14 pre-set workout modes, a blood oxygen sensor, sleep tracking, waterproofing and more. It’s an appealing wearable package, especially considering its lower cost.

The main issue with this smartwatch is that it’s a bit convoluted to get in Canada right now. I was able to add one to my cart from Amzon.com, and it says that it will ship to Canada for an extra $27 CAD. The TicWatch GTH Pro costs $100 USD (roughly $126 CAD).

MobileSyup has reached out for a review unit from Mobvoi, but if you’re interested in the smartwatch I’d suggest reading a few reviews on the TicWatch GTH to get a basis of Mobvoi’s lower-end wearable reputation.

Source: Mobvoi, ATCOR

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Mobvoi’s latest $125 smartwatch packs in advanced heart rate tracking

If you’re looking for a budget smartwatch with extensive heart rate tracking, this new TicWatch GTH Pro from Mobvoi could be a perfect choice.

I’ll start by clarifying that I’ve yet to test out this watch, so if you plan to buy it for legitimate medical reasons, I’d strongly suggest talking to a medical expert.

If you’re just trying to get SWOLE, keep reading.

This watch is an iterative update to Mobvoi’s poorly regarded TicWatch GTH. Still, the hardware that sets the watch apart is a selection of photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors on the side and bottom that work similarly to the electrocardiogram in Apple Watch Series 4 or newer.

Mobvoi is careful to stress that while similar, the technology isn’t the same. This is likely because selling a device as an Electrocardigam needs regulatory approval from Health Canada. What we do know is that it uses algorithms based on proprietary SphygmoCor technology from ATCOR, an Australian-based heart health company.

In a press release from ATCOR, the company claims that it’s been working with Mobvoi over the past two years to bring its central arterial waveform measuring technology to this “non-medical wearable device.”

Specifically, these new sensors can track your heart rate, exercise capacity, heart-stress index, arterial age and something called an Arty Score. This number is just a combination of some key factors into one tally to make it easier for users to get understandable/glanceable information to compare themselves against.

Since this watch is meant for fitness, I think this makes a lot of sense here. That said, it will only matter if Mobvoi can improve its fitness tracking.

Beyond these new heart tracking features, the watch is loaded with 14 pre-set workout modes, a blood oxygen sensor, sleep tracking, waterproofing and more. It’s an appealing wearable package, especially considering its lower cost.

The main issue with this smartwatch is that it’s a bit convoluted to get in Canada right now. I was able to add one to my cart from Amzon.com, and it says that it will ship to Canada for an extra $27 CAD. The TicWatch GTH Pro costs $100 USD (roughly $126 CAD).

MobileSyup has reached out for a review unit from Mobvoi, but if you’re interested in the smartwatch I’d suggest reading a few reviews on the TicWatch GTH to get a basis of Mobvoi’s lower-end wearable reputation.

Source: Mobvoi, ATCOR