Fitbit Amps Up Tracking Features

Fitbit on Monday announced the addition of PurePulse heart rate tracking and SmartTrack automatic exercise recognition to its Charge HR and Surge devices.

The PurePulse monitoring will be activated whenever the devices are used in Exercise Mode, providing users with continuous, automatic tracking of heart rate trends over time without the need for a chest strap.

SmartTrack will recognize select exercises automatically and record results to the Fitbit app to inform users about their overall activity.

SmartTrack is capable of identifying a range of both indoor and outdoor fitness activities -- from running, walking and biking to team sports such as basketball, soccer and tennis, according to Fitbit. It also can recognize aerobic workouts such as cardio-kickboxing, Zumba and other dance classes.

"By automatically capturing people's most active moments with SmartTrack, they are getting more visibility into the amount of exercise they're doing throughout each day and over time, while also giving them the motivation and tools they need to reach their health and fitness goals," said Michael Polin, senior product marketing manager at Fitbit.

"With this update, we're letting users know that Fitbit has their back. SmartTrack remembers to track exercises even when users forget to put their device into exercise mode," he told TechNewsWorld.

Tracking Exercise

Many fitness trackers can already detect activity, but the PurePulse heart rate technology has been updated to track high-intensity workouts without the need of a chest monitor, which typically is required with other heart rate monitors. The Fitbit system is aided by the ability to determine when someone actually is working out instead of just moving around the house or office.

"It's important for a device to be able to differentiate between working out and arm gestures," said Julie Sylvester, coproducer of the Sports Fitness and Outdoors Summit for Living in Digital Times.

That capability also allows the device to analyze the intensity of a workout to determine whether someone actually is working to capacity or "phoning it in," she told TechNewsWorld.

Preaching to the Choir

The additions to the devices could entice the Fitbit faithful, but they might not be enough to bring new users to the platform.

"The Fitbit and all of these trackers are really just preaching to the choir," said Roger Entner, principal analyst at Recon Analytics. "The market for these devices are those who are really into fitness and want to quantify their workouts."

As with many similar devices, there is the worry of backlash as the main activity becomes monitoring the device rather than engaging in the activity, he told TechNewsWorld.

"There has to be middle ground, and perhaps these devices are too much about the monitoring," Entner suggested.

However, these devices may be catching on with people who aren't necessarily spending hours in the gym, based on anecdotal accounts.

"It's hard to go to a meeting without seeing a Fitbit or a similar bracelet on most of the wrists in the room," observed Steve Blum, principal analyst at Tellus Venture Associates.

"Most people seem to use it for step

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Fitbit-Amps-Up-Tracking-Features-82785.html

Gadget Ogling: A Dumb Watch Dock, a Smart VR Phone Case, and a Fantastic Fireball Thrower

Hello, and welcome to a fresh-out-the-oven edition of Gadget Dreams and Nightmares. the column that determines whether the latest gadget announcements are ready to serve or have to bake a little longer.

Cooling on the window this week are an official Apple Watch dock, a mesh router system, a virtual reality smartphone case, and a wristband that can shoot fireballs.

As ever, note well that these are not reviews, merely glib observations drawn from reading and watching videos about each item. The numeric ratings exist only to represent my interest in trying out each product, as well as provide me with an opportunity for another gag.

Sitting on the Dock

No longer leaving it up to third-party companies to create charging docks for its Apple Watch, Apple has released its own official dock (pictured above).

It allows Watch owners to rest the smartwatch in nightstand mode -- a feature introduced in the latest version of the operating system that essentially turns the Watch into a bedside clock -- without tangling it up with the standard magnetic charger.

The dock is a flat puck, almost like a circle bed on which to rest your precious Watch as you sleep. Owners may find it especially useful if they have a few spare Lightning cables, as it uses that format instead of the Apple Watch cable.

This is really all about the aesthetic, a way to ensure your Watch looks as pristine as possible when you reach out to shut off its alarm first thing in the morning while hoping you don't accidentally smash it. This doesn't seem like something that would justify shelling out US$79, even if I had a Watch. I'd be quite fine with just hooking up a regular charger cable.

Rating: 2 out of 5 All About the Looks

Such a Mesh

AVG, a company perhaps best known for its antivirus software, is delving into the hardware market with a router.

You can daisy chain multiple Chime mesh routers throughout your home (or office or wherever else) to send a strong WiFi signal throughout the space. 

It's not the first router setup to try this trick, but it may be the first to provide a security setup built into the home network rather than individual devices.

The built-in privacy options include Tor -- software used to establish an anonymous connection to the Internet -- and virtual private networks, which you can use to hide your IP address and mask your browsing activity from your Internet service provider. AVG also includes the free version of its antivirus software.

There are some privacy concerns on that front, however, as AVG recently updated its privacy policy to state it can collect browsing, search and metadata history from users of the free version of the antivirus software -- so it may not prove such a secure network after all.

I'm tired of having a weak WiFi signal in some areas of my apartment. I can't watch a show from Netflix while at the cooker, nor can I stream music in the bathroom. So, yes, I'm interested in Chime. I'm just not so sure I want AVG selling third parties information about my predilection for bubblegum pop.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Safety Nets

Burning Up

There's a line in the promotional video for Ellusionist's Pyro Mini that reads, "Shoot fire from anywhere." It's funny how quickly four words can sell me on such an absurdly dangerous device: a fireball launcher strapped to one's wrist.

I included the original Pyro in this column around a year ago, and now we have its successor, the Pyro Mini. This version is half the size, so it's more inconspicuous, and relies on a built-in battery pack instead of disposable batteries.

More excitingly for pyromaniacs, the Pyro Mini can shoot the flash-paper fireballs up to 30 feet away using a remote -- and thanks to the dual barrels, it can fire two fireballs at once.

Pyro Mini is designed for illusionists' use, but I can think of a great many circumstances in which I'd find this useful. Mostly they're situations in which I imagine myself as one of my favorite X-Men.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Great Balls of Fire

Alternate Reality

Of all the add-ons that promise to turn smartphones into virtual-reality devices, none seems as convenient as Figment.

With a flick of the wrist (and the opening of an app), this iPhone case converts the smartphone into a virtual reality viewer. There's also the option to use the case and phone to explore augmented reality, which opens up some intriguing possibilities for how we experience the world around us.

It's smart for a smartphone case maker to delve into the virtual reality movement. Figment is an extremely smart design, which is even more evident when you see that the part of the case that extends for virtual reality viewing also can prop up the phone as a stand. At the very least, it's a touch more portable than Google's Cardboard VR viewer.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Another Worlds

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Gadget-Ogling-A-Dumb-Watch-Dock-a-Smart-VR-Phone-Case-and-a-Fantastic-Fireball-Thrower-82780.html

Woman journalist faces threats over Facebook post on exploitation at madrassas

ZHIKODE: A woman journalist working with a Malayalam newspaper here has come under online attack following her disclosure about alleged sexual exploitation of children in madrassas.
 

The journalist, V P Rajeena, incurred the wrath of the members of her community after she went public on Facebook on Sunday about the happenings in madrassas which she claims to have witnessed during her childhood.

Rajeena, in her post, narrated how madrassa teachers allegedly used to "inappropriately grope" both boys and girls who came for religious studies.



Her post led to a furore and she was flooded with obscene messages and open threats on her profile. Facebook closed down her account temporarily.

When contacted, Rajeena said "My Facebook account was blocked following mass reporting. What I had said was no exaggeration but the truth and only the truth," she told.

She also said if the threats continue, she would be forced to approach the police.


Rajeena said her motives were questioned and efforts were made to present it as an attack on the religion.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/Woman-journalist-faces-threats-over-Facebook-post-on-exploitation-at-madrassas/articleshow/49933065.cms

iRobot Roomba 870 #ExpressReview: The (cleaning) robot in our lives

 

My first encounter with a robot was the LG HOM-BOT vacuum cleaner a few year back. Strangely, even now the one functional robot you can bring home is a vacuum bot, and they are getting better. iRobot has been a leading player in vacuum cleaning robots with a host of models. While the small Indian market has predominantly been the domain of LG and local players like Milagrow, it seems iRobot now wants to make an impression here.

iRobot Roomba 870 Vacuum Cleaning Robot
 

Rs 62,900

The iRobot Roomba 870 is the size of a large frying pan and stands about 3.6 inches tall and weighs 3.8 kg. So while the Roomba can move about on its own, it is not difficult for even a child to take it around if needed. Under the Roomba are tangle-free AeroForce extractors that can pick up pretty much anything on that floor. In fact, while cleaning up after the review, I saw quite a few pieces of my son’s building blocks. Yes, this is one powerful beast.

What is good?

Technology for me has to bring in convenience and not complicate life. That is what the Roomba 870 does. The vacuum robot just needs to be charged on its dock and as soon as you hit the clean button, it is off on a stroll around the house gobbling up dirt in its path. But the best thing here is that you don’t have to hit the clean button. Just schedule the time of the day, or night, when you want Roomba to do its cleaning rounds.

Watch video of how iRobot works 

The Roomba is no dumb robot. It knows its way around the house and will not fall off the stairs or get stuck at the first obstacle. It finds a way around obstacles and since our cramped urban homes have a lot of sofa legs and chairs to negotiate, this is a good feature.

 
Here is where it gets interesting. The Roomba charges itself on a dock and does not have wires that go into it. So if there is a scheduled cleaning, it can move out of the dock on its own and go about its job. But this also means when the cleaning is over, or when it is running out of battery it comes back to the dock on its own.

There is also a dock button and on pressing this, the Roomba finds its way back to the dock wherever it is. And it does find the way, even in a layout as complex as that of my house. After all, this is what robots are supposed to do.

You can also prevent the Roomba from venturing into no-go zones, like your baby’s play area using the Virtual Wall Halo that comes in the box. Keep one of these in the no-go zone and the Roomba will avoid it during cleaning.

What is not so good?

For something that works so effortlessly, I wanted the Roomba to be a bit quieter. In fact, this one is as loud as a regular vacuum cleaner and there is no way I am going to let it run when everyone is asleep. The noise levels mean it is better to schedule this for when there is no one in the house.

The Roomba does not have wires to get entangled in, but it can get entangled in other cords of which there is no dearth in our homes. So be careful and secure those loose wires if you have a Roomba prowling in your house.

Verdict

The iRobot Roomba 870 Vacuum Cleaning Robot brings to your homes a convenience most of us can get used to in our busy urban lives. There are other options that do the same, but at the moment the iRobot seems to be most feature-rich and dependable. Go ahead and get one, especially if your house has a dust issue.

 

© The Indian Express Online Media Pvt Ltd

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-reviews/irobot-roomba-870-expressreview-the-cleaning-robot-in-our-lives/#sthash.0NH6aNXW.dpuf

Nokia C1 Leak Tips Launch With Android and Windows 10 Mobile Variants

The rumoured Nokia C1, the smartphone that has been in leaks since late last year, has now surfaced in a new render image on the Web. While all the leaks and rumours until now pointed out the handset to run Android with the company's Z Launcher, the new render shows the smartphone to run Windows 10 OS as well - tipping the handset could be offered in two variants for the two operating systems.

The leaked image render for the Nokia C1 shows the handset in White, Gold, Pink, and Grey colour variants alongside two more units. While the unit in foreground is seen running the Nokia Z Launcher for Android, the one in the background (right side) is seen running Windows 10 Mobile. The tipster who leaked the image said (via Nokiapoweruser) that the handset will arrive in both OS versions.

In addition, while a leaked image from September showed the smartphone's rear camera at the centre, the latest render shows it placed on the top-left corner. Since Nokia is still silent on the matter, the latest leaked render should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Going by past leaks and rumours, the Nokia C1 is tipped to include a 5-inch FHD display, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter. It is said to run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow as well. Previous reports have suggested that the Nokia C1 will be powered by an Intel chipset and feature 2GB of RAM.

It needs to be pointed out that Nokia can't use its brand on smartphones until Q4 2016, because of theacquisition of its devices and services division by Microsoft. Earlier this year, Nokia announced that it intends to get back in the smartphone business by licensing designs to hardware manufacturers. The Finnish-based technology company, which once held the pole position in the mobile handset market, lost its dominance with the rise of Apple and Android smartphones, and its decision to use Windows Phone as its operating system of choice instead of Android arguably speeded up its demise.

Download the Gadgets 360 app for Android and iOS to stay up to date with the latest tech news, product reviews, and exclusive deals on the popular mobiles.

Source: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/nokia-c1-leak-tips-launch-with-android-and-windows-10-mobile-variants-770036?pfrom=home-gadgetstop

Microsoft HoloLens, Volvo to Pioneer Augmented Car Showroom Experience

Microsoft HoloLens on Thursday announced a partnership with Volvo Cars to develop a new holographic technology that could change the way consumers experience auto showrooms.

The tech would let potential buyers stay put in the physical world while experiencing an automobile in an entirely new way, suggested Scott Erickson, senior director of Microsoft HoloLens. Through augmented reality -- utilizing Microsoft's HoloLens goggles -- consumers could view safety feature demonstrations, see car customization options, and even take part in virtual test drives without leaving the showroom.

Volvo is the first automaker to express interest in Microsoft's HoloLens technology as a way to provide such details to consumers.

"We are currently exploring the potential of HoloLens to change the way consumers may discover, experience and even buy cars in the future," said Sascha Heiniger, spokesperson for Volvo Car Group.

"We are very eager to now bring this experience to customers and get their feedback," he told TechNewsWorld.

Extending the Showroom Experience

The use of HoloLens technology won't substitute for visiting a showroom.

"This is technology that is meant to enhance the act of looking at a car, and HoloLens would just be an extension of the showroom experience," said Jeremy Carlson, senior analyst for autonomous driving at IHS Automotive.

"It is there to describe systems that consumers don't regularly see," he told TechNewsWorld.

One such example would be the active safety systems. It's not practical to demonstrate them during a test drive, because it would be difficult to do so without putting the driver and passengers at some risk, noted Carlson.

High-End High Tech

There may be a special place for augmented reality in upper-end auto sales.

"The advent of digital into the car retailing process started a few years back, and it's a place where BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz have already captured customers' attention by having lifestyle showrooms in cities -- for example the Audi City in London," said Praveen Chandrasekar, automotive and transportation research manager at Frost & Sullivan.

"The concept, in essence, is like a Tesla mall showroom where the idea is to indulge the customer in a digital format to check car features, and not push them in the traditional brick dealer retail format on purely selling the vehicle," he told TechNewsWorld.

Digital showrooms have utilized the concept of augmented or virtual reality to allow customers to configure vehicles in many different ways, and to explore their features and their look and feel, Chandrasekar added.

"In some cases, OEMs like Cadillac and Audi have also introduced AR apps that allow customers to point their phone app to the vehicle and check out the features, but this is a limited experience," he noted.

What You Can't See

Holographic images could provide details that otherwise couldn't be seen -- from drive traffic to engine components. The tech likely would be aimed at early technology adopters and consumers who do more than walk around a car and kick the tires.

"This technology could describe how the systems work, but also show off the new technology of the car to the buyer," said IHS' Carlson.

Volvo's partnership with Microsoft also could enhance its image in the luxury market.

"The overarching concept here is to immerse the digital age customer in a digital experience without pushing them to actually buy a vehicle," said Frost's Chandrasekar.

Further, dealers could use the technology to educate their staffs, and to alert car owners to potential problems.

 Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/82778.html