Latest news with #wearables
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Meet the Oakley AI glasses, a more robust successor to the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses
Meta Oakley smart glasses Oakley and Meta partnered up for these AI-powered smart glasses. | Video credit — Oakley Would you ever buy smart glasses that don't have a display? Yes No Undecided Not interested in smart glasses Yes 0% No 0% Undecided 0% Not interested in smart glasses 0% Ray-Ban glasses were an unprecedented success The Ray-Ban smart glasses were very popular. | Video credit — Meta When the Ray-Ban smart glasses took off, Meta immediately restructured Reality Labs: its XR ( Extended Reality ) division. The idea was to focus much more heavily on similar wearables that are affordable and don't have a display, yet are extremely practical due to AI. This strategy has caught the attention of competitors like Apple, which is also experimenting with releasing a similar product. Apple is working on proper AR glasses too, of course, but something like the Oakley and Ray-Ban smart glasses is a currently achievable product that is proven to be in demand. A stepping stone towards AR smart glasses The Meta Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses are, in my eyes, an intermediary step between smartphones and proper AR smart glasses. Meta, as you may know, is working on the On the other hand, Apple CEO The Meta Oakley smart glasses will become available for pre-order in the coming months and cost $399. A limited edition $499 model will be available for ordering from July 11. When the Ray-Ban smart glasses took off, Meta immediately restructured Reality Labs: its XR () division. The idea was to focus much more heavily on similar wearables that are affordable and don't have a display, yet are extremely practical due to strategy has caught the attention of competitors like Apple, which is also experimenting with releasing a similar product. Apple is working on proper AR glasses too, of course, but something like the Oakley and Ray-Ban smart glasses is a currently achievable product that is proven to be in Meta Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses are, in my eyes, an intermediary step between smartphones and proper AR smart glasses. Meta, as you may know, is working on the Orion smart glasses . A consumer version is expected to launch around 2027, though a version with a simpler display make come out later this the other hand, Apple CEO Tim Cook is obsessed with making Apple the first company to bring consumer-grade AR smart glasses to market. I'm quite excited to see what these companies are able to offer in a few years, and if they manage to replace the Meta Oakley smart glasses will become available for pre-order in the coming months and cost $399. A limited edition $499 model will be available for ordering from July 11. Grab Surfshark VPN now at more than 50% off and with 3 extra months for free! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area. When Meta launched the second-generation Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023, the company did not foresee just how popular they would become. Following that unprecedented success, today Meta has announced a successor to the Ray-Ban smart glasses: the Oakley AI performance collaboration with Oakley wasn't just for a flashy new design — and they look pretty neat — it's also for enhanced functionality. Meta Oakley smart glasses are built with the outdoors in mind. The glasses have almost double the battery life of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, and come with water resistance as can also record videos in 3K resolution, a way for Meta to encourage more people to use these when they're out having a good time. The standard features of the Ray-Ban glasses — taking photos, making calls, and getting answers from Meta AI to name a few — are also present.
WIRED
a day ago
- Business
- WIRED
Meta's Oakley Smart Glasses Have 3K Video—Watch Out, Ray-Ban
The new Oakley Meta glasses outshine the Ray-Ban Meta with a big jump in battery life and video quality. And there's supposedly even more to come. When Meta launched the second generation of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in late 2023, few predicted the success that lay ahead for the collaboration—perhaps not even Meta itself. But now, with more than two million sales under its belt, Meta has been looking for a way to widen its partnership with eyewear giant and Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica and keep up the momentum. The answer it seems was staring them in the face: a collaboration with the company's second largest brand, Oakley. 'We launched our second generation of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses at [Meta] Connect a year and a half ago, and they've taken off faster than we expected,' Alex Himel, VP of wearables at Meta tells WIRED. 'But they were never meant to be the one and only thing we did with EssilorLuxottica.' 'We've found people leaning into different active use cases with [Ray-Ban Meta]. And so Oakley, which is a brand that has represented both performance and technical innovation, felt like the most natural next step for our collaboration.' Oakley Meta specs have a higher resolution camera, offering 3K video, up from full HD in the Ray-Ban Metas. Photograph: Oakley Like Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta will be a full smart glasses range, with a number of styles to choose from as the line expands. However, it's the popular Oakley HSTN frames (pronounced HOW-stuhn) that are the first to get the Meta makeover, with all of the same Meta AI functionality as Ray-Ban Metas, but with improved features aimed at a performance market. This includes a 50 percent longer battery life, with a fully charged pair of Oakley Meta HSTN lasting up to eight hours of typical use compared with four hours on the Ray-Ban Meta. The Oakley Meta's charging case also gets a boost, with up to 48 hours of charging time on the go, versus 36 hours in the Ray-Ban Meta. That's perhaps all the more surprising when you hear that the Oakley Meta also have a higher resolution camera, allowing you to share video in 3K video, up from full HD in the Ray-Ban Metas. This is a down to a new physical battery plus software improvements, Himel says, but can Ray-Ban Meta owners expect similar improvements in the future? Oakley Meta glasses have 50 percent more battery life, with a fully charged pair lasting up to eight hours versus four on the Ray-Ban iteration. Photograph: Oakley 'One thing that's cool about Ray-Ban Meta is that every month we've been shipping software updates that make the products better. And so owners should already be noticing that the image quality is getting better—but yes of course, we'll have hardware updates at some point for the Ray-Ban Meta, too.' With a target market that is likely looking to throw themselves down mountains, over hills and along roads, durability has been given due consideration. The Oakley Meta HSTN use the same proprietary frame materials as the analog HSTN, including Oakley's O-Matter, which promises to be 25 percent lighter and twice as strong as traditional acetate. Of course, there are some differences in overall weight compared with the analog versions, but it has been something that Meta says it has worked closely with Oakley to find the balance that stays true to the brand and what its users want from a pair of its glasses. 'I'm learning a lot. I have a software background, and so it's easy for me to focus on making sure this integrates well with Instagram or the image quality is really good,' says Himel. 'But then when I speak to Matteo or Rocco from EssilorLuxottica, we have to consider all these subtle dimensions that keep the glasses authentic to the brand. 'We've done a lot of research to make sure the flexible hinges fit just right, and that the extra weight is balanced out so that if you're doing something active, they stay on your face, and that they're comfortable to wear all day.' Some of the frames also come with Oakley's PRIZM lenses, which enhance color and contrast for detail enhancement that can help all the more during active use, and there's an IPX4 waterproofing rating that matches Ray-Ban Meta, though Himel admits as this means the glasses are merely splash proof, more needs to be done for future versions. 'I surf pretty actively, and one of the top use cases I've wanted is to have a pair of glasses that I can wear surfing. IPX4 can withstand getting wet, but not getting submerged—that needs an IP67 rating. That's something we're working on for future glasses, but if you're getting splashed, if it's raining, if you're sweating—you don't need to worry about that. The Oakley Meta HSTN work great for this.' The Oakley Meta HSTN will be available in six different finishes, but the range kicks off with a limited edition Oakley Meta, featuring gold accents and gold 24K PRIZM Polar lenses. They will cost $499 and are available for preorder from July 11, with others in the collection costing $399. But what's next for Meta's collaboration with EssilorLuxottica—which has licenses for brands including Chanel, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana—considering the latter announced it would be ramping up production of Meta glasses to 10 million a year by 2026? 'We're continuing to work closely together,' says Himel. "Glasses are a very personal choice. Different people pick different things, different brands, to represent who they are. So we will continue to launch more brands and more styles. 'We have already learned how to scale much more quickly, but there are still a good set of technical and operational problems to solve before we get there. But that's something we're excited to do, and so this is definitely a step in that direction.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The New Wave of Women's Wearables: What's Next for the Popular Devices
Over the past few years, women's wearables have gained popularity as women of all ages have become increasingly concerned with their health metrics. These devices are the best known for tracking your steps, heart rate, rest and more—all from your wrist or finger. Recently, the Oura Ring made its way into the space with its innovative technology that tracks health even closer than traditional devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches. But what's next for these devices? More from Flow Space Why Brooke Burke Says Menopause Is 'the Best Decade of My Life' At the 2025 Orrick-Near Future HealthTech Summit held earlier this month, a panel of tech experts discussed the innovations happening with electronic fitness devices and touched on whether these tools should be FDA-approved and reimbursed. The panel included Amy Gaston, vice president of strategic growth at OhmBody; Monica Plath, founder and CEO of Littlebird; Keara Sauber, chief strategy officer at Incora Health; Shaina Lawler, managing partner of Tippetting Capital; and moderator Georgia Ravitz, FDA & Healthcare Regulatory partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Ahead, the panel discusses new innovations in the wearable space plus what to expect in the future. 'You know, what's interesting about wearables?' Ravitz asked. 'It's that many of them lie at the crossroads of lifestyle products and medical devices.' Many new devices aim to go beyond tracking your steps and heat rate, and now they can help you monitor your menstrual cycle, manage opiate withdrawal and more. Although wearables are not heavily regulated, many still require labeling as 'wellness devices,' according to Gaston. At OhmBody, there is an in-house clinical team, and an in-house RMD team 'that will continue to do research and run down the pathway around endometriosis, PCOS, postpartum hemorrhaging, adolescent HMB, the list for bleeding is just so long,' Gaston shared. That's why 'we want FDA approval for indications in those spaces.' Many approved FDA devices require reimbursement to be covered by insurance, and Gaston noted that they did not want to create further barriers for women to access help today, meaning that their innovative devices must be included as wellness devices. 'We always want to be over the counter and never want to put a prescription onto our device, because it's already hard for women to get the access to care that they need. It is almost impossible for some in low socioeconomic scenarios, people who just like can't get to their doctor, etc.' Gaston explained. 'So why would we want to further that? And so, OhmBody really exists to help bridge the gap and try to close the accessibility gaps there that are happening in the awareness space.' Lawler shared that a significant challenge investors run into in the wearables space is the issue of reimbursement. 'That is a big one, especially if you're trying to work with providers,' Lawler said. 'You know, FDA clearance is something that provides a lot of comfort to providers. Not only that, your data is secure, but it's accurate and it's going to be helpful in terms of what they provide in terms of support to their patients.' Another issue is the cost of new wearable devices. If the tools were to be reimbursed, a threshold would need to be established. Most of these wearables cost over $750, and the panel noticed that people were backing away from purchasing them. That's why creating an accessible point of view is key and on the radar of most wearables device companies looking toward the future.
GSM Arena
3 days ago
- GSM Arena
NFC 15 comes with improved range and better features
NFC Forum introduced version 15 of the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard. The most notable upgrade is the extended communication range. It's now 2 cm, up from 0.5 cm. This makes tasks such as contactless payments faster and more stable. With the increased range, the NFC no longer requires precise device alignment and enables more consistent connections. The new NFC 15 benefits compact devices like smartphones and wearables the most. The new NFC standard should reduce failed tap payments, for example, and simplify NFC use. It also enables smoother interactions in public transport, better "digital keys" experience and easier wireless charging alignment. Despite the extended range, the NFC Forum says the new standard doesn't compromise security. It remains a proximity-based feature and protects contactless payments. NFC 15 also brings support for Digital Product Passport (DPP) allowing brands to store product lifecycle data using the NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF). The NFC 15 standard's technical specifications are already available, while public access and compliance certification will begin this fall. Source
GSM Arena
3 days ago
- Health
- GSM Arena
Garmin Index Sleep Monitor announced
Garmin's latest health tracker is a smart sleep band that attaches to your upper arm. Garmin Index Sleep Monitor offers detailed sleep tracking with sleep stages, sleep score, heart rate variability (HRV) status and breathing variations. There are no screens or buttons; you simply strap the band to your arm before sleep and it starts gathering data. Garmin Index consists of two parts – an adjustable band made from a breathable nylon/spandex material and a removable puck which houses the sensors. Garmin Index You get an optical heart rate sensor, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitor, skin temperature sensor and women's health monitoring. Garmin Index puck The data from the Garmin Index syncs to your phone or Garmin watch via the Garmin Connect app. You can also use the device with a smart wake alarm which vibrates only when you're in a light sleep stage. Garmin claims seven days of battery life between charges. Garmin Index Sleep Monitor comes in sizes S-XL and retails for $170/€170/£150. It's already available to order on the company's website, and first shipments are expected in 3-5 weeks' time. Source
