Mobile Archives - Page 7 of 11

Jawbone Preps New Activity Tracker

By way of the FCC and the USPTO, we learn Jawbone may have a variety of new activity trackers and services in the works. We can discern a few things from the “JL06” filing… Given the test submissions, naming convention, and removable battery this is clearly not a Bluetooth earpiece. Further, in regards to labeling, the Jawbone UP fitness … Read more

TiVo Android Streaming Details Emerge

Two years after TiVo introduced streaming capabilities, Android owners will soon get in on the action. However, whereas iPhone and iPad owners have enjoyed both streaming and video downloads, presumably due to security issues, the Android crowd won’t be taking shows offline – according to the newly updated compatibility chart, shown above. However, they will receive cellular streaming … Read more

Marvel Unlimited For 99 Cents

To generate awareness during the San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Unlimited has gone on sale — 99 cents for a single month. While not quite “unlimited”, the subscription grants your mobile devices access a large catalog of digital comics. Having previously used the service over a year, I’d say the iPad provides the best reading experience and I found the content to be Hulu-esque given a rotating and incomplete selection. But, hey, at 99 cents it’s surely worth (another) look! I assume we’ll be on the hook to cancel prior to a recurring $10 monthly fee kicking in… if the value isn’t there.

Ultimate Ears Boom Review

Intro
A few weeks back, we put the G-Boom rugged Bluetooth speaker through its paces and concluded that it packs some impressive sound in a distinct looking package. This time around, we’re looking at the competing Ultimate Ears Boom ($200) which offers some unique features not seen on the G-Boom, while shrinking the overall speaker size.

Hardware
The UE Boom, by Logitech, reminds me of holding a can of Pringles, but slightly smaller and definitely less salty. The circular shape is intended to allow sound to travel 360 degrees from the speaker. On one end of the tube, there is a power button and Bluetooth pairing/switching button. The UE Boom supports Bluetooth up to 50ft and NFC pairing. I can attest to the range using my iPhone 5s and Chromebook. Having the speaker out back for a bonfire, I was easily able to move around the yard without any issues in streaming.

Fitbit Introduces Live Tracking (with a little help from Apple)

This week’s Fitbit iOS app update brings with it a welcome feature, in live tracking. Along with tracking steps throughout the day via one of their many trackers, new live tracking functionality relies on the iPhone’s GPS to monitor and provide real-time feedback on your exercise.

Fitbit has always been one of the fastest companies to allow 3rd party apps to update your stats. You have been able to import exercises through Runkeeper or MapMyRun for quite some time, but this is the first time that Fitbit it tackling this feature head on.

How Live Tracking Works

When you want to begin a new exercise, you simply open the Fitbit app and scroll down to the exercise entry.

Fitbit PurePulse To Bring Heart Rate Monitoring

By way of the US Patent & Trademark Office, as the Apple iWatch crescendo rises, we learn that Fitbit has much grander intentions than merely producing a refreshed hypoallergenic Force activity tracker. Also in the pipeline, should these marks pan out, are Fitbit PurePulse, Surge, and Charge. Trademark applications such as these are attached to extremely broad category descriptions and it’s not clear which of the three are services (PurePulse?) versus hardware (Surge, Charge?) nor is there any guarantee any will ultimately ship. But, hey, the speculation game is fun and I’ve taken the liberty of bolding a few interesting tidbits from the wearable pioneer and market leader. Stay tuned!

Fitbit PurePulse

Heart rate monitors; optical heart rate sensors; wrist-based sensors; multifunctional electronic devices for displaying, measuring, and uploading to the Internet information including time, date, heart rate, calories burned, activity, intensity, exertion; computer software for wireless data communication for receiving, processing, transmitting and displaying information relating to fitness, heart rate, calories burned, activity levels, intensity, exertion; computer software for managing information regarding tracking, compliance and motivation with a health and fitness program

Amazon Smartphone Passes Thru The FCC

While we’re still an hour away from Amazon’s smartphone reveal, what I believe to be their Android-powered handset just passed thru the FCC. We don’t have much to go on other than a shell company and my successful track record in turning up Lab126 products ahead of launch. Beyond the label, identifying the unnamed smartphone as the SD4930UR, documents indicate it … Read more