WHOOP is a self-described human performance company that has revealed its next-generation technology. The technology includes WHOOP 4.0, a digital fitness and health coach providing athletes with insights whenever and wherever they are. The company has also revealed WHOOP Body, which is a smart apparel line featuring Any-Wear Technology.
We've known since Zuckerberg's confirmation in July that Facebook plans to launch a pair of smart glasses. The product was said at the time to feature Ray-Ban's 'form factor,' and now we have the vaguest idea of what the design may look like. Ray-Ban has launched a promotional page on its website with a teaser for the smart glasses, as well as a reveal date.
Today Apple confirmed the date for their next big event. This event will more than likely include iPhone 13, Apple Watch 7, and other goodies. This event will take place virtually, available for viewing on Apple's website, through the Apple TV app, and in the Apple YouTube channel, and we'll be covering all the news within here on SlashGear. This event is one of at least two we'll see before the end of the year 2021.
Boss has introduced the Waza-Air Bass, a new version of its Waza Air that is designed for bass guitarists. The headphones are a personal amp system for playing music without disrupting others in the home, offering access to a variety of immersive environments, touch controls for switching to different presets, and more.
Audio company JBL has announced a new lineup of true wireless headphones, including a PRO version of its Reflect Flow, as well as the new Tune 130NC and 230NC models. The latter two options are the latest upgrades to JBL's Tune 125 TWS and Tune 225 TWS, offering users new features and what the company calls 'pure bass' audio.
The launch of the Galaxy Watch 4 also brought with it a new Exynos chip designed for wearable devices. Built on a 5nm process, the Exynos W920 promises to be the most powerful and most energy-efficient platform for smartwatches today, though it is only available for Samsung smartwatches anyway. Qualcomm is expected to fire back soon with a Snapdragon Wear 5100, but, based on new yet unofficial information, it could end up being a bit of a dud in at least one aspect.
On September 1, 2021, Apple revealed the beginning of the list of states working to enable state ID and driver's license in Apple Wallet. Connecticut, Arizona, Iowa, Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Maryland, and Utah are all in the process of making Apple Wallet an official choice for digital holding of documents like state ID and driver's licenses. Apple is also working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to enable "select airport security checkpoints in participating airports" to accept this digital documentation.
The next Apple Watch is shaping up nicely, at least as far as rumors and leaks go. Despite the reported absence of completely new health sensors, the Apple Watch Series 7 will be sporting some of the biggest design changes the company has ever made to its smartwatch line. Unfortunately, those changes might also be blamed for its delay, as various sources claim that Apple and its manufacturing partners have hit a snag in production that could force the company to push back the Apple Watch 7's launch quite a bit.
There has been renewed vigor in the Wear OS ecosystem party thanks to the announcement of the big Wear OS upgrade soon and partly due to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, the first and so far only to use Wear OS 3. That excitement, however, was quickly doused by the cold reality that not all smartwatches will be updated to Wear OS 3, though, to some extent, that wasn't totally unexpected, even if completely disappointing. What is unexpected and puzzling, however, is the software support between Wear OS versions, as exemplified not just by Google but also by Strava.
Smartwatches have been around for years now, and Apple has managed to keep its spot at the top despite the number of Android Wear, now Wear OS, devices in the market. In terms of platform features, the Apple Watch is arguably ahead of the race, but Wear OS isn't that far behind. Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 4 series seems to push Google's wearable platform to new heights, and it is getting a long-delayed feature that, somewhat ironically, still leaves Wear OS one step behind.
Fossil this morning announced its next-generation smartwatch, simply called the Gen 6 Touchscreen Smartwatch. While Fossil's latest smartwatch may have a rather basic name, it seems to offer most of the features we expect from smartwatches these days. Moreover, the Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch comes with the promise that it will be upgraded to Wear OS 3 at some point next year.
The Apple Watch has changed very little since its debut more than half a decade ago. While the design did get a refresh with the Apple Watch Series 4, it still retained the same core aesthetic as the first-gen smartwatch. With the Apple Watch Series 7, however, the company seems to be prepared to give its popular wearable a bigger facelift, not just in design but also in size. Unfortunately, that could be the extent of the big changes to expect later this year.