Samsung is widely expected to unveil its next generation smartwatch in the coming weeks. Recent rumours suggest that the announcement will take place at IFA 2016. A filing for the ‘S3 Classic’ trademark has now effectively confirmed that Samsung will once again offer at least two models for its latest smartwatch. Samsung last year unveiled both the Gear S2 and […]
Patents and trademarks
Fitbit Charge 2 and Fitbit Flex 2 coming soon?
Newly discovered trademark filings may have revealed what Fitbit has in store for us for the coming months. The company kicked off 2016 with the introduction of the Fitbit Blaze smart fitness watch and the Fitbit Alta fitness band. At least two more devices could be on their way later this year. Fitbit has filed trademark applications for the Fitbit Charge […]
New Apple patents hint at modular smart bands for Apple Watch
A trio of new patents filed by Apple suggest that it could turn to accessories to offer new features and capabilities to the Apple Watch. The patents suggest that the smartwatch’s capabilities would be complemented by interchangeable smart straps or even user-customizeable modular smart bands assembled from individual links. This modular hardware ecosystem would allow Apple to offer a range of functions without having to […]
Samsung patents wearable authentication using your veins
Future Samsung smartwatches may use images of the veins of the top of your hand or your wrist to recognize you. The South Korean company has filed a patent titled “Wearable Device And Method Of Operating The Same” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for this new way of making sure that you are who you say you are. Like other […]
Olio Devices and Microsoft announce patent licensing agreement
Olio Devices, the company behind the Olio Model One smartwatch, and Microsoft yesterday announced a patent licensing agreement. The terse announcement explains that it covers wearable devices but provides no specific details. Nick Psyhogeos, president of Microsoft Technology Licensing, said, “Mutually beneficial and collaborative patent licensing agreements like this one promote innovation and lead to better products and experiences for consumers.” With few details […]
Samsung working on Bluetooth hearing aid
Samsung was among the first to jump into the nascent wearables market when it unveiled the Galaxy Gear back in 2013. It could soon enter a new wearables market category. Information from a number of public sources suggest that Samsung will soon unveil a Bluetooth hearing aid. Bearing model number SM-R790, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) website describes the device as a “Samsung Bluetooth […]
Swatch quietly building smart- and connected watch patent portfolio
Swatch is probably not the first name that springs to mind when you think of smartwatches. The company recently launched its pay-by-the-wrist Swatch Bellamy (pictured above) in China. Earlier this year, it unveiled the beach volleyball-focused Swatch Touch Zero One touch watch. But if Swatch has yet to unveil a true smartwatch, it looks like it’s spending quite a bit of time thinking about […]
Microsoft patents smart ring capable of controlling smartphones
Microsoft entered the wearables space with the Band and its recent successor the Band 2. It’s unlikely that its ambitions stop there and a recently discovered patent submitted to the USPTO (United States Patent Office) back in 2014. It suggests that the company has been working on a smart ring that would control other mobile devices through gestures and other actions […]