Wearables
Meta-LG team up for XR headset market against Apple, Samsung: Report
Following the launch of Apple Vision Pro, Samsung has reportedly boosted its efforts to develop an extended reality (XR) headset with the collaboration of Google and Qualcomm. Therefore, a new report suggests that Meta in partnership with LG is also entering the headset market to compete with Apple and Samsung.
As per the input, Mark Zuckerberg the CEO of Meta will visit Korea to discuss strategies for its joint development and release of extended reality (XR) headsets with the CEO of LG Electronics. In this meeting, both companies will discuss ways to cooperate on next-generation technologies and products such as AI and XR.
The two players including LG and Meta plan to release the highest-performance XR headset that surpasses Apple’s Vision Pro in the first quarter of next year. LG will use the hardware technology it has accumulated over the years, and Meta will use the know-how it has accumulated in the AI and Metaverse business.
Notably, the collaboration between Meta, one of the strongest companies in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, and LG, a hardware company, is expected to have a significant impact on the global IT industry.
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Furthermore, the global XR headset market is expected to grow by 47% this year, reaching 11 million units. While Samsung intends to launch its XR headset within this year. For this, the company’s Mobile Experience (MX) division has also formed a ‘secret organization’ called the ‘immersive team’ which has grown from a few to about 100 people.
Apple has just announced the Apple Watch Series 10 at the “It’s Glowtime” event. The new model comes with a fresh design that hasn’t been updated since 2021. The Watch Series 10 features a thinner design and a larger display. It’s a strong competitor against Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch 7.
Apple Watch Series 10 launches with several notable enhancements. It supports fast charging, so you can get up to 80% battery in just 30 minutes. Now, you don’t have to wait long for your watch to be ready to go.
Moreover, the Watch Series 10 Titanium design integrates a new built-in speaker, which allows users to play music or podcasts directly from their wrist. It also has better water resistance and is certified for high-speed water sports up to 20 meters deep. It means that the watch can handle more intense water activities and includes the Depth app, which was previously only available on the Ultra models.
Following Galaxy Watch 7, the Watch Series 10 now includes the ability to detect sleep apnea. This is a condition where your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. The watch tracks your sleep patterns and can identify signs of sleep apnea if you wear it every night for a few days. This feature works similarly to the new Vitals app in watchOS 11.
Apple Watch Series 10 will be available for pre-order from September 13 and officially release on September 20. The starting price is $399 for the 44mm version. With these advancements, the Series 10 is set to challenge the Galaxy Watch 7, offering a range of new improvements.
Samsung collaborated with the University of Michigan to assess Galaxy Watch features accuracy. The study validated the high accuracy of fitness tracking features. Dr. Hon Pak also encouraged MiPR’s validation of Galaxy Watch accuracy.
The Michigan Performance Research Laboratory (MiPR) found a significant correlation between Galaxy Watch and the clinical and sport science reference devices’ measurement of heart rate, sweat loss, VO2 max, and body fat percentage measurements.
The MiPR studies verified the accuracy of Samsung Galaxy Watch fitness tracking features by monitoring key metrics from elite runners, including:
Heart rate: It measures how hard the heart works during physical activity.
- Findings show an excellent 90% correlation with electrocardiogram equipment while running, the gold standard in heart rate measurement.
Sweat loss: Sweat loss estimates the amount of fluid lost during physical activity and helps guide proper hydration after workouts.
- The study found a 95% correlation for Galaxy Watch in assessing sweat loss over varying distances ranging from 2.5 km to 20 km.
VO2 max: Understanding how much oxygen the body absorbs during a workout helps individuals assess their fitness levels and set optimal goals and limits.
- The study demonstrated an 82% correlation, indicating acceptable alignment between Galaxy Watch and clinical-grade diagnostic equipment.
Body fat percentage: Measuring a person’s body fat percentage allows for a better understanding of physical health and fitness than tracking body weight alone.
- Galaxy Watch readings showed a 95% correlation with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) results, the standard diagnostic test for body composition using low-dose X-rays.
“We’re proud to be recognized by the renowned Michigan Performance Research Laboratory — their skilled researchers and expertise in wearable technology give us confidence in the accuracy of the Galaxy Watch’s fitness tracking capabilities.”
Google has rolled out a new update to the Weather Tile for Wear OS devices, which was initially available for the Pixel Watch 3 running Wear OS 5. This update is now rolling out to all Wear OS wearables including the Samsung Galaxy Watch series. It improves the functionality and information density provided by the Weather Tile.
The updated Weather Tile provides more detailed weather information. Instead of just showing the location name, current temperature, high and low temperatures, and weather conditions, the new tile provides more details. It now includes a forecast for the next 3 hours on the 41 mm Pixel Watch 3 and the next 4 hours on the 45 mm variant.
It means you can now see more information about the upcoming weather directly on the tile without opening the full weather app. This change makes it easier to check the weather at a glance on Wear OS devices. Notably, it does not change the UV Index or Sun Tiles.
Previously, the Weather Tile on Wear OS devices offered general information. Users could see the location name, current temperature, high/low, and a simple weather condition description. The new update improves this by adding a better forecast, which provides a more detailed view of the weather in the coming hours.
The update is available with the Weather app version 1.9.269.x. It was first rolled out to the Pixel Watch 3 but is now being extended to other Wear OS devices including Galaxy watches.
Get Pixel Watch 3 Faces on your Samsung Galaxy Watch 4/5/6/7 [Wear OS]