It’s been another busy week in the world of wearable tech, with the Misfit Path hitting shelves, an FCC filing showing off Snap Spectacles 2.0 and Garmin receiving a new rival in the form of the Amazfit Stratos.
But what else has been on the bubble this week? Read on to find out.
After experimenting with connected jerseys for the NBA, Nike is set to begin testing a connected shoe.
According to SportTechie, NikePlus members in New York City will be able to purchase the company’s first connected sneaker — the AF1 NikeConnect QS NYC — via the Nike SNKRS app, with an embedded NFC chip allowing for exclusives when scanned with a smartphone.
Among these opportunities includes access to a program called The Choice, which gives users the option select between exclusive footwear drops around New York, as well as more events throughout the city.
It’s no surprise that Nike is using its Connect platform to gamify the shopping experience, rather than delve into tracking smarts like Under Armour, though just where things progress from here, and if more cities are in line to receive the connected treatment, remains to be seen.
We already know the Huawei Watch 3 is in the works, but a patent uncovered by Android Headlines appears to suggest the Chinese company is working on a new fast-changing band feature.
The filing’s images don’t show off anything too drastic with regard to the mechanism, though the method suggested does note that the quick release spring can be moved into the watch housing instead of being part of the watch band.
Naturally, it’s important to stress that any ideas hinted through patent applications may never see the light of a production line, but this minor design tweak is the kind of thing that could realistically make an appearance on the next Huawei smartwatch. If it does, expect the company to begin emphasising band customisation in the same way Apple and Fitbit have over recent years.
And finally: Nike to debut connected shoes, but don’t expect them to track your run [Wareable]