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Shipments of wearable devices in China have soared with Xiaomi still at the top of the tree – but more and more competition is coming up fast, according to the latest figures from IDC.

IDC’s China Wearable Device Market Quarterly Tracker, 2016Q2 report shows that the country shipped 9.54 million wearable devices in Q2-FY2016, which was a 13.2% quarter by quarter and 81.4% year over year increase. Shipments of basic wearable devices such as wristbands, children’s...

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These days, it can be hard to keep up with not just the number of techno buzzwords that have invaded our consciousness – infotainment, wearables, Internet of Things –  but what’s really behind the hype. Don’t misunderstand – there are a lot of exciting developments in these areas that are making their way into consumer products, as you’ll see shortly. But when technical terms keep popping up over and over, they...

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According to a 2002 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), hypertension – otherwise known as high blood pressure – will affect nine out of 10 Americans in their lifetime, and is a risk factor for the leading cause of death: heart disease.

New research suggests that high blood pressure is on the rise for millennials, and although hypertension is typically diagnosed in middle-aged adults, a 2011 study by the University of North Carolina found that...

Picture credit: TomTom

TomTom has added three new devices to its North American fitness wearables portfolio: TomTom Touch, TomTom Spark 3 and TomTom Adventurer.

TomTom Touch is claimed to be the first fitness tracker in the world that can measure all-day heart rate and body composition from the wrist. It is priced at $129.99. Users can measure their body composition, which is the ratio of body fat to muscle mass, with a touch of the device's button. The device can alos track sleep and heart rate up to...

Picture credit: Michael Kors

Lifestyle brand Michael Kors is set to launch its Michael Kors Access display smartwatch, in another move which aims to put wearable technology in the category of fashion accessories.

The company has partnered with Google for the Android Wear smartwatch platform, with the Access watch being compatible with both iPhone and Android phones.

Features of the smartwatch include changeable display, social media updates, and app notifications. The watch also offers magnetic charging,...

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Whiskey brand Jim Beam has launched its own equivalent of the Apple Watch in what the company describes as “the most anticipated tech release of the year.”

The Jim Beam Apple Watch claims to be the world’s most innovative ‘drinkable wearable’ with the capability to open up a 1.5 ounce shot glass on the user’s wrist. The watch, which is available for a limited time, also boasts a ‘streamlined interface’.

“Critics may ask,...

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The wearable market is growing admirably, with over 26 percent year-on-year growth, but this is being led by single-function wearables such as fitness trackers while advanced devices with third-party application support have stagnated. 

"Fitness is the low-hanging fruit for wearables," said Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst for IDC...

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The crowdfunding website Kickstarter has seen the launch of a new funding campaign for Keenbrace, an adaptive training device for workouts that features an integrated sensor system, a real-time voice coach and other features.

The Keenbrace device is suited for users of all activity levels, providing real-time error correction. The brace-like device houses a sensor system that delivers insights on user performance. It aims to avoid injuries and muscoskeletal issues.

Ken Leung, CEO and...

Picture credit: Amazfit

California-based firm Amazfit has introduced its first ceramic-based wearable activity tracker, which assesses biomechanical signals and daily activities.

The device connects the user's daily activities and biomechanical signals with smart data. It tracks a user's steps, distance travelled, sleep quality and calories burned. It also receives and transmits incoming call alerts through vibration.

Amazfit is a lightweight and slim activity tracker designed like a fashion...

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Almost half of all Germans who own a fitness wearable device have either stopped using or do not use it, according to new research.

The 2016 DKV Report, titled 'How Healthy is Germany?', indicates that nearly 50% of those who use a fitness tracker have either stopped using it, or do not use it. A total of 2,830 Germans were surveyed by GfK Nuremburg for the report.

Clemens Muth, chairman of the board of management at DKV, said that most people in Germany do not see the...