The history of Pebble

I started Pebble with some friends from the University of Waterloo in 2008. We were the first company to work on smartwatches. Pebble defined what a smartwatch was meant to do — vibrate and display incoming calls and messages, control music without taking out your phone, track your exercise and sleep, and be customizable by […]

Garmin Epix (gen 2) and a bunch of phantom steps

I thought this problem had gone away with the older Fitbit devices, but it appear to not be the case. My wife and I were driving back from Norfolk today and I noticed something strange happening. When we left I only had 550 steps according to the Epix, but then I noticed a big change, […]

Detection of Covid 19 using a wearable device

We developed an algorithm to identify COVID-19 onset using data collected by a commercially available wearable device. The resultant algorithm had high sensitivity (82%), with moderate specificity (63%). In developing this algorithm, we placed greater emphasis on sensitivity than on specificity, as our goal was to develop an algorithm that could effectively identify individuals who […]

1.7m Fitbit Ionics recalled (don’t wear them from now)

The fitness-tracking device maker Fitbit is recalling 1.7m of its Ionic smartwatches after reports of the battery overheating and burning some users. The company, which was acquired by Google in 2021, had sold about 1m of the model in the US and nearly 700,000 internationally. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall, warning that the […]

I need to make the Garmin epix (Gen 2) too big for me

After one whole day with the Garmin epix (Gen 2) I am left with some very short initial impressions- The display is superb and easily the best I have seen on any smartwatch. The strap pins are effectively fixed in place which means that you have to use QuickFit bands to change the look or […]

The world’s most popular watch brand is…

Have you ever wondered what the most popular watch brand is? Maybe you’re an ardent Rolex fan boy trying to argue your case in the pub, or maybe you think it’s Omega because of its connection with James Bond and space travel. I know I’ve always wondered what the most popular brand is — well […]

Gentler Streak: lose the Apple Watch rings!

Gentler Streak is a personal fitness habit tracker offering a fresh, more compassionate approach. Making rest days part of a streak challenges the unrealistic mainstream mindset of always pushing harder — and it changes streaks as we know them… More here. This looks very impressive indeed. The Apple ring system has never really grabbed me […]

Smartwatch health tracking will be more important than fitness

According to Mark Gurman’s “Power On” newsletter, the Apple Watch Series 8 is unlikely to have a body temperature sensor, as a report earlier this month stated. As per the Australian nursing student, the Apple Watch’s heart rate notifications can identify thyroid issues early. Another recent TikTok video suggests that the Apple Watch has been […]

(Almost) Anti-Smartwatch

Dive watches are no longer the primary timing tool for professional divers. Most pilots aren’t required to wear mechanical watches as a backup for flight instruments. Duly noted. But divers (and the rest of us) do still wear dive watches. Pilots still love a decent chronograph (don’t we all?). As technology continues to disrupt the […]

The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4

The new TAG Heuer Connected introduces a range of health and wellness updates, highlighted by a guided workout functionality for on-the-go exercise that does not require a nearby smartphone. Other updates worth noting include a high-resolution screen that TAG Heuer promises will offer a strong contrast ratio for clear visibility when outside, the addition of […]