smartwatches

Apple's iWatch is already making a name for itself, at least when it comes to trademark filings.

Applications to trademark the iWatch moniker have popped up in Mexico, Taiwan, and Turkey, according to the folks at 9to5Mac and MacRumors. The filings in Mexico and Taiwan directly list Apple as the applicant, while the one in Turkey came from an attorney who has worked with Apple in the past. All three were filed on June 3.

Columbia also appears to be on the list, according to a 9to5Mac reader who linked to the filing document. These four new trademark requests … Read more

Pebble was one of the first smartwatches to debut and it looks like the device soon may become more mainstream.

The Pebble smartwatch is rumored to be sold at Best Buy within the next few weeks, according to claims from two employees who said they were briefed on the matter and a leaked document given to 9to5Mac.

The document shows an inventory form for a device classified as a "digital communication appcessory" that is to be in stock as of July 7. As 9to5Mac points out, the date could mean when the device goes on sale or just … Read more

Maybe it's the arrival of the dog days of summer and a respite from hard news, but the rumor of a possible wearable computer from Apple is again making the rounds.

Apple has reportedly applied for a trademark for the "iWatch" name in Japan. The June 3 filing with the Japan Patent Office was made public last week, according to Bloomberg, which first reported on the application.

That would fit with the run of rumors throughout the year that Apple management is developing a wearable device -- in this case a watch or "smartwatch" that … Read more

Apple apparently likes how the "iWatch" moniker fits a wearable computer and has reportedly applied for a trademark for the name in Japan.

The iPhone maker seeks to protect the name for a product that is categorized as a handheld computer or watch device, according to a filing earlier this month with the Japan Patent Office. The filing was only made public in the past week, according to Bloomberg, which first reported on the application.

The rumor mill adopted the name -- perhaps derisively mocking Apple's "iProduct" naming convention -- when reports emerged that the … Read more

Google appears to be boosting both its wearable tech and its gaming status. According to The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), the tech giant is working on developing both a video game console and a smartwatch that could run on Android.

Last year, Google unveiled a Web-connected media-playing console, dubbed the Nexus Q, but it never sold it to the public. The spherical device featured glowing LEDs that responded to music. The Q also streamed content directly from Google Play Music, Google Play TV & Movies, and YouTube, using an Android phone or tablet as the controller. However, a couple … Read more

One of Apple's key suppliers has beaten the company to the punch with its own smartwatch.

At its shareholders meeting on Wednesday, Foxconn, aka Hon Hai, demoed a smartwatch that can wirelessly connect to an iPhone to display incoming phone calls and Facebook posts, Want China Times has reported. The watch can also keep track of your heartbeat, respiration, and other vital signs. And if your vitals aren't tip-top, the device can even offer advice on how to get them up to snuff.… Read more

Sony's first SmartWatch didn't quite live up to expectations. It's expensive and has poor functionality; you need to install multiple apps to enable basic features such as notifications from calls or messages. And it isn't even water-resistant.

The original SmartWatch made competing products, such as the Pebble Watch, interesting choices for those hunting for smartwatches. The Pebble works with both iOS and Android, and is water-resistant.

However, with the introduction of the SmartWatch 2, Sony has made some modifications and improvements. Here’s a quick look at some of its features.

Design The SmartWatch 2 is … Read more

Sony seems to be timing the launch of a new smartwatch for next week.

A series of tweets posted by the company's Xperia account have laid a trail of breadcrumbs pointing to the possible debut of a new watch at the Mobile Asia Expo 2013 trade show, which runs from June 26 to 28.

The latest tweet, posted Friday, offers the most obvious clue, saying "Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock" and displaying a photo of Sony's current smartwatch, which launched in April 2012.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock #itstime #MAE13 pic.twitter.com/FdHi4nBjNj

Those of you'd like to run Android apps on your wrist may be intrigued by a smartwatch from a company called Androidly.

Developed by a four-person team in the U.K., the Androidly smartwatch lets you install and use apps from Google Play. So, you can access a variety of mobile apps, including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Google Maps, Cut the Rope, and Angry Birds.

Pavneet Puri, Androidly's chief communications officer, told CNET that the watch can run most apps from Google Play. Apps specifically designed for Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean devices with a higher resolution aren'… Read more