Garmin Vivofit is a fitness band being sold by Flipkart for Rs 9990

The Garmin Vivofit which is claimed by its maker to keep track of its user’s pulse, steps and calorie intake throughout the day has made its way into India exclusively through Flipkart. And this smart device isn’t affordable by any means; it has been priced by its makers at nothing less than Rs 9990.



It’s actually a pretty small gadget with a curved display which is placed inside a wrist band that can be of many different colors. It bears an extremely basic display and does not feature a rechargeable battery. The product runs on user-replaceable batteries that need to be changed after around one year to keep it going.

Apart from showing you time and date, the Vivofit fitness band from Garmin provides you with useful information like steps taken, calories burnt, distance traveled and more. This device is capable of setting personal daily goals for you and reminding you about them as well.

This always-on wrist band can sync with your Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth to you you a better lowdown on its recorded data. The Vivofit is water resistant up to 50 meters and bears support for ANT+ heart rate monitors. When you put it on Sleep mode, it counts the number of hours it’s on that mode to analyze your sleep patterns.

The Garmin Vivofit is yet another product which Flipkart has managed to claim exclusivity on. You can head over to the retail website right now if you’re interested in purchasing it at Rs 9990.

Garmin launches Vívofit fitness band at Rs 9,990

Satellite navigation devices company, Garmin has launched Vivofit (veevo-fit) fitness band at Rs 9,990. The band will be exclusively available on e-commerce website Flipkart. It comes in black and slate colours, in both small and large sizes in the box. Customers can also purchase purple, teal and blue colour belts.

The band was initially unveiled during CES 2014, earlier this year.

Vivofit allows users to set a personalized daily goal, track their progress and reminds them to commence activity. The band features an always-on, curved display that shows steps, goal countdown, calories, distance, and time of day.

Vivofit comes with user replaceable batteries that last over one year. The band is water-resistant(50m), and can be connected with ANT+ heart rate monitors to track fitness activities.



Vivofit learns users' current activity level, and then assigns an attainable daily goal. As the users achieve milestones, it adjusts the goal for the next day.

The band follows the users' progress and can stay on for more than a year without a battery change. It can also monitor the quality of rest if the band's sleep mode is turned on before going to sleep.

Users can wirelessly sync Vivofit with Garmin Connect, a free online fitness community with over four billion miles uploaded by users. Users can analyse their progress through reports and graphical representations, including reports for total sleep hours, as well as periods of movement and restful sleep.

Users can also join online challenges with other vivofit users or start their own competitions with friends to compete for virtual badges and bragging rights. Users can access this community from their computer or on their compatible mobile device via the Garmin Connect app.

"Garmin has been providing fitness monitoring devices for over a decade, and with Vivofit we say hello to the fitness band that knows your potential," said Tony An, Sales and Marketing Director, Garmin Corporation. "Being able to monitor the quality of rest after retiring for the night, being challenged by personalized daily goals and doing so without having to charge it every few days, makes vivofit a fitness band that should be on everyone's wrist. 

Will the Xiaomi Mi Band be a game changer for wearable devices?

It’s the dawn of wearable devices and smartbands are now becoming a trendy accessory to complement your smartphone. Xiaomi has already shaken the world with its insane pricing for its smartphones and now it seems that it is planning to keep up its momentum by launching affordable accessories.  At the Mi 4 smartphone launch event, Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun also announced the Mi Band, which is a health and fitness band with an unbelievable price of just $13 (Rs. 780 approx.).

If you thought the price was the best part, then hold on to your seats as the Mi Band is claimed to give a battery backup of about 30 days. This puts the Sony SmartBand (which costs about Rs. 6,000) to shame in pricing as well as battery backup. The Mi Band also has the ability to work as a proximity security unlock for your Xiaomi smartphone. This feature unlocks your device without requiring a password when you hold the smartphone in the same hand as you are wearing the band.

This is an extraordinary move by Xiaomi as the Mi Band is now the most affordable fitness band that you can get your hands on. We really thought that Sony had done a good job with its SmartBand but you get almost all of the features on the Mi Band at a price that's 10 times less.

This is definitely going to usher in similar products from different brands and at such a low price, one would not feel hesitant to try and experiment with such devices. The wearable tech market has not yet exploded here in India, but if products like these are introduced, there is a huge potential.

Will the Xiaomi Mi Band be a game changer for wearable devices? - See more at: http://www.digit.in/wearable-devices/will-the-xiaomi-mi-band-be-a-game-changer-in-wearable-devices-23379.html#sthash.buZiKnYY.dpuf

Will the Xiaomi Mi Band be a game changer for wearable devices? - See more at: http://www.digit.in/wearable-devices/will-the-xiaomi-mi-band-be-a-game-changer-in-wearable-devices-23379.html#sthash.buZiKnYY.dpuf

Sony SmartBand SWR10 in India: can be paired with Android KitKat handsets

This is going to get good response in the market here. Sony SmartBand SWR10 in India: can be paired with Android KitKat handsets

Sony Smartband SWR10 is finally here in the Indian market and there is no doubt at all that this is going to be very well received here.

I am sure about the great performance of Sony Smartband SWR10 in the Indian market because of the fact that it is not just impressive in terms of functions but also in terms of it being very affordable. The company seems to have done well to have priced it at just Rs 5,990. The smartband has been launched with the Japanese tech giant’s flagship handset Sony Xperia Z2.

The smartband has been getting good reviews since its launch a few weeks ago. With Sony’s Xperia Z2 the wearable band is a deadly combination. But many people will be amazed to find only one button on this smartband. But don’t take it lightly. It rather functions like the Aladdin lamp and is enough to accomplish hosts of tasks at the push of this single button.

The smartband’s core comes with three small LED lights that shine through the band. It makes sure that you know the mode in which it is running at any given time.

The best aspect of this wearable band is the fact that it can be paired with any Android smartphone and running on 4.4 KitKat OS and supports Bluetooth LE and NFC technology as well. You need to take the core out to recharge it. SmartBand SWR10 is IP58-certified is water proof. It can withstand submersion up to up to 5-feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

Sony SmartBand SWR10 review: A health band that goes beyond just fitness

In the past few months, there’s been a sudden wave of fitness-focussed smartwatches and smartbands. Jumping on to the bandwagon, Sony also launched its new SmartBand SWR10, which comes bundled for free with the Z2. The company hasn’t limited its use to only Sony phones, and any Android device running 4.4 KitKat and supports Bluetooth LE and NFC can use it. Sony has also ensured that the device stays within your reach and priced it at Rs 5,990, but don’t expect a Samsung Gear-like smartwatch at that price.

It appears to be more like the FitBit, rather than the Gear series. It is basically an activity tracker for fitness freaks, and not a mainstream smartwatch that is looking to bring a smartphone experience to your wrist. After living a couple of weeks with the device and using it with the Xperia Z2, here’s what we have to say.

Design and build

Sony’s Smartband is quite simple looking. We got our hands on the black-coloured band that appeared to be a bit dull, but discrete enough to go unnoticed. You will get a slew of other colour options too, like bright pink, orange and yellow, to name a few. But if you plan to make a style statement using the band, then the Nike Fuelband or Jawbone are definitly be more stylish.

The bracelet or strap is built of silicone rubber and is highly flexible. The belt is adjustable and should fit all sizes. Moreover, it is IP58-certified and can withstand submersion up to up to 5-feet of water for up to 30 minutes. It did survive a 10-minute drizzle, when we used it. However, the band does attract dust to a certain extent, making it look old quickly.

This strap is simply the housing for what Sony calls the ‘core’ – a small rectangular plasticky device that is housed inside the strap. It features just one button with three minute LED indicators. On the side, one will find the USB charging dock.

While the SmartBand won’t score high when it comes to the design, but the most notable thing is how light it is. One can almost forget that you’re wearing it all day and night. The core weighs a mere 6 g and together with the strap, the SmartBand weighs barely 20 grams.

Features and Performance

To begin with, the Sony Smartband is similar to the Fitbit and doesn’t feature a display. So, you will need a smartphone to view all the data. Though one can use it with any compatible Android smartphone, it will require Sony’s ‘LifeLog’ app. LifeLog is the brain of the device that works in tandem with the core. The core captures all the data and transmits it to the app, but not in real time. Besides, you will also need the SmartBand app that lets you pair the device and tweak the settings of the band. Setting up the device was hassle free using NFC and Bluetooth.

The LifeLog app comes with a neat interface that is divided into two parts. The upper section displays a colourful visual timeline that shows your daily activities like sleeping, walking, running, travelling, and even the weather condition is displayed in the background.

Colourful visual timeline; tracks your sleeping patterns

Just below the timeline, you will find several a grid of colours, each box pertaining to a certain activity. Here users can check how many hours they were engaged in a particular activity. This also includes non-exercise activities as the device is also capable of tracking the time you spent on the web, social networks, gaming or listening to music. You can set a goal for each of the activity. For instance, we set 30 minutes of cycling goal. So, once you tap on cycling, you can view how long you’ve cycled and if you’ve achieved the goal. You can check the cycling history for over a week and even a month, to gauge your performance. It offers a neat graphical representation too.

Besides tracking steps, calories, running, walking and digital activities, you can also a new activity or even delete an activity you don’t want tracked. This way the app looks clutter-free, allowing you to view information that is important for you. Apart from your day activities, it also tracks your sleeping patterns like how many hours you’ve slept, how many hours the sleep was deep or light.

The single core button offers several shortcuts, trying to make up for the lack of the display. The button can also be used to control a few functions on the smartphone such as call and message alerts and also serves as music control. The button can also be used with apps like camera and Find Phone location service. You need to enable these options using the Smartband app.

Lifelog and SmartBand apps

Smartband lets you automatically set the day or night modes, depending upon what time you sleep. It can also be changed manually by long pressing the button on the core. To check the mode at any time, users can also press the button once, if the three LEDs blink in succession then it’s day mode, and if alternately then it’s in night mode.

Another notable fact is that the device is a standalone tracker, and doesn’t need to be around your phone all the time. For instance, you can go for a run and come and then sync the device with your phone. Then there’s the bookmark option that allows users to bookmark a location, date and time by double pressing the button.

It accurately detected our digital activity, like how many photos we clicked, when we used social networks or mobile web and so on. The UI is very slick, and you can go back to check what you were doing at any particular moment. It is a great way of tracking the sleeping pattern, and improving your wake-up times.

Let’s you track your daily activities, and view them in graphical form

It is pretty decent at tracking activities, but that doesn’t mean it is flawless. It tracked our steps all the time, but the problem arises when you take up activities other than running or walking. For instance, one of the days, it detected we were cycling, but we were in another mode of transport. It couldn’t really differentiate our time in an auto rickshaw from our cycling. This is where the software needs to work, as the device needs to accurately gauge the difference between slow-moving vehicles and a bicycle.

Verdict and pricing

Firstly, the band is extremely comfortable to wear. Within a couple of hours, we almost forget that we are wearing one. The subtle black colour and simple design kept it away from inquisitive eyes. While the Sony SmartBand has ticked most of the boxes right, it still has its flaw when it comes to accuracy. This seems to be a common problem with tracking activity wearables, and Sony could probably work at making the tracking software more accurate through firmware updates.

Though we didn’t really miss the display, given the price of the device, there were several moments when we seriously did miss it. For instance, when we left the phone home while on a run or submitted it at the counter before entering the gym. In these cases, a display, even a small one, would have been handy.

In a nutshell, the SmartBand is great for those looking for an activity tracker alone, and want to track their daily exercise routine better. It does allow you to do a little more, but it’s scope is limited by its fitness features.

Pavlok wristband gives you electric shocks to do good work and form fitness habits

The Pavlok wristband is a ‘habit-forming’ wearable band which will literally shock you into exercising, waking up on time and what not by administering mild electric jolts to your wrist area when needed. Mind you, developer Maneesh Sethi is the same guy who hired a girl on Craigslist to slap him each time he went on Facebook when he was meant to be doing work.

Designed by Sethi and Behavioral Technologies, the Pavlok is meant to force you into a routine whether it includes going for a jog every evening or waking up early for starters. Apart from taking cues from the ‘Slapping Experiment,’ Sethi also got inspiration for the wristband from another habit-forming method he uses which has him paying $50 to his friend as a self-imposed penalty each time he eats a cookie or skips the gym.

The Pavlok wristband will be embedded with sensors to detect whether users are following the routine they’ve set for themselves and it will even incorporate certain social aspects. The last mentioned will be integrated with techniques to let friends help each other out of their bad habits by checking in on each other’s productivity or exercise status, for example.

The Pavlok administers electric shocks that set off triggers to change users’ brains and in turn, their bad habits. You may say it’s just negative reinforcement which will have people cheating by simply not wearing the band or conveniently forgetting to charge it. But the developers have also hinted about positive support without offering any specifics.

You can see the full interview with Maneesh Sethi concerning the Pavlok wristband on this TheLipTV YouTube video we posted below. The wearable might cost around $250 once Sethi manages to earn enough in crowd-funded backing to push it through the production process.

Sony's Smart Band reviewed

It seems like all the cool tech addicts are into that whole "quantified self" thing.

In other words, they're using wearable gadgets to find out as much as possible about their physical activities and their lifestyles.

It's nothing new of course, with the likes of the Nike FuelBand and Fitbit trackers all garnering success.

However, Sony's effort tries to be a life-journal rather than a fitness tracker – so does it actually work?

What's it feel like?

What do you get in the box then?

For starters, you have the most important component, the Core Sensor, which is a flashdrive-sized gadget that features an accelerometer and other sensors.

Other than that, you have two bands in here, with one being for small wrists and the other being for larger ones. It's good to see two options in here, instead of simply trying for the one-size-fits-all approach.

Pop the Core Sensor into the wrist band and you're good to go, with the band clipping onto your wrist pretty easily.

As for aesthetics, the SmartBand isn't going to win any awards, looking like a thick rubber band.

We also found that it attracted dust and other particles pretty easily – so if you want your band to remain spotless, well... good luck.

But the device is comfortable enough to wear in many situations, I even wore it to bed a few times as well. 

Yes, the SmartBand is in fact meant to be worn at night too, and I quickly forgot it was there, until the vibrating alarm kicked in (but more on that in a bit).

So what can it do?

To connect your smartphone to the SmartBand, simply place it against the back of your phone, with the device first connecting via NFC, then Bluetooth Low Energy. 

And you really do want to connect to a smartphone if you want to get the most out of the device, as it's useless without a host phone. 

Okay, so you've connected the SmartBand to your phone - now what?

Well, you can tweak the SmartBand to your liking on the phone, and there are plenty of settings.

You can set a vibrating alarm, toggle vibrations for incoming calls, toggle vibrations for notifications, toggle vibrations for when your phone is out of range, remotely control your music player and control when the SmartBand goes into Night Mode (which logs your sleeping hours and turns off notification vibrations).

It's even possible to download a few extensions, like a remote camera shutter and slideshow remote - but there are only about three or four in the first place. So here's hoping that more developers get on the bandwagon.

But of course, as cool as this sounds, you should download the LifeLog app - this is where a lot more fun can be had.

You see, the SmartBand constantly feeds sensor information to the LifeLog, the app then interpreting said data.

So if you took 1000 steps in a day, the phone's LifeLog app will reflect this, while also spitting out how many calories you've burnt and for how long you've walked/ran.

So far, so fitness-tracker.

But the LifeLog keeps track of activity taking place on your phone too, such as web-browsing, media playback, reading and photos taken. 

All these activities are combined to form a neat graph in LifeLog, tracking your information throughout the day and night.

You can also scroll to any point on the graph and hit the plus icon to receive more information about your activities during that time, such as music tracks played, how long you ran and photos taken.

The SmartBand lets you bookmark events on the LifeLog graph too. Merely double-tap the SmartBand's button to place one on your graph.

The LifeLog will also keep track of how long you've slept, although this is actually a measurement of the night mode rather than anything else. A pity.

Not quite Smart

I can't help but feel that the SmartBand was missing a key feature in the form of a heart-rate monitor.

A heart-rate monitor would go a long way towards delivering accurate results, as right now, the accelerometer-driven approach is a rough estimate (shaking your wrist will result in the device counting steps, for instance). 

The monitor would've been great for other sports (such as jiu jitsu or judo), where steps aren't a measurement of fitness. Then again, economical movement is the name of the game in jiu jitsu anyway, so a well-conditioned athlete's read-out could be interpreted as resting. Ah well...

Still, a heart-rate monitor would result in the SmartBand's price increasing, so there's that argument. 

However, the other missed opportunity is Sony integration - how cool would it be if the app could spit out a breakdown of your PS3/PS4 gameplay for the evening? Trophies earned, amount of time spent and titles played would make for a great feature.

Hell, Sony TV integration would've been great too, as the SmartBand delivered statistics about what you watched and for how long.

Get it?

It might not have all the features of a smartwatch, but when it has a five day battery life and a R1500 price-tag from the Orange Store, who cares?

That's not to say the SmartBand is an automatic buy, as we'd like to see extra sensors to improve results, better Sony integration and more third-party apps.

But as it is right now, the SmartBand is a good start if you want to get in on the "quantified-self" phenomenon. Just don't expect a comprehensive breakdown of every moment.

Score: 7 out of 10