O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: Wearables

  • State Farm won’t cover Apple Watch

    statefarm

    If you’re pondering an Apple Watch, you might not be able to insure it with State Farm.

    According Rob Lee, who was following up on insurance coverage, an email inquiry as to whether State Farm would cover the forthcoming Apple Watch was met with the following reply:

    From: Laura Keeler
    Date: March 17, 2015 at 3:53:51 PM PDT
    To: Rob Lee
    Subject: RE: State Farm Claim Information

    Hi Rob,

    State Farm is not able to insure the Apple Watch as it is too high of a risk. You may want to see if Apple offers insurance for the watch. To cover jewelry/watches you may want to increase the endorsement for jewelry on your Renters policy.

    Have a great day!
    Laura

    (more…)

  • Nomad introduces Stand, Pod charging accessories for Apple Watch

    nomad

    This could come in handy.

    Last week, accessory maker Named unveiled two new product categories for Apple Watch; Stand and Pod. The Stand for Apple Watch is built from a solid piece of military grade extruded aluminium with a concealed, precision CnC milled, channel on the backside to effortlessly guide Apple’s cable and magnetic puck into place. The Stand, which retails for US$59, is an Apple Watch charging stand for your desk or bedside with stabilization provided by a copper ballast and high friction rubber base that will begin shipping by May 1st.
    (more…)

  • New York Times editor called out in wake of Apple Watch/health concerns column

    applewatchhero

    Apparently everyone freaked out two days ago when New York Times staff writer Nick Bilton published a column. The column, originally titled “Could Wearable Computers Be As Harmful As Cigarettes”, but was later changed to “The Health Concerns in Wearable Tech,” earnestly points to the rising interest in smartwatches and fitness trackers and wonders if technology’s relentless march might come at a cost of our own health.

    The piece began innocently enough:

    We have long suspected that cellphones, which give off low levels of radiation, could lead to brain tumors, cancer, disturbed blood rhythms and other health problems if held too close to the body for extended periods.

    Yet here we are in 2015, with companies like Apple and Samsung encouraging us to buy gadgets that we should attach to our bodies all day long.

    (more…)

  • Apple Store employees undergoing final Watch training, units to be in stores on April 10th

    applewatchhero

    With April 10th and the launch of the Apple Watch approaching, Apple Store retail employees have been receiving special training on the device, but special meetings will take place at retail stores starting next week to give all retail employees a chance to go hands-on with the watch.

    Many employees will see the watch in person for the first time at this point, and Apple will use the meetings to give them further training on the device. In its training materials, Apple has told employees they will “be the first to see Apple Watch, the first to try it on and the first to share it with the world.”

    (more…)

  • Life Clock projects uses Apple Watch to determine when you might die, encourages healthier habits

    lifeclock

    If an Apple Watch face that counts off the seconds until you die doesn’t motivate you, nothing will.

    The Life Clock application for the Apple Watch, designed by digital design group Rehabstudio, estimates how much time you have left on this rock, adding minutes for healthful activity and subtracting them when you indulge in bad habits. As such, it extrapolates what your behavior means for your future.

    (more…)