Gear Up Your Apple Watch
Want more from the Apple Watch? Check out these smart products.
Ever since releasing the Apple Watch, it's been Apple's intention to elevate the wearable into a sophisticated personal health and fitness device. The company has partnered with medical groups and universities to assist in achieving that goal. The addition of cellular connectivity, storage capacity, and on-board sensors have brought capabilities beyond what even an iPhone has to offer. What began as a wristwatch that happened to serve as a proxy for iPhone notifications has evolved into the premier wearable computing platform. Accessory makers are recognizing the Apple Watch as more than just a way to keep time. Here are some of the most noteworthy products that take full advantage of the Apple Watch platform.
Hidrate Spark 3 Smart Water Bottle ($59.95)
According to most health professionals, an average adult should drink roughly eight glasses of water a day. That's easier said than done, especially when most people don't monitor their fluid intake. While you can set reminders to drink water throughout the day, wouldn't it be more convenient if your watch would vibrate when it's time to re-hydrate? While the Apple Watch doesn't come with a body fluid sensor just yet, Hidrate has created the next best thing with this smart water bottle. When paired via Bluetooth, the Hidrate app will ping your watch with reminders to sip from the water bottle throughout the day. As a bonus, the app will keep track of where you last left your smart bottle, so you don't accidentally lose it on the bus or at the gym. If your friends have Hidrate bottles too, you can find them in the app and share hydration levels within your group. Stay healthy and well-hydrated together!
One Drop Glucose Meter Starter Kit
($69.95)
During early testing of the Apple Watch, rumor had it that Apple CEO Tim Cook wore a prototype with built-in blood glucose monitoring. Even if the rumors were true, it will be some time before Apple brings technology like that to market. For those who prefer not to wait, One Drop provides a complete blood glucose monitoring kit. It includes a Bluetooth glucose meter, lancets, a lancing device, test strips, and a carrying case to help accurately measure your blood
sugar levels either at home or on the go. You can use the meter on its own or pair it with your phone, so you can see a history of readings. From the app on your iPhone, you can generate and share reports with your healthcare providers, and you can also keep track of levels via the Health app on your watch. If you already have the condition, you can use the reports to check the status of your glucose levels regularly. Using the lancing device and Bluetooth glucose meter is as easy as a pinprick. The results are immediate and may even save your life. One Drop takes the accuracy of its readings very seriously—its Aguamatrix commercial-grade meter is clinically tested and FDA approved. If you have diabetes, are concerned about developing the condition, or are curious to see your blood glucose levels throughout the day, One Drop offers an excellent way to take your health into your own hands.
Withings Wi-Fi Body Cardio Smart Scale
($149.95)
Available in black or white, Withings' smart scale can measure and display your weight (in pounds or kilograms), Body Mass Index (BMI), heart rate, muscle and bone mass, and even the weather forecast! After installing the free Withings Health Mate app on your iPhone or iPad, use it to connect to the scale via Bluetooth. The app will use your existing Wi-Fi network to log your measurements, obtain weather details, and automatically download and apply firmware updates. You can add other family members using the scale to track their weight progress goals as well. Setup was straightforward, but I did encounter a glitch when the scale attempted to connect to my Wi-Fi network. The device only connects to 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) networks and not the faster 5 GHz Wi-Fi AC networks. While this is by design, so that smart home products won't crowd your faster line, I had to make some adjustments to my wireless network to get everything operating as expected. It detected and recorded my weight right away, and the app was smart enough to identify other people using the scale based on the weight variations. The only measurement that took some practice to get right was heart rate. It requires bare feet, and it can be hit or miss depending on where you place your feet. It took a few tries to identify the sweet spot, but once located, the readings were much more accurate.
Tangram Factory LED Smart Rope ($79.95)
This smart jump rope helps you get your daily aerobic exercise in. It uses vision persistent messages to display calories burned and rotations completed (i.e., jumps) via the rope's 23 embedded LEDs. Since the rope tracks and displays your jump count and calories, you can get into a rhythm faster by listening to blood-pumping music instead of counting jumps. For extra motivation, you can use Tangram's companion app to share your scores on its public leader board and participate in competitions with friends. Besides capturing your jump count, Tangram's vision persistent LED messages are what make this fitness accessory stand out. You must keep the smart rope moving at a decent clip in order to trick the eye into seeing the rope's readouts. Room lighting didn't affect the display—I was able to quickly identify my jump count even in a brightly lit room. The smart rope recharges in two hours, and the battery lasts for around 36 hours of continuous activity on a single charge.
A HEALTHY FUTURE
We'll soon live in a world where the objects we interact with, wear, and even consume will offer real-time data collection that will allow us to live healthier lives. In the meantime, you can use these products with your Apple Watch to start enjoying their health benefits today. It's time to get healthy!