​​The week in wearable tech: Blocks finally set to ship to backers

All the hottest news from the week that was
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Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest news in wearables. For those of you who have been hiding under a rock all week, it's your chance to catch up in one easy read, and get the juiciest of wearable tech news.

This week we have news on the delayed Blocks modular smartwatch, new releases from Suunto and Bose plus a glimpse of how the mysterious Magic Leap headset could look. Enjoy.

Blocks finally set to ship to backers

Attention Blocks backers - the crowdfunded modular smartwatch startup has announced that the Blocks watch is almost ready for mass production, and shared a four minute video of a working, final design.

The original shipping date Blocks' Kickstarter campaign was May 2016, so the team is a little behind schedule. However, backers might be appeased by what looks to be an impressive final product.

Check out our guide to Blocks' smartwatch as well as our round-up of the best smartwatches of 2016. While you're at it, check out our view on why the days of crowdfunding are numbered, as delays and cancellations stack up.

Wearables more than health

​​The week in wearable tech: Blocks finally set to ship to backers

While fitness remains the main use case for modern wearable tech, there's more to life than counting steps, GPS tracking and heart rate monitoring.

That's according to research by Ericsson, which revealed that 6 in 10 smartphone users feel wearables have uses beyond health and fitness.

However, if you are looking for a wearable to get fit then check out our round-up of the best apps and devices for Couch to 5K, as well as guides to the best running watch and how to get more from your sports tech.

Pebble launches happiness app

​​The week in wearable tech: Blocks finally set to ship to backers

Pebble has released a new app this week that's designed to make you happier. Part of a one week experimental program, you can download the Happiness App to track what makes you smile.

You'll be prompted to record your energy level and mood then input where you are, what you're doing and who you're with. From your answers, Pebble find correlations and generate a happiness report at the end of the week.

Stress and happiness are set to be big features of wearables going forward. You can read our investigation into the world of stress detecting tech and the best devices for reducing stress. If that's not your bag, then just try our guides to the new Pebble Time 2, the Pebble 2 and of course, Pebble Core.

Magic Leap design patent outed

​​The week in wearable tech: Blocks finally set to ship to backers

A patent for the mysterious Magic Leap headset has been uncovered, which may give us some clue to what the device might look like. The Florida based startup was awarded a design patent this week by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

It looks like half VR headset, and half Tron helmet, although the designs don't really show how the device will work. Of course, it's mixed reality, rather than full VR, which means users will be treated to the real world and virtual one overlaid.

Check out our full in-depth guide to everything we know about Magic Leap, as well as our guide to the best VR headsets.

Suunto Spartan Ultra Watch unveiled

​​The week in wearable tech: Blocks finally set to ship to backers

Suunto has taken the wrappers of a new connected multisport watch, which replace its Ambit3. The Suunto Spartan Ultra will be waterproof to a massive 100 metres and feature a colour touch screen display. You can get get guided route navigation thanks to the built-in GPS, barometric altitude readings and a digital compass.

Check out our round-up of the best outdoors watches and our review of the Casio WSD-F10 Outdoor Smartwatch, the first Android Wear smartwatch built for fishing, trekking and climbing.

Bose releases sports tracking headphones

​​The week in wearable tech: Blocks finally set to ship to backers

Hearables are kicking off, and Bose is getting in on the act. The company has released its SoundSport Pulse headphones, which feature a built-in heart rate sensor for workouts. It pairs up with all the usual apps, and at xxx/xxx, doesn't break the bank.

Check out our guide to the latest and greatest hearables, and of course, our brand new review of the Bragi Dash, one of the most audacious connected audio devices to date.


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James Stables

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James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.

He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.

James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.


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