Remember Blocks? Having finally let backers get hold of the modular smartwatch that raised $1.6 million on Kickstarter and suffered numerous delays, it's finally letting anyone buy the wearable.
If you need a reminder of how it all works, at the heart is the Blocks Core module that's available in black or a silver stainless steel casing and now runs on Android Oreo 8.0. It's compatible with both Android smartphones and iPhones, packing in a 1.4-inch colour 400 x 400 AMOLED display, with a MediaTek MTK6580M quad core processor powering performance alongside 512MB of RAM.
Hands on: Block smartwatch review
Staple features of the Core include fitness tracking, 2-day battery life, music control, the ability to deal with calls and messages and now there's Alexa support to tap into the smart assistant from your wrist.
Where things are supposed to get interesting (and smarter) is with the clip-on modules that add a host of additional features including GPS/GLONASS, a heart rate sensor, environmental sensors, an LED flashlight, a smart button to launch apps and an extra battery. The idea was that developers would help create modules for the watch, but these are the only modules currently listed on the Blocks website.
Blocks does also mention phases when it will launch new modules. During these phases we can expect to see modules that can measure stress levels and monitor body temperature. There's also apparently a bone conduction speaker, ECG heart rate monitor and a camera on the way too.
If you've not been put off by the delays and still think a modular smartwatch is a good idea, then you can buy pre-order the Core watch in either colour for $259. Adding on a single module will cost you an extra $35. If you go for all six available modules, then it'll set you back a total of $469. Shipping is expected in Q1 2018, so it should land on your doorstep early this year (fingers crossed).
How we test
By Michael Sawh
Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.
He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.
Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech.
Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.