Well, wearable tech lovers, it's been another wild week.
With plenty of real-life events to distract you from important matters in the tech industry this week, we've rounded up the biggest and best stories in case you missed anything.
Read on to get the scoop on Fitbit's smartwatch, the Nintendo Switch's secret weapon, the future of Snap Spectacles and the outcome of the Oculus vs. Zenimax court case.
Fitbit (finally) confirms smartwatch plans
Despite dropping the most elaborate clues possible through the acquisitions of Pebble, Vector (pictured) and Coin, CEO James Parks finally officially announced Fitbit's smartwatch plans this week.
And while remaining relatively coy on specific details, Parks' clues indicate that we can probably look forward to a well-rounded smartwatch that will pair the company's usual fitness tracking antics with in-built wearable payments, a monster battery and a focus on style and design.
We already know Fitbit is planning to launch an app store alongside the device, meaning this year is shaping up to be a busy one for the fitness giant. Whether it can continue its dominance and compete with the best smartwatches of 2017, though, remains to be seen. If you're sticking to trackers, check out our Fitbit Charge 2 vs Garmin Vivosmart HR+ comparison.
Oculus vs. Zenimax court case wraps up
The long-standing dispute between Oculus and Zenimax has come to a conclusion, with a jury ordering Oculus must pay out $500 million in damages.
While that amount is mind-boggling in regular terms, it's actually a lot less than Zenimax wanted. Wareable understands that the company was seeking $6 billion, and not the $4 billion previously reported — itself up from the initial $2 billion when the case went to trial.
If virtual reality law suits happen to be your thing, you can read our primer to the Oculus and Zenimax court case and get up to speed with what all the fuss is over. Or, alternatively, get lost in the best games Oculus Rift has to offer.
Snap Spectacles expanding the view
Remember those few weeks in 2016 when Snap's Spectacles vending machines took over the wearable tech world?
Well, get ready to embrace it all over again, because the company has announced it will be significantly expanding the rollout of the devices in 2017.
Despite the popularity, this decision is still based on faith in the product and not significant sales, since initial numbers were so limited.
We'll soon know whether the Spectacles are a passing fad or a smartglass revolution, but the recent acquisition of Israeli AR startup Cimagine is further evidence the company is playing the long game.
Nintendo exploring Switch VR
As Nintendo gears up to launch its next-generation console, the Switch, fresh details have emerged about its potential compatibility with virtual reality.
Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima revealed that the gaming giant is "studying" ways to add virtual reality component to the console, though did also admit there are obstacles to overcome — such as issues surrounding playing for long periods of time.
Currently, the company is the only major console maker to not announce any solid VR plans, with Sony already launching PS VR and Microsoft launching Windows VR as well as confirming its upcoming Project Scorpio console will be VR-compatible.
How we test
Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.
Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides.
He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror.