Jabra Sport Pulse wireless earbuds
What it is: The earbuds combine an in-ear biometric heart rate monitor with Dolby audio (and some motivational voice coaching to spur you along). The accompanying Sport Life app helps you schedule your exercise into your calendar, keep track of your progress week by week and monitor your heart rate so you can push into maximum calorie-burn zone. Best of all, the earbuds are wireless.
Get it if you: Are a cardio bunny and pay attention to fat-burn zone, anaerobic zone and all that jazz
Where: $298 from Cathay at Marina Square, #02-215/216 6 Raffles Boulevard. 6339-6166.
Fitbit One
What it is: An exercise tracker and sleep monitor that clips onto your clothes, FitBit tracks your movements during the day–steps taken, stairs climbed and calories burned. While you sleep, it measures your sleep cycles and provides daily sleep stats, as well as having an alarm function to wake you up in the morning.
Get it if you: Aren’t really a fitness type, but need incidental exercise and quality sleep for stress management
Where: $129 and is available from Challenger, 1 HarbourFront Walk #02-34/35 VivoCity, 6376-6100.
Ralph Lauren Polo Tech t-shirt
What it is: A t-shirt with sensors sewn into the lining of the fabric that read your biological and physiological information. Designed more for serious athletes, the tee can read your pulse, respiration and energy output, and send you the information via an app, allowing you to make changes to your exercise level and breathing in real time.
Get it if you: Are a serious athlete and want to track your physiological info as you train
Where: The Polo Tech will be available in Singapore late this year. You can pre-order one from the new Polo Ralph Lauren flagship store at Isetan Scotts, 350 Orchard Rd., Shaw House Level 1 & 2, 6735-0572.
Samsung Gear 2
What it is: It’s a wrist watch, much like the new Apple Watch, but one that connects to your Samsung phone, allowing you to receive notifications to your wrist, even if your phone is buried in your bag. You can also initiate and receive calls via the watch (although the actual call still takes place through your phone) as well as take pictures on a 2-megapixel camera and listen to music. The 1.63 inch (4.14 cms) display comes in a range of colors, but still seems a little bulky on slender wrists.
Get it if you: Already have a Samsung Galaxy phone and think wrist watches are more than just fashion statements
Where: $398 and is available from Challenger, 1 HarbourFront Walk #02-34/35 VivoCity, 6376-6100.
Sony Smart Band
What it is: Designed for 24/7 wear, the Smart Band works in conjunction with the Lifelog Android app to essentially, log your life. You begin by setting up a profile and then as you go about your day, the Smart Band will work with your phone to record how active you’ve been, how many calories you’ve burned, how much time you’ve spent on Facebook or email and how many photos you’ve taken. The new Smart Band Talk also comes with a built-in mic and speaker so you can make calls and voice commands through your phone.
Get it if you: Want to police both your physical and mental bad habits
Where: $228 from Sony Centre, 1 Rochor Canal Rd., #03-71/72 Sim Lim Square, 6339-1198.
Apple Watch
What it is: Apple’s new smartwatch (nicknamed the iWatch) is essentially an iPhone extension that allows you to update your social media profiles, take calls and share images in conjunction with an iPhone. It will be compatible with the iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6 and 6 Plus (but anyone with a iPhone 4S model or earlier is out of luck). Much like the Samsung Gear 2, the watch itself is somewhat cumbersome and bulky for a wearable accessory.
Get it if you: Are an iOS user wanting an extension to your iPhone.
Where: The Apple Watch is set to launch in Singapore early 2015 with a starting price of US$350.
