TWIWT XIX: Week of February 10, 2025
A slightly slower week for wearable technology news. Nonetheless, here is the latest TWIWT post featuring Apple, Apollo Neuroscience, Oura, webAI, and a few job opportunities.
Apple releases Powerbeats Pro 2 fitness headphones with heart rate monitoring
Nearly ten years ago, in April 2015, Apple introduced the Apple Watch, featuring a heart rate sensor compact enough for a watch. As sensors and chips have become smaller and more power-efficient, Apple has now integrated a tiny heart rate sensor into the Powerbeats Pro 2. In the future, I suspect that this feature will allow the Apple Fitness+ app to access your heart rate from the headphones without needing an Apple Watch.
This new set of headphones looks impressive. Each bud weighs 8.7 grams, making them 20% lighter than the previous version. Surprisingly, this is the first Powerbeats model to feature Active Noise Cancellation. The new model offers up to 45 hours of total battery life with the charging case, which is now 33% smaller and supports wireless charging for the first time. Powered by Apple's H2 chip—the same processor found in AirPods Pro 2—the earbuds include Adaptive EQ for personalized sound, Transparency mode for environmental awareness (transparency mode is great and I use it a lot on my AirPods), and IPX4 sweat and water resistance. Apple has expanded the fit options, following 1,500 hours of testing with nearly 1,000 athletes to ensure a secure fit for a wide range users.
Most of this is a summary of Apple's marketing information. If you're interested in an independent test of the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds and their heart rate sensor, check out this review article by DC Rainmaker.
Apollo transforms iPhones into stress-relief devices with scientifically-backed haptic technology
Apollo Neuroscience has unveiled Apollo Sessions, a new application that transforms iPhone's haptic capabilities into a scientifically-validated stress management tool. The technology delivers specific vibration patterns, called Apollo Vibes, that activate the vagus nerve and balance the autonomic nervous system. This innovation marks the first integration of health-enhancing vibrations on Apple's platform and is available free of charge to iPhone users.
The app offers multiple vibration patterns tailored for different needs, from the calming "Hug Vibe" to the energizing "Espresso Shot," along with synchronized visuals to enhance the relaxation effect. Users can experience the benefits by placing their phone on their chest or holding it in their hands. The launch follows Apollo's Kickstarter campaign for their next-generation wearable device.
This is a summary of a Business Wire announcement, which you can read here, and you can follow Apollo's Kickstarter campaign here.
Oura and webAI partner to bring personalized AI health insights to smart ring users
Oura has partnered with enterprise AI platform webAI to implement on-device artificial intelligence processing for its members. The collaboration aims to enhance privacy and reduce latency by moving AI computations directly to users' phones rather than relying on cloud processing. This technological shift enables the Oura Ring to deliver personalized health insights while ensuring users' data remains under their direct physical control, marking a significant advancement in wearable health technology's approach to data security.
The partnership leverages webAI's distributed AI platform to combine personal health data with large language models directly on users' devices, enabling faster and more personalized health recommendations without compromising data privacy. This integration represents a strategic move in the wearable technology sector, where concerns about data security have become increasingly prominent.
Read the full announcement here.