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Intel Unveils MICA "My Intelligent Communication Accessory" Smart Bracelet
MojoKid writes With a few companies introducing smartwatch products at IFA in Berlin, Intel's taking a slightly different approach. The chip-maker's wearable debut in Berlin is far different than those being issued by LG, Samsung, and Motorola, focusing on fashion instead of nuts-and-bolts. It's called MICA, which is short for "My Intelligent Communication Accessory," and Intel's calling it a "feminine accessory blending seamlessly into everyday life." While it handles text messages, push alerts, and other notifications like most other smartwatches, it's also snazzed up on the design front. Details are murky in terms of operating system, etc., but make no mistake: Intel's entry into the wearables arena is a piece like no other.
Now you can weed out the deadbeats with this discreet wearable device that tells you exactly how much money your date earns. Don't put out before you're assured the lifestyle you deserve.
Cell phones are relatively insecure, especially the ones that never get updated. What is the security of this device like?
Already we are carrying around cell phones with all of our personal lives on them, and yet they want us to get yet another device that will hopefully be supported with patches and updates?
Don't really think I'll be getting one of these until a security expect reviews them.
"This thing I wear on my wrist says they're not poisonous" -- Leela
Aptly named, I give them that.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
Let's admit it: all these smart watches are like MP3 players, pre-iPod: early pioneers, but destined to be forgotten. Once Apple enters the field, the category will take off. You don't have to be an Apple fanboi to see that coming.
Also predictable: Apple's entry will not be cheap, will be criticized for lacking features and openness, but buyers won't care. Samsung will rush a copycat revision of their entry, and the press will laud various "iWatch killers," but they won't be terribly successful.
iPod, IPhone, iPad: we've seen this story before.
Q: What does the "B." in Benoit B. Mandelbrot stand for? A: Benoit B. Mandelbrot
I must admit, they have the style right in terms of appearance, technology aside. I could easily see this selling regardless of how well the underlying technology works; and it will, the consumer of these will be more about the look.
A watch may be a fashion accessory, but it is mostly exempt from the expectation that it match with the rest of one's wardrobe. That stems from the days when watches were just too expensive to wear matching watches with every outfit, even if you were well off. This, on the other hand, will only go with some outfits, and doesn't have an inherited exemption from expectations of matching in female wardrobes. And it's probably too expensive to buy three or four. They're pretty, I must admit, but a watch is a better idea.
Not sure why Intel thinks this is a good idea. Granted, there is lot of headroom in the women's market for tech, but why not make it inclusive and double your market?
"Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
and immediately thought, "isn't that horse kinda dead??"
(*for those who grew up under a rock, MCA, or Microchannel Architecture, was developed by IBM around 1987 as a stopgap technology between ISA (earlier known as AT) (16-bit) and PCI (32-bit) busses. It uses both bus widths and was intended as a backward-compatible bus architecture to supersede ISA. PCI buried it, being three times faster out of the gate and a lot easier to install.)
Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
Is there nobody who actually followed the link and looked at the pics? Are you guys all fucking nuts browsing by /links/ and /lynx/?
They're the worst bracelets I ever seen, oversized, weird colors and jewels there just don't blend.
Exactly what is a bracelet / watch thing going to do in any meaningful way?
Provide a means of using NFC to pay for things even if your devices do not support it - and without taking your device out of your pocket.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
They look like something you'd find on Etsy, and not the first page...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Is this just me fantasizing, or do the pictures in the article look like posters for a lesbian film?
Why does every freaking thing related to computers and technology have to start with "My"?
Even urls are vulnerable. Every other ad I hear or see nowadays gives a url that starts with "My".
I'm blaming Microsoft for starting the idiocy with "My Computer".
Please stop the madness.
"feminine accessory blending seamlessly into everyday life."
Looks like two lesbians to me.
Go Intel, i'am all for this new style of advertising images!
All of the quick-to-market watchlike devices hitting the market in advance of Apple's product release is simply to cover all bases so the makers can line up in the usual "we had it first" lawsuit parade. They are designing shit products in a completely rudderless shotgun approach to features and appearance but one or two will hit on some similarities with whatever Apple comes out with.
Reminds me of all the jokes when the "iPad" name was announced (and before!).
And Bloom County's chartreuse flame thrower.