Cupertino has its chic Apple Watch, Redmond has its Microsoft Band, and now Intel has unveiled its own female-friendly take on the wearable phenomenon with a $495 smart bracelet — which will allow users to receive and respond to text messages, emails and other notifications.
Called the MICA, the fashion-conscious bracelet boasts a sapphire 1.6-inch, 256 x 160 OLED curved screen on the inside of the wrist. As with the Apple Watch there are multiple styles available — ranging from black and white water snake skin, Chinese pearls, Madagascan lapis stones, South African tiger’s eye, and Russian obsidian.
The device runs on a custom version of Linux, and uses technology from Intel and TomTom for appointment reminders, in addition to Yelp data for ratings and reviews of local businesses, restaurants etc.
The finished products are reportedly set to arrive in early December, and will be available exclusively through both Opening Ceremony and Barney’s upscale department stores.
MICA isn’t the first company to create smart jewellery (check out Ringly smart rings, for example) aimed at the female market. What makes MICA slightly more intriguing, however, is that unlike many wearable devices (including Apple Watch) it doesn’t require a smartphone to pair with.
The $495 price tag comes with a two-year data plan from AT&T, which theoretically means users won’t need to carry any other device. It’s an interesting concept, but given the niche market Intel is going for with the device, surely the company isn’t planning on selling too many units?
It seems that having being late to both the smartphone and tablet markets means Intel is desperate not to miss out on the next big mobile computing trend, whatever the cost.
Source: Daily Mail
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
4 responses to “Intel wants to out-fashion Apple with its smart bracelet”
I don’t know what that is in the picture, but that is the ugliest thing I have ever seen.
hahahhaha…haha..haha….haaa….yeah good luck with that, especially if that’s a picture of it.
Even with the added functionality this thing is dead in the water. If you want something that ugly I’m sure there will be a 3rd party bracelet you can stick your apple watch into.
The first smart bracelet aimed at 80 year old women? Way to go Intel. Seems you guys really get this market.