Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

Android Central

Technology

Michael L Hicks

Smartwatch 'smart straps' died for a reason. I still want them to come back.

Pebble Samsung Android Central Sony Polar Apple Fitbit Garmin Meta United States

Someone making a payment using the wristband form a Polar smartwatch.

Sunday Runday

(Image credit: Android Central)

In this weekly column, Android Central Wearables Editor Michael Hicks talks about the world of wearables, apps, and fitness tech related to running and health, in his quest to get faster and more fit.

This week, Polar released a 22mm "Payment Wristband" with an NFC chip embedded into the strap, enabling tap-to-pay if your watch doesn't support it. We haven't seen tech-filled watch bands since the early days of Pebble and Galaxy Gear, but Polar's modular tech has me curious if this abandoned idea deserves a renaissance.

Sign up to read this article

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here

Top stories on inkl right now

Abdul El-Sayed: Democrats must ‘win by massive numbers’ to fend off Trump election denial

Abdul El-Sayed: Democrats must ‘win by massive numbers’ to fend off Trump election denial

Democratic Senate candidate’s remarks come as Trump has long baselessly claimed his 2020 election loss was stolen

The Guardian - US

Ohio animal hospital owner accused of using dead dog’s name to obtain thousands of prescription pills

Ohio animal hospital owner accused of using dead dog’s name to obtain thousands of prescription pills

Dr. Kris L. Taylor and Camille Angulat-Nieto received over 20 prescriptions for ‘Punkin’ a dog that was already dead

The Independent UK

Isaias Leaves More Than 390,000 Alabama and Florida Customers Without Power as Officials Warn About Generator Carbon Monoxide

Isaias Leaves More Than 390,000 Alabama and Florida Customers Without Power as Officials Warn About Generator Carbon Monoxide

Isaias left more than 390,000 Alabama and Florida customers without power. Health officials warn that generator carbon monoxide is a top danger during cleanup.

Florida Appeals Court Orders Hope Florida Grand Jury Report Expunged Over $10 Million Centene Medicaid Settlement Payment

Florida Appeals Court Orders Hope Florida Grand Jury Report Expunged Over $10 Million Centene Medicaid Settlement Payment

A Florida appeals court ordered a grand jury report on $10 million from a Centene Medicaid settlement expunged. What the ruling says and what remains open.

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Federal judge halts ICE detention centre construction at California site over environmental review

Federal judge halts ICE detention centre construction at California site over environmental review

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction halting construction of an ICE facility near Gilroy, California. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Santa Clara County. They argued that construction began without an adequate environmental assessment or consultations with local…

The Times of India

Brazil's Lula accuses social media giant Meta of election interference amid tight run-off campaign

Brazil's Lula accuses social media giant Meta of election interference amid tight run-off campaign

Social media platform Meta has 48 hours to respond to claims by Brazil's leftwing candidate and incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's campaign accusing the tech platform of blocking content on the company's platforms. Brazil's Superior Electoral Court on Saturday gave the social media giant 48 hours to clarify…

Related Stories

Top stories on inkl right now

Abdul El-Sayed: Democrats must ‘win by massive numbers’ to fend off Trump election denial

Abdul El-Sayed: Democrats must ‘win by massive numbers’ to fend off Trump election denial

Democratic Senate candidate’s remarks come as Trump has long baselessly claimed his 2020 election loss was stolen

The Guardian - US

Ohio animal hospital owner accused of using dead dog’s name to obtain thousands of prescription pills

Ohio animal hospital owner accused of using dead dog’s name to obtain thousands of prescription pills

Dr. Kris L. Taylor and Camille Angulat-Nieto received over 20 prescriptions for ‘Punkin’ a dog that was already dead

The Independent UK

Isaias Leaves More Than 390,000 Alabama and Florida Customers Without Power as Officials Warn About Generator Carbon Monoxide

Isaias Leaves More Than 390,000 Alabama and Florida Customers Without Power as Officials Warn About Generator Carbon Monoxide

Isaias left more than 390,000 Alabama and Florida customers without power. Health officials warn that generator carbon monoxide is a top danger during cleanup.

Florida Appeals Court Orders Hope Florida Grand Jury Report Expunged Over $10 Million Centene Medicaid Settlement Payment

Florida Appeals Court Orders Hope Florida Grand Jury Report Expunged Over $10 Million Centene Medicaid Settlement Payment

A Florida appeals court ordered a grand jury report on $10 million from a Centene Medicaid settlement expunged. What the ruling says and what remains open.

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Federal judge halts ICE detention centre construction at California site over environmental review

Federal judge halts ICE detention centre construction at California site over environmental review

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction halting construction of an ICE facility near Gilroy, California. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Santa Clara County. They argued that construction began without an adequate environmental assessment or consultations with local…

The Times of India

Brazil's Lula accuses social media giant Meta of election interference amid tight run-off campaign

Brazil's Lula accuses social media giant Meta of election interference amid tight run-off campaign

Social media platform Meta has 48 hours to respond to claims by Brazil's leftwing candidate and incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's campaign accusing the tech platform of blocking content on the company's platforms. Brazil's Superior Electoral Court on Saturday gave the social media giant 48 hours to clarify…

Our Picks

Kelly Clarkson Blasts Brooklyn Store After Employee Allegedly Assumes She Can’t Afford Their Products: ‘You’re An Idiot’

Kelly Clarkson shared an alleged unpleasant shopping experience at a Brooklyn store, prompting fans to react and sparking backlash against the business.

Walmart shopper buys a Frigidaire ice maker and heads home. Then she opens the box and realizes she brought home a roach motel: ‘Want my money back’

What Should You Do If You Find Cockroaches in a Boxed Appliance You Just Bought?

We Got This Covered

Massachusetts man delivers tanks to a basement. Then he turns a corner and finds a life-size lion figure: ‘Everything cool, everything normal’

"Why is it so realistic?"

We Got This Covered

Woman says a man offered to buy her and her friends drinks at a bar. He shut it down after hearing what they wanted: ‘Never mind’

Their pick had him reverse course

We Got This Covered

What Is Jaleel White Worth Decades After Playing Steve Urkel?

For millions of television viewers, Jaleel White will always be Steve Urkel, the suspender-wearing neighbor who became a cultural phenomenon on “Family Matters.” But nearly three decades after the sitcom ended, White has built a career extending far beyond his unforgettable character.

Budget and the Bees

Physicians’ group calls for ban on raw milk – as it’s becoming increasingly popular in the US

As raw milk industry experiences record growth, experts say it might contain pathogens that can sicken people

The Guardian - US

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play