Angel is a new entry into the fitness band market. If you’re going to be late to the party, you better bring something special. It remains to be seen whether or not Angel will be able to deliver on its potential.
To start, the band has less; there’s no display aside from some indicator LEDs. The concept is that you can use the display on your smartphone, tablet, or other connected device to access the data that the band generates. On the “more” side, Angel has more sensors than the simple “step counters.” In addition to physical activity, it also tracks heart rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen levels. It uses new polymer Lithium-ion battery technology, which can provide power for up to a week between charges, depending on the applications in use. Bluetooth Low Energy provides a wireless connection.
The other part of the “more” story is that the company intends to make Angel an open platform. They have released software developer kits (SDKs) for iOS and Android devices, at the same that they have made their own iOS app available on the Apple Store. (The Android app won’t be developed until after the band ships, which is schedule to be later this year.) The company’s hope is that developers will create programs for everything from enterprise-level to research applications.
Of course, until the device actually ships, we won’t be sure of just what exactly it is able to do.
