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Victoria Song

Victoria Song

Senior Reviewer, Wearable Tech

Senior Reviewer, Wearable Tech

    More From Victoria Song

    Victoria Song
    Victoria Song
    You can now download an app to run a 5K with Thor and Loki.

    Marvel’s new running app — Marvel Move — is now available. It’s made in partnership with Six to Start, or the folks behind Zombies, Run! Basically, you get to listen to audio stories featuring Marvel heroes (and you) as you run. It’s sort of like a mix between a podcast and an interactive game.

    I haven’t gotten a chance to try it out for myself yet, but I’ll probably check out the 5K Asgard training with Thor and Loki. I’m curious to see how well it works — especially since Zombies, Run! is how I started running a decade ago. If you want to learn more, I got a chance to speak with Adrian Hon, Six to Start’s CEO and co-founder, back when the app was announced.

    Victoria Song
    Victoria Song
    Our first glimpse (probably) of the Pixel Watch 2.

    Google did it again. For a hot second, the Pixel 8 Pro and what appears to be the Pixel Watch 2 popped up on a Google Store page. While it’s pretty clear this is the Pixel 8 Pro, it’s hard to definitively say this is the Pixel Watch 2 because of the angle. I’ve been holding up my Pixel Watch next to this picture for a good while and it does appear thinner and flatter than the current watch.

    It probably is! It’d make sense since we already got an FCC filing. And while this isn’t the best angle, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a few more leaks before Google makes everything official.

    A man in glasses and a knit cap talks on a cellular phone, described by Google as the Pixel 8 Pro in porcelain.
    Image: Google
    Victoria Song
    Victoria Song
    The CIA can’t use Fitbits for annual step challenge.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, Fitbits and other high-tech devices are a no-no for counting steps in the CIA’s annual Pedometer challenge. Apparently, internet-connected gadgets simply aren’t allowed inside CIA buildings. Instead, the agency uses old-school pedometers clipped to the waist and punny team names.

    This is a fun read and reminds me of the good old days when I used to test a fitness tracker’s step count accuracy against a Yamax Digi-Walker SW-200.

    Victoria Song
    Victoria Song
    Withings finally got FDA clearance for its super high-tech scale.

    At CES this year, Withings announced its Body Scan Connected Health Station. It’s arguably the most extra smart scale to exist with six-lead EKG and atrial fibrillation detection, segmented body composition, electrodermal activity sensors to detect nerve health from your feet sweat, and the ability to estimate your vascular age.

    Now that the FDA’s cleared the product, Withings says it’ll go on sale this fall for a whopping $399.95. Would you use this scale?

    How to clean your smartwatchHow to clean your smartwatch
    Victoria Song
    Victoria Song
    Victoria Song
    Judge dismisses lawsuit claiming Apple Watch blood oxygen sensor has a racial bias.

    Plaintiff Alex Morales said he believed that he’d bought the Apple Watch believing its blood oxygen feature would work “without regard to skin tone.” However, the class action lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can’t be brought forth against Apple again.

    However, there is bias with light-based sensors. That’s because they determine your metrics based on how light reflects off the skin. Melanin (and tattoo ink) impacts that, though companies try to make up for it by fine-tuning algorithms. It’s well-known that even pulse oximeters aren’t as accurate for non-white patients.

    Reminder: Apple wasn’t required to get FDA clearance for its blood oxygen feature because it’s for general wellness, aka just for fun. It also clearly states that in its apps. If you want better accuracy, stick to pulse oximeters.