WHO, WHAT, WEARABLE
Ticwatch E
Mobvoi, the Beijing-based technology startup that makes the lightweight, low-cost Ticwatch smartwatches, specializes in products that propel human/machine interaction using artificial intelligence. The Ticwatch range personifies the company’s drive to create accessibly priced items that can compete with luxury tech in the functionality department. We demo-ed the Ticwatch E (Express), a full-featured smartwatch that can track fitness and steps, monitor heartbeat and sleep, and more.
What we liked: Mobvoi is a leader in voice-recognition technology, and the Ticwatch E runs the voice-enabled Google Assistant seamlessly. You also have instant access to all the apps in the Google Play ecosystem, including the excellent Google Fit. The solid, built-in GPS is another standout feature.
What we didn’t like: It’s a rubber watch with great fitness functions that’s splash-proof but not waterproof—so, alas, you can’t swim with it.
Best feature: The device is impressively lightweight, and its aesthetics feel youthful and stylishly casual. The brand recently released a collection of straps, the World Cup Series, designed with brightly colored stripes that pay homage to the national flags of major pro soccer teams. This isn’t your dad’s smartwatch—but it also doesn’t feel too cool for school. ($159.99; mobvoi.com)
SUPPLY IN DEMAND
Formlabs Ceramic Resin 1 L
Formlabs, maker of cutting-edge desktop 3D printers, has invented and produced an innovative ceramic resin that jewelers can use to print castable parts with a stonelike finish—with the option of firing them to create a fully ceramic piece. The material was formulated in order to render designs in ultrafine detail. At this year’s JCK Las Vegas, the company showcased a jewelry collection by design studio Nervous System that was 3D-printed using Ceramic Resin 1 L—and its delicate, interconnected pieces depicting a deep-sea glass sponge were impressively detailed. “You can’t make superthin interconnected three-dimensional structures—they can’t be cast,” says Nervous System cofounder Jessica Rosenkrantz. “But the green state of the 3D-printing material is strong because it has resin in it, so we can make these super-weird geometries that are superstrong when they’re fired.” ($149; formlabs.com)
APP CHAT
Dangle
FaceCake, a marketing-technology firm that specializes in apps that let you virtually try on fashion and makeup looks, has debuted Dangle, a jewelry try-on app. Dangle boasts tech that allows you to tap on a pair of earrings (from a swipeable menu on the bottom of the screen) to see them jump onto your ears, then sway and shimmy with your real-time movements. The app also offers an ever-evolving menu of celebrity earring looks—so you can digitally demo Hollywood’s most in-demand styles. (Free; facecake.com)