Smart Earrings Launched: Monitor More Metrics Than a Smartwatch

Smartphones transformed into smartwatches, watches evolved into smart rings, and it appears the next logical step is smart earrings. An exciting, emerging wearable device is the Lumia 2 smart earrings, which launched on Kickstarter and achieved its funding target in merely three minutes. The campaign has already amassed nearly $1.5 million, significantly exceeding the initial $10,000 target. They pledge “discreet next-gen health tracking,” featuring integrated technology to assess your sleep, activity, blood flow, and more than 20 health metrics. With a single battery charge, they’ll last up to seven days. Additionally, they are expected to come in a range of styles, as would be anticipated from a designer jewelry brand.

The concept of smart earrings isn’t completely novel. Another company, Incora Health, is working on 18-karat gold-over-titanium smart earrings. Peripherii also provides Priamble, which presents a pair of earrings that operate as earbuds instead of a sensor-equipped wearable. What distinguishes Lumia 2 earrings is their unique design that allows feature-rich health tracking. The sensors are positioned directly behind the ear, rather than on a finger or wrist, which grants access to the ear’s shallow blood vessels for accurate readings. This facilitates continuous data streams, such as prolonged heart rate or blood flow measurements, without disruption from abrupt movements during workouts.

Presently, the base price for Lumia 2 is $249, with various styles available at higher prices, alongside premium material options like gold, silver, or titanium. A $20 monthly membership will be required to access the tracking app and features, with discounted annual plans available. While the initial shipments are scheduled for December 2026 for backers, I believe they already deserve a place on the list of futuristic gadgets you can possess now.

What makes wearing smart earrings preferable to other smart wearables?

Certainly, the same inquiries posed regarding smart rings are pertinent here. For instance, what is the benefit of an Oura Ring or similar smart ring if you already have a smartwatch? While I can’t personally vouch for the Lumia 2 earrings, it seems the health tracking might be more comprehensive due to the earrings’ sensors, which are discreetly placed behind the ears. Many functions of a smart ring may surpass those of a smartwatch, given that you wear it on your finger as opposed to your wrist.

One significant advantage is distraction-free tracking, which will also apply to smart earrings like the Lumia 2, possibly even more effectively. Every few minutes, Lumia 2 gathers blood flow and heart rate data, including HRV, and displays this information within the app. You can also choose to trade battery life for increased or customized polling rates for more regular readings if you desire. Wearing something like this continuously throughout the day, in the shower, to bed, at work, at the gym, and everywhere else is a completely different experience. The Lumia 2 is engineered to consistently monitor your crucial health metrics in real-time and over the long haul.

With sensitive health information, concerns regarding privacy and security are always present. Lumia Health was founded by individuals who claim to recognize this issue. Daniel Lee, the co-founder and CEO, has a familial background that drove the creation of Lumia’s devices. Lumia Health also assures that health data will be encrypted, anonymized, and “access-controlled.” It will only be shared with third-party entities, such as AWS, to “securely store and serve” users. Lumia commits to offering an opt-out for those who prefer their data not to “contribute to an aggregated pool of open-source data for leading researchers,” and will “vet” those researchers.

Google Home Unveils Effortless Automation Update and ‘Ask Home’ Functionality for PC

This week, Google has rolled out a dual update designed to enhance its smart home technology even further.

Apple Introduces Four Fresh MAMI Shorts Captured with the iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple has released a comprehensive overview of four rising filmmakers who filmed new short features using the iPhone 17 Pro Max as part of the newest MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone initiative.

A recent post from Apple Newsroom outlines how four filmmakers took advantage of the sophisticated capture capabilities of the iPhone 17 Pro Max to create their submissions for this year’s MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in the Shot on iPhone section.

The filmmakers consist of Shreela Agarwal, Ritesh Sharma, Robin Joy, and Dhritisree Sarkar, each demonstrating distinct functionalities of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in their films. Agarwal’s piece, “11.11,” showcases the ProRes RAW feature, which enabled her to recover additional details in darker scenes and produce a brighter, cleaner image while preserving a natural nighttime ambiance.

Ritesh Sharma’s “She Sells Seashells” made use of Cinematic Mode and the Audio Mix feature, augmenting the immersive quality by emphasizing key sounds.

Robin Joy’s “Pathanam” took advantage of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s Action Mode, which allowed him to achieve ambitious shots effortlessly.

Dhritisree Sarkar’s “Kathar Katha” incorporated ProRes RAW and Apple Log 2 to create a vintage celluloid aesthetic during post-production, along with the 8x optical zoom to explore deeper into her lead character’s emotional journey.

Apple highlights that these filmmakers depended on the iPhone 17 Pro Max as their main production tool while also engaging the wider Apple ecosystem, including the MacBook Pro with M5 and iPad Pro with M5, to facilitate the filmmaking workflow.

To read Apple’s complete story, click on this [link](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/05/how-filmmakers-are-redefining-the-art-form-with-mami-select-filmed-on-iphone/).

Logitech Unveils Two Fresh Keyboard Cases for iPad

Logitech has recently unveiled two fresh keyboard cases specifically crafted for the iPad (A16) and iPad (10th generation): the Rugged Combo 4c and Rugged Combo 4c Touch. These items are designed to enrich the educational experience by delivering durability and functionality tailored for learning environments.

The Rugged Combo 4c and Rugged Combo 4c Touch come equipped with a fully sealed keyboard and a dedicated USB-C port, which enables students to charge their iPads while concurrently using wired headphones. This dual capability is vital since audio is essential in literacy, language acquisition, and digital evaluations. By removing the need to sacrifice power for audio, these cases guarantee that lessons can progress smoothly, allowing students to interact with digital content for longer durations.

Notable features of both keyboard cases consist of:

– **Smart Connector**: This innovation facilitates immediate pairing with the iPad, powered directly by the device, eliminating the need to charge the keyboard case.

– **Sealed, Spill-Resistant Keyboard**: Engineered to offer a comfortable and silent typing experience, the keyboard is also spill-resistant, making it ideal for the often bustling classroom setting.

– **Easy to Clean**: Made from sturdy materials that can endure over three years of daily cleaning, these cases are simple to maintain, ensuring durability in educational environments.

– **Four Use Modes**: The cases accommodate various modes—Type, View, Read, and Sketch—offering flexibility for diverse learning activities.

The Rugged Combo 4c Touch also features a large, high-precision trackpad, enabling intuitive navigation and interaction with materials.

These new keyboard cases are currently available for purchase through Logitech’s authorized education distributors, making them accessible for schools aiming to enhance their technology offerings for students.

9to5Mac Daily: May 7, 2026 – News on MacBook Neo Manufacturing Speculations and More Updates

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Trump to Extend Invitation to Tim Cook and Additional CEOs for Upcoming Journey to China

**A Journey Cook Might Not Want to Overlook**

Reports indicate that the Trump administration intends to invite a number of high-profile CEOs, including Tim Cook of Apple, on an imminent journey to China. This journey could notably impact Cook’s future as Apple’s CEO. The invitation list also features leaders from Nvidia, Qualcomm, Exxon, Boeing, Blackstone, Citigroup, and Visa, with expectations that additional CEOs may request invitations as the date nears.

Conversations during this journey are expected to center on artificial intelligence (AI), as recent updates suggest that the U.S. and China are contemplating formal discussions to address their rising AI rivalry, which has been described as a digital arms race. President Trump has been consulting with executives regarding this journey, expressing a wish to welcome them in Beijing.

Taking CEOs along on international journeys has been a defining aspect of Trump’s second term. Previous visits to the UK, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates involved engagements with business leaders. Nevertheless, Cook’s choice to turn down an invitation to the UAE last year reportedly caused some tension in his relationship with Trump, who publicly remarked on Cook’s absence during a speech, hinting it might have resulted in retaliatory actions, such as threats of tariffs on iPhones not produced in the U.S.

It remains unclear if Cook will accept this latest invitation. Apple’s considerable dependence on the Chinese market renders his participation vital, as refusing the invitation could be seen as a slight by both the U.S. and China, particularly at a time when iPhone sales in China are recovering. Moreover, Cook’s ongoing position as executive chairman, where he will keep engaging with global policymakers, could present this trip as a chance to reassure both Trump and Xi that Apple’s strategic trajectory will stay consistent post-transition.

Mira Murati’s Deposition Revealed Insights into Sam Altman’s Ouster

The week leading up to Thanksgiving 2023 was the AI industry’s biggest soap opera moment. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was abruptly ousted from his role at the ChatGPT-maker. The explanation? That Altman was “not consistently candid in his communications with the board.” Now, via witness testimony and trial exhibits in Musk v. Altman, the public […]