CES 2014: LG shows off fitness-focussed Lifeband Touch for Android and iOS

We’ve been hearing about LG’s plans to release a wearable device for sometime now.   Finally, the company has officially taken the wraps of its newest wearable device dubbed Lifeband Touch at the CES 2014.

The Lifeband Touch is a water-resistant band that can keep track of calorie consumption, footsteps, and other fitness statistics. The fitness tracker sports an OLED touch display and also serves as a smartwatch to view phone notifications, keep a tab on exercise goals, play music and more.

Fitness-focussed smartwatch (Image credit: The Verge)

LG doesn’t limit the compatibility of the accessory with just its own devices. The Lifeband Touch is compatible not only with Android operating system but also iOS. It connects via Bluetooth 4.0 and requires an LG fitness app to get started. It can reportedly also be paired with heart rate earphones that check blood flow in the ear to measure the wearer’s pulse.

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The company had disclosed earlier this year that it is working on technology for wearable devices. In fact, the LG Lifeband Touch had leaked a little before the official announcement, courtesy prolific tipster @evleaks. LG was rumoured to launch two wearable devices - G-Arch and G-Health. However, the company soon declined and said it has no such devices in the making.

If Samsung releases the rumoured fitness-focussed Galaxy Band, then we’d say there’s some competition already brewing in the fitness band-smartwatch space. The Galaxy Band is expected to be loaded with sensors for capturing data on motion, pressure and temperature, things that are essential for fitness trackers. The device will connect with Samsung Galaxy devices, and presumably other phones, via Bluetooth LE.