Evolution, not revolution

It feels weird getting ready for the launch of a new iPhone and not feeling much excitement about the new phone. But the Apple Watch 2? Well, that's a new device that really could do something special.

Like me, you may have noticed that phones just aren't evolving as fast as they used to, with new technology no longer packed into every corner as companies try to convince consumers that a shiny new feature is the only way to illuminate their dull existence.

The megapixel war is over, with common sense prevailing and 12-16MP becoming the norm. Screen sizes have stopped growing so rapidly, and the urge to stuff ever more cores into the hearts of smartphones has seemingly ceased (in the western world at least).

But along with this common-sense outlook comes the feeling that there's nothing exciting around the corner – that we're now living in a world where the iterative refinement of existing features is the best we're going to get.

Apple has often embodied this approach better than any other manufacturer, refusing to go beyond dual-core processors, sticking to lower-resolution cameras and offering less-sharp screens than most of its cheaper rivals.

However, in the past you could at least always rely on every 'new-numbered' iPhone (the 4, 5, 6 etc) bringing a new form factor, the start of a new two-year chapter of iPhone evolution.

• How to watch the Apple iPhone 7 launch event

With the new iPhone, however (if the heavy iPhone 7 rumors are to be believed), we're more likely to be getting the iPhone '6SS' in all but name, a handset that keeps the same form factor and 4.7-inch screen as the iPhone 6 and 6S, and plugs in a few tweaks to make it 'new'.

Depending on your viewpoint when it comes to new smartphones, this is either the WORST THING IN THE WORLD or a shrug, accompanied by a mental note to see if the new iPhone is worth buying when you're due an upgrade.

And actually, both reactions are valid. The tech-loving spec-fiends will highlight how Apple has run out of ideas about how to change its phones – how it's always cared more about 'doing enough' and not innovating, while still charging the same premium prices.

The less-caring smartphone buyer, meanwhile – one who's certain they're getting another iPhone next anyway, as that's what they like and are used to – will nod, agreeing that there are not a lot of ways to radically change a smartphone these days and that polishing the rougher edges is fine, and they'll probably just buy the 6S.

The thing is, innovation in smartphone world is slowing down rapidly. Samsung is the only brand that's managed to wrangle new features (a curved display, heart rate monitors, superb cameras) into a phone that's attractive to the masses.

But even that effort – one that really worked in reviving the brand's fortunes, it had to be said (at least before its Note 7 handsets started spontaneously combusting) has probably run out of steam.

The S8 range will be labelled uninteresting if it's purely iterative, and Samsung will need to make something crazy – like a foldable smartphone – useable if it's to keep hold of its 'innovative' tag.

Apple's customers, on the other hands, are used to iteration – tweaking cameras, improving screens, dialling up power enough to keep battery life acceptable.

While it always feels like Apple is holding something back when it comes to smartphone innovation, there aren't actually a lot of places to go – so Apple refines the bits that matter: audio experience, photography, making the screen more pleasant to look at.

(Dropping the headphone jack, something that's almost certain to happen with the new iPhones, could be seen as an innovation, but one that's going to take a lot of effort to convince the buying hordes that it's worth having – but that's a discussion for another day).

Watch this space

But now we get to the Apple Watch 2 – and things start to get interesting. Just as excitement in the smartphone arena is starting to wane, the world of wearables is exploding with awesome ideas.

When I first watched the smartphone emerge as a thing 'normal' people would buy, nearly a decade ago, it was brilliant. The market was littered with triumphs and disasters, impressive innovation and insanely stupid features, and picking out the best handsets was a fun task.

Then everything got good and phones became boring, as all the features on offer became just 'fine', or 'better'. Screens that look great. Cameras that always take okay pictures. Batteries that will usually last well into the evening.

When it comes wearables, however, those Wild West days are back with a vengeance. One day we'll be looking at smart socks, the next a cuff that shoves a smartphone halfway up your arm. Five parts terrible to one part amazing – and that's great for a technology writer.

And the most interesting part is when the craziness gets panned out, and the genuinely useful bits start filtering through.

We've been seeing this in recent years with the amount of Fitbits welded to arms all over the world increasing rapidly – the technology that fitness enthusiasts can strap on is dizzyingly awesome.

So if Apple steps in to ride that wave with a decent Watch 2, it pretty has an open goal to shoot into in terms of its iPhone-toting legions. If the new Watch has GPS, improved fitness-tracking (beyond just step-monitoring and counting how many times you stood up) and a better battery, it's going to tick a lot of the boxes people want checked in a wearable.

That doesn't necessarily mean Apple will have an instant smash on its hands, as there are a lot of things that need to be improved to make the Watch 2 a must-buy.

Battery life is chief among them, and it's currently terrible for any fitness tracking beyond casual workouts. The heart rate monitor seems to hate working accurately during activity (a crucial part), the Workouts app is too limited, and even using a third-party app stinks (I lost all the data from an entire race because I forgot my Garmin, decided to use Strava on my Watch and it froze on the finish line).

But as I said last year, Apple is in pole position to make the world's best running watch. If it imbues the wearable with the right sensors (a gyroscope, GPS, adaptable heart rate monitor) and gets the right app developers on board, it can have a watch that offers excellent run tracking along with a smorgasbord of other smart functions.

And if it actually adds in some decent health monitoring – such as predicting your health levels, inciting you to get healthier in simple ways, providing actual and relevant insights into your daily fitness routines – then it'll be an incredibly powerful lure for those interested in getting fitter through wearables.

I'm certainly not saying that such an Apple Watch 2 will automatically be a success; far from it. The Fitbit Charge HR and Samsung Gear S3 are two excellent examples of how other brands are bringing clever innovation to the fitness tracker / smartwatch space – and of the fierce competition that exists.

But Apple has a massive opportunity here, as the bond it has with its customers is still strong enough that most of them will consider a Watch 2 over a Fitbit or Jawbone when they think about buying something to help them shed the pounds.

I'm not saying the Apple Watch 2 will bring innovation, style and a genuinely compelling use-case – but it's nice to feel excited that it might.

• Read our in-depth review of the Apple Watch

We recently reported that Google may be working on making its own Android Wear smartwatches. Today, we have rendered images of what those Nexus watches could look like.

An unnamed source told Android Police about the company's plans, and the site recreated its own rendered images from the physical description provided by their source.

Android Police is fairly confident about its renders, but notes Google is still in the prototyping stage, which means the real watches could look dramatically different.

Looking at the renders, you can see the watches look pretty standard, although the larger model, codenamed Angelfish, sports two extra buttons. It's unclear what these two buttons do, but they could be customizable to launch apps and settings. It also looks to be sportier than its smaller sibling, codenamed Swordfish, and its fitness-focused watchface reiterates that.

New cases, new faces

Speaking of watch faces, the renders show off a new face for Android Wear, allowing users to customize what data they want to see at a glance.

The larger watch is separated into eight parts with different information about calendar invites, steps, emails and much more. The smaller watch only includes four customizable quadrants and may be targeted toward the more casual wearer who doesn't need the fitness features of the larger watch.

Although Android Police didn't render images of the watches' side profiles, they do mention Angelfish is substantially thicker than Swordfish. That's not surprising as Angelfish will pack in LTE and GPS, while Swordfish won't. Additionally, Swordfish will apparently work with Google's MODE watch bands, which feature a quick release mechanism to make strap changes a breeze. Angelfish, meanwhile, won't.

In addition to these Android Wear watches, Google is rumored to be releasing new HTC-built Nexus phones soon. Google's phones and smartwatches should share similar aesthetics, and it would be smart if the company released them together, or even in a discounted package.

• 40 best Android Wear apps in 2016

Google may be working on two Nexus-branded Android Wear smartwatches, according to a new report from Android Police.

Code named Angelfish and Swordfish, these watches will be Google's benchmark devices for its wearables platform and will feature round displays without the infamous "flat tire" at the bottom. One will be a larger and include LTE, GPS and a heart rate monitor while the smaller of the two watches will do without mobile data and GPS.

What will they look like?

An unnamed, but reliable, source told Android Police about Google's plans and even detailed what the watches will look like. The larger, feature packed watch will allegedly feature 43.5mm wide case and will be 14mm thick. That's a big watch but still slightly smaller than the 46mm Moto 360 (2015) and LG Watch Urbane.

Android Police also notes there will be a large "crown" button to the right and smaller buttons to the top and bottom for unspecified features. Having two extra buttons could be useful for pulling up contacts or a specific app quickly.

The smaller of the two watches, codenamed Swordfish, will allegedly look a lot like the Pebble Time Round, just without the huge bezel. Its dimensions are quite smaller, coming in at 42mm wide and just 10.6mm thick, which makes it thinner than the current Moto 360. It's not as ridiculously thin as the Pebble Time Round (7.5mm) but that's expected from a smartwatch with a non-E ink screen.

Android Police also notes that the shape of the case "is more gentle and rounded than the Pebble's." Swordfish will allegedly only have one button on the side and will lack LTE and GPS. It'll be interesting to see if either of these watches will have the Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, which is built specifically for wearables to help increase battery life.

Powered by AI

What really makes these upcoming smartwatches interesting in the inclusion of Google Assistant, a personalized artificial intelligence that will help you get things done. Google showed off its upcoming AI during its Google IO 2016 conference in May. Google Assistant will be baked into Google's Amazon Echo competitor, Google Home.

Google Assistant will feature a powerful natural language engine that will understand complex commands and context. For example, you can ask Google Assistant to order movie tickets and follow up with, "I want to bring the kids this time" to book tickets for the entire family.

In addition to Google Assistant, these possibly Nexus-branded watches will run Android 2.0, which brings more powerful watch faces, better iOS support and powerful messaging.

It's unclear exactly what these new smartwatches can do with Google Assistant, but Android Police speculates that the watches may get exclusive features not available on other Android Wear watches.

This is all speculation by Android Police but they're 90% confident in their unnamed source. We still recommend taking these rumors with a grain of salt as the watches will likely undergo hardware and software changes before launch. There's no info about price, release date or even how far into development these watches are, but don't expect to see them before the new Nexus phones.

Why I'll spend $800 on HTC Vive

The iPhone 7 and the HTC Vive are flying circles in my head. Two very different devices with two very different uses in my life, and both will cost me about the same. Now comes the tough part: I can only choose one to buy.

I've been buying iPhones every two years for a while now, albeit a few generations behind each time to save cash. When the iPhone 5S was announced, I hopped aboard on the low-end with the iPhone 4S and loved it.

Then, when the iPhone 6 hit shelves, I ponied up for the iPhone 5S that sat at the high-end of the offering two years prior, and am still pretty happy using it as my daily driver.

For this large chunk of time, I've been sitting behind the curve of Apple's progress. To be honest, it's getting boring. So, I told myself that if I ever get another iPhone, it's going to be the latest: the iPhone 7. I've been saving up for the configuration with the largest amount of storage, which will likely cost around $800.

The HTC Vive, as one of the first of its kind to hit the mainstream, is tougher to rationalize on paper for me. But, mercy, I want one. I want one real bad. I'm usually pretty good at holding out through the "early adopter" phase of a product's release, but I'm so giddy with excitement that my wallet is about to shake out.

I've never owned a VR headset, but somehow I feel totally alright with going into debt for it. But its $800 price tag doesn't even account for the imminent PC upgrades and the upheaval of my small apartment to make room where there is none to spare.

All for this for one piece of technology that I can't even put in my pocket and bring with me.

If I choose to go with the Vive, will all of the money, work and the quiet isolation be worth it in the end? I have no idea. But I also think that these are questions that you're probably asking yourselves, too.

When you buy something, you're casting a vote with your dollars. If I had to choose, you'd better believe that I'll be chucking bills into the ballot that can fling me into virtual dimensions.

Now, time to press the the "buy" button

Let's talk money. $800 is a ludicrous amount of money to spend on any one thing. But if you're into tech, you're probably going to do it anyway. So what's the problem here?

The grounded part of your brain will relentlessly try rationalizing with every imaginable situation that lead you to the safe, proven option. In my case, that's the next iPhone.

But, the Jekyll in me never fails to chime into the battle.

Nope. Can't do it. Won't do it. It's just too much money. (What? Dude, you're on the checkout page. Just do it. Ready?)

No! I...can't. Not now. Maybe not ever. This thing is half the cost of my first car. (Could your first car transport you to outer space? Didn't think so.)

Most of my internal dialogue surrounding VR looks like this. Seem familiar?

I'll use a phone everyday, whereas my time with the Vive will be limited to nights and weekends. (But even that sliver of time will be oh, so sweet.)

I lambasted the hefty designs of these headsets last year and said that I'd be waiting for smaller, more ergonomic designs to come before I buy in. Would I really go against myself? (C'mon. VR is here. You don't actually have to stick to your word.)

Buying an HTC Vive is selfish, what with the space and money requirements necessary, not to mention the minor, but nevertheless costly PC upgrades. All of this is really working against me. ( You, your family, friends, partner and cat will all love you more. JUST DO IT!)

There will be a dearth of content when it releases and I'll be without a truly groundbreaking experience in the first year or two of its release. (That's probably not true. Who told you that?)

Here's an easy solution: buy an Oculus Rift. It's cheaper! (But, it doesn't come with the controllers and light boxes. Plus, I'm still holding out for Half-Life 3 as a Vive exclusive.)

On and on, I can't quit sitting on my hands when it comes time to commit.

Silence these rational thoughts, fool

Once matured, most people learn how to better silence the inner voices that make you want to do silly, selfish, or overly spontaneous things.

I consider myself a fairly well-developed human in that regard, but screw all of that progress if it stands in the way of me getting the HTC Vive.

I've got the VR bug, and if you've tried it, you probably have it, too. I caught it at a press event where I was privileged to try out the prototype of PlayStation VR (PSVR,) then known as Project Morpheus.

What I was expecting was a screen on my face that showed a game. And while that's exactly what it was, the effect is other-worldly, and tough to explain in a few words other than "plain amazing".

Tech demos usually fail to encapsulate the big picture of what a new product is capable of. But, for me, I was totally swept up in the technology from the start, even in its unfinished state.

I felt things that the iPhone has never imparted on me: excitement and fear. Sure, buying a new phone is going to stir up some good feelings, but it isn't likely to last for long.

VR at its best, or at least the first time you try it, injects butterflies into your brain. It's like learning to walk, live and breath in a new world, except you have the tools needed to explore and not flail helplessly. To expect a phone to give you these feelings is silly, but when it comes to plopping money down, it's important to consider what you'll be getting out of your purchase down the line. Speaking of which...

How long will the VR "honeymoon" phase last?

This is the real question leading to my hesitance in buying my own VR headset. I want the intense fun, laughter and fear to continue for years. I have high hopes for today and tomorrow's developers to continue bringing awesome stuff to headsets, but it might be unrealistic of me to have such incredibly high hopes. Or is it?

So many questions. So much money. So much hype. I'm paralyzed.

When I first bought an iPhone, I wanted the good feelings to last in the same way. I was downloading apps like a madman. But then, I stopped. Only on occasion now do I discover a new app or game. It might have to do with the fact that I've sorted through so much app crap that I feel exhausted from it. Don't get me wrong. There is still some real treasure on the App Store. But, I really hope VR doesn't trudge through a similar path.

If I'm this skeptical about a purchase, it's either best to hold off, or just close my eyes and jump in head-first. Besides being stuck with a rapidly aging iPhone for the foreseeable future, what's really the worst that could happen if I choose the Vive? (Everything will be just fine.)

Apple's yet to enter the VR (virtual reality) market, but with a number of its rivals exploring the sector it would be no surprise if the Cupertino firm stepped into the arena - and a recent hire suggests it's already making movements.

Forbes reports Apple has just hired professor Doug Bowman, a top researcher in VR from Virginia Tech.

Bowman's profile shows he's had experience with 3D interfaces for both augmented reality (like Google Glass and Microsoft Hololens) and fully immersive VR (like HTC Vive and Oculus Rift).

He joins a number of other VR focussed hires at Cupertino as Apple amasses a strong team of experts.

iVR

Apple has previously submitted patent applications for virtual reality headsets, although we're yet to see evidence of any hardware off the back of these.

It's certainly up to something though, and with the highly regarded Bowman now onside it's clear that Apple is thinking about how it can make its mark in VR.

We'd love to see Apple kick off its VR adventure at the iPhone 7 launch in September, with a headset accessory much like Samsung's Gear VR starting what we hope is the first of many VR products.

Wishful thinking? Perhaps, but let us dream.

• How to experience VR right now

Ready for something more advanced a regular old watch but not ready to jump in with the likes of Apple Watch or Android Wear just yet? PC game-accessory manufacturer Razer thinks it has just what you're looking for. Unveiled today at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, Razer's Nabu Watch is a lower-priced wearable that the manufacturer is calling a "digital watch with smart functions."

Priced starting at $149.99 and available now at RazerStore locations and at RazerStore.com, the Nabu Watch is, first and foremost, a digtal sports-style watch with a monochromatic backlit display, automatic time sync, and the traditional timekeeping features you'd expect such as a stopwatch, countdown timer and world clock. In addition, however, the device has a secondary display that's used to display fitness-tracking info and receive notifications about texts, calls, emails and alerts from your smartphone via the Android or iPhone partner app. The Nabu Watch can also wirelessly exchange data (such as Facebook and Twitter info) with other owners of the Nabu Watch or Razer's Nabu or Nabu X fitness bands.

Razer is hoping to address the issue of battery life - one of the biggest challenges of the current smartwatch market - by using two batteries in the Nabu Watch. A replaceable coin cell battery powers the main display and promises a year of uninterupted use, while a rechargeable battery for the second screen is designed to run for a week between charges.

Alongside the standard Nabu Watch, Razer has also released the Nabu Watch Forged, which offers the same functionality but with steel buttons and a full black finish, priced at $199.99.

Samsung Gear VR, the latest headset powered by Oculus virtual reality technology, is now available for pre-order in the US. The new consumer headset, which is a refined version of last year's model, will release on November 20 in the US and offers compatibility with the latest Samsung phones, including the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.

The design has seen several subtle improvements, like the removal of the hair-flattening plastic band on its top. But there's a lot more change under the hood that deserves your attention. First off, the price has received a hearty 50% slash, arriving at retail for $99. It's a measly fee for Samsung phone owners to buy into this now-proven technology.

Next up, Oculus and Samsung have a solid plan in place to provide eager viewers with a lot of content over time. There are original games coming out for the headset, and you'll also be able to play some old arcade favorites, like Pac-Man and Sonic the Hedgehog in a virtual arcade called Oculus Arcade.

Extending past the gaming world, Oculus Video provides viewers with video content from popular platforms, like Vimeo and Twitch, as well as more than 70 feature-length films.

The first Samsung Gear VR, although generally available for purchase, was more of a soft launch meant for developers to get their feet wet with a cheap development kit. Now, it's ready for the big time. You can pre-order right here.

When asked about global availability and pricing, a representative for Oculus and Samsung stated that launch dates for non-US territories will be announced soon.

• Here are our early impressions with the new Samsung Gear VR

Tips from a pro

I'll be honest: when I interviewed F1 driver Nico Rosberg, the last thing I expected was to be getting pro tips on how I can break the 40 minute barrier for a 10K race.

But when I walked in, all ready to ask questions about BlackBerry and home automation, he immediately asked: 'What watch is that?'

I was wearing the Garmin Forerunner 920 XT – it turns out that he was a triathlete and had its predecessor, the 910 – and in a few seconds he was tapping through the interface.

'It looks fake!' he exclaimed, before I - sulkily - told him that it was just the watch face I downloaded so I could have too much information on the screen.

Then came some information I didn't expect: this top athlete has given up on fitness technology altogether:

"At one point I had all my watches and everything was documented, all the graphs etc, and I would always train according to my zones," he said.

"But for the last couple of years I've removed everything, and I do it all by feel. It works great."

I was confused. Why would someone who needs to get the absolute maximum out of their training give up on that level of information when it could give them an advantage?

"I don't know – it just came gradually," he admits when I quiz him on the switch.

"I really don't know what made me change. In the morning I'll still check my resting heart rate because that's a really good indication for me – I know exactly that if I'm over 51 [beats per minute] it means I'm tired. If I'm in the 40s I know I can hit it again. That's pretty important."

So that led me to the question that ate up valuable minutes of the interview I was supposed to be conducting about technology in the F1 team – but I had to know. How would he train to break the 40 minute barrier in a 10K race?

"I've done 38 minutes for the 10k – and that was up and down hills," he said, without smiling. I felt deflated. But at least he told me how he did it.

"With that distance it's very easy: all you need to do are intervals.

"Don't bother doing any long stuff. You build it up with intervals. Begin with half a km fast, then half a km slower. Then [the next session] you go 750m up, 750m down, just two times.

"Then do a single kilometre at a slightly faster pace then cool down, then it's up to 2km with a lot of space in between."

I tell him I'm a fan of throwing hill intervals into the mix to help strengthen my legs and really get the heart working.

I assume that he'll be impressed at my tenacity, probably invite me to go for a run where he nods approvingly then we go to a yacht party or something.

"Hills – no, because if you don't have a hill in your 10k then there's no point in doing it. It's a different thing. It's better to just go a bit quicker on the flat."

Oh.

Ego deflated, I ask the one thing that worries me about dropping the watch: how do you know how fast to run these intervals to get me under target?

"Just go until it hurts at the end – so what's that going to be? Yeah, above race pace. It will be 3m50 seconds or something.

"Eventually you need to get to the point where you're doing a kilometre, two minutes cool down, and then repeating that a few times.

"Then go to two kilometres and so on - bringing the recovery gap down in between and you're good to go. Intervals all the way. That's the solution."

I'll cancel that order for deck shoes.

The MiCoach Fusion

Now I'm back on the trail of beating my 10km target, I've been thinking about the technology that I'm going to use to get me there.

Well, I was before Nico started telling me I'm doing it all wrong, but like a good like runner I'm ignoring the advice that I don't like and just doing what I was going to anyway.

I've been using the Garmin 920 XT for a few months now – I'm in love with the accuracy and feature set, but more importantly the battery life. It just goes on for days and days.

However, the brand isn't as good at setting up plans to get me running faster. Which led me back to 'my first' – the Adidas MiCoach system. There was a time when I was religiously stuck to first the app then the MiCoach SmartRun running watch.

All my data was on there, it had an integrated heart rate monitor and the watch could wirelessly sync all my data to the servers through Wi-Fi, rather than the bulk of other options that needed a PC connection, meaning they sat there swelling with unchecked runs for months.

The key thing that brought me back was the sheer range of plans on offer here – whatever you want to do, be it running, football, tennis or myriad other sports there's a set of workouts specifically for you.

And within that there are different levels and goals – including one to shove you under 40 minutes for a 10K race.

On top of that, the other feature I like about the system is that it'll build you a strength program too, which is precisely what I want to be adding into the mix to get me stronger and thus faster and thus more the kind of guy that guffaws and stands around talking about manly things, rather than giggling over a Bacardi Breezer.

However, that's when things started to unravel. Firstly the plan I had mapped out for me, which has a range of run types involved from long endurance sessions to interval training, seemed to lack the 'Rosberg factor' – ie, longer and longer workouts at faster than race pace speeds.

I get that each brand does things differently, with alternative ideas to get people moving, but I feel the need to get my speed on. So I'm going to fuse the MiCoach plan I've got with some elements of this one from Run Britain, which is a little harder.

And that's my undoing. I've gone in all guns blazing, doing strength sessions in the morning and running in the evening, and three days in I've already made my hamstrings more sore than they've ever been in my life.

In fact, for the first time in ages I've had to skip a run – and it's only the first week. This is terrible. A follow up at the ParkRun this morning has proven they're in trouble... I'm going to have to scale back for the first time in my life.

What's worse: in order to keep the fitness up I was forced back into the pool for some low-impact swimming. I still hate swimming with a fiery passion.

Upshot: don't push to hard at the start. Ease into it or, before you know it, you'll be shoved into a wetsuit and made to swim down the Thames.

Say hello to Runner G

If you're an avid runner, you'll know this refrain when talking to your friends about the fun of jogging around all the time: 'I should do more running,' they'll say, usually while having a cheeky Vimto.

Then you try and entice them out onto a quick jaunt around the park, and suddenly they've got a hamster to take to the vet or buy new rubber feet for the fridge.

Except one of my friends finally caved in – she'd always wanted to do a 10K, and three weeks ago asked me to help her get ready for the race in early September, despite not having done much in the way of running before.

Being the good little tech-fiend I am, I signed her up with MiCoach (so I can track her runs and alter her pace targets accordingly – I'm in no way taking diabolical pleasure from that) and given her a FitSmart heart rate monitor to add into the mix.

It's going to be interesting to see how she gets on – will the app help or hinder? Will the structured plans be easy to follow or a confusing mess? And will the FitSmart, a band designed for the new exerciser, prove to be a useful addition?

• If you've got any tips, tech you want tested out or just want to mock me, I'm @superbeav on Twitter, and you can see my stumblings on Strava too.
• Read the rest of the Running Man of Tech story here

Apple has confirmed to TechRadar that goods bought using Apple Pay and the Watch in the UK won't have a limit on purchase cost.

When the Watch was announced alongside the Apple Pay service, it was reported that unlike the iPhone (which uses TouchID to verify identity) the lack of biometric security would mean the wearable would function like a contactless card – limited to £20.

However, Apple told us that as the Watch is securely linked to the phone (requiring a passcode to function when removed from the wrist) the same level of safety can be offered when using the wearable to pay.

Not so fast

It will take a little while for the ability to pay what you want using the Apple Watch to appear though, as many merchants are currently limited to the £20 (although soon to be £30) limit for contactless payments.

This is due to older terminals not allowing higher spends as yet, but new technology is rolling out called the "Consumer Device Cardholder Verification Method" which will allow the higher spend on both the Watch and iPhone when using Apple Pay.

It'll also be at the retailers' discretion as to whether they allow the higher limit for Apple Pay - some might not initially be on board with consumers taking a £5000 TV away with a wave of the wrist.

Merchants could take some time to bring the new terminals to their stores as they'll need to replace the current technology, but as Apple Pay arrives in the UK the ability to pay for greater sums securely should see the move happen a little faster.

Apple: we want your iPhone to replace your passport

The dangers of too many electrolyte tablets

I watched the folks at Apple launch myriad software bits and pieces this week, and there was one part that caught my attention above all the other stuff that was announced during the two and half hour presentation.

Apple's bringing out Watch OS 2 for the... well, you don't need to be a genius to work out what... and with it comes native application support.

• Apple Watch OS 2: everything you could possibly want to know

This is something that doesn't mean much to the average user, but if you're harbouring any desires of using the Apple Watch as your primary fitness device, this is a massive leap forward.

Currently only Apple's own apps will work without the phone nearby, meaning the likes of Strava and Endomondo need the handset in close proximity to work correctly - not ideal for those that like to trot unencumbered.

Essentially it's meant that the Watch is nothing more than a smaller second screen if you're not into Apple's overly-basic workout app, and that was infuriating.

But with native apps, developers can create experiences just for the Watch without the need for a phone, so the information will be more comprehensive and complete, with more options available to you when running.

Plus it should mean the app will auto display when you raise your wrist, where now you have to enable such a thing in the settings menu (and then change it back again so you can see the time in day to day life).

Watch OS 2 obviously isn't fixing the main issue - that the Watch has no GPS and therefore won't be accurate for things like cycling when you're phone-less - but it's a step forward and will mean when the Apple Watch 2 appears (and please, please let it have some more fitness-based sensors) users will have much more fully-functioning running watch on their wrist.

The final countdown

So as I post this, it's less than 24 hours until the kick off of this damned triathlon. There's been nothing more I can do this week as I taper down, knowing that all the fitness work can't be increased and I need to start getting some rest into my muscles.

Well, that was the plan, but as I popped out to San Francisco for Apple's WWDC conference, it would have been rude not to run across the Golden Gate Bridge. Let's just say that the fog and wind made me so scared of being blown over the edge that the run across the actual bridge was BY FAR the fastest on the 15 miler.

However, since then it's been all about keeping the legs and arms ticking over - I spent some time in the new outdoor swimming pool in King's Cross, popped a few more miles on the bike and did some slow runs with quick speed bursts just to keep things going.

The Human Race Windsor Triathlon starts at 6.04AM on Sunday for my wave (which seems unfairly harsh), with the 750m swim, 27km cycle ride and 5km run the only things standing between me and never having to swim ever again.

And that King Size Twix I've been dreaming of.

Eat right and don't poo yourself

I've been working with MaxiNutrition to help get me ready for this triathlon, as I've always been, well, a bit rubbish when it comes to learning what to eat, when, how much and why.

We've all felt tired and sick on a run or cycle at some point, and that's mostly down to having eaten all the kebabs the night before. So what are you SUPPOSED to do?

The two elements to think about during the race are simple: fluid and carbohydrates. Your body needs fluid replenishment to offset the loss in sweat, so if you can grab a drink with added electrolytes and sodium, you'll be in good shape to keep all your cells and metabolism working at their most efficient level.

The easiest way to do this is to pick up a normal sports drink like Lucozade or Powerade, but if you want to avoid the added stuff put into those, electrolyte tablets are the way to go.

I'll be using High 5 tablets, which add electrolytes, magnesium and sodium (along with carbohydrates) to normal water to give me a boost during the race. They do taste a bit like berry aspirin though, so you have to really want to speed up to miss out on sugary goodness.

Too many can also make you poop your pants as well. So don't overdo it if you're thinking about giving them a try.

Here's my tailored plan: 48 hours before the race, start carb loading. The idea that a simple pasta-filled dish the night before will suffice is slightly erroneous, as your body can only store so much glycogen (the body's quickest energy source) in your muscles from one night, and overdoing it on carbs can cause, erm, stomach issues (see above).

So a fair amount of carbs (good ones though, no matter how much the Ben and Jerry's tub tells me it's full of carbohydrate) for the preceding two days where possible will keep the glycogen store topped up.

On race day itself, I'll be up at 4AM and instantly start sipping away on my sports drink alongside some delightful porridge. The latter doesn't need to be big, just enough to top up the energy levels for later.

Then it's down the start line, where 30 mins before I'll be looking to slowly drink about 300ml of sports drink again - this time with caffeine.

While the effects of caffeine on endurance sports are still not fully verified, I've found that it really helps. This is apparently because it allows you to release energy from your fat stores, rather than using up that precious glycogen, which means you can go for longer without it feeling super hard.

I won't go into the specifics of my eating and drinking during the race - I did write it all out, but then read it back and saw it was frightfully dull. Summary: no drinking during swimming (beyond the nasties I'll be trying to spit out from the water), a little sports drink every 10-15 minutes on the bike and two energy gels too.

One normal one at the start, and one with caffeine towards the end to boost me for the run. Gels are gooey tubes of carbohydrates, easily digested by the body, and if you can avoid them globbing all over your fingers are a handy tool for longer exercise.

If all goes well, I'll let you know how I got on next week. If you don't hear from me, it was such a horrendous experience that I gave up all sport. Either way, it'll be done soon.

• If you've got any tips, tech you want tested out or just want to mock me, I'm @superbeav on Twitter, and you can see my stumblings on Strava too.
• Read the rest of the Running Man of Tech story here

One of the biggest conundrums of smartwatches has been screen size. Make it too large and it looks unseemly on your wrist, meanwhile, small wearables are plagued by an unreadable display.

Today at its TechWorld Conference in Beijing, Lenovo unveiled a Magic View smartwatch concept that features two screens. At first glance the watch resembles the LG Watch Urbane and Moto 360 with a round display, but right underneath it is a second screen, which acts as an virtual interactive image.

Lenovo CTO Peter Hortensius highlighted that the problems with smartwatches is their screens aren't designed to present a large enough picture that is also neither immersive enough picture isn't large, immersive enough or private.

To solve this problems users can peer into the second screen like a periscope for more personal messages and immersive experiences.

Lenovo explained that the second screen removes the physical limitations of the main screen by using optical reflections to produce a virtual image 20 times larger than the watch face. Showing off a few use cases Lenovo, demonstrated using the second display to project a bigger map, photo slideshow and even play a video.

A second screen experience for smartphones

Beyond wearables, Lenovo also introduced its plans to make smartphones more PC-like with its Smart cast concept. Rather than limiting user's experiences on their smartphones to just the screen, the Smart Cast can project a large virtual touch screen onto a table or any surface.

It can do this thanks to being outfitted with a built-in laser projector, infrared motion detector and high-performance algorithms. Lenovo promises it's a first ever technology combination that will open up a whole new world of interaction such as the ability to type on a virtual keyboard. There are also plans to make the Smart Cast concept work with productivity apps including the calculator, drawing, note-taking and even editing in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Additionally, the Smart Cast will be able to act as just a projector to turn a wall into a virtual movie theatre, presentation screen or scratch at the air to play Fruit Ninja with hand gestures. Lenovo also posited that Smart Cast could change the way we video chat with the ability to project presentations and other content while seeing a different picture on the main screen at the same time.

• Check out Lenovo's newest addition, the ThinkPad 10 tablet

The latest Android Wear update, Android Wear 5.1.1, has started to roll out on select smartwatches today, bringing with it a range of significant and exciting features.

Chief among the newly-added features, is one that activates dormant Wi-Fi capabilities in certain smartwatches – this will let your smartwatch receive notifications when it’s away from your smartphones, so long as both devices are on a Wi-Fi network.

Wi-Fi functionality will be made available to owners of the LG Watch Urbane, Moto 360, Sony Smartwatch 3 and the Samsung Gear Live.

Android when?

In addition to aforementioned Wi-Fi support, the update will give your Android Wear smartwatch the ability to recognise handdrawn emoji, so you better start brushing up on your art skills.

On top of that, apps will now stay visible until you close them, allowing you to multitask, and the update will finally let you pair more than one wearable to your phone.

In typical Android fashion, the update will slowly trickle out for select devices in the coming weeks.

• Here are the best Android Wear apps of 2015

There's mounting evidence that Google wants to get Android Wear working with iOS, but it's likely that Apple will have something to say about that - and in any case the two operating systems don't play nice just yet.

Or at least not officially, but there's now a fairly simple way to get the Moto 360 connected to an iPhone or iPad and it doesn't even require you to jailbreak or root any of your devices. You will, however, need access to an Android device to complete the initial setup.

As shown by YouTuber Jeremy Judkins you start by downloading 'Wear Connect for iOS' from Google Play and launching it on your Moto 360.

From that you turn on 'iOS Service', then head over to your iOS device and download 'BLE Utility' from the App Store. Launch the app, hit the 'Peripheral' button and then hit the menu option on the watch to connect it. After that you should start getting notifications from your iOS device. Simple.

Not perfect

We should point out a few caveats though. For one thing this isn't an official solution, so not everything works properly. Judkins reports that notifications, answering/declining calls and the apps on the Moto 360 should work, but that you can't currently send messages from it.

It's also hit and miss as to whether the Moto 360 will keep its connection with the iOS device and there are no guarantees that it will work at all, so we really wouldn't suggest buying a Moto 360 if you're unable or unwilling to use it purely with an Android phone.

If you happen to have an iOS device as well though it's well worth a try and it may not be limited to the Moto 360. Although the video only talks about the Moto 360 the two apps which are required make no specific mention to it, so if you have any other Android Wear smartwatch you might as well give it a try too.

• The G Watch Urbane is one of the most stylish smartwatches yet.

The Apple Watch isn't designed to replace your iPhone just yet. In fact, it depends on it.

Many Apple Watch apps are really just displays for things running on your iPhone, and some key features aren't available if you aren't paired to an iOS device.

For example, the Watch doesn't have a GPS receiver, so if your phone isn't around you can't track the distance you've travelled beyond measuring steps.

And it doesn't have its own camera, so while you can use it as a viewfinder for your phone it doesn't have the ability to snap anything by itself.

That doesn't mean the Apple Watch is a dumb terminal, though. It has its own processor, sensors and on-board storage, and we're sure we'll see stacks of innovative apps as developers discover the possibilities.

We're already seeing some interesting applications, and the Watch isn't even out yet. Here are the key things you'll be able to do with an Apple Watch even when there's no iPhone for it to talk to.

Pay for stuff

Once you've set up Apple Pay via the Apple Watch app, you'll be able to use the Watch to pay for things in shops (or at least you will in America; at the time of writing Apple Pay has yet to launch in the rest of the world).

The app creates a unique token that's stored on the Watch to use as a card number. To pay, simply wave your watch at the Apple Pay-compatible terminal and let the built-in NFC (near-field communication) radio do its thing.

Get on planes or go to the movies

Apple's Passbook is on the Apple Watch, so anything already stored in it - aeroplane boarding passes, electronic tickets and anything else scannable - should work just fine without your iPhone.

It'd be nice to see more firms embrace this idea, because to date Passbook has been a big disappointment in the UK: we dreamed of binning our various loyalty, ID and membership cards in favour of electronic equivalents, but so far we're still wandering around with pockets and purses full of plastic.

Listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts

The Watch has its own storage space, of which 2GB is reportedly available for music - so you can use the Watch's built-in Bluetooth to pair with a pair of wireless headphones and get music on the move.

Naturally you won't be able to stream from the likes of Spotify without an internet connection, but 2GB is more than enough storage for a run, a workout or a short commute.

Open doors

One of the smoothest features we saw at the Apple Watch launch event was SPG Keyless, a feature that enables Apple Watch users to unlock Starwood hotel rooms without anything as old-fashioned as a key.

According to Starwood, the keys work via Bluetooth Low Energy and are popped up by the iPhone app as push notifications the day before you check in.

The same idea could of course work with any other kind of Bluetooth-enabled smart lock, so it's possible we'll see Apple Watch-compatible locks for your home, garage or gym locker.

Track your fitness

The Apple Watch doesn't need to be paired with your phone to monitor your heart rate or workout: it can store that data and sync it to the Health app when you get back from your run, cycle or trip to the gym.

Control your Apple TV

Apple's Remote app has been ported to the Watch, and like its iOS sibling it enables you to control your Apple TV via the magic of wireless radio.

You can also use it to control iTunes and iTunes Radio on your computer, assuming you live in a place where iTunes Radio is actually available.

Do watch things

Hardly a surprise, this, but time-related functions such as the alarm, stopwatch and timer don't need a phone to function.

What iPhone-free features do you think we'll see from app developers? Let us know in the comments.

LG has decided that smartwatches weren't hard enough to understand, so has launched the Watch Urbane LTE… without Android Wear.

Instead, it'll run on LG's own 'Wearable Platform', which is likely to be a mutant version of the WebOS system it purchased from HP. It's also going hard on the improved design front again, like the LG watch Urbane released a few days ago, trying to fool your friends into thinking it's a real life watch.

The screen is similar in size to LG's Android Wear range, with a 1.3-inch OLED screen plus a 320x320 resolution, which gives a 245ppi sharpness.

The big change comes with the ability to make and receive calls on your wrist, as well as get 4G data to the device without a phone tethered.

There's a heart rate monitor on the back, and it's IP67 rated for workouts in the wet… although sadly there's no GPS involved so it still can't work properly when out running.

Power to me, power to you

The battery expansion is interesting, as compared to the 410mAh power pack on the LG G Watch R, the Urbane is coming with a 700mAh unit, and combined with its proprietary platform could result in multiple days of battery life compared to the short term time away from the charger today.

Getting into the specs and, well, it's very similar to Android Wear, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.2GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory and Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC.

LG is talking heavily about the fact you'll be able to use the watch for mobile payments thanks to the beepy NFC tech, as well as Push To Talk allowing you to use the watch as a walkie talkie. The sad thing is both will have to be enabled in your region, whether your network carrier or bank, so it probably won't work out of the box.

We've still not got news on when the LG Watch Urbane LTE will be released – or if it will be available outside of South Korea – but it certainly won't be cheap when it does step blinking into the light.