New 'CMRA' Band for Apple Watch Features Dual 2MP and 8MP Cameras

Glide recently announced a new Apple Watch band that includes both a 2MP front-facing camera, as well as an 8MP outward-facing one, with the ability to capture crisp images and HD videos "in a tap." Called the "CMRA," users simply have to tap a button built into the band to snap a photo or long-press to begin recording a video, and on one charge the CMRA can take "hundreds of photos," or about 30 minutes of video (via Re/code).

cmra-watch-band-3
The sole button housed on the band also switches it between the two cameras with a double-tap. Any pictures or videos taken with the band are seamlessly integrated with Apple's stock Photos app, so it's easy to store, edit, and share moments captured on the CMRA. Glide says that the cameras on its band include tilt-balancing, lens correction, noise reduction, and pixel optimization features to provide enhanced shots on the fly. In terms of storage, the CMRA has 8GB of onboard flash memory.

The band's video conferencing feature uses Glide's iPhone and Apple Watch chat app to let users talk in real time, or send recorded video messages to one another. When the Apple Watch app launched last year, it set itself up as a companion to the iPhone app, notifying users of live Glides, missed messages, and let users watch videos right on their wrists. With CMRA, now users can begin recording those videos without needing to grab an iPhone.


For charging, pre-orders of the device will come with a custom dual-charging dock that charges both the Apple Watch and CMRA together, and the dock itself includes a battery pack so it can recharge the two devices twice during travel. Speaking with Re/code, Glide CEO Ari Roisman explained that the company is offering up pre-orders months in advance (CMRA is predicted to launch in Spring 2017) to test the waters and see how much interest the product gathers online.

cmra-watch-band-2

As for why it is taking orders so early, Roisman offers up the standard answer for small companies looking to do hardware: It needs to know how many to build, and the best way to do that is to sell them publicly before the first units roll off the manufacturing lines.

“The camera is only valuable when it is out and ready to take a photo or video,” says Glide CEO Ari Roisman. “Our phones live in our pockets.”

For those interested, the CMRA can be pre-ordered from Glide's website at an early bird price of $149.00 in both 38mm and 42mm. The device is expected to sell at $249.00 once it launches, and the company will mark it down to $199.00 for later pre-orders.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases Firmware Updates for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday November 11, 2024 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released firmware updates for both AirPods 4 models (version number 7B20) and the AirPods Pro 2 with both Lightning and USB-C charging cases (version number 7B21). All of these AirPods models were previously on firmware version 7B19. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in firmware versions 7B20 and 7B21, but we will update this story if we find...
New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

18 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Wednesday November 13, 2024 2:09 am PST by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.2 next month, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. There are a handful of new non-AI related feature controls incoming as well....
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Camera Modules to Enter Mass Production Next Month

Tuesday November 12, 2024 2:56 am PST by
Apple's camera module supplier for the upcoming iPhone SE 4 is set to begin mass production of the components in December, according to a new report coming out of Korea. Economic newspaper Ajunews reports that LG Innotek will supply the front camera module for the budget-friendly fourth-generation device. Final tests are now said to be underway, with mass production of the module following...
iphone 6 thickness

iPhone 17 'Air' May Not Be Much Thinner Than iPhone 6

Monday November 11, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Next year's iPhone 17 "Air" model may not be as thin as Apple planned, according to a rumor originating in Korea. According to the news aggregator account "yeux1122" on Naver, citing industry sources, Apple has run into problems making the new iPhone 17 model sufficiently thin. The device's reduced thickness is apparently dependent on manufacturing a battery with a thinner substrate, but...
new mac holiday

The Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals

Monday November 11, 2024 7:45 am PST by
Black Friday is getting closer, and prices on MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and Mac mini computers have started to drop as the shopping holiday nears. These deals include the latest models of the M4 MacBook Pro and iMac. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site...
iOS 18

Here's Everything New in iOS 18.2 Beta 3

Monday November 11, 2024 4:53 pm PST by
Apple seeded the third betas of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 to developers for testing today. While the third betas of each update are minor relative to the first two betas, there are still a handful of changes across the Photos app, TV app, and more. A corresponding iOS 18.2 public beta with these changes will likely be released later this week, and Apple previously confirmed that the software...
General Final Cut Pro Feature

Apple Likely to Announce Final Cut Pro Update This Week With These New Features

Sunday November 10, 2024 12:13 pm PST by
In its announcement video for the new Mac mini last month, Apple teased an "upcoming" version of Final Cut Pro for the Mac. Apple will likely announce the update during the annual Final Cut Pro Creative Summit, which begins this Wednesday. The conference is held in association with Apple, and attendees will be visiting Apple Park on the first day. Apple already teased four new features...
iPad iOS 16 WP Display Feature eric edit

Apple to Launch AI-Powered Home 'Command Center' as Soon as March 2025

Tuesday November 12, 2024 1:09 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch an AI-powered smart home display as soon as March 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The display will measure in at approximately six inches, and while it is similar to an iPad, it is square rather than rectangular and it has thick bezels around the edges. There is a camera at the top front so that it can be used for FaceTime, plus there are internal speakers...

Top Rated Comments

xDKP Avatar
105 months ago
Damn that one ugly band ... and for what? To be a creepy spy-shooting dude?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jme Saunders Avatar
105 months ago
Beyond hideous.
Damn that one ugly band ... and for what? To be a creepy spy-shooting dude?
... ok, I think I might be alone in having no taste. I didn't think they did a bad job considering!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NT1440 Avatar
105 months ago
Oh my god, did no one learn from the original Samsung watch? nobody wants to look up your nose when video chatting with you.


I seriously question the tech community sometimes. I see a ton of products that appear to be based on "because we can" rather than "why the hell would I ever want to?"
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sunny1990 Avatar
105 months ago
AND ONE MORE THING

Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeyondtheTech Avatar
105 months ago
I was going to jump the gun when I saw the "Pre-Order" button, but then got this. So, caveat emptor:

We’ll process your payment immediately. You are participating in a crowdfunding campaign for a new product in the final stages of development. If you order today, your CMRA will be scheduled for shipment in Spring 2017. You can request a refund at any time during the CMRA pre-order campaign, which ends no later than December 2, 2016. By ordering you agree to our Terms and Conditions ('https://getcmra.com/terms-conditions/').

Pre-Orders. Beginning November 2, 2016, Glide will be running a pre-order campaign for CMRA (the “CMRA Pre-order Campaign”). The CMRA Pre-order Campaign will end when it reaches One Million Dollars, or December 2, 2016, whichever comes first (the “CMRA Pre-order Campaign End Date”). In pre-ordering a CMRA directly from Glide, including after the CMRA Pre-order Campaign End Date, you understand that you are contributing (that is, making a donation) to a campaign for a product in development and has not yet been manufactured, and that you are not making a purchase (a “Pre-Order“). Glide reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject a Pre-Order. If Glide accepts a Pre-Order, you may be charged immediately for the Pre-Order, and your reward under the Pre-Order will be the number of CMRA products you pre-ordered. Our estimated shipping date for your CMRA will be noted on the order page of our online store, but we may be in contact with you nearer the time of estimated shipping to update you about any delays. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you acknowledge that Glide alone, in its sole discretion, will determine whether it is able to fulfill your reward. If Glide determines that it is unable to fulfill your reward, then: (a) it will use commercially reasonable efforts to explore if there are reasonable alternative rewards it can provide, but there is no assurance that these will be possible; and (b) both you and Glide agree that this Agreement (including, but not limited to, the Controlling Law and Dispute Resolution provisions below at Sections ‎‎21 and ‎‎22) will still apply. If you cancel your Pre-Order before the CMRA Pre-Order Campaign End Date, Glide will refund you the amount paid for the Pre-Order. But for Pre-Orders you cancel after that date, you will not be entitled to any refund. Once we ship your CMRA, the Refund Policy will apply. Please contact support@getcmra.com for all inquiries about Pre-Orders.

To be absolutely clear: if you make a Pre-Order, Glide cannot, and does not, promise that you will receive a CMRA.


While a $150 pre-order price is great for a $250 product (that includes a $60 charging stand), that's still a $150 gamble for a product that may not ever see the light of day, or if even if it does, there's no guarantee it will arrive before "Spring 2017."

I've been on a couple dozen Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns, and almost NONE of them arrived on time, even with the ones who claimed "we're in the final stages of production," and a few, of course, never did make it to production. I've been lucky and got a few refunds for the failed ones, but not all. However, they're making it very clear in the above text copied here not to expect anything if it fails. The wording alone will make your credit card company side with the merchant, in the event of a chargeback request, and the elapsed timeframe of up to six months from now, or more, would also make your chargeback request ineligible. Are you really saving $100 (less if you're accruing interest on that CC you charged it on)?

Lastly, the Series 2 Apple Watch just got released, so that's good timing. However, if it likely slips past the estimated "Spring 2017" release date and goes a few more months, it could run into the release date of a Series 3 Apple Watch, which might be incompatible with this product, or could also include an integrated camera that would Sherlock ('http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sherlocked') this product.

I'm not saying to not support them. They may very well be ready for mass production soon and just need the last round of funding. I just hope you set the proper expectations know the consequences when you place that "pre-order."
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H3LL5P4WN Avatar
105 months ago
It'd be so easy to shoot thrill ride videos with these.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)