Intel takes on the Apple watch: Chip giant unveils $495 gold, snakeskin smart band

Developed with fashion brand Opening Ceremony, the snakeskin bracelet is called My Intelligent Communication Accessory, or MICA.It will connect the wearer with Facebook, Google and Yelp via an AT&T data plan without having to carry a smartphone.Incoming alerts discreetly vibrate the bracelet instead of making a noise. Its $495 price tag includes a two-year data […]

Developed with fashion brand Opening Ceremony, the snakeskin bracelet is called My Intelligent Communication Accessory, or MICA.
It will connect the wearer with Facebook, Google and Yelp via an AT&T data plan without having to carry a smartphone.
Incoming alerts discreetly vibrate the bracelet instead of making a noise.
Its $495 price tag includes a two-year data plan with AT&T, which means it does not rely on a smartphone for connectivity.
As well as working with Opening Ceremony, Intel in March bought fitness bracelet maker Basis Science and it has teamed up with watch retailer Fossil Group to develop other wearable computing devices.
The bracelets, which Intel says have a battery life up to two days, will be sold starting by early December through Opening Ceremony and Barney’s upscale department stores.
It has an 18K gold coating with a curved sapphire glass touch screen display.
One style features black water snake skin, pearls from China and lapis stones from Madagascar, while the other style features white water snake skin, tiger’s eye from South Africa and obsidian from Russia.