LG G3 Android Lollipop update has a new heart rate feature for G Watch R

About to learn some new tricks

The LG G3 will receive the Android 5.0 Lollipop update before the end of 2014, and with it comes additional functionality for the G Watch R.

LG says it expects to roll Android 5.0 out to its flagship towards the end of November or early December, which will make it one of the first devices other than the Nexus range to sport Google's latest software.

The Lollipop boost will also see LG's Health application sync up nicely with the G Watch R, with automatic heart rate readings taken throughout the day along with step counting.

This is a similar feature to the Moto 360, where Motorola has its own app for the smartwatch to monitor heart rate at regular intervals.

Motorola's feature, however, is available on any Android handset thanks to a downloadable app, while LG's offering will, for the time being, be exclusive to the Lollipop-toting G3.

You'll be able to adjust the frequency of the readings - the fewer, the better it will be for battery life - or if you're not that bothered at all you'll be able to turn it off completely.

Users sporting Android handsets will also be able to look forward to more Android Wear features in the future, with LG confirming that you'll benefit from extra functionality with the latest version of Google's platform.

One of those additional features, announced by Google earlier this year, is the ability to unlock your smartphone by its proximity to your smartwatch.

Another feature unlocked recently by the search giant is the ability for Android Wear smartwatches to use built-in GPS, but the G Watch R doesn't sport its own location tech.

It instead relies on your smartphone's GPS, as do all the current Android Wear watches other than the Sony Smartwatch 3, and LG told TechRadar its omission is purely down to battery consumption.

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Chill-inducing 'Interstellar' trailer pulls your heart into space

Get ready, world. The next great sci-fi epic could be coming soon as "Interstellar" releases a trailer that teases a world of space wonders and a desperate attempt to save humanity.

Matthew McConaughey goes through a wormhole. Warners Bros./Legendary/Paramount

It's the end of the world as we know it. Dust storms are choking the planet. Our only hope is Matthew McConaughey in a spaceship. If you're not jumping to stand in line for tickets, then you haven't seen the latest trailer. "Interstellar" is an upcoming film from Christopher Nolan, the man who brought us the twisting "Memento," a small army of gritty Batman movies and the mind-bending hit "Inception."

Nolan is blasting off out of our solar system for his next effort. The plot involves a spacecraft heading through a wormhole in search of a habitable and friendly enough planet to save the human race from its own crumbling Earth. Time is short and the search is perilous. Michael Caine tells McConaughey to "get out there and save the world."

The film is rated PG-13, partly for "some intense perilous action." We get a glimpse of that action in the form of a wave as big as a mountain that threatens to swamp the expedition on another planet. If the trailer hasn't given you goosebumps yet, they're likely to rise here.

The film opens in IMAX theaters in the US on November 5 and moves into wide release in regular theaters in the US, UK, Australia and elsewhere within days after that.

"Interstellar" comes at an interesting time when discussion of climate change is all over the news and scientists are actively sorting out how we might able to establish a human settlement on Mars. It's those sort of ties, hovering in the backs of our minds, that ground the trailer in our current reality and make it so fascinating to watch. If the movie lives up to its promise, we could all be in for quite a journey through space, along with an examination of our own fears for the future of humanity.

Amanda Kooser Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET's Crave blog. When not wallowing in weird gadgets and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto. See full bio

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Wahoo Fitness Tickr Heart Rate Monitor

Pros Reliable chest strap heart rate monitor. Inexpensive. Reliable Bluetooth connectivity. Compatible with dozens of apps. Supports Android and iPhone.

Cons Not as innovative as newer heart rate monitors designed to give more feedback and be worn on the wrist or arm. Bottom Line The Wahoo Fitness Tickr Heart Rate Monitor is a good and reliable device that provides steady Bluetooth connectivity to both Android and iPhone apps for running and other activities. It isn't as innovative as some of the more tech-forward devices hitting the market, but its low price is compelling.

By Jill Duffy

The Wahoo Fitness Tickr Heart Rate Monitor ($59.99) is a good and reliable device that's as comfortable (or uncomfortable) as most other chest strap monitors. The main device snaps onto the strap securely, and the soft band has plenty of give, just in case you wrap yourself too tightly. In testing, I had absolutely no problems pairing the Tickr to my mobile phone or keeping the Bluetooth signal between the two on any of my runs. But if you're a forward-thinking athlete, chest strap heart rate monitors (HRMs) may seem like a thing of the past.

Newer devices are designed to be worn much more comfortably on the arm or wrist. The Velcro-adorned Scosche Rhythm+ worn on the forearm is one such device; better still is the sleek and sexy, wrist-worn MIO Link. The MIO Link has an indicator light that changes color as you reach different heart rate zones, giving you immediate feedback about your changing heart rate. Usually, you'd rely on a paired runner's watch or app for that data, meaning you have to look at a screen or wait for an audio voice coaching to announce your heart rate in your ears. With the MIO Link, you can see out of the corner of your eye how you're doing, which is really the biggest innovation in HRMs in a long time. Bear in mind that these options are a little pricier, of course, and some people debate whether the heart rate they transmit is accurate. In my testing, their data was in line with my expectations, but I did not compare my results with any medical-grade devices.

Among other chest straps, I've worn the Garmin Soft Strap Premium HRM ($69.99) before, which is excellent and a mere $10 more than the Wahoo Tickr. I've also worn Garmin's standard Heart Rate Monitor that you can buy bundled with the Garmin Vivofit, which is noticeably harder when you compare them side-by-side. However, once a HRM chest strap is actually on my body, I either forget about it entirely or squirm because it's uncomfortable. With the Wahoo Tickr, I forgot about it—definitely a good sign.

In terms of compatibility with phones and apps, the Wahoo Tickr works with iPhone 4S and later models, and supported Android devices. On the app side, it can send heart rate data to more than 50 different mobile apps, including popular ones such as Runtastic (which is what I used to test), Strava, MapMyRide, as well as lesser-known apps including Pear and iCardio.

Because the Wahoo Tickr uses snaps to secure the device to the strap, you have some options for changing the strap if it becomes worn, or if you want to wear it with athletic clothing designed for HRMs, something along the lines of the Sensoria Fitness Sports Bra.

The Wahoo Tickr is a fine choice if you're in the market for a classic chest strap HRM. The price is right, and it's definitely reliable. But if you're an early adopter, lured by innovations in technology and design, I recommend spending a little more and getting a MIO Link.

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