Hands on with the updated Basis Peak smartwatch, featuring iOS notification support

Intel partner Basis has pledged that the update for its Peak fitness band is coming very soon, in the form of both a new firmware release and an update to its existing iOS application. The new software will turn the Peak into more of a traditional smartwatch, adding support for phone, email, calendar, SMS and iMessage notifciations.

Basis told us that there won't be any third-party app notification support at this time, but it could be added in the future.

The company also declined to speak on potential support for Apple's HealthKit tools, though there are workarounds. The Basis Peak health tracking data can be accessed by third-party applications, which could tap into HealthKit and allow heart rate data to be shared with other apps and services.

Released last year, the currently available Basis Peak already offers 24/7 heart rate sensing out of the box. The hardware also boasts a 4-day battery life on a single charge.

The watch band is made of high-quality silicone, and can easily be replaced with other custom watch straps. The device's capacitance touchscreen also features scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 3.

The unit is also water-resistant up to 5ATM, and recharging is accomplished through a magnetic charger. It automatically tracks walks, runs and rides, as well as heart rate during exercise, and movement during sleep.

The Basis Peak fitness and sleep tracker sells direct from the company for $199.99. It's available in matte black, or brushed metal and white, and is compatible with devices running iOS 7 or higher.