Tangem Ring HW - The Lord of the Rings?

[dkbit98]

Just when I though I saw all the weird hardware wallets, few days ago Tangem released news about their upcoming Ranger Ring hardware wallet.

First I thought it was some kind of joke, but than I received confirmation from several source, and I see some preview images.

First thing on my mind was about sizing, because you can't have universal one-size-fits-all, fir different fingers.
Second thing  I was wondering, why would you ever want  to wear hardware wallet like a ring all the time...

We know that Tangem Ring will be released on November 3, at Cardano Shitcoin Summit this year, in Dubai, but there is no information about it on Tangem official website.

Anyway here are some preview images and Decrypt article with more information about this ''device'':

 
https://decrypt.co/203969/tangem-ring-hardware-wallet-will-debut-at-cardano-summit-2023

[zherbert]

It saddens me that so many new entrants are pushing blind signing (without a screen). It feels like a major regression in security model. I would have hoped that the industry had learned from Ledger's first Nano device a decade ago (screen-less), but it seems like new entrants are repeating the mistakes of the past.

[joniboini]

It saddens me that so many new entrants are pushing blind signing (without a screen). It feels like a major regression in security model. I would have hoped that the industry had learned from Ledger's first Nano device a decade ago (screen-less), but it seems like new entrants are repeating the mistakes of the past.

Judging from their tagline of trust-based choice (they also claim the random-based private key generation would make the wallet safe), I wouldn't be surprised. They claim to offer many new things for crypto with flexibility and fashion as one of its focus. I don't think that's even necessary for a HW. I guess they don't intend to target security-aware people in the first place? If that's the case, we can only wait for the news when one of these wallets gets hacked or people lose money from dumb stuff.

[SFR10]

First I thought it was some kind of joke, but than I received confirmation from several source, and I see some preview images.

Design-wise, it reminded me of the Bitcoin Bolt Ring, and even if it comes with a lot of features, I think it'd suffer the same fate as the one I mentioned earlier ^{[e.g. little to no success]}.

First thing on my mind was about sizing, because you can't have universal one-size-fits-all, fir different fingers.

They'd probably offer it in two/three sizes.

[m2017]

Just when I though I saw all the weird hardware wallets, few days ago Tangem released news about their upcoming Ranger Ring hardware wallet.

The world will probably see even stranger devices.

First I thought it was some kind of joke, but than I received confirmation from several source, and I see some preview images.

Well, it looks quite nice. Today the technical details of this HW device will be known. We wait. It will be interesting to know how it all works.

First thing on my mind was about sizing, because you can't have universal one-size-fits-all, fir different fingers.

If this is Lord of the Tangem Rings, then the size of the ring doesn't matter - wear it around your neck on a chain. 

Second thing  I was wondering, why would you ever want  to wear hardware wallet like a ring all the time...

Well, right, why? Implant the chip, which is located in a ring, directly into your palm and welcome to the era of new digital assets.

We know that Tangem Ring will be released on November 3, at Cardano Shitcoin Summit this year, in Dubai, but there is no information about it on Tangem official website.

Great name for a summit.

[dkbit98]

It saddens me that so many new entrants are pushing blind signing (without a screen). It feels like a major regression in security model. I would have hoped that the industry had learned from Ledger's first Nano device a decade ago (screen-less), but it seems like new entrants are repeating the mistakes of the past.

As much as I despise ledger, I have to say they probably earned most money from all hardware wallets with their promotional propaganda.
Most people don't care about security if they have something popular that looks nice from outside  
That being said, let's wait and see how Tangem Ring will actually work.

They'd probably offer it in two/three sizes.

I hope this won't be a new trend.
Imagine someone purchasing Tangem Ring, and than they have to return it and replace with different size.
Bad security written all over it.

The world will probably see even stranger devices.

Probably, but I won't accept body injectable hardware wallet or anything like that, and we are going in that direction

[Pmalek]

There is also a YouTube video now revealing some more information.

According to it, the ring will have a secure element and be NFC compatible. Everything will work with a native app, since the ring has no screen. The security features include PIN codes and biometric authentication. The ring doesn't have a battery, so it will be interesting to see what powers it. Backup cards will work if you break your ring, it gets stolen, or you lose it.

The ring is made of a ceramic material and is water-resistant.
Apparently, it's not going to hit the market before Q1 2024.

[satscraper]

Second thing  I was wondering, why would you ever want  to wear hardware wallet like a ring all the time...

The ring is made of a ceramic material and is water-resistant.

Good for swallowing  up if something goes wrong (let's say, at a border crossing) or for places where the stuff hiding is a primary concern (let's say for those who are jailed). I shouldn't be surprised if something similar and designed exclusively for rectal use would appear.  

This is a wallet or just a signing device ..who knows.. no technical specs so far.

[Pmalek]

Good for swallowing  up if something goes wrong (let's say, at a border crossing) or for places where the stuff hiding is a primary concern (let's say for those who are jailed).

Unless this hardware wallet ring becomes immediately conspicuous for anyone looking at it longer than a second, I wouldn't worry about it. People own various pieces of jewelry that they wear and cross international borders with all the time without any problems. If you get jailed, you'll have your valuables, such as jewelry taken from you by the officers, to be returned upon your release.

I shouldn't be surprised if something similar and designed exclusively for rectal use would appear.  

There is an interesting business model. Perhaps a hardware wallet worn on your manhood or a vibrating one for the kinky crypto enthusiasts.

[dkbit98]

There is also a YouTube video now revealing some more information.

Nice find.
I don't like how glossy Tangem Ring looks right now, but IP68 is not bad, maybe you can take a short swim with your hardware wallet.
I saw on Tangem twitter account they gifted all 100 Tangem Ring prototype wallets to visitors in cardano summit , this was not a bad marketing move from Tangem.

The ring is made of a ceramic material and is water-resistant.

Material mentioned in video is zirconium dioxide, I don't think that is ceramic, it's more like a metal.

[Pmalek]

Material mentioned in video is zirconium dioxide, I don't think that is ceramic, it's more like a metal.

I am not sure. At around 2:00 in the video, the guy mentions that Zirconium Dioxide is a ceramic material.

If you google "zirconium dioxide ceramic", the first result is a Wikipedia source that states: "Zirconium dioxide is one of the most studied ceramic materials." At the same time, if you ask google, "is zirconium dioxide a metal", it tells you "Zirconium dioxide, also known as zirconia and zirconium oxide, is a crystalline metal oxide that has found its way into the ceramics industry."

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zirconium_dioxide
https://matmatch.com/learn/material/zirconium-dioxide-zirconia

[zherbert]

Material mentioned in video is zirconium dioxide, I don't think that is ceramic, it's more like a metal.

I am not sure. At around 2:00 in the video, the guy mentions that Zirconium Dioxide is a ceramic material.

If you google "zirconium dioxide ceramic", the first result is a Wikipedia source that states: "Zirconium dioxide is one of the most studied ceramic materials." At the same time, if you ask google, "is zirconium dioxide a metal", it tells you "Zirconium dioxide, also known as zirconia and zirconium oxide, is a crystalline metal oxide that has found its way into the ceramics industry."

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zirconium_dioxide
https://matmatch.com/learn/material/zirconium-dioxide-zirconia

Zirconium Dioxide is a ceramic material and has been used in luxury watches like Omega's all-black Dark Side of the Moon Speedmaster.

[NotATether]

Good for swallowing  up if something goes wrong (let's say, at a border crossing) or for places where the stuff hiding is a primary concern (let's say for those who are jailed).

Unless this hardware wallet ring becomes immediately conspicuous for anyone looking at it longer than a second, I wouldn't worry about it. People own various pieces of jewelry that they wear and cross international borders with all the time without any problems. If you get jailed, you'll have your valuables, such as jewelry taken from you by the officers, to be returned upon your release.

Actually, there is a worry - you could get robbed, or held at gunpoint and be forced to hand over your jewelry. Sure, the crooks will not the least suspect that your ring is actually a hardware wallet storing thousands of dollars worth of crypto (but then again, why are you carrying it on your hand everywhere in the first place?), but it will be, at best, a hassle to recover your coins, and, at worst, a crypto theft.

[m2017]

Good for swallowing  up if something goes wrong (let's say, at a border crossing) or for places where the stuff hiding is a primary concern (let's say for those who are jailed).

Unless this hardware wallet ring becomes immediately conspicuous for anyone looking at it longer than a second, I wouldn't worry about it. People own various pieces of jewelry that they wear and cross international borders with all the time without any problems. If you get jailed, you'll have your valuables, such as jewelry taken from you by the officers, to be returned upon your release.

Actually, there is a worry - you could get robbed, or held at gunpoint and be forced to hand over your jewelry. Sure, the crooks will not the least suspect that your ring is actually a hardware wallet storing thousands of dollars worth of crypto (but then again, why are you carrying it on your hand everywhere in the first place?), but it will be, at best, a hassle to recover your coins, and, at worst, a crypto theft.

Rob the old fashioned way and take away this wonderful ring. Or you'll just take it off somewhere and lose it. Like a banal ordinary ring. Carrying such a wallet with you is completely unreasonable, but only if the balance of this wallet contains only small change for pocket expenses, like buying coffee and a donut with chocolate glaze. Wouldn't it be a little expensive for such a wallet?

"Tangem Ring will come with a price tag of no less than $200 for the end consumer." -
Source

There is one more point: this device works through a smartphone application and an installed application and doesn't have physical buttons for confirming outgoing transactions as on traditional hardware wallets, which is protection against online theft. How will this ring be protected?

[SFR10]

Imagine someone purchasing Tangem Ring, and than they have to return it and replace with different size.
Bad security written all over it.

You're right, but they'd probably provide a size chart to save themselves the headache of going through the replacement process of those used rings.

Source

Not sure if they've been living under a rock or they're just spreading lies about this being "the world's first wearable ^{[or ring-shaped]} hardware wallet", but it's worth noting that it doesn't even come in second place!

[Pmalek]

Actually, there is a worry - you could get robbed, or held at gunpoint and be forced to hand over your jewelry. Sure, the crooks will not the least suspect that your ring is actually a hardware wallet storing thousands of dollars worth of crypto (but then again, why are you carrying it on your hand everywhere in the first place?), but it will be, at best, a hassle to recover your coins, and, at worst, a crypto theft.

I am not a fan of the idea either. But hey, you don't have to wear it all the time like your wedding ring. Put it on when you intend to use it and take it off when you are back home. Not all jewelry that people wear is valuable. Some people wear friendship bracelets or bracelets their kids made for them. It's not worth a cent and may look bad, but had sentimental value.

[FP91G]

Swap with 0% service fees via Changelly in Tangem Express
https://tangem.com/de/blog/post/changelly-in-tangem/
When we set out to create Tangem Express — our homegrown DEX & CEX aggregator — we wanted to provide Tangem Wallet users with the best exchange rates on the crypto market while guaranteeing total security and ease of use.

With this goal in mind, Tangem will add Changelly — a hybrid cryptocurrency exchange platform — as a swap provider to Tangem Express this February. Users will be able to swap any asset via Changelly at a 0% service fee rate from February 14 to February 21, 2024.  What else is in stock for you? Let’s find out in this article.

[SFR10]

Swap with 0% service fees via Changelly in Tangem Express

Even if on top of that, there was some kind of reward, I'd still not recommend using their services!

we wanted to provide Tangem Wallet users with the best exchange rates on the crypto market while guaranteeing total security and ease of use.

So they're still spreading lies in 2024 ^{[they're collaborating with a platform that's well known in the community for its selective scams (SMH)]}!
Based on some of the comments on "Cyber Scrilla's second video about the Tangem Ring", it appears it doesn't work well when you're wearing the ring or your phone has a case!
^{BTW, their "2024 roadmap" is pointing to its release date being in April, so it has moved to the second quarter of the year!}

[Pmalek]

<Snip>

I am not even going to comment on the bad reputation that Changelly has. It only takes a minute to find several threads and discussions on Bitcointalk that discuss that. But instant exchanges, like Changelly, have never been famous for their low fees or excellent exchange rates. People use them for quick swaps between two crypto assets, knowing and expecting that they will get a bit less than doing the exchange manually in a normal crypto exchange. That's why they are ok with paying a bit more in fees. 

[The Sceptical Chymist]

I am not even going to comment on the bad reputation that Changelly has. It only takes a minute to find several threads and discussions on Bitcointalk that discuss that.

Yeah, I even made a complaint thread about them a few years ago, but in the end I didn't get scammed.  Changelly has been around for a long time and I thought that they were at least fairly reputable even if there have been some scam accusations against them.  I don't think that's too far off-topic--and yes, I did read SFR10's post.

What I can't stand are these partnerships HW wallet manufacturers enter into (Ledger went way overboard with that), and even some software wallets like Trust have done it as well.  It sort of feels like the evolution of Google, where once upon a time it was a simple search engine and was excellent in carrying out its purpose.  And now?  You search for something and the only thing you get 90% of the time is advertising thrown at you.  If I'm looking to buy a HW wallet, I just want a device to keep my coins safe and I don't want constant reminders that the manufacturer is in cahoots with various services of varying reputation and is pushing me to use those services.

It feels fakkin' icky, you know?