Wow. The watches are already badgered without knowing what they will do. I would expect if Apple releases a smart watch they will explain to us all how it works, why it does what it does and who the intended audience is for. This announcement isn't that, and therefor kinda sucks.
1) These sort of announcements make me think they know Apple is close to announcing their wrist-worn computing accessory
2) AnandTech states the Samsung device will last two days of normal use between charges with its 300 mAh battery. Not exactly a home run, but if you take it off and charge when you shower that should be enough time to keep it charged up indefinitely. That certainly worked with my Fitbit Force. Regardless, the Samsung device is both ugly and huge. It's a thick display with a thick band and a thick backing. It also has a micro-SIM card slot taking up room and therefore a cellular chips, radio(s) and antennas. I don't see that as the way to go with this device. I think an accessory to a smartphone is the way to go.
2) AnandTech states the Samsung device will last two days of normal use between charges with its 300 mAh battery. Not exactly a home run, but if you take it off and charge when you shower that should be enough time to keep it charged up indefinitely. That certainly worked with my Fitbit Force. Regardless, the Samsung device is both ugly and huge. It's a thick display with a thick band and a thick backing. It also has a micro-SIM card slot taking up room and therefore a cellular chips, radio(s) and antennas. I don't see that as the way to go with this device. I think an accessory to a smartphone is the way to go.
I think the charging plug ought to be made like the MagSafe on MacBooks, though it looks like this Samsung phone has something similar. Yes, easily charge it in between activities ought to do the trick if the battery isn't large.
A SIM card in a watch is completely useless; I fully agree the watch should be made complementary to a smartphone. What do they think, people stop buying smartphones after getting this watch? Or they did they put assisted GPS on the thing?
Funny that it runs on Tizen, I thought some said it was dead in the water?
I think that the hardest thing that Apple is going to have is that as a fashion item, it's not great if the watch is ubiquitous. This is where I think that Android will actually do well, if they can convince experienced watch makers end up using Android Wear to release their own smart watches.
For that reason I put up an idea that Apple might have to shed their one-device-to-rule-them-all modus operandi if they want to dominate this market's profits like it's done with traditional PCs, PMPs, handsets, and tablets. As alien as it would be for Apple to make such a move perhaps the smartest move is to release a plethora of wrist-worn devices with the same basic capabilities but with vastly different focus and styles.
For example, you can buy a $79 sports band that records biometrics for when you're exercising and have a premium looking device that fits a specific style of sophistication and dress that costs $500+, as well as many others in-between. This unusual method could get people to purchase multiple devices all of which would sync to your iPhone via BT as a single reading of your biometrics.
Even licensing or partnership with high-end brands could be a viable option to make this a reality the way Apple had to partner with mobile network operators, music label, movie and television studios, etc. to make the user experience excellent. It's a tough nut, that's for sure.
In any case, it'll be interesting to see what (if anything) Apple does. Still kind of think this wearables thing is a fad.
I agree with Drealoth that wearables doesn't seem like something that will have longevity, a bit like Casio's calculator watches back in the 80s.
I don't see how wearables aren't the future. They've certainly been part of our past. Watches and headphones have been around from before we were born and now wearables with built-in microprocessors that can connect us to the world at large and measure our biometrics are finally coming into play. I see this as becoming more and more pervasive, not less, as the technology gets smaller, faster, more efficient, and less expensive.
I think the charging plug ought to be made like the MagSafe on MacBooks, though it looks like this Samsung phone has something similar. Yes, easily charge it in between activities ought to do the trick if the battery isn't large.
1) MagSage only works if it's just for power. If you need to sync via the same cable it's not feasible which is one reason we may never see a MagSafe Lightning cable.
2) I'd personally like it to see inductive charging if it's something that needs to be charged anymore than once a week under normal usage.
LG's watch will be available for sale in Q4. How is that vaporware?
It's vapourware until it materializes as something solid. That means an actual demo, actual specs, and a price point. Saying "This will be available in Q4" is as much a legitimate a factual claim at this point as me saying, "I will invent a perpetual motion machine that will be available in Q4."
I actually really like the design of the LG watch. It looks like a traditional watch. When it comes to wearables, I prefer the traditional watch style compared to the crap Samsung is making. I can't wait to see what Apple has in store for us. I'm really curious to see if Apple is going to release a watch or some sort of band with a display.
1) MagSage only works if it's just for power. If you need to sync via the same cable it's not feasible which is one reason we may never see a MagSafe Lightning cable.
2) I'd personally like it to see inductive charging if it's something that needs to be charged anymore than once a week under normal usage.
Data sync does not need to be via cable - we're likely talking about 8-16GB max on a watch form factor, and that can be synched via wifi or bluetooth. Not to mention, most data can be "streamed" - look at the Pebble. In fact the pebble magsafe-like connector is quite workable if a bit 1st-generation.
Inductive charging is likely not going to work with the form factor - how big does the inductive circuit need to be on the device? Sounds too bulky to me. Again, magsafe like power cord is good enough; better if they can bake it into a watch stand so the thing looks nice while it charges.
1) MagSage only works if it's just for power. If you need to sync via the same cable it's not feasible which is one reason we may never see a MagSafe Lightning cable.
Sorry, should've elaborated on 'like MagSafe'. I mean that is should simply snap on, magnetically. Though on 2nd thought, why would we need to sync it over a wire? Surely the watch won't hold that much data locally; wouldn't wireless be the preferred Apple way of moving data around? That certainly is what they're doing in many applications and devices (iTunes.app, PC-free).
BT4 has a throughput of 24 Mbit/s; wouldn't that be sufficient? Because I don't think a smart watch from Apple will come with gigabytes of storage. That's something the iPhone already has.
2) I'd personally like it to see inductive charging if it's something that needs to be charged anymore than once a week under normal usage.
That will probably work, though I would get a 2nd charger for at the office. The great thing about the popularity of the iPhone and iPad is that one can charge it at any friends' house, everyone has (both) plugs.
Inductive charging is likely not going to work with the form factor - how big does the inductive circuit need to be on the device? Sounds too bulky to me. Again, magsafe like power cord is good enough; better if they can bake it into a watch stand so the thing looks nice while it charges.
My idea is to work it into the edges of the band going curving around each clasp end and going alongside the face in a full circle so that when tossed on the charging pad it syncs.
Samsung Gear S Enhances the Smart Wearable Experience
The Gear S offers a beautiful curved design combined with 3G connectivity on the wrist
Seoul, Korea – [August 28, 2014] – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Samsung Gear S, the next generation smart wearable device that expands the smartphone experience to the wrist. The new Samsung Gear S delivers an up-to-date smart wearable experience with[B] 3G connectivity[/B] and wearable optimized features to meet the evolving needs of consumers.
“Samsung is leading this exciting and rapidly developing wearable category through progressive innovation,” said JK Shin, CEO and head of IT & mobile communication at Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung Gear S redefines the idea of the smart wearable and the culture of mobile communication. It will let consumers live a truly connected life anywhere, anytime.”
Designed with an elegant, curved Super AMOLED display and flexible band, the Samsung Gear S fits comfortably on user’s wrist. Through 3G connectivity, the Samsung Gear S offers a new, powerful wearable experience and gives consumers the freedom to live their life on the go.
Industry-Leading Curved Super AMOLED Display
The Samsung Gear S features a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display, providing a richer view with a beautiful and easy-to-use user interface. It allows users to read messages and notifications at a single glance with features such as conversation view and condensed font. The Samsung Gear S’s chic, curved design fits comfortably around the contours of the wrist, while its customizable screen options and changeable straps empower users to express their own taste and style.
Truly Connected Experience
The Samsung Gear S extends its communication capabilities to include 3G as well as Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, allowing users to stay informed with seamless notifications from social networks, calendars and applications even when away from their phone. It lets users to instantly reply to incoming messages using the onscreen keyboard, or utilize enhanced S voice functionality to ensure tasks can be completed immediately. Finally, with the Samsung Gear S, people can seamlessly [B]make and receive calls[/B] directly from their wrist, or get calls forwarded from their smartphones.
The Samsung Gear S allows consumers to control how they want to connect, switching easily between 3G and Bluetooth connections, and automatically synchronizing information when paired to a smartphone.
Extended Features & Applications
The Samsung Gear S provides easy access to relevant information through essential widgets and combined notification boards. Its powerful features include [B]turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation[/B] provided by HERE, a 24-hour news and views service from The Financial Times ‘fastFT’, works together with advanced-reading technology from Spritz, and the ability to see and respond to important social notifications instantly with[B] Facebook[/B]. Together, these features allow users to be live and actionable while on the go.
The Samsung Gear S is also a perfect health and[B] fitness companion[/B] with more enhanced[B] multi-sensors[/B], built-in [B]GPS[/B], and robust S Health features. In addition, applications such as [B]Nike+ Running[/B] allow users to track their runs and stay motivated while on the move, without their smartphone.
Also announced today with the Samsung Gear S is the new Samsung Gear Circle. When paired with a smartphone, users can easily receive calls, listen to music, and make voice commands in style through a Bluetooth connection. It features a magnetic lock which clasps around the user’s neck when not in use, as well as a vibrate function to signal incoming calls and notifications.
Both the Samsung Gear S and the Gear Circle will be available in global markets in phases through Samsung’s retail channels, e-commerce websites and via carriers beginning October.
1) Just imagine how long it would probably last and how much smaller it would be with the Cellular and WiFi, and what seems like a very powerful processor for its size.
2) Note the IP67 rating. That means it has been certified to work without issue for at least 30 minutes under 1 meter of water.
It's vapourware until it materializes as something solid. That means an actual demo, actual specs, and a price point. Saying "This will be available in Q4" is as much a legitimate a factual claim at this point as me saying, "I will invent a perpetual motion machine that will be available in Q4."
I guess it's how you define vaporware. To me vaporware is something like the Microsoft Courier or Samsung phones with 3-sided displays. This device is going to be announced at IFA. When the Moto Almost 360 was first revealed all we saw were renders but I don't remember it being called vaporware.
I guess it's how you define vaporware. To me vaporware is something like the Microsoft Courier or Samsung phones with 3-sided displays. This device is going to be announced at IFA. When the Moto Almost 360 was first revealed all we saw were renders but I don't remember it being called vaporware.
1) I certainly called it vapourware and questioned their ability to launch in the time they stated and with a round display.
2) It is vapourware because what they teased us with back in March is not the product they shipped. Back in March the display was a full circle — no flat tyre design — hence my comment about it actually materializing in some way that can be demoed.
Samsung on Wednesday also announced a new smartwatch called the Gear S, which features... two days of battery life.
What? TWO DAYS? Hell, I can barely keep my iPhone charged, no way no how am I going to be charging other devices too. My kindle goes for weeks without a charge, and it still annoys me. My conventional watch lasts a year on a battery, and even THAT is annoying. This 2-day charge thing is going to be a GearS-KILLER. Apple need not do anything.
Comments
1) These sort of announcements make me think they know Apple is close to announcing their wrist-worn computing accessory
2) AnandTech states the Samsung device will last two days of normal use between charges with its 300 mAh battery. Not exactly a home run, but if you take it off and charge when you shower that should be enough time to keep it charged up indefinitely. That certainly worked with my Fitbit Force. Regardless, the Samsung device is both ugly and huge. It's a thick display with a thick band and a thick backing. It also has a micro-SIM card slot taking up room and therefore a cellular chips, radio(s) and antennas. I don't see that as the way to go with this device. I think an accessory to a smartphone is the way to go.
Darn, I should check that site more.
I think the charging plug ought to be made like the MagSafe on MacBooks, though it looks like this Samsung phone has something similar. Yes, easily charge it in between activities ought to do the trick if the battery isn't large.
A SIM card in a watch is completely useless; I fully agree the watch should be made complementary to a smartphone. What do they think, people stop buying smartphones after getting this watch? Or they did they put assisted GPS on the thing?
Funny that it runs on Tizen, I thought some said it was dead in the water?
For that reason I put up an idea that Apple might have to shed their one-device-to-rule-them-all modus operandi if they want to dominate this market's profits like it's done with traditional PCs, PMPs, handsets, and tablets. As alien as it would be for Apple to make such a move perhaps the smartest move is to release a plethora of wrist-worn devices with the same basic capabilities but with vastly different focus and styles.
For example, you can buy a $79 sports band that records biometrics for when you're exercising and have a premium looking device that fits a specific style of sophistication and dress that costs $500+, as well as many others in-between. This unusual method could get people to purchase multiple devices all of which would sync to your iPhone via BT as a single reading of your biometrics.
Even licensing or partnership with high-end brands could be a viable option to make this a reality the way Apple had to partner with mobile network operators, music label, movie and television studios, etc. to make the user experience excellent. It's a tough nut, that's for sure.
I don't see how wearables aren't the future. They've certainly been part of our past. Watches and headphones have been around from before we were born and now wearables with built-in microprocessors that can connect us to the world at large and measure our biometrics are finally coming into play. I see this as becoming more and more pervasive, not less, as the technology gets smaller, faster, more efficient, and less expensive.
1) MagSage only works if it's just for power. If you need to sync via the same cable it's not feasible which is one reason we may never see a MagSafe Lightning cable.
2) I'd personally like it to see inductive charging if it's something that needs to be charged anymore than once a week under normal usage.
It's vapourware until it materializes as something solid. That means an actual demo, actual specs, and a price point. Saying "This will be available in Q4" is as much a legitimate a factual claim at this point as me saying, "I will invent a perpetual motion machine that will be available in Q4."
Idiotic? Aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves here?
No.
Is that a camera on the back face? WTF are they thinking?
I actually really like the design of the LG watch. It looks like a traditional watch. When it comes to wearables, I prefer the traditional watch style compared to the crap Samsung is making. I can't wait to see what Apple has in store for us. I'm really curious to see if Apple is going to release a watch or some sort of band with a display.
1) MagSage only works if it's just for power. If you need to sync via the same cable it's not feasible which is one reason we may never see a MagSafe Lightning cable.
2) I'd personally like it to see inductive charging if it's something that needs to be charged anymore than once a week under normal usage.
Data sync does not need to be via cable - we're likely talking about 8-16GB max on a watch form factor, and that can be synched via wifi or bluetooth. Not to mention, most data can be "streamed" - look at the Pebble. In fact the pebble magsafe-like connector is quite workable if a bit 1st-generation.
Inductive charging is likely not going to work with the form factor - how big does the inductive circuit need to be on the device? Sounds too bulky to me. Again, magsafe like power cord is good enough; better if they can bake it into a watch stand so the thing looks nice while it charges.
Sorry, should've elaborated on 'like MagSafe'. I mean that is should simply snap on, magnetically. Though on 2nd thought, why would we need to sync it over a wire? Surely the watch won't hold that much data locally; wouldn't wireless be the preferred Apple way of moving data around? That certainly is what they're doing in many applications and devices (iTunes.app, PC-free).
BT4 has a throughput of 24 Mbit/s; wouldn't that be sufficient? Because I don't think a smart watch from Apple will come with gigabytes of storage. That's something the iPhone already has.
That will probably work, though I would get a 2nd charger for at the office. The great thing about the popularity of the iPhone and iPad is that one can charge it at any friends' house, everyone has (both) plugs.
My idea is to work it into the edges of the band going curving around each clasp end and going alongside the face in a full circle so that when tossed on the charging pad it syncs.
It's a kind of camera but that is specifically used as an input device for a biometric sensor.
Samsung Gear S Enhances the Smart Wearable Experience
The Gear S offers a beautiful curved design combined with 3G connectivity on the wrist
Seoul, Korea – [August 28, 2014] – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Samsung Gear S, the next generation smart wearable device that expands the smartphone experience to the wrist. The new Samsung Gear S delivers an up-to-date smart wearable experience with[B] 3G connectivity[/B] and wearable optimized features to meet the evolving needs of consumers.
“Samsung is leading this exciting and rapidly developing wearable category through progressive innovation,” said JK Shin, CEO and head of IT & mobile communication at Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung Gear S redefines the idea of the smart wearable and the culture of mobile communication. It will let consumers live a truly connected life anywhere, anytime.”
Designed with an elegant, curved Super AMOLED display and flexible band, the Samsung Gear S fits comfortably on user’s wrist. Through 3G connectivity, the Samsung Gear S offers a new, powerful wearable experience and gives consumers the freedom to live their life on the go.
Industry-Leading Curved Super AMOLED Display
The Samsung Gear S features a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display, providing a richer view with a beautiful and easy-to-use user interface. It allows users to read messages and notifications at a single glance with features such as conversation view and condensed font. The Samsung Gear S’s chic, curved design fits comfortably around the contours of the wrist, while its customizable screen options and changeable straps empower users to express their own taste and style.
Truly Connected Experience
The Samsung Gear S extends its communication capabilities to include 3G as well as Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, allowing users to stay informed with seamless notifications from social networks, calendars and applications even when away from their phone. It lets users to instantly reply to incoming messages using the onscreen keyboard, or utilize enhanced S voice functionality to ensure tasks can be completed immediately. Finally, with the Samsung Gear S, people can seamlessly [B]make and receive calls[/B] directly from their wrist, or get calls forwarded from their smartphones.
The Samsung Gear S allows consumers to control how they want to connect, switching easily between 3G and Bluetooth connections, and automatically synchronizing information when paired to a smartphone.
Extended Features & Applications
The Samsung Gear S provides easy access to relevant information through essential widgets and combined notification boards. Its powerful features include [B]turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation[/B] provided by HERE, a 24-hour news and views service from The Financial Times ‘fastFT’, works together with advanced-reading technology from Spritz, and the ability to see and respond to important social notifications instantly with[B] Facebook[/B]. Together, these features allow users to be live and actionable while on the go.
The Samsung Gear S is also a perfect health and[B] fitness companion[/B] with more enhanced[B] multi-sensors[/B], built-in [B]GPS[/B], and robust S Health features. In addition, applications such as [B]Nike+ Running[/B] allow users to track their runs and stay motivated while on the move, without their smartphone.
Also announced today with the Samsung Gear S is the new Samsung Gear Circle. When paired with a smartphone, users can easily receive calls, listen to music, and make voice commands in style through a Bluetooth connection. It features a magnetic lock which clasps around the user’s neck when not in use, as well as a vibrate function to signal incoming calls and notifications.
Both the Samsung Gear S and the Gear Circle will be available in global markets in phases through Samsung’s retail channels, e-commerce websites and via carriers beginning October.
1) Just imagine how long it would probably last and how much smaller it would be with the Cellular and WiFi, and what seems like a very powerful processor for its size.
2) Note the IP67 rating. That means it has been certified to work without issue for at least 30 minutes under 1 meter of water.
The LG G Watch R looks great IMHO. The Samsung one though, VOMIT!
That was the same as my first reaction to them both.
1) I certainly called it vapourware and questioned their ability to launch in the time they stated and with a round display.
2) It is vapourware because what they teased us with back in March is not the product they shipped. Back in March the display was a full circle — no flat tyre design — hence my comment about it actually materializing in some way that can be demoed.
[VIDEO]
Samsung on Wednesday also announced a new smartwatch called the Gear S, which features... two days of battery life.
What? TWO DAYS? Hell, I can barely keep my iPhone charged, no way no how am I going to be charging other devices too. My kindle goes for weeks without a charge, and it still annoys me. My conventional watch lasts a year on a battery, and even THAT is annoying. This 2-day charge thing is going to be a GearS-KILLER. Apple need not do anything.