LG and Samsung announce new smartwatches ahead of Apple's anticipated 'iWatch' reveal [u]

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  • Reply 41 of 92
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    r00fus wrote: »
    LG's watch looks nice - nicer than the Moto 360. The Samsung watch is ... *yurrrg*

    Is that a camera on the back face? WTF are they thinking?
    LG watch looks nice in this render because it's displaying an analog watch face. But how will it look when displaying the weather, a notification, maps etc.? That outer band (which appears to be where the display drivers are hidden) will look out of place.

    I'm really hoping Apple doesn't go down this route if they want the device itself to display information outside of time/date. A round face that doesn't look big and stupid wouldn't be big enough to display useful information.
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  • Reply 42 of 92

    They both are vaporware! How many smart watches have both this firms announced in past year? Looks like they are not working out for them. Either way, I do hope whatever Apple announces as "iWatch" it better is a game changers, else this market it DOA.

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  • Reply 43 of 92
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    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.

    Will be interesting to see how Apple has solved battery life as according to rumors last year that was a big issue:

    http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/4/4062448/apple-watch-will-run-ios-and-arrive-later-this-year-say-sources
    Interestingly, we're also told that Apple's chosen to rework the full iOS to run on the watch instead of building up the iPod nano's proprietary touch operating system — although the previous nano was already watch-sized and seemed like a great starting point for a wrist-sized device, Apple's betting on iOS across product lines.

    That's apparently leading to battery life issues in development, according to our sources: the goal is to last at least 4-5 days between charges, but the current watch prototypes are apparently only going for a couple days max. We're also told Apple has some work to do with iOS on the iPhone, which currently has several hooks for supporting a watch-like device but lacks the appropriate interface or settings to make it work properly. The Pebble watch, for example, can receive notifications from third-party iOS apps with a slight hack, but it has to be redone every time the Bluetooth connection breaks.
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  • Reply 44 of 92
    relicrelic Posts: 4,735member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by PhilBoogie View Post



     I would expect if Apple releases a smart watch they will explain to us all how it works...

    The big hand is for hours and the little hand is for minutes, there, saved you the wait. ;)

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  • Reply 45 of 92
    chandra69 wrote: »
    Idiotic and desperate duo.

    If Apple was rumored to make a car, guess who would start making Korean cars too?
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  • Reply 46 of 92
    philboogiephilboogie Posts: 7,675member
    relic wrote: »
    philboogie wrote: »
     I would expect if Apple releases a smart watch they will explain to us all how it works...
    The big hand is for hours and the little hand is for minutes, there, saved you the wait. ;)

    Lol, yeah that reads stupid now.

    These two just announced watches: it's just an image, a spec sheet and (from Samsung) the PR letter I pasted here.

    Apple on the other hand (no pun intended) explains to us what it does, and why. Then everyone will have a revelation and going, 'yeah, obvious, that makes sense.
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  • Reply 47 of 92
    palegolaspalegolas Posts: 1,362member
    I can't believe it.. first I wonder how Samsung (and others) would have marketed their phones if it wasn't for the iPhone... And what would they look like? And how would they work? Probably like crap.

    Now I foresee the same thing happening with the so called smart watches. (I prefer to call them power bracelets :) Does Apple have to come first, and set the standards, and then everyone will have to go back to the copy machine and "reinvent"?
    These press images look like 50 years old already. It's like grandpa' watches. Not something that modestly snugs into place. It's like screaming LOOK AT MY ARM, THERE'S A SMART WATCH ON MY WRIST, LOOK AT IT DAMNIT! IT LOOKS VERY OLD AND STUPID, BUT I'LL CALL IT CLASSIC AND HOPE I'LL GET AWAY WITH IT.
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  • Reply 48 of 92
    rogifan wrote: »
    LG's watch will be available for sale in Q4. How is that vaporware?

    Did they happen to say which year's Q4 they have in mind?

    Meanwhile: I see plastic is making a comeback in fashion accessories... NOT!
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  • Reply 49 of 92
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,057member

    Seriously...what the fck is Samsung doing? Desperate? That damn Gear S won't find any buyer except gimmick addicts. For god's sake, why would anyone even want a bare minimum phone with 3G connection? Navigation on a 2" screen? Samsung must be kidding. I run out words to say. This Gear S is another DOA. Gosh....

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  • Reply 50 of 92
    slurpyslurpy Posts: 5,398member

    What is this, Samsung's 6th smartwatch already? Jesus Christ. Talk about a company that spams out products, dilutes technology, and takes absolutely zero pride or care in its work, while having utter contempt for consumers. No doubt they want to come out with every single shape and form factor possible before Apple shows their cards, so they can say they did it "first". These companies have learned nothing from all the industries that Apple dominated by doing it right. Keep shitting out products samsung, will only speed your descent into irrelevancy. 

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  • Reply 51 of 92
    philboogiephilboogie Posts: 7,675member
    slurpy wrote: »
    What is this, Samsung's 6th smartwatch already?

    I think #7:

    1000
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  • Reply 52 of 92
    dewmedewme Posts: 6,106member

    In a related announcement ... the Island of Misfit Toys would like to announce its two newest members, brought to us from LG and Samsung.

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  • Reply 53 of 92
    freediverxfreediverx Posts: 1,424member
    Quote:



    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post



    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.

     

    Inductive charging? Bleagh. Anything that requires direct placement on a clunky charging pad is not wireless and will appear idiotic in the very near future. Just think of what your desk or night table might look like if you had several devices, each with their own charging pad.

     

    True wireless power will come in the form of NFMR. The charging device will be built into a PC or plugged into a wall and out of sight, and will be able to charge multiple devices (keyboard, mouse, trackpad, cell phone, tablet, wearable) within at least a few feet. Some of the devices will be able to act as repeaters to extend the range even further. Now this is something Steve Jobs could say works "like magic."

     

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  • Reply 54 of 92
    mazda 3smazda 3s Posts: 1,613member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     

     

    No.




    I'm glad everything is so black and white in your little world.

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  • Reply 55 of 92
    ronmgronmg Posts: 163member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by BigBillyGoatGruff View Post



    It does appear that LG and Samsung believe the iWatch announcement rumor to be credible. I kind of like the look of the Samsung one--probably because it looks like a shrunken iPhone 3G, molded to fit a wrist.



    I don't think I'm really in the market for such a product. I like a watch to be a functional piece of jewelry. However, I look forward to seeing what Apple brings to market.

     

    I think it would be HILARIOUS if Apple never releases a "smart watch" and has been hiring people to make it look like they will in order to focus on making the iPhone 6 the most awesome smart phone the world has ever seen while the competitors focus their efforts on releasing crap watch after crap watch and not on innovating their smart phones.  Probably not true, but funny to think about.

     

    Alternatively, Apple's 'smart watch' could be a series of wearable sensors that all complement and communicate with the iPhone.  Maybe Apple has always believed that a wrist-worn smart phone would be too fad-like and will instead release sensors that are easy to attach to clothes (or wrists/ankles) that monitor our bodies for health and fitness, all working through HealthKit.  Hmm.  Even using kinetic energy charging as we walk or move our arms to recharge, so basically never need to manually charge them.  Nice thin devices that quickly and easily wrap around our ankles and wrists with health and motion sensors galore.

     

    But, in the end, I still would like something on my wrist that I can glance at in meetings or during exercise to see calls, messages, time, weather, etc. without constantly digging my iPhone from my pocket...

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  • Reply 56 of 92
    malaxmalax Posts: 1,598member
    solipsismx wrote: »
    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.

    Synching using a cable? Who still does that? I wouldn't be that surprised if the only option for synching an iWatch is wirelessly.
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  • Reply 57 of 92
    freediverxfreediverx Posts: 1,424member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by r00fus View Post



    Is that a camera on the back face? WTF are they thinking?

     

    More likely a heart rate monitor.

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  • Reply 58 of 92
    MacPromacpro Posts: 19,873member
    solipsismx wrote: »
    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]

    That video, wow ... just wow! They copied Apple's video style in every minute detail. Right down to the editing style, music and English accented designer. Quite astonishing!
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  • Reply 59 of 92
    freediverxfreediverx Posts: 1,424member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Boltsfan17 View Post

     

    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. 


     

    It may resemble a traditional watch, but it looks like a cheap one. Note how it features a (presumably) rotating bezel in the style of a diving watch. This betrays the watch's lack of authenticity since it's only submersible to 3 ft for short periods of time, and there aren't even any lugs to protect the crown against damage, as is common on similarly styled watches. And let's not even go into the silliness of measuring time with a rotating bezel on a wrist-mounted computer. In summary, this is precisely the sort of shallow, frivolous design that the Android market is known for.

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  • Reply 60 of 92
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,772member
    Interestingly, the upcoming version takes cues from Motorola's Moto 360 that was announced alongside the original G Watch as one of the first devices to run Google's Android Wear operating system.

    Aside from the format change, however, the G Watch R appears to be a repackaged version of the original G Watch model. Both run a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset with 512MB of RAM, include 4GB of flash storage and come with interchangeable straps. The new version does feature a heart rate monitor built into the case back, as well as a physical power button that doubles as the watch's crown, much like the Moto 360.

    LG's G Watch R is expected to see limited release in the fourth quarter, meaning it will face stiff competition from the likes of Motorola, Samsung and possibly Apple.

    <div align="center"><img src=http://photos.appleinsidercdn.com/gallery/10288-2447-140827-Gear_S-l.png alt="" />
    <span class="minor2 small gray"></span></div>

    Samsung on Wednesday also <a href="http://www.samsungmobilepress.com/2014/08/28/Samsung-Gear-S-Enhances-the-Smart-Wearable-Experience-1">announced</a> a new smartwatch called the Gear S, which features a curved two-inch Super AMOLED display, heart rate sensor, turn-by-turn navigation via Nokia's HERE and two days of battery life. One of the more novel capabilities is 3G cellular connectivity, which supports both voice calling and data transfer when phone tethering is not available.

    A report earlier today claimed Apple is planning <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/08/27/apple-expected-to-unveil-iwatch-alongside-iphone-6-at-sept-9-event">to announce</a> its own highly anticipated entry into the smartwatch segment at a special event on Sept. 9, which is also expected to feature the next-generation iPhone lineup.

    <strong>Update:</strong> This story has been updated to include Samsung's latest Galaxy Gear entry that was also announced on Wednesday.

    Moto has had engineers working on a "smartwatch" for quite a long time. A quote from an Engadget article over 6 years ago.
    "Motorola has decided that monitoring vital signs via a Bluetooth headset and watch-like device combo and a new iteration of its S9 headset is where it's at. The headset -- and watch? -- will apparently gather data like heart rate, body temperature, and such, zap it to your headset and on to a server for further processing."
    Related article here:
    http://gizmodo.com/5016872/motorola-patents-biometric-and-touch-sensitive-bluetooth-headsets

    Noted that Moto is announcing a new headset/earbud alongside the Moto 360 in a few days. IMHO they are still the one that other Android wearables will be compared to.
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