For some people it's all so very "James Bond." For others it's a bit dated -- more like Marty McFly from "Back to the Future." Ever since the grand unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Gear in Berlin this week, the internet has been awash with mixed reviews. Has it fallen short of the hype? If so, what <em>is </em>the smartwatch of technorati dreams?
Not as smart as we thought? —
For some people it's all so very "James Bond." For others it's a bit dated -- more like Marty McFly from "Back to the Future." Ever since the grand unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Gear in Berlin this week, the internet has been awash with mixed reviews. Has it fallen short of the hype? If so, what is the smartwatch of technorati dreams?
Courtesy Sean Gallup / Getty Images
The Galaxy Gear, which connects to the latest Samsung smartphone via Bluetooth, has a 1.6-inch display, 1.9 megapixel camera and 4GB of storage. It has 24 hours of battery life and comes in six colors: Rose Gold, Lime Green, Mocha Gray, Wild Orange, Oatmeal Beige, and Jet Black. Their names, not ours.
The specs —
The Galaxy Gear, which connects to the latest Samsung smartphone via Bluetooth, has a 1.6-inch display, 1.9 megapixel camera and 4GB of storage. It has 24 hours of battery life and comes in six colors: Rose Gold, Lime Green, Mocha Gray, Wild Orange, Oatmeal Beige, and Jet Black. Their names, not ours.
Courtesy Samsung
Hot on the heels of the big Samsung reveal was unexpected competitor Qualcomm, with its own offering called "Toq." The watch uses "Mirasol" technology that gives it an always-on display and a battery life of three-four days. It can be paired with almost any Android device and comes with Bluetooth earphones and a case that acts as a wireless charging device.
Tick Toq —
Hot on the heels of the big Samsung reveal was unexpected competitor Qualcomm, with its own offering called "Toq." The watch uses "Mirasol" technology that gives it an always-on display and a battery life of three-four days. It can be paired with almost any Android device and comes with Bluetooth earphones and a case that acts as a wireless charging device.
From Qualcomm
Sony's SmartWatch 2 also syncs with most Android devices. When paired with a phone over Bluetooth, it can receive notifications for e-mail, texts, social networks and calendars.
Sony SmartWatch 2 —
Sony's SmartWatch 2 also syncs with most Android devices. When paired with a phone over Bluetooth, it can receive notifications for e-mail, texts, social networks and calendars.
Sony
The Pebble Watch, which many consider the first commercial smartwatch, first gained attention by pulling in more than $10 million through crowdfunding on Kickstarter. Pebble connects to an iPhone or Android via Bluetooth and has a growing slate of its own apps.
The crowd pleaser —
The Pebble Watch, which many consider the first commercial smartwatch, first gained attention by pulling in more than $10 million through crowdfunding on Kickstarter. Pebble connects to an iPhone or Android via Bluetooth and has a growing slate of its own apps.
Pebble Technologies
The web is replete with rumors of a Google timepiece and this is how one designer, called Adrian Maciburko, imagines it to look. His Google Time concept would respond to a series of gestures and voice searches to navigate the OS, displaying information like weather, notifications and maps.
Google Time? —
The web is replete with rumors of a Google timepiece and this is how one designer, called Adrian Maciburko, imagines it to look. His Google Time concept would respond to a series of gestures and voice searches to navigate the OS, displaying information like weather, notifications and maps.
Courtesy Adrian Maciburko
Brazilian designer Dinard de Mata proposes the 'Creative Player' - a smartwatch and MP3 player concept that charges with your own pulse. OK so it's not <em>quite</em> in the shops yet but it's a cool idea, alright?
Creative Player —
Brazilian designer Dinard de Mata proposes the 'Creative Player' - a smartwatch and MP3 player concept that charges with your own pulse. OK so it's not quite in the shops yet but it's a cool idea, alright?
Courtesy Dinard de Mata
Also in the pipeline (not definitely but almost certainly) is an Apple smartwatch. They've given nothing away except a major harbinger in the form of a registered trademark - 'iWatch'. Predictions are a-plenty and this concept design by Federico Ciccarese is probably the most realistic one out there.
iWatch? —
Also in the pipeline (not definitely but almost certainly) is an Apple smartwatch. They've given nothing away except a major harbinger in the form of a registered trademark - 'iWatch'. Predictions are a-plenty and this concept design by Federico Ciccarese is probably the most realistic one out there.
Courtesy Federico Ciccarese
Far less likely to hit an Apple store near you yet a product of the same imagination is Ciccarese's design for a wearable iPhone 5. Inspired by the pre-release rumor that Apple's iPhone 5 would be "spider-like" (really?!), his concept has metal legs that clamp around the user's hand.
Spider man —
Far less likely to hit an Apple store near you yet a product of the same imagination is Ciccarese's design for a wearable iPhone 5. Inspired by the pre-release rumor that Apple's iPhone 5 would be "spider-like" (really?!), his concept has metal legs that clamp around the user's hand.
Courtesy Federico Ciccarese
This discreet smartwatch is transparent, touchscreen and has no visible mechanics. It is the iWatch vision of San Francisco digital creative Yrving Torrealba.
The invisi-Watch —
This discreet smartwatch is transparent, touchscreen and has no visible mechanics. It is the iWatch vision of San Francisco digital creative Yrving Torrealba.
Courtesy Yrving Torrealba
It's iWatch concepts all the way now and this plausible design by James Ivaldi has a fully flexible touchscreen interface with the all the mod cons of a normal iPhone.
iPhone bracelet —
It's iWatch concepts all the way now and this plausible design by James Ivaldi has a fully flexible touchscreen interface with the all the mod cons of a normal iPhone.
Courtesy James Ivaldi / Jivaldi
Comfort reigns supreme with Esben Oxholm's sleek black iWatch concept. It has a curved aluminum exterior with a soft matte rubber interior. It's the design with the greatest resemblance to Apple's current products.
Keeping it simple —
Comfort reigns supreme with Esben Oxholm's sleek black iWatch concept. It has a curved aluminum exterior with a soft matte rubber interior. It's the design with the greatest resemblance to Apple's current products.
Courtesy Esben Oxholm / Yanko Design
Pavel Simoenov's iWatch concept constantly checks and learns about your environment. You don't have to ask -- you just twist your arm to check for weather, location, places nearby or even your medical condition.
Doctor Smartwatch —
Pavel Simoenov's iWatch concept constantly checks and learns about your environment. You don't have to ask -- you just twist your arm to check for weather, location, places nearby or even your medical condition.
Courtesy Pavel Simeonov
This solar-powered iWatch design by Tolga Tunver has cloud capabilities and syncs with most Apple products. Unlike the other designs it does not have a touchscreen but rather a slim touchpad.
Sun and clouds —
This solar-powered iWatch design by Tolga Tunver has cloud capabilities and syncs with most Apple products. Unlike the other designs it does not have a touchscreen but rather a slim touchpad.
Courtesy Tolga Tuncer / Yanko Design