Basic HTML Version
62 | FireFlyz
TECHIE
Once upon a time (early 2000s), tech companies came upwith an idea for people to
convert their phones into fancywristwatches. Smart concept, but terrible outcome.Those
watcheswere clunky and ran out of battery rather quickly. So, in the end, these products
slowly faded into oblivion. Well, likemost things, it ismaking a comeback and here are the
ones towatch.
SONY SMARTWATCH 2
UNVEILED
to the world in early September, Sony is the latest to join the fray. Calling it
SmartWatch 2, it kind of makes you wonder what happened to 1. Trying to distinguish
itself from upstarts such as the Pebble, this watch has a luxurious metal feel and looks
surprisingly normal.
The timepiece features a 1.6-inch transflective LCD panel which should improve vis-
ibility outdoors, compared to its predecessor. Furthermore, it comes in a variety of bright
colours, so you don’t have to settle for black.
In terms of connectivity, it has a built-in near-field communication capability, which
pairs with compatible Android mobiles via Bluetooth by tapping them together. You also
need to download the SmartWatch app into the phone.
Sadly, the watch comes preinstalled with alarm and timer. You will need to download
compatible apps such as Twitter and Facebook to receive notifications. In addition, it only
has Bluetooth 3.0, which is not too smart as the version 4.0 has low-energy properties.
The SmartWatch 2 is said to work with most Android devices and its battery should tide
you over two days.
SAMSUNG GALAXY GEAR
RIGHT
next to Sony’s SmartWatch 2 is the Samsung Galaxy Gear. Launched at the
IFA consumer show in Berlin in September, Samsung launched this timepiece
as an accessory to the Galaxy Note III. Since it only works with this particular
phone (so far), its longevity and popularity as a product don’t look promis-
ing at all. The other not-so-flattering feature is its purported 24-hour battery
life. That’s not exactly a smart move since no user wants to remember to
charge it every day.
After its shortcomings, it does have some redeeming features. Its design
makes it something you really want for Christmas. It is ergonomic and
readily controls music, tracks exercise, installs apps and makes phone
calls. Watches or tech companies call them wearable tech and they are
made to reduce the hassle of taking out your phone. What it does, it does
with elegance. After pairing successfully with the Galaxy Note III, the
functions and user interface are incredibly easy. Unlike its peers, there is
hardly a learning curve.
Under the hood, it is powered by an 800MHz processor and 512MB
of RAM, while the 1.63-inch super AMOLED screen is bright and clear. As
mentioned earlier, Samsung needs to make it compatible with other Android
devices to truly dominate this niche market.
Wearing Your Digital Life
At The Bottom of Your Sleeves