Samsung Galaxy Gear 2

Samsung’s first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear failed to excite critics. Many criticised its poor battery life and lack of connectivity.

At the time, we said: “Nothing in the Samsung Galaxy Gear justifies the £299 price tag and the fact that it’s utterly dependent on the Galaxy Note means that to have a companion to your Galaxy device you’re looking at over £500 for the pair.”

Even with the expansion of compatible devices, it was still lacking.

Can Samsung turn that around with the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch?

This is an article about the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch. We’ll be rounding up all the latest news and rumours about the handset in the run up to its unveiling next year.

Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch: Specs

Most of what has been reported on the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch has been around the features that we’re likely to see.

The most likely of all the rumours is an increase in the list of compatible devices. Samsung shot itself in the foot by limiting the smartwatch to Samsung Galaxy smartphone and tablet owners.

While they’re numerous, they aren’t the only ones out there.

Sony previously said that companies have only one opportunity to get their smartwatch one a person’s wrist. If someone else gets there first, you’ll never get that wrist.

Locking the device down to your own smartphones puts up a barrier to that. Don’t be too surprised to see the next Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 being compatible with most Android smartphones.

If it is smart, Samsung will also make a play for iPhone owners and look to snap up iPhone and iPad owners’ wrists before Apple’s often delayed iWatch finally turns up.

As for other features, there are reports that Samsung will be putting a GPS chip into the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch. A GPS chip would be a welcome addition and would open up a raft of new possibilities for app makers.

We’d also expect a battery battery. 25 hours is not enough. We expect to be able to use the device without charging it for at least three days, similar to the Sony Smartwatch 2, but even that realistically is too often.

Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch: Price

The £299 price tag stung – even more so when you took into account that you can only use it if you have a Samsung smartphone.

Don’t be surprised if Samsung looks to either cut the price in the next version, or cram as many new features into it to justify the price.

Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch: Design

The Galaxy Gear 2 will feature a new slimmer design according to one Samsung exec who claims that the new smart watch will boast an all-new appearance to contradict the 'bulky' design of the original.

There's no word on whether this means there will be a change in design to the software as well but if leaked screenshots of TouchWiz are anything to go by then the Galaxy Gear 2 could sport a brand-new look both in terms of the hardware and the software.

Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch: Launch

The Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 will launch alongside the new Galaxy S5 according to Samsung Mobile vice president Lee Young Hee who, in an interview with Bloomberg, confirmed that the smart watch would launch the same time as the much-anticipated flagship smartphone.

“We’ve been announcing our first flagship model in the first half of each year, around March and April, and we are still targeting for release around that time. When we release our S5 device, you can also expect a Gear successor with more advanced functions, and the bulky design will also be improved.”

Nissan Smart Watch

Nissan is also in the era of wearable tech, with the smartwatch to connect the car and driver. It's first entry of Nissan into the wearable technologies world. Nissan will be showing off the device — dubbed the Nissan Nismo Watch — at the Frankfurt Motor Show. 

Target of the Nismo Watch are drivers of Nissan Nismo cars. Nismo is Nissan's sports car and responsible for supercars, race cars and ridiculously tricked-out performance kits.

Right now, the Nismo Watch is focusing on really specific audience and its key features are quite different from normal smartwatches, so I think its about to connecting to your car instead of connecting to your smartphone. But still its really good that Nisan is also participating in the era of such technologies. 

Here are some features of Nismo Watch:

• Connects to the car using a smartphone app as a Bluetooth Smart device. 
• Access vehicle telematics and performance data while on the track. 
• Nismo Watch will capture biometric data via a heart-rate monitor in the watch.
• Monitor the performance of car with average speed and fuel-consumption readings
• Get tailored car messages from Nissan

Nissan says that the Nismo Watch can also track and rate the user's social media performance across Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram using its Social Speed software. Klout for cars? Who knew!

The Nismo Watch is an extension of Nissan's Nismo Lab, which launched earlier this year. The Nismo Lab is a mobile laboratory that captures live biometric and telematics data from Nismo athletes during races. With the Nismo Watch, Nissan hopes to make this sort of data available to the the drivers. With any luck, this sort of technology can also be used in other areas.

In the future, the Nismo Lab wants to focus on ECG, EEG and skin temperature sensors — so that that sort of data can get passed back to athletes via the smartwatch.

The Nismo Watch comes in black, white and black and red and it was designed to look like the Nismo ring. The watch is controlled with two buttons and should get over seven days of battery life with normal usage.

Even though this might be the most niche smartwatch of all time, we also think that the idea is pretty cool. The potential here — at least in a racing scenario — is to truly connect the car with the driver, letting the driver know what's happening with the car, but also by potentially providing team members with information about factors such as heart rate and temperature.

Historically, car companies use motor-sports as a way to test the most advanced and cutting-edge technologies, some of which eventually make their way to regular automobiles. So what do you think: Could you ever imagine getting information about your car from your watch? Or what about your car getting information about you? How cool would it be if the temperature could adjust itself based on body temperature? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Via: Mashable

Google Smartwatch Now Ready for Final Production!

According to the Wall Street Journal, their sources who have inside information on Google’s hardware plans have revealed that the firm is in the final stages of producing its very first smartwatch. The anonymous sources have apparently claimed that the smartwatch is nearly ready for mass production and could soon be available on the mass market.

In mid-October a report said that Google’s smartwatch would be coming “sooner rather than later” and had been codenamed Gem. Rumours had claimed that it could potentially be released at the same time as the Nexus 5 smartphone but if the Wall Street Journal’s sources are correct and production has not yet started, then it is unlikely that we’ll see them released together.

There have been no leaked images of Google’s Gem and with smartwatches being a big news recently thanks to Pebble and the Galaxy Gear, no doubt everyone is keen to see what Google will bring to the table.It is expected that it will make full use of Google Now, enabling users to keep up to date with appointments, calender entries, traffic and travel information, as well as weather reports and personal business information.

One obstacle of the smartwatch that Google are keen to overcome is the poor battery life. So far Pebble is leading the way due to the fact that it does not have a colour screen. The Wall Street Journal Sources claim that Google are working hard to extend the battery life of the Gem by reducing power consumption.

So now that we know we don’t have long to wait, the question will be whether it will live up to the hype?

[Via: techbeat]

Samsung Galaxy Gear Supported for More Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch

Samsung announced on Monday it will bring Galaxy Gear connectivity to more smartphones in the weeks ahead. The move will expand the smartwatch's reach beyond just the Note 3, making it available for a wider audience.

The company said it will be rolling out a Premium Suite update that will make a variety of its devices compatible with the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, including the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III.

Samsung’s Premium Suite update will bring Android 4.3 and additional features to smartphones, but the timing and features will differ based on carrier and product, the company said.

The Galaxy S4 mini and Galaxy Mega will also receive an update for Galaxy Gear compatibility, but users will have to wait a bit longer. Samsung said it will become available on those devices in the months ahead.

Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani

Smart Watch by Sony Introducing in September 2013

Sony is updating its smart watch, introducing the Sony SmartWatch 2 at Shanghai's Mobile Asia Expo. Designed to be used as a extra screen for your Android smartphone, Sony SmartWatch 2 is water-resistant smart watch having near field communication connectivity and can be personalized with apps based on how you want to use it.

“Competitors are only now launching first-generation devices, while we are already launching a third-generation device with all the insight gained from over half a million customers combined with Sony’s wealth of technology expertise to create the best ever smart-watch experience,” Stefan K Persson, Sony Mobile Communications' head of companion products, said in a press release announcing the watch.

“We have over 200 unique apps dedicated for Sony SmartWatch, with over one million downloads to date, and we are continuing to work with our strong developer network to deliver ever more compelling smart-watch experiences."

These experiences include the ability to answer calls by touching your wrist, take photos with your phone remotely via the SmartWatch and control presentations remotely using Sony’s “Presentation Pal.”

For fitness buffs, mapping apps for the SmartWatch can help track your biking excursions, while apps such as Runtastic can make it easier to monitor progress towards your fitness goals.

The watch also includes basic features, such as displaying caller ID information, calendar entries, as well as Twitter and Facebook notifications. It means now you can be smart as a spy, wow its gonna be cool now. 

The Sony SmartWatch 2 will be available worldwide in September 2013.