Samsung Unpacked 2013

[Z-man]

Anyone watching this?

They are discussing the Galaxy Gear - a wristwatch that interfaces with the new Galaxy smartphone.

Revolutionary? Hardly. "With Gear, you can make and receive phone calls without removing the phone from you pocket." Umm - yeah - you can do that same thing with a bluetooth device hanging off your ear -- Adriods, Apples, and I think even Blackberry can do that. Curvred glass tech that everyone has been buzzing about? Nope.A camera on the watch? What is Samsung trying to do? Completely violate everyone's privacy?

Oh - and for those who call me an Apple fanboy, fear not: when Apple announces their 'iWatch' next week on the 10th, I may just cut & paste this thread word for word.

Discuss.
-Z-man.

[fxeditor]

You're not that far off! Here's what it looks like being worn:

I find it really funny that the advent of Smartphones caused people to stop wearing watches and now the manufacturers are pushing the consumer to go back to wearing them!

[KaptKaos]

Originally Posted by fxeditor

I find it really funny that the advent of Smartphones caused people to stop wearing watches and now the manufacturers are pushing the consumer to go back to wearing them!

Wearables are future. But there are only a few ergonomic devices that people are generally comfortable with; watch/bracelet, necklace, glasses, rings, and maybe earrings. The smart phone will become the personal server of the future.

Get used to this. We will be seeing a lot more of this.

[fxeditor]

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

Wearables are future. But there are only a few ergonomic devices that people are generally comfortable with; watch/bracelet, necklace, glasses, rings, and maybe earrings. The smart phone will become the personal server of the future.

Get used to this. We will be seeing a lot more of this.

Nah, I'm holding out for my retinal implants!

MIchael

[jyl]

My snap reaction is that the Samsung smartwatch is far too large/bulky/black. I mean, regardless of what it does or doesn't do.

A watch today is a status and fashion item, quasi jewelry. Watch industry sales are are actually booming, and have been for a few years now. Since mid-range consumers seem eager to buy $200-400 fashion watches and high-end consumers are snapping up $1K-5K premium watches, I think there is an great opportunity for a smart watch - but it has to be cool and sleek and stylish as all get out. That thing is not.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by jyl

My snap reaction is that the Samsung smartwatch is far too large/bulky/black. I mean, regardless of what it does or doesn't do.

A watch today is a status and fashion item, quasi jewelry. Watch industry sales are are actually booming, and have been for a few years now. Since mid-range consumers seem eager to buy $200-400 fashion watches and high-end consumers are snapping up $1K-5K premium watches, I think there is an great opportunity for a smart watch - but it has to be cool and sleek and stylish as all get out. That thing is not.

I'm one of those $200-$400 watch geeks... that is about the only jewelry I wear (other than wedding ring... and glasses)

I would totally be down with a bluetooth watch... but as you say it would have to be the size of a iPod nano before I would bite. I would think the tech is there to make one that size, not sure what the hold up is.

I would be all Dick Tracy talking into my watch... oops... just dated myself!

I also find it ironic that cell phones were getting smaller and smaller... and now they are reversing the trend and getting larger and larger.

[jyl]

Sony Smartwatch 2 and Qualcomm Toq also announced.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I can count the number of "techy" devices that will replace my Breitling Cosmonaute on exactly ... zero fingers.

"This town needs an enema!"

[axl911]

You old farts are totally missing the point. Who cares about making and taking calls from your wrist like Dick Tracy.

What these things have I want is the ability to see who is calling me, or a reminder popping up, or an appointment reminder popping up WITHOUT having to dig into my pocket, pull out, and manipulate the phone. I can't do that while driving the 911.

The 911 is a manual, has no phone holder, has no bluetooth on the radio. So, I have to keep my phone in my pant pockets. I hate it when I am driving and someone calls or something comes up.

And yes, that dang phone does have the ability to know I am arriving at Walmart and reminds me to buy milk.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

You buy your milk at Walmart? Yuck.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by axl911

The 911 is a manual, has no phone holder, has no bluetooth on the radio. So, I have to keep my phone in my pant pockets. I hate it when I am driving and someone calls or something comes up.

Maybe your car is telling you something...
Here's a novel idea - when driving, don't answer the phone! No offense, but are you really that important that you have to be connected to the phone 24x7?

What do you mean by 'something comes up?" A Facebook status update? A twitter feed? An SMS message? Is it that important to be connected to all of your 'imaginary friends' in the 'virtual world?'

Enjoy the drive -- worry about the phone calls, the tweets, the status updates, the 'buy milk at Walmart' notifications after you arrive at your destination! And keep your eyes on the road!

-Z-man.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by axl911

You old farts are totally missing the point. Who cares about making and taking calls from your wrist like Dick Tracy.

What you are missing is the point Z-Man is making, relax... be in the moment... enjoy driving you car...

Or if you really need to be so "connected" get a bluetooth head unit and be done with it.

Messing with a smart watch while driving is just as distracted/dangerous as messing with your phone while driving.

What you kids don't get is you are being sold a redundant device... pulling your phone out of your pocket is just too much trouble? Seriously?

Says the guy who had a wrist PDA

[red-beard]

How many here owned the Timex-Microsoft Datalink watch? I pulled mine out of a drawer to show my wife that similar things have existed before.

[jyl]

The Galaxy Gear watch is a flop, I think. Reviews are mostly bad. 24 hours battery life - WTF? Too big for any woman's wrists - they are half the species. It is something dreamed up by engineers trying to cram as much as they can into an overlarge case.

A smartwatch has to be sleek, subtle, cool, slim.

I figure Apple's entry doesn't show up for a while. Similar to iPod and iPhone and iPad. Not the first, but the best.

[stealthn]

I already have an Apple watch, it's a Nano with a metal enclosure and rubber band. Designed by a designer that did stuff for Nike. I have pictures, pedometer, music and a watch.

Kickstarter is your friend.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by jyl

The Galaxy Gear watch is a flop, I think. Reviews are mostly bad. 24 hours battery life - WTF? Too big for any woman's wrists - they are half the species. It is something dreamed up by engineers trying to cram as much as they can into an overlarge case.

A smartwatch has to be sleek, subtle, cool, slim.

I figure Apple's entry doesn't show up for a while. Similar to iPod and iPhone and iPad. Not the first, but the best.

Horrible!

[72doug2,2S]

When are they going to make the rapper neck chain phone?

[enzo1]

[Z-man]

wearable devices -- that is the future of technology.

Lookup omnitouch technologies on Youtube. (I'd post a link, but can't get the 'share' function to work on my tablet.)

Also - another technology related to wearable devices is gesture-based navigation of technology, as seen in the leap 'mouse' replacement device (now selling at Best Buy!)

-Z-man.

[enzo1]