Tag Archives: Android Smartwatch

OnePlus Concept One smartwatch is a high-quality EDC fitted into a sleek wearable design

Posted on by

This watch conceptualized by Michael Szczególski of 2sympleks Design draws inspiration from the OnePlus Concept One phone that has an electrochromic glass (based on electronic CMF technology) for the camera module glass covering.

OnePlus forayed into the smartwatch market in the early half of this year, but it wasn’t popular amongst tech enthusiasts, given the other smartwatches in the market that offer more. The Never Settle endeavor of the brand seemed to be missing in their first smartwatch, and I’m hoping the table is turned in their next release. This OnePlus Concept One Watch could be the right direction for the brand to foray, if they want to dethrone the best ones like Apple Watch Series 6, Galaxy Watch 3, or Fitbit Sense.

While on first look it might seem like any other smartwatch, there’s one thing that makes it stand out from the crowd. When the camera app is activated, the glass magically turns transparent to reveal the sensors otherwise hidden from plain sight. The Concept One Watch employs this technology to blur the lines between a classic analog watch with kinetic movement and modern-day smartwatch functionality. The Android WearOS watch is a perfect hybrid capable of satisfying proponents of classic watches and ones who like the more modern approach of the connected ecosystem of smartwatches.

This is possible with the electrochromic touchscreen which is completely transparent, revealing the classic watch dial. At the touch of a button with the underlying fingerprint sensor, the watch’s smart functions are triggered. You can control the music, keep track of physical activity, read text messages or make voice calls.

When not required, you can revert back to the completely transparent glass screen mode, revealing the beautiful kinetic watch movement of the hour and seconds hands. You’ll still be able to be notified of important texts or calls, that’ll be indicated by small notifications that in no way intrude on the beautiful watch dial.

The watch’s OnePlus Concept One phone influence is evident in the cool orange strap, accompanying accessories like the charging cable, and packaging. Would I want to sport one on my wrist? Absolutely yes. I hope OnePlus is watching this!

Designer: Michael Szczególski of 2sympleks Design

iWatch Android Wearable Will Be Launched Soon, But Not by Apple

Posted on by
Probendi iWatch Smartwatch

Apple Watch was expected to be launched under a different name, but it looks like the Cupertino company was forced by circumstances to give up on the iWatch name. Still, it looks like a smartwatch using this name will be launched soon.

The iWatch could never have been an Apple product, as this name is trademarked in Europe, and doing so would have inevitably resulted in lawsuits and many millions of dollars in damages. Because of this, Apple took the safe route and used a very generic name for their wearable, while renouncing on their dream to use the i on each of their products.

Daniele Di Salvo, CEO of Probendi, is a 50-year-old Italian entrepreneur whose Dublin-based software development studio holds the trademark for the iWatch name for computing devices and software since August 3, 2008. Pictured above is a concept for the iWatch Sport, which should be launched sometime in the future, even though some people are skeptical and call this vaporware. There is also an app made by Probendi that is called iWatch. Police in Vercelli, a small town in northern Italy are said to use it for sending mugshots to their HQ, fact that makes you think that Di Salvo might just be a patent troll.

Di Salvo pointed out that “We have been contacted by some very important manufacturers in China about the possibility of manufacturing a smartwatch and selling them with the name iWatch. Discussions are still ongoing. We are good at software but hardware is definitely not our business but we are evaluating this request.”

According to Bloomberg, Profendi’s iWatch will have a smaller price than the Apple Watch. It will only come with a square touchscreen, GPS and accelerometer, which explains why the iWatch will be cheaper. After all, at $349, Apple Watch is among the most expensive smartwatches currently available. Ironically enough, the iWatch will run Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat, so this must be one of Apple’s worst nightmares.

I’m pretty sure that unaware that the iWatch isn’t in fact an Apple product, many of the company’s fanboys will jump to buy it. Assuming that Probendi will go with the design pictured above (which is actually highly improbable), that may be the wearable’s main selling point. Other than that, it will feature functions found in any other smartwatch.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the surprisingly unsurprising Apple Watch, and the iWatch, Apple’s possible replacement for the iPhone.

HP’s Luxury Smartwatch Cures Wearables of Their Lack of Style

Posted on by
HP Luxury Smartwatch

Hewlett-Packard hasn’t been in the spotlight for quite some time, as their products no longer excel. Yet, HP wants to enter the wearables industry with a stylish luxury watch that will turn heads, not just wallets.

It’s interesting how companies are going out of their way in order to regain their lost glory. HP was good at making personal computers, and for many years it even was the number one manufacturer of PCs globally. Last year, Chinese company Lenovo overtook their place, and made HP, Dell, Acer and Asus eat its dust. Hewlett-Packard is (or at least was) involved in several other industries, printing and photography being two that are worth mentioning. Now, HP is ready to go into unknown territory, and create one luxury smartwatch whose style should become a standard for other wearables.

HP’s luxury smartwatch will be created with the help of US designer Michael Bastian. The circle, stainless steel case designed by him will come with swappable brands available in the following varieties: black rubber, brown leather, olive green nylon and a limited edition black. The case will measure 44mm in diameter, so it won’t be much different from regular timepieces.

As expected, HP’s stylish timepiece will run Android, more likely in a customized form, than in Android Wear. The specs of this smartwatch are currently unkown, so we’ll have to wait for it to be launched, thing that’s supposed to happen sometime this fall. Will the HP smartwatch appeal to people or is it way too niched to attract the masses with its unique style?

When Jimmy Kimmel stuck an Apple logo on the back of a $20 Casio watch and presented it to people on Hollywood Blvd. as the new iTime smartwatch, he pretty much demonstrated that some (if not most) people care more about who manufactured the timepiece than to what features it packs. Some went even as far as to say that they’d buy anything made by Apple. This pretty much sums up how much HP will have to fight in order to gain the attention it deserves for this luxury smartwatch. No matter how revolutionary a smartwatch is, if it’s not made by Apple and people haven’t stayed 3 days in line in order to buy it, it’s definitely not worth it. My suggestions? There should be some mandatory tech classes in schools everywhere, so people don’t become snobs when they grow up.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the

Samsung Android Wear Smartwatch Could Be the Surprise of Google I/O 2014

Posted on by
Samsung Android Wear Smartwatch

Not long ago, it looked like the South Korean tech giant would keep its family of smartwatches Android-free, but according to recent rumors, the company might have a surprise for us in the form of an Android Wear smartwatch, which would be launched at Google I/O 2014.

After launching 3 Tizen OS wearables and leaving the impression that it was severing its relationship with Google, Samsung returned the search giant to the BFF status. The Android Wear smartwatch that Samsung will launch on June 25 and 26 is said to be similar in functionality to the ones running Tizen OS, and the design shouldn’t differ much, either.

In terms of hardware, rumor has it that there will be two versions, one based on Samsung’s own chips (a new version of Exynos, I assume), and another based on Qualcomm. At the time being, it is unknown which of the two will be showcased at Google’s event. If I were to take a guess, I’d say that the Korean company would take more pride in launching a device based on its own chip.

While the Korean company didn’t specifically say that it has an Android Wear smartwatch in the works, it did mention that it’s continuously looking to innovate, and a device based on a version of Google’s mobile operating system that’s specifically tailored for wearables would be a firm proof of that. Moreover, sources close to the company stated in an interview with Cnet that there is a tiny possibility that all the attendants at Google I/O 2014 might receive a Samsung Android Wear smartwatch.

Unlike LG and Motorola, which will also be launching Android Wear smartwatches at Google’s event, Samsung has a lot more experience in this field, so it’s probably not wrong to assume that its product will outrank the others. On top of that, Samsung has made wearables based on more than just Android, so it has a different perspective on how things work.

Google definitely enjoys teasing us. Android Wear, the new version of its mobile OS built with wearables in mind, has been launched in March, but there are still no commercially available devices based on it. Things might change at the end of this week, when we’ll get to see at least to smartwatches running Android Wear. As far as Samsung’s new smartwatch is concerned, it remains to be seen if the rumors are true.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about Moto 360′s price, and LG’s G Watch.

LG G Watch Comes to France in June for €199, Will Cost $199 in the US

Posted on by
LG G Watch

LG France spilled the beans to French site Les Numerique regarding the launch and the price of the G Watch.

A few weeks ago, LG showcased the final design of its G Watch, which had only been featured sparingly in the Android Wear promo video. Now, the French subsidiary of the South Korean tech company apparently revealed the price that the G Watch will carry at launch, respectively €199. Judging by how gadgets are usually priced on the two sides of the pond, it’s easy to assume that in the US LG’s smartwatch will cost $199. The difference of about $76 is represented by taxes, and I will take advantage of this opportunity to thank the EU for making our lives easier… NOT!

The Android Wear promo video showed two smartwatches: a rectangular one that ended up being LG’s G Watch, and a round one, Moto 360, which was spotted in a video a couple of days ago. While I do think that a rectangular case makes much more sense when it comes to smartwatches, a round dial could make the transition from a classic design to a smart device. Despite all that, LG claims that it might still consider launching a rounded version of the G Watch, probably just for the sake of variety, since the functionality would not be altered.

Probably one of the best things about LG’s G Watch is the fact that it does not have any buttons. All of its functions are easily accessed via the 240×280 pixel 1.65-inch touchscreen display.

In terms of memory, the G Watch is not exactly impressive, as it comes with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. Still, that is enough for a smartwatch, especially since the CPU isn’t actually built for multitasking.

If the predicted US price turns out to be true, then we’ll assist to a South Korean battle on the American continent, since the Samsung Gear 2 carries the same price tag. Aside from the slightly different technical specs, there is one important aspect that differentiates the two: LG G Watch runs Android Wear, while the Gear 2 is based on Tizen, Samsung’s proprietary mobile operating system.

Once the G Watch gets launched, a new era will begin for smartwatches, and the only sad thing is that Apple is not joining in… NOT!

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about Google’s smartwatch made by LG and the BLOCKS modular smartwatch.

Exetech XS-4 Solar-Charging 4G Android 4.4 Waterproof Smartwatch-Phone

Posted on by
Exetech XS-4

As smartwatches go, Exetech XS-4 is certainly among the most feature-rich pieces of wearable tech. Of course, in this field, manufacturers need to distinguish themselves as much as possible from the competition in order to survive.

Most smartwatches were designed as smartphone companions, but carrying two devices that achieve similar functions gets tedious at some point. Because of that, smartwatches that double as smartphones seem to be the ideal solution, especially since they are more affordable than flagship phones that get paired to watches using proprietary software. Exetech XS-4 is supposed to be the ultimate hybrid between smartphones and smartwatches, but whether that claim stands remains to be seen.

In October 2013, Exetech showcased the XS-3 smartwatch/phone hybrid, but that specific device wasn’t exactly successful. The horrid battery life was one of the main drawbacks of the previous iteration, but Exetech promises to solve that issue in the XS-4. The smartwatch comes with two batteries, a 450mAh one and another rated at 800mAh. Exetech XS-4 also features a small photovoltaic panel that solar-charges the battery, thus eliminating the need for power sockets all the time.

Also, the manufacturer improved the waterproofness of the smartwatch, which also a problem of the previous version. Come to think about it, smartwatches are not of much use if a bit of rain or a day at the pool ruins them.

In terms of software, Exetech will run Android 4.4 KitKat. The only app incompatibility issues may be determined by the small resolution of the screen. After all, the 1.54″ AMOLED display only has a resolution of 240×240 pixels, so typing text messages might be a challenge. The internal memory of the XS-4 is of only 2GB, but it can be easily expanded using a microSD card of up to 32GB. An interesting aspect is that the smartwatch features a GPS sensor, so in theory it could be used with fitness trackers without having to carry the smartphone.

Exetech started a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, and supposing that people back the project with €35,000 (approximately $48K) in the next 30 days, the XS-4 will enter mass production. Backers who offer €169 ($233) or more will get an XS-4 smartwatch-phone. There is also an Indiegogo limited edition costing €299 ($412), but that price is hardly justified by a silver-plated plaque on which the owner’s name is engraved.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Exetech XS-3 and the Google smartwatch made by LG.

LG G Watch Priced at Under $300 Will Be Launched by July

Posted on by
LG G Watch 01

The South Korean tech company confirmed that it will launch LG G Watch by July in the UK, and that the Android Wear-powered smartwatch will cost less than £180 or roughly $300.

This is not Google’s official smartwatch, but given LG’s recent collaborations with the search giant, one could say that the South Korean manufacturer received the blessing (or the license, if you prefer) for creating such a product. That’s definitely seems to be the case since LG G Watch will be one of the first devices to ever run Google’s newly launched Android Wear, a special version of the mobile OS particularly tailored for wearables. On top of that, when Google launched Android Wear, it claimed that it will work closely with LG, Motorola and Fossil to create smartwatches that will run this version of Android.

By the looks of it, LG representatives talked with Pocket-lint and revealed that the LG G Watch will be launched before July in the UK at a very affordable price, the equivalent of less than $300. Other than that, not much is known about the LG G Watch, except that the straps will be changeable. That’s a huge relief, as it means that people will be able to wear this smartwatch both casually and on more formal occasions.

LG also stated that it will also launch a round version in the future, the one launched by July being rectangular, as you can see in the pictures. In the promotional video for Android Wear showed a round smartwatch running the new version of the OS, but as far as I’m concerned, these wearables look better in a rectangular shape.

One major drawback of the LG G Watch is that it will be basically useless without a smartphone. Google and the manufacturers that will bring Android Wear devices into the world conceived this products as smartphone companions, and not as standalone products. Personally, I would love to see a smartwatch having GPS and various sensors (mostly for fitness), so I can use Endomondo on it even if I forgot my smartphone at home. I don’t care if the GSM features are stripped away (I noticed that some Chinese manufacturers are taking that route), as I only need it for other things than talking.

It remains to be seen how the LG G Watch will look and work when the company launches this product. Since Google will reveal Android Wear at the Google I/O conference in June, it’s quite probable that LG’s smartwatch will also be launched then.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about Google’s Android Wear and Google’s smartwatch.

Smart Watch Industry to be Led by Google

Posted on by

Android wearable devices by Google have been a boon for the smart watch industry. Sony, Samsung, Pebble smart watches are already available in the market. Besides Apple’s iWatch the entry of Google...

Google to Start Mass Production of Google Now Integrated Smartwatch Soon

Posted on by

Google is almost ready to enter into the smartwatch market. Google smartwatch is in final stages of its development. Tech giant is going to launch its intelligent digital assistant with Google Now...