This is the watch that Apple couldn't build
Samsung today unveiled its newest smart watch, the Samsung Gear S2, which is the company's first watch that includes a round display instead of one that's square or rectangular.
Positioned as Samsung's seventh smart watch release, the Gear S2 comes in three varieties: Classic, standard, and 3G. The Classic version includes a black case with a black leather band, while the standard version includes a dark gray case with a matching rubber band or a silver case with a white rubber band. According to Samsung, the Classic model is for users "who prefer a more timeless watch design," while the standard model is "ideal for those who are on-the-go and have an admiration for minimal and modern design."
The third model, the 3G Gear S2, features the same design as the standard model but includes a 3G radio to connect to 3G cellular networks. With dedicated 3G capabilities, the 3G Gear S2 can be used without a phone, unlike the Apple Watch and most other smart watches on the market.Each of 11.4 millimeter thick Gear S2 watches includes a 1.2-inch diameter touch display with a resolution of 360 x 360 (302 pixels per inch), a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, and 4GB of storage space. It charges wirelessly, has two to three days of battery life, and includes NFC, WiFi, and Bluetooth. On the battery front it outshines the Apple Watch depending on use, but it has less storage space than the Apple Watch's 8GB.
The bezel of the Gear S2 rotates, a feature that's used to navigate through the operating system to interact with apps, and it also uses dedicated Home and Back buttons. Samsung plans to release apps and watch faces designed specifically for the circular display of the Gear S2. Taking a cue from Apple, Samsung designed a new 24-hour fitness activity log for the Gear S2, which will let users view daily progress and get reminders to help them stay on track with fitness goals.
Samsung's Gear S2 watch runs the Tizen operating system instead of Android, making it incompatible with the Android Wear app for iOS that Google launched earlier today.
Samsung has not yet released pricing details on the Gear S2 or provided a release date, but the company plans to provide more information at the IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin, which starts later this week.
Article Link: Samsung Announces Round 'Gear S2' Smart Watch
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Samsung Announces Round 'Gear S2' Smart Watch
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And should you want to pay for an additional voice/data plan. I don't.
Personally, for making phone calls, I'd rather use my iPhone - which already has a voice/data plan.
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How is this relevant?
You can clearly see icons and text being displayed outside of the box, on round devices, Samsung and otherwise.
The picture is a representation of a limited scope, in my opinion.
Samsung have already shown text bring placed in the perimeter of the the round bezel.
It's not like Samsung aren't familiar with square faced sim embedded wearables, they were making them 5 years ago.
Don't be limited by pictures on the Internet....
Given you have not tried this model, how do you conclude the AW is better? Are you basing it on just the OS?
Ha ha ha ha, that is gold!
Hey genius, what's the traditional shape of a clock? What's the information a traditional watch face displays?
Now, think about the typical means of displaying text and what shape is that? Don't recall see a lot of circular sheets of paper across my desk, getting circular envelopes or circular catalogs in the mail, or seeing bookshelves full of circular books at my library. Look at that, neither my smartphone, tablet, or laptop are circular either.
If a smart watches only job was to tell time, I might agree with you. But considering I'm generally looking at lines of text for than anything, what shape do you think might lend better to that?
A circle watch with the same usable space as a square one is physically larger. For the most part smart watches have been on the large side.
This is where the Apple watch is ahead of the competition.
I do admit, the round design looks cool, but at what sacrifice to usability? Round watch faces look good, but how well will other apps be able to take advantage of the usable space? A square screen offers a much more usable workspace for apps, which includes any apps that may want to display a round interface. But displaying a square interface on a round screen would make it so much smaller. I think Apple made the right choice to go square.
Ironically, just the other day I was just thinking about a rotating bezel as an interface mechanism, so it's interesting to see Samsung engineers agreed with me.
well.. Apple, looks like u have some competition...
I had a feeling someone would improve a better battery experience than the Apple watch, Thanks to Samsung
I like the Classic though. but 3G one is also a winner in my book.
And we all though square was good..... Round is not that bad either.. I bet users would not want to say "no i still prefer theWatch"
Okay, so you read an article with some claims about a brand new product with zero real-world user feedback and immediately jump to two conclusions.. that the battery will live up to the claims, and that round is better because it *looks* cool? OK.
A watch is supposed to look cool. Not like a calculator (Casio watch) or toaster (Braun watch) on a rubber band.
Sure it's a matter of personal taste, but look at Brietling, Gucci, Tissot, Suunto, digital watches and with the exception of a few Tags, nearly all are round.
The Chinese only steal ideas and copy so anything they produce will also be dull and boring.
If a=b and b=c then a=c.
The most disappointing thing about this watch, to me, is not the shape or even the fact that it runs Tizen. I think it's disappointing that they claim to be a pioneer in SmartWatches, announce that this is their 7th model, and yet it doesn't seem to offer anything that we haven't seen before.
Granted, I'm not sure what else they could do, but I would've thought that they could come up with SOMETHING new other than basic performance improvements and a rotating bezel.
Granted, I'm not sure what else they could do, but I would've thought that they could come up with SOMETHING new other than basic performance improvements and a rotating bezel.
You are out of you mind about 1,3 and 5
it's simply much nicer looking than Apple watch whether you admit it or not,Apple watch is boring and ugly in terms of design and that's why no body wants it.being round is a major plus design wise and Apple will eventually follow.
I was just talking about design part of course.