Samsung Unveils $299 Galaxy Gear Smart Watch With One-Day Battery Life

[darkslide29]

If Apple were to indeed release an 'iWatch' smart watch I would be interested to see the pricing considering they will most likely be releasing a phone with plastic back for a lower price range. To make the watch sell they would have to have impressive battery life and features which would mean it could function as a lone device. Surely this would mean that people who wanted a smallish IOS device would just buy the iPhone C if it isn't much more? More over wouldn't this also jeopardise the iPod Nano and possibly cut other iPod lines sales? Either the watch will have no separate functionality and risk not selling well, or it will have this functionality but will have a higher price range to avoid cutting iPod sales.

The iPod line is still a strong, but declining, product category for Apple. I imagine they have no problem cannibalizing ipod nano sales if it means the sale of their iWatch.
Think of how they pre-emptively cannibalized Mac sales with the iPad. So long as you are the first to do it well, it works out OK.
But, if this samsung watch is $299, how cheap can the iWatch really be? Probably not far off from that. Unfortunately.

 

[redkamel]

I think where samsung is getting it wrong is by having a screen. Thats a major power drain. If I were Apple, I would make it more like the fuelband

A 1-3 line on-demand retina display for notifications or information allows for interactivity and saves battery life so it can get to acceptable levels. Multiple sensors and low power bluetooth still allow it to receive notifications, give alarms, possibly have a speaker, send biometric data. Not to mention a simple band can be worn in addition or instead of a watch, while a screen means it must replace a watch. You could send emails and texts with Siri, or check the weather, scroll calendar events for a certain day, etc etc.

A big screen is distracting, can break, uses lots of power, and brings with it lots of expectations that may be hard to fulfill. Later models coukd add a screen once battery and display tech are better...but not right now

If it is waterproof or has induction charging, all the better, but a lightning port would fit I imagine. And hopefully some people may understand the switch to lightning better now; 1 cable for all apple devices for the foreseeable future. Imagine a 30pin on an watch!

 

[Bskippy]

The iPod line is still a strong, but declining, product category for Apple. I imagine they have no problem cannibalizing ipod nano sales if it means the sale of their iWatch.
Think of how they pre-emptively cannibalized Mac sales with the iPad. So long as you are the first to do it well, it works out OK.
But, if this samsung watch is $299, how cheap can the iWatch really be? Probably not far off from that. Unfortunately.

What you say is very true. Apple would probably accept the hit to the iPod sales as inevitable. As for the 'iPhone 5C' as were calling it for now, it will be sharing its rough price range with this smart watch if they ever release it. I reckon that the watch will have more features so can be used as a lone device, but in a different area. For example it would be more of a contender for the Nike Fuelband. This way it avoids too much competition with the cheaper iPhone and iPods. Maybe it will be internet capable but cant use music capabilities as the iPod does.

 

[158273]

It would be amusing if Apple surprised us all and came out with something spectacular this year to make the Samsung watch DOA, but it probably won't be until 2014.

2015. More likely 2016. Let's be realistic about our timelines, instead of just pushing everything over to the next year.

 

[tdream]

Agreed the Gear is not something I want to buy now, too expensive, unresponsive, low battery life, gaudy. The positive to take from here is the only way is up. And it finally gets a large audience thinking about watch possibilities.

Something along the lines of more screen space, using Samsung flexible screen technology, touch sensitive wrist band, longer battery life (obviously), more elegant thinner band. Refined software, Heart Rate graphing technology, smart alarms, etc.

 

[158273]

Apple has been known to put interns and new recruits on projects that don't exist to see if the information gets leaked out. I too wouldn't be surprised if both iWatch and iTV are just that, ruses to show how stupid these other companies really are.

Absolute rubbish.

Daniel Jalkut, a former Apple employee:

"I never, in 7 years there heard of anybody’s time being intentionally wasted on a fake project. Canceled projects, sure."

 

[tralfaz]

Please let Apple be smart one here

All I want is to find out one day that all this iWatch rumor hysteria was nothing more than a false flag operation to get all the Apple copy cats to waste time and money producing products that nobody wants. I could only respect
Apple if they are sitting back and laughing there ass off while Samsung and MS turn themselves into pretzels trying beat Apple at producing a product that is nothing but a phantom.

 

[Taz Mangus]

I'm going to slap an logo on that watch and "watch" all the reviews turn positive.

And if it had a Apple logo on it people would complain that the screen is not big enough and it only had a single core processor running at 800MHz.

 

[jm001]

All these negative comments are hilarious! Watch when Apple creates one and everyone does a 180 on the concept. Too funny!

The negative comments seem to be directed at the product not the concept. Most would like to see a smart watch with more thought put into it and a great battery life. For now Pebble rules.

 

[158273]

The sources were fired for leaking the information.

Good point.

It's complete rubbish though. See here and here.

 

[bbfc]

This will go down the same path as Android smartphones have gone. The terrible battery life will force them to have to use bigger batteries which they will cover up by increasing screen size. I can't wait for next year's Galaxy Gear S Note II with 4" screen.

This made me laugh!

Back to the topic... This watch sounds awful. Typical Android lag by the sounds of it. I can't see this being a fashion icon.

Another crap product under the 'Galaxy' umbrella.

It's already been panned by just about everyone... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23961692

 

[gnasher729]

Hmm. Actually very surprised Apple didn't beat them to it.

When Jony Ive started working on the project iWatch, he drew up the complete design for an iWatch on the first day. Then he called all the designers and all the engineers, showed them the design, and said: "Look guys, if we build _this_ then we will be laughed off the ground of the earth, and nobody will buy this or any other Apple product ever again. " Then he crumbled the paper with the design into a little ball and threw it into the waste basket.

One intern came back late at night, got the drawing out of the waste, flattened it carefully and used an iron very carefully to remove all traces of it being folded, then called a friend at Samsung, and lots of money changed hands for an "original iWatch design by Jony Ive". One year later, Samsung releases its "Smart Watch".

 

[Chupa Chupa]

If Apple is going ahead with iWatch with iOS. What kind of battery life will iWatch get. I highly doubt iWatch would ever gets more than 1 day of battery life. I mean smartwatch isn't there yet and i still cannot see the vaule of smart watch.

I can't say I don't work for Apple. But as I said in my earlier post, any smartwatch w/ only a day's battery life is worthless no matter who's logo is on the front or back.

I think you took that the wrong way.

Sorry my bad then.

 

[linkgx1]

POS. They basically wanted to be Apple so when they copy it won't be a lot of infringement. Smart but dumb move nonetheless.

 

[knoxtown]

I'm no engineer, so don't kill me but I have a question...

Is it possible (or feasible) for Apple to put some kind of kinetic charging mechanism in addition to the more traditional battery? I don't know how much space it would take, but wouldn't that allow a smaller (physical size) battery to be used?

Sidenote: If an ipad mini is a little over $300, how could a watch cost that much?

 

[apolloa]

You're right. The smart watch would have to have new features that you can't get with a phone.

The smart watch can't simply be a 'companion' to a cell phone where it just shows you abbreviated data that you can look up on your phone for the full data. It has to be more.

This Samsung watch is simply a 'companion' device which adds no new value. An Apple watch, to be successful, would have to add something like heart monitoring, sleep monitoring, or something that a phone in your pocket can't do, only something that is on your wrist 24/7 (or 12/7) can do.

That makes a bit more sense, but again they have GOT to get the battery life right.

Your Swiss watch just told time.

Anything Apple comes out with will be doing that + lots of other things.

It's also not a watch. Whatever Apple comes out with will be a new product category.

I was merely pointing out how technology has gone BACKWARDS with these 'smart watches', from an invention to run a time piece for ever ish, to a device to replace that with more features but runs out after 4 day's. And what lots of things then? You REALLY going to read emails and SMS and reply to them using a 1.3" screen? You going to talk to your watch in public? Plus, as I already said, Casio seem to have got it right with 2 years battery life, yet all these other devices are somehow, better, because they only last for a few day's and make your eye's hurt.

Do you find your smartphone battery life rubbish?

Yes. Why? How long have we had mobile phones for? And has any real improvement in battery life been made in all those years? Battery life is another reason why so many buy the Galaxy Note series, bigger device, bigger battery, longer running.

I should have clarified...if Apple OR ANY OTHER COMPANY came out with a wearable wrist device with the style (or improved style) of a Nike FuelBand plus added functionality and usability, I would *consider* it. This is a hypothetical since this device obviously doesn't exist. However, if I had to venture to guess, Apple is going to be the company that comes closest to this "wish list" device. BUT, what you're saying, "if Apple came out with a smart watch tomorrow you would change your mind about not wearing a watch" is completely false. If Apple came out with a clone of what Samsung just came out with, I would have ZERO interest. Thick, square face, boring UI, limited battery, limited functionality, bulky. It would have to be an almost entirely different design/device all together. BUT, if Sony (for example) beat Apple to the punch and created this magical device, I would still consider it.

I think the one thing this Samsung monster has is massive functionality, which is it's main problem. And Sony has just launched a new smart watch? In fact it's its second one. But they have kept to the same mantra of a device that again has a tiny touch screen and lets you read email and sms etc.
But unless Apple can nail the battery life, IMO they should just not bother.

----------

I'm no engineer, so don't kill me but I have a question...

Is it possible (or feasible) for Apple to put some kind of kinetic charging mechanism in addition to the more traditional battery? I don't know how much space it would take, but wouldn't that allow a smaller (physical size) battery to be used?

Sidenote: If an ipad mini is a little over $300, how could a watch cost that much?

The Swiss have ALREADY done it, welcome to the first ever Swiss smart watch, looks ugly IMO BUT it has a ton of features and sensors and a FULLY AUTOMATIC SWISS MOVEMENT.

http://www.hyetis.com/

So yeah, the Swiss make a smart watch that never needs a battery or you to worry about charging it.

 

[JayCee842]

Well someone has to clean up someone's dirty work. Thank goodness it's Apple (I hope it will be Apple).

 

[tdream]

The Swiss have ALREADY done it, welcome to the first ever Swiss smart watch, looks ugly IMO BUT it has a ton of features and sensors and a FULLY AUTOMATIC SWISS MOVEMENT.

http://www.hyetis.com/

So yeah, the Swiss make a smart watch that never needs a battery or you to worry about charging it.

Image

It's outrageously expensive, it's bulky and ugly, there are no apps for it and no one knows about it. But they got the power issue sorted.

 

[tongxinshe]

1 day battery life, 6 colors, and your wrist gets one day of rest (you know, it's very heavy), what a humane design!

$300 X 6 = $1800 per person, assume 50% of current Samsung smartphone owners to buy this companion Gear, that's more than double of Samsung's current profit. WHOA! Everyone needs to buy Samsuck's stock, right now, hurry up!

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Apple's 'iWatch' may possibly be geared towards the void that has been left by the iPod and its falling sales. The natural lifecycle of the iPod is drawing to a plateau as more and more people find it, ironically, less convenient to carry around a dedicated music player unless they are in special situations.

But more important than this, the iPod was the epitome of a lifestyle product, just as Sony's Walkman once was. It was a friend and a statement - you could personalise it, pick its colour, tell it how to behave and take it with you everywhere. You could forget you had it in your pocket, yet everyone around you knew you had one by the white earbuds.

This is something that Apple will want to rekindle. The 'iWatch' of course won't even be a watch in the traditional sense (something that Samsung hasn't quite... got?), but a device that can be sold for $99-149 and have an application for a wide audience. Light-up reminders? No problem. Time-telling is right there, along with appointments, iMessages and more.

Providing the price is right, Apple's brand alone will carry this product to success.

(Minus the "Yo", unless Tim Cook is having a good day!)

 

[PlanetFree]

Epic Fail

samsung is forging a new frontier of epic fail

 

[GoldenJoe]

All I want is to find out one day that all this iWatch rumor hysteria was nothing more than a false flag operation to get all the Apple copy cats to waste time and money producing products that nobody wants. I could only respect
Apple if they are sitting back and laughing there ass off while Samsung and MS turn themselves into pretzels trying beat Apple at producing a product that is nothing but a phantom.

That would be very humorous, haha.

 

[apolloa]

It's outrageously expensive, it's bulky and ugly, there are no apps for it and no one knows about it. But they got the power issue sorted.

How do you know how big it is? And expensive, yes, but it's a Swiss watch, what did you expect, and it's expensive in the same way the iPhone is.
As for no one knows about it? Well everyone that reads engadget ot T3 or Stuff or Pocket Lint or any other tech news website, will have read about it.

Oh and you obviously didn't bother reading the watches website as it actually DOES have apps being developed for it.

 

[Oletros]

All I want is to find out one day that all this iWatch rumor hysteria was nothing more than a false flag operation to get all the Apple copy cats to waste time and money producing products that nobody wants. I could only respect
Apple if they are sitting back and laughing there ass off while Samsung and MS turn themselves into pretzels trying beat Apple at producing a product that is nothing but a phantom.

I'm convinced that people don't really believe that companies are such silly and they can develop a new product just because some forums or tech site talk about rumors.

 

[Daalseth]

So , you've managed to contradict yourself and prove my point all in one post. Well done.

Well I won't contradict myself. I used to wear a watch but about 7 or 8 years ago I realized that I literally couldn't go anywhere without having a clock within eyesight, and that's not including on any devices I was carrying. That's when I stopped wearing a watch. It's redundant. Apple could come out with a watch but it won't be for me. Sure it might have some functions but I just don't see anything that the form factor could do that I either need or can't do better with a current device.