"Smartwatches" - yay or nay?

whirlpool

FINALLY, we can now wrap smartphones around our wrists! Thank god! Now we never ever ever have to have our smartphone more than an entire split second away from reach! Phew!

Lame.

BeerWolf

I don't wear a watch...

I don't wear a watch but it's a cool idea. Don't see what's wrong with the idea. I'm sure they said the same about the first mobile phones ^^
Yea from me

kneemos

If your a Gimp for Samsung,Apple...etc,then yay.

Weevil

I say yay. I don't use my smart-phonefor watching video or browsing pictures so, with development in voice-recognition making keypads increasingly unneccesary, why not? Also, much less likely to get lost or stolen.

Peregrine

If people want to wear a watch with a pedometer, bluetooth headphones and other features...I say let them. Might be great for exercise.

I don't get why people get all pissed off about products coming out which they don't want. That's fine, don't buy it.

JupiterKid

It's one of those things that just had to happen.

tmc86

That's going to be a pain to charge everyday!

they've slapped a camera onto it too

iDave

To keep share prices up they have to be seen to constantly innovating and coming up with new 'smart' devices.
Not sure what they'll add 'smart' onto next. Cars maybe.

the_monkey

Nay ... ridicolous ..

Yakult

Not right now, maybe in a few more years when they aren't so bulky, better battery etc.

whirlpool

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

If people want to wear a watch with a pedometer, bluetooth headphones and other features...I say let them. Might be great for exercise.

"Want" is such a strong word.

It's more about the brainwashing than anything else.

kneemos

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

If people want to wear a watch with a pedometer, bluetooth headphones and other features...I say let them. Might be great for exercise.

I don't get why people get all pissed off about products coming out which they don't want. That's fine, don't buy it.

We still have to suffer the things.

bugz

If I bought one I'd use it........... until the battery runs out.........Then I'd put it on the drawer with the intent of charging it........3 years later I find it in the box full of random cables.

Dravokivich

People stopped using watches because they had phones. Are people going to stop using phones because they wear watches?

I am pie

More acceptable than those google goggles. I will never take anyone seriously walking around with internet specs wrapped around their nut.

josip

I think time will prove that it's more gimmick than gadget.
It doesn't replace your smartphone, so you'll still need to have that with you.
And your smartphone can do most things better, except display the time instantly.
But you don't need a smartwatch to do that. Just a watch.

JoePie

The Galaxy Gear is a bit rubbish looking.

But my Pebble arrived in the post yesterday and the only gripe I have is with the strap, so i ordered a nice steel band off Amazon. Other than that, it's made my day slightly easier.

jimgoose

The next time I buy a watch it will be a couple of thousand Euro on a nice Raymond Weil job. Which is just a watch. :cool:

Matt_Trakker

Decent article here comparing the best of what's available at the minute.
I though the Samsung would be pretty cool, but turns out the battery will have to be changed once a day (at least)
http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/other-devices/samsung-galaxy-gear-vs-sony-smartwatch-2-vs-pebble-vs-qualcomm-toq-1178114#null

josip

JoePie wrote: »

, it's made my day slightly easier.

What's easier now? I'm genuinely curious.

BASHIR

Phones have turned into a necessity for most people. Don't really see this happening with the smart watch. Still cool looking though!

ScumLord

Dravokivich wrote: »

People stopped using watches because they had phones. Are people going to stop using phones because they wear watches?

I would never wear a watch now, it seems like redundant, oversized and useless technology.


I don't see how the watch could realistically take on the phone, for awhile phones were going miniature but now that you can go on the internet on phones properly you need the big screen. I don't really watch movies on the phone (bar the odd youtube clip) but the big screen is kind of necessary when viewing the web. The watch is completely unnecessary for me.

PaulieC

the Samsung "smart" watch is nothing more than a dumb extension of your smartphone. When watches are truly smart, they'll be useful

pickarooney

ScumLord wrote: »

I would never wear a watch now, it seems like redundant, oversized and useless technology.

Why is that? It's a pain in the hole to go foostering about for a phone just to get the time. My watch only needs to be charged every 5 years or so.

ScumLord

pickarooney wrote: »

Why is that? It's a pain in the hole to go foostering about for a phone just to get the time. My watch only needs to be charged every 5 years or so.

It's just me I think. I don't like the idea of having an extra hunk of metal on my wrist that does nothing other than tell time. I see them as fashion accessories at this stage.

I always leave my right hand pants pocket for just my phone and my hand usually pulls out the phone automatically every 10 minutes or so.

MadsL

I'm not wearing that. Fuck wrist cancer.

Jimoslimos

It'll be interesting trying to watch porn on one.

keithclancy

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

If people want to wear a watch with a pedometer, bluetooth headphones and other features...I say let them. Might be great for exercise..

http://images.uncyclomedia.co/uncyclopedia/en/thumb/0/01/Care-chiropractic-pedometer.png/180px-Care-chiropractic-pedometer.png

paulbok

They will find a big market for sports training and for health monitoring.
Don't see the point of cameras in them unless it's one of the stand alone sim capable watches (won't need a phone to pair with).
I won't be interested in one until they evolve a generation or two, too clunky or lacking in features at the moment. The rumoured 'bendyglass' watches would be more appealing too if they ever see the light of day.

I think I read the Samsung one in the OP will only pair with a certain type of samsung phone, it's just an attempt to be first to market with a half decent smart watch.
One major benifit I can see in having one is that it will lessen the chances of losing your phone with a paired app that alarms once out of range of each other.

PizzamanIRL

Another money racket, time wasting distraction.

0ph0rce0

Apple will be out next with some shíte watch which all the iNerds will have and they'll be spunking all over themselves about it. And i'm sure apple will be saying they invented it first and its so revolutionary (even though its out already from other company's for donkeys), and they'll start trying to sue everyone.

Son Of A Vidic

My watch tells the time, that's all I expect it to do and that's all I want it to do.

Wibbs

bluewolf wrote: »

I don't wear a watch but it's a cool idea. Don't see what's wrong with the idea. I'm sure they said the same about the first mobile phones ^^

They said the same about the first wristwatches. Never catch on, sure we have pocket watches. The phone in many ways is the pocket watch of today.

ScumLord

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

Apple will be out next with some shíte watch which all the iNerds will have and they'll be spunking all over themselves about it.

You know what, I don't think Apple would go for this. Their product range is fairly practical. They seem to concentrate on making one really good product instead of a huge range of products to meet different budgets. I think a wristwatch like this would be too niche for Apples global aspirations.

Miss Mayhem

I can't really see this catching on. The screen is way too small and not that many people wear watches anymore.

darkpagandeath

Why have a device that does all you need in one small package .. why not have 2 that do the same thing basically ? I have an idea why not just goto these companies and just throw your money throw the door at them.

TommiesTank

Nah, i'll stick with my Tag Heuer.

ComputerKing

I think there a good idea but the only one imo worth getting is the Pebble smartwatch it's one of the only well priced ones too.

Wibbs

Wibbs wrote: »

They said the same about the first wristwatches. Never catch on, sure we have pocket watches. The phone in many ways is the pocket watch of today.

I like my pocket watch :cool:

Sh1tbag OToole

Maybe if they make one with an analogue dial and metal casing and otherwise looks the same as a mechanical watch.

TheFarrier

iDave wrote: »

To keep share prices up they have to be seen to constantly innovating and coming up with new 'smart' devices.
Not sure what they'll add 'smart' onto next. Cars maybe.

Smart cars have been around for years

Wibbs

bluewolf wrote: »

I like my pocket watch :cool:

V cool It's funny that the pocket watch and it's modern phone facsimile may well last far longer than the wristwatch which was destined to replace it.

The church in europe was about the first real big time revolution for the everyday person as the bells peeled out the prayer hours, the coming of the railways was another revolution of steam wheels and clocks, as was the move to cities and industrialisation. The IT age is our revolution. Time is everywhere today; on phones, on our PC's, tellys, cookers etc, attached to texts, emails and tweets. Now with smartwatches another vector is added. What was once precious and expensive is now mundane and unnoticed, or worn as fashion. We're positively drowned in the measure of time, always aware of it in ways we really weren't not so long ago and mostly didn't need to be. And there's usually never enough of it. Slaves to time, with more masters than ever.

Years ago I knew an Italian lad whose great grandfather back home had a wristwatch he was gifted in his younger days. A very extravagant present for the times. The thing was he never set it to the "right" time. He was a rural man in a rural place, a place with a time of it's own, outside of the tick tick of metal and the buzz buzz of quartz that we're attached to. His watch told the local time, his time. And I love that and wished I could do the same. Maybe like Yeats I want the bee loud glade unharried by the hourhand? Ironic given I've more watches than most people. Meh I love contradiction.

AlanS181824

I like the idea but alas, I regret to say it is a resounding nay from me.

thisonetaken

I hate having to carry around a clunky phone in my pocket, I'll definitely be replacing it with a smartwatch but not until at least the 2nd gen versions come out.

smash

tmc86 wrote: »

That's going to be a pain to charge everyday!

they've slapped a camera onto it too

You'd wanna check someone's wrist before the drop the hand then!

NuckingFacker

thisonetaken wrote: »

I hate having to carry around a clunky phone in my pocket, I'll definitely be replacing it with a smartwatch but not until at least the 2nd gen versions come out.

The current offerings all need to be tethered via bluetooth to a smartphone, in, err, your pocket..

somefeen

I already own a watch and a phone, just because I cant be ****ed carrying a phone around with me all day just to tell the time

MadsL

Wibbs wrote: »

V cool It's funny that the pocket watch and it's modern phone facsimile may well last far longer than the wristwatch which was destined to replace it.

The church in europe was about the first real big time revolution for the everyday person as the bells peeled out the prayer hours, the coming of the railways was another revolution of steam wheels and clocks, as was the move to cities and industrialisation. The IT age is our revolution. Time is everywhere today; on phones, on our PC's, tellys, cookers etc, attached to texts, emails and tweets. Now with smartwatches another vector is added. What was once precious and expensive is now mundane and unnoticed, or worn as fashion. We're positively drowned in the measure of time, always aware of it in ways we really weren't not so long ago and mostly didn't need to be. And there's usually never enough of it. Slaves to time, with more masters than ever.

Years ago I knew an Italian lad whose great grandfather back home had a wristwatch he was gifted in his younger days. A very extravagant present for the times. The thing was he never set it to the "right" time. He was a rural man in a rural place, a place with a time of it's own, outside of the tick tick of metal and the buzz buzz of quartz that we're attached to. His watch told the local time, his time. And I love that and wished I could do the same. Maybe like Yeats I want the bee loud glade unharried by the hourhand? Ironic given I've more watches than most people. Meh I love contradiction.

Nokia's pocketwatch http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_7600-538.php

anncoates

Combine with Beats for the ultimate holistic c*nt experience.

super_furry

How often you'll have to charge them will be crucial. I don't think that if you're expected to charge them everyday, people will be up for that.