Smartwatches the next big thing for technology giants

From health and sleep monitors to
smartwatches, miniature wearable technology
looks set to be a lucrative market for
manufacturers. According to Credit Suisse,
wearable devices could be a $50 billion market
by 2017. Now the mobile makers are seriously
turning their attention to the wearable
technology.
The appeal is clear: the smartwatch could take
over some of the functions that are currently
fall to the smartphone, but in a less bulky,
more portable form.
With smartphones gradually getting bigger –
the five-inch screen is a more common sight
these days – the appeal of the compact
smartwatch may be about to increase for
consumers.

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1 comments:

  1. Samsung is set to be first out of the gate with
    the next generation of smartwatches, with its
    Galaxy Gear. After weeks of rumours and
    leaks, the Korean company announced the new
    watch ahead of the IFA exhibition in Berlin
    yesterday.
    The technical details of the watch were leaked
    in advance of the launch, meaning that
    consumers already had a good idea of what was
    coming long before Samsung executives decided
    to reveal all.
    The new device can make calls, send and
    receive emails and play games, connecting to
    the user’s smartphone over Bluetooth.
    The Gear is aimed at “trendsetters”, with
    Samsung hoping that it will start a new trend
    among consumers.
    “The Gear won’t have a flexible display,” Lee
    Young-hee, executive vice president
    ofSamsung’s mobile business, said in the Korea
    Times ahead of the launch.
    “The new device will enhance and enrich the
    current smart mobile experience in many ways.
    It will lead a new trend in smart mobile
    communications. We are confident that the
    Gear will add meaningful momentum to the
    mobile industry.”
    However before it even launched, there were
    predictions that the Galaxy Gear would not be
    a game-changer for the sector, and would be
    more of a fashion accessory.
    That would leave the way open for Samsung’s
    biggest rival, Apple , to come up with something
    with a little more “wow” factor.
    If the rumours are to be believed, that
    competition may come sooner rather than later.
    Apple is said to be readying the announcement
    of its own smartwatch at an event next week
    (see panel). The rumours of the iWatch have
    reached fever pitch lately, despite speculation
    that the launch of such a device would be
    delayed until next year due to design issues.
    Everything from bendable displays to projectors
    have been suggested as possible features for
    the watch.
    For the moment, all that is really known for
    certain is that Apple is interested in wearable
    computing. Chief executive Tim Cook has
    previously referred to the sector as “profoundly
    interesting”, while reports in recent months
    claimed that Apple had increased its design
    team working on the product to more than 100
    people.
    Depending on when the devices will hit the
    market, the old rivals could go head to head
    once more in the wearable technology market
    as they try to win over consumers with their
    miniature devices.
    But neither Samsung nor Apple are the first to
    market with a smartwatch by any stretch of
    the imagination. Sony is on the second
    generation of its smartwatch, the Sony Smart,
    with an update also to be announced at IFA.
    The device connects to Android smartphones
    and gives users notifications of Twitter updates,
    Facebook messages, calls and text messages.
    Motorola’s MotoActv smartwatch, now
    discontinued, focused more on the fitness side
    of the market, with a built-in accelerometer to
    measure strides, GPS to measure distance and
    the ability to link up with speed/cadence bike
    sensors and via ANT+ technology.

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