Samsung Galaxy Gear Smart Watch Launched
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled a
smartwatch on Wednesday that works as an accessory to its market-leading Galaxy
smartphones, with a small screen offering basic functions like photos,
hands-free calls and instant messaging. The world's top handset maker hopes the
Galaxy Gear will boost the appeal of its range of Android-powered smartphones,
as it battles to maintain its supremacy in the rapidly saturating high-end
mobile market against arch rival Apple Inc. Its launch, timed to coincide with
the start of the IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin, also signals
that the South Korean giant is more than just a fast follower in innovation
behind Apple, which is preparing to release a new iPhone next week but is yet
to go public with any wearable devices. "It's a companion device that will
keep us constantly connected," Samsung Executive Vice President of
Marketing Lee Young-hee told reporters in Seoul ahead of the smartwatch's
launch. Her remarks had been embargoed until Wednesday. "It will increase
user experience with the Galaxy Note 3 and with this, we aim to create a new
lifestyle trend, initially targetting young trend-setters and style
icons." The smartwatch features a 1.63-inch (4.14-cm) screen as well as a
basic camera, and will connect to Samsung's latest Galaxy Note 3 smartphone via
wireless Bluetooth technology.
It will make
calls, display messages, record videos and snap photos, all while the user's
phone stays in their pocket or handbag. The success of Samsung's latest
smartwatch - clunky earlier versions in 1999 and 2009 didn't go down well with
consumers - will be measured as much in how it affects sales of high-end Galaxy
smartphones as in sales of the device itself. But it is also a shot across the
bows of Apple and Google Inc, which are widely believed to be working on their
own wrist-worn devices in what analysts expect to be the next phase of the
mobile communications boom. "We had smartwatch-type products before, but
they were mainly for making phone calls. What's different with the Gear is it's
got far more useful functions. It's usability has increased significantly and
design is not bulky," said J.K. Shin, Samsung's co-chief executive and
head of mobile business.
The Gear,
which will go on sale later this month for $299, doesn't have a flexible or
curved display that some industry watchers had hoped to see on Samsung's newest
products. Instead, its OLED touch screen features half the picture quality of
high-end smartphone displays and the camera nestling in the strap has only
1.9-megapixels - compared with a 13-megapixel rear camera on the Galaxy S4. It
has up to 70 dedicated applications including some basic fitness apps such as a
step-counting passometer, although Samsung hopes this number will grow as
developers get on board. Battery life, a key challenge for most wearable
devices, has improved to over 27 hours under Samsung's normal-use tests. Samsung
also unveiled the latest version of the Galaxy Note phone-cum-tablet at its
Galaxy unpacked event in Berlin, before the opening of IFA, Europe's biggest
consumer electronics trade fair.
The
new phone features an even bigger 5.7-inch, high-definition screen, improved
stylus functions, a 13-megapixel rear camera and faster data connection than
the conventional 4G network. Samsung added enhanced security solution KNOX to
the phone, setting its eyes on corporate users, a niche long dominated by
Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry Ltd.
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