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Can I ask a dumb question? Is this a stand-alone device (requiring a SIM card) or does it require pairing with a phone for data access? Because if it's the lat

Can I ask a dumb question? Is this a stand-alone device (requiring a SIM card) or does it require pairing with a phone for data access? Because if it's the latter it's no better on the key feature of portability than the existing Samsung/Pebble devices (AIUI).

objclxt 13y ago
I would be amazed and/or shocked if it had a 3G radio in. It surely has to be paired with a phone for data access. The power requirements alone would result in a watch that had a 2 hour battery! I suppose it could use WiFi, but that seems unlikely. I am guessing bluetooth pairing...
- dangravell 13y ago
  Makes sense.
- krzyk 13y ago
  Well, it doesn't have to be 3G, good old GSM, so I could leave my phone in the locker and go to gym and have all the data available to me right there. It has small screen, which most of the time should be turned off, without bluetooth (which is battery hungry also) and without wifi, I think it should work for 1 day. That kind of smartwatch I would definitely buy.
  - ssmoot 13y ago
    I'd really hope the screen never goes to sleep. That would kinda defeat the whole point of the idea IMO. Make it bluetooth only. Try to give it a decent battery. Maybe a peltier could help stretch it further (seen on some watches, though I suspect the space would be better used for a larger battery since this watch would be much more power hungry)? Still. Pretty pumped about this.
nivla 13y ago
It requires pairing with a phone via Bluetooth(Low Energy). I don't think at this time it is economically feasible to have a phone with data service, touch screen and a juicy battery all in such a small foam factor.
- awalton 13y ago
  Just really curious: Why does a watch need a touchscreen? What are you touching on your watch? Digital watches already have a wonderful UI: they're called "buttons", and they're located on the sides of the screen, so you can still see what you're doing while using the thing.
  - ssmoot 13y ago
    Simple gestures and taps seem like a win IMO. It reminds me of DeusEx2. Before release all the PC gamers lamented the dumbed down circular menu interface developed to accommodate console gamers. Turns out it was just a flat out better/simpler interface in general though. So while I could see buttons working OK (well, not really, watch buttons have always been real imprecise and difficult for me, but still), simple swipes, taps, and maybe radial or quadrant based options seems like a solid interface to me. Say someone texts me while I'm using the walking directions. Swipe that stuff away with a flick of the finger similar to WebOS. Much better UI than hitting a button IMO.
  - nknighthb 13y ago
    I constantly want to touch my Pebble's screen. It's plenty big enough (and could easily be bigger). The buttons are workable but not ideal. With, say, 3-4 menu items on the screen, there's plenty of area for touching them, and it would be a lot faster than hitting the up/down buttons a couple times followed by the select button. I don't get this "can't see what you're doing" thing at all. Do you not use touchscreen phones? What's your finger doing in front of the thing you're going to touch before you go to touch it?
  - rtpg 13y ago
    couldn't this argument be transposed to all touchscreen applications?

objclxt 13y ago

I would be amazed and/or shocked if it had a 3G radio in. It surely has to be paired with a phone for data access. The power requirements alone would result in a watch that had a 2 hour battery! I suppose it could use WiFi, but that seems unlikely. I am guessing bluetooth pairing...

dangravell 13y ago
Makes sense.
krzyk 13y ago
Well, it doesn't have to be 3G, good old GSM, so I could leave my phone in the locker and go to gym and have all the data available to me right there. It has small screen, which most of the time should be turned off, without bluetooth (which is battery hungry also) and without wifi, I think it should work for 1 day. That kind of smartwatch I would definitely buy.
- ssmoot 13y ago
  I'd really hope the screen never goes to sleep. That would kinda defeat the whole point of the idea IMO. Make it bluetooth only. Try to give it a decent battery. Maybe a peltier could help stretch it further (seen on some watches, though I suspect the space would be better used for a larger battery since this watch would be much more power hungry)? Still. Pretty pumped about this.

nivla 13y ago

It requires pairing with a phone via Bluetooth(Low Energy). I don't think at this time it is economically feasible to have a phone with data service, touch screen and a juicy battery all in such a small foam factor.

awalton 13y ago
Just really curious: Why does a watch need a touchscreen? What are you touching on your watch? Digital watches already have a wonderful UI: they're called "buttons", and they're located on the sides of the screen, so you can still see what you're doing while using the thing.
- ssmoot 13y ago
  Simple gestures and taps seem like a win IMO. It reminds me of DeusEx2. Before release all the PC gamers lamented the dumbed down circular menu interface developed to accommodate console gamers. Turns out it was just a flat out better/simpler interface in general though. So while I could see buttons working OK (well, not really, watch buttons have always been real imprecise and difficult for me, but still), simple swipes, taps, and maybe radial or quadrant based options seems like a solid interface to me. Say someone texts me while I'm using the walking directions. Swipe that stuff away with a flick of the finger similar to WebOS. Much better UI than hitting a button IMO.
- nknighthb 13y ago
  I constantly want to touch my Pebble's screen. It's plenty big enough (and could easily be bigger). The buttons are workable but not ideal. With, say, 3-4 menu items on the screen, there's plenty of area for touching them, and it would be a lot faster than hitting the up/down buttons a couple times followed by the select button. I don't get this "can't see what you're doing" thing at all. Do you not use touchscreen phones? What's your finger doing in front of the thing you're going to touch before you go to touch it?
- rtpg 13y ago
  couldn't this argument be transposed to all touchscreen applications?