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Watches

Google Launches Designer Watch Faces

December 16, 2014

Rebecca Minkoff Android Wear Watch Face

Google has made its first foray into offering designer watch faces for its Android Wear devices. Unsurprisingly, Rebecca Minkoff is the first big name designer to dive in and offer watch faces. The label has made a name for themselves in 2014 by being very progressive with technology. This year Rebecca Minkoff has launched RFID enabled smart dressing rooms and two wearable devices, a Charging Bracelet and a Notification Bracelet. The new watch faces are rolling out as part of Android Wear 5.0, which includes an API for the creation of watch faces. Some of the other bigger names jumping into the fray with virtual watch faces include Porsche and X-ray artist Hugh Turvey. Check them all out on Google Play. The move by these designers is made more interesting by the fact that several other designers and watch brands have just revved up their legal engines to go after anyone offering digital clones of their watches.

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by Doug Parker
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Watches

HTC’s Upcoming Wrist Worn Wearable Not A Smartwatch

December 11, 2014

HTC Non Smartwatch WearableHTC has been publicly contemplating entering the wearable tech market for almost a year. The company has now disclosed that it will announce a wrist worn wearable at CES this January, but it is not a smartwatch. In fact, HTC says it is unlike any device on the market. This is the latest chapter of HTC disclosing things probably before they should. In February, HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang said that the company would launch a smartwatch by year end. But in September it came out that the smartwatch had been canceled. A month later HTC stated that the postponed device would launch in 2015. Now we find out the wearable is something other than what HTC considers a smartwatch. Hopefully the confusion is not a sign of turmoil, but instead an indicator that HTC really wants to get this right. In October the head of HTC America, Jason Mackenzie, had this to say: “When we come to market with our product we want to make sure the product has a strong point of view and there is a really compelling reason to strap it on your wrist.”

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by Doug Parker
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Watches

In Surprise Twist: FES is really Sony

December 2, 2014

FES Watch Is Really Sony

The other week we wrote about a crowdfunded piece of tech in Japan called the FES Watch. The e-ink based watch was on its second successful turn at raising money through a Japanese equivalent of Kickstarter, Makuake. This week, things took a decidedly Scooby-Doo like turn when the mask was peeled off of Fashion Entertainments (FES) to reveal that it really is Sony. As it turns out, Fashion Entertainments is a Sony unit created to explore how to utilize e-paper in fashion. Utilizing the FES name instead of “Sony” allowed the team to gain a better understanding of interest and demand, without a brand name coming into the mix. Before Sony came clean about its FES involvement, there was some confusion after Sony said it was working on an unique e-ink watch and band, with media outlets pointing to the FES watch as having already beaten them to the punch. People in Japan who preordered the device should expect to receive it in May of 2015. Hopefully with it being a Sony product, the clever customizable watch will launch in other markets also.

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by Doug Parker
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Watches

E-Ink FES Watch Changes Design With A Touch

November 20, 2014

FES Watch E-InkLooking for something high-tech to wear on your wrist that doesn’t track your activity or alert you to notifications? FES Watch is nothing more than a device that tells time, cleverly using E-Ink to allow you to change the design of the band and face with a touch. The lack of “smart” technology comes with the benefit of two month battery life (something that the Moto 360 would be very envious of). Between the independently customizable upper and lower bands and the watch face, there are 24 designs to choose from. The FES Watch is currently doing a second round of fundraising through the Japanese crowdfunding site Makuake. It already successfully raised around $23,000 in September and is looking for an additional $8,400. Sadly unless you know someone in Japan the $167 FES Watch will be difficult to get your hands on as the Makuake fundraising is only open to residents of Japan.  Head past the break for a video of it in action. 

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by Doug Parker
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Watches

HP Enters Wearable Market With Michael Bastian Designed Watch

November 8, 2014

HP MB ChronowingMenswear designer Michael Bastian has crafted HP’s first entry into the wearable market. The MB Chronowing joins a wave of smartwatches launching this weekend. HP is taking an interesting approach to selling their new watch though. It is available exclusively through Gilt. The choice of retailer makes it clear that HP wants this watch to be seen as fashionable. Bastian searched for a design that would be ascetically comfortable for men, basing his design around the dashboard of a luxury car. It features a square primary screen that displays your notification and an inset secondary screen that always displays the time. The 44mm, $349 device is built on a custom HP operating system and is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. Its battery lasts for an impressive 7 days and it is water resistant to 50 meters. Head past the break for a video of Bastian introducing the MB Chronowing:  

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by Doug Parker
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Asus ZenWatch
Watches

Asus’ ZenWatch Launches In The US on November 9th

November 8, 2014

Asus ZenWatchAsus has announced that its Android Wear ZenWatch will be launching November 9th in the US at Best Buy. The stylishly square Android Wear device has a more elegant look than a lot of its competition, closely resembling the Apple Watch. The $199 device features a 40mm face which houses a 1.56 inch AMOLED display. While the device does feature a heart rate monitor, it lacks built in GPS. The ZenWatch is the first Android Wear device that features a customized software set. For the first round of Android based wearables, Google wanted to tightly lock down the user experience. It will be interesting to see what Asus is able to do with that new found freedom. The ZenWatch will also be available through the Google Play store at a later time.

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by Doug Parker
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Watches

LG G Watch R For Sale Now Via Google Play

November 8, 2014

LG G Watch R FaceLG’s fully circular display smartwatch, the G Watch R, is now on sale via Google Play. The watch will also be sold through a partnership with AT&T. The stainless steel Android Wear device features a 46.4mm face with a circular screen, lacking the flat tire of the Moto 360. While not for a petite wrist, the G Watch R is easily one of the best looking Android Wear watches released to date. You can own one today if you are willing to part with $299 and have an Android mobile device.

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by Doug Parker
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