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michael kors access android wear smartwatch
Fashion, Watches

Michael Kors To Release Android Wear Smartwatch In Fall

April 8, 2016

Michael Kors Access Android Wear Smartwatch Fall 2015

Michael Kors has joined the growing list of brands releasing an Android Wear smartwatch. The prebuilt architecture is proving to be a quick path for new entrants to enter the wearable device market. By using Google’s software and fairly standardized hardware, the primary hurdle for a company to overcome is to simply design a watch case and band. Called MICHAEL KORS ACCESS, the smartwatch is expected to be released in Fall 2016. It will be compatible with both iOS and Android devices and available in both a men’s and women’s version. Predictably, the men’s variety features a black metal face while the women’s is gold with a crystal laden band. They are expected to be priced starting at $395 and will be available most places where you already find Michael Kors products (website, company owned stores, department stores, and specialty retail).  

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by Doug Parker
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Hublot smartwatch smart watch TAG Heuer Connected LVMH Android Wear Intel
Watches, Wearable Technology

LVMH Eyeing Hublot As Next Brand To Introduce Smartwatch

March 18, 2016

LVMH Hublot Smartwatch TAG Heuer Carrera Connected Android Wear smart watch Intel

By a lot of accounts TAG Heuer didn’t exactly knock it out of the park with their Carrera Connected smartwatch. While a decent device with a well made casing, the Connected was essentially a $250 Android Wear watch in a very fancy package. The $1500 device is less well equipped than most smartwatches, lacking a heart rate monitor and using a surprisingly low resolution screen, especially for its size. One review compared the 240 ppi display to “the pixelated experience of 1980s Tetris.” For all intents and purposes, the Connected is a Franken-watch; it is a not-fully-gelled mashup between the high-end Swiss made TAG Heuer, mass produced Chinese made electronics, and the one-size-fits-all Android Wear OS. To be truly on brand, TAG Heuer should have created their own smartwatch instead of simply repackaging existing technology and software. Thus, to us the Connected reads as more of an experiment than a true smartwatch entry. Unsurprisingly, other Swiss timepiece makers, such as Patek Philippe’s Chairman Thierry Stern, have been quick to criticize TAG Heuer for going after the quick buck and eroding the “Swiss Made” reputation. Despite all of this, TAG Heuer’ Jean-Claude Biver contends that the Connected is selling so well that the company cannot keep up with demand. Not being die hard watch people, maybe there is a special sauce that we don’t understand about TAG Heuer or maybe the feel of the Swiss made watch case makes that much of difference or perhaps buyers are blindly purchasing due to the name or simply not comparison shopping.  

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by Doug Parker
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Business, Editorial, Wearable Technology

Wearables Were Mostly Absent from MWC 2016, Why?

March 4, 2016

Wearables Missing MWC 2016 Why Fail category dead mobile world conference fitness trackers smartwatches

Mobile World Conference in Barcelona is typically a showplace of the newest and best cell phones that companies have to offer. At the 2015 MWC though, you could have easily have thought it was a wearables trade show. Practically every company had a fitness tracker, a smartwatch, or another form of wearable technology on display. But at MWC 2016, there were barely any wearables to be found. What happened? And is this the writing on the wall, showing consumer and company interest in wearables is just not that high?  Or are there other factors at hand?

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by Doug Parker
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Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G 4G smartwatch at&t verizon US preorder
Watches

Samsung Launching 3G / 4G Version Of Gear S2 Classic In US

February 25, 2016

smartwatch preorder Samsung Launching 3G 4G Version Gear S2 Classic US Verizon AT&T

This week both AT&T and Verizon have begun take preorders for a 3G/4G version of the Samsung Gear S2 Classic (lacking LTE, it is compatible with AT&T’s HSPA+ “4G” network). Up until now, if you wanted the Gear S2 with wireless capability the only option was the very smartwatch-looking original variant of the wearable. The Classic version, by contrast, takes its aesthetic cues from traditional wrist wear. The wireless version of the device will launch on March 11th. For the pleasure of purchasing the AT&T version, you will need to make 20 monthly payments of $17.50. This equates to $350, which is exactly the list price for the non-3G version of the smartwatch. AT&T users also be able to make use of the carrier’s NumberSync technology that allows you to receive calls to your main phone number on other devices. Unfortunately you still need a wireless plan on the watch for NumberSync to work. On the Verizon side, you can either purchase the 3G Gear S2 for $400 or sign a 2 year contract and pay $350. While the cost of the smartwatch isn’t significantly higher (if at all) than the non-3G version, the additional monthly wireless costs will add up quickly!  

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by Doug Parker
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Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC smartwatch Wearables
Business, Wearable Technology

Qualcomm Announces Next Gen Chip For Smartwatches and Wearables

February 11, 2016

Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC smartwatch Wearables

Underneath the surface of almost every Android Wear smartwatch lies a Qualcomm chip. To be more specific, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400. The venerable chip has seen several refinements over the years, but the base design is practically unchanged. When the Snapdragon 400 hit the market 3 years ago it was mainly designed for mobile phones – smartwatches barely existed so it had to be adapted for smartwatch use. With advances in chip design, and a different use case than originally intended, the world’s largest mobile chip producer has finally unveiled the successor to the 400 series chip. The new mobile processor is named Snapdragon Wear 2100 and, as shown by the name, is designed for wearables and smartwatches.  

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by Doug Parker
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Apple Watch 50 percent smartwatch market sales majority dominant android wear pebble samsung martian
Business, Watches

Apple Watch Estimated To Have Over 50% Of Smartwatch Market

January 13, 2016

Apple Watch 50 percent smartwatch market sales majority dominant android wear pebble samsung martian

While Apple still isn’t releasing any numbers, a new report from Juniper Research estimates that the company’s Apple Watch now controls over half of the smartwatch market. This echoes similar numbers from IDC from before the holidays. If true, this is big news for the California based company, which was notably late to enter the segment. The Apple Watch has only been shipping for slightly more than 8 months, while Samsung and Pebble have been selling smartwatches since 2013 and Android Wear started shipping almost 2 years ago. Juniper believes that Apple has secured 52% of the smartwatch market. Android Wear, on the other hand, comprised less than 10% of the year’s smartwatch shipments and Samsung’s Gear S2 barely made an impact. No word on Pebble’s take, but we would suspect that they also are around 10% of the market. One of the most interesting aspects of the report from Juniper is that simple smartwatches, such as the non-display models, are proving extremely popular. These devices offer activity tracking and, at most, notifications, but no apps or deeper connectivity. Specifically mentioned in the report is Martian, which produces connected watches similarly priced to a Fitbit. It is easy to see how a device like that could serve as “trial” watch, allowing the customer to see what they think of smartwatches without spending a large amount of money. Oddly, the report also mentions the popularity of a connected Guess watch and Breitling timepiece, both of which sell for more than the Apple Watch… the Breitling is actually closer to Apple Watch Edition territory.  

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by Doug Parker
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Fossil Group 100 New Wearables 2016 Smartwatch watch activity tracker tory burch Kate Spade Adidas Burberry 3
Business

Fossil Group Planning To Introduce 100 Wearables In 2016

January 7, 2016

Fossil Group 100 New Wearables 2016 Smartwatch watch activity tracker tory burch Kate Spade Adidas Burberry 3

We have said it before, 2016 is poised to become the most important year for wearable technology yet – and we don’t seem to be alone in that thought. Fossil Group has announced plans for at least 100 new wearable devices this year. While you let that soak in, let’s look at what the company has been up to over the past few months. Since October, Fossil Watches has released 5 wearables devices across at least 12 SKUs. In November, Fossil Group acquired activity tracker company Misfit and has since announced 2 new products across at least 3 SKUs. That is right, at least 15 new wearables device SKUs in less than 3 months! This is a company that is prepared to take the wearable category very seriously!  

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by Doug Parker
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