A
smartwatch (or
smart watch) is a computerized wristwatch with functionality that is enhanced beyond timekeeping. While early models can perform basic tasks, such as calculations, translations, and game-playing, modern smartwatches are effectively wearable computers. Many smartwatches run mobile apps, while a smaller number of models run a mobile operating system and function as portable media players, offering playback of FM radio, audio, and video files to the user via a Bluetooth headset. Some smartwatches models, also called
watch phones, feature full mobile phone capability, and can make or answer phone calls.
[1][2][3]
Such devices may include features such as a camera, accelerometer, thermometer, altimeter, barometer, compass, chronograph, calculator, cell phone, touch screen, GPS navigation, Map display, graphical display, speaker, scheduler, watch, SDcards that are recognized as a mass storage device by a computer, and rechargeable battery. It may communicate with a wireless headset, heads-up display, insulin pump, microphone, modem, or other devices.
[citation needed]
Some also have "
sport watch" functionality with activity tracker features (also known as "
fitness tracker") as seen in GPS watches
made for Training, Diving, and Outdoor sports. Functions may include
training programs (such as intervals), Lap times, speed display, GPS tracking unit, Route tracking, dive computer, heart rate monitor compatibility, Cadence sensor compatibility, and compatibility with sport transitions (as in triathlons).
Like other computers,
a smartwatch may collect information from internal or external sensors.
It may control, or retrieve data from, other instruments or computers.
It may support wireless technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS.
However, it is possible a "wristwatch computer" may just serve as a
front end for a remote system, as in the case of watches utilizing
cellular technology or Wi-Fi.
We are constantly discussing and evaluating all smartwatches and
smartwatch apps from concept through production, including after-sale
firmware and software updates, attempting to determine the
best smartwatch.
At this time, the market is still in its infancy and there is no
smartwatch that truly stands above the rest. It appears to us that, in
their race to get a product to market first, wearable computing
manufacturers have besieged consumers with mostly incomplete product
offerings. However, many of these can and will be improved with firmware
and software updates. In addition, there are literally dozens of
smartwatches, currently in development, that are posed to be released by
the end of the year, including smartwatch offerings from electronics
and computing powerhouses such such as Apple, Google, and Samsung.
Nonetheless, if you love being an early adopter, like we do, here are
our five favorite smartwatches as they exist today:
1. Pebble Smartwatch *Best Smartwatch of 2014*
#1 Best Smartwatch – Pebble Watch and Pebble Steel
The Pebble Smartwatch
is unanimously the crowd favorite. It set a new record for crowd source
funding on Kickstarter while still in the concept phase and its
popularity has not since waned. The Pebble’s creators had the vision,
had the experience, and most importantly, effectively marketed the hell
out of this device even before the first unit shipped. In fact, we would
dare to say that the Pebble single-handedly ignited the smartwatch
market frenzy that is just beginning to really surge.
We feel that, although the
Pebble Smartwatch is your
best choice right now, it is still an incomplete product. We base this
statement largely upon the complete lack of useful software. And, while
we are sure that such software will be forthcoming, it is not available
yet. However, the strength of this watch lies in its technical specs, in
its ability to be upgraded through firmware and completed through
software, and in the fact that its sheer popularity ensures that useful
and productive apps will be available shortly.
UPDATE: Pebble Technology started shipping the
Pebble Steel on January 28, 2014. The new smartwatch has basically the
same internals as the original Pebble, adding a more sophisticated steel
case and band and an additional leather strap. We are putting the new
Pebble Steel through its paces right now and will be posting a review
shortly …
• Compare prices on
Amazon
• Find it used on
Ebay
• Download the App for free on
iTunes
2. Martian Smartwatch
#2 Best Smartwatch – Martian Voice Command Watch
The Martian Smartwatch
is the most elegant of the currently available smartwatches. Whereas
the Pebble is designed as a stand alone smart device that functions in
tandem with the user’s smartphone, the Martian is designed to be used
simply as an extension of the smartphone. Nonetheless, the
Martian Smartwatch
offers hands-free voice commands, messages and alerts display, and
smartphone camera control. These features, combined with sophisticated
styling, makes the Martian Smartwatch a top choice for someone not
looking to carry a full-fledged computer around on their wrist.
• Compare prices on
Amazon
• Find it used on
Ebay
• Download the App for free on
iTunes
3. i’m Watch Smartwatch
#3 Best Smartwatch – I’m Watch
The i’m Watch
is by far the best modern looking smartwtach available today … not
surprising considering it is Italian made. It has great looks, great
specs, and just feels solid. The problem with this smartwatch, like most
of the contenders, is that the firmware and software just feel
unfinished and incomplete. However, this shortcoming can be easily
remedied should the much need updates be released. If
i’m Watch
can get the firmware and software right, we could see this beautiful
piece of gear easily rising to the number one spot on our top 5 list …
it is just that pretty.
• Compare prices on
Amazon
• Find it used on
Ebay
4. Sony Smartwatch 2 SW2
#4 Best Smartwatch – Sony Smartwatch 2 SW2
The most recent addition to our Top 5 smartwatch list is the
Sony Smartwatch 2,
a just released upgrade from Sony’s first crack at the emerging
smartwatch market. Although, before it was released, we felt that it
was simply a rehash of the original Sony Smartwatch 1,
now that it has arrived it has turned out to be much more. Not
evolutionary, but a true contender given the current state of smartwatch
technology. If this watch was not limited solely to Android phones,
and included iOS and the iPhone into its fold, it would be ranked higher
on our list of best smartwatches. Be sure to read our upcoming
in-depth review of the Sony Smartwatch 2.
• Compare prices on
Amazon
• Find it used on
Ebay
5. ConnecteDevice Cookoo Smartwatch
#5 Best Smartwatch – ConnecteDevice Cookoo
Rounding out our favorite smartwatches list is the
Cookoo Watch.
It is simple, unpretentious, and has few features. However, it is well
designed, well constructed, and intended, like the Martian Passport, to
function as an extension of the wearer’s smartphone, not a replacement
of it. And, like our other picks, its software is incomplete with the
feel of a beta. Nonetheless, once this issue is resolved, this sporty
casual entry will definitely have a place in the emerging smartwatch
market, thus warranting inclusion onto the list of our top 5 favorite
smartwatches.
• Compare prices on
Amazon
• Find it used on
Ebay
• Download the App for free on
iTunes
Our 5 Favorite Smart Watches
Currently In Development
CES 2014 saw a plethora of new smartwatches being dangled before
consumers anxious for wrist-worthy tech. Some looked quite promising
and some a bit tired and uninspired. However, as you can see, the
developing trend is toward better aesthetics, making the watch look more
like a sophisticated timepiece and less like a 1980s Casio Digital. In
addition, many of the manufacturers seem to be making a point of
significantly refining their existing software to enhance usability
before complicating the device further by introducing new cutting edge
features before they are ready. Excited to see what is on the horizon?
Below is a constantly evolving list of what we feel are the five most
interesting smartwatches currently in development. Let us know which
are your favorites!
1. Martian Notifier
#1 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – Martian Notifier
Although it only ranks #2 on our list of Top 5 Best Smartwatches, the
Martian Victory is currently the watch that we wear everyday. That is
why its soon-to-be released younger sibling, the
Martian Notifier,
sits atop our list of favorite smartwatches in development. The
Victory is a sophisticated mechanical watch infused with cutting edge
wearable smart tech … exactly what we want from a smartwatch. The 2nd
generation Notifier expands upon this ideal by further refining the
elegant look of the original and by focusing upon and enhancing the
features that typical smartwatch aficionados use on a daily basis …
alerts and notifications and voice commands that actually work. We have
no desire to play Tetris on our wrist, we want a gorgeous
mechanical/smart hybrid that seamlessly makes us more productive and
efficient, not more bogged down by the technology it deploys. It looks
as if Martian, again, has a winner on their hands with the Notifier.
And, in Ferrari red, it is simply one of the best looking watches we’ve
ever seen. We can’t wait to get the Martian Notifier in the door and
put it through its paces … stay tuned for an upcoming in-depth review!
2. (Insert Name Here) by META
#2 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – MetaWatch Premium
We absolutely LOVE the new
META Watch “Art of the
Glance” design philosophy being integrated into their yet-to-be-named
smartwatch. As defined in their recent video teaser, “Art of the glance
is about being able to casually glance at your digital life without
being consumed by it.” To develop this new vision, META engaged former
Vertu luxury phone designer Frank Nuovo to use fashion to take the edge
off their smartwatch technology … something their line desperately
needed. In addition, META has chosen to focus upon further refining the
basic functionality of their watches as opposed to cramming more
half-baked features into the device like the rest of the industry. This
path is unique among current wearable tech developers and we REALLY
like it. Gives us a smartwatch that looks great and “just works” and
you can have that highly coveted spot on our wrist at any price. The
new META smartwatch appears to be taking a significant step toward
making that dream a reality.
3. ConnecteDevice Cogito Original
#3 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – ConnecteDevice Cogito Original
We were big fans of the simplicity and overall look and feel of the
original ConnecteDevice Cookoo. Although a solid first attempt, it was
just a bit too simple and buggy to knock the other smartwatch contenders
from our collective wrists. The ConnecteDevice Cogito Original
addresses these issues by adding a digital display to provide caller ID
and other pertinent alert data and by ironing out some of the bugs
complained of in the first gen Cookoo. And, the
Cogito watch
accomplishes this feat while maintaining its uncluttered elegance and
simple sophistication … it is just gorgeous with the stainless steel
bezel. We are looking forward to taking this second generation model
for a spin and seeing if it is indeed The One.
4. Neptune Pine
#4 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – Neptune Pine
The
Neptune Pine is gargantuan and completely blurs
the line between smartwatch and wrist-mounted computer. However, there
is definitely a market for such all-encompassing wearable tech and the
Pine just may knock Pebble out of its early lead. Another unique
feature of the Pine is that it is actually, itself, a full fledged
Android phone, thus obviating the need to keep a pocket-bound smartphone
in tow. Sporting a 1.2Ghz dual-core SnapDragon processor, 32GB of
memory, and a 5MP camera, the Neptune Pine is truly a stand-alone device
thus enabling the wearer to somewhat lighten the digital load.
However, we are anxious to find out whether the convenience and
efficiency of having your complete digital life right on your wrist
outweighs the intrusive bulk one must necessarily endure by donning a
smartwatch of this magnitude. Only time will tell …
5. Razer Nabu Smartband
#5 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – Razer Nabu
The
Razer Nabu Smartband is the best of a new breed
of fitness bands no longer content with simply tracking physical
activity. As such, it incorporates features traditionally found in
smartwatches such as caller ID, message and alert notifications, and
rudimentary information pulled from popular social apps. It is elegant,
inconspicuous, and can exchange your social profile with a simple
handshake. It blurs the line between activity tracker and smartwatch
and will definitely find a home in the rapidly expanding smartwatch
market, especially with the active crowd. It was difficult to
categorize the Razer Nabu and we couldn’t decide whether to put it in
our List of Favorite Upcoming Smartwatches or our List of Favorite Upcoming Activity Trackers … so we included it in both.
SOURCE: SMARTWATCHNEWS, WIKIPEDIA
A smartwatch (or smart watch) is a computerized wristwatch with functionality that is enhanced beyond timekeeping. While early models can perform basic tasks, such as calculations, translations, and game-playing, modern smartwatches are effectively wearable computers. Many smartwatches run mobile apps, while a smaller number of models run a mobile operating system and function as portable media players, offering playback of FM radio, audio, and video files to the user via a Bluetooth headset. Some smartwatches models, also called watch phones, feature full mobile phone capability, and can make or answer phone calls.[1][2][3]
Like other computers,
a smartwatch may collect information from internal or external sensors.
It may control, or retrieve data from, other instruments or computers.
It may support wireless technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS.
However, it is possible a "wristwatch computer" may just serve as a
front end for a remote system, as in the case of watches utilizing
cellular technology or Wi-Fi.
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