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Samsung unveils Galaxy Gear smartwatch accessory | Samsung unveils Galaxy Gear smartwatch accessory |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Samsung has unveiled a smartwatch with a colour screen that can show alerts, be used for voice calls and run apps. | Samsung has unveiled a smartwatch with a colour screen that can show alerts, be used for voice calls and run apps. |
The Galaxy Gear had been highly anticipated since the firm is currently the world's best-selling smartphone maker and has beaten Microsoft, Apple and Google to unveil such a device. | |
Samsung called it a "fashion icon". | Samsung called it a "fashion icon". |
However, analysts warned that a decision to limit the watch to working as an accessory to other Galaxy Android devices might limit its appeal. | However, analysts warned that a decision to limit the watch to working as an accessory to other Galaxy Android devices might limit its appeal. |
Samsung has previously said growth in the sales of its handsets was slowing, so investors are eager to see if it can find another successful product. | Samsung has previously said growth in the sales of its handsets was slowing, so investors are eager to see if it can find another successful product. |
It unveiled the watch - which will go on sale from 25 September - at the Ifa consumer tech show in Berlin. | |
"The introduction of the Galaxy smartwatch comes as no surprise to the industry, which has been expecting Samsung to beat the likes of Apple - as well as watchmakers and other consumer electronics companies - to market," said Chris Green, principal technology analyst at the consultancy Davies Murphy Group. | |
"Consumers might be a bit disappointed to find that the smartwatch is a partner device reliant on being paired with a Samsung Android smartphone or tablet, rather than being the completely autonomous media and communications device many consumers were expecting and hoping for." | |
The South Korean firm's approach contrasts with that of Sony, whose forthcoming Smartwatch 2 can be paired with any device running Android 4.0 or higher. | |
But one industry watcher said Samsung's decision should not be a surprise. | But one industry watcher said Samsung's decision should not be a surprise. |
"Samsung is trying to build its own ecosystem, so why do something that brings value to somebody else?" asked Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at tech advisers Gartner. | |
"Although the price of the Galaxy watch is high there's not going to be great margins as there's lots of technology going into it." | |
Samsung says the Galaxy watch will cost about $300. That is the equivalent of £190, although the firm has not announced a UK price yet. | |
However, it is already clear it will cost more than Sony's £120 device. | |
Start-up Omate is planning to release a watch in October that matches Samsung's in price, but its device is set to feature a 3G chip, meaning it can make calls and work as a standalone device. | |
Qualcomm has also unveiled Toq, a watch using the firm's Mirasol colour display technology, which should mean better battery life than its rivals. It also links up to a range of Android smartphones, and will go on sale next month at a suggested retail price of £190. | |
Unknown demand | Unknown demand |
The Galaxy Gear features a 1.6in (4cm) LED display, a 1.9 megapixel camera, a speaker and microphone, has four gigabytes of internal storage and a non-removable battery. | The Galaxy Gear features a 1.6in (4cm) LED display, a 1.9 megapixel camera, a speaker and microphone, has four gigabytes of internal storage and a non-removable battery. |
Samsung said the watch could be used as a way to make voice calls without having to take the phone it was linked to out of the owner's bag or pocket. | Samsung said the watch could be used as a way to make voice calls without having to take the phone it was linked to out of the owner's bag or pocket. |
It comes preloaded with 10 different clock options and there will be about 70 apps available at launch including Evernote's note-taking software, auction service eBay, the social network Path and several fitness programs. | It comes preloaded with 10 different clock options and there will be about 70 apps available at launch including Evernote's note-taking software, auction service eBay, the social network Path and several fitness programs. |
Gartner has predicted the global wearable computing market - which includes eyewear such as Google Glass and activity tracker armbands - could be worth as much as £6.5bn ($10bn) by 2016. | |
Tech consultancy Canalys has forecast as many as five million smartwatches could be sold in 2014. | Tech consultancy Canalys has forecast as many as five million smartwatches could be sold in 2014. |
But in truth no-one is sure how great consumer interest will be. | But in truth no-one is sure how great consumer interest will be. |
A new survey of more than 1,500 smartphone owners in the US and UK commissioned by telecoms consultancy CCS Insight might temper expectations. | A new survey of more than 1,500 smartphone owners in the US and UK commissioned by telecoms consultancy CCS Insight might temper expectations. |
It found 65% of the respondents had heard of smartwatches and more than 50% knew about wearable fitness trackers. | |
However, of those who already owned a smartwatch or fitness band, more than 40% had stopped using it because they often forgot to put it on or had become bored with the idea. | |
"Samsung has a history of latching on to the latest trends and throwing a product into the market to try and get ahead of potential rivals," said CCS Insight's Ben Wood. | |
"Galaxy Gear is the first attempt but I expect that there will need to be several more iterations before it is something that will will appeal to anyone other than an affluent geek." | "Galaxy Gear is the first attempt but I expect that there will need to be several more iterations before it is something that will will appeal to anyone other than an affluent geek." |
Unappealing 'anachronism' | Unappealing 'anachronism' |
Ms Milanesi agreed that neither Samsung nor Sony's watches were likely to be the breakthrough product that makes smartwatches a mainstream product. | Ms Milanesi agreed that neither Samsung nor Sony's watches were likely to be the breakthrough product that makes smartwatches a mainstream product. |
"Once you get a curved display you'll see more interesting designs, but for the moment you are basically just putting a glass screen on a wrist and I don't think that will appeal to many," she said. | "Once you get a curved display you'll see more interesting designs, but for the moment you are basically just putting a glass screen on a wrist and I don't think that will appeal to many," she said. |
"Samsung is also claiming a day's battery life with fair usage. It's like going back to a time you had to wind your watch up every night before going to bed. | |
"I don't think consumers want to do that with a watch or a band. They want to have it on without having to worry about charging it every day." | "I don't think consumers want to do that with a watch or a band. They want to have it on without having to worry about charging it every day." |
Research firm Forrester was equally sceptical. | Research firm Forrester was equally sceptical. |
"The wrist is the one of the most accepted places on the body for consumers to wear a sensor device," said analyst Sarah Rotman Epps. | "The wrist is the one of the most accepted places on the body for consumers to wear a sensor device," said analyst Sarah Rotman Epps. |
"[But] there are very few functions you could perform better on a watch than on a phone. | "[But] there are very few functions you could perform better on a watch than on a phone. |
"Maybe Samsung will tap into unmet demand with this product, disproving naysayers as it did with the Galaxy Note phone which succeeded after many 5in competitors failed. | "Maybe Samsung will tap into unmet demand with this product, disproving naysayers as it did with the Galaxy Note phone which succeeded after many 5in competitors failed. |
"But my bet is that smartwatches are sci-fi inventions that are already anachronisms in this modern world." | "But my bet is that smartwatches are sci-fi inventions that are already anachronisms in this modern world." |