On the technology zodiac calendar, 2014 has proven itself to be the year of the smartwatch. Motorola, Samsung, Apple, Qualcomm, and Asus are just a few of the manufacturers who've released new smartwatches this year. So, which one of these smartwatches are worth buying? Here's a roundup of our thoughts on a couple of these wearables!
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2
Samsung first unveiled the Galaxy Gear 2 on February 22 nd at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Although it looks similar in appearance to its predecessor, the Galaxy Gear 2 contains several notable improvements and features. Specs include an Exynos 1.0 Ghz dual-core processor, 512 MB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, and a 2-megapixel camera.
For the Galaxy Gear 2, Samsung replaced the Android operating system (OS) with its very own Tizen OS. Tizen offers a greater level of functionality, battery life, and several health/fitness-oriented apps.
Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit
As the name suggests, the Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit is a smartwatch designed specifically for people with actively lifestyles. It features a curved active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display that contours to the natural shape of the wearer's wrist, a 210mAh lithium-ion battery, and a 180 MHz ARM Cortex M4 processor.
Some of the fitness goodies featured with the Galaxy Gear Fit include:
- Pedometer
- Heart rate sensor
- Sleep and stress monitor
- Exercise modes (running, walking)
Motorola Moto 360
Motorola also entered the smartwatch market with its Moto 360. First announced on March 18 th, the Moto 360 features a display in the same circular shape as a traditional wristwatch – something that no other manufacturer has attempted thus far. The Moto 360 also features a water-resistant body, as well as wireless “Qi” charging technology.
Specs for the Motorola Moto 360 include a 1 GHz processor, 512 GB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, 1.5-inch Gorilla Glass 3 touch screen display, WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.
Apple Watch
We can't talk about smartwatches without mentioning Apple's latest wearable device. CEO Tim Cook announced the Apple Watch on September 9 th, highlighting its near-field communications (NFC) Apple Pay technology. With Apple Pay, users can purchase products and goods at retail stores by placing their Apple Watch near the store's compatible receiver. The Apple Watch is also reported to boast a sapphire-crystal screen and Apple's S1 processor.
“ We want to make the best product [Apple Watch] in the world ," said Cook. "One of our competitors is on their fourth or fifth attempt, but nobody is wearing them. We could have done the watch much earlier, honestly, but not at the fit and finish and quality and integration of these products, and so we are willing to wait. "
The Apple Watch is scheduled for an early 2015 release.
