Samsung

KILLER FEATURES SAMSUNG SHOULD PACK INTO IT’S NEXT SMARTWATCH…..But Probably Won’t!

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Concept For Samsung's New Gear A Smartwatch

Concept For Samsung’s New Gear A Smartwatch

The Tech World is anticipating the release of Samsung’s latest smartwatch at the company’s upcoming event-Samsung Unpacked on August 15th. Thus far, Samsung has released a confused offering of 6 different iterations for it’s Galaxy Gear Smartwatch line. The next version of the watch has been code-named The Orbis because the device will be round and Samsung is betting that “Roundness” will be the killer feature that drives customers to buy into the smartwatch category. There are however, many other features that would be more compelling than the shape of the device.

If Samsung wants to catch-up to the Apple Watch it should at least match the functionality of the Apple Watch which despite being marketed as a fitness device is a remote control for smart devices.

Samsung is a uniquely integrated company that produces products in every category ranging from Televisions, Refrigerators, and Computers to Coffee Makers. Whereas Apple and other smartwatch makers must rely on third parties to develop apps that link smart devices to their respective watches, Samsung can create the smart-home ecosystem internally. If Samsung wants to blow the competition away–it should (but probably won’t) demonstrate a watch that not only serves up notifications and masters mobile payments but also activates the coffee machine downstairs, unlocks doors, turns the lights on and off, streams footage from home security cameras, hosts a truly smart assistant and flaunts an “always on” display that perpetually shows the time. Whereas Apple has had a slow roll out of these features, leaving consumers to stumble upon them and piece them together, Samsung can release them all at once as an integrated whole.

Rumors have suggested that Samsung will offer three versions of the device. If this is true those versions should center around offering consumers a wifi/bluetooth version that extends the functionality of their smartphones (which should not be limited to Samsung Phones) and a standalone version that serves as an independent cell phone with it’s own cellular connection. Some consumers, like myself would relish ditching the 5.5 inch phablets in our pockets.

Sleek Edges could extend battery life and ad style to the smartwatch

Sleek Edges could extend battery life and ad style to the smartwatch

Lastly, the design of all smartwatches, including Apple’s watch has truly been lacking. Samsung could leapfrog the competition with a great design. The rumors about The Orbis have suggested that Samsung is duplicating Apple’s “Digital Crown” by creating a rotating bezel that will allow users to navigate the device’s operating system. A superior design, served up by the internet via enthusiastic fans extends the company’s Edge-concept to the Smartwatch. The result is a sleek and unique device that could boost battery life by displaying time and notifications on the side of the device without draining battery life to power the entire screen. This would answer a primary complaint of Apple Watch users.

Most of what we have suggested probably won’t be offered by Samsung. The company is unwisely banking on “Round” as a killer feature when functionality should be their focus. Smartwatches remain a tough sell for consumers. Smartwatches are not a “NEED” and changing the shape of the device will not persuade consumers otherwise. Samsung has yet another chance to get it right…….but they probably won’t!

The APPLE WATCH Explained

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Yesterday, in the city of Cupertino California, Apple demoed it’s latest creation- The Apple Watch but it has left many in the tech world a bit confused.

The watch tethers to iPhones (5S,5C, 6 and 6 plus) to receive calls and messages, serve as a digital wallet (goodbye cash), play music, and monitor heart, pulse and steps taken through an elegant circular array of light-based sensors.

The new Apple Watch is segmented into bourgeois classes of affordability, from the low end stainless steel baseline of $349 to an ultra-lux high end- 18 karat gold option. The Apple Watch, Apple Sport and Apple Edition represent separate collections and all have their own families of interchangeable gorgeous bands for an unparalleled degree of customization.

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Despite it’s premium design, many of the critics are skeptical about the device. How is it better than Apple’s smart-watch competitors? What does it do? Is Apple really charging $349 for a gimmicky device that simply displays notifications from your phone? Apple did answer these questions but they concealed the answers in developer-jargon for those that needed to know.

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Tim Cook noted, that he uses his watch to control his Apple TV. Their software engineer pointed out that a development company is working on an app that controls smart locks, smart lighting systems and thermostats for the home with the watch. Cook and Co. meandered slowly through a garden of distractions obscuring the devices most important feature— it’s App Store!

The release of the watch’s SDK- software development kit means that “W” hotels worldwide will use the Apple Watch as a room key. Other hotels will follow suit.

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If we just consider Apple’s -already done deals- we begin to see the watch’s potential. The next time you go to McDonalds, Starbucks, Whole Foods, A Restaurant through an Open Table reservation, or take a flight- your watch will be used to pay and guide the experience. Your bill for most services will likely be paid with Apple Pay (a service that manages your credit cards and cashless payments).

Tim Cook may have buried the lead but he made the potential of the watch as a control platform for other devices perfectly clear for those that know the parseltongue of developers. The Apple Watch is the perfect universal remote.

Tim Cook’s most important point was to note that the watch does so much, they didn’t have time to go over it all at the event.

So why not boast? Why not demo all of your tricks? Its because while the Apple Watch will be revolutionary it isn’t light years ahead of it’s competition. The Apple Watch won’t be ready until 2015 and Android Wear is just one software update away – and a few key partnerships behind- catching
up.

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MORE THAN THE IWATCH: What Is Apple Planning

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The iWatch will debut on Tuesday, September 9th. As tech enthusiasts salivate over the possibility that the iWatch could usher in cashless payments at stores, and serve as a universal remote for home automation devices, unlocking doors, activating smart lighting systems, and turning on tv’s, they’ve lost sight of the one function we know the iWatch will be designed for: fitness!

Most smart-watches are poor fitness devices. They use pedometers that don’t accurately measure steps and heart rate monitors that loose contact with the skin or don’t work if your moving!

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There are better ways to measure running distance and better ways to measure heart-rate. Fitness bands fail because they are trying to find one approach and one place on the body to measure disparate fitness tasks. The alternative has always been to strap ungainly wires to every part of the body- and strangely this is precisely what we believe Apple will propose. Apple will indeed propose strapping sensors to every part of your body! This won’t be as unpleasant or ugly as it may sound. We believe that developments in tech and fashion have made it possible for wearable fitness devices to measure your exercise activities without being cumbersome, inconvenient or unattractive. The iWatch will serve simply as a relay device that collects data and communicates with other wearables specifically designed for each fitness task.

The best examples of our prediction are ironically found in non-Apple products. Intel recently announced a smart-shirt. According to the New York Times, “The shirt comes with conductive fibers that can track your heart rate and will be able to deliver information to a smartphone.” Ralph Lauren has similarly developed smart compression tops. They have “conductive threads that allow it to sense breathing and heart rate” (http://www.fastcodesign.com/3034808/can-ralph-lauren-take-smart-clothes-mainstream#1).

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We imagine that Nike could develop sneakers with simple pressure sensors that measure “actual” steps and actual distance travelled. We imagine Nike running shoes that prevent shin splints and injuries by telling your iWatch when runners are accumulating too much pressure on their feet.

Apple may not be going into fashion as a manufacturer but we believe Apple wants to usher in the era of smart wearable clothing, and position the iWatch as the defacto communications hub. Imagine trendy weightlifting gloves that communicate via bluetooth, how much weight you’re lifting.

The applications for an iWatch that communicates with smart clothes goes beyond fitness. We imagine that EXISTING products like the Mimo baby romper, which measures breathing, body temperature and sleep patterns in toddlers while relaying that information via Bluetooth, could work with the iWatch in the future.

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What we have come to believe is that the most powerful iWatch imaginable isn’t necessarily packed with sensors. It is in reality a rather simple communications device that speaks to home automation devices, store checkout counters through NFC or IBeacon and fitness wearables. The beauty of Apple’s device will be that any developer with virtually any product will be able to craft an interface that allows users to control a device with the iWatch. Smart stoves, smart clothes, smart guns, and smart cars alike will tap into the iWatch as a universal remote.

A REMARKABLE DAY IN TECH

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Today was a remarkable day in Technology. Tech enthusiasts gathered in Berlin at IFA- an expo for new products for presentations from some of the world’s most innovative tech companies. Samsung, Sony and Asus demoed their latest innovations, which ranged from new smartwatches to Virtual Reality headsets. Despite our misleading headline, the day was not remarkable as a result of the products we saw demoed, instead IFA was remarkable as a demonstration of Apple’s ability to dictate the pace of innovation and product release among the aforementioned companies.

Apple is scheduled to release it’s latest and greatest, September 9th and the fear that Apple’s potential announcement induced meant that most of the products demoed today were already disclosed. The companies were so fearful of releasing their own products so close to Apple and the deafening silence that they might receive as a result that almost all blew the wraps off of their products early. Despite their early disclosures the products were note-worthy (pun intended) as Samsung lead the announcements with its New Galaxy Note 4 and Note 4 Edge.

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The Note 4 is a reasonable update to the pre-existing Note 3 cell phone but it was the Note 4 Edge that provoked a somewhat suspicious awe from the crowd. Samsung has been steadfast in it’s determination to find a usage for curved screens in just about every product category and the edge is the realization of that determination. It sports a curved screen that serves as a nearly separate display for notifications, newsfeeds and an array of different menus. The concept frees up precious real estate on the home screen and offers an interesting albeit unclear potential for developers. Samsung also took the wraps off of a fully functional watch/ phone. The Gear S is a smartwatch that does not, strictly speaking need a companion cell phone. Whereas all smartwatches to date merely receive forwarded notifications of emails or texts, the Gear S is a standalone phone. You can make calls from it, without a companion phone nearby. Samsung proposed the device as ideal for runners or those that don’t want to carry their phones with them.

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The Gear S is rather large and somewhat bulky. It was mocked by many observers but we feel the device has promise. For those that don’t spend countless hours browsing on their phone or for those who “need” the use of their hands, this device could be ideal!

Lastly Samsung introduced the VR Headset in cooperation with virtual reality impresarios Oculus Rift. The device is a simple headset that has a slot for the Galaxy Note 4 cell phone which serves as the virtual reality screen. If this sounds odd, Virtual Reality headset maker Oculus Rift (purchased by Facebook) has utilized Samsung’s Note Screens for it’s own headsets. The device is the first mainstream, mobile, Virtual Reality headset for mass consumption.

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Tech Giant Asus also released it’s first wearable, the ZenWatch. It is a luxurious device that purports to measure relaxation levels while displaying Google Notifications and running Android Wear- the designated operating system for most of the emerging smartwatches!

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The Zenwatch is a physical step up from most of the Android Wear devices we’ve seen from LG and previously Samsung. It is also cheaper at $260!

Sony joined the fray releasing it’s Xperia Z3. The device is actually the 3rd in the line and was rushed in it’s development cycle as Sony played catchup with other manufacturers. However rushed the device is sleek and beautiful! The Z3 doubles as a playstation controller or second screen for the playstation through a remote play app. It is thinner then the iPhone 5S at .29 inches with a 5.2 inch display. The Z3 even comes in a compact variety which is a bit thicker at .34 inches with a 4.4 inch screen. Both are literally designed to take on the next generation of iPhones which are rumored to measure 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches.

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Sony also released two smartwatches. The smartwatch 3 is the third iteration in their smartwatch line and runs Android Wear. The Smartband Talk is an e ink sports bracelet that also receives calls and emails. Both are actually rather stylish.

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Despite some notable product launches, the entire world of tech is effectively in a “wait on Apple” posture as they await the release of the long rumored mythological iWatch and iPhone 6.

WILL THE iWATCH WORK WITH ANDROID

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The iWatch is coming and the speculation it has provoked has been epic. The Internet has been flooded with blogs and articles speculating on the devices possible features. Would be product designers have even developed fully animated videos showing off their own iWatch concepts. We, at Worthy have even posted several articles on our own predictions, many of which seem poised to come to fruition. We have decided that there is no reason to quit while we are ahead. Buried in the fine print of our predictions in the print edition of Worthy, was an easily overlooked but far reaching prognostication. The iWatch Will Work on Non-Apple Devices.

At first, this prediction seems at odds with Apple’s reputation for not playing well with other tech platforms. However, this is a shortsighted perspective. Whereas, other publications see the iWatch as a portal for the iPhone 6, we (and a few others) think of the iWatch as a portal into Apple’s cashless payment system. The long term goal for Apple is to conquer the world of cashless payments. It would be uncharacteristically shortsighted of Apple to make enrollment in their cashless system dependent on adoption of the iPhone. By offering the iWatch as a stand alone device Apple gives Android’s fan base exposure to it’s ecosystem and exposure alone should convert some of the errant. But more importantly Android users of the iWatch will “give” Apple health data which can be commoditized and it will expand the universe of Apple’s cashless payment system. If Apple recruits Android’s hoards into it’s army, the war for dominance in the cashless payment sphere will be over before it starts!

WILL SAMSUNGS WATCH BEAT APPLE

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Apple, the innovator of the iPhone is set to announce the latest iteration of it’s miraculous device- the iPhone 6, on September 9. The rumor mill says that Apple MAY also introduce its upcoming smartwatch as well. True to form Samsung is racing to the finish line to release its…..5th smartwatch five days earlier, on September 4th. The Gear Solo will be Samsung’s most useful watch and it may incorporate many of the features that tech enthusiasts are hoping to see in Apple’s device.

The Gear Solo is rumored to be a fully functioning cell phone, wrapped around your wrist. It is difficult to predict how the tech world will receive the device as many were skeptical of the idea of a full phone on the wrist, when Samsung announced it’s development. However, as Apple’s device approaches the Internet has been buzzing about the possibilities. As the conceptual uses for a truly “smart” watch excite the blogging masses, Samsung’s watch/phone may find a warmer welcome.

It is worth noting that the rumored Samsung device is much more like the Apple device we’ve predicted in the pages of Worthy Magazine. If Samsung wants to ensure success, it should include a stylish bluetooth ear bud for call privacy, an NFC chip for cashless shopping and they should find a way to allow developers of home automation devices to use the Gear Solo as a proximity operated remote control for their devices. Despite the clumsy fashion Samsung has developed it’s smartwatches, they could still stumble into a compelling device that competes with the speculative concepts of Apple’s iWatch.