So we dropped by LG's booth here in the South Hall at CES and weren't really surprised to see a whole bunch of watch phones in a case that looked like it was just moved out of Jacob & Co. There was a surplus of models dolled up behind glass, but only two out on the floor. LG was being super secretive about the transitions between the various screens, but we did our best to sneak peeks through the fingers on our not-so-generous demonstrator's hand. What we did see looked pretty polished though (
which you should know by now) and the transitions looked like browsing music on the iPhone. We were able to find out that the screen is
not an OLED. LG went with a TFT with capacitive touch but we were told that it would work through a golf glove -- though we're not exactly sure about this. Be sure to check out the gallery for even more glamor shots and check after the break for video of the device (or the parts that LG would let us see) and prepare to be amazed. Ooh, shiny.
posted Jan 8th 2009 3:27PM
Nothing says sexy CES time like a hairy wrist.
Oh. baby.
what I want to know is how BIG that wrist is. These types of devices have a tendency to be ginormous, and they look stupidly huge on the average geek's wrist.
What I want to know is why it's the right wrist? And that's coming from a lefty.
Oh, and FAIL. MSN Watch FTW.
It doesn't look too big to me. I don't have skinny fingers, and by the video neither does the demo guy, and when he's typing numbers it looks as though his finger covers about half the face, horizontally. I'm wearing a Timex Expedition that's about the same width.
@superfresh. I was unaware that the MSN watch could make phone calls or play music...or do anything useful...or continue to exist =P MSN Direct FTL.
@MyHeadisFed: I was unaware that sarcasm was so easy to miss.
@superfresh, the connotations behind most written comments on the internet are not received as intended by the intended party (or by most parties, for that matter).
Thus, unless the sarcasm is blatantly obvious and/or stupid, most people wouldn't get it without a /s tag. In your case, your sarcasm was neither blatantly obvious nor stupid, and you forgot an /s tag... hence the low rank.
15 years ago, I submitted a copy of a design I'd been working on, to the Sony Canada Corporation. This watch is just a small part of a unit that strap onto your arm, carries your MP3 files and other documents (portable data bank), touch screen like any other pod device, and hosts a bunch of other groovy information and latches onto peripherals and households... and 15 years after, this is all a company like LG can come up with? People should email me asking me for these ideas... There is way much more out there that can be done than a watch with a little "slide to next screen" button...
he didnt want ANYONe to see those transitions. either that or thas how u change it.
I must admit, I'm dorky enough to wear this.
Was thinking the same. Hope the watch face is skinnable too, looks very much like the Viewty / Prada interface which could be good as there is quite a bit of work done on that platform with flash
I can see buying skins from watch companies, so you can get as snooty-patootie with your Dick Tracy watch as you like. That or turn it into a TokyoFlash blinkfest.
You and me both, brother! I will sell a body part to get this if I have to. Just not my left hand, because the watch would keep falling off, and that would suck.
Especially if you are a big fan of Knight Rider...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E83ee3SVMuY
Same here, except I'm thinking "I wonder if there's a bracer-style model?" Oh and its gotta have push to talk.
I'd also settle for a Star Trek communicator phone.
@Blastar
Except instead of calling KITT you call you mom to pick you up.
sexy
Unless you are wiping your ass while receiving a video call. Although some people like that, not that there's anything wrong with it...
Its a really great concept, if it has bluetooth Then it will be a great phone to have, and great hands free solution.
Ahh, but is it really hands free?
Thank You for the video. I will be getting one of these to go with my already obsolete video watch.
Oh and Nice PSP esque WAVE in the screen. Sweet Sony must love you today!
I'm waiting for the Swarovski-encrusted versions before I make any serious decisions.
"wearable mobile communicator"...will have capability of asking the starship enterprise for a beam up.
Urgent correction for the title: Video: LG Watch Phone on-hands
My iPhone works through a golf glove...
It's got a messaging button? I want to see someone typing out a text on this thing, haha.
Wrist cancer?
Hey, this think looks like it's lacking a camera. That seems like something that would be just as cool on a watch. All the other watch phones have a cam. What gives?
Is that because it looks like you wrist has an asshole?
All the other watch phones I've seen have cameras, and they just add to the bulk. Nobody wants bulk on a watch phone.
Would be difficult to take point-and-click photography using something attached to your wrist, so a camera on this thing would only be good for video calling. Whilst this is kinda cool, nobody would ever use it (also you'd only give the other person a good view of what's up your nostrils).
I'd love for them to make this thing simple and small. I'm totally buying one...
For lack of a better word you people are ignorant. There are many watch phones out there and almost all of them have a cam and it adds no size. Barely a little nub on the front and some have a pinhole cam. If you're going to cram all sorts of stuff into a watch you might as well do it right and don't half a$$ it. So if I could get a cam in there and not add any size whatsoever would you still not want it then?
Sheesh if everyone had your mentality who knows how un-advanced society would be.
I'm sorry I don't know anyone under 50 who wears a watch .. Thats unlikely to change .. maybe a bluetooth connex to your phone but as a complete device = FAIL
Someone call Tag, Rolex, etc and tell them to stop marketing to men in their 30s because go seki says none of them wear watches,,,
I really don't understand this idea that some people here seem to have about nobody wearing watches - was it you who said this last time? Almost everyone I know has a watch, and I'm at Public (High) School. Almost every pupil wears a watch including myself. If I were go out into the street and look at some random wrists, I'd see a lot of watches on people young and old. I see plenty of people in H.S. Samuel's buying watches whenever I go into town. Looking at your mobile for the time is a step back to the day of pocket watches, and a pain in the arse. Not everyone's enitrely dependant on their mobiles, you know.
Wearing a watch especially a stylish one is a symbol of class and dignity, neither of which you apparently have.
I can agree that if you ALWAYS carry a cellphone you may not need a watch. However a watch, for me, is the only "jewelry" I'll wear. Useful jewelry at that. So do you think jewelry is going the wayside?
Actually I wear a Philip Stark kick a$$ watch that gets uber attention.
http://www.depthlog.com/english/images/Stark.jpg
Apparently go seki doesn't have any style!!
Even if you don't wear a watch for its practicality, you could at least wear one as an accessory.
Women have necklaces and jewelry.
Men have watches, tie clips, cuff links, etc.
im 26 i wear a watch. I'm interested in knowing the source for your information because I do have a few other friends who wear watches too. Your source may just be outdated, look for something post 1900s.
On another note.... these 'watch phones' for me the are just phones with straps on them. someone needs to come up with something more innovative if its going to kick off because lets face it email and phones will def. go hand in hand as time progresses and ill be damned if i wanna read an email on that.
OK.. I will only do something if everybody else does it.......
"Apparently go seki doesn't have any style!!"
Or maybe he lives on a remote island with only two or three people... who all happen to be in their early 20's.
I know of few people of any age, male or female, who DON'T wear watches.
Although using a watch is absolutely functional and MUCH quicker and easier than using a cell phone to tell time, watches are just as much (or even more) about adult style than function, and they'll never go away. Wearing a watch (and the style of watch) says a lot about a man, just like his clothes or hairstyle. Notice I said "man" and not "boy". Boys don't wear watches because they have virtually no responsibilities in this life, but a man does. Wearing a watch says to others that you're mindful of time and managing what you have. Cell phones don't. But I would not expect many in their early 20's and younger to truly understand that.
And what's more complicated when all you want to do is tell time? Simply taking a quick glance at a watch on your wrist, or pulling out your phone, unlocking or flipping it open to look at the time, relocking or closing it, and then stuffing it back into your pocket every moment you want to catch the time of day? What that says is that you're married to your cell phone and are inching closer to actually having it grafted onto your butt.
------------------
On another note, this cellular watch looks slick, but I doubt many will buy it.
This just in, Apple to announce phone watch in next keynote.
The iWatch?
or phone with a WATCH! omg!
You know this thing will probably need to get charged each night. I've never had a watch that would have needed to get charged, except that stupid Kinetic watch I had, had to shake it like a polaroid to get it to work.
Definately can't text while driving on this thing, I can't see how, lol.
Do us all a favor, and don't text while driving.
Steer with your knees rookie
You could get an automatic watch winder for when you are not wearing your watch, my bro had the same problem.
Driving while texting is a really stupid way to get you and possibly someone else killed. Seriously, wait the 10 minutes it takes you to get home, then reply to all your "really important" messages.
Nice improvement from CES 2008.
Cell Phone Watches are the Future.
I hope smartphone eyeglasses with the RoboCop targeting/Predatorvision upgrades are the future, but I'm not holding my breath for that CES demo.
no, it's broche-cellphones. didn't you ever watch star trek?
Go go gadget.... call john.
where is Jacob & Co.??? Does Jacob Schulman own it? :P
typing a text is gonna be a bitch on this thing
You never know, it all depends on the real size of the guys wrist
Eh I have big hands and big wrists this would probably just screw with my ability to function.....
There are kids reading this blog.
I didnt realize how dirty that sounded until now.......
I'm not sure about having an actual phone on my wrist but I do like the idea of the wrist-located interface. What would be more useful IMO would be a simple Bluetooth touchscreen that can be connected to your phone or other device so you can see alerts, dial, control media etc with it. A new Bluetooth profile is all it would take.
Thats a dammm good idea.
I want your autograph.
Srsly.
If it was 1989, and I was still 10, and had never seen an iPhone, iPod, or anything similar, I would probably think this is pretty cool.
Good to see miniaturization helps designers come up with better UIs!
i can finally be dick tracy
Bluetooth DUN? Bluetooth PAN?
i want one :-)
there have been watches like this for on sale for around 1 a year now. All of them have blue tooth and touch screens
They aren't going to get me to upgrade from my Timex Datalink with this piece of crap.
sure is going to beat the hell outta those no cellphone while driving laws.
Nice to see this guy getting work with LG ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQyxGTjZi2I
a respectable first attempt on LGs part, tho i cant imagine it being affordable to most.
I could see myself using this with an A2DP headset, especially since i drive a motorcycle and cant easily make/pickup calls or change music tracks with my W810. The least devices i can carry the better.. coz i only forget them most of the time anyway.
It has capacative touch, wow! I'm so glad the demonstrator chose to tell Engadget how this works by demonstrating how it doesn't work with just a nail. Good thing too, 'cos none of us have iPhones, or N95s... all we've seen thus far is the LG Viewty, there are no other phones. Clearly. Well done LG for being at the forefront of this technology, AND having the staff to realise that!
I must say though, I want one. Just so I can be like Bond, or Inspector Gadget.
Do do do do do, Inspector Gadget... although didn't he have his phone in his glove??
Guys: you can purchase the watch phone@ www.theinventionofthewatchphone.com or www.digitalmultimedia.us
LG watch is too big for the wrist.......Check out G1@ www.theinventionofthewatchphone.com
I think what this signals is great; namely that large companies like LG are taking convergence device watches seriously. Before it was just a bunch of unknown (to US people) Chinese companies. See my article from a watch expert perspective on the LG GD910 here:
http://ablogtoread.com/computer-watches/lg-gd910-watch-3g-hspda-phone-tells-time-makes-calls-not-that-dorky/
aBlogtoRead.com
Anybody see what's missing? A top facing vid cam and video messaging(and maybe some yellow) is all that's keeping me from being Dick Tracy >:D
I'm sorry to take bandwidth here for a search query, but I can't find any legitimate (i.e something other than a YouTube tech guru giving 100% positive accolades to everything he gets to review-and keep for free):
Can anyone tell me if all the Chinese cell phone watches are trash? It's obvious these are trinkets, prob. sold only in electronics districts of large Asian cities. The language and web sites are not too good in English (!), and warranty/repairs are doubtless a joke.
Personally, I think this is another case where Americans didn't seriously address this kind of unit several years ago. I don't know if I'll wait until LG distributes in N.America, but I read that Orange (UK) is charging $40 a month with $300 down and pricing it at $1,400!
Are any of the Chinese "brands" worth the time of day?