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Casio's first Android Wear smartwatch arrives March 25th
You no longer have to choose between Android Wear and a watch that can survive your epic hiking adventures. Casio has revealed that its first smartwatch, the WSD-F10, will be available on March 25th through multiple outlets (including Amazon and the Google Store) for $500. That's a lot to pay when rival Android watches can cost half as much, but Casio is betting that the rugged, water-resistant design and outdoor-friendly features are worth the extra outlay. On top of perks like a pressure sensor, compass and loads of custom software, the WSD-F10 can last for up to a month on battery in a basic digital watch mode -- handy for that long summer camping trip. Our only real reservation when we tried it at CES was its chunky, utilitarian look, but that's par for the course in the outdoor watch category.
Casio's first smartwatch is an even more rugged G-Shock
Phone makers and start-ups were the first to attempt the modern smartwatch. Then, even more tech companies as well as a trickle of high-end watch makers, testing the water to see if their clientele were in the market for a wrist piece with something more modern than literal clockwork. Now, at a time where cheaper fitness wearables and the Apple Watch seem to have cornered the market, it's Casio's turn. The company reinvented its own basic digital watches years ago when it introduced the G-Shock, and its taking a specialized approach with the WSD-F10: a smart outdoor watch that not only does all things Android Wear, but also has a "timepiece" (or dumbwatch) mode that'll last around a month on a single charge.
How Casio accidentally started reggae's digital revolution
Looking at the Casio Casiotone MT40, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was an unremarkable keyboard. You may even have owned one just like it. Launched in 1981, the cream machine came with 37 keys, 22 different instrument sounds, six onboard rhythms and a dedicated mini bass keyboard. It cost around $150 or, adjusting for inflation, about $400 if it were on sale today.Beneath that beige plastic, however, the MT40 hid a secret. A "rock" preset that, once discovered, would reverberate in popular music for the next 30 years. The preset would become one of reggae's most famous "riddims," inspire many imitations and force the genre into the digital age. The story of the "sleng teng" riddim (as it is known) in reggae history is well documented, but its origins are based on myth. This is the real story of how Casio's MT40 became the most influential keyboard of its kind.For the uninitiated, this is the three second melody that started it all:
Casio is making smartwatches, too
When America's greatest actor needed to defuse a bomb mounted to a passenger bus, there was only one name he could trust to keep time: Casio. Like Keanu Reeves, the company's fallen out of the limelight a bit since then. It has a comeback plan, though: smartwatches. As The Wall Street Journal tells it, the outfit thinks it has what's necessary to compete in the crowded space too. Namely, a rich history of making watches that do more than tell time. It expects the device to hit "a level of smartwatch perfection" by being durable, easy to put on and generally being comfortable to wear.
Way before Apple Watch and Android Wear, there was Casio
Casio might be only lightly involving itself in the current boom in smartwatches and wearables, but the company still makes plenty of money from its G-Shock series and rugged outdoor watches. That's not to say it hasn't experienced a combination of hits and misses: Casio would say it "pioneered" a huge array of features in its digital watches over the decades, many of which have returned -- in a more appealing or functional form -- in smartwatches today. It crammed GPS into a watch in 1999, lashed a rumble-pack to its early gaming watch and even made a waterproof watch that warns you've been out in the sun too long. And that's just the beginning. Smartwatches may be capable of much more, but credit is due for how Casio was tackling these features decades (too) early. Niche? Yes. Fascinating? You bet.
Casio's new iOS app turns your whistling into full-length tunes
Apps have done wonders for music creation, and now there's mobile software from Casio that aims to make it even easier. The Chordana Composer app for iPhone creates a track basked on a melody that you create by singing or whistling two bars of a tune. Casio's handiwork records you, and then automatically builds the rest of the song based on your input. This means that anyone can construct a hit without in-depth music knowledge or the ability to play an instrument. After the base of the song is captured, there's five genres and three melodic settings for the tweaking before hitting the Auto Compose button and putting the app to work.
Casio's new DJ controllers aim to upgrade your next house party setlist
Casio makes a lot of keyboards. That's the company's primary contribution to music, and while it's a pretty big one, it's also looking to adapt to, well, what the youth have been listening to (and making) in recent years. To that end, it's launching two different devices better suited to dance music, hip-hop, electronica and more. There's the XW-DJ1, with a 7-inch scratch disc, and the XW-PD1, which combines a 16-pad sampler with a synthesizer, sequencer and effector. Both run off batteries, have built-in speakers and connect to your iPhone/iPad, PC or Mac through a proprietary cable. The idea is that it should be all you need to "DJ" for a party, though we'd advise adding some speakers to the arrangement. The XW-DJ1 DJ Controller will launch this month, priced at $299, while the XW-PD1 Groove Center (we'd probably drop the "Groove" there), will be available in early March for a pricier $399. Those looking to upgrade their next party playlist might want to read into the details, which are right after the break.
Casio's 'Kawaii Selfie by Mirror Cam' is exactly what it says it is
Casio's camera division isn't afraid to admit that it's cashing in on the selfie hype big time, but for those who aren't willing to shell out over $1,200 for the EX-TR50, there's now a much more affordable option. The "Kawaii Selfie by Mirror Cam" aka Exilim MR1 costs about $330 in Hong Kong and is rather self-explanatory: Its 14-megapixel module is hidden right behind a curved mirror for the convenience of taking selfies, with the trade-off being you get a hilariously slow f/5 aperture due to the light reflection (and that little LED flash really won't help much in the dark). As for the "kawaii" part, you can use the software to enhance your skin tone plus smoothness, and you can even see a live preview on the screen (which obviously isn't so useful when taking those selfies).
Casio's newest selfie camera wants to blend into your purse
In the same way that Lizzie Grant and Katheryn Hudson screwed up their first shot at greatness and changed their name, Casio's trying to do the same with its old Tryx point-and-shoot. The fourth-generation of the digital camera has been re-invented as a selfie snapper that's designed to -- wait for it -- "bring out feminine beauty." Built to look like a purse mirror, the EX-TR50 retains the same flip-out handle, but gains a fashionable paint job and a deeply questionable attitude towards women.
Casio's newest G-Shock has a giant dial for (complicated) music control
Casio continues to inch its G-Shock series toward something a little smarter, while holding onto a simple monochrome LCD display and that distinctly G-Shock styling. The "G'Mix" GBA-400 improves on the typical digital watch feature list through Bluetooth, a pair of dedicated apps (one for the watch part, one for the music-playing part) and your smartphone, whether it's iOS or Android. Oh and there's a giant dial control on the side and it's really satisfying to play with.
Casio's new action cam detaches from its own touchscreen viewfinder
If you haven't quite got on the action cam bandwagon, or you're looking for a viewfinder bigger than a postage stamp, perhaps Casio's EXILIM "freestyle" camera will do the job. Coming in orange, camo green and white options, it's made of two different parts -- the lens and a separate screen that can be used both attached and detached. In a sign of the times, there's also a foldable docking option that makes it ideal for selfies. If you fold the lens back onto the display, then you have something closer to a typical camera -- albeit one with a tiny screen. The camera will, naturally, arrive with a plethora of straps, clips and tripod accessories to ensure it attaches to everything adventurous in your life and both parts are water- and dust-proof (IPX6 certified, of course).
Verizon adds push-to-talk to Android phones, makes smart walkie-talkies
Verizon's push-to-talk services already existed, but it was a pretty creaky service. It's now upgraded its offering (for five bucks a month), with a free six-month trial to anyone that signs up now. Right now. Supported Android devices range from the Galaxy S5 to Casio's hardy G'zOne Commando 4G LTE -- the latter is probably the most appropriate handset for the service. Verizon's promising faster connections when trying to talk to your fellow paintballers (and handsome gardeners), as well as improved voice quality. If your device isn't supported, you could hold out hope that the service rolls out to other phones in Verizon's stable -- Kyocera's latest ruggedized smartphone is also set to get the feature later this year.
Casio's next G-Watch uses SoundHound to discover new music
Casio's team of smart-ish G-Shock watches is getting a new member next month that's fixated on finding new music. The romantically named GBA-400 retains the same smartphone-friendly features that we've already seen, but this time you'll be able to control music playback right from the bezel. The biggest feature, however, is that discovery app SoundHound has been baked into the accompanying G'Mix app. Once you've Shazamed, uh, SoundHounded the track, its details will pop up on the timepiece's built-in LCD display, which we have to admit, is pretty neat. If you're interested in picking one up, you'll have to take a trip to Japan, where it's launching on September 19th, priced at 23,000 yen (around $225) plus tax.
Slighty smarter watches: Casio reveals two new G-Shock concepts
G-Shocks are back -- again. Ready for Swiss timepiece showcase BaselWorld, Casio has announced two new analog concept watches with a little extra soupçon of tech crammed in. The designs still lean towards those looking for a classically-styled (at least, in G-Shock terms) analog watch. Both are expected to last plenty without any regular USB life-support, with the company's latest solar cells there to keep the mechanism and electronics going. First up, the Edifice EQB-500 connects to smartphones using Bluetooth 4.0 Low Power (Casio's first analog watch to do so). It's a loose allegiance though, covering time information and alarm settings which can also be programmed through the phone -- it's still very much a watch, not a Pebble rival. Casio's second model is the more technically accomplished one: the first watch to pair together both GPS and Radio Wave tech, all without any unwieldy lumps in the design.
Casio's new EX-100 camera makes it harder to mess up the shot by taking nine different ones (hands-on)
Casio, famed creator of nostalgic digital watches, calculators and often unremarkable point-and-shoot cameras, just surprised us at Japan's premier photography show. Its EXILIM EX-100 is arguably the most interesting compact camera we found on the CP+ show floor this year. Keeping a constant f/2.8 aperture while still offering 10.7x zoom should mean plenty of light reaches the point-and-shoot's imaging sensor -- good thing that the show floor had a suitably stylish demo area to zoom into and see how it fared. While we didn't have samples to scrutinize fully, we were pleasantly surprised by the results we saw on the substantial 3.5-inch screen, which articulates in all the directions you'd expect it to. Underneath, there's even an extra fold-out stand to prop the camera up both horizontally or vertically, although we'll admit the device itself is a little chunky compared to the competition. What really interested us was a new dual-bracketing setting that captures a shot nine times, varying two parameters (white balance, exposure, focus, color saturation, shutter speed) in the process. In short, making it harder to flub a shot if whoever's holding the camera doesn't quite get the fundamentals. While there are four presets, you can pick which variables are switched up within the "premium bracketing" mode. The camera launches at the end of March, but the decent fixed lens and unusual software talents don't come cheap; 89,000 yen ($873) puts the EX-100 in a pricier... bracket than current favorites like Sony's RX100M2 ($750), and a similarly specced Olympus Stylus 1 ($700). For now, it also remains a Japan-only prospect.
Time Machines: Casio gets smart at CES 2000
Welcome to Time Machines, where we offer up a selection of mechanical oddities, milestone gadgets and unique inventions to test out your tech-history skills. In the weeks leading up to the biggest gadget show on Earth, we'll be offering a special look at relics from CES' past. Smart devices have infiltrated our outfits in many ways, but one in particular has been a staple of our ensembles for centuries. From pockets to wrists, its accessibility has also tempted inventors to add camera optics, dating as far back as the 1800s. Although we've refined these devices for years, advancements beyond timekeeping tend to come and go. Head past the break for more of the story.
Casio's iOS app will show you how to play Bieber's best for $10
Casio recently realized folks expect a bit more than a digital display on their watches these days, and now it's putting all those years of facilitating epic keyboard solos to good use with an iOS app that dissects your music collection. Chordana Viewer is aimed at budding performers (primarily shredders and ivory ticklers), especially those that want to know how to execute their favorite jams. The app will root through any track on your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad, and determine to the best of its ability the chords used to construct it. That's great for when you're sitting in front of your cream grand piano and all, but a virtual keyboard or guitar will allow you to get to grips with the fingering when it's touchscreen or bust. There are a bunch of sliders and dials to tweak pitch and speed, among other things, as well as recording functions and different instrument tones (more can be added for an in-app fee). Available now in the App Store, it'll set you back $10 (or £7). Launched in tandem with Chordana Viewer is the infinitely less useful Chordana Tap. It's free, at least, has many of the same knobs and settings, but breaks down your chosen track and feeds it back to you as a game, of sorts. While it shows the back-end magic Casio's using to work out chords is fairly accurate, Tap just shows a scrolling line with (off-beat) indentations we assume are cues to poke at the on-screen instrument. The app automatically adjusts pitch, so whatever you hit is never off-key. Imagine Guitar Hero, just boring, and really rubbish.
Refresh Roundup: week of September 30th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Casio's new G-Shock watches pack Bluetooth, music remote control
Newcomers like Pebble might be the current darlings when it comes to connected watches, but it doesn't mean that established players are standing still. Back at CES, Casio showed a G-Shock watch with Bluetooth (GB-5600A) capable of receiving calls and text-message notifications (with sound and vibration), plus automatic time updates from an iPhone. Today the company announced a pair of G-Shock watches (GB-6900B / GB-X6900B) with Bluetooth 4.0 LE that extend the existing functionality to select Android handsets. In addition, both watches feature music remote control (via AVRCP, presumably) and the ability to set alarms and timers from Casio's companion smartphone app. Battery life is a pretty impressive two years (with 12 hours of Bluetooth use per day) on a single CR2032 battery. The GB-6900B and GB-X6900B will be released in Japan on September 21st for 18,000 yen (roughly $187) and 20,000 yen (roughly $208) respectively. All that's needed now is a retro-looking Databank or calculator watch with Bluetooth, right, Casio?
Casio launches EX-ZR800 compact in Japan with 5-axis image stabilization
With the smartphone hordes banging at their gates, compact camera manufacturers are being forced to up their game. As such, Casio's just launched a 16-megapixel, 18X zoom EX-ZR800 Exilim engine-equipped model with features like continuous shooting, "night shot" ISO 25,600 sensitivity, HDR and five axis stabilization. Unlike with the Olympus SH-50, however, the latter feature works on stills only and not video to correct translational and rotational camera shake. You'll also get 1080p / 30fps H.264 video, a 25-450mm zoom range, f/3.5-7.0 aperture, time-lapse, 5fps burst speed, selective blur and "triple shot" exposure, which saves an image before you even press the shutter. The EX-ZR800 will arrive in Japan in red, white or black on August 23rd for 40,000 yen (about $410). There's no indication of a western arrival, but if we had to guess we'd expect it to trickle over to Europe and the US shortly afterwards. In the meantime, check the (translated) source for more.
