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Tag Heuer's 'modular' smartwatch isn't actually modular
Webster's dictionary may define "modular" as "constructed with standardized units," but in tech, that buzzword has a slightly different meaning. A modular device usually has swappable components that bring additional functionality. But Tag Heuer is going with the original definition of the word for its latest high-end Android Wear smartwatch. The Connected Modular 45 is the follow-up to the company's surprisingly successful debut smartwatch that came out last year. The company's sophomore offering is a highly customizable device that lets you swap out the "smart" module for a mechanical timepiece, turning it into just another analog luxury watch with a multi-thousand-dollar price tag. You can change other components of the watch, too. Starting at $1,600, the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 is a refinement of the original and, like its predecessor, will appeal to only very select group of people.
Intel wants to be a tech 'enabler' for the fashion industry
The line between technology and fashion is blurring. Brands and designers are now using electronics to make cutting-edge wearables and experiences, while companies like Amazon are trying to break into a space that hasn't until now been very welcoming of outsiders. Intel is another tech company that's set its sights on the fashion world, with various smart garments and accessories, including dresses, glasses and bracelets. In an interview at SXSW, Intel Vice President Sandra Lopez said her team's mission is to be an enabler first and foremost rather than trying to become a fashion brand unto itself.
TAG Heuer confirms March 14th debut for its next Android watch
Those rumors of TAG Heuer unveiling its next Android Wear watch this month? They're true. The brand has posted a pair of teasers confirming that it will unveil a future Connected smartwatch on March 14th. There are no major giveaways regarding the design (surprise: it'll likely be familiar), but there is a hint that it'll be better-suited to women's wrists than the chunky original. In a teaser video, TAG chief Jean-Claude Biver says that women had input -- don't be surprised if you see an option for a smaller case, different colors and other features that make the wristwear more accessible.
TAG Heuer's next smartwatch may include a swappable timepiece
TAG Heuer has dropped a few hints about its plans for a successor to the Connected, but the biggest news may be what it isn't mentioning. Android Central sources claim that TAG is working on the Connected Modular, a "fully customizable" Android Wear 2.0 watch that would let you not only replace the straps, but the timepiece itself. Reportedly, you could swap in an automatic mechanical watch module on demand -- say, for social occasions when you feel that a smartwatch would be too gauche. That would be far more convenient than TAG's current strategy, which gives you the 'privilege' of buying a mechanical equivalent to the Connected (at the same price as your original watch) after the warranty expires.
