wristwatch
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Limited edition Metal Gear Solid 4 watch surfaces
Need some way to express your adoration for Solid Snake when not inside the house? Then check out this limited edition piece, would you? The Metal Gear Solid 4 watch will reportedly arrive individually numbered from 1 to 500 alongside a "Konami certificate of authenticity approved by Hideo Kojima." You'll also get a nifty gift box to hold the water resistant timepiece in when it's not flanking your wrist, but only if you manage to score one before the legions of other hardcore fans do. Oddly enough, there's some sort of "pre-order" going on in the read link below, but we wouldn't count on that being the most reliable method for procuring the £99.99 ($197) device when it's released in October.[Via TechDigest]
Wearfone watch phone looks to style up Finns
Due to exceptionally poor machine translation from the Finnish language (what gives, Google?), we really don't know a whole heck of a lot about Wearfone's admittedly stylish watch phone. Reportedly, similar devices have been around the concept block, but a trio of investors are hoping to actually get this one on store shelves by the year's end. Thanks to our super-scientific methods of deciphering, we've determined that it will boast a touchscreen display, GSM connectivity and the ability to send / receive calls and text messages. Early reports pin the price at anywhere between €500 ($776) and €1,000 ($1,553), but that's the price you pay for having a technologically advanced timepiece that won't get you tarred and feathered in public.[Thanks, Petteri]
CECT Wrist watch phone is borderline wearable
Generally speaking, watch phones are rarely useful. Not so much because of lackluster hardware or incompatible drivers, but due to the fact that no one with any dignity will ever be caught wearing one. The CECT Wrist, however, actually isn't a ghastly looking device at all, and although it's far from being a Sea-Dweller, we can't help but give props for the semi-stylish design. Specs wise, the unit boasts GSM connectivity, a 1.3-inch color LCD, FM radio tuner, multimedia player, 1.3-megapixel camera, handsfree support (Bluetooth) and a battery good for 150 minutes of continuous yappin'. Not too terribly shabby for £150.13 ($293), wouldn't you agree?[Via GizmoScene, thanks KC Kim]
Watch Tracker tells time, tracks movements and fends off potential friends
To be fair, we haven't really noticed a GPS watch that wasn't at least somewhat unsightly, but the Sport Genius Watch Tracker does a phenomenal job at exemplifying ugly. Reportedly, the conglomerate not only tells time, but the built-in GSM / GPS modules enable it to make and receive calls, track your movements and beam out your current location via SMS in case you find yourself in a pickle. It also provides the means for logging runs and points of interest, and you can supposedly upload the data to mapping software to get a visual on what you accomplished. Word on the street has it that this particular wristwatch should be available on the streets of China right now, but there's no telling how many yuan you'll be asked to fork over in order to publicly humiliate yourself.
DIY'er crafts scientific calculator watch, TI-30 is like "what?"
Calculator watches, a staple of the average's geek wardrobe since before your grandmother was born, have been called out, as David Jones' own homegrown version totally trumps anything out there on the pre-fabricated market today. The cleverly-titled µWatch was born after a Casio CFX-400 bit the dust after years upon years of telling time and determining averages, and while it seems as though a bona fide front panel is still in the works, we're personally hoping that currently unoccupied Design & Construction portal gets updated with a how-to guide. Check out the read link for a few more shots of the early prototype and the current build.[Via OhGizmo]
Quad-band watch phone rolls on Windows CE 5.0
Ready for some honesty? We can think of a good handful of timepieces that we'd buy before we dropped $629.95 on this catastrophe, but for folks with pants too slim and hands too full to carry around a separate cellphone, we suppose it's a so-so alternative. The EGP-WP98 claims to be the first quad-band GSM watch phone to come with Windows CE 5.0 installed, and while it's supposed to tout a SIM card slot, water-resistance, a 266MHz CPU and a 1.45-inch display with handwriting recognition (for real?), that little line informing us that specifications are "subject to change without notice" makes us a touch leery. Nevertheless, you can also expect (though you may not get) a 1.3-megapixel camera, WiFi, a T-Flash expansion slot, multimedia player and built-in Bluetooth. According to one particular e-tailer, it'll be ready to ship on April 25th -- whether or not anyone's fat-fingered enough to push an order through, however, remains to be seen. [Via UnwiredView]
Conceptual Crystal LED wristwatch is all kinds of gorgeous
For as many patently awful watch designs as we see, this here device has given us a newfound appreciation for timepieces. Yes, the Ilya Yakovlev-designed Real Crystal LED Watch is merely a concept at the moment, but creating such a device with crystals and LEDs is entirely plausible. If ripped into the realm of reality (pretty please?), wearers would be allowed to "increase the luminosity and change colors to suit [their] mood." We're just going to hope the question isn't if we'll see this one day, but when.
Cool G108 watch phone is Maxwell Smart-approved
For the half dozen or so folks actively seeking a run-of-the-mill watch phone to completely destroy any chance of landing new pals (let alone a SO) while out on the town, you've got a surprising amount of choices. Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find one as gaudy, yet curiously sleek as the Cool G108. Boasting what appears to be an electroluminescent keypad (is that a rotary dial design we see?) and a convenient flip-up screen, this watch / cellphone mishmash also features quad-band GSM / GPRS support, a 1.5-inch (160 x 128) internal display, 1.3-megapixel camera, multimedia player, Bluetooth, 0.5MB (generous, we know) of built-in memory and a MMS expansion slot in case you need more than a single Duran Duran track on your wrist. You'll also find USB connectivity and a smallish external display, and while pricing remains a mystery, there's loads more pics waiting in the read link below.
Diesel looses two more OLED wristwatches
Late last year, Diesel popped out a pair of timepieces that featured a smallish OLED and lots of shine. This year, it's the OLED sitting front and center. The DZ7076 and DZ7086 both ditch the heavy chrome look and head back to the basics, and there's even four animations that do the OLED proud with the push of a button. Each watch also touts a genuine leather strap and the all-important Diesel logo, and while the DZ7076 can be yours for just $120, the slightly more retro DZ7086 will demand an extra $30.[Via OhGizmo]Read - Diesel DZ7086Read - Diesel DZ7076
Voz Sports unveils Bluetooth Frequency watch, Multy LYNK helmet
Bluetooth watches and Bluetooth helmets -- been there, done that on both points. Still, Voz Sports is keeping our attention with its attention to detail on the Multy LYNK helmet and Sports Frequency wristwatch (shown after the jump). As for the latter, you can expect a black (2GB) or red (1GB) face, Bluetooth v1.2, a waterproof casing, included earbuds and USB 2.0 connectivity. Checking out the headgear, you'll likely appreciate the "voice-activated, wireless two-way radio communication via 14 FRS channels with 38 privacy codes," Bluetooth v1.2, its NOAA weather receiver, noise-canceling microphone, waterproof stereo speakers and AA battery operation. Each device is set to ship on April 1 (no joke!) for $249.95 to $299.95 and $299.95, respectively.Read - Sports Frequency watch [Via Be Sportier]Read - Multy LYNK helmet [Via Be Sportier]
Garmin's new Forerunner 405 puts the 'watch' back in 'GPS watch'
Starting with the Forerunner 305, Garmin finally started producing GPS-enabled watches that didn't make you look like a total goof while tracking your pace and vitals, but these still weren't timepieces you'd be comfortable wearing to the office or even a bar. Then came the Forerunner 50, which had the perfect watch-like form factor, but unfortunately, no GPS. So fans of this line will be pleased to learn that Garmin has somehow been able to shoehorn a satellite receiver into a casing not much bigger than the 50's and dubbed it the Forerunner 405. Besides monitoring and logging speed, distance, heart rate and location, the 405 also features a touch-sensitive bezel for controlling its various functions, as well as the same proprietary ANT+Sport wireless syncing technology as the GPS-less 50. Available in either black (pictured above) or green (pictured after the break, along with a video walkthrough), the Forerunner 405 will start at $299.
Latest MP4 wristwatch sports an FM transmitter, too
We're all but convinced that nobody actually wears these video-playing watches out in public, but just in case there's some otherworldly group out there that takes pride in adorning their wrists with timepieces that are utterly heinous, you're in luck. This iteration sports a 1.8-inch 160 x 128 resolution OLED display, integrated media player that handles MP3, WMA and MP4 files, a built-in Li-ion, 4GB of internal memory, voice recording capability, USB 2.0 connectivity and an FM transmitter for good measure. All this can be yours for the above average price of $126, but if you have any respect for yourself whatsoever, you'll glide right on past this one.[Via The Red Ferret Journal]
Samsung patent app details wristwatch / cellphone hybrid
Generally speaking, mishmash concepts involving a cellphone and just about anything wearable haven't exactly taken off, but if Maxwell Smart can do it, why can't Samsung? In a recent patent application from the firm, a "wrist wearable type portable terminal" is described, which essentially acts as a wrist strap that functions as a cellphone holster. Granted, the idea could be problematic in a myriad ways -- leading to public humiliation and a lack of broad compatibility with mobiles for starters -- but we can't fault 'em for trying.[Via UnwiredView]
Citizen unveils Bluetooth-enabled i:Virt watches
Truthfully, we've no idea whether Citizen really did replace its VIRT design team or if they all just had an epiphany, but whatever the case, the outfit's latest lineup of Bluetooth-enabled wristwatches actually look... marginally wearable. The i:Virt collection, which comes in four colors along with a metal-banded sibling, is capable of playing nice with your Bluetooth mobile, and moreover, they all boast a battery life of up to five days with BT turned on. Furthermore, the units are water-resistant and feature a color LCD, phone battery meter, caller ID, signal display, call history list and email viewer. Unfortunately, it seems as though the watches all sport the elusive "open price" for now, but feel free to take a closer look at the gang after the jump.[Via WristWatch]
Hyundai shows off W-100 watch phone
Remember that mysterious CECT cellphone watch we peeked back in July? Unless our eyes (badly) deceive us, that very piece has morphed into Hyundai's W-100, the latest watch phone in town. Reportedly, this device sports a 1.3-megapixel camera, a 176 x 144 resolution touchscreen, Bluetooth, support for English / Chinese languages, an integrated MP3 player and a microSD slot for loading up your tunes. Regrettably, no pricing or release information was readily available, but feel free to click on through for a couple more looks.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Polar offers up RS800G3 multisport training system
Polar's RS800, which was originally introduced last September, is getting one-upped this fall by the RS800G3 multisport training system. Essentially, this acts as a GPS upgrade to the wristwatch, which "enables athletes to measure speed and distance for a variety of outdoor sports." The entire system now consists of the RS800 wrist unit, Wearlink W.I.N.D. heart rate transmitter, ProTrainer 5 software and the G3 GPS Sensor, and those who already plunked down for the watch last year can purchase the G3 GPS sensor separately. The sensor itself packs a SiRFstarIII chipset, is water resistant and can last around 15-hours on just a single AA battery. Price wise, athletes (or athletes to-be) can pick up the entire RS800G3 bundle for $499.95, while the standalone G3 will run you $139.95.[Thanks, SK]
Diesel offers up duo of OLED-packin' watches
It's not that we've never seen a watch with an OLED display, but considering that so few of them are even mildly attractive, we have to take notice when one pops up that could actually be worn (shamelessly) in public. Diesel's DZ7080 and DZ7079 timepieces both sport integrated OLED displays, fairly appealing designs and water-resistance to boot. Not a whole lot of extra features or anything, but both models look to be available right now for around $150.50 and $136.50, respectively.[Via Technabob]
Jaeger LeCoultre watch unlocks, starts Aston Martin DBS
For those sick and tired of living vicariously through James Bond, Aston Martin is giving buyers of the €240,000 ($330,864) DBS coupe the chance to add on a svelte wristwatch that will actually lock, unlock and start their new vehicle. The limited edition Jaeger LeCoultre AMVOX2 chronograph not only boasts "over 200 parts to its casing and an equal number in the watch movement itself," but it will include a miniaturized form of the "DBS transponder electronics" within the base. Owners of the timepiece will be able to leave the key at home in a vault and crank their new ride up with the touch of a watch, but the convenience will cost you a stiff €25,000 ($34,465) on top of the car's purchase price. [Warning: read link requires subscription][Via The Raw Feed]
Brando offers up feature-packed MP4 Watch II
Though we've definitely seen a few "MP4 watches" in our day, none of them do it up quite like Brando's MP4 Watch II. This (admittedly unattractive) timepiece plays nice with MP3 / WMA / MP4 formats and includes an FM tuner, voice recorder, photo viewer, "eBook reader," a 1.8-inch 160 x 128 resolution display, five preset equalizer modes, USB 2.0 connectivity, and yes, even a built-in speaker if you're not down with headphones. Of course, we aren't responsible for your social life grinding to a halt if caught wearing this whilst out on the town, but those who aren't concerned with image can snag the 2GB flavor for $92 or double their capacity for $26 more.
SMS Technology shipping the M500 watch phone on August 31st?
We'll admit, there's a few sects who've already crossed SMS Technology's M500 watch phone off as vaporware in its finest form, but apparently, the firm is finally coming through on its most recent declaration. Yep, those wearable phones the company has been promising all this time are finally shipping soon, at least, we think. According to the company, "the final version of the M500 production model has been given full clearance to be supplied with full metal strap bracelets," and it sounds like deliveries should begin within a month. Furthermore, the final production model sports a longer stylus, a battery upgrade, and a few software tweaks including support for POP3 email and IM. Hang tight, the "global retail launch" is slated for September 10th, with the keyword here being "slated."[Via PMPToday]