Microsoft may be creating a smartwatch

[thekeemo]

According to Forbes, Microsoft is planning to counter Apple and Google's wearable ambitions with its own device in the coming weeks. Forbes says that the device will be a smartwatch "that will passively track the wearer's heart rate and work across several mobile platforms."

Reported sources familiar with the project say that the device will actually get two full days of battery life, which would be a small bump up from current Android options. The smartwatch will reportedly launch soon after its announcement for the holidays and before Apple's looming "Spring 2015" deadline. We've reached out to Microsoft for comment.

Forbes reported exclusively in May that Microsoft was working on a wearable and Tom's Hardware confirmed in June that the device would be cross platform and would arrive around October. [Forbes]

 

Source: http://gizmodo.com/report-microsoft-may-be-launching-a-wearable-in-the-co-1648229640?utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_twitter&utm_source=gizmodo_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

Image: Samsung Galaxy Gear running Windows 95

 

im actually stoked for this if the price is right

[LukeTim]

lol

[QueenDemetria]

Will probably end up like WP.

[brownninja97]

its either amazing or "kill it with death ware"

[Thorium19]

It'll probably be a decent quality smartwatch, but the UI will be all squares and the watch will be square, with no rounded edges at all.

[thekeemo]

It'll probably be a decent quality smartwatch, but the UI will be all squares and the watch will be square, with no rounded edges at all.

I like squares

[Wauthar]

Oh, how surprising after all the tech giants also do it. Competition is always nice, though.

[Thorium19]

I like squares

You get fed up of them after looking at them on a phone for two years.

[connorpiper]

The Surface Smart Watch? With Windows Phone 8.1 RT?

 

It will look amazing though. Like the Surface. 

[Techhog]

I actually think Metro would be good for a watch.

[Mindtrickz]

Microsoft, ALWAYS late to the party. Smart phones, tablets, smartwatches etc.

[DarrenP]

Microsoft, ALWAYS late to the party. Smart phones, tablets, smartwatches etc.

Uh the were first in tablets...

[TroubleKlef]

Uh the were first in tablets...

Not in the modern sense.

 

Apple didn't make the first smartphone but they were the first to bring the smartphone the way we see it today.

[bob345]

smart watches are a fad, if Microsoft is smart they will wait it out. Hardware is not their main thing anyway

[GoodBytes]

Microsoft was the first with the smart watched AGES ago. But once again, every one ignores that, because it's Microsoft.

Bill Gates introduced back in 2004, SPOT (Smart Personal Object Technology). And the best part... you didn't need a smartphone to operate. It was before smartphones.. well ok I lied, we had this at the time:

And similar from Blackberry, but they were nothing like we have today. Very limited in comparison, and very costly, let alone open to make apps.

The SPOT was a system that was connecting via FM Radio, via a 39-59$ per year subscription model, in Canada and U.S (and planed later for other countries, but that didn't happen, due to the market interest).

Suunto, Tissot and Fossile watch maker, where the first companies manufacturing the device:

It provided exact time, traffic report, stock market information, weather information, news and MSN messages. Of course, with all a normal digital watch would give you (alarm, time, date, etc.)

Microsoft, was ahead of its time. In addition, SPOT technology could be implemented everywhere, including and not limited to, coffee machines and alarm clocks, all using a single service price. Meaning you pay 39-59$ per year, and it works on all your SPOT enabled devices.

So whose late to the party? Looks like Microsoft was alone since 2004 partying, and still is.

Oh and it had amazing battery life compared to smart watches now, and the service in typical fashion ended in 2011, when the watch was discontinued back in 2008, so those who were interested, could still rock with it, for many years.

The above from Tissot, had touch screen, and Sapphire glass.

(water proof too)

[Mindtrickz]

Uh the were first in tablets...

 

Modern tablets? Naah, they tried selling heavy PC that couldn't be held with one hand for a prolonged time and without touch support.

[Mindtrickz]

Microsoft was the first with the smart watched AGES ago. But once again, every one ignores that, because it's Microsoft.

So whose late to the party? Looks like Microsoft was alone since 2004 partying, and still is.

 

Except Samsung launched this back in 1999:

 

And Seiko and Casio launched a few as far back as 1970's.

[GoodBytes]

Except Samsung launched this back in 1999:

 

And Seiko and Casio launched a few as far back as 1970's.

Those are not smartwatches. Samsung was nothing more than a phone on your wrist. It didn't have the ability to get info/data (beside the phone call ability for Samsung), from the outside.

As for Casio, you are confusing with their watch calculator.

Also, Samsung watch that you posted is from 2002.

This is the one from 1999/2000

with 90-minutes talk time only. And didn't do much beside that. It was really a phone on your wrist, and not a smart phone.

[Flight1sim]

call it the Microsoft Area!

So newegg could have the Surface+Area bundles

im a genius 

[StingBull]

I'd but one if it runs Windows 95.

[Arkosh]

blue screen of death on small screen now

[Electrostatik]

They should make a Minecraft watch

[NinjaStyle013]

This could be really good with the styling they used for Windows Phone. I would nearly even get one if it was worthwhile.

 

Windows Phone is pretty basic so putting it on a watch would be great because youre not worried about cameras or apps etc

[Silent_Xaxal]

It was bound to happen.

[Psykomantis00]

This will sell about as well as their smartphones and their rt tablets.