Why not make a smartwatch with old-style electronics?

[desura]

Like this

It could have some sort of bluetooth connectivity and basically be a notifications screen. Making smartwatches like mini-phones seems stupid. Watch batteries last for years and so should smartwatches.

 

[Cobalt]

Because that's ugly as sin. Love the concept of the Moto 360 and that's how smartwatches should be IMO. Just needs more refinement which will come in future generations.

 

[Oyeve]

If I was a nerd from1988 may, but those style of watches are fugly.

 

[Graze]

Wouldn't be caught dead wearing that. I stopped wearing those ugly digital watches when I was 15.

 

[zerocool84]

First because that's ugly.

Second because it's just a watch with notifications which we've had already and others have done it with far better looking watches. We want more out of our "smart watches".

 

[Crono]

It could have some sort of bluetooth connectivity and basically be a notifications screen. Making smartwatches like mini-phones seems stupid. Watch batteries last for years and so should smartwatches.

You could have said the same thing of smartphones versus feature phones. Who needs a large LCD touchscreen? The early LTE phones especially lasted only a few hours on a charge, versus feature phones lasting for days.

That's the tradeoff you make, especially early on when the technology hasn't delivered the best of both worlds quite yet.
And there are "smartwatches" that are essentially notification devices (it's kind of hazy what to call "smart" or not, depending on the apps situation), but building any kind of radio will eat up battery way more than a traditional digital watch, even if it's Bluetooth LE.

 

[skriefal]

I just did a bit of searching to see if something like that existed, and found it (I think):
http://store.cookoowatch.com/cookoo-2-connected-watch/

No, I don't own one. But it's the first smart(ish) watch I've seen that I might actually be willing to purchase.

Even better would be a Citizen Eco-Drive with similar functionality. Would probably be $400+, but it'd be a great watch.

 

[openwheel]

Because people these days equate touch screen as hip and high tech. Fortunately there are still people who can appreciate good old fashioned mechanical watch as well as good digital wstches like G-Shock which is loved by police and military.

 

[Ramses]

I don't not-agree. Though I quit wearing watches over a decade ago when I noticed that every single place I ever was that it might matter what time it was had clocks all over the freakin place. But before that, those old timex were tuff. I keep trying to find a use for "smart" watches and am coming up lacking. People wearing watches in general make me chuckle these days unless they are really old, then it's OK.

 

[Red Storm]

As others have already said, the example provided is very ugly.

Second, it's not just about notifications. For me what makes Android Wear awesome is having Google Now, both the auto notifications and the voice commands. If all I wanted was basic notifications I would have bought a Pebble a long time ago.

 

[desura]

The main point though is battery life. I have a hard enough time remembering to charge my phone. Having to charge your watch too on a daily basis, a device that you use a fraction the amount as a phone, and which has just a fraction of the utility, is a major hinderance.

Because the watch is at best an accessory to the already very portable smartphone, it does not need power as much as it needs battery life.

 

[Red Storm]

The main point though is battery life. I have a hard enough time remembering to charge my phone. Having to charge your watch too on a daily basis, a device that you use a fraction the amount as a phone, and which has just a fraction of the utility, is a major hinderance.

Because the watch is at best an accessory to the already very portable smartphone, it does not need power as much as it needs battery life.

So buy a Pebble watch or any of the other already existing basic notification devices? Pretty sure they last more than a day. Me? I'll deal with the daily charging for the enhanced convenience of Google Now and Android Wear.

 

[desura]

I just did a bit of searching to see if something like that existed, and found it (I think):
http://store.cookoowatch.com/cookoo-2-connected-watch/

No, I don't own one. But it's the first smart(ish) watch I've seen that I might actually be willing to purchase.

Even better would be a Citizen Eco-Drive with similar functionality. Would probably be $400+, but it'd be a great watch.

Thank you for finding this.

This looks pretty good. The price is right as well. 3 year battery life is amazing.

 

[desura]

So buy a Pebble watch or any of the other already existing basic notification devices? Pretty sure they last more than a day. Me? I'll deal with the daily charging for the enhanced convenience of Google Now and Android Wear.

Pebble still needs to be recharged weekly, no?

 

[Red Storm]

Pebble still needs to be recharged weekly, no?

Okay then, it seems you are expecting at the very least multiple weeks of battery life for an always on smart watch. Sorry but that's a bit into the future, we aren't there yet.

 

[desura]

Okay then, it seems you are expecting at the very least multiple weeks of battery life for an always on smart watch. Sorry but that's a bit into the future, we aren't there yet.

that cookoo watch that someone found earlier boasts a 3 year battery life. It is on my radar now...

 

[WelshBloke]

that cookoo watch that someone found earlier boasts a 3 year battery life. It is on my radar now...

The cookoo isn't really a smartwatch.

 

[Red Storm]

that cookoo watch that someone found earlier boasts a 3 year battery life. It is on my radar now...

Looked it up, it is extremely basic in its notification capability. If that's all you want then I'm glad you may have found the watch for you, but I personally want something that has more notification capabilities, like allowing me to act on the notifications I receive right from the watch, in addition to all the other features I expect from a modern smartwatch.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I haven't worn a watch in 30ish years and none of the smart watches are likely to change that. I did, however, just pick up the Samsung Gear Fit and am toying with the idea of wearing that for the tracking functions more than anything else. I looked at the other Samsung Gear stuff, both watches, and much prefer the simpler, smaller, form factor of the Gear Fit.

All the actual functions done by watches are now being done as apps on your smartphone so there's little need for a watch except as a quicker display of some of that functionality and for that the Gear Fit is still preferable to me.

Before picking up the Gear Fit I looked at the new M$ Band and although it has additional functionality that would be nice to have it just looks too cumbersome for practical use. It would be nice to have continuous HR and GPS with battery life of a couple days when both are being used, but GPS is still quite the power hog...


Brian

 

[Jinny]

They already make watches like this

http://world.g-shock.com/us/en/ble/

 

[dainthomas]

Smartwatches. Lol. For the 99%ers who can't quite afford the level of pretentiousness that Google Glass provides.

 

[Ramses]

subdermal tech implants or nothing.
except maybe google glass.

 

[desura]

I'm really liking the cookoo watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZvNcetQb-o

The most useful feature is the notification letting you know if you left the phone behind.

Definitely on a "to-get" list.

I just wish it were a little thinner.

Edit: the more I see the cookoo watch, I can't help but think this is how Steve Jobs would have done his smartwatch.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Smartwatches. Lol. For the 99%ers who can't quite afford the level of pretentiousness that Google Glass provides.

I honestly can't think of one thing Glass does for me, other than maybe shoot POV video.

Meanwhile a smartwatch is basically a combo of my notification panel and my Google Now wall on my wrist. That is something I would use daily.

 

[Red Storm]

Smartwatches. Lol. For the 99%ers who can't quite afford the level of pretentiousness that Google Glass provides.

So in other words, since you don't see the appeal it must not be worthwhile for anyone else?