Samsung beats Apple in race to launch smartwatch
1 min read
After months of speculation, Samsung has finally taken the wraps off its Galaxy Gear smartwatch.
The Korean electronics giant is the first major tech company to launch what's been dubbed a 'true' smartwatch, pipping main rival Apple to the post.
Speaking at the IFA electronics fair in Berlin, Samsung's chief executive, JK Shin, said: "Consumers want their daily lives to be easier and more enjoyable. Samsung Galaxy Gear benefits consumers by integrating smart device technology even deeper into their everyday lives, and bridges the gap between the mobile device and fashion worlds to create truly wearable technology."
Shin also said it would "free users from the need to constantly check their smart devices. It provides what we call 'smart freedom' by allowing users to choose how, why, when and where they are connected".
The Samsung watch has a 1.6in SuperAMOLED display, runs Android apps, and can sync with a smartphone to make phone calls and access the web.
It also includes an 800MHz processor, 4GB Internal memory (plus 512MB ram), a low resolution camera and voice recognition - allowing users to dictate emails and messages.
At the moment, the Galaxy Gear only works with Samsung's new Note 3 phablet, which was also revealed at the IFA event. However, there will be software upgrades that make it compatible with the Galaxy S4 and S3 from October.
The watch comes in six colours and will be available from 25 September. But will consumers buy into it?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
