drag2share: This is Motorola's new Android Wear smartwatch: Moto 360

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/18/this-is-motorolas-new-android-wear-smartwatch-moto-360/

LG went first, and now it's Motorola's turn to unveil its Android Wear smartwatch: the Moto 360. Putting an emphasis on the tried-and-true design of classic timepieces, Motorola's crafted a smartwatch that hews closely to a more traditional, premium look. The Moto 360 boasts a circular, digital watchface powered by Android Wear that grants users access to notifications with, presumably, gestures, as the company's official line mentions the need for a "twist of the wrist." There's also Google Now integration, much like on the G Watch, that'll make checking in on the weather, sports scores or flights a hands-free affair just by saying, "Ok Google."

From the looks of it, Moto's made what's arguably the sexiest smartwatch we've seen to date, but that image above isn't the only form factor we'll be seeing. When the Moto 360 launches this summer worldwide, it'll come in a "variety of styles," and sport leather or metallic bands. If you happen to live in the US, you'll be getting first dibs on this Android Wear looker when it debuts.

Vote on our poll for Would you rather?!

Filed under: Wearables, Wireless, Mobile, Google

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Source: Motorola

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drag2share: Phosphor's Touch Time is a smartwatch that doesn't need a smartphone (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/18/phosphor-touch-time-e-ink-smartwatch-hands-on/

When we talk about smartwatches, it's normally devices that either work with your phone, or seek to replace them altogether. That's not the approach taken by Phosphor, which recruited former Nike designer Stefan Andrén to craft a model that's entirely self-contained. Of course, without a smartphone riding shotgun, the watch should have better battery life, but it also has to do the heavy lifting on its own. After raising more than $300,000 on Kickstarter, the Touch Time is clearly seeking to knock the Pebble from its perch, but will it succeed?

The biggest issue here is that the Touch Time abandons buttons in favor of gestures, and you'll have to unlock the device with a long, bottom-to-top swipe before you begin using it. You can select from a number of pre-installed watch faces, or push across to a home screen where you can launch one of seven apps, including calculator, stopwatch and reminders. Unfortunately, this is where the dream begins to die, as the capacitive touchscreen isn't big or sensitive enough to handle imperfect instructions. A casual swipe is frequently ignored, and it's only long, precise movements that get you where you want to be. This, naturally, becomes a bit of a chore if you're used to the instant gratification that comes from a smartphone touchscreen.

Then there's the 1.3-inch 169 x 144 LCD display itself, which only offers room for a 2 x 2 grid of icons. That's fine when the apps are reasonably simple, but the calculator app pushes the operators to an entirely different screen, and switching between them frequently causes you to make unwanted key presses. Add in the lack of accuracy, and the process becomes even more frustrating as the unit beeps every time you make a gesture.

On the upside, Phosphor's pedigree is in watchmaking, so the company has at least managed to get the basics right. The stainless steel case is stylish and the silicone strap is comfortable, albeit a tad too eager to pick up lint during wear. The device promises to last up to a year on a single watch battery, not to mention resist water down to depths of around 30 meters. Realistically, Phosphor has crafted something that'll stand out in a crowded market, but not something that'll tear you away from your Pebble. If that hasn't deterred you, however, then you'll be happy to know that the Touch Time is shipping from today, and will set you back $160.

Filed under: Wearables

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Source: Phosphor

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drag2share: Imagination's new graphics tech brings realistic lighting to mobile games

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/18/imagination-powervr-raytracing/

Even the prettiest mobile games tend to look a bit ugly, with simple lighting effects that remind you that you're not using a more powerful console or PC. If Imagination Technologies has its way, though, those pocket-sized games will be truer to life. Its newly unveiled Wizard architecture brings ray tracing, a technique that calculates the path of every light beam in a 3D scene, to the company's PowerVR mobile graphics cores. You can see the resulting visual boost in the picture above: every light casts a shadow, glass is more realistic and reflections accurately portray the surrounding world. The first core to use Wizard is the high-end GR6500, which companies can license for their mobile processors. Imagination hasn't named customers, but we'd note that Apple and Intel are among two of its clients -- don't be surprised if your next iPhone or Windows tablet is a graphics powerhouse.

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Tablets, Mobile, Apple, Intel

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Source: Imagination Technologies

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drag2share: Google Has One Killer Advantage When It Comes To Smartwatches

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-now-for-android-wear-2014-3

Google unveiled Android Wear today, a lightweight version of Android that manufacturers can use to power smartwatches and other wearable gizmos.

None of the manufacturers listed as Android Wear partners (Samsung, Fossil, LG, HTC, Motorola, and a few others) have a device ready right now, but we should start seeing them go on sale in the coming months.

In the meantime, Google gave us a really good look at what the Android Wear operating system will be able to do. Specifically, it seems to rely heavily on Google Now, the digital assistant that comes with Android phones and as a separate app for the iPhone. 

In short, Google Now blows Siri out of the water. And it has the potential to be even more useful on wearable devices that are designed to contextualize your notifications and display what's most relevant to you at any given time.

If you're unfamiliar with Google Now, it works by pulling in data from all your Google services like Gmail, Calendar, Maps, searches, etc. and figures out on its own what to show you.

For example, if you have a meeting scheduled in your Google Calendar, Google Now can automatically alert you when to leave so you can make it on time. It even takes traffic delays into account. It can also scan your Gmail inbox for upcoming flight notifications and UPS/FedEx package shipments. 

That's barely scratching the surface of what Google Now can do, but just know it's an incredibly powerful tool for synthesizing all your digital information. Plus, Google keeps layering new features on top of Google Now, so it gets better the more you use it.

And that's what makes Google Now the killer feature for smartwatches. It doesn't make sense to have users swipe around to find what they want on a smartwatch. The real challenge is to create a product that just knows what you want to see based on where you are and what you're doing. And if you really do need to look s! omething up, Google Now is equipped with excellent voice search that can bring you the one answer you're looking for, not a list of search results like Siri often does.

It raises an interesting question: If and when Apple releases a smartwatch, would you rather have a device powered by Siri or Google Now? 

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drag2share: A Touchscreen 'Smart'watch That Doesn't Need a Phone

Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-touchscreen-smart-watch-that-doesnt-need-a-phone-1545697017

In a time when every company seems to be announcing a smartwatch, Phosphor has taken a slightly different approach with its Touch Time. It runs a small suite of apps, accessible on the watch's monochrome touchscreen LCD display, but what it comes with is all it will ever have. There's no wireless connectivity to a smartphone, no USB port for firmware updates, and no way to upgrade it whatsoever—save for shipping it back to the factory.

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