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  • JeremyInNZ - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    I have the original Zenwatch, and it's a nice smart watch. I can't stand however, the charging cradle. It's nice to see the new one changing that up.
  • ajcarpenter - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    I was really hoping that this next wave of Android Wear devices would have NFC for Android Pay support. I like the Android Wear OS but I don't want to commit to a new device until they get payment support. Apart from that, this looks like a nice device.
  • johnnevill - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    I'm still not the biggest fan of the square face with the big-ass bezel, but this sure is a nice looking device. Here's hoping that Motorola's next 360 that they are announcing tomorrow will have an AMOLED screen. That's sort of a non-starter otherwise.
  • Vepsa - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    And here I thought I wanted a LG Watch Urbane
  • melgross - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    It's interesting that now we're seeing rectangular Android Wear watches come out, the railing against anything that isn't a round case has evaporated. Was all that angst against rectangular watch cases directed towards rectangular watch cases, or against the fact that Apple's watch is rectangular?

    I think it's the latter.
  • Gadgety - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    I don't mind rectangular, I've had rectangular watches, and back in the 70's found them very cool. However when such a large part of the watch is dead bezel area, I find it aged from the get go. Same goes for Apple. The circular screens with thin bezels are much more interesting from a visual perspective, a mix between good old, and good new, and also provide more screen acreage.
  • StubbyMcGee - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    Do you have any examples of this "railing against anything that isn't a round case" or evidence that said railing has "evaporated"? I doubt your thinking is correct considering YOU are only "now seeing rectangular Android Wear watches come out" whereas we (i.e. everybody else) saw rectangular Android Wear watches come out last year, long before the Apple Watch was even revealed...
  • jjj - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    So it this pace they'll reach a reasonable pricing next year, decent hardware in 2-3 years and they'll stop cloning dumb watches... never.
  • ingwe - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    I just can't see the market for smartwatches in the long term. I mean, isn't the reason that smart phones are as large as they are because people wanted more functionality and to have that functionality accessible means a larger format?

    I think they are pretty cool. I just don't see them being used alongside a phone that does everything better (except for monitoring HR and such) and isn't much less convenient. I can't see them having enough functionality though to have people ditch their phones.

    I don't hate them; I just can't see a real use to justify the added cost.
  • Murloc - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link

    they are useful in certain niches:
    1. fitness
    2. people who have to read lot of messages but not answer to them
  • Lord of the Bored - Friday, September 4, 2015 - link

    It seems to me that the popular phone sizes fluctuate pretty wildly every few years.
    I'm still waiting for small to be in again. The promise of a wristphone is one that hangs tantalizingly close.
  • Conficio - Saturday, September 5, 2015 - link

    I could see where this becomes really useful. Lets get the "smart watch" thing out of the way and call them Body Sensors and it starts to make more sense.

    For people could have a more intimate/personal relationship with their communication computer (phone) in their pocket. If you have a smart sensor extension you can receive vibration notifications for calls, push calls to hold, until you have left the meeting room or theater to take it, push it to voicemail, etc. all without disturbing your environment.

    And you can leave your phone in the bag/purse/jacket (over the chair) and don't have to pull it out of your pocket and put it on the table, just to be able to sit down comfortably.

    You can receive notifications that your bus/train stop is up next.

    A finger print sensor could confirm that you are paying your bill w/o giving your fingerprint to the other party as well as pulling out your phone to hold it against something.

    Or simply exchanging information how to stay in contact (phone number, address, etc.) Those apps have not found a standard in phones, but are sorely needed and they are awkward to tab your phones together. But initiating such an exchange on your wrist and confirming it with your fingerprint sensor would be an easy exchange.

    Last but not least, once you think those devices as not a replacement for your watch. You could also wear them in or on your clothing (Shirt pocket height, lapel, shoulder (like policemen have their microphones), body camera, laniard, collar band like the bluetooth phones), making available a camera position that opens other options, like snap a photo of the person you are with, of a sign, a view, may be even a document, etc. for memory purposes or communication.

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