Wireless News
12-01-2015, 08:50 AM
http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/tPjVoVXf6nr_M4z3HjGm2w--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9ODY7cT03NTt3PT EzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/digital_trends_973/3fc38b4fbc3be8bc36bcb44c1da0a434 (http://news.yahoo.com/ll-just-48-hours-pick-124454379.html)Omate is giving you just 48-hours to grab its latest Android smartwatch, called the Rise, when it launches the Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign on December 7. It’s an unusual and slightly risky strategy, but the watch’s extensive feature list and low $200 price tag may be enough to make it a success. The Omate Rise isn’t just another Bluetooth accessory for your smartphone. It has a SIM card slot, so it’s capable of actually replacing your phone. If that’s not for you, then it’ll happily connect up using Bluetooth and serve notifications from your current device, whether it runs Android or iOS. What’s more, it doesn’t run Android Wear, or a proprietary operating system either; the Omate Rise runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with Omate’s own OIU 4.0 skin over the top. Related: LG cancels Watch Urbane LTE due to complicated technical issue If you’re grimacing over the thought of a custom user interface, don’t forget Android’s being displayed on a circular 1.3-inch, 360 x 360 pixel screen here, and therefore has to be adapted for ease of use. It’s a compromise that’s essential to the Rise’s operation. Using full Android means the watch can operate as a phone — a feature only just introduced on Android Wear — and run regular apps, just like on your smartphone. The watch’s body is made from polycarbonate with a carbon fiber bezel for some character, while the screen has a sapphire coating for extra toughness. The strap measures 22mm and can be swapped out for one of your choice. The watch itself is quite large at 44m wide, but it’s water resistant to a depth of one meter. Inside is a MediaTek 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage space, while the SIM slot takes a micro card and will connect to 3G HSDPA networks in the U.S. and Europe. There’s also GPS and Wi-Fi, a speaker and a microphone, a magnetometer and a gyroscope, plus a 580mAh battery. There’s no indication of how much usage time the cell will provide, but it’ll depend on how the watch is used. Connect to a network and make some calls, and we doubt it’ll last for long. Omate wants to raise $30,000 during its 48-hour campaign, and will aim to have the watches sold during that time delivered in March next year. The first 500 Rise watches will cost just $200. Miss out, and the next 500 will be $210, and both these models will come with a chest belt heart rate sensor. Subsequent watches will be yours for $220, but won’t come with the sensor. All the models sold on Indiegogo will have a limited edition number assigned and engraved on the case. If a 3G, circular, Android smartwatch for $200 sounds interesting — and why wouldn’t it — then make sure you’re on Indiegogo from 10am EST (that’s 7am PST or 3pm GMT) on December 7 to pick one up.
More... (http://news.yahoo.com/ll-just-48-hours-pick-124454379.html)
More... (http://news.yahoo.com/ll-just-48-hours-pick-124454379.html)