Individual Project: SAMSUNG GALAXY GEAR

           As more and more great innovations are being introduced, our technology becomes more and more advanced. For example, cellphones before have keypads, and we can only call or send messages. Then they had basic applications like radio and/or mp3, games and others. Now, we call the cellphones smart phones because not only they can call or send messages to other people, but they can also run applications such as flappy bird. We can also browse the internet for sites like Google, and socialize with others in Facebook or Twitter and other social networking sites. Not to mention, smart phones are touchscreen which means that we are no longer using keypads and the applications are more interactive. We can do more like check e-mails, notifications and other things.

          Nowadays, cellphones, or smartphones as we call them, have big screens and they can be easily stolen. With advanced technology and new innovations, Samsung has made a new gadget called the Samsung Galaxy Gear. The Samsung Galaxy Gear is a smartwatch; it is a watch but it is also functions as a phone that you can use to receive calls or text messages. It has a 1.63-inch touchscreen display and functions as “a second-screen companion to a Samsung Galaxy branded smartphone or tablet.” (Johnson, 2014)

          So how is a Samsung Galaxy Gear different from other smartwatches like the Sony SmartWatch 2 and Pebble? The Samsung Galaxy Gear has a built-in bluetooth 4.0 connectivity to smartphone Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and will be compatible soon to S3, S4 and Note 2. It's connectivity to the parent devise is “strong and could reach up to more than 30 meters.” (Johnson, 2014) It's design is a plastic strap and stainless steel bezel or face and buckle; it's available in the colors: Black, Mocha Grey, Wild Orange, Rose Gold, Lime Green and Oatmeal Beige. The Samsung Galaxy Gear has a “fitness tracker with integrated accelerometer and gyro-sensor turning the watch into your own pedometer. Communicating with the parent device and the integrated Samsung S Health app, the watch lets you track your daily step counts and set personal targets and conduct pre-set training sessions.” (Johnson, 2014) It has a 4GB memory and also has a 1.9 megapixels camera with a BMI sensor for you to capture moments as a picture or video.

          Technologies, as we know, have their limitations. The Samsung Galaxy Gear is not exempted from it. Let's start with it's battery life. The smartwatch only lasts for 25 hours when in constant use, so a person using it would have to charge it nightly or bring it's charger, which is a dock, everywhere. Another thing is that it is only compatible with Samsung smartphones which limits its users to only the people using Samsung smartphones, or to be precise, Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Also, in interviews about the Samsung Galaxy Gear, Samsung executives said that “it lacks something special.” The Samsung Galaxy Gear is also quite expensive for something that is not yet 'fully developed' or something that have just started in the market.

Reference:

1. Johnson, Luke. 2014. Samsung Galaxy Gear Review. Trusted Reviews. http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-galaxy-gear_Mobile-Phone-Accessory_review#mjsRobpcsy4c5tGr.99. February 26, 2014.
2. Johnson, Luke. 2014. Samsung Galaxy Gear Review. Trusted Reviews. http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-galaxy-gear_Mobile-Phone-Accessory_review_camera-battery-value-and-verdict_Page-3. March 3, 2014.
3. Johnson, Luke. 2014. Samsung Galaxy Gear Review. Trusted Reviews. http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-galaxy-gear_Mobile-Phone-Accessory_review_features-performance-and-apps_Page-2#6xTm5SATKX7sw0tM.99. March 3, 2014.
4. Devine, Richard. 2013. Samsung Galaxy Gear Specs. Android Central. http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-gear-specs. March 5, 2014.
5. 2014. Galaxy Gear. Samsung. http://www.samsung.com/levant/consumer/mobile-phones/mobile-phones/galaxy-gear/SM-V7000ZWAAFR-spec. March 5, 2014.

Flores, Frances Marie G.

2013-49177

STS THX