New Delhi: The much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch is finally out. While some are finding to be a cool fashion accessory, others are doubting its success. The Galaxy Gear may have an intuitive interface, but it is not an independent device, instead a slave which can be used only when it is paired to a smartphone. Here is what goes in favour of this device and what makes it unpleasant to use.
Things that may turn you off
- Like similar products already being sold, the Gear is not an independent device. For useful functionality, the Gear needs to be linked with a specific Samsung smartphone or tablet computer. The pairing is done wirelessly over a Bluetooth connection built in to both sides.
- The big disappointment for Samsung gadget owners is that the Gear does not work with most of its phones and tablets. For now the Galaxy Gear can only be paired with the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet PC.
- It is priced at about twice the price of the Sony SmartWatch and the Pebble
- Its 1.9 megapixel camera is said to be of poorer quality than a typical smartphone camera.
- One downside is that the Gear doesn't support a wireless earpiece, so both sides of any conversation can be overheard.
Things that may please you
- The Gear supports apps such as Facebook and lets the wearer answer incoming calls or check email without picking up the smartphone that's paired with it.
- The Gear's design flair and ease of use are its sweetest attributes. It is sleek, with a thin metallic bezel surrounding the display. The strap comes in six different colors - black, gray, orange, beige, gold and green.
- It is easy to activate the camera and quick to shoot a photo. It left both hands free while placing and answering calls. The full message can also be read. Samsung says replies are possible through voice dictation.
- Easy navigation of the touch screen is one of the device's biggest pluses.
- Samsung has dispensed with buttons on the screen, so there's no home or back button.
- One tap anywhere on the screen takes and saves a photo in the Gear and the smartphone that's paired with it.
- The first generation of the Gear seems to be cool but not compelling enough.
(With inputs from Associated Press)
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