The original Galaxy Gear smartwatch was met with a critical reception after claims it failed to offer sufficient features. A software update addressed some of those, such as its inability to show Google mail messages, but Samsung indicated it will persist with the category with an update that it said was “designed to take the freedom, convenience and style of wearable technology to the next level”. Both devices offer enhanced connectivity and integration with other devices for a more personal, wearable experience, the company said.
Samsung’s bid to create a new product category has been hampered by poor reviews, high return rates and claims that the device is not yet ready for mainstream adoption. Other companies, including Sony and HTC, are however also expected to announce new smartwatches at the upcoming Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, indicating the industry’s continued commitment to wearable technologies.
Samsung itself is expected to dominate the show with its announcement of the new S5 smartphone. The new models will now integrate the camera with the screen, rather than placing it on the strap, and improve the design. Users will also be able to change the home screen background, clock face and font. As currently, the Gears will show incoming calls and messages, but new features will also allow them to work as remote controls for TVs or set-top boxes and as a standalone music player when paired with a bluetooth headset.
A heart rate monitor is also now included, and Samsung said both models, although based on the new Tizen operating system, will be compatible with more than a dozen Samsung Galaxy smartphones at launch from April. The new Gear 2 includes an identical screen to its predecessor, but the new operating system runs on a faster, 1GHz processor, and upgrades to camera from 1.3MP to 2MP. Its fractionally smaller battery claims to offer a similar level of performance.