Demand for new electronic devices from the smartphone and tablet industry has recently simmered somewhat. Their markets are saturated. The newest processors or razor sharp displays aren’t as enticing as they once were, as last year’s models often hold up against the new competition. Some electronic companies have shifted focus to the low-end market, but their budget-friendly products are not flagship devices. To show their technological prowess and re-excite consumers, manufacturers have found a new focus for their industry in 2014: smartwatches.
Don’t run to your nearest gadget store yet; smartwatches are nothing new. Models such as the original Samsung Gear or Sony Smartwatch have already been gathering dust in store displays. However, these devices have never gathered a sizable user base, as their functionality is limited. Tech moguls like Samsung and Motorola are aiming to popularize smartwatches. In 2014, they will release their new devices: the Samsung Gear 2 and Gear Fit for Samsung and the Moto 360 for Motorola.
The Samsung Gear 2 and Gear Fit were announced alongside the Galaxy S5 during the Mobile World Congress in February. The older Gear 2 has a 1.63 inch display and 4 GB of storage, with a built-in infrared blaster and heart rate monitor. This time around, the Gear 2 has a sleeker, more simplistic design and offers users the choice of swapping out the wristband with any 22 mm band of their choice. The Gear Fit, on the other hand, features a 1.84 inch curved display. This means the display will actually curve along your wrist. In terms of functionality, the Gear fit is nearly identical to the Gear 2. However, Samsung hopes the bracelet-like design will encourage more active use.
The Moto 360 distinguishes itself by offering a circular face in contrast to its competitors’ round displays. Very little is known about the Moto 360, but chief designer Jim Wicks has revealed that the Moto 360 will have a very simple, slim build. Its design is intended to be watch first, smart device second. The smart functionalities will be accessed through touch and a new voice-controlled experience. The Moto 360 leads Google’s Android Wear platform, which will bring Google’s popular Google Now to smartwatches.
The other two major competitors, Apple and Microsoft, have yet to reveal any news on their developments. There is some speculation that Apple will announce a new smartwatch with its new iPhone this summer, but, in typical Apple style, users will not know anything concrete until the announcement itself.
