New York gadget company Omate is looking to join the rapidly swelling smartwatch ranks with a "truly standalone" device that boasts full smartphone capabilities in addition to the ability to act as a wirelessly-linked companion accessory.
TrueSmart promises the same sort of functionality that the latest smartphones typically offer, from staple features such as voice call and social media sharing to GPS navigation and a 5-megapixel camera. It's powered by a 1.3 GHz dual core Cortex A7 chip, has 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB or solid state storage and a microSIM card slot. Its 600-mAh battery is reported to offer up to 100 hours on standby between charges.
Designed to IP67 standards, the water-resistant TrueSmart is housed in a protective metal casing, with a silicone strap. The 1.54-in, 240 x 240 resolution multi-touch display is topped with scratch-resistant Sapphire Crystal Glass and, since the capacitive touchscreen doesn't function properly when water is on the display, Omate added side buttons for continued operation.
The smartwatch will run on Android 4.2.2 and offers full access to the Google Play App Store.
Users who want to pair the TrueSmart watch with an existing smartphone (all models are said to be supported), can do so via Bluetooth 4.0 or 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi.
TrueSmart is currently at the closing stages of a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter, where it has attracted more than eight times its target goal of US$100,000.
The final design working prototype and tooling is complete and if all goes well, Omate hopes to ship the smartwatch before year's end at a retail price of $299.
The video below shows the UI of the TrueSmart working prototype in action.
Sources: Omate, Kickstarter
Of course, I won't be completely satisfied until I can (basically) wear my computer on my wrist... which means smartphones might actually evolve into just the interface (a touchscreen), to augment the "smarts" in the watch.
I do not want a watch to interface with my current phone or tablet. That's backward. If I could wear my computer on my wrist, I would not mind carrying a keyboard, screen, and trackpad to interface with THAT. Maybe a small screen on the watch for a basic fallback interface, and simple everyday things, like time/date!