Tuesday, 6 August 2013
While Samsung sent out invites for its next Unpacked event scheduled for September 4, where it's expected to unveil the next generation Galaxy Note device, there's also buzz that it might release a smart watch, named Galaxy Gear, at the same event.
Adding more fuel to the rumour is a new report by Dutch website Galaxy Club which has spotted a trademark filing on the USPTO's website related to a new range of smart devices christened as Galaxy Gear. Samsung describes the devices as "Wearable digital electronic devices in the form of a wristwatch, wrist band or bangle capable of providing access to the Internet and for sending and receiving phone calls, electronic mails and messages; wearable electronic handheld devices in the form of a wristwatch, wrist band or bangle for the wireless receipt, storage and/or transmission of data and messages and for keeping track of or managing personal information; smart phones; tablet computers; portable computers" in the filing. This, in a way is a confirmation that Samsung intends to name its smart watch "Galaxy Gear."
Based off the renderings, the display appears to offer touch controls. Other smartphone functions are also present, including power, microUSB, and a speaker.
It is unclear if the Galaxy Gear will be Android-powered or if it will operate using a different, even simpler, OS. One outside possibility is that the device pairs with smartphones of all operating systems via Bluetooth and provides notifications at the wrist.
Samsung confirmed plans to release a smartwatch back in March, but didn't disclose availability or hardware details. "We've been preparing the watch product for so long," Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung's mobile business, said in an interview with Bloomberg. "We are working very hard to get ready for it. We are preparing products for the future, and the watch is definitely one of them."
Samsung's next official product announcement will come on September 4, where the company is expected to reveal the Galaxy Note 3 phablet in Berlin. The "Unpacked" event could also yield other Samsung goodies as well. So let us hope for the best !
