Samsung makes the Gear S official with curved display and 3G connectivity

[Robert Nazarian]

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We knew Samsung would unveil a new smartwatch at IFA, but they decided to pull the curtain a little early. The Gear S will sport 3G connectivity and a curved Super AMOLED display. Samsung feels the 3G connectivity will give consumers the “freedom to live their life on the go,” but we’re not really sure why it’s necessary.

The curved display is probably the more important feature as it’s 2-inches (360 x 480) and features a conversation view and condensed font. According to Samsung, it will fit your wrist more comfortably than a traditional non-curved smartwatch. It’s also paired with a flexible wrist strap for more comfort.

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The Gear S is Tizen based so it will only work with Samsung devices. It will include features such as turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation by HERE, 24 hours news and views service from The Financial Times, S Health, Nike+ Running, and more.

The full specs include a 2-inch (360 x 480) Super AMOLED display, 1.0 GHz dual-core processor, 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage, WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, A-GPS/Glonass, Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0, 3G (900/2100 or 850/1900) connectivity, 2G (900/1800 or 850/1900) connectivity, IP67 certified, and 300 mAh battery (2 days). It will be offered in either Blue Black or Pure White, and it will be available globally in October. Unfortunately no pricing was specified.

Full Press Release:

Samsung Gear S Enhances the Smart Wearable Experience


The Gear S offers a beautiful curved design combined with 3G connectivity on the wrist

Seoul, Korea – August 28, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Samsung Gear S, the next generation smart wearable device that expands the smartphone experience to the wrist. The new Samsung Gear S delivers an up-to-date smart wearable experience with 3G connectivity and wearable optimized features to meet the evolving needs of consumers.

“Samsung is leading this exciting and rapidly developing wearable category through progressive innovation,” said JK Shin, CEO and head of IT & mobile communication at Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung Gear S redefines the idea of the smart wearable and the culture of mobile communication. It will let consumers live a truly connected life anywhere, anytime.”

Designed with an elegant, curved Super AMOLED display and flexible band, Samsung Gear S fits comfortably on user’s wrist. Through 3G connectivity, the Samsung Gear S offers a new, powerful wearable experience and gives consumers the freedom to live their life on the go.

Industry-Leading Curved Super AMOLED Display

The Samsung Gear S features a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display, providing a richer view with a beautiful and easy-to-use user interface. It allows users to read messages and notifications at a single glance with features such as conversation view and condensed font. The Samsung Gear S’s chic, curved design fits comfortably around the contours of the wrist, while its customizable screen options and changeable straps empower users to express their own taste and style.

Truly Connected Experience

The Samsung Gear S extends its communication capabilities to include 3G as well as Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, allowing users to stay informed with seamless notifications from social networks, calendars and applications even when away from their phone. It lets users to instantly reply to incoming messages using the onscreen keyboard, or utilize enhanced S voice functionality to ensure tasks can be completed immediately. Finally, with Samsung Gear S, people can seamlessly make and receive calls directly from their wrist, or get calls forwarded from their smartphones.

The Samsung Gear S allows consumers to control how they want to connect, switching easily between 3G and Bluetooth connections, and automatically synchronizing information when paired to a smartphone.

Extended Features & Applications

The Samsung Gear S provides easy access to relevant information through essential widgets and combined notification boards. Its powerful features include turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation provided by HERE, a 24-hour news and views service from The Financial Times ‘fastFT’, works together with advanced-reading technology from Spritz, and the ability to see and respond to important social notifications instantly with Facebook. Together, these features allow users to be live and actionable while on the go.

The Samsung Gear S is also a perfect health and fitness companion with more enhanced multi-sensors, built-in GPS, and robust S Health features. In addition, applications such as Nike+ Running allow users to track their runs and stay motivated while on the move, without their smartphone.

Also announced today with the Samsung Gear S is the new Samsung Gear Circle. When paired with a smartphone, users can easily receive calls, listen to music, and make voice commands in style through a Bluetooth connection. It features a magnetic lock which clasps around the user’s neck when not in use, as well as a vibrate function to signal incoming calls and notifications.

Both the Samsung Gear S and the Gear Circle will be available in global markets in phases through Samsung’s retail channels, e-commerce websites and via carriers beginning October.

Samsung Gear S Product Specifications

Network​

900/2100 or 850/1900 (3G)
900/1800 or 850/1900 (2G)​

Display​

2.0” Super AMOLED (360 x 480)​

AP​

Dual core 1.0 GHz​

OS​

Tizen based wearable platform​

Audio​

Codec: MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+
Format: MP3, M4A, WMA, AAC, OGG​

Features​

Communications:
- 2G, 3G Call, Bluetooth Call
- Contacts, Notifications, Messages, Emails, QWERTY Keyboard​

Health & Fitness:
- S Health, Nike+ Running​

Information:
- Schedule, News, Navigation, Weather​

Media:
- Music Player, Gallery​

Others:
- S Voice, Find My Device, Power Saving Mode​

IP67 Certified Dust and Water Resistant​

Samsung Services​

Samsung Gear Apps​

Connectivity​

WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, A-GPS/Glonass
Bluetooth®: 4.1
USB: USB 2.0​

Sensor​

Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Heart Rate, Ambient Light, UV, Barometer​

Memory​

RAM: 512MB
Storage: 4GB Internal Memory​

Dimension​

39.8 x 58.3 x 12.5T​

Battery​

300mAh Li-ion
Typical Usage 2days​

Samsung Gear Circle Specifications

Speaker​

12Φ Dynamic​

Microphone​

Single MEMS​

Codec​

SBC, apt-X, Samsung HD​

Value-Added
Features​

Smart Magnetic Clasp Control, Voice Notification, Sound Alive​

Connectivity​

Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0
BT Profile: HSP / HFP / A2DP / AVRCP
Multi Point Connection : Up to 8 BT connections, 2 BT devices at the same time
Connector: Micro USB (Charging only)​

Sensor​

Magnetic Sensor (Hall IC), Touch Sensor​

Battery​

180mAh Li-ion (Standby 300h / Talk 11h / Play Time 9h)​

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion.


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