03Mai 2017 by Andrei Kluska No Comments
NOWA Shaper – World’s Thinnest Hybrid Smartwatch

NOWA Shaper – World’s Thinnest Hybrid Smartwatch

News
The combination between a classical watch and a smart function in a single timepiece, a hybrid Watch, is not new on the market: at the beginning of the year, the well-known watch brand Alpina released an affordable Swiss Made watch – the Seastrong Horological Smartwatch, a classical looking diver watch with a smart core, reviewed by Watchisthis?!Magazine here; last week we reviewed the ZETime which has a different approach – a let’s say “classical” touchscreen smartwatch with hands for hours and minutes. We found the NOWA Shaper thanks to their Indiegogo Campaign and we were impressed by the design, functionality and price. The Nowa Team, located in the romantic city of Paris, designed together with Eric Gizard a clean looking watch inspired by the Contemporary Decorative Arts and powered by Smartime, combining…
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13Avr 2017 by Andrei Kluska 1 Comment
The perfect hybrid smartwatch? ZETime by MyKronoz Switzerland

The perfect hybrid smartwatch? ZETime by MyKronoz Switzerland

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We are witnessing an entire horological revolution: classical watches towards smart watches and smartwatches towards classical watches.  Just think on how classic watches are going smarter like the Longines VHP, which is actually a smart watch with micro-processors and sensors but doesn't synchronize with phone and doesn't have notifications. On the other hand, think at the smartwaches, for instance Samsung S3 done with Artya to be more close to a classic Watch (to read more about it jump on the last issue of our magazine by clicking HERE). Everybody wants what the others have... This seems somehow logical as both sides try to keep their customers and gain new ones. In the last two years the market was assaulted by better horological smartwatches and more classical designed smartwatches, but there…
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09Avr 2017 by Andrei Kluska No Comments
E-Strap – the smart alternative from Frederique Constant

E-Strap – the smart alternative from Frederique Constant

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Till a short while ago you had to decide if you wanted a classical watch, whether mechanical or quartz, or a smart watch, relatively bulk and heavy with a touchscreen and a short battery life. A short time ago, the Horological Smartwatches from Frederique Constant, Alpina and Salvatore Ferragamo were released, all based on a platform developed by MMT Swiss Connect, offering a smart function in a classical looking watch and with more than one year battery life. But you still have to put away these smartwatches, when you want to wear your favourite classical watch. The next step was achieved by the release, at the end of February, of a watch strap with a built-in smart module, which has the same smart function as the Horological Smartwatches. At last,…
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01Mar 2017 by Andrei Kluska 3 Comments
The rise of the machines – Alpina Seastrong Horological Smartwatch

The rise of the machines – Alpina Seastrong Horological Smartwatch

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Smartwatches have now a few years of history - from the first connected watches, the Seiko RC Series in 1984 till the well-known Apple watch, the smart watches are considered by some the future of watchmaking, but this remains to be seen... Personally, I prefer to have a classic watch at my wrist, it doesn’t matter if it’s quartz or pure mechanical. I am tight to the telling time hands, I like to see them move and even if I have a smartwatch, I end up by wearing a watch at one wrist and a fitness band at the other’s wrist. I was very happy to hear, in 2015, about the appearance of the first series of Swiss Horological Smartwatches: Frederique Constant, Mondaine and Alpina using the new Horological Smartwatch…
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29Jan 2017 by Martin Green No Comments
Kronaby: Sweden’s Smartest Watch

Kronaby: Sweden’s Smartest Watch

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Dit we just announce the birth of the first smart watch that can handle both iOS and Android, we now already have another smartwatch that can do this as well. Actually, that is not true since Kronaby is not just another watch, it is Swedish latest watch brand offering more than one smart watch. [caption id="attachment_2603" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Kronaby Apex[/caption] What makes Kronaby different from other smart watches is that they are powered by a regular battery. Depending on use this should give a battery life of about two years. In those two years, you can take full use of all the different functions that the Kronaby has. For starters, you are in control of them and select which ones you actually want to use. This way your watch will…
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19Jan 2017 by Martin Green 3 Comments
EXE WATCH: Affordable Smart Watch For iOS & Android

EXE WATCH: Affordable Smart Watch For iOS & Android

News
When it comes to smart watches, your decision is limited by the phone you have. An Apple Watch is of little use without an iPhone, and the same goes for any Android-powered smart watch. Exe Watch is going to fix this with the very first smart watch that can handle both. https://vimeo.com/183267994 The Exe Watch comes in two different versions, the C2, and the more advanced C7. The C7 is US$20,- more expensive as the C2 but in return, you get 400 x 400 pixels instead of 240 x 240 pixels, 256MB RAM instead of 128MB and more sensors. Heart rate, Barometer, and temperature are added onto the G-sensor that the C2 also has. Unique is that the C7 is also fitted with a UV-sensor, which can warn you how…
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09Jan 2017 by Martin Green No Comments
Casio Pro Trek Smart: Brawn and Brains

Casio Pro Trek Smart: Brawn and Brains

News
Casio is known to be able to build watches that can withstand quite a beating. With the introduction of the new Pro Trek Smart, the brawn has now also gotten a brain and an even more impressive one as was introduced last year. Next to updated looks does the new Pro Trek Smart now come with a low-power GPS. Casio achieves the low-power aspect by only obtaining the location from the satellites and not get any map data. The maps you can download directly onto the watch before you go, at home or in your hotel. This makes a lot of sense because most people know to which area they are going and by foot, bike or even car you won't go that far in rough terrain. A huge benefit…
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03Jan 2017 by Martin Green No Comments
Pomo Waffle: A Smart Watch For Your Kids

Pomo Waffle: A Smart Watch For Your Kids

News
Watches catered to kids is nothing new. Flik Flak has been around for decades, Lego is making watches, so it is not surprising that some manufacturers now also create smart watches catered to kids. A new entry in this market is Pomo with the Waffle. The name sounds like a clown you can rent to make waffle's at a kids birthday party, but the watch is quite serious. With build in GPS, it can aid both parents as well as the kids themselves. Parents can for example set a safe zone in which the kids are allowed to play around the house, and get a notification when the kid is leaving this area. Kids can touch the screen and have the watch tell them the route home. Clever features that…
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22Déc 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
2016….what a year!

2016….what a year!

News
The end of the year is always a natural moment to look back and take in what the years have brought. 2016 was in many ways a very dynamic year! It was a year in which the smart watch took a beating, yet at the same time also showed that it was here to stay. It matured, and while Fitbit took over Pebble, we saw microbrands introducing smart watches of their own, filling voids and niches. For 2017 we will probably see more of this, and as the technology becomes more accessible for smaller companies, I suspect that the days of the quartz movement are doomed. 2016 was also the year in which microbrands, in general, showed that they carry a punch! The overall quality is now at a very…
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17Nov 2016 by Martin Green 4 Comments
Is It Smart To Get A Smart Watch? A Few Things To Consider

Is It Smart To Get A Smart Watch? A Few Things To Consider

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With the introduction of the Matrix Powerwatch smart watches have overcome their final hurdle: their limited battery life. Endless power by simply wearing the smart watch has taken away the last advantage that regular quartz watches have. I strongly suspect that this will seal the deal for the quartz watch, which will soon start its decent into oblivion. But does it also seal the deal for you? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHZjoV9PKt0 Especially with the holiday season coming up, smart watches will undoubtfully be a popular gift. They are relatively inexpensive, and most of them are indeed cool gadgets to play with. Remember that about 25 years ago you could buy watches that also had a very basic version of Super Mario on them, that you played on the LCD screen? That kind of…
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