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GoStripes
It says the video is "private" - so there is nothing to see???
Frank Eory
The creator of the Dick Tracy comic did not foresee the day when everyone would ...
'Dick Tracy' watch to launch at ARM TechCon
Peter Clarke
9/29/2011 12:14 PM EDT
LONDON – I'm Watch, is a Dick Tracy style watch for the 'app' generation that is being tipped to launch at ARM TechCon, which takes place Oct. 25 to 27 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley.
Almost exactly 80 years after Chester Gould's hard hitting, fast-shooting comic-book hero first graced the pages of the Detroit Mirror it looks like his radio-capable wristwatch has received an iMakeover.
The I'm Watch is a first product from Blue Sky srl (Milan, Italy), a company founded by electronics engineer Manuel Zanella and marketing entrepreneur Massimiliano Bertolini, according to the company's website. Presumably they have decided not to use the more obvious iWatch name for reasons of legal caution.
The I'm Watch is an Android-based wristwatch computer that can run many apps including user interfaces and notifications for familiar ones such as Skype and Facebook. According to the company the graphical user interface is simple and intuitive. "Just touch, drag, swipe or pinch to use all the functionalities or open any of the apps, pre-installed or downloadable from i’mstore."
However, the I'm Watch is not a stand-alone device. It relies on the owner's smartphone for its access to the internet. It connects via Bluetooth to the iPhone 3GS (with iOS 4.3 or superior), iPhone 4, Android phones and from 2012 with Blackberry and Windows Phone 7, the company states.There is no WiFi connection but the use of Bluetooth can help keep power consumption down and battery life up, as will the use of a customized version of Android that is similar to version 1.6. The standby time is listed as 30 hours with the connection up and talk time with speakerphone engaged is 3 hours.
As Dick Tracy would have expected there is a 3.5-mm headphone connection and power-up mini-jack socket, a microphone and built-in speaker. The display is 1.54-inch diagonal full color liquid crystal display with a 240 by 240 pixel resolution.
We don't know whether the I'm Watch runs on an ARM-based processor, but given the location chosen for the live appearance it would seem likely. And the event should be a good place to seek more details. However, a word of caution for all you Dick Tracy's out there; the company says the I'm Watch is not waterproof!
ARM TechCon is organized by UBM Electronics, the publisher of EE Times, on behalf of processor IP licensor ARM.
Related links and articles:
www.imwatch.it
ARM TechCon
More technical details are here
On 'Dick Tracy' Time
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rick.merritt
9/29/2011 12:51 PM EDT
Very cool! I wonder what it costs and how it compares to the iPod Nano watches 3rd parties have created. Any iPod Nano watch wearers out there?
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docdivakar
9/30/2011 4:41 PM EDT
@rick.merritt: I am one of those who likes to wear an iPod Nano whenever I am flying. Other times I don't see any need for a Dick Tracy-like watch.
@ReneCardenas: ditto, it has been years since I wore a watch. I don't feel the need for one any more with local time available from so many sources. On the color-coordinating side, this may be a God-send for my wife, she can easily change the background to match!
MP Divakar
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peter.clarke
9/29/2011 1:16 PM EDT
Rick
Looking over the I'm Watch website I see you can pre-order for delivery before the end of November 2011.
I see it costs 249 euro (about $350) in color finish aluminum plus something for shipment
OR
it costs 14,999 euro (about $20,000) in white gold and diamonds.
For the more expensive option I would hope they would deliver to the door by hand with no extra charge!
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yalanand
10/1/2011 1:13 PM EDT
@peter, $350 sounds reasonable for this gadget. I hope innovative products like this will improve the sales this festive season which will help the economy to recover.
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peter.clarke
10/3/2011 8:05 AM EDT
To me $350 sounds expensive. Remember i have to a smartphone as well. This is a funky wrist-based display.
A $35 price might tempt me.
But maybe the price will come down after the company has taken money off all the people prepared to pay $350.
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dylan.mcgrath
9/29/2011 2:08 PM EDT
Way cool. I'm going to pass on the $20,000 version, but I may be able to swing the aluminum version.
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elctrnx_lyf
9/29/2011 2:55 PM EDT
oh really a cool gadget, I'm waiting for a day if a cell phone can be completely put onto such a device.
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George.FreasII
9/29/2011 3:37 PM EDT
Actually I used to have a Cell Phone watch a couple years ago. Visit http://www.cellphonewatch.com/ to get a flavor for what is available. They are coming along, but not with Android yet, so I am waiting patiently.
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selinz
9/29/2011 5:57 PM EDT
Well, I guess I'll wait until they have a quarter 1080p display. Perhaps if it wrapped around my wrist and then could open up...
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plmcguire
9/29/2011 7:25 PM EDT
It's not ARM based; it's WRIST based. Sorry. ;-)
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daleste
9/29/2011 8:59 PM EDT
They will have to change the name of the device from wrist watch to arm watch. Looks pretty cool, but I don't know if I want to recharge my watch every night.
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Duane Benson
9/29/2011 8:46 PM EDT
Very cool. Given that I just got off of a flight back from ESC Boston, my mind jumps to that context. I can see one of two things happening. Either, we'll now all have a way to keep ourselves digitally entertained even take off and landing, or the FAA will end up making us all take off and turn off our wrist watches at take off and landing.
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Dave.Dykstra
9/29/2011 11:47 PM EDT
Hopefully it will live up to the advance billing. Even though it needs to be linked to a smartphone, it still appears very useful. It would be much cooler to just check your watch (arm) during a meeting rather than pulling out your cell phone (which should be banned for all, including managers and executives, at meetings).
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lesiu74
9/30/2011 12:23 PM EDT
cool idea & look , but ..
the only tech data available now (web page):
"rock-solid stability and amazing functionalities"
.. and the 50% advance pre-order for a device that hasn't been reviewed and from a company that has no market history ? ... keep my fingers crossed however
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ReneCardenas
9/30/2011 2:53 PM EDT
I am not sure that I want to wear anything in my arm or wrist again!.
It has been years that I stopped wearing any item strapped to my body. So I am not sure that I would make the exception just for coordinated color or ID style. But again, maybe many others would not mind, just MHO.
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EREBUS
9/30/2011 5:28 PM EDT
My eye sight is way too far gone to even think that this might be a good idea. I even think the 7" tablets are too small to see.
The younger generation my take to these, but I do not think it will become a must have item.
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nicolas.mokhoff
10/1/2011 1:08 PM EDT
I agree, not because of the sight problems or because the young ones take to everything new, but because of diminishing returns of cramming too much in too little space; to what end?
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yalanand
10/1/2011 1:09 PM EDT
Wow this is pretty cool stuff. How much this device costs and will it be launched globally ?
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peter.clarke
10/3/2011 8:08 AM EDT
@yalanland
As was discussed earlier in the thread; about $350 over the Internet and the company will take your money now..
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Frank Eory
10/3/2011 2:49 PM EDT
The creator of the Dick Tracy comic did not foresee the day when everyone would carry a small phone in their pocket, and that this device would be so much more than just a phone.
Like others have said, so many of us have long ago abandoned wearing a device on our wrists. The fact that this new product is not a replacement for the smartphone makes it even less appealing.
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GoStripes
10/31/2011 1:45 PM EDT
It says the video is "private" - so there is nothing to see???
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