Just released on the Google Store, the Android Watch Set has been designed with Modify Watch so the watches are mixable and matchable.  Each set comes with two custom straps and a you get a choice of large watch face or small watch face.  Made of stainless steel with a polycarbonate casing they’re also water-resistant to 3ATM.

I must admit when I first saw this I was hoping that it was actually an Android Watch Extension for your Android device

The small is 9.5″ and the large is 10″ both sets being priced at $59.95 from the Google Store.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Watch

Google Android Watch Set originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 2, 2012 at 8:00 am.

The SmartWatch is part of Sony‘s Smart Extras for their Xperia smartphones.  The SmartWatch connects to an Android phone via Bluetooth and shows you information about incoming calls, and lets you see emails, weather, Twitter and Facebook updates, and even the time.  You can even control music playback with the SmartWatch.  It has a clip like the one on Apple’s iPod nano, so you can clip it onto your bag’s strap.  Or you can buy one of Sony’s optional watchbands, available in several colors, and wear it on your arm.  It  fits on any 20mm watch strap, if you have one you already like.  The SmartWatch doesn’t have a speaker or headphone jack, but you can listen to the music on your smartphone with a Bluetooth headset.  You can even buy apps for the SmartWatch from the Android Market.  The SmartWatch should be available in Q1 of 2012.  The Sony website doesn’t show a price yet.

Filed in categories: Android related, News

Tagged: Android accessory, Watch

Sony’s SmartWatch Accessory for Android Phones originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 20, 2012 at 10:00 am.

I still wear a wristwatch, but I’m part of a dying breed.  News articles suggest that the current generation has turned its back on the wearable timepiece in favor  of checking the time on a cellphone.  Modify Watches is offering wristwatches that are more a fashion statement than for the telling of time.  With multiple faces and straps, you can configure your watch to express yourself.  Their packaging states the watches are ” Fashionable, Flexible, Modifiable and Dope”.  I have no idea what the last term means.

The watches come in two sizes, big and bigger, they’re water-resistant to 3 ATM and made of stainless steel and plastic.

For the review I received 2 watch bands and one watch face which were packaged as above.

On their website they show 13 watch bands, or straps as they call them and 12 watch faces.  They run the spectrum from subdued to rather eccentric and vary in price.  I tend to be conservative, so I opted not to get the polka dot face.  I went with black and blue straps and a silver face.

Here’s a closer look at the face.  This is battery operated, so it came with a wedge in the stem to keep it from operating until needed.

On the backside are the screws that need to be removed when replacing the battery.  There’s no indication on the web site how long the battery will last.

The box the watch components were shipped in had the instructions for assembling the watches.  It’s really not that difficult.

To give some perspective, on the left is my daily use watch and the Modify watch.

If you’re someone with a small wrist, the watch may seem a little clunky, but that may be the look you’re going for.

The timepiece is very basic.  There’s no day or date indicator, although there is a second hand.  Even though it is battery driven, you can still hear the second hand “tick”.  This fascinates my 3-year-old grandsons, so I’ll count that as a positive.

Changing straps is simple and if you have a large enough collection of straps and faces, you can have a different daily look on your wrist for a long time.  I’ve found the watches to be very comfortable to wear.  The soft plastic of the straps is “stretchy” and conforms to your wrist.

It appears to me that Modify Watches is attempting to recreate the Swatch craze.  More power to them if they do.  If you’re into vibrant colors and wear a watch as a fashion accessory, these are the way to go.  The least expensive combination of face and strap will cost you $40 plus shipping.  Just for comparison, you can buy 4 complete watches at most discount stores for the same amount.

Filed in categories: Reviews, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Watch

Modify Watches Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 17, 2012 at 11:00 am.

The All Black is ‘just…’ a new color scheme in the existing Sunnto Elementum Terra line. The all-black casing and negative display make for a stealthy (Stargate ) look, while retaining all the functionality of the Terra clan. I have always been tempted by Suunto’s luxury line of Elementum Terra watches but to be honest the original three styles, while very nice, never talked to me enough to do the deed. But the Terra All Black pushed me over the edge….

The Terra All Black is well sized and weighted and even better looking in person, featuring: time, date, alarm, 3D compass, altimeter, barometer, and chronograph.

Here it is next to my old Suunto t6 running/workout (right) and Movado (left) watches I wear regularly.  As you can see, the Terra All Black is very nice looking. I have used my t6 for YEARS, having definitely gotten what I paid for. It continues to keep ticking…a new battery every couple of years and has yet to fail me. My hope and expectation is that the Terra will do the same; withstand the same rugged lifestyle that my t6 has. The Terra’s professional appearance not only enables it to be worn anywhere (aka business setting), but also be used while running/outdoor adventuring.

While nicely weighted and sized, the Elementum series of watches is relatively thick, but not painfully so. The overall dimensions of the watch are 1.8 (44mm) x 1.8 (44mm) x 0.5 (13.5mm) inches and weighs 95 g (200 g for Steel).

Contents:

• Suunto Elementum Terra All Black Wrist Computer
• Cleaning Cloth
• Customer Support Card
• Quick Reference Guide

Features:

• Time, Date, Alarm
• Backlight
• Altimeter
• Barometric pressure & trend
• 3D compass
• Chronograph
• Cumulative ascent / descent
• Log: last 8 ascent / descent, max. altitude

Suunto’s Elementum Terra has a simple design, manufactured with high quality materials and intelligent/well-thought out navigation. As you would expect from Suunto, its luxury line of watches is extremely well made: corrosion-resistant AISI 316L stainless steel case and buttons; sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating; intelligent knob positioning for easy scrolling; high-quality LCD display with metallic display graphics; water resistance to 100 m (and according to the manual, the buttons can be pushed underwater).

The Suunto Elementum has two sensors: pressure and electronic compass. The pressure sensor has a dual purpose of monitoring the barometric pressure and altitude data. The main screen of the watch shows the time, date, altitude, and barometric pressure trend and reading continuously.

The compass function can be accessed by pushing the bottom button. The 3-Axis (3-D) compass does not need to be level to operate accurately. The barometric pressure scale (outside ring display) turns into a pointer for North, and the watch dial reads out the degrees you are facing. The compass and barometric sensors need to be initially calibrated and aligned.

Having majored in atmospheric science back in college, I find the barometric pressure gauge and trend indicator interesting and a lot of fun. So far, it has done an excellent job of letting me know what the weather is going to be like. The pressure was high and it was clear and cold but once it took a nosedive, the rains were here a few hours later. While this feature has limited benefits surviving in the urban canyons, it could definitely come in handy while out camping, fishing, hunting and the like.

The watch also features an alarm and simple chronograph. The chronograph measures 1/100 of a second for a minute after which it measures up to 99 minutes. While the Terra can time your runs/hikes/rides, track your altitude gains/losses, and help you navigate your routes, it does not work with Suunto’s foot pod, bike pod, GPS pod or heart rate monitor; making it not an ideal choice for hardcore training.

The watch has a very bright backlight. It can be activated by pushing the middle button for a couple of seconds. The entire screen is illuminated with a blue/green glow. The backlight is impressively bright and stays on for approximately 3-4 seconds.

In addition to the new Terra All Black, there are also three other styles in the line; Black Rubber, Black Leather, and Steel.

Along with the Terra, the high end Elementum line also includes a Aqua (left) and Ventus (right). The Elementum Aqua is for ‘urban and underwater use’ and the Elementum Ventus is for the ‘on-board and on-shore lifestyle’.

The Elementum line of watches is made in Finland, where the brand started/is from.

The Suunto Elementum Terra line ranges in price from $899 to $1199. While not as costly as Rolex or Breitling, a thousand dollars is nothing to scoff at either. Its lack of training and/or expedition features makes other less costly Suunto watches, like the t6d or Core, a more logical choice for the hardcore athlete or outdoor explorer. The Terra All Black is more for the professional who exercises during lunch or hunts/hikes on the weekend. Having said that, even though I workout pretty hard a majority of the time and do many outdoor activities, I have zero buyers regret on my 2011 Holiday gift/splurge (to myself )….without a doubt, I love the Terra All Black’s look, feel, form and function.

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, Gear, Outdoor Gear, Reviews, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Fitness, Health, Watch

Suunto Elementum Terra All Black Watch Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 11, 2012 at 11:00 am.

Are you a retro computer geek (with big wrists)? Perhaps the Click Keypad Watch  available from Watchismo is for you. Based on a numeric keypad, blinking lights on the number keys are capable of  indicating both the time and date.

It’s 40mm x 46mm x 10.5mm  (1.6′ x 1.8″ x .4″)  so not the most discrete watch around. Strangely enough it’s not a wrist based calculator as well.

Available in black, grey, ivory and blue from Watchismo for $89.99

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Watch

Click Keypad Watch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

With the Greubel Forsey GMT you have the whole World in your hand , well at least on your wrist. The lightweight titanium globe allows you to visualise not only the time but  also the position of day and night across different continents via the 24-hour ring around the equator while the caseband window symbolises the position of the sun on the earth.  The  globe completes one full  counterclockwise rotation every 24 hours, matching the rotation of the Earth, and is surrounded by hour indicators split into white and black numbers indicating the daytime and night-time hemispheres. A worldtime disc on the rear of the watch is  connected to the globe and bears the names of 24 cities, each representing one of 24 global time zones. There’s no pricing on the site but with construction materials like 18 karat  gold, alligator leather and sapphire crystals it’s probably not going to be cheap.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Watch

Greubel Forsey GMT – The Whole World in Your Hand originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 4, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

The Gaiam Strap-Free Touch Heart Rate Monitor from Oregon Scientific does not require that you wear a chest strap or arm strap. It features a touch screen and uses ECG technology. Just place 1 or 2 fingers on the sensor to see your heart rate. In addition to displaying your heart rate, it has clock, calendar, alarm and calories burned functions. It’s available in 2 colors and priced at $99.99.

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, News

Tagged: Fitness, Watch

Gaiam Strap-Free Touch Heart Rate Monitor – No Chest Strap Required originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 20, 2011 at 10:00 am.

I enjoy making stuff, and I love electronics, so I generally really like electronics kit projects. The SpikenzieLabs Solder:Time Watch Kit seems like a great option for someone like me. This is actually a hackable watch- they provide the source code and other info, as well as convenient pads on the circuit board to tap into.

The Solder:Time Watch is loaded with interesting features for something so apparently simple and only $29.95:

• Laser-cut acrylic case (4 layers thick!)
• Dallas Semiconductor DS1337+ RTC clock chip
• PIC 16F631 micro-controller
• Low power consumption components
• Simple, one-button set-up and operation
• Long 2-sided Velcro strap wristband fits even large wrists
• Large, bright display
• Hackable and tinker-friendly allows for lots of other options- pocketwatch, desk clock, external power supply and more

Everything in the package

The parts for the case- some with protective film still in place

The electronic components

• Soldering the battery holder was annoying since there are no pins or anything to stabilize it. The directions have a handy trick I should have thought of, but I made it work.
• I needed to go back and trim the leads a few times- they need to be REALLY short for the right fit and to prevent issues when the board is squished into the case.
• It took a few tries ‘dry-fitting’ the 6 parts of the case, not including 4 socket-head screws, to get everything to line up right. It was fun to try to work out exactly how things fit. The directions make it super-easy, but I enjoyed the challenge.
• Troubleshooting was irritating and kind of fun. Long leads, mediocre solder jobs, and so forth plagued me- try it, works fine, assemble it and it was acting odd. Disassemble, try something, repeat. Even after it was working well enough for this review, it started to act up again.
• Trying to determine how to set the time without looking at the directions was fairly straightforward and I got it in only a few tries.

The glitches I had just added interest to the project for me, but could easily have been avoided by following the simple directions.

Assembled 'guts'

So what did I end up with for my investment? Well, to be charitable, it is a big watch- it measures 2 3/8in (60mm) across, 1/2in (12mm) thick- not counting the screw heads, which bring it to 9/16 in (15mm). It is also a simple watch- when you press the button, it displays the current time for about 5 seconds. No date, no seconds, no other functionality in its default state. If you wear it as it is, it actually looks a little silly- big clunky watch on a skinny 3/4in (20mm) band- albeit one you can see though,  which is kinda cool.

Finished watch on a reluctant model's arm(I forgot to remove one of the protective films- the back piece is clear as well.)

I doubt most people would wear this as is- it begs for hacking the case. I’m trying to decide it’s final purpose. If I carry it as a pocket watch or clip-on clock, I’d want to replace the 4 socket-head screws with countersunk flatheads, round off the top and bottom edges for a smoother package and figure out a cooler strap (carbon fiber???) If I use it as a desk clock, I’d glue it to a clear stand, probably taking advantage of the DC power option to run it off a battery pack in the base. Hacking the chip itself is outside my skills although I am curious what is possible. I did not find a lot of ideas or tips online for that.

Sure, for $29.95, you can buy lots of watches that look nicer and do more, but the cool thing about the Solder:Time is that you did it yourself and that you can then modify it into anything you can imagine.

Filed in categories: Do-It-Yourself, Reviews, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: DIY, Watch

SpikenzieLabs Solder:Time Watch Kit Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 25, 2011 at 11:15 am.

In my efforts to prepare for my wife’s 40th birthday wish of us running the DisneyWorld Marathon in January 2012, not only have I been training but looking for tech gadgets to help me do so more effectively and efficiently. The first in this gadget-fitness series was the Sennheiser/Adidas MX 680i Sports earbuds which continue to provide me a worthy musical/sound experience while running/exercising/working out. In this second in my fitness review series, I will be looking at the Timex Ironman Global Trainer w/GPS Technology and heart rate monitor.

My hope is that the Ironman Global Trainer’s integrated GPS capability and wireless heart rate monitor will help me train better and more efficiently by precisely monitoring (and logging) my distance, pace, accent/decent and heart rate while pounding out the miles.

Timex Ironman Global Trainer with heart rate includes:

Technical Specifications:

Product Features:

Getting it setup:

Getting the Ironman Global Trainer operational took approximately two hours to fully charge & two minutes to get the various functions working. The watch is durable, lightweight, water resistance to 50 meters and would meet Julie’s gadget squeeze/creek test. If you have done any research on this watch at all, you know it is designed for strenuous multisport athletes and exercise enthusiasts. This Ironman can operate up to  fifteen hours using the integrated GPS and having it linked to the heart rate monitor. The watch can go much longer between charges if the GPS is off and the HRM is not connected.

Pairing the watch to the heart rate monitor was relatively quick and easy as well. Personally, I am not a huge fan of the strap that makes most heart rate monitoring work. I am a minimalistic runner (the less clothes/stuff the better) and the strap pressing tightly around my chest is, at least for me, uncomfortable and constricting. That said, I did test it against the hand grip HRM of our ellipse machine and the Timex Global Trainer matched what the ellipse was telling me almost perfectly.

Look and Feel:

As you can see, the Ironman Global Trainer is not petite by any stretch of the imagination and when you throw in my runners (aka scrawny) wrists, it looks down right huge. While large in size, the watch is relatively lightweight, rugged, and well made. It is about the size of the Garmin 305 but lighter than many of the smaller watches I have owned.

Making it work:

The seven buttons that enable you to operate and control its functions are easy to manipulate and in the classic Ironman configuration.

The buttons on the right side control: (screen) up, enter, and (screen) down/(run/bike/swim) stop/rest.

The buttons on the left side control: (switch) mode, back/power, and Indiglo lighting.

The large center button on the face of the watch controls starting and while timing you if pushed again documents your split times as well. Once you get the hang of how to navigate the various screens and functions, operating the watch is relatively easy.

The large face of the watch enabled Timex to create a large, easy to read display. The display is customizable to display just the data you want/need to see while exercising.

Getting out for a run:

A majority of my runs are down tree lined trails or paths like this or the urban canyons of downtown Seattle. The tree’s canopies, cloud cover and/or tall buildings do not lend itself to great, continuous GPS signal. Even in the best conditions, it took the Ironman Global Trainer quite a long time/distance before locking onto enough satellites to begin tracking my speed and distance. I dislike having to wait before beginning my runs. Waiting 4-5 minutes before my watch is ready to go is unacceptable (at least to me). So, I head off on my run and eventually the GPS kicks in and the watch begins tracking my run.

I have used three other GPS enabled running watches in the past and all have this same limitation that I mentioned above. Even though the tiny GPS antennas manufactures put into small devices have gotten more powerful and sensitive, they still take some amount to time to lock onto the satellites.

Once the Ironman Global Trainer’s GPS becomes operational, it’s quantitative tracking of distance is very good. I compared the distances the watch said I ran to mapmyrun.com to see how accurate the Global Trainer really is. Over a 5 or 6 mile run, the difference between the Ironman GPS Trainer and the website was minimal. Typically the differential was 0.1 or 0.2, easily explained by human error (i.e., inputting the route into Map My Run or noting just where the GPS begins tracking).

The Pace tracking is a bit scattered/variable, bouncing between 7 min-miles and 9 min-miles when my actual speed is more like 8:00 min-miles over the course of a long run. The watch has a ‘smoothing’ function that helps a bit but not a whole lot. Overall, when everything is working correctly my end/average pace seemed reasonable over the whole of my run.

At the beginning of a run, before the watch has locked onto satellites, the watch can (obviously) begin timing you. Once the GPS locks on, the watch begins tracking distance and pace but the disconnect is, that since they did not begin at the same time the watches calculation of average pace is inaccurate. As an example, you begin your run but the GPS tracking starts 4 minutes (0.5 miles) into your run. After a 5 mile, 40 minute run, the watch tells you that you ran 4.5 miles in 40 minutes. Thus, calculating that instead of 8 min-miles, it informs you that you ran just under 9 min-miles….definitely a difference.

Timex’s Ironman Global Trainer w/GPS is more than just a running watch; it can track your hiking, biking and swimming as well. Since I do none of those other activities/sports, I did not test these functions. But whether you are a weekend/part-time or a hardcore professional triathlete, this Ironman would make an ideal digital workout companion.

Hooking the Ironman to your computer:

Connecting the watch to your computer is simple. Plug the USB end into your computer and connect the other end to the back of the watch. Turn the watch on, get it into the ‘PC Sync’ mode, and start the Timex Device Agent 3.0 desktop application and you are ready to download your data or customize the operations of the watch itself.

Timex Device Agent 3.0 is the included software (available via download) that enables you to manage your workout data, tweak your watch to display whatever info you desire, set notifications, etc. Timex was nice enough to create this software for Windows and Mac users alike. The main (two) purposes of the software is data download/export and operational management of the watch.

A great feature of the Timex Ironman Global Trainer’s management software is that it enables you to truly customize/tweak the watch interface, screen layout, data displayed, alerts, etc  quickly, easily, and (best of all) intuitively. In my opinion, the best feature of the watch. Much easier than trying to do the same on the small screen and interface options on the watch itself. Once you adjust things in the application and hit Save, the changes are nearly instantaneously updated to the watch.

Looking at the data:

Timex has partnered with website, TrainingPeaks as the primary interface for viewing/analyzing the workout data from your watch. After the Timex Agent 3.0 downloads your workouts, it then exports them to TrainingPeaks where you can view the data graphically and/or visually in a multitude of ways. While the Agent is very simple to use, the website is a relative complex and powerful tool to analyze your workouts. Hopefully enabling you to better optimize your training. That said, the basic functions of the website are easy to figure out so you can hit the ground running .

Bottom line:

Filed in categories: Fitness, Sports, GPS, Reviews, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Watch

Timex Ironman Global Trainer w/GPS Technology Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 7, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

The Urwerk 202 Twin Turbine Hammerhead White Gold has to be one of the coolest wrist watches that I’ve seen in a long while. Time on the UR-202 is displayed using telescopic minute hands operating through the middle of three orbiting and revolving hour satellites. The UR-202 is the world’s first watch with the winding rate regulated by fluid dynamics. Say what? It has a wild Steampunk meets the future style to it that really appeals to me and the crazy thing is that I haven’t worn a watch in years. I don’t think there are any worries that I’ll be wearing this one anytime soon anyway… The price tag is beyond OUCH! If you have Oprah bucks and want one, you can find them at exquisitetimepieces.com

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Watch

Would you pay $165,000 for this watch? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 30, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

The Solder : Time from Spikenzielabs is an easy to solder wristwatch kit that has a laser cut acrylic casing that allows you to see the internal PCB, electronic components and battery (CR2032). There’s a velcro wrist band included, but you can also wear it as a badge with optional badge clip. This looks like a fun project for both young and old that can elevate your geek cred by several levels. The kit can be purchased for $29.95 or if you’re too lazy to build one, you can get an assembled watch for $39.95

Filed in categories: Do-It-Yourself, News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: DIY, Watch

You aren’t a real geek unless you solder your own watch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 24, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

If you like to always have a mirror at hand, perhaps one on your wrist will suffice.  The Vanity Mirror Watch from Gadgets and Gear looks like a polished mirror until you need to know the time.  Press a button on the watch to light up red LEDs that display the time.  The Vanity Mirror Watch is normally $79.95, but it is now available for $59.95.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Watch

Vanity Mirror Watch from Gadgets and Gear originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 24, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

Sure.  There are a few bands on the market for the 6th gen iPod nano.  OK, more than a few.  Many are similar: colorful silicone or resin strap with a fun, sporty style, like the iWatchz Q Collection reviewed by Julie a few months back.    But if you’re after something a bit less sporty and a bit more boardroom, feast thine eyes upon these two new styles, also from iWatchz.  The Timepiece Collection features 10 different colors of alligator-textured leather with a wicked cool fastener, $89.95 each.  The Carbon Collection features black carbon fiber pattern with 8 different colors of stitching, $49.95 each.  Both include the patent-pending Watch Integration System (WIS) for easy Press, Slide & Click nano install.  Now, if someone would just create matching cufflink Bluetooth speakers, we might be able to complete the James Bond look.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: iPod nano, Nano, Watch, Watchband for iPod nano

iPod nano bands with serious GQ style originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 18, 2011 at 7:45 am.

Gadgets and Gear has another interesting watch that’s as much art as it is timepiece.  The Timescape Sci-Fi Watch uses a series of LEDs to display the time on a grid on the black face.  Press a button, and the LEDs light up to show hours on the vertical bars and minutes on the horizontal bars.  The specs say the bracelet is chrome, and the watch is powered by two CR2032 batteries, which are included.  The Timescape Sci-Fi Watch is $99.99 at Gadgets and Gear.  (The watch is showing 2:35.)

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Watch

Timescape Sci-Fi Watch Gives Your Brain a Workout originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 25, 2011 at 7:30 am.

Jorg Hysek and his team of designers at HD3 Complication have just announced their high-end, touchscreen watch that is uniquely and geekily-stylin’…. The Slyde mixes slim, sleek lines, a bit of old-world style, high-tech HD touchscreen, with a hint of the Matrix. The HD3 Slyde will be available in black, gray titanium or pink gold cases complete with your choice of a leather, printed alligator or rubber (5 colors) strap. The Slyde has customizable interfaces to display the time of day and date in a multitude of ways. Starting at €4000 (approx. US$5,300), this luxury timepiece is to say the least, expensive.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Spotlight Gadgets, Watch

$5000 on your wrist – Jorg Hysek’s HD3 Slyde Watch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 25, 2011 at 9:00 am.

WeWood is a company based out of Los Angeles with an idea originally stemming from Italy–to create an organic, completely natural watch inspired by the rooted but reaching power of a tree.  The resulting product, judging from their catalog, is just as much art as functional watch.  They currently offer two basic types of watch face– standard analogue and chronograph, each weighing in at only about 1.5 ounces.  No stains or other toxins are used to alter the natural color and grain of the wood, so they are hypoallergenic– but only splash resistant, not water proof.  The wood used comes from flooring scraps and include the colors/trees:  beige (Maple), black (Ebony), brown (Red Wing Celtis), and army green (Guaiaco).  WeWood is also partnered with American Forests and for every watch sold, a tree is planted as part of the Global ReLeaf effort.   The watches are available through the WeWood website with prices ranging from $119 for the analogue varieties to $139 for the chronograph.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Spotlight Gadgets, Watch

WeWood Watches originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 21, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

The Kisai Console, is the latest watch from Tokyoflash that has been created based on the suggestions from their fans and customers. This watch reminds me of the original Star Trek LCARS system. It’s made of stainless steel with 3 LED sections that light up in Green to tell the time with a press of a button. The top section tells the hour, middle section shows minutes 1-4 and the bottom section shows 5 minute intervals. It’s actually one of the easier Tokyoflash watches to read. The Console is charged via USB and is available now for $200.64

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Spotlight Gadgets, Watch

Kisai Console – The latest Tokyoflash Japan Fan Based Design Watch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 11, 2011 at 1:39 pm.

Turning your 6th generation Apple iPod nano into a wristwatch is as simple as buying one of the many wrist band accessories that are currently available. The infuse watchband from Frontal Concepts is the second nano watchband I’ve had the opportunity to review. Let’s take a look.

The infuse watchband is comprised of two main parts. The watchband, which is made of a soft flexible silicone and the polycarbonate wristlock mount plate for the nano. There’s also the band buckle, which is made of brushed stainless steel. The infuse is available in Black, White and Brown. As you can see, I was sent the Brown version to review.

The wristlock has 2 parts. The mount for the nano and the locking pin.

The nano easily slides on to the mount.

And then the locking pin slides under the nano clip to snap into place.

I noticed pretty quickly that the lock doesn’t really ‘lock’ into place very securely. It’s pretty easy to slide the nano partially off the mount if you happen to bang the edge of the nano or rub against something. It’s doubtful that the nano would completely come off the band, but I’m guessing that the locking pin could fall off and get lost.

The infuse watchband doesn’t add much weight or bulk to the nano.

It’s also comfortable to wear and has 10 sizing adjustments so that even people with small wrists can wear one.

Although the infuse watchband looks nice and is easy to use with the nano, I’m not overly impressed with it due to the face that it doesn’t attach very securely. It might not be that big of a deal if you’re not a very active person, but if you want a watchband so that you can work out with the nano, hike, etc., I might choose a different one than the current version of the infuse.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPod nano, Watch

Frontal Concepts infuse Nano Watch Band Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 9, 2011 at 8:00 pm.

Today 4iConcepts is announcing 3 Apple related accessories. The one that caught my eye is the 4iTorq – a luxury watch band for the 6th generation iPod nano music player. Unlike the nano watch bands that we’ve been seeing up till this point, the 4iTorq is not made of silicone or similar materials. It has a cuff bracelet stylus that will be available in colored aluminum finishes ($49.95), stainless steel ($95.95) and titanium ($250). Hence the “luxury” designation. These bands also look to be marketed for women – I can’t really imagine a guy wearing one. No word yet on when they will be available for purchase.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Nano, Spotlight Gadgets, Watch

4iConcepts Announces the 4iTorq Nano Watch Band originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 7, 2011 at 12:58 pm.

As an amateur horologist, my interest jumped up a tick when Julie posted the news item on the recently-released Phosphor World Time Curved E-Ink Watch.   Though I favor rather largish, shall we say ‘robust’ watches, the Phosphor E-Ink watch line’s appearance, with its unique display technology and case style, was intriguing, so I was happy to have the opportunity to check one out.

Background

As mentioned above, I consider myself an amateur horologist, or fan of timepieces, though I fancy watches much more than clocks.  Actually, I’m more an admirer than a collector, though I have been wearing a wristwatch since 5th grade.  My watch tastes tend toward “tool watches”–large, thick, heavy-duty watches that can deflect a bullet or be used as a paperweight and contain enough features to make MacGyver smirk with pride.  However, I’d seen the news item that Julie posted about the Phosphor E-Ink watches, and both the display and the style caught my eye.  They were different enough from my usual favorite watch styles that I wanted to give one a try.  Phosphor (via Julie) sent me one of their newer World Timer Curved E-Ink watches to evaluate.

Specifications

• Case material: Stainless steel
• Battery access: User-accessible screw-down hatch on back
• Battery type: CR2320 (3 Volt)
• Case width: 35.0mm
• Edge thickness: 5.0mm
• Overall case thickness: 9.3mm (including hatch)
• Water resistance: 5 ATM  (50m)
• Lens type: Curved mineral glass
• Display: 12 hour large; 24 hour small (see Display Modes below)

User Selectable Display Modes

• Time of Day + World Time
• Time of Day + Calendar
• Time of Day Large
• Time of Day Small
• World Time

Packaging

The watch arrived in a black box which had a soft suede-like feel to the touch and the Phosphor logo displayed in silver on the top.

The box was hinged, allowing it to be used as a display box if you are so inclined.  The watch was wrapped around a small pillow made of the same material as the box.  The instruction booklet was hidden in a slim compartment in the inside lid of the box.

First Impressions

Two things struck me immediately as I saw the watch in person for the first time, the display and the sleek overall appearance.  The display looks similar to a standard LCD display found on millions of other watches, but in a subtle way, it looks different and unique.  It actually reminded me of an Etch-a-Sketch.  More on this later.

Physical Details

Overall, the watch has a very simple, elegant design.   The case is made from stainless steel and has a brushed finish, while the model I was sent has a matte black polyurethane strap with a double-pronged stainless buckle.  The face of the case is a rectangular shape that curves slightly outward in the middle.  The face of the watch has a silver “bezel” that frames the display.  The strap is integral with the case (cannot be removed) and its shape tapers with the shape of the case.  In addition to the black polyurethane strap, the World Time watch is also available with a white polyurethane strap, a black leather strap and a stainless steel bracelet.

The case also has a contoured curve when seen in profile view, which gives it a comfortable fit on the wrist.  And in combination with the integral strap, gives the whole watch a sleek, almost bracelet-like look.

The back of the case has a brushed finish as well, and is secured to the front of the case with six tiny Phillips-head screws.  The battery is accessed via a circular screw-down “hatch.”  The hatch has a polished finish and a slot in the center in which a coin or flat head screwdriver can be used to unscrew the hatch to access the battery.  Due to the construction of the case and the battery access hatch, the watch has a water resistance rating to 50 meters.  While this sounds great to the average person (“Wow, I can dive to 150 feet!”), in watch-speak, this rating basically means that it has splash resistance–you can wash dishes or your hands without fear of ruining it.

At this point I should note that, inexplicably, the watch died (display went blank) only 3 days after receiving it.  [NOTE: See more on this in the Update at the bottom of this post.] The manual advised that I basically do a hard reset by removing battery for a few seconds, then re-installing it.  However, in the process of unscrewing the battery hatch (using a flat-head screwdriver with the tip wrapped in masking tape), I put a few ugly gouges along the slot, which you can just make out in the image above.  I was not happy with the fact that it died only 3 days into wearing it and required a hard reset, but I was even more unhappy that I had gouged it (rather easily I might add).  At least the gouges did not affect function, did not scratch my skin and would be hidden to all save me.

The final element of the case is the single “bar”-shaped key on the front that is located below the display.  The key has a script “Phosphor” logo etched on the right side.  Like many watches the key is used to set the watch and access its various modes.  However, unlike most watches, this single key performs multiple functions by pushing on either the far right or far left side of the key.

Display & Functions

Phosphor’s electronic ink, or E-Ink, display is not Liquid Crystal Display, or LCD, like most digital watches available today.  The E-Ink display is actually more similar to the display on many e-book readers, such as the Amazon Kindle, which seeks to replicate a newsprint-like appearance.  It looks similar to a standard LCD display, but there is something different about it that is difficult to describe without seeing it in person.  One difference is that the E-Ink technology allows the entire display to be curved.  Also, because it is not backlit, the E-Ink technology is said to have lower power consumption requirements than a standard LCD, providing a longer battery life.  It also has a higher contrast than a standard LCD display (it can be viewed quite well in direct sunlight) and a wider viewing angle than an LCD display.  As a result of the E-Ink technology, sometimes remnants of previous characters, like ghost pixels, are left behind on the display.  To address this, the display automatically refreshes every 15 minutes, wiping the display of all of the ghost pixels and then displaying the current time once again.   The refresh appears a bit like a double blink, and looks sort of cool.  The watch will be sitting on your wrist when suddenly it blinks off, then back on.

The World Time watch has several modes of operation, which provide varying amounts of information to the wearer.  Pressing the right side of the key switches between the modes.  Pressing and holding the left side of the key for two seconds switches from standard (black on white) to an inverted display (white on black) for all modes.  As listed above, the modes are as follows, starting with the most basic:

'Small Time' mode (standard and inverse)

Small Time mode – This is a very basic, standard digital watch display format.  It shows the local time in 12-hour format and a PM indicator if applicable.

'Big Time' mode (standard and inverse)

Big Time mode – This mode is also very basic, but a bit more unique.  Like the ‘Small Time’ mode, ‘Big Time’ shows the local time in 12-hour format, with a PM indicator if applicable.  However, the digits are larger and the time is broken into two rows, with the hours on top and minutes below.

'Calendar' mode (standard and inverse)

Time/Calendar mode – ‘Time/Calendar’ mode shows the most information.  Starting with the top row, it includes a 3-letter abbreviated day of the week, the numeric month, the time in 24-hour format and finally the  day of the month.  Initially, I found this mode to be the one I used most often, because it shows the most information.  I like to have the month and day (and day of the week if possible) on my main watch display without having to push a button to see any of this info.  However, this mode quickly became problematic because the local time is restricted to 24-hour format only.  Because I am not accustomed to the 24-hour format, it because a source of frustration for me to have to mentally convert it after noon every day.

'World Time' and 'Dual Time' modes

World Time and Dual Time modes – I’ve included these together here because they are basically variations on the same theme.  ‘World Time’ mode shows, starting with the top row, a user-selected 3-letter abbreviated alternate time zone, and the time in this alternate zone in 12-hour format, broken into two rows like the ‘Bit Time’ mode above.  The ‘Dual Time’ mode shows abbreviated alternate time zone at top, time in the alternate time zone in 12-hour format broken into two rows, and the time in your main time zone in 24-hour format in the center.  These modes can be useful when traveling, as you can keep the local time in your “home” time zone, while also displaying the alternate time zone you are visiting.  For example, on a trip to Phoenix, I kept my local time as the EST zone, then selected MST zone as the alternate time so that I could keep track of the time both where I was an back home.

Here I would mention that although the World Time watch can display time, date, day and alternate time zone, that’s basically all it can do.  It lacks functions that are common to many digital-display watches today, such as an alarm, stopwatch or even some type of illumination for viewing in low-light situations.  This was a bit of a disappointment to me, both because I am accustomed to watches that perform a LOT of functions, and because I think Phosphor should have been able to include some or all of these functions, especially considering the flexible E-Ink display technology and the price.

In Action

Below are a few shots of the watch on my wrist.  I’ve received several comments and compliments on it.   On the first day I wore it, one of my co-workers remarked “Hey, nice watch.  Very unique.”  And just yesterday I had someone else mention that I had a nice watch.  One of my friends remarked that it looked somewhat “Euro”–not sure if this was intended to be a compliment, but that was how I took it!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I like this watch.  It is different enough from the watches that I typically wear that I enjoy looking at it on my wrist.  It has a simple, elegant appearance and curved ergonomic shape which helps make it feel comfortable on the wrist.  The E-Ink display has a different look to it than a standard LCD display, which I like.  The big drawbacks to me were its need to have a battery removal hard reset performed so early into its ownership (fail!), 24-hour time format being unchangeable on some of its display modes, and its overall lack of features common to many watches.

Update [Feb 22, 2011]: I feel I should mention that the watch has again died, its screen once again going blank.  I am very disappointed by this.  If I had given this watch a rating, it would be dropping rapidly.  Not sure I would recommend it to others at this point.

Filed in categories: Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Watch

Phosphor World Time Curved E-Ink Watch Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 22, 2010 at 11:55 am.

Wish you knew in an instant what time your favorite team is playing?  Game Time‘s patented Schedule Watch comes pre-loaded with game date, time, location and opponent for your favorite team or any team in your sport.  Update it for $10/year by downloading new schedules to your PC, then syncing with the supplied USB cable.  It even plays your team’s fight song when the game is about to begin.  Choose your favorite team from among college, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB.  Also includes boring stuff like alarm, hourly chime, and EL backlight.  $100.

Filed in categories: Miscellaneous, News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Sports, Watch

Wear Your Favorite Team’s Schedule on Your Wrist originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 13, 2010 at 2:00 pm.

I love it when people take a product and make it do things that it wasn’t originally intended to do. For example, take the latest Apple iPod nano. It’s a music player, but as soon as it came out, people started using it as a watch. I love it! One such company that is helping to make the nano watch a reality is iWatchz with their Nanoclipz watch bands.

Available in 8 colors, the Nanoclipz is a solid silicone strap with a special clip for the 6th generation iPod nano to attach to.

A brushed metal buckle keeps the ‘watch’ on your wrist.

The clip is specially designed to allow the nano to slide on easily and remain securely attached while being worn on your wrist.

All you have to do is pinch open the clip on the back of the nano and slide it thru the slot on the Nanoclipz till it snaps in place.

When attached, you still have unrestricted access to all the buttons…

and ports.

You won’t have to worry that the nano will slide off accidently while attached to the Nanoclipz. The only way to remove it is to manually pinch the nano clip and slide it back off.

The only problem I noticed with this product is that the plastic clip that holds the nano sticks out a bit on the right side. You can see this in the image above. Apparently the slot on the sample clip isn’t lined up perfectly. I didn’t have this problem with the Black band. It’s not a huge deal and would probably not be noticed by most people.

The Nanoclipz band makes your iPod nano look and feel just like a wrist watch. It feels as comfortable to wear as a normal watch although it is a bit large and might look better on a wrist larger than mine. That said, the band does fit me!

If you want to wear your new iPod nano on your wrist, the iWatchz Nanoclipz will do the job quite nicely. It can be purchased through the iWatchz site or at your favorite Apple store.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Nano, Watch

iWatchz Nanoclipz iPod nano Watch Band Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 7, 2010 at 5:29 pm.

Tokyoflash Japan is well known for their unique LED wrist watches, but their latest offering is a little different… The Kisai RPM is their first watch that has been designed based on an idea that was submitted by a Tokyoflash fan from the UK back in February. That design was then chosen by the community to be taken from a concept watch to an actual product offered for sale. The RPM has a Black stainless steel disk in the center, with 2 rows of Blue LEDs around it. When a button is pressed the inner row of LEDs display the hour, while the outer row tells the minutes. The Kisai RPM is available now for $208.42.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Spotlight Gadgets, Watch

Kisai RPM – Tokyoflash Japan’s first community designed watch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 26, 2010 at 11:52 am.

Phosphor has just announced the availability of the World Time Watch with curved E Ink display that utilizing the paper-like display technology found in the Amazon Kindle. This watch offers the ability to select from 24 time zones for one display mode, while optionally displaying a second time zone simultaneously. The Phosphor World Time Watch is only 9.3mm thick and is available in several band styles starting at $150. Full press release after the jump.

Phosphor Debuts E Ink Digital Watch with World Time Function
Next generation watches showcase a unique blend of style and technology by incorporating an E Ink display and curved design

(Dallas – November 9, 2010) – The American watch brand, Phosphor (www.phosphorwatches.com), announces the launch of the World Time Watch, its newest luxury chronometer featuring E Ink’s electronic paper display technology.
 
The new World Time Watch with curved E Ink display is one of the only watches in the world to utilize similar electronic ink technology found in Amazon’s Kindle™, the world’s most popular e-reader. It also offers the ability to select from 24 time zones for one display mode, while optionally displaying a second time zone simultaneously. The dual time zone display can also be user configured to simply display the time of day or both the date and time in either over-sized or conventional-sized segments.

These unique features are packaged in a sleek, ultra-thin, curved case only 9.3mm thick. Incredibly versatile, the new World Time Watch boasts an assortment of functions and display modes and is available in several band styles.
 
“Phosphor’s new World Time Watch takes advantage of E Ink’s ultra low power and highly readable SURF display technology to make a truly unique statement for both the consumer and business market.” said Sriram Peruvemba, Global VP of Sales and Marketing, E Ink Corporation.
 
E Ink SURF products are segmented, ultra-thin, rugged and flexible displays that enable a new generation of innovative watch designs with the following display benefits:
Ultra High Contrast: The display is made up of black and pure white particles, which allow contrast comparable to that found on a printed page and more than twice the contrast of a conventional LCD panel. It can be easily read in direct sunlight.

Low Power Consumption: Since the display technology is reflective, no backlighting is required. The display also requires no power to maintain an image, extending the device’s battery life.

Wide Viewing Angle:  With a viewing cone of 180 degrees, the electrophoretic technology overcomes the disadvantages of conventional displays when it comes to off-axis viewing. Together with its high contrast, it allows the user to read the time at a glance from any angle.

The World Time Watch from Phosphor is one of the first commercially available E Ink digital display watch designs, and one of the only curved digital watches on the market today. It is now available from online from Phosphor at www.phosphorwatches.com and through selected retailers starting at $150.
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About Phosphor TM

Phosphor TM is a new American watch brand focused on the relentless pursuit of watches that integrate new technologies combined with compelling design. The Phosphor TM brand is owned by Art Technology Limited, which has offices in both United States and Hong Kong. More information can be found at: www.phosphorwatches.com.

About E Ink Corporation
E Ink Corporation is a subsidiary of E Ink Holdings Inc (8069:TWO), the world’s leading supplier of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies. E Ink’s technology is ideal for many consumer and industrial applications spanning handheld devices, eBooks, eNewspapers, wrist watches, PC-accessories, public information displays and promotional signs. E Ink’s customers include Amazon, Art Technology, Barnes & Noble, Citizen, Hanwang, Hitachi, Lexar, Samsung and Sony. E Ink news can be found at: http://www.eink.com.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Spotlight Gadgets, Watch

Phosphor Announces World Time Curved E Ink Watch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 9, 2010 at 11:30 am.

If pocket bulging smartphones aren’t your style, how about an unlocked GSM phone that you can wear on your wrist. You know you’ve always wanted to be a secret agent. Now you can… sorta. At least you’ll look the part with the Kempler & Strauss W Phonewatch. We’ve seen wrist phones before, but this one appears to have all the right features. First of all it has a 1.5-inch color LCD touchscreen that doesn’t require a stylus. It has Bluetooth v2.0, built in camera for snapshots and video capture. It also has a built in MP3 player, phone book, games and an SMS app. The W Phonewatch ships with a wearable Bluetooth Communicator headset and is priced at $199.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: GSM, Spotlight Gadgets, Watch

Your Wrist is Ringing – Kempler & Strauss W Phonewatch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 7, 2010 at 8:49 am.