Wearing a watch is becoming more and more uncommon. It could even be said that wearing a timepiece these days, especially amongst the younger generation, is rare; our smartphones and other electronic devices keep us clocked on. However Italian style gurus have blended their designer skills with technology – creating the i’m Watch. But is this a gadget that is the foundation of timepiece tech or simply a watch with an imminent final tick?
Digital cogs
Inside the i’m Watch you won’t find any click springs or transmission wheels, more gigabytes and CPU processors. The watch has a flash drive memory of 4GB. This is a healthy little amount to run apps and music. However your main bulk of apps and music will be stored on your smartphone. This is connected via Bluetooth to the watch which is running on the i’m Droid 2 operating system. This is compatable with Androids, IOS products and Blackberry (however SMS viewing is not available). The screen is a 1.54” colour TFT display, very similar quality to that of an iPod Nano. And with everything else you would expect, like USB connection, headphone jack and built-in speaker this wrist device is a cool little tool. So, why get one?
Switched on
There are a few smart reasons, which make the age of the smart-watch attractive. Firstly, how it looks. The i’m Watch range is a classy and sophisticated arm accessory. Several different colours for your straps that link in to the titanium face offer you a nice range to choose from – smart or funky, it’s available. Ever feel like you are always getting your phone in and out of your pocket? The i’m Watch reduces this dramatically. On screen notifications of SMS, email and phone calls mean you simply glance at your wrist rather than search for your phone. Very handy. Finally we are impressed with the range of apps available. There might not be the largest storage space on the watch, but there is plenty to cram in some great applications like games, office apps and leisure apps. Oh, and let’s not forget it tells the time…
So where is this charming little gadget going wrong? Well, nowhere really. It is new technology and at this moment in time is an impressive piece of equipment. However there are two difficulties we see the i’m Watch facing – competition and fashion. The competition right now is from the Japanese giants, Sony. With an already established name, will consumers stick with what they know best? There are also other companies out there who are developing their own watches – including Apple – so the saying competition is healthy might not be so easily digested by the i’m Watch team.
Then the question of fashion is raised. Not just how it looks in comparison to their competitors, but as a product that will stand the test of time. Mini-disc players and portable TVs seemed a good idea at the time before MP3 players and tablets came storming in. iPod 1st and 2nd Generation models are cool retro MP3-players to have. Proving their ten-year life span exudes style. So will this interactive watch take off or be another digital flop? Only time will tell.
Our favourites: Back-up systems
Aegis Secure Key – $66.99
Encrypted USB unlocks with onboard PIN pad. Compatible with any operating system that supports USB and a slim design doesn’t block other ports. The unit is designed so fingernails leave no telltale trace on the PIN pad. 4GB, 8GB and 16GB available.
Seagate Wireless Plus $184.99
This is a great wireless device for users of iOS, Android and even Kindle Fire. With an impressive memory of 500GB, you won’t be worrying about filling up this little box in a hurry. Perfect for the home, backing up just got a little easier…
Iomega eGo Desktop Hard Drive, Mac Edition (2TB) $185
Some serious storage with this one. Boasting 2 Terabytes and at such a great price, this is great for home and the office. Its sleek design hides away its power and memory to give you a giant-sized back up system no larger than 7 inches.
