Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

After much speculation, Samsung finally unveils smartwatch

The phone can make calls, take photos, receive notifications – basically everything a smartphone can do. But there’s a few catches…

image

SAMSUNG HAS STOLEN a march its biggest competitor by becoming one of the first big tech companies to unveil a smartwatch.

At a highly anticipated event in Berlin tonight, the mobile giant showed off the Galaxy Gear watch, which comes complete with most of the capabilities of the average smartphone. However the watch is more of a companion than a replacement – it has to connect to a phone via Bluetooth to work.

Users will be able to make hands-free calls and check notifications for emails, text messages and alerts without having to look at their phone. The watch also has a 1.9 megapixel camera, and there are around 70 apps compatible with the device.

image

Samsung Mobile said that users will be able to “draft messages, create new calendar entries, set alarms and check the weather” on the watch.

The technical specifications of the watch are impressive: it has an 800 MHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of internal storage. It also has a microphone built in for making calls over a Bluetooth smartphone connection.

However – and there was always going to be a ‘but’ with a product as new as this – the watch will only work with Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 phone. It looks likely that it will in the future work with other Samsung phones – including the popular Galaxy S III and S4 – but it does not look like it will work with other phones.

image

The battery of the watch is believed to last for about one day’s worth of use. It takes a charge from a dock via a micro-USB.

The watch, which is available in six colours, will be launched on 25 September around the world but the price is not yet known (although Bloomberg has estimated that it will be $300 – around €227).

image

image

People watch the unveiling of the smartwatch in Berlin this evening. (All pics: AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

So that’s what it looks like and what it does – what do you think? Would you get one?

Read: New iPhone could be gold, scratch resistant and have a fingerprint scanner >

Read: Government considers banning drivers from wearing Google Glass >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
146 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute anne leyden
    Favourite anne leyden
    Report
    Jan 31st 2025, 10:39 PM

    Poor Wales. It must be the worst Wales team in the history of rugby. . Not a great opener for the season. Dupont is a master of rugby. He could win the grand slam on his own.

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Don Johnson
    Favourite Don Johnson
    Report
    Jan 31st 2025, 11:36 PM

    @anne leyden: France won’t win a Grand Slam. They just can’t shake the needless indiscipline from their game, very frustrating.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Des O
    Favourite Des O
    Report
    Jan 31st 2025, 11:23 PM

    I thought that the ref was poor, and very home town focused. Yes, Wales werent great but give them the 50/50s at least….and why do we need a southern hemisphere ref to ref to ref hemisphere games….

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Des O
    Favourite Des O
    Report
    Jan 31st 2025, 11:24 PM

    @Des O: “to ref northern hemisphere ganes”

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nerb
    Favourite Nerb
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 8:17 AM

    @Des O: very much agreed. I thought Wales gave as good as they could and played to the end. That was despite the superiority of the team in front of them and having to play the 16th man.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Me Me
    Favourite Me Me
    Report
    Jan 31st 2025, 10:42 PM

    Why only 8 subs? Why not 15.? Change the whole team! We have red cards which are really just deep yellow. Crooked line out throws can be ok. Tries from forward passes are grand. Put into the scrum the 2nd row.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat O Dwyer
    Favourite Pat O Dwyer
    Report
    Jan 31st 2025, 11:37 PM

    @Me Me: Putting the ball in to the second row has been endemic for years now…I just don’t understand why the rule isn’t enforced of a straight put in…you’ll never again here the phrase ‘heel against the head’.
    As a former forward it was a great chance to steal the opposition put in with a well time push as the hooker only had one foot on the ground.
    The physical aspect has been watered down too much.
    A penalty awarded for a ‘croc roll’ tonight when there was absolutely no danger whatsoever to the player being tackled…he was just caught around the waist and turned over…it’s getting like fn soccer now

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Murphy
    Favourite Mark Murphy
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 1:31 AM

    @Pat O Dwyer: It’s almost like every scrum is non contested. I remember playing rugby in the 90s where you had a decent chance of winning opposition ball in the scrum if your scrum was strong enough, it seems futile these days.

    13
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nerb
    Favourite Nerb
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 8:18 AM

    @Me Me: new rules. Crooked line outs are acceptable …… if not challenged by the opposing team

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nerb
    Favourite Nerb
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 8:20 AM

    @Me Me: scrum half stays where he is and waits for his team to move forward so that 2nd row is now in front of him and then puts ball in.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Me Me
    Favourite Me Me
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 8:56 AM

    @Nerb: I know the new rule, and it’s rubbish.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Me Me
    Favourite Me Me
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 8:58 AM

    @Nerb: And ‘waits for his team to move forward’?? Put in should be at the scrum position between the 2 front rows. Hookers are called that fir a reason.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James T.Kirk
    Favourite James T.Kirk
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 6:22 AM

    Are we going to accept blatant forward passes this 6 nations, yes we are it seems.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Jennings
    Favourite William Jennings
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 1:25 AM

    As an Ireland fan, I’m not actually feeling too bad after that. France were of course going to win by 35+ points but their bench was actually quite substandard and lacked the energy and physicality of the starting 15. Le Garrec was particularly poor with his service from the base of the ruck and his goal kicking. If they bring that same bench out against us, we’ve got a decent chance of winning. Granted, France do have a few injuries but if that’s the best they can put out and perform against Wales in the second-half with the current crop that they have, our bench definitely has the edge. If aren’t able to keep the focus against the worst team in the Six Nations, I doubt they’ll be able to do it against us at the Aviva Stadium. However, we have to win tomorrow first before any of that.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jerry LeFrog
    Favourite Jerry LeFrog
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 12:40 PM

    @William Jennings: they didn’t keep hammering to the end because the game was over as a contest at half time and they just saved themselves for next weekend which will be a different intensity. A wounded England at home will want to avenge the 50 points drubbing from 2 years ago. And most of the bench came on in one go before the 50th min, that’s unusual nowadays at that level.
    Although you’re right, Le Garrec brought the speed down a few gears when he came on

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Byrne
    Favourite Peter Byrne
    Report
    Jan 31st 2025, 11:55 PM

    Welsh Rugby has been poor for years. Swansea and Cardiff have been promoting soccer in the heart lands of rugby for years

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergus O'Connor
    Favourite Fergus O'Connor
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 9:54 AM

    @Peter Byrne: Love to see it.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marius van Niekerk
    Favourite Marius van Niekerk
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 9:21 AM

    Wales never had a chance but the ref lifting his arm twice even before a non try was scored, not blowing or checking for forward passes? I love the French camera work. They never do a replay of a French infringement.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Toca Stories
    Favourite Toca Stories
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 10:20 AM

    @Marius van Niekerk: one of the tries definitely looked like it came from a forward pass and yet no TMO check…very unusual to be fair.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jerry LeFrog
    Favourite Jerry LeFrog
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 12:43 PM

    @Marius van Niekerk: to be fair, the Irish replays are also very good at hiding Irish infringements, or feet in touch before a try is scored… Par for the course I guess

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan Murphy
    Favourite Dan Murphy
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 7:23 AM

    That was just a starter the main meal is today.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Ridge
    Favourite Martin Ridge
    Report
    Feb 1st 2025, 10:24 AM

    Worst Wales team in there history

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds