Motorola might have been the first to announce a rounded smartwatch, but they certainly aren’t the only manufacturer interested in the form factor. Not only have we seen patents suggesting that Samsung is planning to move into the circular smartwatch market, but a new rumor has even popped up this week claiming OnePlus has a circular watch in the works. Now HP is jumping in as well, though unlike the OnePlus and Samsung rounded watches, this one is more than just a rumor.
Partnering with fashion designer Michael Bastian, HP’s smartwatch will arrive as an exclusive to Gilt. What do we actually know about this watch? Not a lot, other than it had a 44-millimeter stainless steel case, a circular design, 3 swappable bands with different finishes and it works with both Android and iOS via an app.
HP's watch will work with iOS and Android, with fashion being a big part of the focus
Honestly, we don’t even know exactly how “smart” this watch really is, as the wording of the announcement calls it a “men’s timepiece featuring smart technology engineered by Hewlett-Packard”, though they also refer to it as an actual smartwatch. That means it could be more like a regular watch but with some special smart features like tracking or simple vibrations for notifications, or a full-blown smart device with apps and other advanced features. Bottom-line, we really don’t know what to expect here, other than we know it will work with iOS and Android and that fashion will be a big focus for HP and Bastian.
HP’s watch is expected to arrive this fall, though pricing and other specifics are unknown, but we imagine it’s a safe bet that this won’t come cheap. What do you think, like the idea of a fashion watch with some smart features, or should smartwatch functionality come before design?
Via: Phone Arena;
Source: Gilt;