Hasta La Gadget!

This Keypad watch represents the lopped-off numpad your laptop still feels every time it rains

It’s fairly clear these days that watches are meant for decoration, and not for traditional horological purposes. The biggest piece of evidence in favor of my hastily-invented theory is the watches themselves: They make it almost impossible to tell the time.

The Keypad watch amply demonstrates the other side of this trend: awesome-looking novelty wrist-jewelry. The Keypad watch looks like the number pad on any computer keyboard, and you press (almost) any one of those keys to ask the time. The watch then blinks lights embedded in the keys, one by one, to tell you the hour. Thus a zero, then a nine, a one and a five means 09:15. Easy enough, if a little time consuming.

The hash key has a different function: to display the date. And while you can pick between 12 and 24-hour time, it appears that you cannot set the date to display the date day-first (13/12 for December 13th) as God intended when he invented the Gregorian calendar 1776 years before the U.S became independent.

The Keypad watch comes in a variety of computer-drab colors, from cheap PC beige thru gamer black to a horrible 1980s gray (my favorite). Better still, they come at a price you could reasonably badger your spouse into paying to buy you the perfect Christmas gift: $90. Available now.

Keypad Watch product page [Watchismo. Thanks, Mitch!]

Tokyoflash has always been more about the showy aspects of time, rather than the practical telling of it. And that trend continues on here with a Tron-inspired schema that’s gone from original fan concept to wrist-wrapping product completion. Dubbed the Kisai Seven, this watch takes its cues from the aforementioned Disney flick, and incorporates two pulsing LED rings — available in blue or white — that are customizable via three animation pre-sets. Timepiece collectors interested in this bit of avant chronographic kit can snatch it up late night on the 25th when it’s set to be released. You might wanna order up quickly, though, as the company’s offering a special two-day only price of $99 that’ll get a bump to $139 shortly after. Like what you see fellow ’80s nostalgist? Then get your credit cards at the ready. Tomorrow’s only a day away.

Continue reading Tokyoflash Kisai Seven tells time with Tron design, makes fan dreams come true

Tokyoflash Kisai Seven tells time with Tron design, makes fan dreams come true originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No, the picture above isn’t some modernized Power Ranger’s wrist communicator. This is the Mutewatch, and we’ve been intrigued since we first laid eyes on it over a year ago. At a glance, it looks akin to a rubber fashion bracelet, which could make its $260 price tag a shocker. But with the right touch or flick it reveals itself to be much more. The Stockholm-based start-up behind it, dubbed Mutewatch AB, envisions the device serving as “time management tool” for setting quick wrist-felt vibrating reminders during the course of the day. Think Growl, but on your wrist. The wristwatch lacks a dial and crystal, and instead has an angled, touch-sensitive section for a face with hidden LEDs, an ambient light sensor, a motion sensor and a vibrating motor for alarms. We’ve spent some time using a near-final unit seeing what it would be like silently manage our days, and it’s all laid out just past the break.

Continue reading Mutewatch wrists-on: stay on-task with good vibrations (video)

Mutewatch wrists-on: stay on-task with good vibrations (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tag Heuer’s high-end concept chronograph is so precise, blink and you’ll miss it — literally. The Mikrotimer Flying 1000’s watch movement runs at 500Hz. Compare that to other high-end chronos plodding along at 5Hz, and you start to see the sort of power and precision Team Tag are working with — this mesmerizing piece of wrist jewelry is capable of banging out 3.6 million beats per hour. Initially planned as a one-off, the concept watch will now go on sale for a lucky few timepiece obsessives. Be prepared to reach for your severely over-burdened money clip, though; the price is set at €65,000 ($88,580), with a limited run of ten arriving before the end of the year. Gawp in awe at the brief video after the break. You may have to sell the Batmobile.

Continue reading Tag Heuer concept watch beats 3.6 million times per hour, $89,000 price tag gives heart palpitations

Tag Heuer concept watch beats 3.6 million times per hour, $89,000 price tag gives heart palpitations originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Kisai’s Rogue Touch watch displays dual timezones, is mildly confusing to read (video)

Kisai’s Rogue Touch watch displays dual timezones, is mildly confusing to read (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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