Hasta La Gadget!

They’re here, well, almost. Two attractive and legible alternatives to the over designed watch, Ziiiro’s Gravity and Mercury, are now available for pre-order. No, they can’t tell you if it’s snowing out like Fossil’s Connected, and they won’t bump your 2010 year in review playlist like an iPod nano watch, but they do tell time like no other — quite literally. The Gravity and Mercury have taken Ziiiro’s lofty goal of stylish utilitarianism from concept to reality. The watches function without any of the markings of standard analog timepieces, instead using a continuously rotating combination of two rings to make temporal distinctions. The tip of the inner ring represents the hour, while the tip of the outer ring denotes minutes, and a fading gradient tracks the passage of time. Ziiiro doesn’t let form override function, but it doesn’t skimp on aesthetics, either: Mercury, which touts a stainless steel band, comes in four different color schemes, while Gravity boasts a patent pending bracelet strap (a silicone-metal combo), available in six colors. Both watches also feature pop-out faces, allowing for a variety of Swatch watch-style face-band pairings. However, while they’re both readable and fashionable, these low frills watches don’t come cheap: prices range from €100 to €143, or about $130 to $175.

Ziiiro Gravity and Mercury watches coming soon to a wrist near you originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well that didn’t take long. Less than a month after we reported on the TikTok and LunaTik concept iPod nano watches hitting Kickstarter the company behind them, Minimal Studios, has met its goal — and then some. Way then some. The project has clocked in nearly $1,000,000 in funding, helped in large part by a $25 pledge getting you first in line for a $35 MSRP TikTok watch kit, while $50 scored you the metallic LunaTik, which will go for $70. If you missed your chance to pile on the money you can now pre-order officially, with an expected shipment date in January. Again we’re not particularly keen on the whole nano as a watch thing, but obviously ya’ll have your own ideas, and we say more power to you — and to Minimal Studios founder Scott Wilson.

Minimal Studios iPod nano watch kits raise a million dollars on Kickstarter, yes, a million dollars originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple’s iPod nano and the Sony Ericsson LiveView may have disappointed as wrist computers, but our Dick Tracy dream soldiers on, to the point where we found ourselves taking another look at that most dubious of converged devices: the watch phone. There, we discovered the Rebel, the latest creation from UK manufacturer Swap, a quad-band GSM wrist unit with a 1.46-inch color touchscreen and a built-in camera for both video and stills. It may look like a sterile medical wristband, but that silicone strap actually hides a USB port on one end, the better to let you transfer your MP3s and MP4 video to its paltry 2GB of expandable microSD storage. The watch also does FM radio, beams audio to your Bluetooth headset and comes with the typical smattering of basic apps. Still, there’s not a lot for the asking price of £189 (about $300) so you’d best be head over heels in love with the design. PR after the break, more images at our source link.

Continue reading Swap Rebel watch phone laughs at your wrist-mounted iPod nano

Swap Rebel watch phone laughs at your wrist-mounted iPod nano originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 02:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By now, you’ve decided if you’re going to use Apple’s iPod nano 6G as a watch. We obviously have our own feelings on the matter, but those who can’t be bothered with actual functionality should definitely be looking in the direction of Frontal Concepts. This Australian outfit has just released its first product, and it’s far and away the most sensibly designed iPod nano watch strap to date. Rather than just looping a band through the device’s rear clip, the Infuse strap actually has a simple, one-click locking mechanism to keep your digital timepiece in position. It’s also positioned to allow the audio cord to run upwards along the arm, and it’s built from polycarbonate plastics and silicone — plenty tough to withstand the occasional gym visit. Americans can get their pre-order in today for $24.95 (black, white and brown hues are available), with the first shipments expected to head out in around a fortnight. Time’s ticking, Santa.

Continue reading Frontal Concepts’ Infuse iPod nano watch strap wins imaginary design award, our hearts

Frontal Concepts’ Infuse iPod nano watch strap wins imaginary design award, our hearts originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nooka Zub Zayu watch has no hands, a name only Trevor Horn could love originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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