Yes, it's true, the entire electronics industry has gone smartwatch crazy. At this point it seems that not a week goes by without some company hinting that they have a smartwatch in the works. In fact, just yesterday an LG executive indicated that the company would release its own smartwatch next year. But while many companies are dropping hints in preparation for competition with the rumored Apple iWatch, a few upstarts are actually shipping products to the market. The latest entry into the field is the Omate Truesmart.
Although the primary selling point of the smartwatch appears to be the fact that the device is water-resistant, upon closer inspection what the Omate really seems to offer is a refreshing alternative to the dull e-ink screens on devices like the Pebble. The device's tiny screen is crisp and colorful and seems more like a mini-smartphone, with the ability to accept calls, take photos, and run a number of Android apps.
Running on a 1.3GHz dual core processor with a 5-megapixel camera, GPS functionality, a gyroscope, and a speaker and microphone, the makers of the smartwatch claim that it has up to 100 hours of standby battery time. Perhaps one of the best features of the Omate is that it can operate as a standalone computing device, or as a Bluetooth-connected accessory for your smartphone. So no need to factor in an expensive smartphone tethering expense as you might with Google Glass.
The company announced a Kickstarter campaign earlier this week with a goal of raising $100,000 that it blew past in just one day. But with such a low funding goal, it's likely that the team already had the resources to produce the device and simply used the platform to confirm or stir up consumer interest. Selling for $199, the company expects to ship the device to consumers in November. Is this the smartwatch that'll trump all smartwatches?
Via Kickstarter
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