Swatch Enters the SPOT Watch Race

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.spotstop.com/default.asp?newsID=85' target='_blank'>http://www.spotstop.com/default.asp?newsID=85</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Swatch has announced Paparazzi, a new MSN Direct watch that comes in four different colors. If you want a watch with personality, you're getting it with Swatch. The colors are extremely vivid and the price is right, MSRP is $150. Swatch is also debuting special content called "Swatch City" which will include local entertainment information. The Paparazzi will come in four color combinations: red with black accents, black with silver, orange with blue and blue with beige. We have a full image gallery below, each including a unique watch face. The bands are silicon, but he faces don't look large enough to house the antenna. It's likely the Paparazzi shares the same antenna deisgn as the Tissot (Swatch is the parent company of Tissot). The watches are also said to be waterproof, which the competing models at this price point are not. Another key point is that Swatch includes a two-year warranty, tied for tops in the MSN Direct category."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/174.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />If you're a SPOT watch fan, the news that legendary watch maker Swatch is entering the market will come as great news. SPOT Stop has an article about this news, and a <a href="http://www.spotstop.com/default.asp?newsID=83&review=Suunto+n3i+Watch">review of the Suunto n3i</a>. There were some things I liked about my SPOT watch, but ultimately it didn't do enough for me to warrant continued use. I still think SPOT technology would be awesome in a Pocket PC or Smartphone...

[Mike Temporale]

Woo Hoo !!! Those look like they are smaller than previous Spots. The red and yellow aren't really for me, but the blue and black would do just fine. 8)

[Jerry Raia]

I just cant get past the "One Way" limitation of these things. I've gotten spoiled by phones that arent much bigger than these watches and can do so much more. But every time i see one.......I want one. :?

[Mike Temporale]

I just cant get past the "One Way" limitation of these things. I've gotten spoiled by phones that arent much bigger than these watches and can do so much more. But every time i see one.......I want one. :?

So true.... I really wanted, and almost purchased the Suunto, but the price was just too much.

I still think SPOT technology would be awesome in a Pocket PC or Smartphone

Now that's a cool idea. It's not like they take up much room, so it shouldn't be too hard to fit it into a Smartphone. 8)

[possmann]

A SPOT Phone - oh yeah!

Frankly I'm happy to see that Swatch is getting into the game - should bring down price points a bit and hopefully SPOT will catch on. What I'd really like is to get rid of the pager and have pages sent directly to my SPOT watch - Now THAT would be really cool..

[Kris Kumar]

I still think SPOT technology would be awesome in a Pocket PC or Smartphone

Now that's a cool idea. It's not like they take up much room, so it shouldn't be too hard to fit it into a Smartphone. 8)

I think Smartphones have this technology. It hasn't been exploited yet!

What we need are Home Screen plugin solutions. We have ones for Weather, News, Stocks etc, but these plugins instead of polling for updates, should get updates via PUSH (SMS). ;-)

So that instead of these plugins un-necessarily checking for updates, get the updates when there are updates.

Also we need a Home Screen plugin whose content can be subscribed to, similar to the SPOT watches. The plugin provider must provide us with a means to configure the things that interest me, and send me only that information.

So is anyone interested in writing such a plugin? Microsoft are you listening? :-)

[Mike Temporale]

I just stumbled across this Fossil's New Watches Revealed (pictures) (http://www.spotstop.com/default.asp?newsID=88) - and Abucas

http://www.spotstop.com/assets/233.jpghttp://www.spotstop.com/assets/232.jpg
http://www.spotstop.com/assets/234.jpg

Check out the link for the full story. They should be available in a week or so. The Abacus units will retail for $129 and the Fossil $199. I like the look of these better than Swatch, and the Abucas is cheaper. Plus they are water proof too.