Microsoft Unveils Smart Watches, Media Players [Archive]

View Full Version : Microsoft Unveils Smart Watches, Media Players

Jason Dunn

01-09-2003, 05:53 PM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=581&e=1&cid=581&u=/nm/20030109/tc_nm/tech_microsoft_dc' target='_blank'>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...ch_microsoft_dc</a> </div>Call me a Microsoft fanboy if you want, but why does it take a company like Microsoft to do something like this - something so simple, so obvious. I know that Microsoft isn't the first to make "smart watches", but there's a clarity of vision here that makes more sense than anything else I've seen from other companies on the market. "The smart watches, which recall the futuristic designs once popularized by the comic book crime fighter Dick Tracy, will receive data over FM radio spectrum leased by Microsoft, a system the company calls DirectBand. Watch makers such as Fossil and Citizen have signed on to produce the devices, which run on chips manufactured by National Semiconductor and utilize Microsoft's Smart Personal Objects Technology, or SPOT. No determination had been made yet as to what, if any, monthly service fees would be charged or whether Microsoft or the watch makers would control how users customize their wrist-borne devices, company representatives said." Then there's the portable media player design. This sounds like a very cool idea, but I wish Microsoft would build the hardware - they make good, solid hardware. But, like the Pocket PC, they don't want to go it alone - they want to build up an industry around them, and that means getting OEMs on board. "Microsoft also said it is working with Intel Corp. on a design for portable players code-named "Media2Go." The devices, which would hold at least 12 hours of audio or six hours of video, are targeted to hit retailers later this year. Among the companies that will build the units, Microsoft said, are Sanyo, Samsung and ViewSonic. The new players will feature screens at least four inches wide, with ports to connect them to television sets for video-quality playback." There's a <a href="http://www.cnet.com/video/ces03/gates1.html">very interesting video that talks about SPOT</a> on CNET that you should check out (thanks to Peter West for sending it in).

shk718

01-09-2003, 06:13 PM

Very clever concept. Would be a great addition to a pocket pc. But i'm not sure if i would pay $10.00/month (pc world quoted this price) to get the weather on my watch. I also wonder if the fee convers more than 1 device.

entropy1980

01-09-2003, 06:22 PM

ExtremeSIMS

01-09-2003, 06:28 PM

"Microsoft also said it is working with Intel Corp. on a design for portable players code-named "Media2Go." The devices, which would hold at least 12 hours of audio or six hours of video, are targeted to hit retailers later this year. Among the companies that will build the units, Microsoft said, are Sanyo, Samsung and ViewSonic. The new players will feature screens at least four inches wide, with ports to connect them to television sets for video-quality playback."

Interesting. It was rumored that an iPod with video playback would be coming out soon. I have to wonder if this will push for faster development of an MPEG4 video playback device at Apple.

Jason, if you are a Microsoft fanboy, I guess I am an Apple fan boy. Well, maybe not too much - I use a PocketPC, Microsoft Office, and don't own an iPod.

Hank Scorpio

01-09-2003, 06:32 PM

Steven Cedrone

01-09-2003, 06:47 PM

Seiko had something very similar a few years back.... http://smasher.com/fun/watch/info.html just wouldn't want to end up in a lurch if they stop supporting it, besides have you seen the watch? It is butt-ugly!

somebody post a picture I wanna see it!

See this thread (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7030)...

Steve

entropy1980

01-09-2003, 06:54 PM

Just go to Fossil's site they have a ton of info.....

Janak Parekh

01-09-2003, 07:17 PM

Seiko had something very similar a few years back.... http://smasher.com/fun/watch/info.html just wouldn't want to end up in a lurch if they stop supporting it, besides have you seen the watch? It is butt-ugly!
That one was, but there were very pretty MessageWatches too. I know, I have (had?) one. The special band finally broke, and so I've ordered an atomic Casio watch. Unfortunately, as you said, the Seiko service died years ago. While it was a nice standalone watch, you're right, you want some assurance of service. The new one I'm getting uses the NIST service, broadcasted from Colorado, which isn't going anywhere.

--janak

entropy1980

01-09-2003, 07:19 PM

Seiko had something very similar a few years back.... http://smasher.com/fun/watch/info.html just wouldn't want to end up in a lurch if they stop supporting it, besides have you seen the watch? It is butt-ugly!
That one was, but there were very pretty MessageWatches too. I know, I have (had?) one. The special band finally broke, and so I've ordered an atomic Casio watch. Unfortunately, as you said, the Seiko service died years ago. While it was a nice standalone watch, you're right, you want some assurance of service. The new one I'm getting uses the NIST service, broadcasted from Colorado, which isn't going anywhere.

--janak
No i was saying the new MS watch is butt-ugly I mean look at it:
http://www.fossil.com/images/retail/Product/TechHome/homeSpot/Feature01_0108.jpg

Rirath

01-09-2003, 07:25 PM

I love the idea of a smarter watch, but the services listed just don't get me going that much. Weather? Sports? Time sync? Eeeeh. Audio and Video sounds somewhat cooler, but only from a "Excuse me while I plug headphones into my wrist watch." perspective.

Still, if they can make it do some spiffy stuff for around or under $200, and make it look decent enough to wear... why not. Right now I use one of them Casio watches with the little keypad and databank to store numbers, addresses, calculator functions, etc. It's simple but at least what it can do is handy.

klinux

01-09-2003, 07:26 PM

Quick, someone start jokes about where the ctrl-alt-del button is on the watch!

Actually, I am looking forward to more smart devices.

Kati Compton

01-09-2003, 07:40 PM

No i was saying the new MS watch is butt-ugly I mean look at it

It does seem to have a very large face with only a relatively small portion of it used for the actual display...

krisbrown

01-09-2003, 07:52 PM

Steven Cedrone

01-09-2003, 08:02 PM

From BBC news website

In the coming years, Microsoft foresees smart objects like takeaway menus that change the daily specials or fridge magnets that serve as digital picture receivers, all powered by its software.

Im awfully sorry Sir, the restuarant's closing, seems the menu has lost a boot up file :roll:

So thats what those "things" were:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cedrones/Gates-SPOT.jpg

Huge image here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/images/features/2002/11-17spot-lg.jpg

Steve

shk718

01-09-2003, 08:24 PM

here are some pictures:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/spot/product.mspx

Janak Parekh

01-09-2003, 08:43 PM

No i was saying the new MS watch is butt-ugly I mean look at it:
:oops: Sorry, misunderstood you. Yeah, that's a pretty geeky looking watch. But check the link immediately above, some of those are much more decent.

--janak

Jonathan1

01-09-2003, 08:45 PM

As cool as this is I have to ask just how "wired" do I really have to be at this point? Seriously? Do I need a wired alarm clock (See the pict above.) Do I need a watch that really does all these things? Personally I don't need/want/afford something like this. It seems like this is a technology advance just for technology sake vs an actual use. I mean the most advanced watch I would ever want would be one that is synched with the atomic clock and is a kinetic watch that never needs batteries.
*shrugs* Maybe that’s just me.

Janak Parekh

01-09-2003, 08:47 PM

*shrugs* Maybe that’s just me.
Everyone has different levels; do you need a wired/wireless Pocket PC? I for one found the paging functions on my MessageWatch handy when it existed. I'd love to have a useful device on my wrist, if it's small enough and if the batteries last for at least a month.

--janak

Anjuan Simmons

01-09-2003, 08:56 PM

How long do you think it will be before people start wondering if a network connected watch can be used by Microsoft to keep track of people's movements? Just think about the concern about privacy invasions if Microsoft could track where you go, what ATM's you use, movies you watch, friends you visit, stores you patronize, etc. I can hear certain people wondering if such a watch is a prelude to the "Mark of the Beast" with Bill Gates being the Anti-Christ . . .

marconelly

01-09-2003, 09:55 PM

This sounds interesting on paper, but the whole super-watch mania seems to be so desperately 80s, with Casio releasing more and more feature rich watches. It all changed when people started buying watches as a fashion accessory. I think it will take something much nicer looking than that hideous Fossil or Citizen (they are STILL around?) model for a wider acceptance. I know I wouldn't like to be seen with this on my hand...
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/spot/images/wtch_citizen.jpg

nirav28

01-09-2003, 10:05 PM

Why the heck would people pay $10/month for weather, stock and news notification when a cell phone gets it for free??? I mean come on...Most cellular companies provide this service. Also, MSN Messenger/Hotmail has build in alert services to send alerts like stock, weather, traffic ,news and even email to your mobile phones.

Also, on a cellular phone, I can even reply back to certain emails sent me.

malcolmsharp

01-09-2003, 10:42 PM

"The smart watches, which recall the futuristic designs once popularized by the comic book crime fighter Dick Tracy, will receive data over FM radio spectrum leased by Microsoft, a system the company calls DirectBand. "

All I want is a watch that can talk, with blue tooth or whatever, with my handheld. It should set off an alarm for the handheld, and also scroll the title for the appointment on the watch.

And when they are always connected, e-mail alerts and such too.

I can just never hear my PPC alerts when it's in my jacket. But I always hear my watch alarm.

bdegroodt

01-09-2003, 10:55 PM

Hmmm...I thought typing out SMS messages was hard. How are you supposed to respond to instant messages on these thing? A little wireless keyboard :idea:

About 3 years ago I was in the Conexant (http://www.conexant.com) lobby and they had a very cool cellular phone that was a wrist watch with a corded earpiece that ran (presumably) inside your sleeve through your collar to your ear. I wonder what happened to that little thing.

dean_shan

01-10-2003, 12:11 AM

I'd wouldn't mind paying a small monthly fee for up to date weather reports on my watch. If they kept the fee small I'd go for it. Would the messages you could recive be SMS or it's own kind of message system? I can't wait to see how this all developes.

jdhill

01-10-2003, 12:59 AM

Some of this is available today. See www.timex.com and check out the Internet Messenger. I get e-mail, weather, sports, news, calendar reminders, pages, etc. on my watch (and it tells time, automatically changes time zones and sets the correct time).

Don't knock it until you've tried it !!! I've had one for a year or so and I have found it very useful.

spg

01-10-2003, 07:37 AM

What I see most intriging about this technology is the fact that it promises to be widespread, and cheap. The SPOT devices will all recieve updated information via FM radio frequencies. As we all know, these are widely available, and fairly cheap to implement when compared to GSM, PCS, or any other wireless networks today.

I see these as having great potential. If Microsoft can make these easy to use, many people will I'm sure jump at the chance to be able to look at their watch for weather, traffic, stock reports, etc. It would be much easier than pulling out your cell phone or PocketPC. No carrying case to open, no purse or pocket to pull it out of. Can you see where I am coming from here?

I guess you could call me a Microsoft fanboy as well, but really I prefer Technology fanboy. This seems to me like a very practical advancement of the watch technology. People got tired of pulling out clunky clocks or pocket watches, so what do they do? Create the watch! Microsoft is just extending that out to the next level, allowing you to access more information than just time.

<<Sorry for the long post, cool technology can start me ranting like that>>

mterlouw

01-14-2003, 05:20 AM

I don't know if this is old, but there's more info and a pic (attached) on Media2go here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/pmp/).
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/images/hls_mediatogo.jpg