10-05-2006, 07:00 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Fossil Preparing Caller ID Watch
"After experimenting with PDA watches and MSN watches, Fossil says they've learned their lesson: what consumers want from a "smart watch" is an easy way to see information at a glance. Fossil's new Abacus MobileWear is a handsome, water resistant analog men's watch with a tiny 96-by-16-pixel OLED screen near the bottom of the face. It pairs up with a Sony Ericsson Bluetooth phone so that when you get a phone call, the caller ID information appears on the watch. If you don't like what you see, you can silence your phone's ringer by pressing a button on the watch. That's about it. The MobileWear watch is the answer to one of the major problems with cell phones�those stressed-out moments when you leave your phone in your bag and can't get to it while it's ringing. At least with this watch, you'll know if you want to dump your entire bag out looking for the thing."
There are two things this watch lacks and it's a microphone and speaker. Imagine holding your wrist up to your ear while walking down the street and talking to your buddy on the other end of the line. Cool, huh? Okay, maybe not. Let's jump back to reality. The concept of this watch isn't too shabby, and Fossil thinks that future versions could go the extra mile and support the display of SMS messages (which I think may be a little painful to read, but that's another story for another day). With support for other mobile operating systems to follow in the months ahead, this could be your Pocket PC or Smartphone's next best friend. But does it appeal? Let us know.
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10-05-2006, 07:59 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,389
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This is exactly what i have been wanting for years!!! Since i first heard of bluetooth. I hope it will work with WM5 someday. 
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10-05-2006, 08:03 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 50
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I like the idea of this---but needs to be universal to all BT phones, pda or otherwise. I would vote for SMS as well....
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10-05-2006, 09:08 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 5
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This is great. I wonder how long it goes without a charge?
One other thing I would like is for the watch to vibrate (or maybe beep) if there was call on the phone and the phone was silent. Now that would be cool.
Many times in noisy environments I can't hear my phone or not feel it vibrate. If this was on my wrist I could feel it.
I don't think I would like the shock method.
Edit: I just read the article. It says the watch lasts a week on a single charge. Not bad.
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10-05-2006, 09:15 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 7
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I WANT ONE.....<g>... guess who is a watch junkie....addicted to them. I even bought a SPOT watch..but the less said about that the better  ops: . But I dont want one enough to go for a Sony Ericcson phone..so the sooner they get it working with my M600..the sooner I buy one...
:devilboy:
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10-05-2006, 09:44 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 5
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I just found this news release that mentions the watch has a vibrating alert. Cool.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...398&EDATE=
Now if it worked with any bluetooth device like my x51v PDA and Phone.
It could notify me of appointments, etc.
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10-05-2006, 11:34 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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At first glance, this kinda made sense to me, especially when I remember how HUGE and difficult to use the first Fossil PDA watches were. But, then I asked myself, "Which is simpler, looking at my watch for information about an incoming call, or looking at my phone?"
It was a toss-up.
__________________
Old Market Researchers never die...they just get broken down by age and sex.
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10-06-2006, 12:31 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Brad Adrian
"Which is simpler, looking at my watch for information about an incoming call, or looking at my phone?"
It was a toss-up.
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I just say hello. It's even simpler. 
Dave
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10-06-2006, 12:37 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 468
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I like it. Assuming they come up with one that works with any phone (or at least my PPC-6700) I would certainly use it. A great deal of the time I have my phone in its case on my belt and my BT earpiece in my ear. When the phone rings it vibrates and all I have to do to answer it is hit the button on the earpiece, but of course I want to see who it is that's calling first, so I end up pulling out my phone anyway. It's worse when I'm in my car and getting to my phone under the seatbelt is that much more difficult.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that I love watches in general.
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10-06-2006, 01:03 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 242
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I'm suprised that they would (initially) limit their support to Sony-Ericsson phones only. That comes across as a bit short-sighted to me.
I think many productivity-oriented people or gadget nuts will want this and chances are they will have a Blackberry, Trio or PPCPE. :roll:
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