Tag: smartwatch

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Fossil will add Alexa to its Gen 6 smartwatch in the first half of 2022

Fossil announced two new versions of its Gen 6 Wear OS smartwatch at CES 2022 — one for gamers and one for Dutch jewelry enthusiasts. However, another announcement from the company that flew a little under the radar is that it will add support for Amazon Alexa to its Gen 6 watches.

As for when Fossil will add support, well, that’s not entirely clear. The company told 9to5Google in a statement that the Alexa update would arrive in the first half of 2022. It also told The Verge in a CES briefing that Alexa would come to Gen 6 smartwatches “early this year.” Moreover, The Verge’s Victoria Song received a Skagen Falster Gen 6 and the Razer X Fossil Gen 6 watches, both of which include an Alexa widget that simply displays a “coming soon” message.

With all that taken into account, that means Fossil could add Alexa to the Gen 6 smartwatch anytime between now and June. Presumably, Gen 6 owners won’t need to wait six months for the Alexa update, but we’ll see how it plays out.

The Verge also pointed out that Fossil teasing Alexa support may be a way to give customers something to look forward to until Wear OS 3 arrives (which could be anywhere from a few months to the end of the year). Plus, Alexa support would be a win both for Fossil and smartwatch customers. Currently, Apple Watches are Siri-only, Wear OS watches only have Google Assistant and Samsung watches force Bixby on users (although the Galaxy Watch 4 will eventually offer Google Assistant too). The only other smartwatches that offer a choice are Fitbit’s Sense and Versa watches.

In other words, most customers are limited to using whatever assistant ships on their smartwatch. Plus, Amazon’s Alexa is a relatively popular voice assistant, so Fossil’s move to support it will both give customers a choice in what assistant they use and give people access to Alexa on a smartwatch, which so far hasn’t been available outside of Fitbit’s smartwatches. Hopefully, this starts a trend with smartwatch makers and we see more watches offer a choice of on-wrist voice assistant.

Source: The Verge, 9to5Google

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Fossil unveils new Gen 6 smartwatches with exclusive Razer and Skagen styles

Fossil announced two partnerships at CES 2022 that will see unique versions of its new Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch made available.

First up is a partnership with gaming accessory maker Razer. The two companies will release the Razer X Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch with three exclusive Razer watch faces (‘Analog,’ ‘Text’ and ‘Chroma’) and two interchangeable straps. The Razer X Fossil watch will launch globally but in a limited quantity of just 1,337 units.

The Razer X Fossil smartwatch will be available starting January 10th, 2022, on Razer’s website, Fossil’s website and at select retail stores for $329 USD (about $417.91 CAD). MobileSyrup has reached out to Fossil for more details about Canadian availability and pricing.

The second partnership is with Danish-inspired watch and jewelry brand Skagen. It will see the launch of the ‘Falster’ Gen 6 smartwatch, available in six styles with a 42mm case size. The Flaster watch will have silver-tone, rose-gold tone, charcoal and black case colours, as well as straps made with Skagen’s iconic stainless steel mesh, silicone and leather.

Each Falster Gen 6 smartwatch style will retail for $295 USD (about $374.72 CAD) and be available for purchase on Skagen’s website. MobileSyrup has reached out to Fossil for more details about Canadian availability and pricing.

While both of these special editions of the Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch look great, it’s worth noting that aside from the unique straps and watch faces, these smartwatches essentially provide the same core experience as Fossil’s new Gen 6 smartwatch. That means the watches still run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 4100+ platform, sport fast-charging up to 80 percent in 30 minutes, have heart rate and SpO2 sensors, and more.

It also means the watches will be compatible with Google’s upcoming Wear OS 3 update slated to arrive sometime in 2022. However, some of the information Google has shared so far suggests upgrading to Wear OS 3 could be a rough process.

Still, if you like Wear OS and Fossil’s smartwatches but want something unique, both the Razer and Skagen models look like excellent options.

You can check out more news from CES 2022 here.

Images credit: Fossil

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Some Apple Watch Series 7 users reporting charging issues following watchOS 8.3 update

Some Apple Watch Series 7 users are reporting experiencing charging issues with the smartwatch after updating to watchOS 8.3.

The reports, which appeared on Reddit, Apple’s Support Community and MacRumors’ forums, state that the charging problem seems to mostly be related to third-party chargers no longer working with the Series 7.

In the Reddit post below, user ‘ashfleeburgooben‘ outlines how their 3rd-party charger only charged their Apple watch by roughly 2 percent in an hour.

Some users describe a situation where the Apple Watch Series 7 charges for a few minutes before suddenly stopping. The issue doesn’t seem to be tied to a specific third-party charger brand and instead affects several companies’ devices, including notable names like Belkin. While most of the forum posts related to the issue seem to be tied to the Series 7, there are some reports regarding the Apple Watch Series 6 too.

This is the second time reports regarding Apple Watch charging issues have surfaced in the last few months, though Apple claims to have fixed the problem with watchOS 8.1.1.

For what it’s worth, my Series 7 still appears to be charging normally on my several third-party Apple Watch chargers.

Source: Reddit, Apple Support Community, MacRumors

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Give the gift of time with the season’s most surprising smartwatch

If smartwatches aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Huawei, that could quickly change with the release of the Watch 3 Pro.

I had the chance to go hands-on with the Huawei Band 6 earlier this year, and I came away highly impressed. Now Huawei is back with the Watch 3 Pro, cementing its place as a leader in the smartwatch market.

Where the Band 6 offered performance on a budget, the Watch 3 Pro provides a premium experience that’s throwing down the gauntlet for the smartwatch crown.

Passion for design

Where most smartwatches miss the mark is replicating the experience of using a traditional watch. They may display the time, but the battery life and design are lacking.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Watch 3 Pro is the striking titanium case. Unlike the smartwatches from most companies that have adopted a rounded body, Huawei has opted to go with a classic watch design.

Huawei Watch 3 Pro

The Watch 3 Pro features a physical crown on the side of its case that feels just like a traditional timepiece. It’s a well-considered blend of digital and mechanical design that’s perfect for a professional setting.

It comes with 30 beautifully designed watch faces pre-installed to match any outfit. Or if you’re looking for something even more personalized, there are more than 1000 watch faces available for download.

I’ve never been a fan of the smartwatch designs that dominate the market, so having an option that fits in with my existing timepieces is a welcome change. And with metal and leather bands available, the Watch 3 Pro is the perfect complement for any outfit.

Make time last longer

A beautiful wristwatch is only useful if it can tell the time, something that many companies don’t seem to put much thought into. The amount of times I’ve left the house only to wind up with a dead smartwatch is staggering.

Huawei is here to change that. The Watch 3 Pro is built to help you keep track of your wellbeing, not the time until you’re wearing a blank screen on your wrist. With seven days of battery life on a single charge during heavy use—or up to three weeks in ultra-long battery mode—you won’t have to decide between tracking your sleep or going a full day without your watch.

This extra time before charging also means you’ll be able to track more habits and exercises, something that the Watch 3 Pro excels at.

Stay on track

While the Watch 3 Pro offers the look and feel of a traditional timepiece, it offers best-in-class exercise and health tracking data.

I didn’t know that I wanted to know my temperature at a glance, but having the option to detect my skin temperature at any time is surprisingly reassuring. Pair that with SpO2 monitoring, fitness tracking, sleep and heart-rate monitoring, and you have one of the most fully featured smartwatches on the market.

On top of the software, Huawei has upgraded the Watch 3 Pro with premium sapphire glass, allowing for better light penetration, lower power performance, and a more comfortable fit. So if you’re looking to improve your health in the coming year, the Watch 3 Pro offers every feature you could want and more.

Stay on task

The professional design of the Watch 3 Pro extends beyond its good looks. Huawei has added a plethora of features to assist the everyday professional.

Huawei Watch 3 Pro

I use a lot of task tracking in my everyday life, so having the ability to quickly swipe an item off of my list from my watch is a major time saver. And for anyone who needs to stay up to date with their work, the Watch 3 Pro can receive notifications from your email, calendar, and social media.

Even better, since the Watch 3 Pro runs on the next-generation HarmonyOS, you can download a bevy of third-party productivity apps through the Huawei AppGallery, like the Canadian Easy Voice recorder app, which I’ve found indispensable.

And if you struggle with taking selfies like I do—I swear my eyelids can sense when I’m pressing the button—the Watch 3 Pro can help you to get the perfect shot. The remote shutter feature allows you to preview, zoom, and take the photo directly from your smartwatch.

Time for an upgrade

Let’s be honest, all smartwatches in 2021 feature great fitness tracking. What the Watch 3 Pro offers is a superior user experience.

If you’re considering a smartwatch, you don’t need to settle for rubber bands. Between the gorgeous design and the exceptional features, the Watch 3 Pro is a statement piece that’s worth your attention this holiday season.

Check out Huawei’s website to find out more about how to get your hands on the Watch 3 Pro.

Sponsored by Huawei.

MobileSyrup utilizes sponsored posts to help fund the journalism provided free on our website. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 LTE smartwatches are 40 percent off for one day

The Galaxy Watch 4 LTE is currently discounted through a pretty substantial one-day sale on Samsung’s website.

Below is the cost of both the 44mm and 40mm variants of the Galaxy Watch 4:

After purchasing one of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 smartwatches, you also get a $50 Google Play credit.

To get your hands on the $50 Google Play Credit, you need to register your new device to your Samsung Account and opt-in to the offer by December 20th. You’ll then receive a code via email after these steps are complete and verified. Once all of that is complete, you have until August 31, 2022 to add it to your Google Play credit to your Google account.

This deal ends pretty soon, so be sure to move fast. For more on the Galaxy Watch 4, check out our review of the smartwatch.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Source: Samsung Via: RedFlagDeals

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Google is reportedly finally working on a Pixel Watch

It looks like Google is finally making its own smartwatch.

According to a report from Insider, the Pixel-maker plans to launch the often-rumoured wearable in 2022.

The report indicates that Google’s Pixel hardware team is working on the smartwatch and that, surprisingly, Fitbit, which Google acquired earlier this year, isn’t creating the wearable.

According to the report, it’s currently unclear if Google will call the smartwatch the ‘Pixel Watch.’ That said, the wearable will reportedly serve as an example for third-party hardware developers. The Verge’s source says the wearable is expected to cost more than a Fitbit and that it aims to compete directly with the Apple Watch.

The report indicates that the watch will sport fitness tracking features, a heart rate monitor and step counting. Google will also work towards adding Fitbit integration to Wear OS through a project currently codenamed ‘Nightlight.’

Google is currently working on a new platform with Wear OS 3, which it developed in partnership with Samsung after merging its smartwatch OS with Tizen earlier this year.

The report also states that LG’s Watch Sport and Watch Style were planned to be marketed as the Pixel Watch. However, Google reportedly backpedalled on this strategy because it felt that the design of the smartwatches didn’t match the Pixel line’s aesthetic.

It’s unclear when we’ll see the upcoming Pixel Watch release, but it will likely appear in May alongside Google I/O or in October when Google reveals the inevitable Pixel 7.

Source: Insider, The Verge

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Leaked image from Meta (formerly Facebook) app shows in-development smartwatch

Facebook Meta could be working on a smartwatch with a front-facing camera and slightly rounded screen, according to images found in one of the company’s iPhone apps.

As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, app developer Steve Moser found the picture of the smartwatch inside Meta’s ‘View’ app used to control the company’s new smart glasses. The image depicts a watch with a square shape and heavily rounded corners.

Interestingly, the watch also sports a display notch that houses a camera. Many smartphones incorporate a notch to fit in a selfie camera while also minimizing wasted space around the display. However, the Meta smartwatch bucks the usual trend and places the notch on the bottom of the display.

Bloomberg reports that the watch features a control button on the right side, detachable wrist straps and what appears to be a button on the top of the watch case.

Meta could launch a smartwatch as early as 2022, but Bloomberg says the company hasn’t made a final decision on timing. A source familiar with the product confirmed to Bloomberg that Meta was working on three generations of the watch aimed at different release time frames.

The watch’s presence in the View app suggests it could be managed through that app when it launches, similar to Meta’s smart glasses. Further, code inside the app indicates Meta could call the watch ‘Milan.’ Finally, the watch could act as an input device or accessory for Meta’s virtual reality and augmented reality (VR and AR) headsets.

Bloomberg notes that if Meta does launch a smartwatch next year, it might need to contend with three new Apple Watch models — an Apple Watch Series 8, a new Watch SE and possibly a rugged Apple Watch aimed at athletes.

Source: Bloomberg

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Canadian carrier pricing and availability for the Apple Watch Series 7

If you’re looking to buy Apple’s new Apple Watch Series 7 in Canada, here’s what you need to know.

The new Apple Watch will be available directly from Apple as well as from multiple carriers. Let’s start with Apple’s pricing and availability for the Series 7:

If you order from Apple directly, the smartwatch will be delivered to you in late November to early December. However, enter your postal code on the website to check the accurate delivery timeframe.

Canadian carriers

Rogers

Rogers has the Apple Watch available in Aluminum Case only in ‘Midnight,’ Starlight’ and Blue colourways with a $10/10GB plan.

Telus

According to a Telus agent, “Financing is not available online,” and you’ll have to visit your nearest Telus store to get financing information.

Telus has the watches available in all colourways.

Bell

Bell’s website currently doesn’t have pricing information for other Series 7 models, and according to a Bell representative, “Watches and its plans are offered only at Bell Stores.”

Freedom Mobile

Freedom has the 41mm model available in ‘Midnight’ and ‘Starlight’ colourways, whereas the 45mm model is available in ‘Midnight,’ ‘Starlight’ and ‘Green’ colours.

Sasktel

While Sasktel’s website has the Apple Watch Series 7 with the pricing listed in ‘Green,’ ‘Midnight,’ Starlight,’ and ‘Blue’ colourways, it is currently out of stock. “Try visiting a SaskTel Store or Authorized Dealer,” reads the website.

Note: Pricing for individual carrier plans will be added when we hear back from carriers. 

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Apple Watch Series 7 is now available for pre-order

The Apple Watch Series 7 is now available to pre-order starting at $529 as of 8am ET/5am PT.

While Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 7 alongside the iPhone 13 lineup earlier last month, the wearable’s specific release date and pre-order availability wasn’t revealed until last week. Shipping for the Apple Watch Series 7 starts on October 15th.

The Apple Watch Series 7 features a softer and rounder build and larger display when compared to the Series 6. Other changes include a 70 percent brighter always-on display and IP6X dust resistance.

The Series 7 will be available in five aluminum case finishes: ‘Product Red,’ ‘Refined Blue,’ ‘Midnight,’ ‘Starlight’ and ‘Green.’ Stainless steel Series 7 variants are ‘Silver,’ ‘Graphite’ and ‘Gold,’ along with an ‘Apple Watch Edition’ in ‘Titanium’ and ‘Black Titanium.’

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