Samsung has released a smartwatch that will let users check messages with a glance at their wrists and have a conversation in secret agent Maxwell Smart-style.
The Korean company, which is storming world markets with its smartphones, says the new watch will be available in more than 140 countries starting from September 25. It is expected to sell for $US299 ($NZ379). There was no specific launch date announced for New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Qualcomm will begin selling its ''Toq'' smartwatch, a
wrist-worn device that can play music and handle phone calls and messages, in the fourth quarter, marking the chipmaker's entry into the consumer electronics and wearable computing arenas.
The company, which dominates the global market for applications processors for smartphones and tablets, introduced the device on the same day as Samsung unveiled its own much-anticipated ''Galaxy Gear'' in Berlin. Galaxy Gear includes the new Note 3.
Next week, Apple will hold an event at its campus in Cupertino, California, the company confirmed in an invitation sent to the media yesterday. The invitation reads: ''This should brighten everyone's day.''
Surrounding the text are colourful dots, which match Apple's forthcoming ''colourful iOS 7 operating system'' and perhaps the colourful versions of the rumoured iPhone 5C. One of the sought-after colours for the new 5C phones is gold.
So-called smartwatches have been around for a while but have failed to attract much consumer interest. That may change with the Samsung Galaxy Gear, which offers the company a chance to have the same success as Apple did with the iPad. The Gear must be linked wirelessly with a smartphone to perform its full range of functions. It has an extension to the phone by alerting users to incoming messages and calls on its screen, which measures 4.14cm diagonally.
The smartwatch has a range of functions, including a fitness pack, a personal network and a wine scanner, which gives the user a rundown on any wine from a photo of it by the 1.9 megapixel auto-focus camera.
The watch will require charging daily.
