Samsung launches smartwatch, Galaxy Note 3

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled a smartwatch on Wednesday that works as an accessory to its market-leading Galaxy smartphone, with a small screen offering basic functions like photos, hands-free calls and instant messaging. Samsung calls it Galaxy Gear.

Samsung also unveiled the latest version of the Galaxy Note phone-cum-tablet at its Galaxy unpacked event in Berlin.

The smartphone features an even bigger 5.7-inch, high-definition screen, improved stylus functions, a 13-megapixel rear camera and faster data connection than the conventional 4G network. The phone works on the latest Android software 4.3 Jellybean.

Both devices will be available in 140 countries starting September 25. While the price of Note 3 is not yet disclosed, the smartwatch is expected to be priced at $299.

Click NEXT to read features of the smartwatch…

The world's top handset maker hopes the Galaxy Gear will boost the appeal of its range of Android-powered smartphones, as it battles to maintain supremacy in the rapidly saturating high-end mobile market against arch rival Apple Inc.

The market potential for wearable devices is significant. Leveraging advances in voice technology, biometrics, communications, cloud storage and power consumption, smartwatches and other wearable devices could be a $50 billion market by 2017, according to Credit Suisse.

The smartwatch features a 1.63-inch (4.14-cm) screen as well as a basic camera, and will connect to Samsung's latest Galaxy Note 3 smartphone via wireless Bluetooth technology.

Click NEXT to read the smartwatch functions in detail…

The companion device will keep users constantly connected, Samsung Executive Vice President of Marketing Lee Young-hee said.

It will make calls, display messages, record videos and snap photos, all while the user's phone stays in their pocket or handbag.

As of now, the device is compatible only with Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4. The company is working to make Galaxy Gear compatible with Note 2 and Galaxy S3.

Click NEXT to read voice operations of the smartwatch…

Here are some features of the smartwatch:

Voice operation: The built-in speaker allows users to conduct hands-free calls directly from the Gear.

For example, a user leaving the grocery store, whose hands are full with shopping bags, could still make a call by speaking into the smartwatch without touching the screen.

Users can also draft messages, create new calendar entries, set alarms, and check the weather on the Galaxy Gear with S Voice.

Click NEXT to read about camera of the watch…

Capture daily life from your wrist: The watch also features 1.9 megapixel camera, which allows users to record both photos and video and the user can share it on social networking sites directly from the watch.

The smartwatch also features voice-recording functions that let users capture important thoughts or conversations from the wrist and save those voice recordings into texts.

Auto lock: If your accompanying device is more than 1.5 metres away, the watch auto locks it for security purpose.

Click NEXT to read how the watch can record workouts…

Find my device: This function helps users find the location of their smart devices when they have been misplaced by making them beep, illuminate and vibrate.

Record workouts: The Galaxy Gear also works like a Pedometer to track physical activity via enhanced, built-in sensor technology. This feature automatically monitors users so they can track key personal data such as calories burned, steps taken and distance covered.

smartwatch apps and battery life…

The watch has up to 70 dedicated applications including some basic fitness apps such as a step-counting passometer, although Samsung hopes this number will grow as developers get on board.

Battery life, a key challenge for most wearable devices, has improved to over 27 hours under Samsung's normal-use tests.

Samsung's smartwatch will not be a game changer, CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood.

"Samsung will do a great job in raising the profile of this new category, but I don't think we will see a massive shift."

"I think it will only really come alive if Apple would push into it real hard because they would than make it a fashionable item. Because a watch is a fashion item. It really is."

Click NEXT to read about the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone…

Samsung has made significant changes to the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone. First, the phone has become bigger with 5.7-inch full HD Super AMOLED display. Yet the company has made Note 3 slimmer and lighter.

The phone comes with 3GB RAM and there are two option for the processor. The 3G phones will have 1.9GHz Exynos Octa-core processor and the LTE devices will have 2.3Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor.

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Design: To make the phone look premium, Samsung has changed the look and feel of the phone. The phone now comes with a soft and textured-touch back cover and delicate stitching.

Other than Black and White colours, Samsung will also sell the phone in Blush Pink colour. And, the company plans to offer exchangeable back covers in dozens of additional colours.

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Camera: The 13 megapixel rear camera comes with Smart Stablilisation. Samsung has also introduced a new CRI LED flash, which enables users to crisply capture every visual, even in low light situations. The company claims that the new flash is better than the traditional ones.

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Air Command: Samsung has redesigned the stylus for Note 3 and added extra functionalities to it.

If you click the S Pen while hovering over the screen, it opens up a palette of five features including Action Memo, Scrapbook, The Screen Write, S Finder and Pen Window.

Each of these features help user to conveniently access,, search and story information.

Click NEXT to read about security features…

Security: Samsung added enhanced security solution KNOX to the phone, setting its eyes on corporate users, a niche long dominated by Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry Ltd.

This feature helps to protect against hacking and phishing attacks. It also secures personal data on the phone.

The smartphone is also equipped with an improved Find My Mobile feature that allows users to disable the phone when it is stolen or lost.

With the enhanced user authentication, the technology prevents stolen mobile phones from being reset to factory settings, and allows users to remotely track or erase the data from their lost or stolen mobile phones.

(With input from Reuters)