AfterDawn: Tech news

Microsoft testing Surface smartwatch?

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jul 2013 11:13 User comments (8)

Microsoft testing Surface smartwatch? According to sources, Microsoft has begun testing a Surface smartwatch prototype.
The company, who has been reportedly prototyping smartwatches, had now moved the devices over to their Surface team from the Xbox division.

Microsoft has been reportedly requesting 1.5-inch displays from component suppliers, and testing smaller devices with the Surface connector.

The removable wrist bands will come in blue, red, yellow, black, white, and grey, similar to how the Surface features colorful Touch covers.

Finally, the device (at least in protoype) uses Oxynitride Aluminum, a "translucent aluminum" is over 200 percent harder than glass. The prototypes run on a modified Windows 8.

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8 user comments

116.7.2013 04:50

MS has already messed up with surface RT; the user experience is too bad to be acceptable (at least, compared to ipad and galaxy tab). their windows OS is not as great as iOS/android so far either, and now, they want to come up with smartwatch.

216.7.2013 06:57

I think MS is trying to look fr the edge. Far too long Microsoft has been boring and not to "innovated" they see what Apple has done. More importantly ms seen how much money apple has made and wants some of tat for themselves.

I agree MS has some learning to. With their tablets. Especially RT.

317.7.2013 00:55

I don't see the point and it's ugly. This will be great when it replaces my cell phone

417.7.2013 09:05

Unfortunately, none of the smart watches released so far are capable of doing anything more than communicating with a smart phone. Yes, you can check the time without pulling out your phone...but any watch will do that. Yes, you can see who is calling...but you can hear it if you have bluetooth and if you don't have bluetooth you still need to pull out the phone. If someone made a watch that acted as WiFi hotspot and supported making calls by bluetooth that would be something...but I'm not sure the battery technology is at a point where it would actually last all day.

518.7.2013 16:31

Says you foolish hater!!!!!!!!!............RT sales may be less than others but check the reviews on almost all websites. Vast majority 4 and 5 stars.

I own one. Its not an Android device so those bitching about it being limited to the MS Store should pipe down or DONT FING GET ONE. Comparing apples to oranges.......BUT.....the RT is solid. Fast, efficient, useful and fully functional. Just no Homegrouping capability.

Fing haters!

Go buy an Apple P.O.S.

618.7.2013 20:28

Originally posted by hearme0:
Says you foolish hater!!!!!!!!!............RT sales may be less than others but check the reviews on almost all websites. Vast majority 4 and 5 stars.

I own one. Its not an Android device so those bitching about it being limited to the MS Store should pipe down or DONT FING GET ONE. Comparing apples to oranges.......BUT.....the RT is solid. Fast, efficient, useful and fully functional. Just no Homegrouping capability.

Fing haters!

Go buy an Apple P.O.S.
Ooooh..."go buy an Apple"...is that like saying, "go f**k a dog"? I'm gonna have to use that. Thanks.

BTW...RT reviews are overwhelmingly negative depending on what you are looking for. Surface Pro reviews are generally good (other than price and performance)...but RT really can't do anything that iOS and Android can't...and when the reviews say that, I read them as being bad.

719.7.2013 03:40

Originally posted by hearme0:
RT is solid. Fast, efficient, useful and fully functional...
Fing haters!
Go buy an Apple P.O.S.

LOL, solid (hardware)? yes. fast, efficient...hell, NO. useful and fully functional? NO, NO and NO.
haters? dude, i don't personally own any apple devices (my wife does). i wish RT could be the thing i would buy but RT is way behind ipad, and gives way less user experience than ipad. even galaxy tab is way better than RT.
Originally posted by KillerBug:
RT reviews are overwhelmingly negative depending on what you are looking for. Surface Pro reviews are generally good (other than price and performance)...but RT really can't do anything that iOS and Android can't...and when the reviews say that, I read them as being bad.

+1
yes, pro is functional indeed, but as you said, it is expensive for what it does, and for that price, it is better to buy a fully functional, user friendly, sleek-looking, and equally light & portable ultrabook (even paying a little more).

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