Dick Tracy wannabes rejoice — Samsung has come up with the watch for you!
The Korean electronics giant yesterday introduced a gadget-packed timepiece that is almost a match for the cartoon detective’s famed wrist communicator.
The $299 Galaxy Gear comes with a camera and can combine with a smartphone to send texts, make calls and get e-mails. It can also be used to make electronic payments and monitor health data such as a user’s pulse.
About the only thing it doesn’t have is a two-way TV.
“With Gear, you’re able to make calls and receive calls without ever taking your phone out of your pocket,” said Pranav Mistry, a member of Samsung’s design team.
The Android-based device may soon do battle with a new smart watch that Apple is said to be developing, though no release date has been set for the Apple gadget.
The early reviews for the Gear — which goes on sale Sept. 25 — have been mixed, with some complaining about a lack of apps and about how it must be tethered to a smartphone to call or text.
“The watch is smart,” Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at the Research firm Gartner. “But not as smart as it could be.”
Some also wonder if not “having to take your phone out of your pocket” is worth $300.
“As currently delivered, the Gear is an intriguing concept: A smartphone companion that tries to offer a ton of functionality in an almost small enough package,” Forbes wrote. “But still doesn’t give consumers a convincing reason to buy one.”
Outside the Apple store in the Meatpacking District, Apple loyalists doubted the watch would make them abandon their favorite brand.
“It’s a good idea, [with] everything that’s coming out, like sports bands,” said Philipe Vanderloo, 27. “But I’d never buy it. I don’t have anything Android. If Apple comes out with theirs, I might [get a smart watch]. I’m sure the design would be better.”
“I like that it’s on your wrist, so you can’t lose it like a phone,” said Mike Micelli, 44, of Chelsea. “But a down point is the screen is too small. You will strain your eyes.”
A review at the tech site Venturebeat dismissed the Galaxy Gear as “a blocky health tracker with a camera.”
The blog Endgadget wondered if the age of the Dick Tracy watch was not really upon us.
“The Gear feels awfully sluggish,” they wrote. “Whether you’re launching an app such as Evernote or Path or swiping down from the home screen to activate the camera.”