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Samsung’s SDK for next Gear smartwatch reveals rotating bezel and specifications
We have known since last month that Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is working on a new smartwatch set to be named the ‘Gear A’. Codenamed ‘Orbis’, the new smartwatch from Samsung will boast a round screen and run on Tizen, Samsung’s own operating system (OS). Last month Samsung began inviting developers to sign up for early access to the software development kit (SDK) for the new smartwatch. On Tuesday, Samsung released the SDK for the next generation Gear smartwatch to developers who had signed up and the release notes have revealed a few more details about the upcoming Samsung Gear A.
SamMobile studied the release notes and collated the highlights:
Referred to as ‘The Next Gear’ in the developer notes, the Samsung Gear A will feature a 2G data connection, GPS, and a host of sensors, including a gyroscope, a pressure sensor, and accelerometer, and a heartbeat monitor.
The smartwatch will boast a metal chassis housing a 1.18-inch 360 x 360 display at 305ppi.
The most noteworthy feature revealed by the SDK release notes is the inclusion of a “rotating bezel” similar to those found on conventional watches. The purpose of the bezel in the case of the Samsung Gear A is to navigate the smartwatch interface – similarly to the Digital Crown on the recently released Apple Watch.
While the Digital Crown is used to scroll vertically through apps and functions, the rotating bezel on the Samsung Gear A will let you scroll, zoom in and out of photos, adjust volume, select items, input option, and more by simply turning the bezel clockwise or anticlockwise.
Bluetooth connectivity means the Samsung Gear A can be connected to other devices such as a headset to take calls for example. There is also support for the usual slew of notifications from apps running on a connected smartphone or tablet and the actions to that are necessitated by them.
The Samsung Gear A is the first smartwatch to follow Apple’s lead and move away from touchscreen-only operation. It also indicates that Samsung is intent on using its own Tizen OS for future development rather than rely on Google Inc.’s Android Wear offering it used for the square-faced Gear Live.
Samsung is expected to announce the Gear A’s availability at the upcoming IFA 2015 consumer electronics show taking place in Berlin this September.
Screenshot: SiliconANGLE via Samsung Gear
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