Samsung rumored to debut round smartwatch at MWC

[kdarling]

Continuing with the popularity of round watches...

Rumors say that Samsung will debut a round smartwatch at the March Mobile World Congress.

Supposedly it even has a model number, SM-R720, and is codenamed "Orbis".

Samsung has often used round shapes in its smartwatch patent applications. For example, in this strap design patent:



And in this patent application for using a rotating bezel for input:

 

[Fanaticalism]

Hopefully it'll be of premium material and construction alongside android wear.

 

[MRU]

running 'tizen'

 

[dec.]

Love the strap design patent. Very impressive.

 

[Fernandez21]

I just hope it not exclusive to Samsung devices like all their others (with the exception of the gear live)

 

[jamezr]

I just hope it not exclusive to Samsung devices like all their others (with the exception of the gear live)

I think it was mistake as well. Hopefully they can make it cross platform through apps. Then it could be used on IOS and WP8.

 

[Sevanw]

I think it was mistake as well. Hopefully they can make it cross platform through apps. Then it could be used on IOS and WP8.

Well it should, if not on release then later. I only say this because Samsung CEO, BK Yoon, made this promise at CES :

"That’s why today, on behalf of Samsung, I am making a promise… Our IoT components and devices will be open."

 

[Billy95Tech]

What about tablets? since Samsung did not even announce new tablets at CES 2015.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

That rotating bezel looks much smarter than Apples approach.

 

[kdarling]

running 'tizen'

Oh gosh, thanks! Forgot to mention that it's supposed to be running Tizen instead of Wear.

(If it supports third party apps, I'm all for it, even though I'd have to learn another system.)

That rotating bezel looks much smarter than Apples approach.

Note that we have no idea if Samsung's watch will have such a bezel. Like everyone else, they patent ideas that they'll never use.

However, yes, I think it's much better than using a relatively small rotating nub on one side of a watch.

Plus -- pilots and divers love rotating watch bezels, so of course the idea of using a rotating bezel for input occurs to us immediately.

I've been hoping for someone to do this for a long time. If such a watch came out and supported third party apps, my first one would be an electronic E6B flight computer using the bezel for input

 

[mi7chy]

That rotating bezel looks much smarter than Apples approach.

Totally agree with this. Turning a little crown makes zero sense.

Looks like LG and Samsung are gearing to go head to head with a great looking round OLED stand-alone watch. Smart watches are finally hitting the sweet spot for me to open up the wallet.

 

[spinedoc77]

running 'tizen'

While I absolutely loved my Gear S I ultimately sold it because it was too limiting not having Android. Add this to Samsungs penchant for making their devices only work with their own phones more than ensures Samsung will shoot themselves in the foot once again limiting dev support.