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At the rate miniaturization is taking us, it was just a matter of time before the phone wristwatch Dick Tracy used in the syndicated detective animation series of the 60s would be upon us. So it is. You have LG and Samsung racing to market the world’s first mobile phone on a wristwatch form factor. LG seems to be taking the lead with its recently announced GD910 as the world’s first. But it seems Samsung won’t have any of that and took on the press to announce the Samsung S9110 as the rightful first. Neither has yet to reach consumer hands but pictures on the net and leaked product specs abound on both sides and unofficial reviews already dot the online mobile community landscape.
First impressions
Going by the anecdotal impressions of the lucky few who’ve had the good fortune of fondling the new wristwatches, it is clear that the LG has an edge for having it in 3G supporting video calls the way we’ve seen Dick Tracy take and make calls form his model.
Never mind that the video on it as well as the camera is as pathetic as it can be. The fact is that it works. On the other hand, the Samsung version is a bit more modest without 3G but it does look a lot more like a wristwatch.
Thinner and lighter, the Samsung S9110 gets better credit more as a wristwatch. But you still get the same overall bulkiness reserved only to large chronometers which actually look like dress watches when compared with either watchphones. People who like bulky wristwatches should find either a welcome addition to their grooming accessories.
Handset Features on the Wrist
We now have the Samsung specimen first seen at the recent CES sporting mobile phone features that may seem awkward to use on the wrist, but still works and probably just needs getting used to.
You have a dual band GSM 900/1800 on 2G powered by a 630 mAh Lithium-ion battery on a 57.5 x 41.1 x 12.0 mm body weight just 97g. (We could have sworn there are handsets weighing lighter than this.) It’s got a 1.76” capacitive touchscreen LCD display with 176 x 220 pixel resolution and 262k colors covered with scratch-proof glass that could be a sapphire crystal as most high end wristwatches have.
There’s the usual phonebook and SMS/MMS as well as MP3 player and Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP. Wireless stereo earphones are the only way to listen to it. You get a 40MB internal memory (same for many low end handsets) that can’t be expanded anymore. We figure a microSD slot is just too much to ask at this size.
Availability
Admittedly, the price could be its Achilles heel, as it were. Unless you really like the form fact as a conversation piece on your next party, you might consider this more as a museum piece for technological landmarks than one that meets your mobile phone requirements. At a hefty €450 when it hits the market, we are sure there are much better handsets out there. The LG with video calls is expected to cost thrice that when Orange starts selling it later this year.
Samsung S9110 Links:
Tags: Samsung-S9110