Samsung is worth the watch connected Galaxy Gear? - Le Nouvel Observateur

new gadget from Samsung, the Galaxy Gear, will he keep his promises? Presented with great fanfare Wednesday, September 4 in Berlin, watch connected South Korean giant sets the tone for all subsequent: iWatch Apple and other smartwatch Google … “Le Nouvel Observateur” managed to get hold of it for a first test. Verdict.

First impression: the watch is heavy. The weight of the Galaxy is felt at the wrist. While smartphones from Samsung have the quality of being light, the watch is massive. But it seems solid. The strap is tough and stylish plastic, metal frame. The square shape of the Galaxy Gear makes a sober shows the image of traditional watchmaking.

Touch sensitive and limited autonomy

important detail: Galaxy Gear does not work alone. She needs a Galaxy Note 3, or Galaxy S (which happens in the near future) to live. must be synchronized via the Bluetooh, the watch with one of these devices to take advantage of the potential of the Galaxy Gear. Otherwise, it is useless. The desire to buy a connected shows need another machine for can put off. Especially if the price of output is around 250 euros (299 dollars it will be sold in the United States).

screen new baby Samsung 1.63 inches seems small, even for an accessory that sits on the wrist. Enhanced by the thickness of the Galaxy Gear can quickly clutter the user feel.

A first host on black screen informs the user of the time and text messages, e-mails or calls he received. Connected to his watch, the South Korean giant has opted for two control modes. The first is the touch: simple and obvious. By sliding your finger from left to right and vice versa, the user parade menus: taking voice notes application, photo gallery, music, etc. … In use, the touch of the Galaxy Gear is a very sensitive and is difficult to perceive the actions on the screen.

class=”c7″> Watch Samsung Galaxy Gear on sale September 25. (JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP)

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The second way to control the Galaxy Gear is the voice command. An interesting option if speaking to his wrist pushes person.

An extension of

Smartphone

With the watch, everything happens on the Galaxy Note is visible on the wrist. The gadget is not passive. It is possible to make calls, placing his hand on his ear, but not to write e-mails or SMS. Galaxy Gear can also control the music of his Galaxy Note 3. Side application, a dozen is already present on the smartwatch. It is a jumble: Evernote, Path, Banjo, eBay or Runkeeper Fitnet

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Obviously, with a device equipped with a radio, a processor, a camera and a bright screen, the battery life is limited. Samsung promises a lifespan of 25 hours, depending on usage. Another point: the Galaxy Gear does not have USB port is a special cable that will allow the watch to recharge

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The watch is equipped with a 1.9 megapixel camera. To take a picture, Samsung chose simplicity. Sliding a finger from the top downwardly the photo application lance. Taking the photo is long, but the result is satisfactory with amazing quality and bright colors.

Galaxy Gear is primarily an extension of the giant Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy Note 3. Without him, her life is useless. It available September 25 with six different colors: black, beige, orange, pink, green and gray. Samsung therefore the bet accessory, expensive and bulky. The watch does nothing more than your phone already. His interest is to allow the user to read its messages, take pictures or receive calls without having to remove the phone from the pocket. But then … What is the smartphone