Microsoft files for smartwatch patent


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Microsoft may be getting in on the smartwatch game.

The U.S. Patent Office has released an application from the software maker for a smartwatch design that could challenge offerings from rivals such as Samsung, Apple.

In the application, filed back in October 2012 but released only last week, Microsoft outlines plans for a wristwatch that would serve as a fitness tracker and could also function as a music player, phone and messaging device. The watch face itself detaches from the wristband and connects to a charging dock.

Microsoft will be playing catch-up to Samsung, which released its Galaxy Gear smartwatch last year. Google plans to release the Moto 360 smartwatch in the U.S. this summer, while Apple has long been rumored to be developing a smartwatch of its own.

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Samsung Gear looks like a toy IMO.  What is really going to get the smart watches to take off is looks and software design.  I like to Moto 360 look.  Have not seen much on the software yet but have not really looked to much either.

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Why do we need 'smart' watches ?

 

Isn't the purpose of a watch to tell time and the date ?

 

And have not the mobile phones made even watches pretty much obsolete ?

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Why do we need 'smart' watches ?

 

Isn't the purpose of a watch to tell time and the date ?

 

And have not the mobile phones made even watches pretty much obsolete ?

 

^this.

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Why do we need 'smart' watches ?

 

Isn't the purpose of a watch to tell time and the date ?

 

And have not the mobile phones made even watches pretty much obsolete ?

 

Why do we need smart phones?  Isnt the purpose of a smart phone to make and receive calls?

 

As time goes on, things will get redefined.  Cannot keep thinking about what something was.  Things are changing more rapidly now than they have.

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Why do we need 'smart' watches ?

 

Isn't the purpose of a watch to tell time and the date ?

 

And have not the mobile phones made even watches pretty much obsolete ?

there are only 2 features i want from a smart watch.

 

1. notifications

2. media controls

 

this is why i like the Pebble watch. it's simple but does what i need

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Things are changing more rapidly now than they have.

 

And increasingly, the changes are only to get people to keep on spending money, on useless stuff. ;)

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And increasingly, the changes are only to get people to keep on spending money, on useless stuff. ;)

 

I remember when cell phones were called useless.  Now, people cannot get by without them.  

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^ I frequently leave mine at home.

 

And put many numbers on the Ignore list.

 

I do as well.  But we come from a time when these devices didnt exist.  Soon, we will all be gone and this is what people will only know.

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I remember when cell phones were called useless.  Now, people cannot get by without them.  

 

I am not one of them.. I can live without either cellphone or smartphone...  Not a problem.

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Why do we need 'smart' watches ?

 

Isn't the purpose of a watch to tell time and the date ?

 

And have not the mobile phones made even watches pretty much obsolete ?

 

About 20 or so years ago I had a Casio that had built in altimeter, barometer & heart rate monitor. It was water proof to 200 meters, had multiple alarms & stop watches features, it also had world time on it as well and all in all, was a pretty smart watch.

 

Oh, and its battery was good for a couple of years, too.

 

Nothing new about smart watches at all; they just didn't call them smart watches back then... And they were better. ;)

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Microsoft actually released a "smartwatch" back in the 90s - I got one as a college graduation present. It could sync data - phone numbers, alarms, calendar events - from the computer by reading barcode patterns flashed on the screen. Unfortunately there was no way to sync data the other way,

 

It was a cool novelty, but I didn't use its special features all that much.

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Most of this i think is more people jumping on the wearable fitness bandwagon.   I have a fitbit and i would of gotten the galaxy fit but it only works  with galaxy phones and i dont have one.

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