What does Gear S bring to the table?

Going into IFA 2014, Samsung has a total of 8 wearable devices: one for the head, one for the neck and six for the wrist. The fact that all of this happened within a year alone definitely makes a statement, and that statement is that Samsung is committed to wearable devices. As ‘wearable’ is still considered an area that needs to be explored, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with wearable technology. Now, let’s take a look at what Gear S, Samsung’s latest wearable for the wrist, and see how far wearables have come.

First of all, the basic specification of Gear S should be noted. Gear S has 3G/2G network capabilities, 512MB RAM and 4GB ROM. If you think about it, the first generation of Galaxy S featured similar specs with the same network capabilities. They also both feature the Super AMOLED display, but Gear S has updated with a curved display. 

Moreover, the battery will last for 2 days for normal users, and Gear S also features the Power Saving Mode. In addition, the Gear S features a QWERTY keyboard and changeable straps. These specifications and features of the Gear S alone tell you just how far wearables have come.

That said, one of the standout features of the Gear S is definitely the extended connectivity capabilities, which allows it to be a standalone device! For the first time in Samsung’s wearable history, Gear S supports full 3G/2G network connectivity, as well as Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. Users can not only make and receive calls using their smartphone number via Bluetooth connection to the smartphone, but they can also make calls on the device without connecting to their smartphone, carrying Nano SIM. The flexibility of its connectivity capabilities takes ‘being updated’ and usablity of wearables to a whole new level. 

For example, when the Gear S is disconnected from a companion device, the smartphone automatically sends a call forward activation code to the server to support call forwarding on Samsung Gear S. This is possible because the call forwarding function is supported by carrier networks and a relay server from Samsung. Therefore, not only can calls be forwarded, notifications are also forwarded to the Gear S. 

One other thing that should be noted is its effort to provide quality content and services. As we know apps and contents are one of the main factors for the tech-related market to strive these days. One of the major concerns when the Galaxy Gear came out was its availability of apps. Since September 2013, Samsung has been actively driving new partnerships and inspiring developers to enrich its 3rd party ecosystem. 

Everyone knows how important role apps play in determining user’s overall device experience. Recently, we pointed out that there are more than 1,000 apps in the Gear App Store. These apps will be available for Gear S as well. 

For example, a couple days after the announcement of the Gear S, Samsung announced its partnership with Nike. Together they developed Nike+ Running App for the new Samsung Gear S, which utilizes the new Samsung Gear S’ built-in Bluetooth and 3G connectivity. HERE (Nokia) will provide map services with turn-by-turn navigation, Financial Times and Spritz support 24-hour news service with advanced-reading technology, and Facebook let users see and respond to important notifications instantly, to stay informed with the world around them.

The Gear S is truly a model of what wearable devices can (and should) offer, allowing users to connect with what’s important to them.  We look forward to pushing more boundaries, and letting users wear what they need.

*All functionality features, specifications, and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.