It seems these days that smartphones have relegated watches to be wardrobe accessories. While you and I may still keep those wearable clocks on our wrists, there is a good percentage of the population that doesn't necessarily need them anymore. Don’t tell Microsoft though, the Redmond company is supposedly working on a smartwatch. SPOT take two? Four screens and a cloud?
If you pay attention to the tech world you've heard rumors of Apple and Google working on smartwatches. Devices like the Fitbit are seeing an uptick in usage and popularity. So it's understandable that Microsoft would want to jump into the space that it helped pioneer.
How exactly did Microsoft pioneer wearable electronics? Like a handful of other products and categories, Microsoft was ahead of the time when it launched SPOT, also known as smart personal objects technology. This was a platform that enabled devices like watches, desktop clocks, and even coffee makers to link up with MSN services through FM radio transmissions. This started way back in 2004 and was support discontinued a few years ago. SPOT would allow your watch to stay up to date with information like the weather, news, messages, and more. It was a service and idea ahead of its time.
So why would Microsoft want to jump back into this game? Most likely to pass up a market that is expected to grow over the next few years. You've seen how much we like the Fitbit (especially Daniel) and it's a market that Microsoft wouldn't want to ignore.
So what do you guys think of a potential wrist accessory to your Windows Phone, Xbox, and Windows 8 device? What would you want out of it? Would you just want another ancillary screen to complement and display information from your smartphone and PC? Or would you want to also get biometric data out of the device like the Fitbit and Nike Fuelband products? Sound off below!
Want the latest GPUs from NVIDIA? Here's where to find them.
NVIDIA new Ampere-powered GeForce RTX 30-series GPUs are here, and as expected they're selling fast. Here's where you can find the new hardware.
Watch Dogs: Legion beginner tips and tricks for hacking London
Watch Dogs: Legion is the third entry into the open-world hacker game created by Ubisoft that engages the player in near-future London. Between all the bars, back alleys, side missions, and people to recruit, it can seem a little daunting on how to start out. Here is a handy run-down of some tips that will make your life a little more tolerable.
The Medium Interview: How the Xbox Series X|S made this title possible
Looking for some inside information on the upcoming psychological horror game The Medium? Well, here's everything you need to know about the gameplay mechanics, haunting storytelling, and performance on Xbox Series X/S, straight from the team responsible.
Use these PCIe 4.0 motherboards with the GeForce RTX 3070 GPU
The latest GeForce RTX 30 series from NVIDIA utilizes PCIe 4.0, but is backward compatible with PCIe 3.0. If you're in the market for a new motherboard and want the very best, we've rounded up some excellent recommendations for you to start your search with.