DAWN TO DUSK NEWS: watches

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="fixed-content Mb-20" id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5099" style="padding-top: 70px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Samsung Launches New Smartwatch: The Gear 2 </span></span></b></div>
<div class="fixed-content Mb-20" id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5099" style="padding-top: 70px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></b><div class="top-content" id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5098">
<div class="sidebar-container inline" id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5101">
<div class="inline-sidebar" id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5100">
    
    
        <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a class="attribution-name" data-rapid_p="15" data-ylk="g:c6788348-0973-36fc-8267-a17f30b48ff9;t1:a5;t4:17;ct:1;elm:itm;elmt:link;itc:0" href="http://afp.com/en" id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5691" target="_blank">
            </a></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="fixed-content">

</div>
<div class="fixed-content" id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5109">
            
                
                    <div class="text-body unroutable" id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_697">
                        <div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5108">
<img alt="image" height="348" id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5107" src="https://s1.yimg.com/cd/resizer/FIT_TO_WIDTH-w500/c435058f5f271fd04c8617e4efa4f67eb286f2d5" width="500" /></div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5110">
Barcelona (AFP) — Samsung on 
Sunday launched a new smartwatch, the Gear 2, after a first version won 
over few critics, adding new features and ditching Google’s Android in 
favor of its own operating system.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5129">
The South Korean electronics 
giant revealed the new watch in an unexpected announcement on the eve of
 the Feb. 24-27 Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5128">
Samsung is unveiling on Monday 
its new flagship smartphone, almost certainly the Galaxy S5, and it had 
been expected to show off the new watch at the same time.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5125">
Besides an array of features 
including sports tracking software and a heart-rate monitor, the Gear 2 
marks an important and widely rumored step toward independence from 
Android.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5127">
The watch, available in two 
models — the Gear 2 and the Gear 2 Neo, which has no camera — will be 
powered by the Tizen operating system developed by Samsung with various 
partners to break free of the Android dominance.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5126">
Android powered 78.4 percent of 
smartphones worldwide last year, according to technology consultants 
Gartner Inc., making it easier for users to switch phones and harder for
 manufacturers to build customer loyalty. Apple’s iOS system accounted 
for another 15.6 percent of smartphones.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5710">
The Gear 2, which will be 
available worldwide in April, has a 1.63-inch screen, a 2.0 megapixel 
camera that can take high-definition video, a heart-rate sensor and 
pedometer, audio that can work with Bluetooth headphones, remote control
 for devices such as televisions, and an alert system for incoming text 
messages and emails. The wrist strap comes in black, orange and brown.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5711">
The first Gear, launched last September, was criticized by many for being unfashionable and unwieldy.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5712">
Samsung, like other device 
makers, is banking on smart devices to boost revenue as sales of 
smartphones slow in the mature, and most profitable, markets.</div>
Though smartphone sales surged 42.4 percent to 968 million units last
 year, according to Gartner, the growth came from developing markets 
like Latin America, India and China, while mature markets such as 
Western Europe and the United States hit the brakes.<br />
 
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5713">
“We will see all of the handset 
companies responding to slowing growth in the smartphone market and the 
difficulty of making money,” said Ian Fogg, senior principal analyst of 
electronics and media at research house IHS.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5714">
“They are going to launch a 
number of smart accessory devices including wearable devices that will 
give them opportunities in new markets to generate revenues and growth.”</div>
Despite perceived difficulties in selling the first watch to a broad audience, Samsung appeared confident in its latest version.<br />
 
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5715">
“With the Samsung Gear 2 and 
Gear 2 Neo, we have enhanced everything consumers love about the Gear to
 offer unparalleled smart freedom in their everyday life,” J.K. Shin, 
head of the mobile division at Samsung Electronics, said in a statement.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5716">
The new watch has been designed to be compatible with a variety of Samsung devices, including the Galaxy range of smartphones.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5717">
The South Korean group sold 300 
million smartphones last year, 31 percent of the nearly 1 billion sold 
globally and double arch-rival Apple Inc.’s 15.6 percent share, 
according to U.S. technology research house Gartner.</div>
<div id="yui_3_12_0_1_1393855517273_5732">
The Galaxy S5 is rumored to have
 a fingerprint scanner on the home button; a 5.24-inch, full 
high-definition display; a water- and dust-proof case, possibly 
metallic; and a 16-megapixel camera.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Samsung Launches New Smartwatch: The Gear 2

Samsung Launches New Smartwatch: The Gear 2 ...