Samsung updates smartwatch, Lenovo ditches laptop keyboard
By ANICK JESDANUN
AP Technology Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Samsung's next smartwatch will come with GPS capabilities and
the ability to call or text for help by triple-tapping a side button.
The new Gear S3 retains the circular design of the current S2 model, but is
slightly larger. Samsung will still sell last year's S2 to those who consider
the S3 too big on their wrist. As with the S2, the outer ring of the watch face
rotates to let you scroll through notifications and apps. Interface
improvements include the ability to accept or reject calls with the ring rather
than a swipe of the screen.
The S3 will come in three flavors. One has LTE cellular capabilities, allowing
people to make calls, receive notifications and check weather without a
companion phone nearby. A data plan costs extra. The other two models lack LTE
and differ primarily in style. Samsung said prices will be announced closer to
the devices' availability later in the year.
Samsung announced the new watch lineup Wednesday at the IFA tech show in
Berlin. The Gear smartwatches have had impressive designs and battery life, but
have been hampered largely by a dearth of apps, as many developers write for
Apple Watch and Android Wear devices instead.
All three S3 models will have GPS, making them more accurate for workouts. In
the S2, GPS was limited to a pricier model with cellular capabilities (on the
slower 3G network). GPS, so far, isn't common in smartwatches, allowing Samsung
to stand out with the S3. Although GPS tends to drain battery quickly, Samsung
expects at least three days of battery life in the S3.
Meanwhile, the emergency-calling feature echoes the "SOS" feature coming to the
Apple Watch this fall. Where the Apple Watch will call 911 or the relevant
emergency service elsewhere directly, though, the S3 will call or text
emergency contacts, such as friends or relatives. These will be pre-recorded or
pre-written messages. For an extra recurring fee, which has yet to be
announced, S3 users will also be able to make a live call to ADT's security
dispatchers, who would then be able to call 911 or offer other help.
The S3 also comes with expanded ability to make payments at stores through
Samsung Pay. And the watch's always-on feature improves with a display of
millions of colors, rather than just 16 before.
SOMETHING MISSING IN A LAPTOP
Also at the IFA tech show, Lenovo unveiled a twist on the laptop: Its new Yoga
Book won't have a physical keyboard.
It's an odd choice, given that Apple, Samsung and other tablet makers are
pushing professional tablet models with keyboard accessories. Those companies
are hoping to appeal to businesses and individuals looking to replace their
laptops.
In Lenovo's case, the 10-inch Yoga Book retains the clamshell design of the
laptop, but puts a second touch screen where the keyboard normally goes. People
can type on a touch-screen keyboard there, or just write or draw on that second
screen with an included stylus. You can even use a regular pen or pencil,
though you'd want to put a sheet of paper over the screen to avoid damage.
Although Lenovo calls Yoga Book a tablet, the keyboard part isn't detachable,
making the device a laptop. The keyboard, though, can fold all the way to the
back to make the device feel more like a tablet.
Jeff Meredith, a Lenovo vice president, said the Yoga Book might not be
appropriate for extensive typing, but should be suitable for people -
especially younger people - who now use the phone's touch screen to respond to
email at night or even take notes in classrooms.
He added that when BlackBerrys were still popular, people couldn't imagine
getting rid of physical keyboards on their phones, either.
The Yoga Book will start shipping in the coming weeks. An Android version will
cost $500, and Windows will be $600.
The unveiling came hours after rival computer maker Acer unveiled what it calls
the world's first laptop to measure less than a centimeter. The Swift 7 is 9.98
millimeters (0.39 inch) to be exact. But Lenovo says the Yoga Book is thinner,
at 9.6 millimeters, or slightly more than the thickest iPad at 7.5 millimeters.
Acer, meanwhile, unveiled a laptop with a curved screen, something
traditionally limited to computer monitors for desktops. The Predator 21 X is
designed for video games and comes with eye-tracking technology that promises
to let players aim, identify enemies and take cover by gazing at the screen.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AP
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