Competition in the smartwatch market is heating up after Apple officially announced that the highly anticipated iWatch will debut on Sept.9. Samsung also released its new Gear S smartwatch on Thursday, as well as a new wearable gadget that allows you to wear your headphones like a necklace.
Have they taken the fashion of wearable technology too far?
Samsung has released several smartwatches, making them a strong competitor in the wearable industry. The tech company's new Gear S smartwatch includes 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, so that you can answer calls even when your phone is not nearby.
Samsung also announced another wearable gadget, the Gear Circle, which is the latest fashion-meets-tech accessory on the market. The Gear Circle is earbuds that are magnetized so that you can wear them like a necklace. Simply clasp the gadget around your neck and you will be able to listen to music and make voice commands "in style." The necklace can even vibrate to let you know that you have an in-coming call.
Bluetooth earbuds are already on the market, but many products like the ones offered from LG, are awkward to wear. The Gear Circle has a lump at the back, much like where a necklace clasp would be. The lump contains a 180mAh battery that will give you nine hours of audio and 11 hours of phone time.
The earbuds snap together to form a circle by magnets, so when they are not in use they are hung like a necklace securely. When wearing the earbuds, you can control your music by swiping the sides of the buds.
The Gear Circle will come in white or blue and have a clean design, with only one button on the actual earbuds. Price is not yet known.
Hands-free is a convenience, but is a wearable tech necklace taking it too far? Especially considering that some people will also be wearing actual necklaces in addition to using headphones. We're curious to see if this trend catches on.
Both the Gear S and Gear Circle will hit the shelves in October.
