Blocks Wearables, a UK-based hardware startup, which is developing a modular smartwatch, has confirmed that a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset will power the device.
The wearables market has been growing in the last few years, and many companies already have their products on the market. Google also released Android Wear, an operating system designed specifically for wearables such as smartwatches, in March 2014.
Many smartwatches, such as the LG G Watch, Motorola Moto 360, Samsung Gear Live and more run on Android Wear, but the Blocks Wearables smartwatch will run on a modified version of Android Lollipop.
The company suggests that the main idea is to develop a smartwatch that is customizable, which will allow users to select the individual components that make up the band of the smartwatch for customizing its functionality. The customizable feature will allow users to opt for a heart rate monitor, add additional battery capacity, include a SIM card and more to the smartwatch. The core module, which is the watch face, will be a circular touchscreen unit. The individual modules can be attached to each other for creating a smartwatch's band.
Blocks Wearables is also entering into a partnership with Tateossian, a luxury menswear jewelry brand in the UK, so that it can offer further customizable designs to enhance the feel and look of individual modules.
The company was expected to start a crowdfunding project earlier this year, but it has not started yet. The company is now aiming to start the crowdfunding project this summer.
Alireza Tahmasebzadeh, co-founder of the company, revealed that signing a manufacturing agreement for producing the smartwatches on a large scale capacity is one reason that crowdfunding was delayed. Moreover, the company also wanted to wait on for Qualcomm to come on board before starting crowdfunding.
"The production will go much faster since we already have secured a manufacturing partner; and all the components and circuitry of the core module (the most expensive and difficult to produce) have already been finalized. The next step is to finalize the details of our modules and start manufacturing. The device will be shipped seven to eight months after the campaign," says Tahmasebzadeh.
Blocks Wearables also explained that one of the key reasons that it opted for Android Lollipop was that Android Wear does not offer cellular connectivity, at least for now. Another reason that Blocks Wearables is opting for a modified version of Lollipop is that the company wants its product to be compatible with Android as well as iOS.
The modularity concept in the Blocks Wearables smartwatches sounds quite fascinating. However, the efficiency of the concept remains to be seen. A Qualcomm processor in the smartwatch will definitely attract many customers; however, with stiff competition, Blocks Wearables will have to pull out something really special to entice smartwatch customers.
Check out a short video of the Blocks Wearables smartwatch.
