The Samsung Gear S2 is the company's latest smartwatch and Samsung wants users to take full advantage of what it has to offer.
While Samsung got more than 1,000 developers to work on apps for it Gear S2 wearable, the company now wants to highlight eight particular early app partners that offer unique and special experiences to maximize the functionality of the smartwatch.
Samsung touts that its latest Tizen-powered smartwatch, the Gear S2, offers unprecedented functionality and style, boasting a neat rotating bezel and a "revolutionary" user experience (UX) interface. In addition to powerful technology and an impressive design, however, a device needs great apps and partners in order to succeed.
Apps and partners play an essential role in maximizing the usability and functionality of a device, and Samsung has an impressive list of partners for its Gear S2 smartwatch to "take it to the next level."
Samsung was so bullish about the success of its Gear S2 that it even offered access to the Software Development Kit (SDK) months before the actual product release. Device makers typically release the SDK after the product announcement, but Samsung offered early access to the Gear S2 SDK back in April and unveiled the smartwatch in September, at the IFA 2015 trade show.
Samsung's Joohyung Jeong, senior engineer with the company's Product Planning Team of IT & Mobile Communications Business division, further elaborates on the company's strategy.
"We made sure to put in as much time as needed to optimize the applications for the new circular design and UX," Jeong said in a new press release. "We wanted to offer a great variety of useful applications to the users at the time of launch, which was made possible with the early announcement of the SDK."
Samsung further points out that the circular display and the unique rotating bezel of the Gear S2 got partners excited about creating apps for the gadget, but also posed some challenges. The new shape of the smartwatch required redesigned apps, but Samsung made sure to provide all necessary design resources. Nevertheless, Samsung notes that in the end it was easier and more intuitive to optimize apps for the rotating bezel as opposed to the touch menus found on most wearables. The company says that creating notifications and messaging services was also more convenient thanks to the new interface.
Furthermore, the Samsung Gear S2 also stands out from the crowd because many partners also offer special watch faces in addition to customized apps. Users can choose from several watch faces based on their needs and preferences and get the most relevant information.
The Gear S2 has hundreds of apps already available, but here are the eight most popular ones that make users' lives "easier and more empowered," according to Samsung:
- Nike+ Running
- Twitter Trends
- Line
- Yelp for Gear
- Volkswagen
- SmartThings
- Kevo by UniKey
- Voxer
These eight apps aim to offer unique experiences to maximize the appeal and functionality of the Gear S2, and Samsung has more plans for the future. The company notes that Korean partners have a special transportation app in tow, and many other different specialized apps will arrive later on to cater to "local consumers."
