- LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition 02%5B20151001105341749%5D
It was rumored that LG would be launching a cellular-connected Android Wear watch soon, and well, here it is. The Watch Urbane Second (or 2nd) Edition is the first Android Wear device we've seen that uses a cellular connection instead of a Bluetooth connection to a smartphone or a local Wi-Fi network, much like Samsung's Gear S series or LG's own Watch Urbane LTE (neither of which ran Wear). Aside from the addition of a mobile connection, it's a round screen watch presumably using at least some of the same hardware as the older Urbane.
Wear works surprisingly well on a stand-alone device - the somewhat dull commercial shows calling capability, a Bluetooth connection for local music playback, a vibration motor, an integrated speaker ("That's it! That sounded FRESH!" Cringe.) and three control buttons. Technical details are light on the ground, but the video does demonstrate a 480x480 plastic-OLED display. The watch in the video is using a rubber or silicone band with multiple color options. Note that a separate data and voice connection means a second (or shared) mobile plan as well.
LG is holding an event in New York City tomorrow to formally reveal the dual-screen V10 smartphone. We'll probably hear more about the Urbane Second Edition there, hopefully including a price and release date.
UPDATE: 2015/09/30 7:51pm PDT BY
LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition 02%5B20151001105341749%5D
The press release is embedded below. Here's the gist of the Watch Urbane Second Edition hardware: it uses a Snapdragon 400 processor (somewhat disappointing, since that's the same one that the original G Watch and other early Android Wear devices used), a 1.38-inch circular P-OLED display with a resolution of 480x480, and 4GB of storage with 768MB of memory. The internal radio can handle Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GSM, and LTE. It includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, and GPS. The whole thing is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and the battery is 570mAh. That's very large for an Android Wear device, and presumably it needs the extra juice for the mobile connection.
The watch is actually a little smaller than the original G Watch R with a 44.5mm diameter, but it's quite thick at 14.2mm. It will be available in white, blue, black, and brown (leather) band options. The watch will launch in the US and Korea followed by Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Commonwealth of Independent States, but exact dates and prices aren't available.
PRESS RELEASE
SEOUL, Oct. 1, 2015 ― At the event to introduce the V10 smartphone, LG Electronics (LG) provided a sneak peek of the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition, the first Android Wear device to feature cellular connectivity. With the option to connect via 4G, 3G, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, LG’s newest wearable device works seamlessly with Android smartphones or can go it alone, when carrying a smartphone isn’t practical or convenient. Cellular enabled features will vary across Android and iOS.
The latest LG Watch Urbane delivers the highest resolution display of any smartwatch currently on the market today. With a resolution of 480 x 480, the new LG Watch Urbane delivers 348ppi on its 1.38-inch full circle P-OLED display. With a diameter of 44.5mm, the smartwatch resembles a classic timepiece with its hairline-etched stainless steel body and durable hypoallergenic TPSiV™ elastomer band. And to live up to the original LG Watch Urbane’s great battery life, the 2nd Edition features a high-capacity 570mAh battery and Power Saving Mode to last throughout the day and more.
Three buttons adorn the right side of the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition to provide quick access to shortcut settings such as contacts, LG Health and apps list. Ambient mode can now be enabled or disabled with a simple press of the crown button. In addition to the 16 included watch faces, fitness-related features such as heart rate tracking, workout tips and stress level monitoring are also offered.
“The wearable sector continues to evolve and we’re playing an active role in that by bringing to market various devices that appeal to various consumers,” said Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “At LG, we don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all wearable device. This second edition of our Watch Urbane aims to be a must-have smart device for active individuals who want to stay connected to the world, whether they’re at work, at home or on the tennis court.”
The LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition will be available first in the United States and Korea, followed by markets in Europe, CIS, Asia and the Middle East. Details including price and date of availability will be announced locally at a later date. To see the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition in action, go to
https://youtu.be/FdRymDRtPJA
● Chipset: 1.2GHz Qualcomm SnapdragonTM 400
● Operating System: Android WearTM (Cell-connected Version)
● Display: 1.38-inch P-OLED Display (480 x 480 / 348ppi)
● Memory: 4GB eMMC / 768MB LPDDR3
● Network*: Bluetooth 4.1 / Wi-Fi / LTE / 3G
● Sensors: Accelerometer / Gyro / Compass / Barometer / PPG / GPS
● Color*: Space Black / Opal Blue / Luxe White / Signature Brown
● Other: Dust and Water Resistance (IP67)
Source: YouTube
