Drone writes:
While I was (unsuccessfully) trying to order my $25 discounted TI Chronos watch today, in the TI eStore I noticed they have two new (to me anyway) watches that are just about to be released. These are called Meta Watches – see here:
There are two models I found on the TI eStore site. Both models are shipping August 22nd 2011 (next Monday from post-date). Both watches can not ship to Asia and Japan (because of the bluetooth frequency?). The cost before shipping for either Meta Watch is $199 USD each (Ouch!). see the details below which were scraped from the TI eStore.
Via the contact form. Take a watch to omega watch service for any repair needed.
The digital+analog Meta Watch kit features:
- An easy-to-use Bluetooth enabled wearable development system
- Fully-tooled; production-ready modules with FCC, CE certification
- Stainless steel case
- Leather strap
- Water-resistant (3 ATM)
- Mineral crystal lens
- Vibrating motor
- Three-axis accelerometer
- Ambient light sensor
- Dual OLED Displays
- Analog Hands
- 3 Buttons
- Includes programming /charging clip & USB cable
- Ability to easily program through external clip & cable; no need to open watch
- Supports open source projects that support both CCS (Code Composer Studio) and IAR tool chains
Anyone ordering these should know that the shipping date has been moved to end of August.
And that’s the fifth time it has been delayed (it was originally slated for second half of June, then end of June, then mid July, then end of July, then mid August and finally end of August).
As things stand, according to some tweets and facebook posts, beginning of September is more likely than end of August.
WANT!
now i know why chronos is on tideals ;-)
Still imo the price of the metawatch is too big for ‘hacking toy’ but the specs look great (and the watch looks durable)
From everything i’ve read, it was never actually meant as a hacking toy.
More like a bona fide application development platform.
They’ve got plans for future commercial models (unlike with the Chronos, which really is just a hacking toy).
There is a good review here, via .
There is still some stuff to be ironed out. The watch basically acts as status device, with content being pushed to the watch by a phone over bluetoth.
Actually, that’s just the default firmware. Sort of a demo of the main driving idea behind the project.
You can write perfectly self-sufficient apps for the watch itself, just as you would for a Chronos.
The watch itself has a 3-axis accelerometer, LDR, vibro-motor and other goodies to take advantage of.
(interesting fact – the default firmware and accompanying Android app don’t send encoded information to the watch, but whole actual frames of bitmaps to display… the display on the watch is sectioned into areas, each with a dedicated sub-module that refreshes it only when needed… that + the particular LCD technology used allegedly reduces the current draw)
Chronos’ lack of bluetooth really limits what can be done with the it so I am happy this watch has bluetooth. However, I would rather get the Android Wimm http://www.wimm.com/ now.
This seems suspiciously like they have ripped off from WIMM: http://www.wimm.com/
It’s typical when a commercial oriented corporation does this with technical things:
– same technical processor specifications
– other graphical shill and other superficial things e.g. casings
– less software functionality
– less independence of the device
– support only with stuff made with their own proprietary toolchain (usually this is the case, I don’t know about this particular case)
You’re off by a mile.
MetaWatch has been brewing for a lot longer than WIMM.
They use completely different CPU, have completely different specs, are aimed at completely different applications. One is an ARM, the other is a low power MCU. One uses a low power memory LCD, the other uses OLED with a capacitive touch screen. One is watch-sized, the other is not.
Less software functionality? How? MetaWatch doesn’t HAVE any software. It’s a blank slate that happens to come with a default, demo firmware that connects to an Android app via Bluetooth. The idea is FOR YOU to write YOUR OWN software for it.
Less independence of the device? How? It’s a completely self sufficient MCU development platform. It has its own processing power, its own memory, its own sensor suite, its own radio.
Proprietary toolchain? Which MCU platform doesn’t have one? Also, you *can* use gcc to compile 430 code, you know.
Jesus, what a bunch of nonsense. And all because WIMM looks shinier and has a touch screen ;)
Let me guess…
These are WIMM rip-offs too:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/accessories/overview/liveviewmicrodisplay
http://www.getinpulse.com/
Oh, so this is the Fossil watch with BT I heard about somewhere. That explains the $200 buck price tag. Good info in the comments. Thanks…
MetaWatch has just been delayed again.
Got a notice from TI eStore.
New shipping date is 09/30.