Digital Journal — Call it the PDA for your wrist. In an effort to blend fashion with technology, Microsoft’s Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) has launched the next generation of Smart Watches for MSN Direct. It’s called the Abacus Smart Watch 2006.
In addition to displaying the time, the Smart Watch allows users to check movie listings or lottery numbers, play trivia games and synchronize an Outlook Calendar. Users can even receive MSN Messages through this wireless device. New this year, the 2006 watches feature double the storage capacity of previous generations, improved download speed, a thinner bezel and several stylish bands.
“This new generation of Smart Watches gives wearers greater choice, convenience and value,” said Eric Lang, general manager of the SPOT initiative at Microsoft. “With the Abacus Smart Watch 2006, we not only refined the aesthetics, but also significantly enhanced the technology within the watch and are pleased with this latest extension of the SPOT vision.”
The biggest selling factor for the new ABACUS Smart Watch is the collaboration with Fossil Inc., one of the original providers of the Smart Watch. The new design features a metal bezel and a choice of black leather, brown crocodile leather, green fabric, classic metal or modern metal bands. Also, in case you didn’t have enough options on your previous watch, wearers can now even download MSN Direct channels.
The biggest problem? While the product claims to have enhanced technology with refined aesthetics, the watch falls short of its mandate. And frankly, it’s not the best looking watch around. The Abacus is big and bulky, and with so many buttons around the face, it’s inevitable whoever uses this watch will look like a real-life Inspector Gadget. Plus, how good can it be for your eyes to stare at a tiny screen on your watch for any lengthy amount of time?
While the notion of combining many technologies into a single device sounds like a good idea, I much prefer my watch to do what it does best — tell the time. I let my PDA confine my business and my computer keep track of my appointments. But that’s me. For the gadget-crazed folk, knock yourselves out. But don’t be fooled, it’s not high fashion.
The new Abacus Smart Watch 2006 is available online at Brookstone.com, Amazon.com and MSNDirect.com for about $179 (all prices are in US dollars). The watch comes with a one-year subscription to the MSN Direct Smart Plan (a $39.95 value). For an additional $20 per year, consumers can also receive their MSN Messenger personal messages and Microsoft Office Outlook calendar sync.
