[SeekAndFind]

The new smartwatch was unveiled along with Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3, a next generation of the company’s so-called “phablet” device (larger than a standard phone, with features like a tablet).

The watch is expected to work as a companion to the phone-tablet hybrid. A 1.63-inch display allows you to check updates from your phone at a glance to your wrist, and use about 70 pre-loaded apps, mostly with gesture commands.

But what may be the best features allow you to initiate a phone call from the watch or take video or photos from a wristband camera both in conjunction with your mobile device.

Make Calls or Take Video

Using the watch’s S Voice feature activated by double-clicking a button on the side of the display lets you make a call or dictate a text message to your mobile device hands free.

The 1.9-megapixel camera on the wristband can take photos or short videos that can be stored temporarily with about 4 GB of storage on the watch or sent directly to your mobile device.

It’s not clear how wide the appeal will be for smartwatches. As one commenter here at Small Business Trends predicted on an earlier article about smartwatches, it may be that the only people who are interested in smartwatches are the same people who bought a calculator watch a few decades ago when those were hot. Time will tell.

[SeekAndFind]

For those interested.... The Galaxy Gear will launch globally in late September and will be available in the United States for $299 in early October.

[Alex Murphy]

For when it becomes too hard for the next generation to pull their NSA-approved tracking devices out of their pockets.

[Da Coyote]

Underwhelming.

And you’ve gotta just love that battery “life”.

Not picking on Samsung alone...Apple would have to to mucho better than that for me to even yawn.

[dfwgator]

"Kromega III. It's like asking a stranger for the time."

[Drawsing]

You know, if you don’t get new stuff, people think you’re sort of backwards and maybe unsuccessful.

I just thought I would highlight that statement for everyone to sit and meditate upon.

[MrEdd]

Jumping into a fairly established but small market and claiming to be a pioneer. Sounds like Samsung is adopting the iPple model of innovation.

[JRandomFreeper]

I was hoping for something more like a vambrace or that forearm thingy that the Predator wore in the movie, except in English.

/johnny

[N. Theknow]

I will send smoke signals before ever buying anything from Samsuck.

Don't feel too smug Apple, you area very close second.

[kevkrom]

Proof that Samsung can innovate? This thing is laughable!

First of all, the visual appeal is simply not there. Clunky-looking and with visible screws on the front face? I dare you to find a woman who will wear one of these in public.

Next, it will only really work if you own one of a small handful of devices.

Then you have the camera. Seriously? What for? Since you’re already tethered to a specific smartphone or tablet in the first place (see above), why would you want to take an awkward picture or video with an inferior camera when you have a better camera on you ready to go?

Hands-on reports say the thing is sluggish. The battery life is touted as a day, but Samsung routinely over-states battery life and hands-on participants also noted power was running out on the samples.

This isn’t innovation, it’s a fail-bag with an ugly strap (and visible screws). Smartwatches may or may not be a big thing in the future, but successful ones won’t resemble the Gear at all.