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Korean giant Samsung Electronics unveiled a digital watch that can run applications and interact with its own family of smartphone, as it battles to maintain supremacy in high-end mobile market against arch rival Apple Inc.
While Galaxy Gear, which came ahead of an expected smartwatch from Apple, is aimed at shaking-off criticism that it has been a follower rather than an innovator. Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Note 3, a slimmer and lighter version of the Note 2.
The latest device from the world’s top handset maker will run on Android 4.3.
Unveiling the latest devices at a trade show here, Samsung said Galaxy Gear will go on sale for $ 299 from September 25 across the world including in India.
Note 3, whose price was not immediately known, will be available in 3G in India from September 25. The earlier version of the smartphone, Galaxy Note 2, is available for around Rs 37,000 in India.
“We will be launching Note 3 and Gear in 149 countries on September 25. In the US and Japan we will launch it in October,” Samsung Electronics’ Marketing manager David Park said here last evening.
The Galaxy Gear, which has a 1.6-inch screen and weighs 2.6 ounces, has a 1.9 megapixel camera embedded in the strap and a built-in speaker that allows users to conduct hands-free calls. Besides photos and hands-free calls, it can perform functions like instant messaging.
The device, which will come preloaded with more than 60 apps, including a step-counting pedometer and S Voice, a voice-activated app akin to Apple’s Siri, can however not be used for composing emails or downloading music.
In June, Sony Corp unveiled its own Android-based smartwatch expected to start selling this month.
The new Galaxy Note, which is slightly larger than its predecessor, is better equipped for multitasking, Samsung said, allowing users to open multiple frames at once. It also has a stylus, called the S Pen.
Galaxy Note 3 has a 5.7 inch Super-Amoled screen and weighs 168 grams.
“For the first time we have given Galaxy Note 3 a warm texture-touch cover,” JK Shin, President & CEO Head of IT and Mobile Communication Division at Samsung Electronics said. “It is slimmer, lighter, and more powerful. All in a beautiful design.”
The phone will be available in jet black, classic white, and blush pink colour options. Samsung has incorporated a 13 megapixel rear camera in its Note series products.
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