Google Pixel Watch Leaks After Being Lost and Found At Restaurant (arstechnica.com) 25
Android Central was sent images of Google's upcoming Pixel Watch after it was reportedly left at a restaurant in the U.S. It's reminiscent of when an Apple iPhone 4 was lost and found at a bar in 2010. From the report: Android Central has reviewed the images of the watch that could be announced during Google I/O next month. It's possible that the watch itself could be released alongside the Pixel 7. The source, who we have left anonymous to protect their identity, said the watch, which could be "a testing model for the Internal Pixel team," was found at a restaurant. The source requested Android Central to not publish their name or the restaurant name, including location, in order to protect their job. After the reporting of this story, the source wrote a Reddit post about the alleged watch. The source indicated that the watch was left at the restaurant "for a few weeks expecting the people that left it to return, but that never happened."
The watch in our images looks almost identical to leaks of rumored rendered images. It has a minimalist design and follows what leaks have suggested a screen with hardly any bezels. The image also confirms one of the rumored colors that the watch will come in: black. Previous rumors have suggested the watch will have a rotating crown and potentially two hidden buttons. It is a bit hard to tell from the image above, but if this is the rumored watch then there is definitely at least one button next to the crown.
[I]t seems that the watch's band is a proprietary Google band and looks very similar to the jelly-like Apple Watch sport bands. This could mean that we might see many more colors to come. It also looks like it attaches directly to the watch case. This might make swapping out watch bands difficult, especially when most of the other top Android smartwatches give you more leeway with standard watch band types. No charger was left behind with the watch, but it is possible that the watch could be charged from the back of the watch case. This is also how Fitbit's Versa 3 and Sense smartwatches (Fitbit is owned by Google) and the Apple Watch are charged. The source indicated that the bottom "looks metallic but feels like it's coated with glass." [...] The source indicated that nothing happened past the boot logo when they tried to power it up [...]. This likely means that there is no OS yet installed on the watch.
The watch in our images looks almost identical to leaks of rumored rendered images. It has a minimalist design and follows what leaks have suggested a screen with hardly any bezels. The image also confirms one of the rumored colors that the watch will come in: black. Previous rumors have suggested the watch will have a rotating crown and potentially two hidden buttons. It is a bit hard to tell from the image above, but if this is the rumored watch then there is definitely at least one button next to the crown.
[I]t seems that the watch's band is a proprietary Google band and looks very similar to the jelly-like Apple Watch sport bands. This could mean that we might see many more colors to come. It also looks like it attaches directly to the watch case. This might make swapping out watch bands difficult, especially when most of the other top Android smartwatches give you more leeway with standard watch band types. No charger was left behind with the watch, but it is possible that the watch could be charged from the back of the watch case. This is also how Fitbit's Versa 3 and Sense smartwatches (Fitbit is owned by Google) and the Apple Watch are charged. The source indicated that the bottom "looks metallic but feels like it's coated with glass." [...] The source indicated that nothing happened past the boot logo when they tried to power it up [...]. This likely means that there is no OS yet installed on the watch.
Again? (Score:3)
Re: Again? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Glad there's a repost otherwise we'd never know how serious this leak was.
Re: Again? (Score:2)
Re:Again? (Score:4, Funny)
Apparently the watch in the previous article was dropped into the toilet, and has been found to be non-watertight.
"Lost" in a bar, AKA free marketing (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
You're likely correct. Are we to believe that Google can't track a devices location? Even if the Android Find My Device was disabled, this trivial for Google to do.
Re: (Score:1)
Form factor (Score:2)
What's with the round face? Can't they make a square version? Do they think Apple patented square watches or something (never mind that the Samsung Galaxy Watch came out before the Apple Watch)?
Re: (Score:2)
Aesthetics?
I always thought it would be neat if smartwatches offered an app that let you emulate the look/function of high-end analog watches. (A round face would work better for that). You could have a mock Patek Philippe, or Jaeger LeCoultre, or Rolex, or whatever. Of course, the skeletonized movement (or whatever) would be simulated too.
I suppose there would be some IP issues, but the watchmakers might agree to it let them do it as free advertising. No serious watch enthusiast would replace their $20
Re: (Score:2)
The whole point of mechanical watches and higher-end quartz watches is that they're interesting technology. Building something to keep time precisely under the size, weight, robustness and durability constraints is an interesting challenge. A smartwatch doesn't have that appeal.
Re: (Score:2)
I agree with all that and will add to it. A good mechanical watch can be kept in working order for literally hundreds of years, and be passed on to your descendants. (A smartwatch will last five years if you're lucky.) A good mechanical watch is also a wearable piece of art.
So of course-- a smartwatch app wouldn't have the same appeal as an actual Patek Philippe. It wouldn't be a substitute for the real thing, any more than Flight Simulator 2020 would be a substitute for a Boeing 747. It would just be
Rounded rectangle (Score:2)
Sharp corners on a watch could snag on sleeves or otherwise be inconvenient. The corners would need to be rounded. And yeah, Apple patented that.
Noone could have seen this coming (Score:2)
SWAT Raid? (Score:2)
wait. what? (Score:2)
Who leaves a *watch* at a restaurant? Why would you take it off?
Re: (Score:2)
Exactly. Sounds like this is a marketing ploy.
Google employee dropped it in toilet? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
So that's why the watch is leaking! Toilet water!
The real question (Score:3)
The real question is: what is it leaking? Data? Google Fluid?
How often do you take off your watch to eat? (Score:2)
Seriously, who believes this is genuine?
You're carrying what is a relatively precious, secret prototype, probably less than one of a dozen or two examples of a HIGHLY demanded product. ...and you oddly decide to de-watch yourself while you're what, eating your leafy quinoa salad and drinking some expensive trendy beer, and then 'happen' to leave it behind?
Sure, of course, because people do that. Show me the person that got their ass fired for it, then I might believe you.
Green vs. Purple or Square vs Circle? (Score:1)