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Qualcomm joins the smartwatch race with the Toq

Teaser
The new watch has a Mirasol display and offers days of battery life

Smartwatches are a hot topic these days with recent launches by Sony and Samsung, not to mention upcoming watches from Google, Microsoft, and Apple. In steps Qualcomm with the Toq. While not generally known for making consumer electronics, the San Diego based chip maker seems to have made a competitive product.

The device has an unusual Mirasol screen which is a type of color E Ink. The advantages of such a display on a watch are clear, with easy visibility even in direct sunlight and excellent battery life. Unlike the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Gear, the Toq can apparently run for three to five days on a charge.

Other features include a light which is activated by double taping the upper edge of the watch, a touch interface which is activated by double taping the lower edge, and wireless charging.

Once paired with an Android 4.0.3 or later smartphone (iOS support will come at a later date), the watch can show notifications, allow the wearer to read texts and emails, and even to respond to messages with a number of preset words or sentences. A stock viewer, a weather feed, a calender, and a number of different watch faces are also available.

Pre-orders are expected to open soon on Qualcomm's website with deliveries starting in Q4. Pricing has not yet been announced.

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Craig Munro, 2013-09- 4 (Update: 2021-05-18)