Samsung is set to release its first "smartwatch" in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 4, two days ahead of the official opening of this year's IFA consumer electronics fair. The company will also release the Galaxy Note III, which is rumored to suppport 4k video.
In an interview with The Korea Times, Monday, Lee Young-hee, executive vice president of Samsung's mobile business, said that the smartwatch, named Galaxy Gear, will run on Google's Android operating system and use a "non-flexible display." The Samsung Galaxy Gear is expected to boast a 2.5-inch touch sensitive display, pair with a device via Bluetooth 4.0 for power saving and, although it will use the Android operating system, will only work with other Samsung devices.
He also hinted that Samsung will release new wearable gadgets using flexible displays in the near future.
Lee also confirmed that a Galaxy Note III will make its international debut at IFA. Although he did not provide ay details, the Galaxy Note III is expected to feature a 6-inch display. Another report from the Korea Economic Daily (Korean) claims that the upcoming Note model will be able to record video in Ultra High Definition. The same source reckons that audio quality will be bumped up to 24-bit, like LG's G2 and a step above the 16-bit audio tech in Samsung's existing Galaxy phones.
The executive made it clear that Samsung has no interest in Canada's BlackBerry, which has been put up for sale.
LG is also expected to return to the tablet market with the release of the G Pad 8.3 at September's IFA show.
In a
video released by the company, consumers claim that their existing tablet is too big to take out of the house, and when asked what would make a tablet better, the answers are overwhelmingly speed -- of opening and closing applications -- and a smaller form factor which would make it more mobile and therefore easier to carry with them, whether for work or on the annual holiday.
There are even requests for a device that links seamlessly with other smart devices such as TVs, phones and computers.
LG reveals no specifics about the tablet, although the overwhelming message is that it will be light and thin enough to be truly mobile, will pack a hell of a processing punch, will offer a superior video playback experience to an HD smartphone and will synch with existing Android and more specifically LG products.