Rob Kim

While it might not be surprising to see Apple and Huawei introduce smart watches, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer has created its entry, revealed at the weekend at LVMH Tower in Manhattan at an event hosted by Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer, Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel, and David Singleton, VP of engineering for Android at Google.
   The TAG Heuer Connected Watch with Intel Inside blends Android Wear technology with the quality and pedigree of the Swiss brand. TAG Heuer worked with Intel and Google to pack its watch with apps—including exclusive ones on lifestyle, golf, motor racing and trailing—as well as voice control, an Intel Atom Z34XX processor, 4 Gbyte of memory, all-day battery life, wifi, Bluetooth and audio streaming, all in a water-resistant 46 mm diameter grade 2 titanium case with a textured rubber strap. Of course there are also timer, alarm and stopwatch functions.
   There is a sapphire crystal touch-screen, and by default the watch retains its classic appearance, with the most pertinent information appearing inside the three chronograph counters at the 12, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. One can choose from one of three digital watch faces, inspired by the TAG Heuer Carrera range. When you want more, you touch the counter, and the app goes into full-screen mode. It will remain connected to the cloud as long as there is wifi. Its base applications remain running regardless of connectivity. The retail price is US$1,500, €1.350 or £1,100.
   For those who fall out of love with the digital world, TAG Heuer says customers can exchange it for a mechanical watch at the end of its two-year warranty period.





Rob Kim