It’s not long until the Apple Watch goes on sale, and although we don’t know everything there is about the new device, we do know it won’t be cheap. What’s an iPhone owner without upwards of $350 to spend on a smartwatch to do? One option is to trawl Kickstarter and see what new wearable tech is on the horizon, and that’s where the FlyShark is vying for your attention.
The FlyShark is a smartwatch that’s compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones, which puts it in competition with watches like the Pebble; but unlike most of its peers, the FlyShark can be used on its own thanks to a micro-SIM port. This means it can be used to make and receive calls, send messages, and do all the usual things your smartphone does – but from your wrist.
If you’re very quick, you could grab the FlyShark for a fraction of the Apple Watch’s eventual price. The early bird offer at the time of writing puts the watch at just $80, with a delivery date of April this year. If you miss out, the price will rise to $90, then $110. Buyers have a choice of a silver, dark grey, or gold body, matched with either a black or brown leather wristband.
Looking at the spec, the watch has a 1.54-inch, 240 x 240 pixel touchscreen, a heart rate monitor, a 2-megapixel camera, and a MediaTek 260MHz processor. It uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone, can measure fitness activity, and has GPS built-in. No, it’s not quite as stylish as Apple’s smartwatch, but that’s an awful lot of functionality for the money.
The FlyShark project has already been funded, having passed its modest $10,000 goal after only a few days. You can take a look at it here, and potentially grab yourself a watch that will still work almost regardless of which phone you own now, next month, or next year.
