MetaWatch has kicked off 2014 with the launch of a new smartwatch brand.
Called Meta, the new product line is the result of a collaboration with the acclaimed Nokia and Vertu designer Frank Nuovo, with the company evidently intent on creating a watch buyers will want to wear short sleeves with.
That’s right, the first smartwatch born from the partnership looks set to turn heads among hipsters on the hunt for a stylish device built solidly with premium materials. The new wearable tech, available in a range of colors, is being shown off this week at CES in Las Vegas.
Nuovo says he’s worked to make the smartwatch feel as comfortable as possible on the wrist by moving the pivot points that hold the band in place closer to the center of the main watch body, enabling the device to “flow and melt” on your wrist. We’re not exactly sure what he means by that, but we sure like the sound of it.
MetaWatch, a company set up by former Fossil engineers in 2011, is pushing its new high-end smartwatch on the theme of ‘art of the glance’. Nuovo explains: “Art of the glance is about being able to casually glance at your digital life without being consumed by it. If you’re out with somebody, pay attention to them. If you need to know if an email or message came in, you can glance nicely, easily, at your Meta, and see what’s going on without disrupting the flow of the day.”
A smartwatch that doesn’t intrude on a social occasion certainly sounds appealing, but we can imagine a device this striking resulting in constant disruptions through the day, as bedazzled friends and co-workers lean in to take a closer look. At least that way it’d be generating conversation rather than acting as a barrier between those present.
We don’t know much about the watch’s features and functionality just now, though ‘art of the glance’ suggests a distinct lack of bells and certainly no whistles. However, as with earlier wrist-based tech from the company, we’re expecting it to pair with both iOS and Android devices.
The new Meta watch should hit the market in the spring, though there’s no word yet on pricing.
[Meta]
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