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Puma’s first smartwatch is here, running Google’s Wear OS, and its purrfect

Designer Wear OS smartwatches with heart rate sensors and swim-proof bodies are aplenty, but due to the fashion-forward designs, they don’t often look at home in the gym or out running. Here’s the solution: sports and lifestyle brand Puma has made its first smartwatch running Google’s Wear OS platform, and it’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to wear a gold or stainless steel smartwatch when lifting weights, or pounding the streets.

The Puma Smartwatch resembles Fossil’s own Sport smartwatch. It’s compact for all wrist sizes and comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 chip inside. But unlike the recently-announced Fossil Gen. 5 smartwatch, it only has 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage space — that might mean performance won’t be as reliable. You do get a heart rate sensor on the back, and built-in GPS inside the watch so you don’t have to carry your phone on a run if you want to map it.

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It’s the design you’ll want though. The body is slim and lightweight, with sporty fluted side panels made of nylon material, covering an aluminum case. The oversized crown has an easy-to-grip texture and the Puma logo on the end. Twist it and it scrolls through the menu on the screen, and press it to confirm an action. Puma has taken the wise decision not to make the watch look over-the-top, but has shifted away from the minimal look of the Fossil Sport.

A silicone strap holds the watch on your wrist, complete with a Puma-branded clasp, and the underside of the strap has channels to maintain airflow and stop it from getting sweaty. A black version is joined by a rose gold and white model, but the yellow and black Puma Smartwatch really catches the eye. It’s not subtle, but it’s far from being too in-your-face. It’s definitely the version those who like to make a statement at the gym will choose.

What else? The watch runs Google’s Wear OS software and therefore has Google Assistant and Google Pay installed, plus Google Fit to track workouts and steps. Puma has added a selection of watch faces, although the only one we’ve seen so far is the “Scorecard” option, which shows fitness and heart rate data alongside the time. The Puma Smartwatch comes with a weather app, plus Spotify for music, and will connect with your smartphone regardless of whether it runs Android or iOS.

The Puma Smartwatch will be released in November through Puma’s own website and retail partners. It costs $275.

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Upcoming Fossil Gen 6 swartwatch won’t run Wear OS 3 until 2022
fossil gen 6 specs leak

Fossil this week unveiled its next-generation smartwatch lineup, called the Fossil Gen 6. While fans were excited for the launch, the company revealed that the much-anticipated Fossil Gen 6 will be launched with Wear OS 2 rather than the new Wear OS 3 seen on the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic and Watch 4. This is a surprising and disappointing revelation about the new hardware. 
Users eager for the OS 3 update will have to wait till 2022, when it will be available after a full factory rese is performed, which is something we haven't typically seen required for an OS update. The Gen 6 will also be the first device to have the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus Platform, unlike the new Galaxy Watches, which use the Exynos W920 processor. The company says the new chipset will offer a 30% performance boost compared to Gen 5 devices and more efficient power consumption. 

A notable addition is the SpO2 sensor, which monitors blood oxygen levels with an “upgraded heart rate sensor to allow continuous tracking and improved signal accuracy.” The Gen 6, like its predecessor (the Fossil Gen 5), offers a microphone and speaker functionality for Android and iOS, so you can take calls and use Google Assistant on the go. The Gen 6 also lets you access the Google Play Store to download Google-based apps like Google Pay. You can also download third-party apps like Spotify, which recently started supporting offline playback for Wear smartwatches. This could be a key feature for runners and music lovers who enjoy working with custom playlists. 
Along with the Gen 6’s upgraded features, users can enjoy 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM with super-optimized battery life (up to 24 hours) for an improved experience that will likely be boosted by the aforementioned Snapdragon Wear 4100+ improvements. It is said to charge twice as fast, “reaching 80% in only a little more than 30 minutes of charging.” The company says this feature is helpful for tracking your sleep, as users can have a fully charged device ready within minutes of waking up after a full night’s use.
The Fossil Gen 6 features a 1.28-inch, AMOLED touchscreen display with 3 ATM water-resistance, making it safe to use when swimming. The Gen 6 comes in two sizes: A 44mm case offering a choice of four colors and a 42mm case offering three colors for added variety and style options. Users also have the option to customize dials and buttons for a more personalized look. 
The Gen 6 is priced starting at $299 and $319, which seems to be consistent with Gen 5 and other Wear smartwatch prices. You can pre-order the Gen 6 on Fossil’s official website, and the company says your order will ship around the end of September if you order now. 
 

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Fossil will bring its Gen 5 LTE smartwatch to more carriers and countries soon
fossil gen 5 lte carriers global release 2021 news ces pink wrist

The announcement at CES 2021 of Fossil’s first LTE connected smartwatch was somewhat bittersweet, as the Gen 5 LTE is limited to Verizon subscribers at the moment. That means unless you’re already with the carrier or plan to switch, you’re out of luck if you want the watch. It wasn’t the best news for Fossil fans outside the U.S. either. However, there’s some good news regarding the future of Fossil’s LTE plans.

Fossil confirmed in a conversation with Digital Trends following the announcement of the Gen 5 LTE, that the company’s goal is to add more carrier support and to launch the Gen 5 LTE globally during the first six months of 2021. Additionally, it’s also working on adding the LTE connected functionality to Apple’s iOS too.

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Fossil launches the Gen 5 LTE, its first smartwatch with a cellular connection
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Fossil has launched its first LTE-enabled smartwatch at CES 2021. Based on the existing Gen 5 smartwatch, it’s specifically designed for Android phone owners on the Verizon network, where it makes use of the carrier’s Number Share option. The Fossil Gen 5 watch has been available without a 4G LTE connection since 2019, with new designs added to the range in early 2020, making this is the first major feature update for the model.

The 4G LTE connection means you will be able to make and receive phone calls and SMS, without needing to have your phone with you all the time, or to be connected to Wi-Fi. It works using an eSIM which can be set up remotely by Verizon through the Wear OS app, so you don’t even have to visit a Verizon store to get started. It uses Verizon’s Number Share plan, which links your existing telephone number to smartwatches, but does cost you $10 extra each month. The carrier uses the same system for cellular versions of the Apple Watch Series 6, and for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.

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