Razer Project Linda hands-on: Your Razer Phone becomes the brain of your laptop

As our phones get more and more powerful, an increasing number of people have started ditching their laptops. While there are still a few things you can only do on a dedicated computer, mobile phones have gotten to the point where we can do most of our daily tasks on them. Still, a full keyboard a bigger screen are really nice, and Razer is looking to mix two of their most popular products together to make that happen.

Razer’s Project Linda is essentially a Razer Blade Stealth with a Razer Phone replacing the trackpad and the brains of the laptop. It slots in with a simple USB Type-C connection, which immediately shifts the interface to the 13.3″ display once the connection is made. While the unit we looked at just used a 1080p 60 Hz display with no touch capacity, Razer wants the final chassis to allow for 1440p 120 Hz, and also include a touch screen. This way you’ll be able to interact with your laptop in a very similar way you would with your phone, and should get an overall similar experience.

You might think it would be inconvenient to have your phone slotted into a laptop, but you can pretty much do everything you would do on your phone on this thing. There is an array of microphones at the top of the unit so you can do high resolution audio calls, and a webcam in case you want to use something like Skype or Google Duo.

The chassis also acts as a battery bank for your handset. It’s got 53.6 Watt-hours of capacity standard, and Razer says this can charge your phone from 0 to 100% a full three times. Because of this, you’ll actually be tempted to keep your phone in the laptop for longer, as it can keep your phone topped off for when you need to take it out and hit the road.

The laptop is powered through a USB Type-C port, and also includes one USB Type-A port and a headphone jack for peripheral attachment. This way you’ll be able to use a mouse with your phone, which actually worked quite well in our demo, and would probably help you get ahead in all your competitive mobile games.

Razer didn’t announce a price point or release date for Project Linda, but I do hope that it actually launches at some point, since it’s one of the more interesting concepts we’ve seen out of the company.

What do you think of the concept? Make sure you stay tuned to Android Authority to get updates as they come, and leave all your hot takes in the comments section below.

Skagen has just announced the most beautiful Android Wear smartwatch (Video)

Skagen is perhaps most well known for its beautiful analog watches, and over time those watches have been getting smarter. The company now has a wide variety of hybrid smartwatches available, including the wonderful Jorn Hybrid that we reviewed back in July.

If you’ve been looking for a Skagen-made smartwatch with a touchscreen display, today’s your lucky day. The company has just taken the wraps off its very first touchscreen smartwatch, the Skagen Falster.

Skagen really nailed the design of the Falster.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Falster is its minimalist, modern design. It features a fully-round display, very little bezel, a single dial on the right side, and interchangeable straps.

Skagen really nailed the design of the Falster. This is one of the best looking smartwatches we’ve ever seen.

The Falster runs Android Wear, which means it’s compatible with both Android and iOS devices. This means you’ll have access to voice commands with Google Assistant, all the smartphone notifications you can think of, customizable watch faces (the pre-loaded ones are great, by the way), and music control on your wrist. It’s also powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor. During our hands-on time with the watch at CES 2018, we were blown away by how snappy the Falster navigated through the Android Wear interface.

The Falster is launching in January 2018 for $275-$295. Considering how well designed this smartwatch is, paired with the fluidity of the software, this may be in the running for one of the best Android Wear devices of 2018.

So, who’s buying?

What happens when Detroit and Silicon Valley meet? Automotive-grade magic

Tesla turned the automotive industry on its ear in 2014 with the push of a button, updating several thousand cars overnight as they sat parked in driveways and garage ports around the country. Electric cars like Tesla’s can do this thanks to a much simpler infrastructure, and a willingness to take bold risks.

“It’s probably one of the biggest opportunities on the face of the planet.”

Four years later, you can count on one hand the number of car companies that are even close to similar capabilities: Ford upgraded its infotainment system remotely last year, a related technology on a far-less-important scale. GM plans over-the-air (OTA) updates for 2020.

Until now.

On Tuesday at CES 2018, Hyundai and Cisco revealed a new technology road map to completely reinvent in-vehicle networking, bringing fast and reliable Ethernet connectivity, the Automotive Linux platform, and the ability to roll out new features throughout the vehicle at the push of a button. Both companies say the technology paves the way for autonomous driving in the future. Similar collaborations between technology and automotive companies are being announced throughout the technology show – and it’s heralding an opportunity that will transform the car as we know it.

“It’s probably one of the biggest opportunities on the face of the planet,” James Peters, Connected Car vice president for Cisco, told Digital Trends. “Think about merging Silicon Valley and Detroit. It’d be a game changer for the automotive industry.”

Meet the hyperconnected car

The first fruits of are the new platform for “the next generation of hyperconnected car” that the two companies have unveiled. It replaces some of the complex and weighty spaghetti mess of wires found in current vehicles (something called a CAN, or Controller Area Network) with a vastly simpler one based around 1-Gbps Ethernet, the same stuff you plug into your computer or your router. Replacing wires isn’t just small potatoes. The miles of wiring in a car’s wiring harness adds not just complexity and cost but also weight, as much as a hundred pounds. One company Cisco spoke with thought it might be able to add a mile per gallon to fuel economy stats with the system.

It’s the first step toward throwing out the legacy mess of wires in most cars and moving them toward the simpler system in vehicles like Tesla’s – but cleanup and simplicity aren’t the goals here.

“The main purpose is not to reduce the weight of the wiring harness itself. That’s a byproduct. The main purpose is to get those automobiles ready for new services in the future,” explained Seung-ho Hwang, executive vice president and head of Hyundai Motor Group’s Auto Intelligence Business Department.

Buy the hyperconnected car Hyundai’s Genesis brand will roll out in late 2019, and it won’t be able to patch the brakes if a flaw is found in a controller, nor will it add plaid mode (or even ludicrous mode). But it will make video feeds from the backup cameras and blind-spot monitoring cameras more accessible to the driver. It will also offer OTA updates to the infotainment system, and down the road – well, the potential is enormous. Think of it as future-proofing.

Future proofing (while keeping it secure)

“It’s preparation for the connected car. Connected-car services — remote maintenance, diagnosis, and even repair, and more intelligent navigation,” Hwang told Digital Trends. Many of those services rely not on bandwidth in the car but out of the car, he said, and updating the vehicle is necessary nonetheless. To that end, Cisco has built a central gateway for the car, just like your router in essence, which connects to the legacy networks in your car and to the “head unit,” auto-speak for the infotainment system on your dash.

Taking a gamble that may brick 8 million vehicles is something Hyundai is reluctant to do.

“You’ve got a lot of low-speed, low-security networks in cars today. Most of them are closed networks,” Peters explained. Cisco wants to replace that with modern, secure networking based on the tools it has spent decades building and honing. And because of that expertise, and software that connects to some of the legacy networking, Cisco can update, say, the backup camera if need be.

“We’re able to open up a connection to a camera, download some new software, and then close it up again,” Peters said. Just like Tesla’s vehicles can. Cisco also brings decades of security expertise, and the new network is no different, offering multilayer security: link-layer encryption, prescriptive white lists, firewalling, and other safety mumbo jumbo.

So it’ll be just like Tesla, right? Well … sort of.

While updating a few thousand or even tens of thousands of Teslas is risky, taking a gamble that may brick 8 million vehicles is something Hyundai is more reluctant to do. So Hyundai will start with convenience features, Hwang explained, such as infotainment system updates. Safety updates will be more serious. And safety is baked into the very design of the car, explained Luc Donckerwolke, executive vice president of Hyundai Design Center.

“The fact that all electronic devices can hear – are hearing  — everything we say, and all the devices are able to see us, hear us, and interact with us,” Donckerwolke said. “We have to think about all that as designer … it’s a question we have to address.”

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Digital Storm packs plenty of Nvidia GTX punch in its tiny Project Spark PC

Digital Storm revealed a new miniature gaming desktop PC dubbed as Project Spark during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It’s based on the Micro STX platform, meaning it only measures a mere 12 inches in height. But that small size doesn’t mean Project Spark is short in performance, as it’s capable of packing up to an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to a GeForce GTX 1080 discrete chip, and up to four storage drives. The TARDIS it’s not, but there’s enough room inside for a few other goodies as well. 

The secret behind Project Spark is the motherboard. We suspect it is the same one used in the updated Z370 DeskMini GTX desktop manufactured by ASRock making its debut at CES 2018 as well. The board is roughly 5 by 7 inches in size, fitting between solutions found in NUCs, and those in standard Mini ITX systems. Outside their compact size, another standout feature on Micro STX boards is a slot for Mobile PCI Express Modules (MXM). 

This connector is typically provided in notebooks with discrete graphics chips. Nvidia spearheaded a movement to create a standard that would make upgrading the graphics easy for laptop owners so they weren’t forced to purchase a new device. These GPU modules simply plug in and out of the MXM slot, and are used in many laptops on the market today including Alienware-branded laptops manufactured by Dell, and GT and GX series laptops from MSI. 

Given Project Spark is a compact desktop form factor, having the MXM compatibility is a good thing. According to Digital Storm, you can upgrade the processor, memory, and storage options in the upcoming PC in addition to swapping out graphics modules. Here’s what you’ll find on the Project Spark menu: 

Processor: 

Up to Intel Core i7-8700K 

Chipset: 

Intel Z370 

Graphics: 

Up to GeForce GTX 1080 

Memory: 

Up to 32GB DDR4 @ 2,666MHz 

Storage: 

3x M.2 NVMe SSDs
*Up to 500GB Samsung 960 Pro each
1x SATA SSD
*Up to 2TB Samsung 850 Evo 

Connectivity: 

TBD 

Ports: 

TBD 

Power supply: 

TBD 

Dimensions: 

6 (L) x 4 x 12 (H) inches 

Weight: 

TBD 

Release date: 

Q2 2018 

Starting price: 

$1,299 

 According to Digital Storm, the starting configuration is based on the GeForce GTX 1060 module. The model on display at CES 2018 will be packed with everything you can cram into the compact system, including the Core i7-8700K chip, the GTX 1080, 32GB of system memory, three 500GB M.2 NVMe SSDs from Samsung, and the 2TB Samsung SATA-based solid-state drive. 

“We’ve always wanted to design and build a PC that raises the bar in terms of performance-per-square-inch and cooling,”Harjit Chana, Digital Storm’s founder, said in a statement. “Advances in motherboard design have finally allowed us to make this goal a reality for our customers.” 

To put its size in perspective, check out how Project Spark compares with Digital Storm’s other mid-tower and small form factor gaming PCs: 

Height(in inches) 

Length(in inches) 

Width(in inches) 

Velox 

22 

20 

9 

Slade 

21 

18 

10 

Lumos 

20 

19 

9 

Bolt 

20 

16 

6 

Vanquish 

18 

17 

9 

Spark 

12 

6 

4 

 Digital Storm’s Project Spark will be highly customizable when it goes live in the second quarter of 2018. 

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Need help? ZTE’s safety wearable contacts first responders with touch of a button

Chinese smartphone manufacturer ZTE is partnering up with Qualcomm and Wearsafe to create a new personal safety wearable, the companies announced at CES. ZTE describes the device as “a discrete wearable device that is designed to connect the consumer to third parties such as first responders, monitoring companies, and family almost instantly through the push of a button.”

There’s no device yet, but the wearable will be one of a growing number of always-connected mobile personal emergency response system solutions for consumers.

Taking advantage of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 1100 platform frequently used in fitness trackers and other wearables, ZTE’s wearable will feature GPS tracking and LTE connectivity. Since the wearable will use the Snapdragon Wear 1100 chip, it should offer an extended battery life as well. We do know the device will have global band support, meaning you should be able to use the device anywhere there is a signal.

The device will rely on Wearsafe’s software, which allows wearers to use a series of taps to summon emergency assistance.  The service is subscription-based and costs from $5 to 7 a month. While ZTE’s wearable will likely use a similar subscription model, we don’t know if pricing will be the same because the new wearable will use LTE service to operate.

While Wearsafe provides a personal safety device called Tag, the company tells Digital Trends that the wearable created with ZTE and Qualcomm will be a little different. Wearsafe Tag requires the user’s phone to be within 200 feet to operate, but the new wearable will have be able to transmit information without a phone close by. This will make the device a nice option for users who don’t want to carry a smartphone when exercising or in situations where it may not be safe to pull out your smartphone. Since the forthcoming wearable will use a Qualcomm chip, it will likely be rechargeable, as opposed to the Tag, which uses a coin cell battery.

ZTE’s device will join a number of wearables on the market aimed at keeping people safe. While many of theses devices, like the Revolar, provide a similar service, ZTE’s anticipated wearable is the first we’ve seen that contacts emergency response, provides your exact location, and does not require a mobile device to be nearby.

ZTE has yet to provide specifics on the wearable, but we will update the story when it does. Expect to see the device in the U.S. first, with a global rollout to follow.

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Razer unveils Hyperflux wireless mouse and Nommo speaker line for gamers

Gaming specialist Razer has unveiled two new products in its range of high-end PC accessories at CES 2018. The Mamba Hyperflux is a truly wireless gaming mouse, while the Nommo speaker line will offer top-tier audio to complement the visuals on screen.

Razer’s new Hyperflux Wireless Power Technology allows compatible mouse mats to transfer power to a paired mouse without the need for any wires connecting the two. The mat creates a magnetic field that supplies power to the mouse directly, rather than using a bulky battery like other attempts at this kind of device. The end result is a wireless mouse that’s comparable in terms of weight to wired mice offering convenience and comfort to dedicated gamers.

While other companies have attempted to do wireless charging for mice, they have been unable to achieve true wireless power as their mice still need a battery to be charged,” said Razer co-founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “HyperFlux Wireless Power Technology is a game changer in the world of wireless gaming.”

The Mamba Hyperflux is also outfitted with Razer’s Adaptive Frequency Technology, which continuously scans for the strongest possible signal in the 2.4GHz band in order to maintain a stable connection. The mouse will be available in the first quarter of 2018, and will be bundled with the Firefly Hyperflux mousemat at $250.

Meanwhile, the new Nommo line is set to give gamers a couple of appealing options when it comes to high-end audio equipment. The range has been designed with accurate audio positioning in mind, and will make it easier to accurately track noises in the environment while in-game.

The Nommo is described as an “everyday” 2.0 speaker system that utilizes Custom Woven Glass Fiber 3-inch drivers to deliver a clear, crisp sound, with elongated rear-firing bass ports that deliver bass without distortion. A Chroma variant will also be available, with USB connectivity and a built-in digital-to-analog converter.

The Nommo Pro is a THX-certified 2.1 speaker system that’s a cut above the standard edition. It can simulate Dolby 5.1 surround sound, and features USB, Bluetooth, and optical connectivity options, as well as a 3.5-millimeter jack.

Nommo will cost $100, Nommo Chroma will cost $150, and Nommo Pro is priced at $500. The standard models are available now via Razer’s online store, with the Pro model set to follow at a later time.

Hyperflux Mamba

Hyperflux Mamba and Firefly

Nommo

Nommo

Nommo Pro Chroma

Nommo Pro

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The Misfit Path is Misfit’s smallest hybrid smartwatch yet

Misfit’s latest addition to its line of watches is the Misfit Path, which the company announced at CES 2018, and it’s unique because the timepiece is the company’s smallest hybrid smartwatch yet.

Using a 3-axis accelerometer, the Misfit Path tracks steps taken, calories burned, the distance traveled, and sleep duration. With its connected app, you’re also able to receive calls, texts, emails, and various app notifications straight to the watch.

Similar to the Skagen Signatur T-Bar hybrid smartwatch we had a chance to test out, you can set each number on the watch to a specific contact or app. When you receive a notification, your watch alerts you by vibrating and the watch hands go to the specific number — between 1 and 12 — that you assigned.

Other features include the ability to set a second time zone, customize vibration alarms, create movement reminders, and update the date and time. Using Path’s smart button feature, you can call your phone when you can’t find it, control the music, take photos, and connect it to other smart devices.

Made of stainless steel with a matte finish, Misfit Path is a more chic and discreet alternative to its predecessors. Available in four soft color variants — stainless steel, rose tone, gold tone, and stainless steel with gold tone accent —  its silicon sport straps are interchangeable with Mistfit’s 16mm watch straps.

Misfit is also no stranger to hybrid smartwatches — with a few already on the market. In November, Misfit released the Misfit Command hybrid smartwatch with a larger watch face and more traditional look. The Path will certainly appeal to a certain demographic that prefer small watches.

Prior to the Command, the company launched the Misfit Phase in October 2016. The hybrid smartwatch has a similar, fashionable look to Misfit’s Path but includes a larger case size and darker colorways.

The Misfit Path is swim-proof and water-resistant up to 50 meters. It also includes a replaceable coin cell battery that lasts up to six months, which means you won’t have to worry about charging it.

You’ll be able to purchase a Misfit Path this spring, and the hybrid smartwatch will be available on Misfit’s website for $150.

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The Falster is Skagen’s first touchscreen smartwatch, and it runs Android Wear

Skagen is known for its simple watch designs that still make a statement on the wrist. While the company has a line of hybrid smartwatches, it had yet to offer a full touchscreen smartwatch alternative. At CES 2018, the fashion brand debuted the Falster, a smartwatch powered by Android Wear.

On the outside, the Falster features a fully-round touchscreen and a 42mm stainless steel case. Under the hood — as with almost all Android Wear smartwatches — the watch is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor.

While the dial is black on all of the color variants, you can choose between a silver, rose gold, or black case. Depending on the case color you choose, the smartwatch will include either a mesh or leather strap. Since they’re interchangeable, you can always switch the combinations to your liking.

The watch runs Android Wear 2.0 — Google’s latest version of the Android Wear operating system. By connecting your smartphone to your watch via Bluetooth and allowing it to wirelessly sync, you will be able to access notifications like incoming calls, texts, along with emails straight from the watch.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Other features include activity tracking, music control through third-party apps such as Google Play, and voice commands via Google Assistant. For those who travel to destinations in different time zones, the automatic accuracy feature will adjust your smartwatch accordingly. There’s no Skagen-specific app yet, but the brand told Digital Trends a micro-app may be added later.

Skagen incorporated its minimalist design into the interface of the watch as well. With its OLED screen and a lineup of OLED watch faces, the Falster emphasize a battery-efficient design. Using the all-black background on your watch’s default screen can save up to 20 percent of energy over lit pixels. The screen will be always-on by default, but turning it off will save even more battery life.

As for charging the device, it comes with a wireless charging puck that magnetically connects to the smartwatch.

While the operating system is functional with iOS 9.0 and beyond, it’s important to note your capabilities with the iPhone are limited. As with an Android device, you have to download the Android Wear app — but will have to keep running it in the background  to ensure the smartwatch is still connected. With an iPhone, you will still be able to see almost all your notifications but you won’t be able to answer almost all of them. For instance, iMessage and SMS messages will show up but you won’t be able to reply. But you should be able to answer emails if you have a Gmail account, specifically.

The Skagen Falster Smartwatch officially goes on sale on January 25, and it can be purchased through Skagen’s website as well as its retail locations. The smartwatch will cost you $275 for the black case with a brown or black leather watch strap, and $295 for the rose gold or silver cases with matching mesh watch straps.

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Razer Project Linda Preview

Project Linda wants to turn your Razer Phone into a laptop, but it’s very much a prototype.

Razer surprised smartphone fans by releasing its own gaming-focused phone this year. It focused on powerful hardware and debuted a 120Hz display, making it a unique option for Android fans. Out of nowhere, Razer has become a player in the smartphone space.

The phone’s successor hasn’t even been hinted at, but Razer has found a way to take its phone and spin it into a weird, exciting new idea with a prototype project its calling ‘Project Linda.’ What is it? Put simply, the company wants its Razer Phone to also be your laptop.

That’s not a new concept. Asus debuted its similar PadFone three years ago, and there’s a variety of third-party docks on the market. What sets Project Linda apart from these is how the Razer Phone is used. It becomes the laptop’s touchpad. If you’re thinking that means the touchpad is also a 5.7-inch, 2,560 x 1,440, 120Hz display – you’re right. And Razer intends it to be used exactly as that.

A touchpad that’s also a touchscreen sounds intriguing, but what would you actually use it for?

If you’re finding this hard to imagine, we don’t blame you. A touchpad that’s also a touchscreen sounds intriguing – it’s a similar idea to the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar, only bigger – but what would you use it for?

That’s a good question, and one Razer had some trouble answering. We used the Project Linda prototype to play a game of Vainglory, edit a photo, and navigate Android’s interface. It worked as a touchpad in all cases, but none of the demos made good use of the Razer Phone’s screen. It remained dim throughout, usable as a touchpad, but it didn’t display useful information. Razer did have one demo machine playing a video of what it hopes the feature would look like when complete, and we liked what we saw – but could that become reality? No one can say, including Razer.

We can understand why. Project Linda requires developer support to function, yet it’s a prototype, built deep in Razer’s R&D labs. Still, we hoped to see at least one knockout, interactive demo that proved its use – and we didn’t.

What about the rest of it?

Project Linda’s unusual use of a phone’s touchscreen is the headline feature, but the dock it attaches to is worth discussion. You can dock or detach the phone with the press of a button, which causes a USB-C port to appear and connect to the Razer Phone. It’s a neat piece of engineering that comes complete with a cool mechanical whir.

Matt Smith/Digital Trends

The laptop dock looks great. It’s basically a Razer Blade with the internals stripped out, except for a small battery. It offers a slick black look, thin design, pleasant keyboard, and Chroma backlighting. In these respects, at least, it’s the best Android laptop dock we’ve seen.

We left our time with Razer’s Project Linda feeling equal parts interest and bewilderment. It’s an eye-catching demo, no doubt, and the idea seems fun. Yet we have a hard time imaging how we’d use it. This is an idea that’s never been tried, so there’s no prior examples of it working in the real world.

Whatever you think of the idea, you shouldn’t expect to see it for sale soon. Razer has a long history of introducing concepts, like last year’s Project Valerie and 2014’s Project Christine. These rarely translate literally to a product you can buy, but they do become features on future Razer devices.

If we had to bet – and CES is held in Vegas, so we do – we’d say this will lead to a new touchpad/screen for the Razer Blade. The company in fact had a Blade model that used a touchscreen as a touchpad, but it was small, and quickly dropped from future models. Perhaps the lessons learned from Project Linda can help Razer perfect a bigger, better version of that concept.

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Kate Spade’s smartwatch for women shuns tired old ‘shrink it and pink it’ style

“There’s a viewpoint in the technology space that all you have to do to make a product for women is, ‘shrink it and pink it,” Kate Spade executive vice president and chief marketing officer Mary Beech told Digital Trends, “and we didn’t want to approach it that way.”

The lifestyle brand has announced its first Android Wear smartwatch, the Kate Spade Scallop, and like DKNY recently, it definitely hasn’t followed that lazy, well-trodden path. Instead, it has made beautiful piece of jewelry, that not only complement’s the wearer’s lifestyle, but the rest of the Kate Spade range as well.

The Scallop follows a selection of hybrid smartwatches from Kate Spade, and it’s the wide-range of functionality offered by Android Wear that attracted it to go ahead with the project. Beech continued: “We’re excited about the function. We’ve always approached our products this way. Our first bag was a perfect blend of design and utmost functionality, and so when it came to smartwatches, we wanted a package that fitted her look and lifestyle, and that also helped manage her busy life.”

Iconic design elements, and custom watch faces

At the center of the watch is a 1.9-inch touchscreen with a 390 x 390 pixel resolution, showing Android Wear 2.0, and powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor. Like other smartwatches, it will deliver notifications from a Bluetooth connected smartphone, run apps, count steps and calories, play music, and allow you to use Google Assistant on your wrist. There are two body colors available — rose gold and yellow gold — along with three different strap styles.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Design is an important part of the watch, and it was, “important to make a product that fitted into the Kate Spade range,” Beech said. “When you look at the watch with the screen off, it’s so Kate Spade. The iconic scallop design is on the top ring, there is a spade insignia on the crown, and the metal colors are the current best sellers throughout the rest of the Kate Spade range.” The bracelet colors and leather from the bands are also shared with other Kate Spade designs, resulting in a cohesive, attractive look.

There are also several custom watches faces. “The animated ones are lots of fun,” Beech told us, describing faces with taxi cabs, falling daisy petals, and winking eyes. They’re also part of Kate Spade’s commitment to giving the watch an up-to-date look, and it will deliver new faces every quarter, with a popular monogram face coming next. In addition to these, the Scallop watch has a Choose Your Look custom watch face. Here, wearers can create a watch face that matches their bag, jewelry, and outfit. “It’s fun, useful, and we’re really excited about it,” Beech enthused. Apart from the watch face updates, in the future the company will look at expanding the range of bands.

Make life easier

True wearables designed for women are still a rarity, with those that fit into the accepted stereotype of glittery and pink being prevalent. This was on the company’s mind during the watch’s development. Beech said, “We didn’t want a new product to be ‘me too.’ Making a smartwatch felt natural, but the older bulkier designs didn’t feel right, so when the tech caught up and allowed us to have the slimmer case we felt it was the right time to bring out a smartwatch.” The idea was to combine features usually seen in multiple devices into one watch. “Making women’s lives easier is one of our favorite things to do,” said Beech.

The Kate Spade Scallop smartwatch is available to pre-order from January 9, with sales beginning online and in stores on February 5. The two styles with leather straps will cost $295, and the model with the rose gold bracelet strap will be $325.

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