Suffice to say it’s been sometime since we got remotely excited about Swatch’s line of watches.  The Swatch Touch is looking mighty fine, though, boasting a simplified design with a touchscreen to boot.

Available in a variety of colors (white, black, blue, purple and red), this watch has 6 total functions: two time settings (presumably for different time zones), a date mode, chronograph, alarm and timer.  To switch between the functions, you simply place two fingers on the touchscreen and swipe in either direction.  Did we mention there is also a camo version?

You can grab one for about $135.

Save big on today’s Amazon Deal of the Day and snatch up a Timex Global Trainer Heart Rate and GPS Watch for only $99.99! Originally listed for $360, you’ll save 72% (a whopping $260.01) on this deal.

This watch is anything but normal, too! Not only does it obviously tell time, but you can get pace, speed, distance and more on your wrist, allowing you make good on that New Year’s resolution of getting into shape. The Ironman Global Trainer GPS watch from Timex features SiRFstarIII GPS technology and ANT+ compatibility, so it records your performance across several dimensions–including pace, speed, distance, and more–providing real-time data on a customizable screen. The SiRFstarIII GPS technology needs no calibration, too, making it easy to use.

It can also measure your location with altitude ascent and decent distance rates, records up to 100 location waypoints to track back and create routes, and recalls up to 50 custom routes for pace tracking. It comes in a durable, lightweight resin case (as well as a resin strap) so it can endure anything you put up against it. It’s also compatible with Windows XP or newer and with Mac OS X10.6 (Snow Leopard) or newer so that you can upload all your stats on your computer! The battery recharges when connected to USB port or to any electrical outlet with included AC adaptor

With six modes of operation including performance and multisport modes, you’re getting a tremendous deal with Amazon’s Deal of the Day, so you better act fast before it goes back to the listed price!

The cassette tape died long ago, and the CD isn’t too far behind at this point thanks to the advent and proliferation of digital music (i.e. iTunes and Napster).  As a result those items and their associated devices, such as a Walkman and CD players will be come collector items, and in turn go from antiquated to cool, much like the record player.

And that’s what makes the EOS Mixtape Watch so damn cool.  Its case is crafted from anodized black stainless steel, and if you haven’t noticed closely resembles the now defunct cassette tape.  According to its product page, both of the “discs” actually spin, while the right one displays the time. The little robot face really has not relevance, while the laser etched “60 min” is a further ode to the original blank cassette used for what else…making mixed tapes for that someone special.  Last but not least, it includes a genuine leather strap.

You can grab one for $135.

We’re not sure what happened to Fossil’s Android Watch, but until that vaporware becomes a reality you can opt for the Caller ID Watch.  It doesn’t sport the same tech or features as the aforementioned device, but at the very least you’ll be able to know who is calling your smartphone without removing it from your pocket or bag.

This wrist mounted device pairs with your phone over Bluetooth, where upon it can suck down 1,000 of your contact’s numbers, provided of course your that popular –  suffice to say, there is more than enough storage for all your caller IDs.  However, to add photos you’ll need to connect it to your computer and while we don’t know what the exact process is to add photos to each number, we do know that it can only store up to 120 photos.  Probably not enough for all your contacts, but given that most people probably only receive incoming telephone calls from not more than 10 people, it too should suffice.  As an added bonus, this watch will sound an alert when your phone strays 30 feet from you, though last we checked Bluetooth was spec’d for 20-30 meters.

Who else, but Hammacher sells this watch for $149.95.

Phosphor is doing away with those clunky watch buttons and instead has replaced them with a touchscreen.  Surprised?  We aren’t either since everything is going touch, but that isn’t to say we aren’t impressed with their latest and greatest, the  World Time Sport.

It incorporates Phosphor’s e-ink display and by simply tapping or swiping on the screen it allows you to cycle through the different modes.  You can select up to 24 times zones and display up to two of them simultaneously.  Or if that isn’t your speed, you can set the Phosphor Sport to show the time of day along with the date, or simply just show the time in extra large font.  All of this goodness is packed inside a 9.3mm thick body, which is complemented by a water and sweat resistant plastic case and a flexible silicone band available in black, orange or white.

If you get on board now, as in preorder the Phosphor’s World Time Sport, you’ll receive a $20 discount, bringing the total price to $79.  They say they plan to ship it in the first week of December, just in time for the holidays.

A few years ago LG swept us off our tech feet by introducing a phone watch in the vein of Dick Tracy.  While it was far from a revolutionary idea, it garned and endless array of press.  But eventually it faded into obscurity since the cost was prohibitive and the smartphone market has since been dominated by the Android and iOS operating systems.  Now a new contender has emerged called the I’m Watch.  They say it will ship in January, but something seems a bit fishy.  It might just be the Apple like name as well as website, but since we can’t say for sure if it’s vaporware, and the video shows off what seems to be an actual working prototype we can only assume that it is in fact real.

First things first.  The I’m Watch does not sport its own data connection.  Nope, it will piggy back off your smartphone’s data package, and despite the I’m Watch’s OS being of the Android Ilk (it’s a custom version) it will work with the iPhone.  Much like today’s smartphones you’ll be able to swipe screen to screen on the 1.54-inch 240×240 display, which looks and perhaps even feels very much like today’s iPod Nano.  Memory caps at 4GB and RAM is just a mere 64mb.  However, since the I’m Watch plays complement to your smartphone, storage shouldn’t be an issue, though we’re a bit concerned about speed given the rather limited RAM.  

Calls can be received directly on the watch as well as emails, and you can also play back music via a Bluetooth headset or the 3.5mm headphone jack.  According to the I’m Watch’s maker, the battery is good up to 48 hours without Bluetooth (cut that in half with BT turned on) and 3 hours of talk time.  Keep in mind, though, that in order to tether to your phone’s data connection Bluetooth will have to be engaged.  Unfortunately, there is no WiFi connectivity.

Nonetheless, the I’m Watch looks very polished and let’s not overlook that it’s built in Italy, unlike many of today’s consumer electronic products which are built in a giant factory in China.  Pricing starts at about $350, though you can spend a fair bit more when you purchase one of their more opulent versions, such as a version that includes a music subscription, a titanium finish or gold.

TAG Heuer’s Mikrotimer watch is a work of beauty. But it’s not this watch’s good looks that make it notable. The Mikrometer can measure up to 1/1000s of a second.

It accomplishes this feat by spinning its internals, or calibers at 500 rotations per second, or 3.6 million times per hour. It’s a dizzying number to comprehend and we can only assume that there aren’t any practical applications.

Despite the Mikrometer’s insane rotations per hour, it probably won’t keep time any better than a $50 watch. But anyone investing in one of these, just as much as any expensive watch, won’t care about that. It’s the prestige and remarkableness of a watch the derives its value. The more rare and strange, the more expensive.

Unfortunately, TAG Heuer has no immediate plans to make the Mikrometer available for purchase. So at this point it’s priceless.

The wristwatch all but made the pocket watch extinct.  But a time before, the pocket watch was the watch.  After all, it did and continues to provide a certain reserved aesthetic that just can’t be found in any of today’s wrist watches.  And lets not over look the fact, yes fact, that the chain draped from the pocket to the pants adds an allure and mystique no wristwatch could ever entail.  So were not quite sure how anyone chose between the two time pieces when the wristwatch shot to popularity.

Oakley, albeit 90 years later (the wristwatch became popular in the 1920s), has the answer to this conundrum, the Elite Full Metal Jacket Swiss Automatic Watch.  It’s engineered with a removable module that can be mounted as a turn of the century pocket watch or as the watch we know today, the wrist watch.

And while that is the mainstay of the Elite Full Metal Jacket Watch is its dual personality, Oakley hasn’t skimped on the other features.  It boasts a self winding mechanism that will keep it running for up to 46 hours, provided you’re bed ridden for that long.  And it’s not just land that will keep this baby ticking, since it can be submerged to a depth of 100 meters, where upon it will continue to vibrate at 28,000 times per hour at 4hz, whatever that means, but it sounds fancy if not accurate. The face is finished in pure sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating so it should stay scratch free through the most rugged of scenarios.  Lastly, the strap and some of the casing has been forged in titanium.

And as you’ve probably already sussed out, the Elite Full Metal Jacket Watch won’t be cheap; $8,995.  Expect it to arrive “soon.”

Man, where did summer go! We’re already in September, and Labor Day is this coming Monday, aka the official farewell to summer 2011. Wishing all readers a safe and fun holiday weekend with our weekly tech wrap up!

4. Bamboo Blackbox Cases

Made from Bamboo these eco-friendly, stylish and unique Apple laptop and iPad cases are just what you need to go back to school looking way too cool! Each case includes a leather strap engraved with the production number to make you feel even more special.

3. Necker Nymph Submarine Sea Plane

The three-person “aero submarine” is the perfect billionaire toy if you have the cash. It can dive up to 30 meters below the water’s surface and travels at the speed of up to 6 knots for about one to two hours at a time.

2. Razer’s Blade Gaming Laptop

Behold, the laptop for made especially for true gamers! The Razer’s Blade Gaming Laptop features a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 2640M Processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M with NVIDIA Optimus technology with 2GB of dedicated RAM, 320GB HDD and a built-in 60Wh battery. It’s every gamer’s dream come true!

1. Mutewatch

Don’t let its simplicity food you! The Mutewatch may appear to be just a gray, rubber strap, but underneath is a touchscreen watch with a capacitive LED display.

4. Two Chatbots Conversing

A hilarious video of what happens when two chatbots go at it! Bet you actually have conversations like this!

3. Inkling Sketch Manager by Wacom

The Inkling by Wacom allows you to digitally transcribe your notes, illustrations or just doodles in real time to your computer, using ultrasonic and infared technologies. A very cool device for designers and artistic types.

2. Slingshot Cannon

The manmade 200-lb. slingshot can destroy a small car, making for a very cool toy! Check out the video to see what type of destruction it can cause.

1. Shot By An AK-47?

Seriously, the title says it all. A must-see video!

Most of the watches we look at tend to embody all the same qualities, which is to tell time.  In other words they’re very functional, but don’t extend beyond the orthodox, which in turns means their functionality, or utilitarian value is limited.

The Mutewatch throws the above statement on its head.  While it appears to be a gray, rubber strap, it’s in fact a a touchscreen watch.  Tapping on the would be display illuminates the time.  To set the clock or alarm you just tap directly on the digits.  But unlike other watches, which generally requires you to cycle through the digits, you can tap on the top or the bottom to increase or decrease the amount.  And to erase the alarm all you need to do is “pinch” (in an Apple like fashion) the touchscreen.

But the wow factor doesn’t stop there.  The Mutewatch has a built-in vibrator which means you can set a silent alarm, allowing to be notified that your time allowance during a speech is drawing to an end.  It also sports a motion sensor, which allows you to activate the screen with a quick flip of the wrist.  So if you’re sleeping, which generally means little to no movement, the Mutewatch detects this and increases the vibration to insure you’re woken up at the set time.

The display is capacitive LED and adjusts the the intensity according to the surrounding light.  And despite the touchscreen, it’s hand washable.  You can expect battery life to last for up to 2 weeks and takes 2 hours to recharge.  It will automatically enter hibernation mode when the watch’s power draws low or detects no action after a week’s time.

The Mutewatch is available now in red, white and gray for $375.

Pops always said never do anything for just one reason.  He must have been rapping his game over at the Porsche Design shop, because their P’6520 Compass Watch embodies that exact philosophy.

On the outside, like a standard watch, it displays three arms, conveying the hour, minute and seconds. However, flipping up the face reveals a hidden liquid compass that works in both hemispheres.  If that doesn’t stroke your desire for all things opulent, you’ll surely enjoy that it utilizes Swiss automatic Sellita caliber movement, which is just another way of saying “expensive”.   Everything is encased in a titanium black PVD finish and the glass is crafted from sapphire crystal which shouldn’t scratch or fade with time.  

Price and launch date are still TBA, but chances are you’ll need to be able to afford a Porsche to justify the cost of this timepiece.

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Watches are designed to create a sense of grounding through their ability to tell, or convey time.  Hublot’s MP-02 Key of Time Watch seems to be anything but that.  The watch is finished with a black DLC coating on top of a titanium case and a rubber strap.  A “vertical tourbillon cage” displays the seconds, and three diffrent time modes that we don’t really understand their utility are at your beck and call.  

1. If you want to savour every second of the passing of time: you can slow down the speed of the watch hands, dividing time by 4, whereby 1 conventional hour is represented as quarter of an hour on the MP-02 Key of Time display.
2. If you want “real” time: select normal hand speed, to retain “standard” time, whereby one conventional hour equates to one hour on the MP-02 Key of Time.
3. If you want time to pass quicker: you can accelerate the hand speed, multiplying time by four, whereby a  conventional quarter of an hour is represented as one hour on the MP-02 Key of Time Key of Time display.

No word on a price, but expect it to be well above $10,000, if not $50,000.

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Citizen’s Eco-Drive Satellite Wave Watch can tell the time by connecting with up to 24 satellites dispersed throughout our hemisphere.  Okay, so it won’t connect with all 24 at the same time, but it chooses the closest one and sets the time, day and date. So if you travel to a new time zone, you’ll be instantly on top of the time difference, although your mind and body will still be dragging serious ass.  Too bad there isn’t an auto reset switch for us humans.

Via: Uncrate

3.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Moving Swarovski crystals, who doesn’t like that
• Genuine leather strap
• Sturdy and hefty build

Cons:

• Too much bling (the cheaper model doesn’t have crystals surrounding the bevel)
• Heavy
• Only keeps the time

Into bling? Than say hello to Phosphor’s Appear watches, originally named Reveal. What makes this time piece unique is that the face of the watch is packed with Swarovski crystals that physically move to display the time. It works by emitting an electrical pulse that generates an electromagnetic field that changes the position of the crystals. A flicking noise accompanies the movement, which can be viewed in seconds or minutes, depending on your tolerance for such a sound.

In the hand the Appear watch is a sturdy and hefty piece of kit. The model I received included a strap finished in candy apple red. Mind you it’s genuine leather, – even says so on the back – despite the shiny look.

The watch itself is relatively thick and the bevel is finished in two rows of crystals, which for some will be appealing given it’s “blingy” nature, while others, me included, while find it off putting. After all, too much of anything can become a bad thing.
Two buttons on the side allow you to manipulate the watch’s display. The top button turns the display on and off. In off mode only white crystals appear, but from an angle it’s easy to see where the time, or the moving crystals, would appear. The lower button, when held down, enters you into clock setting mode, and also switches between time and seconds mode when tapped. After a about 20 seconds in ‘seconds mode’ the watch will automatically revert to the regular clock mode, which I assume is by design to save on battery life.

There is no disputing that bling is in. Chances are if you’re considering buying this watch you’re into to that type of look. So what I think it terms of aesthetics is moot. While the feature set is very limited of the Appear watch, it exudes a massive wow and cool factor that even the most decked out hip hop artists and media moguls will have a hard time eclipsing.

You can buy the Phosphor Appear watch direct starting at $199.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Solid build & very comfortable
• Heart Rate Monitor is exceptional
• Depth of analysis is staggering

Cons:

• Overly difficult interface
• Buttons press to easily
• Can get pricey

If you’re the type of training athlete that obsesses over statistics and the finest of details, than the Suunto t3d is for you.  Capable of compiling all of your training minutia and interacting with several Suunto peripherals, the t3d is quite the comprehensive beast.  While the t3d might be best suited for cardio related activities, I found it to be a bit troublesome when wearing gloves or engaging in any sort of wrist movement because the buttons were easily pressed when I didn’t want them to.

Build, Feel, & Aesthetic:

The watch is relatively lightweight and comforts the contours of my girl wrist with ease.  I wore the t3d across a variety sporting activities and never felt like its presence was a nuisance.  Beyond the overly sensitive buttons, the face of the watch was ultra resilient when it came to smashing into things and I never felt like I had to “watch” out for it.  As far as looks goes, the t3d gives the impression of a high end sports watch without the need for any undue flair or peacocking.  The band is comprised of your familiar sports resin, and the clasp works really well with fastening the strap and removing the watch with a quickness.  To be noted, battery removal is also very simple thanks for the hatch like mini manhole cover that easily unscrews with the help of a nickel.

Modes & Use:

While the t3d has a bevy of modes to help you reach your training targets, by far the most impressive aspect was the real time heart monitoring.  The t3d syncs directly to the accompanied HRM belt and the results are swift and quite pleasing.  The band fits directly around your solarplexis and can be adjusted to fit your measurements accordingly.  I tested the real time accuracy during football sessions on the beach and playing basketball at the park.  The response time was great and it really helped let me know how hard I was working.

Unless your are a real athlete that demands a absurd amount of training data, you may find the t3 to be a bit daunting.  The average person that exercises regularly won’t even need all that the t3 offers.  Add on the companion website MovesCount and you’ll be blown away by how much detail is involved in nearly every aspect of a real athlete’s training regimen (see pic).

My biggest gripe with the t3 is the navigation interface.  It’s just not all that intuitive and somewhat cumbersome.  You really have to learn it to make it work for you.  I’ve tried learning it and I still got confused and couldn’t get to where I needed to go when I needed to get there. Some people may be OK with the trial and error like schematic but I just got annoyed.

Conclusion:

While this watch may be a tad over indulgent for the average exerciser, the t3d is the most comprehensive training watch I have ever seen.  If you’re looking for a watch to really dive into, I’d easily suggest the t3d.  If you are looking for a more clearly defined sports watch without the maze of menus I’d look elsewhere.  The MovesCount companion website is quite detailed and implements the whole community and social media aspect to your training, which really adds to the completeness of the package and should certainly not be overlooked.  Depending on how many peripherals you want to add into the mix, the price could get up there.  The MoveStick wireless data transfer stick is alone around  $70!  Add in the price of the t3d and you’re looking at around $200.  But what’s really the price of physical perfection?

Buy the Suunto t3d here for $114!

I’ve never been one for Nike+, the previously iPod-specific application that tracks running and exercise statistics. That may be because I’m not a runner, never have been, and probably will never be. It could also be because I don’t really want to know how long or how far I actually ran. Sometimes it’s better not knowing.

Nike’s Just Do It motto completely disagrees, and thus the SportWatch GPS. It’s an atypical watch with a more sophisticated monochrome display than your typical $5 watch. No more than 3 buttons and a gesture sensor control the SportWatch, which are intended to scroll through the minimalist menus or activate the GPS.

I played around with the SportWatch, and as someone who gave up wearing watches years ago (I prefer pocket watches…but more reasonably use a cellphone), I can appreciate the design. It’s lightweight though with a large head. The backlight is enabled by taping on the front, one of the gestures. Navigating the menus is an absolute no-brainer. One button scrolls down, another up, and the last is colored green and selects the highlighted option.

Nike representatives assured me that, thanks to their collaboration with TomTom, who supplies the GPS data for the SportWatch, it’s accurate within several feet. That means no tricking it like the iPod’s pedometer. It also means more options for exercise, such as setting up timed laps for runs around specific paths and recording best times. The little things, like a congratulatory note when completing a run, are nice touches.

What I don’t like, but don’t see a realistic way around, is the need to connect the SportWatch to a computer. This is required for two reasons: first, to download the data off the watch to Nike’s website for your personalized data to be stored and viewable to you. Second, the SportWatch uses a small lithium-ion battery and must be recharged, depending on your usage, weekly. With zero running, I’m told that it’ll last up to two months, but that the GPS drains the battery and if you run three times a week, the battery should be charged once weekly. The USB connector is tucked safely away in the strap.

The SportWatch works with other Nike+ accessories, like the heart monitor and shoe sensors, but it also works fine as a standalone device. Nike expects to launch on April 1st, selling specifically through their online store, as well as TomTom’s. A larger retail release will start July 1st. There is no price set for the Nike SportWatch GPS yet.

You’ve never seen a watch like this one, because a watch like this has never been attempted before.

Partly because the technology behind the design would have been impossible just a few years ago, but even putting that concern aside, the concept itself is so different from what we’re used to thinking of when we think wristwatch, that it actually carries all the merit – technology be damned.

“A storm can be a violent, destructive natural catastrophe. But at the centre of a swirling storm is a core of calm and quiet – the “eye of the storm.” This watch design was inspired by the eye of the storm. At its centre is a void. The time moves around the void.”

That’s how Yiran Qian, designer of the ‘Eye of the storm’ watch, sees the inspiration behind it. The balance between the minimalistic, fully black shape, and the shocking but calming void at its center does indeed remind of a storm, and it won him the ‘design concept 2010’ red dot award. It also makes one wonder how contemplating a naturally violent and overpowering event would culminate in such peaceful design.

But how does it actually display time? A button, when pressed, illuminates the frame – which in this case is the whole body of the watch – with two lines. Short and stocky for the hour hand, long and thin for the minute line.

Elegant, beautiful, and saves a lot of material and labor.

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For the fashion-conscious readers out there, the Kenneth Cole Touchscreen watch is a great example of technology-influenced style. Its minimalist design features one button on its stainless steel case — the rest of the options are controlled by touch. On the screen, wearers can choose from 32 world clocks, and the date can be displayed, as well as an electro-luminescent backlight. It’s also water resistant. Finally, a black enamel link band is optional for $25 dollars more.

The Kenneth Cole Touchscreen Watch is available now for $150.

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There’s no way in hell you’d ever get me to drop $141,000 on a watch, but that’s exactly how much Cabestan is asking for their Nostromo watch.  I’m no watch maker, so I’m a bit stretched to tell you what the hell is going on here, but I can guarantee the excessive presence of opulence.

What sounds really neat is the nocturnal transformation.  And don’t confuse that phrase with adolescent teen boys.  The Nostromo watch is discretely covered with a black phosphorescent coating that will illuminate the mechanisms with a subtle yellow-green glow of light that is said to flow around the wheels, bridges, drums and drive shafts.  All this and a rubber band. Yeah, rubber…seriously.

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