smartwatch

DOJ Lambasts Apple for Infringing on iMessage-on-Android Integration with Beeper

Beeper Mini Ui
Beeper gave up on its mission after Apple blocked the app’s efforts late last year. Each time Beeper issued workarounds and fixes to keep the service afloat, Apple knocked them down one by one. “Recently, Apple blocked a third-party developer from fixing the broken cross-platform messaging experience in Apple Messages and providing end-to-end encryption for messages between Apple Messages and Android users,” the DOJ complaint reads. When Apple launched the Apple Watch the following year, it began limiting third-party access to new and improved APIs for smartwatch functionality. The DOJ notes that Apple prevents iPhone users from responding to notifications using a third-party smartwatch.

“An Uncertain Shift: Lesser-Known Brands Shake Up India’s Smartwatch Market”

Smartwatch India
India’s smartwatch market in flux as unknown brands challenge heavyweights The world's biggest smartwatch market has seen a deluge of new devices in the past few monthsIndia’s smartwatch market has transformed, seemingly overnight. Hong Kong-based market analyst firm Counterpoint Research has observed the number of unknown brands in the Indian smartwatch market has grown from 78 in 2021 to 128 in 2023. Declining pricesThe growth of unknown brands in the Indian smartwatch market has not yet significantly impacted all the local firms dominating the market. Last year, smartwatch brands boAt and Noise entered the smart ring market in India to diversify their product catalog. That said, market analysts like IDC’s Sharma predicts the Indian smartwatch market will see only single-digit growth this year due to stiff competition from unknown brands and dropping ASPs.

“Unveiling the Mystery: OnePlus’ Three-Year Awaited Launch of a New Smartwatch”

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Why OnePlus waited three years to release a new smartwatch A OnePlus exec discusses how the company is squeezing 100 hours out of the Watch 2OnePlus’ second smartwatch captured media interest this week, courtesy of its stated 100 hours of battery life. If the device does its job correctly, users won’t notice the shift, beyond the extra battery life it brings. The OnePlus Watch 2 is also notable for the three-year gap between releases. This morning, ahead of the device’s official unveiling, I sat down with Tuomas Lampen, OnePlus Europe’s head of strategy on a pair of folding chairs outside Google’s MWC booth. In terms of functionality, the first OnePlus Watch more closely resembled pre-Apple Watch smartwatches.

“Maximizing Battery Life: The Power of Dual Chips and Wear OS Tweaks in the OnePlus Watch 2”

Lifestyle 4
Officially unveiled this morning at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona after a few months of teases, the OnePlus Watch 2 does get some points for originality. Battery continues to be the lowest hanging fruit in the smartwatch world. Like the Apple Watch, OnePlus’ Watch 2 has a Power Saving Mode. The company notes,WearOS apps and the Always On Display will not work when the device is in Power Saving Mode. Other features such as calling, messaging, and exercise modes will still work on Power Saving Mode however some of their more power intensive functions will be limited to preserve battery life, eg.

life “After a Three-Year Break, OnePlus Improves Smartwatch Battery Life”

Oneplus 2
All smartwatches should offer multiple days of battery life, full stop. According to a blog post, the company took a “three-year hiatus and a reflective pause following the OnePlus Watch 1.”Battery is precisely the sort of thing OnePlus needs to lean into. That said, it doesn’t take hours of direct conversations with users to know that battery life is paramount on smartwatches. Perhaps leaning into battery life in a meaningful way will improve its fortunes for round two. That said, anything that re-centralizes the importance of better battery life is probably a net positive for the category.

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