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Return of the TV Wristwatch
An anonymous reader writes "20 years after the Seiko TV watch, another Asian firm has given it another go. The Globe and Mail in Canada got their hands on the NHJ TV Watch and have posted a review. The writer thinks it's still just way too huge to be a watch but is still impressed."
The Seiko Wristwatch TV wasn't a watch and it wasn't just a "thing" on your wrist. It had a breakout box that carried audio and power that fit on your belt. The actual wrist part of the device was MUCH smaller than this device (at least as it appears in the picture)
I got one of the Seiko's off eBay as a novelty item not too long ago. I actually would like it if someone did the same with the breakout box also being an iPod like MP3 player. I'd rather have as small a device as possible on my wrist and have it tell time, if I want higher functions - connect the breakout box.
Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
Fabienne: Whose watch is this?
Butch: It's a TV, baby.
Fabienne: Whose TV is this?
Butch: It's Zed's.
Fabienne: Who's Zed?
Butch: Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead.
I really don't understand what it is with geeks and these big ugly plastic watches! Personally I just like a very simple analog wristwatch.
"Madness is something rare in individuals - but in groups, parties, peoples, ages it is the rule." -- Nietzsche
The Seiko thing is a pretty amazing piece of engineering for the time, IMO. But who would want to sit there staring at their wrist for more then a few seconds. I mean, after a couple minutes wouldn't your arm get tired?
Why not make some "eyephones", not to be so gibsonesq, but wouldn't a small monitor suspended a few inches from your face make a lot more sense for 'ultraportable' TV?
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
these have been available for a while now from Dynamism. they're cheaper than i would have thought at $219. probably the cheapest item dynamism carries...
It looks just like their wristband gadgets
Cell phones have become the piece of technology that everyone wants to show their friends now. A lot of people even use them as a replacement for their watches. There may be a market for cell phone TV's, but I can't see anybody buying this.
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
The writer of the review is quite the humorist. For instance:
Sacrificing my public image in the name of science, I wore it as a watch for about an hour at the local mall. If you're into female repellant, wearing it this way will give you better results than a wet spot on the front of your pants.
In light of this, I propose that slashdot's motto be changed to: News for Nerds. Stuff That Repels Females.
Hmmm ... maybe not. Don't see it catching on, somehow.
I hear there's rumors on the Slashdots
WHY?
So you can have a convenient WebTV based interface with which to interact with your toaster remotely from the mall, silly.
KFG
Please note that you are not forced to purchase this TV watch. You can buy a watch that just tells time at any number of stores. In fact, I understand that they are rather common and have gotten less expensive over time.
As far as the cell phone goes, I want one that can receive calls as well, and find the fact that mine can store numbers to be very useful. Oddly enough each cell phone I have purchased it less expensive than the previous one and superior in every way.
I have an IBM Model M keyboard that just had its tenth birthday. Why pay a premium for a new keyboard when you can just keep using your existing keyboard? If you want one, head to your local thrift store.
Lasers Controlled Games!
And with the cable constantly following you, you could always know how to get back home... now, it's a little riskier to go outside with no string leading you home... maybe you should invest in a wristwatch GPS too? ;-)
After 3 days without programming, life becomes meaningless
- The Tao of Programming
tekgear sells 'em
In Asian countries there is a fashionable trend and social acceptance to wearing these newly looking watches.
Like the Casio G-shocks and other hi-tech watches, they sold like hot cakes in the mid 90s. It wasn't until the year 2000 before they start making an appearance in the U.S. This TV watch will probably be a super trend in Asia for years before people start buying it in U.S.
The usage bottleneck is still the battery... limited to one hour of tv in this instance.
Phones with TV reception are far more likely to receive mass acceptance than these wrist monstrosities. Toshiba and NEC have working models in Japan, check this WSJ review, and SprintPCS is brining MobiTV to some of its models in the U.S.
These attributes do not apply to watching television. Whatever video you watch will probably be of sufficient length that the time wasted fishing a larger, more useful device out of your pocket is negligible. This is why wristphones are stupid, too. If the device's use takes more than a split second and/or it doesn't need to be accessible on an instant whim, there is no reason to put it on your wrist. I'm all for video-enabled cell phones. I see no reason why my portable electronics need to reside somewhere other than my pockets. Hey, why not attach an ipod to a headband? The controls would be SUPER accessible!
Now can we please forget these stupid wristwatch gadgets and get on with the flying cars?
I don't need a TV; I have a front loading washing machine;^) Now, if they could get that on my wrist, I'd be interested!
Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
Why do we need this? Seriously. What do you have to watch that is so time-critical that you MUST see it real-time? The News? What self-respecting geek watches TV news, when there's Google? Sports? Use a radio, check the scores online, or go to a sports bar.
If there's something on that I want to see, but will be out of the house for, I just TiVo it. If I wanted to be low-tech about it, I could use my trusty VCR to tape it. Either way, I can watch Good Eats when I get home. I see no reason to carry a postage-stamp-sized TV with me. Are y'all that addicted to Jerry Springer?