An all-in-one device I could go for: the Matrix Watches EWatch

jasonkchapman · 10-12-2007, 11:17 AM

Yes, it does e-books. Sort of.

If it had a phone in it I'd be on it in a heartbeat.

The press release.

The Web site.

HarryT · 10-14-2007, 03:16 PM

That's a very silly idea

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-14-2007, 07:27 PM

Only in its size. If it was attached to the wrist, but had a larger screen, I think it would be worth checking out.

jasonkchapman · 10-15-2007, 10:51 AM

The problem is, if it had a larger screen it would be too clumsy to wear. Really, the text part is silly. Now if you could carry around a 6" display that was fed wirelessly by the watch unit, that would be cool.

Adam B. · 10-15-2007, 11:07 AM

I've always been looking for a high tech watch that's nice looking (not bulky) as well.

I've tried 2 different "video watches". They've both been too big and have a crappy OS. Not to mention lack of support for real (divx, xvid, mp4, etc) video codecs. Perhaps someday when they aren't developed only by knockoff Chinese companies...

Here's a link to the latest one I've tried: http://www.chinavasion.com/product_i...2cb52dabc1b6e/

yvanleterrible · 10-15-2007, 11:19 AM

I have a Casio calculator watch for shop emergencies, so I'm used to the bulk around my wrist. I'd go for this little device, its screen looks about the same size as the previous Nano's. Anyone tried it yet?
My bug would be to hold the wrist proned inward for long stints. The best position would be with the screen worn on the inside of the wrist and a clockwise 25degree tilt in the display. Outside this, anything's a torture. If they built it with a rotating screen, it would be even better.

Antartica · 10-15-2007, 01:01 PM

I've been an active user of a watch similar to what you are commenting:

Matsucom's OnHandPC (now defunct, there is info in http://www.pconhand.com).

It was really bulky (similar to a Casio G-shock), and boasted a 102x64 LCD.

It was programmable (it had a nice DOS clone for the 16-bit embedded processor it had, a Panasonic MN10L200 2Mhz chip). It had an SDK that used gcc. It was my first exposure to cross compiling toolchains (I managed to get a cross compiling environment in Linux, whereas the included toolchain was for Windows ;-).

I read some project gutenberg books in it (over a dozen), until my wife and my mother finally convinced me that "that wouldn't be good for my eyes". As a matter of fact, I don't think that it was so bad for the eyes, but finally, the joystick of the watch died, so...

The screen was a little less than 2 inches, but with the correct program and font, it was pleasant to read (8 lines of text, with a proportional font, it managed to have an average of 5 words per line, IIRC). I didn't distribute my reading app for lack of time (although I distributed a modified text reader that someone else did that I used at the beginning, along other apps I did for it, in http://www.nongnu.org/onhandpc-kit/ ; you can see screenshots in http://www.pconhand.com/software.asp ).

Really, those watches have a lot of "frame" around the screen. If the watch was only the visible screen without frame, it would be of normal size. Imagine one of those with e-ink :-o...

P.D.: The alternative was the fossil wristpda, also shown, but it flopped (battery problem, I think). The OnHand lasted on batteries about 1.5 months (or 3 if you put the "blank screensaver"), but the WristPDA had rechargeable batteries that lasted only days...

Antartica · 10-15-2007, 01:36 PM

You were seeking for a wrist phone, nope?

http://www.wristdreams.com/archives/...i_w100_wr.html

jasonkchapman · 10-15-2007, 01:47 PM

There you go. The Hyundai watch handles the Dick Tracy fetish. The Sony Reader tackles the Star Trek library. What's next?

JSWolf · 10-15-2007, 01:49 PM

I'm still waiting for the shoe phone to handle the Get Smart fetish.

NatCh · 10-15-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm still waiting for the shoe phone.

You'll just get athelete's face that way.

JSWolf · 10-15-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

You'll just get athlete's face that way.

I thought you'd get gum in your hair or dog poo on your cheek.

yvanleterrible · 10-15-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

You'll just get athelete's face that way.

Get Smart used to be one of my favorite shows...

Athlete's face...

khalleron · 11-11-2010, 12:31 AM

Dang it JasonKChapman, look what you've done! Put out Chinese spammer bait, that's what you've done!

Steven Lyle Jordan · 11-11-2010, 07:10 PM

I don't think it was when the thread originally ran, back in 2007... but it sure is now.

10-12-2007, 11:17 AM	#1
jasonkchapman Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 2347 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC Device: Sony Reader, nook, Droid, nookColor, nookTablet	An all-in-one device I could go for: the Matrix Watches EWatch Yes, it does e-books. Sort of. If it had a phone in it I'd be on it in a heartbeat. The press release. The Web site.

10-15-2007, 01:01 PM	#7
Antartica Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 1517132 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: quaderno, remarkable2, yotaphone2, prs950, iliad, onhandpc, newton	Been there, done that ;-) I've been an active user of a watch similar to what you are commenting: Matsucom's OnHandPC (now defunct, there is info in http://www.pconhand.com). It was really bulky (similar to a Casio G-shock), and boasted a 102x64 LCD. It was programmable (it had a nice DOS clone for the 16-bit embedded processor it had, a Panasonic MN10L200 2Mhz chip). It had an SDK that used gcc. It was my first exposure to cross compiling toolchains (I managed to get a cross compiling environment in Linux, whereas the included toolchain was for Windows ;-). I read some project gutenberg books in it (over a dozen), until my wife and my mother finally convinced me that "that wouldn't be good for my eyes". As a matter of fact, I don't think that it was so bad for the eyes, but finally, the joystick of the watch died, so... The screen was a little less than 2 inches, but with the correct program and font, it was pleasant to read (8 lines of text, with a proportional font, it managed to have an average of 5 words per line, IIRC). I didn't distribute my reading app for lack of time (although I distributed a modified text reader that someone else did that I used at the beginning, along other apps I did for it, in http://www.nongnu.org/onhandpc-kit/ ; you can see screenshots in http://www.pconhand.com/software.asp ). Really, those watches have a lot of "frame" around the screen. If the watch was only the visible screen without frame, it would be of normal size. Imagine one of those with e-ink :-o... P.D.: The alternative was the fossil wristpda, also shown, but it flopped (battery problem, I think). The OnHand lasted on batteries about 1.5 months (or 3 if you put the "blank screensaver"), but the WristPDA had rechargeable batteries that lasted only days... Attached Thumbnails

10-15-2007, 01:36 PM	#8
Antartica Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 1517132 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: quaderno, remarkable2, yotaphone2, prs950, iliad, onhandpc, newton	You were seeking for a wrist phone, nope? http://www.wristdreams.com/archives/...i_w100_wr.html Attached Thumbnails

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10-14-2007, 03:16 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	That's a very silly idea

10-14-2007, 07:27 PM	#3
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Only in its size. If it was attached to the wrist, but had a larger screen, I think it would be worth checking out.

10-15-2007, 10:51 AM	#4
jasonkchapman Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 2347 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC Device: Sony Reader, nook, Droid, nookColor, nookTablet	The problem is, if it had a larger screen it would be too clumsy to wear. Really, the text part is silly. Now if you could carry around a 6" display that was fed wirelessly by the watch unit, that would be cool.

10-15-2007, 11:07 AM	#5
Adam B. Addicted to Porting Posts: 1,697 Karma: 7194 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Device: iRex iLiad, Nokia 770, Samsung i760	I've always been looking for a high tech watch that's nice looking (not bulky) as well. I've tried 2 different "video watches". They've both been too big and have a crappy OS. Not to mention lack of support for real (divx, xvid, mp4, etc) video codecs. Perhaps someday when they aren't developed only by knockoff Chinese companies... Here's a link to the latest one I've tried: http://www.chinavasion.com/product_i...2cb52dabc1b6e/

10-15-2007, 11:19 AM	#6
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I have a Casio calculator watch for shop emergencies, so I'm used to the bulk around my wrist. I'd go for this little device, its screen looks about the same size as the previous Nano's. Anyone tried it yet? My bug would be to hold the wrist proned inward for long stints. The best position would be with the screen worn on the inside of the wrist and a clockwise 25degree tilt in the display. Outside this, anything's a torture. If they built it with a rotating screen, it would be even better.

10-15-2007, 01:47 PM	#9
jasonkchapman Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 2347 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC Device: Sony Reader, nook, Droid, nookColor, nookTablet	There you go. The Hyundai watch handles the Dick Tracy fetish. The Sony Reader tackles the Star Trek library. What's next?

10-15-2007, 01:49 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I'm still waiting for the shoe phone to handle the Get Smart fetish.

11-11-2010, 12:31 AM	#14
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,681 Karma: 3165009 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: Nexus 7 2013, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	Dang it JasonKChapman, look what you've done! Put out Chinese spammer bait, that's what you've done!

11-11-2010, 07:10 PM	#15
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I don't think it was when the thread originally ran, back in 2007... but it sure is now.

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