In creating its smartwatch, Apple designed it without a camera, an understandable choice given the difficulties that come with trying to design a wearable that is small and yet has enough battery life to last throughout the day. However, there could be some usefulness in having a camera on the wrist, both to enable video chat, at the same time, capture moments that would otherwise be missed through the use of a smartphone.
Glide, a company famous for its messaging software instead of hardware, says it is stepping up to fill that void. The Israel- and Bay Area-based startup is making CMRA, a smartwatch strap that includes both a two-megapixel selfie cam and an eight-megapixel shooter for capturing what is in front of the watch wearer.
"The camera is only valuable when it is out and ready to take a photo or video," said Glide CEO Ari Roisman. "Our phones live in our pockets." The idea of having a camera that is nearer than our smartphones is one with some appeal, if done correctly. It's the similar idea behind Snapchat's Spectacles and event part of Google Glass' limited appeal. Also, the smartwatch industry still has to seek help in finding the right mix of features to transform the category from a novelty to a must-have gadget.
Moreover, according to Recode, Glide is accepting preorder starting Wednesday, but the camera strap is not actually set to ship until spring. Preorders open for $199, or $149 if you're quick. The regular selling price will be $249, said by The Verge. The Apple Watch acts as a viewfinder for the CMRA, even though the device works when the watch is off or out of power, storing photos and videos in its eight gigabytes of built-in storage. Glide's CMRA also has an integrated charger for the watch and camera band, one that packs a built-in battery large enough to charge both devices twice over. Glide has been working on the product for 18 months and has working preproduction units with final hardware components in place.
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