15 Apr 2025, 16:46
OK, it's not a smartwatch, but the vintage Casio-styled ABL-100 — released in August, I think — has acquired a couple of modern features.
App connectivity allows the owner to control the watch via a better UI than the one offered by the watch itself. The watch can synchronise itself by grabbing internet time from the phone. Step count data can be uploaded to the app. It is also possible to find the phone, by activating a homing tune remotely from the watch. (Caveat: I may have missed one or two things here.)
The constant(?) Bluetooth chatter makes the battery life drop from the 7 years quoted for vintage Casio digitals, to "only" 2 years. This is still excellent when compared to the 37 seconds offered by the average smartwatch. The watch has some battery-saving features, so 2 years can perhaps be extended somewhat.
App connectivity allows the owner to control the watch via a better UI than the one offered by the watch itself. The watch can synchronise itself by grabbing internet time from the phone. Step count data can be uploaded to the app. It is also possible to find the phone, by activating a homing tune remotely from the watch. (Caveat: I may have missed one or two things here.)
The constant(?) Bluetooth chatter makes the battery life drop from the 7 years quoted for vintage Casio digitals, to "only" 2 years. This is still excellent when compared to the 37 seconds offered by the average smartwatch. The watch has some battery-saving features, so 2 years can perhaps be extended somewhat.