Remember the Samsung Galaxy Gear released back in 2013? It is one of the smartwatches from the brand to ever feature a camera – a fad that is no longer trending in recent releases. However, one third party company has decided to revive that concept, but as a camera equipped strap for smartwatches. Specifically, for the Apple Watch.
Known as the Wristcam, the newly announced third party add-on is bulkier than your average strap for the aforementioned smartwatch. This is due to the fact that one side features two cameras; a 2MP sensor that is oriented towards the user for selfies and video calls, while the other is an 8MP Sony sensor that points forward for regular use. The company claims both cameras support 1080p video recording with 3840×2160 image capture, and also HD video streaming.
The strap is connected and controlled via a companion app installed on the user’s Apple Watch and/or iPhone. Connectivity-wise, the Wristcam includes built-in Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections and Bluetooth 5.0. The company says that the add-on is compatible with iPhone 6S and above, while supported Apple Watches range from Series 1 to Series 6.
Other than that, it also features an internal storage capacity of 8GB and is powered by an “all-day battery” which is charged through proprietary means. The strap is offered in four colours: white, black, gray and pink. The Wristcam is expected to start shipping in March 2021, and is available for pre-order at the price of US$299 (~RM1,214) via the company’s official website.
Should smartwatch makers reconsider adding in cameras to their upcoming devices after this? Probably not. But if there’s something they should learn from Wristcam, it is the fact that gimmicks such as these should remain as an optional component.
(Source: Wristcam [Official website] via DPReview)
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