In the old days it was all about the traditional timepiece, then it was electronic watches. Now, its smartwatches and they are right up there alongside the Swiss big guns. Sales of smartwatches have boomed in the last few years. In 2012 just three hundred thousand smartwatches were sold. In 2013, it was a staggering three million. Its not just the numbers of smartwatch sales that are increasing though. Crucially, the market share is growing too - and rapidly. By the end of 2014 it will constitute five per cent of the industry and that is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of over 115 per cent in the next four years. Here's a run down of the most popular brands: Sony Sony marketed the first ever Smartwatch and its Smartwatch 2 improves on the first version in both design and capability. It is now NFC enabled, has a longer battery life than its predecessor and is dust and water resistant. Pebble Its smartwatch was a result of a Kickstarter fund raising millions through crowd funding and Pebble have now released its App on the Android App store. By collaborating with the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Yelp wearers can do all sorts of things - from checking fuel levels to finding out where the nearest restaurant is! Nike The Nike+Fuelband is now more sturdy and comfortable to wear, tells you how many steps you've done, how far you've gone and how many calories you've burnt. However, although it connects to an iPhone, it doesn't have an Android App. Samsung The Gear 2 has increased connectivity, customisation and control compared to its predecessor and is more lightweight too. It has a 2-megapixel camera and when paired with the Galaxy smartphone, receives or ignores incoming calls and texts. The WatchON Remote application allows the wearer to control their TV or set-top box and by using a Bluetooth headset wearers can listen to music too. The more fashion conscious among you will be pleased to hear that you can also change the strap between black, brown and orange! Fitness fanatics may prefer the Gear Fit which has a glare-free curved Super AMOLED display, is dust and water resistant and has a speaker and microphone. All the Samsung devices come with a built-in heart rate sensor and real-time fitness coaching. Fitbit The Fitbit Flex offers 24 hour service, allowing wearers to track steps, distance and calories burned during the day and then at night, monitors sleep patterns through an iPhone or Android App. Following its success Fitbit announced the Fitbit Force although it has been recalled after complaints of rashes.
Soon you'll wonder how you ever survived without one!
Sales of smartwatches have boomed in the last few years. In 2012 just three hundred thousand smartwatches were sold. In 2013, it was a staggering three million.
Its not just the numbers of smartwatch sales that are increasing though. Crucially, the market share is growing too - and rapidly. By the end of 2014 it will constitute five per cent of the industry and that is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of over 115 per cent in the next four years.
Here's a run down of the most popular brands:
Sony
Sony marketed the first ever Smartwatch and its Smartwatch 2 improves on the first version in both design and capability. It is now NFC enabled, has a longer battery life than its predecessor and is dust and water resistant.
Pebble
Its smartwatch was a result of a Kickstarter fund raising millions through crowd funding and Pebble have now released its App on the Android App store. By collaborating with the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Yelp wearers can do all sorts of things - from checking fuel levels to finding out where the nearest restaurant is!
Nike
The Nike+Fuelband is now more sturdy and comfortable to wear, tells you how many steps you've done, how far you've gone and how many calories you've burnt. However, although it connects to an iPhone, it doesn't have an Android App.
Samsung
The Gear 2 has increased connectivity, customisation and control compared to its predecessor and is more lightweight too. It has a 2-megapixel camera and when paired with the Galaxy smartphone, receives or ignores incoming calls and texts. The WatchON Remote application allows the wearer to control their TV or set-top box and by using a Bluetooth headset wearers can listen to music too. The more fashion conscious among you will be pleased to hear that you can also change the strap between black, brown and orange!
Fitness fanatics may prefer the Gear Fit which has a glare-free curved Super AMOLED display, is dust and water resistant and has a speaker and microphone.
All the Samsung devices come with a built-in heart rate sensor and real-time fitness coaching.
Fitbit
The Fitbit Flex offers 24 hour service, allowing wearers to track steps, distance and calories burned during the day and then at night, monitors sleep patterns through an iPhone or Android App. Following its success Fitbit announced the Fitbit Force although it has been recalled after complaints of rashes.
Soon you'll wonder how you ever survived without one!