Smartwatches

Epic smartwatch shoots for traditional looks and cellphone functionality

Epic smartwatch shoots for traditional looks and cellphone functionality
The Epic Signature Edition aims to provide full cellphone functionality on your wrist
The Epic Signature Edition aims to provide full cellphone functionality on your wrist
View 4 Images
The Epic Signature Edition aims to provide full cellphone functionality on your wrist
1/4
The Epic Signature Edition aims to provide full cellphone functionality on your wrist
The smartwatch will be available in silver and black
2/4
The smartwatch will be available in silver and black
The necklace version of the product is known as the Epic Mini
3/4
The necklace version of the product is known as the Epic Mini
The square screen on a circular face is a little jarring
4/4
The square screen on a circular face is a little jarring
View gallery - 4 images

Epic’s new products reject the trend of smartwatches acting as an extension of your smartphone, instead providing fully-functional cellphone replacements on your wrist or around your neck. The Epic Signature Edition and Epic Mini are currently seeking funding through Indiegogo.

Epic has approached the smartwatch a little differently to most recent releases in the category. Its devices are designed to directly replace your smartphone, with the ability to make calls, receive text messages, take photos, run apps and even browse the web.

Not having to tether a smartwatch to another device is certainly not unheard of, Samsung’s new Gear S watch offers that functionality. But it goes against the current crop of Android Wear devices and the Apple Watch, all of which act as an extension of your smartphone rather than a replacement for it.

The square screen on a circular face is a little jarring
The square screen on a circular face is a little jarring

There are two variants of the Epic product available, with one taking the form of a watch and the other designed to be worn as a necklace. The watch, known as the Epic Signature Edition, is designed to mimic a traditional time piece, much in the same way as the circular-faced Moto 360 and LG G Watch R place a stronger emphasis on fashion than their square-faced competitors.

One potential problem with Epic’s effort is its attempt to fit a square display inside a circular bezel. The body of the wearable may look more traditionally watch-like, but we can't help but think the square display looks misplaced and is visibly jarring.

The necklace version of the product is known as the Epic Mini
The necklace version of the product is known as the Epic Mini

The necklace version of the product, known as the Epic Mini, fares a little better. You can change the wearable’s chain or lanyard to suit your personal taste, while the product itself looks like something Sony might have produced five years ago.

Epic’s wearables feature a 1.3 MP camera and support microSD cards up to 32 GB. They run on Java OS (which the company believes treads the line between functionality and compatibility with streamlined hardware), feature built-in GPS, a heart rate monitor and can reportedly run for 72 hours on a single charge. There’s a 1.74-inch 320 x 220 LCD display on the Mini and a 2-inch 320 x 240 panel on the Signature.

The Epic Signature Edition and Epic Mini are currently the subject of an Indiegogo campaign, which aims to raise US$50,000. You can pledge for the smartwatch for $249 and the smart necklace for $220. If everything goes to plan, they’ll start shipping in February 2015.

Have a look at the Epic pitch video below.

Source: Epic, Indiegogo

Epic Cellular

View gallery - 4 images
3 comments
3 comments
Gary Bonney
Or just take your pick of the assorted ones on Ebay, including android and 3g versions.
Cyndysub
I don't think that these will "Catch On Fire" with the american public. Most of the people I know like a big screen on their Cell phone and I don't see that changing. I think that the main customer of these will be the Tech Nerds.
gopro
Very COOL! I love this concept, it's the ultimate James Bond Watch; all in one. I'm also happy to hear these guys are rebuilding the platform and improving it. The crap on Ebay is junk. But I'd love to see good quality watchphones as an alternative to hand-held models.