Fossil Creates Wrist PDA

Posted By: Ed Tuesday, November 6, 2001 11:16:15 AM

Fossil has introduced the Wrist PDA, a watch that can communicate with a Palm OS handheld and store addresses, to-dos, memos, and appointments. The watch's built-in applications provide read-only capability and can store up to 190 KB of information. It can send and receive business card info and store twenty business cards. It will be available in early 2002 at stores and online for $145.

Its address book can hold up to 1100 contacts including name, two phone numbers, two fax numbers, two call numbers, e-mail address and miscellaneous notes. Drop-down menus allow users to view different categories.

The date book can store up to 800 appointments. It includes day, week, and month views and supports repeating appointments, notes, and alarm reminder windows.

The memo pad can hold up to 350 memos with 400 characters each.

The To-Do list can hold up to 5000 to-dos with independent category viewing through convenient drop down menus.

The Wrist PDA has a 102 by 64 pixel LCD. It uses an 8-bit Epson CPU. On the front is a button that acts as a joystick plus Home and Back buttons.

It is water resistant down to 30 meters.

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Version for PPC Devices, too

Smartmoose @ 11/6/2001 11:30:59 AM #
At: http://www.fossil.com/PDAPC/default.asp

Who Cares?
Roger @ 11/6/2001 11:40:49 AM #
This is a site for PALM handhelds. No one here cares about the PPC version.

RE: Version for PPC Devices, too
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 12:01:12 PM #
It says at the top that this watch syncs with "your Palm OS handheld." I think that they don't know the difference. All the more reason to avoid this thing like the plague.

RE: Who Cares?
Smartmoose @ 11/6/2001 12:01:13 PM #
Whoa! I'm not trying to start a flame war, PPC vs. Palm, etc. I'm a Palm user myself, and a very loyal one at that. I was simply adding that more than one version is available, and that this wasn't a PalmOS-exclusive device (in case someone might think that this would be an indication of Palm establishing new deals in the market). I intended only to make for well-rounded discussion, not to promote the "other" handheld OS. My apologies if the addition was interpreted incorrectly.

RE: Version for PPC Devices, too
popko @ 11/6/2001 6:57:04 PM #
>This is a site for PALM handhelds. No one here cares about the PPC version.

This site happens to be a popular place for all kinds of PDA users to get their "daily dose." So why can't we just get alone?

And the point is?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 11:28:05 AM #

I can't quite see the point of this one... It justs adds an extra device to sync with, and man it looks ugly... unless you were one of those 1980's geeks that couldn't live without his calculator watch....

The thing doesn't look "executive" to me so that market is ruled out. And Palm devices these days are pretty much small enough to carry around most places.

If it we fully functional and wrist portable I'd go for it... but given its limitations and obvious bad looks I can't see a huge market for this one... unless you are a diver perhaps and want to check you actioned "fill air tanks" on your to do list......



RE: And the point is?
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 1:06:50 PM #
I find irony in someone who probably "can't live without his Palm" ridiculing a 1980s geek "who can't live without his calculator watch."

Face it--you're a geek, too. As am I. Deal with it.

RE: And the point is?
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 11:10:05 PM #
What's wrong with calc watches?

RE: And the point is?
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/7/2001 3:56:08 AM #
No... I am not a geek.. really... I have never been a geek... Ok so my first computer was a Commodore PET when I was 9.. and my next a VIC 20, and my next a C64... so I learned Pascal programming at college, and so I play live action role playing games.... and so I can't live without my Prism.. well I can...just... but I can't be a geek... I am umm too tall... Oh god.. I am a geek... But I still don't want that watch....

Regards,

Nick,
The fist poster....

It could be a winner

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 12:01:38 PM #
I disagree with those who see this as useless. I see it as targeted to those Palm users who don't like to carry their Palms with them when they go out on quick errands, go to the pool for a swim, go to a bar, go to the grocery store. I fit in this category. I use my Clie a lot at work (while at my desk) and sometimes at home (when sitting on the couch), but I hate like hell to take it out when I'm in the car, in a store, or generally just need a quick phone number. It's a hassle to take it out, yank the stylus, etc.

And, this thing is water-PROOF. So, no need for the Palm at the pool.

The fact that a style-conscious company like Fossil has entered the PDA arena could prove to be exciting. They may be the trailblazers in the fight to de-geek the PDA. It just might work.

Now, it does look a bit clunky, and $145 suggested retail is too high a price, but it is powerful for its size, and it can hold a lot of CRUCIAL info that can be carried out into the world in situations when a stylus-driven Palm is just a big buzz kill (you're poolside and want to order pizza so you have to go to your lounge chair, rummage in bag, produce the Palm, yank the stylus etc. -- yes, you're a geek). With the Fossil, just stay poolside, click a button, make the call.

All this aside, the first attempt by Fossil is rather ugly. They need to make it look more like a watch first, perhaps add a more sporty diver-type to the line. If the economy weren't in the toilet, I might predict success for this product. We'll see what happens.

RE: It could be a winner
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 12:56:21 PM #
it is not water proof, it is water resistant. There is a big difference!!!

RE: It could be a winner
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 1:02:09 PM #
I agree. Consider a couple of things:

1) Fossil is a hot company right now. Their watches, in particular, sell very well. And MANY of those watches are really kind of ugly. The looks of this may not be pretty, but that doesn't preclude it from selling.
2) Fossil markets to a TOTALLY different market than most of the people who frequent sites like this. This actually spreads PDA functions to people who normally view them as "geeky." As the above poster said, this product could reduce the "geek" factor.

On another note, the watch is overpriced, but then, so is every other product Fossil sells.

RE: It could be a winner
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 2:54:05 PM #
the specs say water resistant to 3 atmospheres, so I think that qualifies as waterproof for most non-deep-sea divers.


http://www.fossil.com/PDA/WristPDA3.asp

RE: It could be a winner
culo77 @ 11/6/2001 3:56:23 PM #
Think wouldn't be funny? You are at your local YMCA swimming then you get a cramp and start sinking!!!! While you are drinking gallons and gallons of water your PDA Watch alarm goes off telling you that in 15min. you have an important meeting with your Boss!!!!

Have you seen my underware?
RE: It could be a winner
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/7/2001 3:50:18 AM #
Why not just keep the number of your local pizza joint in your mobile? Why bother with the watch? My Nokia 8210 can also manae notes and light PIM duty. Rather than sync the watch, why not sync the phone?

RE: It could be a winner
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/7/2001 3:52:30 AM #
I agree with the previous comment about Fossil's target market. These are first and foremost fashion items and the clunky, retro look seems to be pretty popular for watches. I've certainly seen lots of huge, shiny very dated looking red LED digital watches in shops over the last year or two. So it's look fits in pretty well with this, plus the functionality seems quite useful. A niche product obviously, a bit different from the usual sort of kit reviewed on this site, but I kinda like it.

RE: It could be a winner
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/8/2001 5:10:50 PM #
Theres no such thing as water PROOF just water resistant to a particular pressure.

BTW 3 atmospheres occurs at 20 meters deep (1 atm at surface + 1 atm for every ten meters.

Also rated pressures are 'static' ie water resistant to 30 meters does not mean you could dive to 30m because if you moved or bumped/touched the watch the pressure is more.

As a general rule WR to 50m is good for swimming
WR 100m - freediving (snorkel etc)
WR 200m + good for SCUBA diving (ie with an air tank)

So basicly 30m water resistant would probably survive swimming but is really only good for washing your hands or getting caught in the rain.

BTW I really like the idea that someone suggested of a normal style watch with bluetooth to give audio/vibe alarms from your palm.

Top 3

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 12:20:28 PM #
Top 3 things that can happen when you have a Fossil PDA watch:

3. Stop on a busy sidewalk and push buttons on your watch to look at your to-do's.

2. A person in a corner syncing between his PDA, cellular, and his Fossil PDA watch.

1. Two buddies with Fossil PDA watches with wrists almost touching each other, stopping on a busy sidewalk to beam their business cards.

:D

RE: Top 3 (4)
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/7/2001 7:22:44 AM #
You forgot number 4....

Get mugged by a street thug who sees you syncing mobile phone, full size PDA and PDA watch, while standing on the corner and figures (rightly) you have more money than sense.....

The other issue about swimming with it, is that the thing is so huge, it might well drag you under and cause you to drown..... *grin*

RE: Top 3
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/8/2001 2:43:38 PM #
uh, are you guys idiots or what? you CAN swim in it. cant you read. you can dive in it up to 30 meters. sounds like you guys are all wet.

RE: Top 3
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/12/2002 6:43:10 PM #
that was such a horrible pun.

Joke

jayhawk88 @ 11/6/2001 12:24:52 PM #
<joke>
Bah! This watch might have been cool...way back in 2000! Honestly, all of the features on this watch PDA are way out of date! If there's no color, then what's the point? It probably won't even play MP3's or take digital pictures either! And where's the SD/MMC/SonyMemoryStick/FlashCard all in one compatible slot? To say nothing about the horrible screen resolution!

Anyway, Sony will have a better PDA watch out next year.
</joke>

RE: Joke
jayhawk88 @ 11/6/2001 12:32:49 PM #
Crap, I was afraid of that. There's supposed to be "joke" HTML tags around that little rant, but apparently the board won't allow that sort of thing. It's sarcasm folks, please don't take it at face value.

RE: Joke
Ed @ 11/6/2001 1:00:52 PM #
I fixed it. Don't worry, even without them it was obviously sarcasm.

---
News Editor
RE: Joke
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 1:01:19 PM #
I was amused. (no sarcasm intended)

RE: Joke
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 1:35:28 PM #
I can't wait for the CLIE version to come out. You know it will be better than Palm/Fossil right? :)

Runs on energon
Quik_Fix @ 11/6/2001 1:36:21 PM #
And look!
It transforms into Soundwave the Decepticon! You can even fit Rumble and Laserbeak right inside!!!

Yes!

...In accordance with the prophecy...

Quik_Fix
quikfix@hotmail.com

RE: Joke
Edward @ 11/6/2001 2:49:46 PM #
"It transforms into Soundwave the Decepticon! You can even fit Rumble and Laserbeak right inside!!!"

Sorry you have lost me. What is a Decepticon?

*grin*

Thankyou for reminding me of a little part of my childhood

*sigh*

RE: Joke
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 2:59:02 PM #
There is a Springboard version in the works

I remember the day???

culo77 @ 11/6/2001 3:47:47 PM #
I remember way back when I was like 11 years old, and I got my First calculator watch. I was the first to have one in school. I was so cool until I got my second watch that was a calculator and I was in high school and ouch it hurt my rep.
As for the PDA watch, well it looks like the one i had when i was 11. Even down to the Rubber wrist band, plus the plastic gray color.
I would buy it @ $145 if it looked like a watch i could wear outside in front of people. Could you imagine me at a club holding my drink and you see on my wrist a watch that looks like i bought it at wal-mart?

Have you seen my underware?

Bluetooth

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 4:46:43 PM #
A good looking watch with bluetooth would do it for me. It wouldn't have to have memory or anything.

For one reason only. my 505 is too quiet and the vibrator thingy is too whimpy for me to notice it when it goes off.

Just have the watch as a extension of the alarm so to speak.

(I am probaly the only one who would buy this idea but there it is...)

Battery Life is Way Too Short

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 7:28:58 PM #
At the Fossil Wrist PDA site http://www.fossil.com/pda/WristPDA3.asp it says that the battery life is anywhere from 1.5 to 3 months. They've gotta be kidding me, right? Is there a rechargeable cradle that comes with this watch? I don't know too much about watch batteries, but my Timex watch lasts 3 years. Even a Palm III's batteries last longer than 1.5 months!


concept sucks...

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/6/2001 8:03:13 PM #
now if it were a pocket watch... that would be different, but anyhow, I would still prefer the pogo device...(http://www.pogo-tech.com/)... and I think swatch is coming out with a phone/watch... but I dont like the concept of being strapped to time... never have.. I quit wearing a watch years ago..... but a miniture palm the size of a pocket watch?... for $150.. sold!!

Duh...
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/7/2001 10:14:12 AM #
Of course you think the concept sucks, you don't wear a watch anyway! Good lord, save your breath and my screen space and post something that makes sense.

ONLY 190 KB!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/22/2001 9:42:48 PM #
It needs 2MB min RAM!

Who needs it!

PIC mobile user @ 3/18/2002 8:29:03 AM #
I bought a PDA to avoid carrying a laptop everywhere. Now Fossil expects me to leave my PDA at home or worse, in my pocket. They would laugh all the way to the bank if this thing sells.
RE: Who needs it!
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/1/2002 10:58:01 AM #
Well, you can all laugh at me...I went and got it. Yes, it's expensive but it adds a great sense of convenience. I take my Clie to work and home and it does its job but it's a PAIN in the ass to take my clie out when i want some common info like numbers, to dos, etc. I don't intend on wearing this thing to formal events, dinners, etc..I have nicer watches for that.
This is practical because for me, I'm planning to go to the beach often this summer and I'd rather carry this watch than my Clie as stupid as it might look to people. Other times like working out, shopping, etc when you will be wearing shorts and a shirt, etc. this is PERFECT. A couple of people at work here have the Timex pager watch which is just as big and no one minds how it looks.

I don't understand why you guys care so much how it looks, it's not that bad as it is. It does what it is meant to do and that's what I'm getting it for.

By the way, to the earlier post...until they make cell phones wearable they have the same problem as carrying a PDA and they're not waterproof :)

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