Fossil licenses Palm OS for PDA Wristwatch

Fossil Palm OS Wrist PDA ~ Click For LargerFossil, Inc. and PalmSource, today announced that Fossil has licensed the Palm operating system. Through the agreement, Fossil will introduce the world's first Palm OS Powered watch called the WRIST PDA. Fossil will showcase prototypes of the WRIST PDA with Palm OS this week at COMDEX at Booth #5242 in the Digital Lifestyles exhibition area of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The WRIST PDA is fully compatible with the Palm OS platform and will run all Palm OS applications. The Palm OS is known for the power and flexibility of its sophisticated, easy-to-use interface. As the foundation for more than 24 million mobile devices, the Palm OS platform is designed to meet user needs with an open, modular architecture that allows licensees and developers to create innovative new products in a variety of sizes and form factors for both individual or enterprise consumers.

"The flexibility of the Palm OS enables licensees to develop innovative and differentiated products," said David Nagel, president and chief executive officer for PalmSource, Inc. "Fossil's strong reputation in the watch and consumer product markets as well as its strong brand will extend the reach of Palm Powered products to new customers in new markets."

"We believe consumers want the functionality of a handheld with the style and portability of a wrist watch," said Donald R. Brewer, vice president of technology for Fossil. "The Palm OS enables Fossil to provide customers with a fashionable wrist-worn device that is incredibly useful, yet lightweight, small, and powerful." Fossil also teamed with Flextronics, the leading Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) provider to assist in the development and manufacturing of the WRIST PDA. In addition to being the manufacturer, Flextronics has been a critical partner throughout the development process and has performed the full-turnkey embedded design.

"We are excited to be working on this revolutionary consumer device with Fossil," said Ron Snyder, president of Flextronics Design. "Our strategic relationship will allow Fossil to leverage Flextronics' design capabilities and global manufacturing infrastructure while enhancing their commitment to provide quality, fashionable and innovative products to customers around the world."

The WRIST PDA with Palm OS from Fossil also features an illuminated touch screen with a stylus integrated into the band for Graffiti(TM) input, 2MB internal memory, Rocker(TM) switch user interface, infrared port to support beaming between all Palm Powered devices, rechargeable battery, and loaded applications including: Address Book, Date Book, Memo Pad, Calculator and To Do List.

Fossil will launch the WRIST PDA with Palm OS under two brands, FOSSIL and ABACUS, a new tech brand that targets the electronics distribution. Both versions of the new WRIST PDA are scheduled to be available in stores in the United States and internationally by mid-2003. More specs are available here.

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Something new or something old?

Coyote67 @ 11/18/2002 11:03:49 AM #
I recall someone else doing this in the past, right? The truth is I really wouldn't mind something like this, might actually be useful. It would be nice if it used bluetooth. I could use a bluetooth keyboard or whatever and add entries, or maybe just sync constantly emails through the phone, or just constantly sync data with my normal handheld. Interesting idea, always room for something new in the marketplace.

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BACK OFF! I'll make you fun size!
RE: Something new or something old?
Coyote67 @ 11/18/2002 11:04:50 AM #
Now that the picture actually came up (might be high server load on here, maybe its me), it looks like a full pda. Amazing stuff they are doing these days. I'd like to see input methods with this thing.

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BACK OFF! I'll make you fun size!
RE: Something new or something old?
alanh @ 11/18/2002 12:10:58 PM #
Fossil had a PDA watch previously, but it ran a proprietary OS. Here is a review of it from another site:

http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/fossil-pda-watches-review.html

Lose the band

Gekko @ 11/18/2002 11:11:27 AM #
I don't like it as a cheesey watch but I would like them to nix the band and just have it as a super-small half-dollar-sized PDA that I could keep in my pocket.

RE: Lose the band
folkmew @ 6/21/2005 8:52:12 PM #
Yeah, it's pretty clunky for a watch - I could swear I read somewhere that a lawyer with ADD said he got an adaptor that turned his into a belt clip like a pager. Anyone know of that?

RE: Lose the band
folkmew @ 6/21/2005 8:52:12 PM #
Yeah, it's pretty clunky for a watch - I could swear I read somewhere that a lawyer with ADD said he got an adaptor that turned his into a belt clip like a pager. Anyone know of that?

Watch

Zippy @ 11/18/2002 11:10:08 AM #
Ughhhhhh...that watch is butt ugly!
Definitely not a chick magnet accessory.

RE: Watch
abosco @ 11/18/2002 2:55:54 PM #
Is ANY PDA a chick magnet accessory?

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This signature is witty. You like it.
RE: Watch
rickyspears @ 11/18/2002 3:45:05 PM #
It all depends on the chick and what kind of PDA she's carrying. :o)
RE: Watch
funngunn2 @ 11/18/2002 4:00:08 PM #
"Is ANY PDA a chick magnet accessory?"

Heck yeah! Everytime I pull out my PDA around girls, they always want to play with it, and I always end up leaving the scene with a few numbers ;-)

>-----------><-----------<
"Live Long, Visor Prism!"

And I'm still waiting for LauncherX!

If practice makes perfect, and there is no such thing as perfect, then why practice?

RE: Watch
Tuckermaclain @ 11/18/2002 5:22:14 PM #
To the last poster: Launcher X is available for free download from the Yahoo group "next clie club" (I think I spelled it right.) It is very stable and very cool.

RE: Watch
Zippy @ 11/18/2002 7:04:21 PM #
What's the deal with a patched version of LauncherX?
Warez in Clie club files? Strange.
The launcher is really nice, one of the nicest I have seen, BTW.

Thanks for the link.

RE: Watch
aardvarko @ 11/19/2002 6:14:21 AM #
maybe he means the freely downloadable demo version.

-aardvarko
webmaster at aardvarko dot com
http://aardvarko.com

I want one!

costein @ 11/18/2002 11:07:24 AM #
This is what I was waiting for.
Often I'd like to leave the Palm at home and just tote my cell phone around. But having many passwords I manage for others in cases of emergency, and because I really need all my contacts with me, I reluctantly do take my Palm with me everywhere.
It sounds like with this beauty those times are over! Not only are the contacts in there but also the datebook, the to-dos, etc. Great!
I just hope they don't make this a monsterous size...
What concerns me a litte is the battery life, hm...
What I like is "comes with a stylus" ;-)

costein

I like it too, but....

Bmann @ 11/18/2002 11:21:49 AM #
I'd like to see some screen shots of the calander and address book. Also the $$$$$

Also, can you do text entry with the stylus or is it just for navigation?

The interesting thing about this is the screen resolution, 160x160, isn't that the standard, but mini, resolution??

It's getting harder to market these gadgets with all the functions in new cell phones. I wanted a voice recorder in my NR70v, but my new Nokia has that feature and many other PIM funtions.

RE: I like it too, but....
ardiri @ 11/18/2002 11:28:25 AM #
> Also the $$$$$

$299 - it is on their website, i saw this this morning :)

// az
aaron@ardiri.com
http://www.ardiri.com/
http://www.mobilewizardry.com/

RE: I like it too, but....
Bmann @ 11/18/2002 11:57:50 AM #
Ouch, that's too high.

RE: I like it too, but....
I.M Anonymous @ 11/18/2002 1:52:07 PM #
You should be able to install Jot, and use graffiti.

OMG, battery life!?!

Xaositek @ 11/18/2002 11:27:19 AM #
ok im sorry but 4 days battery life, at 30 minutes per day with backlight off... that is terrible!!! That is like 2 hours of runtime with usage... Maybe something like the citizen watches that charge themselves through movement... that is the ONLY way i would buy this thing.

--------------------------------
Jason
appleJAC MUG Webmaster
Mid-MO PUG Officer
No-Rulz, Inc. Webmaster
RE: OMG, battery life!?!
ska @ 11/18/2002 11:32:54 AM #
A watch that only operate for 4 hrs. ehmm....
RE: OMG, battery life!?!
techuser @ 11/18/2002 12:13:35 PM #
The battery life is not great. I was thinking the same thing. But... what about the Fossil PDA that synchs with Palm. That one doesn't have the touch screen and doesn't run Palm OS, but it syncs with the 4 basic apps and the batter lasts 3 months.

http://www.fossil.com/Tech/default.asp?ID=tech

RE: OMG, battery life!?!
ska @ 11/18/2002 12:38:05 PM #
Maybe they should do like what Casio do instead? so the PDA can die but the clock can tick away.

(a transparant display on top of analog watch, it actually look like a normal watch)
http://www.casio.com/watches/product.cfm?section=168&market=0&product=4167

RE: OMG, battery life!?!
I.M Anonymous @ 11/18/2002 1:44:20 PM #
If you can underclock it, it should last longer. The Palm V was more than fast enough at 16mhz, and there is no reason a watch needs 33.

RE: OMG, battery life!?!
pgovotsos @ 11/18/2002 6:19:25 PM #
According to their specs, the battery is a rechargable one. So when you have it in the cradle syncing, it recharges just like your "real" Palm.

RE: OMG, battery life!?!
mstur @ 11/19/2002 11:27:58 AM #
The battery on the old Fossil PDA Watch is a small lithium battery which has to be replaced frequently and causes considerable costs :-(
Thus, a rechargable battery, even if it is necessary to charge it daily, is to be preferred. Also the new Palm PDA Watch seems to be smaller and less clunky ! I tried the Fossil PDA watch recently and found it way too large and uncomfortable, especially the rubber wristband.

I definitely will try the new one, even if it is not waterproof !

RE: OMG, battery life!?!
trevor_d @ 11/19/2002 11:46:08 AM #
I've seen the watch, and have interviewed the Fossil folks. You guys are missing the point on the battery life.

First of all, consider the size of the battery. You can't compare it to a Palm-size PDA in terms of battery life, because it not the same size.

Also, when the watch is not in "Palm mode," it's a watch,so it's on ALL THE TIME. Therefore, considering its on all the time and the battery itself must be damn tiny, I'd say four days is a miracle.

The watch will rest in a cradle for recharging. Since most people don't wear their watches at night, they could recharge it as they sleep. No big deal.

Yes, it's big, but it's smaller than the first Fossil PDA watch and, if you look at it, no bigger than the fashion watches of today.

Also, I tested the original Fossil PDA watch, which was a challenge from day one. Battery life, from the two button cells, was no where near three months. Maybe three weeks. It ate batteries.

This is much improved over the first one, at least from the preliminary specs and the one I played with. It is a fully functional Palm OS 4.1 "wristheld," which means means most apps will work with it. (The ones that will have problems it will be games that require the four buttons and rocker switch.)

Me, I think it's pretty cool, but I'm reserving judgement until I see the final product.

RE: OMG, battery life!?!
Gremmie @ 11/19/2002 1:08:26 PM #
We are now talking about underclocking your watch! People, we have gone too far

RE: OMG, battery life!?!
hoodoo @ 11/19/2002 4:00:59 PM #
LOL!

Underclocking a watch, how ironic is that!

But it seems to make sense, 16mhz would be fine in this thing, I didn't notice that much diff when I went from a m100 at 16mhz to m105 at 33mhz.

RE: OMG, battery life!?!
Ricky @ 11/19/2002 4:11:11 PM #
That's because the m105 only runs at 16MHz. They make the jump to 33MHz from the m125 and up.

I just love the tiny stylus!...

mikemusick @ 11/18/2002 12:04:24 PM #
...NOT!!! If that's their endgame, I hope they plan to supply stylii by the gross. It wouldn't be a day before something like that is dropped where it's irretrievable.

The "Dick Tracy" school of consumer electronics has not been very successful to date. Most recent example that comes to mind is the Casio wristwatch/GPS. Originally $500, retailers are trying desperately - and unsuccessfuly - to dump their stock at $200 per.

I would expect similar results for the Fossil - geek factor is even too high for most techies.

ick

kezza @ 11/18/2002 12:16:14 PM #
Now, I may not be any kind of a fashion maven, but this is even uglier than fossil's last attempt at a PDA watch (the gadgeteer did a review of that one, btw). to whomever said this definitely wasn't a chick-magnet, you're right.

this thing is pretty foul.

i realize it's probably exactly what some people have been looking for, but i agree with the guy who said that it would be better as a half-dollar sized pocket unit, rather than a watch. hey, i know, put it on a chain and make it a pocket watch. that would be tolerable. maybe even cute. but this is just waaaaay too doofy.
oh yeah, and the tiny stylus is maybe not the greatest idea. i'm wondering how many will get flushed down toilets during the first year after the watch's release.

--------------------------------------
"Well, if it isn't the leader of the wiener patrol, boning up on his nerd lessons"
http://stirwise.com

RE: ick
Midknyte @ 11/18/2002 12:57:39 PM #
To each his own. This may very well be a chick magnet and an effective one at that - I just would not ever want to know what sort of chick that is! >;)

RE: ick
Ba-gug @ 11/18/2002 1:05:52 PM #
Sure it's a chick magnet, it's just the side of the magnet that repels them. When they can get a watch PDA down to the size and thickness of the Casio Data Bank watch, then I'll have a serious look at one. I just don't want to wear a brick on my wrist.

Please buy Palm stuff, I want my stock to go back up so I can sell it!
RE: ick
Zippy @ 11/18/2002 2:04:11 PM #
LOL: side that repels them.

Anyone else notice?

cyn @ 11/18/2002 1:33:24 PM #
This is the zire, scaled down and marked up.

160x160 greyscale, white plastic face, 2mb ram 2mb rom.

It looks like the picture is decieving in that the launcher has a large-icon mode. I opened a new window when I first started reading, so I fortunately managed to actually read the specs - which I wouldn't have gone to do after reading...

more impressive/useful than at first it seemed, at least. But still, that stylus - chunky watch - and having to do graffiti directly on the surface of your tiny watch... yeck


Speaking of which - I'm pretty careful with my watch, but it has taken a square smack against a wall or dresser/etc. probably once every 2 months. For this thing to be touch sensitive / graffiti capable, it would be fairly delicate I would think - just something to think about.

RE: Anyone else notice?
I.M Anonymous @ 11/18/2002 1:53:26 PM #
I too am concerned about the smack against a wall thing. A touch screen is awfully delicate.

Also, about the apps, the specs imply that the built in apps have ben customized for the smaller screen.

RE: Anyone else notice?
bigfoot @ 11/18/2002 4:26:49 PM #
Looks like you need to be left handed too. Wouldn't bother me, but I can't speak for the rest of you.

Cheers,

RE: Anyone else notice?
masitti @ 11/18/2002 7:19:45 PM #
What makes you think you need to be left handed? *confused* Just because it's on the right hand doesn't mean you HAVE to be left handed... :)

------------------------
Mario Masitti
O/T Mod
I Love Tennis :)
RE: Anyone else notice?
abosco @ 11/18/2002 7:48:27 PM #
Hmm, I thought watches were supposed to be worn on the left hand?

Watches and belts... which way do you put them in?

---
This signature is witty. You like it.

RE: Anyone else notice?
masitti @ 11/19/2002 10:09:41 PM #
Left handed people usually where their watch on the right side because when writing, the watch can get in the way.

It also distinguishes me as a left handed person, which I like (thank god there are a few perfect people in this world... =p).

------------------------
Mario Masitti
O/T Mod
I Love Tennis :)

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