Smartwatches are typically made by companies who have a lot of experience with electronics, while not knowing much about traditional timekeeping devices. Timex is among the first watchmakers that wants to see if a long tradition will make any difference.
Timex celebrates its 160th anniversary this year, so it must have thought to do something else for a change. A watchmaker might not know that much about electronic circuits and smartphone compatibility, but then again, Tag Heuer specialists are said to help Apple make the iTime smartwatch. The lack of experience in this particular field didn’t discourage Timex from creating the Ironman One GPS+ smartwatch.
One of the most remarkable things about the Ironman One GPS+ is that its functionality is not limited when you don’t have your smartphone with you. In fact, this smartwatch works independently all the time, meaning that it wasn’t designed for displaying notifications or updates.
Ironman One GPS+ is water-resistant up to 50 meters, and packs a high-resolution Mirasol display. The built-in 3G radio handles messaging and e-mail functionality, while the GPS sensors lets you know your current location, if you’re going off the beaten path. For that purpose, Timex’s smartwatch also acts as a fitness tracker. The included heartrate monitor should give you an idea about how well you’re performing while working out.
The 4GB of internal storage isn’t that much, but combined with the included MP3 player, it’s more than enough for enjoying some of your favorite music while on the go.
Smartwatches typically have disappointing autonomy, but this is surely not the case. When GPS is turned on, the built in battery keeps the Ironman One GPS+ running for up to 8 hours. In a normal regime, the battery life should be of up to 72 hours.
Timex partnered with AT&T and Qualcomm to make this smartwatch a reality. The latter most probably provided the CPU that powers Timex’s device, while the former will probably help with distributing the smartwatch.
At $399.95, the Ironman One GPS+ isn’t for everyone. As a matter of fact, all the Android Wear smartwatches will be cheaper than that, but it’s pretty clear that the two different types address different audiences. The gadget can be pre-ordered from the Timex portal, and will be available globally sometime this fall.
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