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You can pre-order this Android Lollipop standalone smartwatch now

By Liu Hongzuo - on 23 Sep 2015, 12:19pm

You can preorder this Android Lollipop standalone smartwatch now

Omate TrueSmart+ standalone smartwatch - it runs a full Android 5.1 OS on its own, so it doesn't need to be tethered to a smartphone and it's operational.

Fancy having a smartwatch that doesn’t need a smartphone connected to it? The Omate TrueSmart+ standalone smartwatch does exactly that and a little more. Modeled after its predecessor who raised more than US$1 million (S$1.42 million) on Kickstarter, the latest version promises a handful of upgrades, including a screen with more pixels and fully-operational Android 5.1 OS (Lollipop) out of the box. Pre-orders for the TrueSmart+ have already begun on its website, and it will end 31 October 2015.

A standalone smartwatch like the TrueSmart+ does not require a smartphone for typical smartphone use. That includes making calls or sending texts directly from watch to other people using the SIM card inserted in the smartwatch, and you can get Android-compatible apps (.apk file format) via Ostore, its proprietary app store.

Omate TrueSmart+.

Main differences between the TrueSmart+ and its previous version include the updated operating system, with Android 5.1 OS instead of Android 4.2.2, powering the smartwatch’s very own interface, the OUI 3.0. The predecessor was running on an older interface – the OUI 2.1. Screen sizes are effectively the same at 1.54-inch, but the old TrueSmart had a 240x240 pixel display using a capacitive TP screen, while the new TrueSmart+ has a higher pixel density thanks to its 320x320 display with a curved capacitive screen. The new TrueSmart+ lacks the predecessor's 5-megapixel camera found on the rim of the watch, but its entry-level equivalent, TrueSmart-i, carries the said camera module.

Bosch BHI160 sensor hub, for all your gyroscopic and accelerometer duties.

Hardware-wise, the TrueSmart+ runs on a dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A7 MediaTek MT6572M processor, and an ARM Mali-400 MP GPU. Processes are met using a 1GB RAM, and the watch has 8GB internal storage. It has a micro-SIM card slot for cellular capabilities, and within the smartwatch comes antennas for 2G, 3G, and Wi-Fi connectivity, hidden within its strengthened rubber straps. Gyroscopic and fitness tracking features are handled by an always-on Bosch BHI160 sensor hub, with a very low power consumption rate.

If you’re going to pre-order one, know that Omate has both the TrueSmart+ and its entry-level TrueSmart-i available on their pre-order page. The flagship Omate TrueSmart+ is currently at US$169 (S$240), while its entry-level sibling TrueSmart-i will set you back by US$149 (S$212). At the time of writing, the online pre-order store states that the TrueSmart-i stocks are currently depleted, but restocks should be live by the middle to end-October (to be confirmed).

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