The company's patent application describes a method by which the watch can be modified quite heavily through its modular design. October 17, 2013 7:44 AM PDT Will the Samsung Galaxy Gear soon have to face off with the Nokia smartwatch? (Credit: Brian Bennett/CNET) Apple and Samsung aren't the only major companies to be getting into the smartwatch business, a new patent applications hints. The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Thursday published a patent application filed in August by Nokia showing a smartwatch that can be modified by the user to include different functions. In order to achieve such functionality, Nokia's smartwatch would feature a series of displays that can show off whatever the customer desires. Related stories Galaxy S4 slumps but still top-selling phone, research firm says Microsoft's chilling, charming 'Walking Dead' ad Windows and HTC jump into jumbo phones Nokia to lump free year of Netflix with some Lumia sales Windows Phone finally jumps into phablet era, but is it too late? So, for example, the first face on the watch might show the time. As the owner moves the band around their wrist, subsequent displays on the band will show other details. Whatever display is turned face-up will be activated and show the desired information. Based on the drawings that accompanied the patent application, Nokia would ensure that each display around the band would be touch-enabled. The idea, the company said in the application, is to offer a single place -- the person's wrist -- where they can access and monitor all of the devices they would normally carry around with them, including a smartphone and game device. As with other companies, Nokia files patent applications all the time. In many cases, companies never bring designs to the market, so it's impossible to say whether the company will be unveiling a smartwatch at any point. If it does, however, Nokia will find some stiff competition in Samsung's Galaxy Gear. Apple's long-rumored iWatch might also be on store shelves by the time Nokia's option is available. (Via Engadget)
The company's patent application describes a method by which the watch can be modified quite heavily through its modular design.
Will the Samsung Galaxy Gear soon have to face off with the Nokia smartwatch?
(Credit: Brian Bennett/CNET)
Apple and Samsung aren't the only major companies to be getting into the smartwatch business, a new patent applications hints.
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Thursday published a patent application filed in August by Nokia showing a smartwatch that can be modified by the user to include different functions. In order to achieve such functionality, Nokia's smartwatch would feature a series of displays that can show off whatever the customer desires.
Related stories
- Galaxy S4 slumps but still top-selling phone, research firm says
- Microsoft's chilling, charming 'Walking Dead' ad
- Windows and HTC jump into jumbo phones
- Nokia to lump free year of Netflix with some Lumia sales
- Windows Phone finally jumps into phablet era, but is it too late?
So, for example, the first face on the watch might show the time. As the owner moves the band around their wrist, subsequent displays on the band will show other details. Whatever display is turned face-up will be activated and show the desired information.
Based on the drawings that accompanied the patent application, Nokia would ensure that each display around the band would be touch-enabled. The idea, the company said in the application, is to offer a single place -- the person's wrist -- where they can access and monitor all of the devices they would normally carry around with them, including a smartphone and game device.
As with other companies, Nokia files patent applications all the time. In many cases, companies never bring designs to the market, so it's impossible to say whether the company will be unveiling a smartwatch at any point. If it does, however, Nokia will find some stiff competition in Samsung's Galaxy Gear. Apple's long-rumored iWatch might also be on store shelves by the time Nokia's option is available.
(Via Engadget)
