Samsung reveals Tizen-powered Gear S smartwatch

GEAR S. The Samsung Gear S, in white. Image from Samsung Mobile Press.

MANILA, Philippines – Samsung announced a new smartwatch on Thursday, August 28, that it says would expand the smartphone experience to one's wrist.

Called the Samsung Gear S, the smartwatch has a 3G modem inside, allowing it to receive messages and make or take calls even when it's not within range of a Bluetooth enabled phone or a WiFi signal.

The Gear S sports a two-inch Super AMOLED display with 360x480 resolution. It uses a Dual core 1.0 Ghz processor and runs a Tizen-based wearable operating system. It also has 512 MB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory, with a full charge lasting around two days.

Also announced as a companion to the Gear S is Samsung's Gear Circle, a wearable headset that clasps around the neck and connects to a smartphone for a range of uses.

The Gear Circle will allow users to take calls, listen to music, or enable voice commands using the device once paired with a smartphone. It also vibrates when an incoming call or notification is available.

According to Engadget, both devices are slated for an October release, though no pricing has been made available yet. – Rappler.com