The Smartwatch market is certainly going to be a lucrative space for the companies that can be first to release their products, go through the lessons learnt cycle, and also be able to build a viable application ecosystem on top of it, which shouldn’t be confused with standard smartphone apps, as not all apps translate well to your wrist, and therefore you don’t need as many. No one is going to want to edit a picture on their wrist on the move, even if they can !!!
According to the Smartwatch Group Samsung Electronics had 33.8% market share in terms of products shipped (800,000 units) in 2013, and Samsung are looking at building on this further. They have recently released their updated Software Development Kit (SDK) which will allow application developers to target all of the Tizen Gear devices, including the Gear S. Another major boost for the Tizen ecosystem will be the second annual Samsung Developers Conference in November, where there will be sessions dedicated to helping Samsung developers to port their applications to the Gear Smartwatch linueup that consists of the Gear S, Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Galaxy Gear.
Samsung have also been working with some high profile partners, and have the following Gear S applications available:
Currently available Samsung Gear S apps include
- Air France (App): From purchasing tickets to checking-in and obtaining your boarding pass, you can do it all with your Samsung Gear S! This application allows Gear S users to easily book an airline ticket or check a flight’s status. And if you’re a Flying Blue member, you will save even more time of your time!
- AXA (App): Feel protected 24×7 with personalized health notifications, reminders and content from AXA Health Application on your Samsung Gear S, to achieve a healthier lifestyle for you and your family.
- Deezer (App): Control your playlist and album whilst listening to Music on Deezer with your Samsung Gear S.
- EasilyDo (App): EasilyDo for the Samsung Gear S is the perfect companion to keep you organized and make sure you never miss anything. With powerful features that keep you on track with commute times, travel updates, bill pay reminders and more. With the Samsung Gear S, EasilyDo offers a better way to view information and execute tasks.
- Endomondo Sports Tracker (App): Track your run, ride or other sport activity with your Samsung Gear S.
- Engadget (App): Engadget is your ultimate destination for reviews, news and research from the world of consumer electronics. Engadget’s team of expert editors and columnists work passionately (some would say, obsessively) to bring you the best information about all gadgets, the science and technology behind them, as well as insider insights before the products are even in the market. The Engadget app for the Samsung Galaxy Gear S is powered by advanced text streaming technology from Spritz Technology, Inc., and delivers the definitive tech news you need instantly.
- Expedia (App): At the airport? Your gate and terminal info is right up front. Picking up a car? Your confirmation number is waiting for you. Trying to find your hotel? Directions are a tap away with your Samsung Gear S.
- Fast FT (App): Live news feed through your Samsung Gear S from the Financial Times combined with easy-reading technology from Spritz.
- Fleksy (App): Fleksy is the most accurate, most beautiful keyboard in the world. Officially the Guinness World Record holder for fastest typing, it is now coming to the Samsung Gear S for fast, simple typing straight from your wrist. The Samsung Gear S app features a full Fleksy keyboard service, available to use in other installed apps and not limited to the Messenger app. It is also optimized in performance for the unique screen of the Samsung Gear S.
- Glympse (App): Real-time and dynamic, Glympse is the easiest way to share your location with anyone using the Samsung Gear S. With the free Glympse app, there is no need to create an account or have your location continuously available – just set the duration and send. The new Glympse app for the Samsung Gear S is now optimized for the larger display, and also includes battery and performance updates for a better experience.
- Golf NAVI (App): Golf NAVI is a standalone Samsung Gear S app that tracks your distance from the hole on 60,000+ golf courses globally. As an upgrade to the Gear 2 app, Golf NAVI will provide users with altitude and pin direction information along with map view features, without having to carry a smartphone.
- Komoot (App): Outdoor Turn-by-turn Navigation for Samsung Gear S users, especially for mountain biking.
- MapMyRun (App): MapMyRun, the top-rated fitness tracking application from MapMyFitness, a wholly owned subsidiary of UnderArmour is now available and customized for your new Samsung Gear S. It enables you to use the built-in GPS of your mobile device to track all of your fitness activities. Record your workout details, including duration, distance, pace, speed, elevation, calories burned, and route traveled on an interactive map. Effortlessly save and upload your workout data to MapMyFitness.com where you can view and analyze workout data, and comprehensive workout history.
- MarketWall (App): Real-time market quotes and analysis of stocks and shares directly on your Samsung Gear S.
- MyMusicCloud (App): MyMusicCloud is the easiest way to sync your music, across all your devices – any computer, mobile phone, tablet, connected televisions and, now, Samsung Gear S. Offline music playback capabilities will be added in future releases.
- NewsAce (App): NewsAce is a RSS Reader app specially designed with an intelligent auto swiping features that allow users to quickly find articles on your Samsung Gear S.
- N-TV (App): Pushing Breaking News + 10 TOP News in several categories like Business, Politics, and Sport all through your Samsung Gear S.
- PayPal (App): PayPal any time, send money, get alerts, check-in at stores to pay all directly through your Samsung Gear S.
- Runtastic (App): Runtastic uses GPS to map and track sports and fitness activities, such as running, jogging, biking and walking. Runtastic is now optimized for the Samsung Gear S, providing easier to read activity stats – in real time and directly on your wrist – during your workouts. Get your sweat on with Runtastic and Samsung today!
- Scotiabank (App): Quick Balance on your Samsung Gear S allows you to check your balances for your preferred Scotiabank accounts right from your wrist.
- Spritz (App): The new Spritz-powered apps have all been optimized for the Samsung Gear S by making them standalone applications that better utilize the additional vertical screen real estate on the watch to improve the reading experience. With Spritz on the Gear S, users can comfortably read all of their content on-the-go from a host of new publishing partners.
- Suddeutsche Zeitung: Süddeutsche.de-App – Take great journalism with you wherever you go with your Samsung Gear S.
- Wunderlist (App + Rich Notifications): Manage your to-do lists with Wunderlist for your Samsung Gear S.
- Dfinery (App – Watchface): With Dfinery, you can express your unique fashion sense on the Samsung Gear S with hundreds of premade watchfaces based on today’s most popular content or design and socialize your own watchface with our palette of animated and static backgrounds, clock hands and dials, fonts, biometric settings and much more.
- VOGUE (App – Watchface): Vogue your wrist! Set your Samsung Gear S watchface to display the most gorgeous photographs from Vogue’s fashion collection. Choose using the color selection to match your fabulous outfit or just pick the loveliness that you want to rock today.
- Band (Rich Notification): One Stop Group communication: Connect with those who matter!
- ChargePoint (Rich Notification): ChargePoint is the largest network of electric vehicle (EV) charging with over 18,500 locations. ChargePoint notifications provide real-time info on an EV’s charging status. The rich notification on Gear S will conveniently inform drivers when their EV is fully charged along with the changes in power, and driver reservation status updates and reminders. As many people charge their cars at work, users can easily glance at their Samsung Gear S to get EV notifications during a meeting.
- Facebook (Rich Notification): With the Samsung Gear S, Facebook is bringing rich notifications including status updates, comments, photo tags, check-in’s, and more, to your wrist.
- Foursquare (Rich Notification): Foursquare for the Samsung Gear S provides a custom interface to help people find the best places nearby, without having to search for them. Whether you are exploring a new city or passing through your neighborhood, the Samsung Gear S will help you see through walls and find the best hidden gems nearby. You can see all of the information you need to know about a place before you stop by, including a photos, ratings, and contact information. And when you sit down at a new restaurant, your Samsung Gear S will let you know what’s great.
- Hotel Reservation Service (Rich Notification): With the new HRS App for the Samsung Gear S, clients receive a notification on their Samsung Gear S as soon as the hotel room is available or when their reservation expires.
- Inrix (Rich Notification): INRIX is the most accurate traffic, routing and road alert app that gives you control of your commute on your Samsung Gear S.
- iPass (Rich Notification): iPass for the Samsung Gear S connects your wrist to more than 13 million hotspots around the globe through your Galaxy phone.
- SolCalendar (Rich Notification): Never miss out your important events and keep tracking your goals with your Samsung Gear S.
- SolMail (Rich Notification): Never be late in responding your important e-mails. Check your messages wherever you are with your Samsung Gear S.
- The Score (Rich Notification): The Score is the ultimate, personalized mobile sports experience with comprehensive and customizable scores, stats, news, fantasy data, alerts & much more all accessible through your Samsung Gear S.
- TripCase (Rich Notification): TripCase for the Samsung Gear S helps you stay connected with your trip details by delivering messages when you need them the most.
- Umano (Rich Notification): With Umano for the Samsung Gear S your on-the-go news listening experience is even more convenient with wearable controls and notifications
Let the Smartwatch wars begin !!!!
