Asus teases smartwatch reveal for IFA
Asus could be the latest manufacturer to reveal a smartwatch, as teaser invites for an IFA press conference land in media inboxes
With LG’s G Watch, Samsung’s Gear 2 and the Moto 360 having all had their time in the spotlight, fans of wearable technology could have something new to look forward to in the next few weeks; Asus has just used its official Twitter account to tease a smartwatch reveal for September’s IFA show in Berlin.
Something #Incredible is going to happen at #IFA2014, see you there! pic.twitter.com/1Dr2zAo06I
— ASUS (@ASUS) August 19, 2014
When Google first revealed Android Wear, the forked version of Android designed specifically for wearable technology, Asus was mentioned as one of the launch partners, but so far we’ve seen nothing from the Taiwanese manufacturer. Based on the above teaser, which shows a square shape with rounded corners in silhouette, that should change in a matter of weeks.
The accompanying quote, by Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran, reinforces the message, leaving us in little doubt that a smartwatch is on the way. Despite appearing to have a square screen, rather than a circular display like the stunning Moto 360, there could still be good reason to get excited about the device; according to Asus CEO Jerry Shen, the company’s first smartwatch would be firmly aimed at budget-conscious users, and would have a “relatively low price”.
That would certainly make a change compared to the £160 G Watch, or Motorola’s expected £200-£250 launch price for the Moto 360, and may help encourage people who aren’t convinced by wearable technology to give it a try, although things may have changed since that original interview and Asus could instead be targeting a higher price – we won’t know until the event on the 3rd.
We’ll be out in Berlin for IFA to bring you all the news from the show, including an Asus wearable if one gets announced.