HTC has long been rumoured to be developing a smartwatch, known as the HTC One Wear. It's now just two weeks away as the official companion device to the HTC One M9, but it isn't called the HTC One Wear, and it doesn't even run Android Wear- this smartwatch will work with Android AND iPhone. He we round up the HTC Petra UK release date, price and specs rumours.Also see: Best smartwatches 2015.
Since we began this article, back when the HTC Petra was known as the HTC One Wear, HTC put on hold its smartwatch plans until a time when it had worked out how to pull off a successful smartwatch - no-one had got right the concept just yet, it reportedly said. Following several will they/won't they rumours that have surfaced in the meantime, @upleaks is now offering detailed info on the upcoming HTC Petra.
HTC Petra UK release date: When is the HTC smartwatch coming out?
The HTC Petra is an official companion to the HTC One M9, which will be unveiled at MWC 2015 on 1 March. The device will go on sale within the first quarter of 2015, so by the end of that same month.
At first the HTC Petra will be available exclusively in the US on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks. A worldwide release will follow, but the UK release date is not yet known. We'll update this article as soon as that information is available.
HTC Petra UK price: How much will the HTC smartwatch cost?
No pricing has been confirmed for the HTC Petra, which isn't surprising, given that the device itself hasn't been confirmed by HTC. Again, this is where you'll find that information once it is available. We can of course speculate, however.
Originally pegged as a rival to the £199 Motorola Moto 360 and LG G Watch R, it's likely that HTC will pitch the Petra at a similar price. Of course, now with Android and iPhone support, the HTC Petra is also a rival to theiOS-only Apple Watch itself, which will cost from £350. HTC will want to undercut Apple on price though, so our money's still on circa-£200.
HTC Petra specs
HTC's Petra is a 23g smartwatch with a 1.8in (320x160) PMOLED flexible display. It will be available in Teal/Lime or Black/Blue Grey and in small, medium and large sizes. The Petra is also IP57-certified dust- and waterproof.
Rather than Android Wear the HTC Petra runs HTC's own RTOS, which means it works with iPhone (iOS 7.0 ) as well as Android (KitKat 4.4).
The HTC Petra runs the ST Micro STM32L151 chipset, supports Bluetooth and GPS and charges over USB or POGO pin. The battery should keep going more than three days.
As well as a smartwatch with the standard alarm, timer, stopwatch, music, camera and weather apps the HTC Petra is a fitness tracker, letting you monitor your sleep and activity. The Petra will also be sold with a footpad that can more accurately measure the number of steps you've taken, which is a drawback of all other fitness trackers.
Smartwatches are great and all, but how long will it take advertisers to ruin wearable tech?
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