by Luke Johnson 19 March 2015 |
Share:
The Apple Watch Edition has sparked a wave of high-end wearables, with Gucci and will.i.am joining forces on a new fashion-focussed smartband.
Building on the musician’s i.am Puls wearable, the new co-venture has seen Gucci lend its name to the wrist-based device that can operate without the need for a synced smartphone.
Unveiled at the BaselWorld watch show in, yep, you guessed it, Basel, Switzerland, the currently unnamed device debuted ahead of further expected smartwatch announcements from traditional watch makers and fashion houses, including Tag Heuer.
"A lot of people are creating wearable devices from a tech background. Gucci has been putting things on your body for years," will.i.am said (via CNet).
He added: "[Wearable technology] is being dictated by the wrong folks. We like to call it fashionology. It's where fashion and technology meet."
Cringing word mash-ups aside, the wearable looks set to make waves in the world of the fashion conscious.
Boasting all the usual fitness tracking sensors, including an accelerometer, heart rate sensor and temperature sensor, the 3G enabled band can make and receive calls, texts and emails all without the need for an accompanying handset.
Four years in the making, the Gucci and will.i.am project adds integrated GPS to the mix, with a front-facing camera popping up for video calls and selfie lovers.
Related: Withings Activité Pop review
Capable of storing music, maps and calendars, there is currently no world on the device’s battery life.
Pricing and availability for the fashion-led wearable are also still unclear. Stay tuned to TrustedReviews for all the latest.