Samsung is expected to unveil its first smartwatch with a round face as early as MWC 2015 (alongside the Galaxy S6 perhaps?). Known so far as the Samsung Orbis, details have slowly been coming to light in recent days and weeks. Most intriguing is the rumour that it will sport a rotating bezel ring to control certain functions.
The rotating bezel ring will be one of the key ways that users interact with their watch. Depending on the context, rotating the ring will let you scroll through recent notifications, recently used apps (either one at a time or three a time depending on the speed you turn the ring) or scroll through different widgets.
When a call comes in, it will be possible to accept it by turning the ring to the right whereas a turn to the left will instead send the call to voicemail and send a preset message. Pressing the crown will end an active call.
The ring will also work with specific apps. For example, it will let you skip ahead or go back a track in the music app. It will also let you scroll through playlists, tracks and albums. Other apps that will support the ring include Alarms, Find My Device, and the Weather app.
With Samsung also planning to open up the API, developers will also be able to use the ring in their apps.
Unlike other Samsung Gear watches, the Orbis will not let you conduct calls right from your smartwatch. It will notify you of incoming calls and allow you to accept or not but the actual call will need to be conducted with your smartphone.
SamMobile suggests that the Samsung Orbis will offer “a lot of other functions on the watch itself.” Hopefully other rumours will soon reveal these.
Source : SamMobile