In between the qualifying days of the European Beach Volleyball Championship, the Swiss company Swatch presented smart watches in Klagenfurt, Austria.

It's called a gadget Touch Zero One and the video review is dedicated to him, in which Valery Istishev I even played a little volleyball.

Swatch They chose the place and event for a reason. The fact is that the line of watches Touch Zero will be dedicated to specific sports. The first product is designed specifically for volleyball players. Although this is a rather narrow application for a gadget, the company has done a lot to ensure that everyone likes the watch.

Let's start with the frankly sporty style of the accessory, which will appear in two versions: with a strap for volleyball players and the usual one for everyone.

The first is made in such a way that when hitting the ball with the wrist, the athlete (or blogger) does not injure his hand, and the projectile does not change the direction of movement. The strap is weightless and made of breathable fabric.

The “civilian” version is equipped with a silicone strap, which does not bring any additional changes for the owner, but they look thinner. The case is made of plastic, and the weight of the watch is prohibitively small. However, there are no specific figures yet.

On the front side there is a rectangular curved display. At the top is the logo and the proud inscription “Swiss”, reminiscent of the manufacturer’s roots. The monochrome LCD screen looks great in any conditions: indoors or under the scorching sun. For those who find themselves in pitch darkness, there is a backlit screen. At the bottom there is an element responsible for control. Outwardly it looks like a strip with a button drawn on it, but technically it is a touch panel. The system works according to the scheme of short and long presses, as well as swipes. You quickly get used to this, because the watch distinguishes the types of clicks quite well. With a long touch you enter the settings menu, where you can synchronize the accessory with the application, change the time in the time zone, set a timer or turn on the stopwatch. There you can also launch one of 3 modes: standard (simply counting steps), volleyball (counting hits on the ball) and fun (monitoring the number and strength of claps). All the same, by the way, can be configured through the application.

What is inconvenient is synchronization. You need to do this yourself, turning on Bluetooth on the watch. That is, you went through the whole day, synchronized your watches in the evening and received information in the application. There is a logical explanation for this algorithm. The case contains a regular watch battery, the service life of which, for a minute, is 9 months. Then you can replace it yourself. Information about successes is stored for up to 30 days on the device itself and for as long as necessary in the application. Which, by the way, is very well done.

The video shows in detail the main features - perhaps the design and approach. The point is that there is a healthy dose of humor. For example, there are daily goals, like 10,000 steps, or global ones. When starting the application you will be asked “What city do you always want to visit?”. And they will add a choice of several of the most famous metropolises, saying how many steps it will take to get to each one. Actually, this will be the global goal - to reach New York. This is an interesting approach. Next, you have the choice of a coach from 3 types (by the way, all men): superhero, “cool dude” and lazy. Each of them will push you to achieve your goals - from the most persistent to the least active. The utility can work with Android And iOS.

In general, it turned out to be a decent watch. Although the accessory can hardly be called “smart” in the usual sense, for Swatch it is a serious step towards the technologies of the future. By the way, at the event it was announced that the company would make at least 5 such devices. In order of their appearance: a model for the next Olympics, for freeriders, for surfers and, suddenly, for chefs. In one of the interviews Nick Hayek(the head of the company) even talked about a model called Six, which is in tune with you know what. This modification is planned to be made for couples so that they can monitor nighttime activities, collect statistics, and the watch would remind them when to change their position or increase/decrease the intensity of the “exercise.”

The first model will reach Russia by September and will cost approximately 8,000 rubles, if there are no strong fluctuations in exchange rates.

P.S. We want a model for journalists that calculates the speed of writing articles and predicts productivity.

Swatchpresents smartwatch: Touch Zero One (for playing volleyball)

Today I bring to your attention news that is equally unexpected and expected: Swatch presented its first smart watch, a watch from the Swatch manufactory was called Touch Zero One and, as always, is located in a market segment accessible to almost every watch lover. Smartwatches are presented by one of the main Swiss giants and this undoubtedly arouses great interest. Swatch Touch has been in preparation for about 4 years, and now we have the first mass-produced smartwatch that has a large touch screen.

Previously announced, the Swatch Touch Liquid Metal was a very limited edition watch that featured Bluetooth connectivity. Today the production model of Swatch Touch Zero One appeared. Officially, there is not much information regarding the new model, but after conducting additional research we got a much more complete picture. Here's what we know.

The Swatch Touch Zero One watch, in addition to the curved screen, has the following features: built-in backlight at the moment of finger touch, a touch screen that will work with greater accuracy and better feedback than its predecessor, and the watch also contains a “beach volleyball” function, which includes step counter, impact force, and ball receiving force.

The watch will communicate with an Android or iOS phone, acting as a fitness tracker that is designed with an emphasis not on sports in general, but on beach volleyball specifically. This emphasis will allow the watch, using its internal sensors, to collect and send information to the phone, which will then process all the information in a special application. The application includes functions such as “number of strikes”, but the watch is capable of not only counting the number of strikes, but will also be able to classify strikes, dividing strikes into attacking, low, high and receiving. The watch is also capable of measuring the force of a blow and assessing how good a player is on a scale from 0 to 100, drawing an analogy from an amateur to a professional.

The player's strength rating is compiled according to his activity on the court and the number of shots. Finally, from all this collected data, the application will be able to calculate how many calories their owner burned during a game or workout, as well as build a graph of what progress their owner has made over the weeks and months.

The Swatch Touch Zero One will run on a battery, but unlike most other smartwatches, this smartwatch won't require charging every night after a day of heavy use. Swatch announces that the watch will last for many months. Although there is no specific information on how this will be implemented yet, most likely the watch will use NFC to send and receive information from the phone. This type of connection uses even less power than Bluetooth, allowing for longer battery life than other smartwatches.

The lack of a colorful high-resolution LCD display and a limited number of sensors will also help extend battery life. But, as you know, Swatch is developing new sensors and a new battery, so owners of the new watch will certainly receive a smart watch that works for a long time without recharging.

Quoting Bloomberg, just two years ago we heard Nick Hajek Jr., president and chairman of the Swatch Group, say that he didn't think smartwatches would revolutionize the industry. Now, unsurprisingly, we are at the point where Swatch can't compete with Apple, which is practically dominant in the smartwatch market. The Swatch Touch Zero One will compete in a much lower price segment, offering better battery life and a wider selection of sport-specific models.

Swatch smartwatches will not provide functions such as notification of emails, call and message alarms, primarily the Swatch Touch Zero One is a fitness tracker that records a person’s physical activity. As a first step, here is a rather interesting proposal that marks the entry of a watch industry giant into the smartwatch market. The price of the Swiss smart watch Swatch Touch Zero One will be about $160.

The Swatch Touch Zero app is available on the App store (for iOS) and Google Play (for Android):

The application is currently supported on the following devices:

IPhone5 and later released iPhone smartphone models

On devices with the latest version of iOS

Currently the application is supported on devices with:

Android 4.4 or later

Bluetooth 4.0LE

Download the application to your smartphone from the App store or Google Play (make sure Wifi or 3G mobile network is turned on).

– Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your mobile device.

Make sure Bluetooth mode is activated on your watch.

The watch must be in close proximity to the mobile device.

– Open the application and select the unique watch model code indicated on the display of the watch itself

Personalize your app by adding your details and customize it to suit your preferences.

More detailed information can be found in the instructions supplied with the watch or on

If you have problems syncing your watch and app, please follow the instructions below.

Make sure that:

– The application is available for your mobile device.

– You have downloaded all available updates for the application.

– Bluetooth is turned on on your mobile device.

– Bluetooth mode is activated on your watch.

– Your watch is in close proximity to your mobile device.

If the problem persists, force quit the application, power cycle or restart your mobile device, and re-sync.

In addition, you can ask for help or the nearest

TIME (T1/T2, day of the week, alarm, chronograph, timer).

PEDOGER (Counts your steps, the distance you've walked during the day, and the calories you've burned).

COACH (Keeps track of your progress and rewards you for good work).

STRIKE (Measures the force of your strikes and counts their number).

COTTON (Counts the intensity and number of applause).

The application stores detailed data about all personal achievements.

The watch must be on your dominant hand. These settings can be made through the application on your smartphone. Activate the “Beach Volleyball” function and check the number of claps and the power of the last one. Please note that when the “Beach Volleyball” function is turned on, the “pedometer” function is disabled.

Activate the “Clap” function and quickly press to check the number of claps and the power of the last one. Please note that when the “Clap” function is turned on, the “pedometer” function is disabled.

More detailed statistics on all personal achievements are available in the application.

The watch has a built-in sensor that is responsible for counting steps. The sensor calculates the step length based on the user's height specified in the application settings and the movement of the leading hand. If one of the parameters is not met, the steps may not be counted. Also, if the Beach Volleyball or Clap functions are activated, steps will not be counted.

The average step length stored in the watch's memory is 78 cm. This is for a person with a height of 176 cm. Using the app, the step length indicator can be personalized.

The application counts the calories you burn per day. The calculation is based on the number of steps per day.

The watch shows the total number of calories you have burned since 00:00 (approximate).

If you think this figure is inaccurate (too low or too high), please ensure that you have entered the correct personal details in the app (see settings). This information may affect the results.

All your data is saved in the application (constant synchronization of data in the watch with your mobile device is required).

The pedometer's memory is designed to store data for the last

31 days. On the 32nd day, the data from the first day is erased from memory.

About 8 months depending on intensity of use.

When a battery icon appears on the watch screen, it means it is low. Replace it as soon as possible because without it you will not be able to activate the Bluetooth, Clap and Beach Volleyball functions. Information on free battery replacement can be found

Bluetooth turns off after 1 minute to save battery power on your watch.

Yes, the watch has been tested for interaction with water.

On March 26, 2015, the day when Apple announced the date of the press conference dedicated to the start of sales of the Apple Watch, the CEO of the Swiss watch giant Swatch Group, Nick Hayek, said that in the summer the brand, known throughout the world for its inexpensive plastic watches, would also present its version of “smart watches.” " hours.

Hayek, by a strong-willed decision, combined the two purchases into one, naming the newly formed group Société (SMH), which later became the Swatch Group, and appointed its first CEO Thomke, a scientist and marketing genius who for several years struggled to produce a competitive quartz movement, training employees to work on fully automated lines with high productivity and high quality standards.The very economic circumstances in which Hayek and Thomke found themselves prompted them to take the first step that needed to be taken in a new market for them. In 1983, the first collection of 12 watches was introduced, priced between 39.9 and 49.9 francs, with a Swiss quartz movement but an analogue dial. Affordable unusual watches in colored or translucent cases could be the first, second, or third. This is where the slogan “Swatch – Second Watch” came from, denoting a new approach to a familiar thing. In the first year, a million Swatch watches were sold, and in the second - already 2.5 million. Swatch not only gradually eliminated Asian quartz from the market, but turned out to be a real goldmine for Hayek, thanks to which old watch manufactories were brought back to life (from Jaquet Droz to Breguet).

Against the backdrop of nervous excitement and frenzied competition among gadget manufacturers, and the fear that gripped Swiss watchmakers due to the popularity of electronic watches, the announcement of the launch of the next “smart watches” by the Swatch brand further heated the atmosphere.

The Touch Zero One model, which just went on sale in Moscow, is also a “smart” watch, but in a different way. They do not compete with the latest technical innovations, but rather belong to a line of fitness trackers that are popular among athletes and people leading an active lifestyle. Based on the first Swatch Touch watch with a touch screen, released back in 2011, all its functions are controlled via a smartphone using the app of the same name. It is possible to set the time in two time zones, the date and alarm clock, as well as a timer. There is an opportunity to choose one of the virtual trainers, the option of an imaginary walking trip to one of the capitals of the world - and off you go. Every time you start the program, you will know how much distance (in meters and steps) you have walked and how many calories you have lost. One of the main advantages of the watch is the fact that it does not require frequent charging (the “original” battery lasts on average 8-9 months). Like all Swatch products, the new watch is waterproof. They come in four vibrant color versions, with both rubber buckle straps and soft elastic bracelets suitable for volleyball (Swatch has been the sponsor and timekeeper of the World Beach Volleyball Tournament since 2003).

According to Hayek, “the goal was not to create a complex wrist computer for all occasions or dependent on other companies. Consumers often want a gadget that is simple, but capable of performing several other narrow tasks beyond just displaying the time.” Although it is already known that for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Swatch will have new “smart” watches with the ability to pay for purchases without cash, and also capable of opening doors and combination locks instead of a key. True, some competitors also have similar functions. Concluding his speech at the press conference, Hayek Jr. also noted that the Apple Watch is “an interesting toy, but not a revolution.” And then the question arose: “Nick, when will the revolution happen?” But so far he remains unanswered. Perhaps until the new version of Swatch Touch.

– is preparing to introduce its own OS for smartwatches.

According to the developers, thanks to their system platform, Swatch will be able to compete with Apple and Google. According to Nick Hayek (director of Swatch), which he made in an interview with Bloomberg, the proprietary OS will feature more efficient power consumption and an improved security system for users’ personal information.

In addition, the head of Swatch noted that even at the development stage, many experts are showing high interest in Swatch OS (more than 100 requests have been received to provide additional information about the upcoming platform). At the same time, there are those who are skeptical about the Swatch venture and doubt its ability to compete with Android Wear and iOS, as it is extremely difficult.

Presumably, the first smartwatches based on the proprietary OS will be released under the Tissot brand, and this will happen by the end of 2018.

As you know, quite recently Mr. Hayek’s reviews of the release of such accessories were far from flattering. The general director considered the hype created around such devices to be unjustified. In his opinion (at that time), due to the small display and the need for constant recharging, smart watches are an absolutely futile accessory. For what reason the opinion of the head of the company changed dramatically remains a mystery.

Let us remind you that the Swatch brand is controlled by the world's largest watch manufacturer - the Swiss holding Swatch Group. He also owns watches under the brands Blancpain, Breguet, Mido, cK Watch, Omega, Longines, Rado, Tissot, Certina, Kassaw, Swatch, as well as several companies engaged in research and production of watch movements and other parts.

Swatch intends to release its own smart watch model

• 31.07.2014 16:41

According to one of the recent publications, Apple is purposefully looking for partners among Swiss watchmakers in order to jointly create the long-awaited “smart” watches.

It was even reported that some kind of agreement was reached with Swatch (the largest watch company), but then Swatch refused the proposed cooperation. Moreover, the turn of events was completely unexpected. As it turned out from an interview with the head of the company, Nick Hayek, to one of the Swiss publications, Swatch’s reluctance to take part in the production of iWatch is explained by its intention to release its own “smart” watches.

The basis for the new product will be the existing Swatch Touch model (electronic plastic watch), which will be equipped with the necessary set of sensors. It is still unknown about synchronizing the future gadget with other mobile devices (it is possible that it will be an independent device).

The release of the upgraded Swatch Touch is scheduled for early 2015. Let us remind you that the original version of the gadget was released 3 years ago and is equipped with a touch screen, which, along with displaying the current time, has the functions of a calendar, alarm clock and chronograph.