The explosion of the popularity of smartwatches has redefined the boundaries between the world of technology and fashion. Both the electronics giants and traditional watch brands are eager to show that the wrist is the new frontier of access to information.
In an increasingly fast scenario that is fought with strokes of new models and more updated, it becomes therefore necessary to ask why you wanted a smartwatch. What features you really need. What are the characteristics that you look for. And what is the amount you are willing to spend.
If the answers to all these questions go in the direction of a minimal object, with basic functionality and features and the cost doesn’t exceed two zeros, then the smartwatch U Watch U8 could be ideal. A smartwatch that can be used with all (Android) smartphones that have a Bluetooth 3.0 – ie, everyone.
Smartwatch U Watch U8 for Android
The watch shows not a beautiful design, with a rubber strap and a hard plastic case that make it a bit cheap. The touch screen has an excellent touch response, although slow, but it is very soft.
On the bottom there are the typical capacitive buttons of Android smartphones for the access of the functions. The graphics are definitely one of the worst parts of U Watch U8, careless and simulating the 8-Bit graphics. A bit old. Despite the performance of the OLED display’s color, that is excellent.
Synchronize with your smartphone
The features are very basic: synchronizing it with the app BT Notification (free download) you can access to your contacts, make a hands-free call and check the call list; listen the smartphone music being able to turn up the volume, do play/stop and get on with playlists (also supports Spotify!); write text messages and also read (but not respond to) Whatsapp messages. It should also be able to control the camera remotely, but I admit that I failed. Just as I wasn’t able to connect it to iOs.
The internal apps
Interesting also some internal apps, like the Anti-Lost that rings the smartphone to find it, or all those dedicated to fitness as barometer, altimeter, pedometer and stopwatch, as well as monitoring for sports activities and the detection of sleep, that detects movement while you are asleep to distinguish the phases of light sleep and deep sleep.
By synchronizing, you can receive a sound or a vibration (or both) for different apps that are on the smartphone. For those who have the anxiety of losing a notification (I’m thinking about the social networks!), this smartwatch is ideal.
Photo: Giacinto Mozzetta
