'Watch' out for the Moto 360

At first glance, the Moto 360 looks like any average watch - but one tap on the display and you enter the "smartwatch" world. Wearable technology has captured the imagination of many a user and there's a slew of devices that are fighting for a place on our gadget wish list. But when it comes to smartwatches, the Moto 360 is right up there with the best. Here's why:

Design: Simple is good
It is evident that Motorola kept the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) principle in mind while designing the Moto 360. There's no fuss about how the smartwatch looks - it has the authentic look of a classic wristwatch, a comfortable leather band (Black Horween leather), a beautiful crown with a golden outer ring and scratch-resistant glass on the backlit LCD display (Corning Gorilla Glass). It's also water-resistant, which means it can withstand the rigours of daily use. While the crown works as a power button for the Moto 360, you can also wake up the smartwatch by tapping the display or turning your wrist - just like when you are checking the time on a regular wristwatch. The leather band model weighs 49g, so, it's not heavy on the wrist either.

Interface and functions

One of the best features on the Moto 360 is the choice of 'watch faces'. Users can choose from up to six different designs - minimal, retrograde, digital and so on (a different watch every day!). Working on the Android Wear operating system, the Moto 360 can be paired, via Bluetooth, with any smartphone running Android 4.3 and above. Once the display is active, you can double tap the screen to use the "Ok Google" function. Apart from that, the smartwatch also shows all the notifications - weather, emails, incoming calls, messages and so on. Replying to these notifications is the fun part. The Moto 360 comes with dual microphones, so, users can speak out their replies to texts, messages, WhatsApp pings and so on. While the smartwatch might not be able to capture every detail, it will easily catch hold of words spoken fluently. It works smoothly, primarily because of seamless pairing between the watch and smartphone.

Activity tracker
Comprising an optical heart-rate monitor and pedometer, the Moto 360 also doubles up as an activity tracker. You can not only keep a check on your heartbeat but also see how much you have walked during a day. The heartbeat monitor is pretty accurate, but it did show erratic results sometimes. For all those who like walking, the Moto 360 is a nice partner. Set a daily target of how many steps you want to walk and off you go.

Remote control
An honest confession here - I wasn't aware that the Moto 360 can be used as a remote for the camera as well. I stumbled upon this nice feature when I accidentally opened the Google Camera app on my Nexus, while wearing the 360. A blue button appears on the 360 as soon as the camera app starts - capture pictures - and users can also see the end results on the 360's display.

Besides the camera, you can use the Moto 360 to take calls and, my personal favourite, to control music on your smartphone, using both touch and voice commands.

Longevity
Charging the Moto 360 is a no-brainer. It comes with a wireless charging dock - place the 360 with the crown facing up and it starts charging. The 320mAh battery takes around 30-45 minutes to charge, so, when you are done with reading the paper, feeding the dog, preparing breakfast and getting ready for work, the Moto 360 is all set for the long day ahead.

The Moto 360 showed very few glitches - apart from the erratic heartbeat readings and a bit of heating up after it was charged. At Rs 17,999, Motorola's smartwatch is a real contender in the Android category. The fact that it can also be used as an activity tracker gives it an edge over others. But with the Apple smartwatch expected to come soon - and a zillion other fitness bands and trackers in the market - the Moto 360 needs to brace itself for some competition.

MOTO 360
Price: Rs 17,999/-
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy
OS: Android Wear; 512MB RAM   
Display: 1.56 inch; Backlit LCD
Battery: 320 mAh