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by burnt-resistor 592 days ago
I think the problem is it's not a defensible business because there's little barrier to entry to create an Android watch with less features. Every carrier has their own dumb, minimal smart watches, but I'm sure most of them suck because the product management is probably outsourced.

Essential features and nonfunctional requirements:

- Calendar, time and date, alarms and reminders

- IP67

- Ruby or gorilla glass screen (scratches OK)

- Locked-down phone, texting, messaging, and location sharing

- Ability to call 911

- Minimal apps

- Minimal animation

- Band that's somewhat difficult to undo and hypoallergenic material... silicone seems pretty neutral

- Not disassemblable without tools because the kids I know would have them in pieces in minutes.

- Neither a fashion statement nor a kid group social faux pas

If any existing models fulfill these close enough, then great. If not, then it might be worth entertaining but would need a go-to-market strategy to compete with every other smartwatch mfgr on the market with unlimited funding.

2 comments

lol, I know someone who got his kid a "dumb" flip phone figuring that would solve things. Pretty soon, his kid was showing me how it was android underneath and all the apps he had sideloaded.
Samsung has partnered with Safesurfer in NZ to create a "kid safe" social media free version of the Galaxy A15 and A25. Not a samsung / android fan tbh.