The Apple Watch doesn’t have a camera, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have a camera.
An Israeli start-up called Glide has created a new watch strap for the Apple Watch that features a built-in camera, allowing you to snap photos directly from your wrist. The strap, which is aptly named CMRA, will set you back $249 – but there’s a limited time offer of $149 available right now. Either way, that’s a hefty charge, especially considering the Apple Watch itself will already set you back more than £250.
The main camera on the strap is outward-facing, and uses a Sony sensor with a resolution of 8-megapixels. But there’s also a second upwards-facing camera that will let you take selfies using a 2-megapixel sensor. Glide says you’ll be able to capture audio and “HD video quality” with the CMRA, and has even included a quick-capture button on the strap for ease-of-use. There’s also a bit of digital image processing, specifically tilt-balancing, lens correction, and noise reduction.
And if you’re worried about dodgy Apple fans surreptitiously filming your every move, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a built-in LED on the CMRA that glows when the camera is active.
“The smartphone has become our primary camera,” said Ari Roisman, CEO of Glide. “With all of its conveniences, the smartphone is big, and it lives in your pocket. It takes time to retrieve, quickly runs out of battery, and is far from rugged.”
He continued: “What if you could capture more and carry less? What if capturing a moment were as easy as blinking your eye? You wouldn’t need to step out of the moment in order to save it. And you wouldn’t need to have an expensive, delicate device in your hand every time you wish to preserve or share a memory. This is the future of the camera. This is CMRA.”
The other good news is that the CMRA has its own built-in battery, pledging 30 minutes of video per charge, or “hundreds of photos”. If you pre-order, you’ll get a charging dock worth $60 that charges both devices together. This also includes a battery pack that holds two full charges.
The CMRA straps come in three core colours (black, blue, and white), as well as a limited edition grey hue for pre-order customers only. Glide reckons shipping will begin in spring 2017, but take any such estimates with due caution when you’re splashing out on a start-up gadget.
Related: iPhone 8
Watch: Apple Watch Series 2
What do you think of the Glide CMRA? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
