There may be a certain other smartwatch launching today, but that hasn't stopped Samsung from revealing its upcoming plans for its next Gear device. While previous Gear devices such as the Gear 2 and Gear S have had a square or rectangular screen, Samsung has teased a round watch face this time on its developer website, suggesting the seventh generation Gear wearable will follow in the footsteps of the Moto 360 and LG G Watch R.
Samsung's also releasing its brand new Software Development Kit (SDK) for the new wearable ahead of its official launch, marking the first time developers can start tinkering with the operating system before it's announced to the public. To join the program, developers must submit an application on Samsung's developer website. They'll then be notified via email when the development resources are available. Sign-ups begin today.
"Samsung has actively adapted its approach to wearable device development as the leader of the rapidly developing category," said JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. "Through meaningful and progressive innovation, Samsung welcomes to developers and industry leaders to join this open collaboration effort to enrich and create unique user experiences for a new smart mobile life."
Details are still thin on the ground about what the device looks like or whether it will be made from plastic or stainless steel, but at least we can get some idea of what the presumably Tizen-based interface might look like from the small number of teaser apps currently on show on Samsung's developer site.
CNN, Yelp, Chinese search engine Baidu, loyalty card holder FidMe and Apposter have all pledged their support so far, and CNN's app shows breaking news stories appearing down the central strip of the main dial. Yelp, meanwhile, features a wheel of tap-able icons to let you browse restaurants, bars, shops and other nearby services.
Baidu shows a Map screen, displaying a map in the top half of the screen while the lower half is filled with text, potentially allowing for directions or information about your destination. It also looks as though Apposter will feature several different watch faces to choose from.
We'll bring you more information about Samsung's new Gear wearable as soon as it's as confirmed. For now, though, you might want to take a look at our in-depth Apple Watch hands on review to see whether either watch is worth waiting for.