As a road opener, the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch is definitely an intriguing concept, but it has some limitations that reduce its appeal to the average user. For instance, we noted in our first look post that the Gear stutters at times and that its battery life may be insufficient, while the steep price tag may further put off would-be customers. Many other commenters have echoed our sentiments.
It seems that Samsung is listening to the feedback it got since it unveiled the Gear on September 4. According to a report from Korean portal Daum, the electronics giant has accelerated its roadmap for the next generation of the Gear, with a release possible as soon as early next year.
Samsung may launch the Galaxy Gear 2 (tentative name) at next year's CES, in January, or MWC, in late February. Until then, Samsung engineers will be working to solve the Gear's shortcomings but also to add more features, including (potentially) GPS functionality.
Quoting industry sources, Daum also claims that Samsung aims to make the Gear 2 compatible with more Android devices. Currently, the Galaxy Gear is only working with the new Galaxy Note 3, though Samsung said more flagship devices would soon support it. Gear support may depend on the availability of Android 4.3, which includes Bluetooth LE support, which is rumored to hit the Galaxy S3 and S4 in October.
In case you need a refresher on the features of the Galaxy Gear, here's our hands-on video:
The Galaxy Gear will become available starting late September and will be bundled with the Galaxy Note 3 in some markets. The device will go for $299 in the United States.
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