Samsung will aim to preempt its market and legal rival, Apple, by launching two key products a week ahead of its Cupertino competitor, according to statements made by a Samsung executive to a Korean newspaper Tuesday. Lee Young-hee, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile business, told The Korea Times that his company will release its Galaxy Gear “smartwatch” and Galaxy Note III “phablet” on September 4th, two days before the start of the annual IFA electronics convention in Berlin and six days before Apple is expected to unveil the next line of iPhone hardware.
Apple has long been rumored to have a wearable computing device in the works, with the recent hiring by the company of Nike FuelBand designer Jay Blahnik only increasing speculation. Patents and inside sources allege that the company is designing a watch-like device with a flexible display that will connect to iOS devices and tie into the company’s larger mobile ecosystem, but that any product likely won’t launch until late 2014.
By hitting the market early, Samsung undoubtedly hopes to draw mindshare to its own efforts, but is apparently sacrificing aspects of design and functionality in the process; the Korean company’s product apparently won’t be equipped with the novel flexible displays rumored for Apple’s product, according to Ms. Lee:
We will be introducing a new wearable concept device called Galaxy Gear at our own event in Berlin on Sept. 4. The Gear won’t have a flexible display. The new device will enhance and enrich the current smart mobile experience in many ways. It will lead a new trend in smart mobile communications. We are confident that the Gear will add meaningful momentum to the mobile industry.
Aside from identifying “young trend setters” as the target audience for the Galaxy Gear, Ms. Lee did not provide further details on the products specifications, functionality, availability, or price.
Samsung will also use the IFA Expo to launch its latest Galaxy Note device, the Galaxy Note III. The Note line, first introduced in October 2011, attempts to merge the best of both smartphones and tablets by integrating phone capabilities into a device with a 5.3-inch screen (although rumors indicate that the new device will have an even larger 5.68-inch screen). With many customers now enticed by larger screens on their mobile devices, the Note III will likely sell well as a companion to Samsung’s more traditional Galaxy S IV smartphone.
