- Casio plans to launch its own smart ring in December
- Although it cannot measure steps or sleep, it does have a built-in clock or alarm clock
- Unfortunately, it will only be available in Japan
Recently, in the segment of wearable electronics, the words smart ring have been inflected very often. Finnish company Oura has taken this small but interesting market by storm, with other players gradually joining the game, such as South Korean giant Samsung. Now, the well-known watch company Casio, which has presented its own take on the “smart ring,” is trying to make its case. Rather than the one from Oura and Samsung, however, it is intended to compete with Timex, which also introduced its own ring.
One ring rules them all
The Casio CRW-001-1JR, as the ring’s official name says, won’t measure your sleep, count your steps, or detect your heart rate, but it will tell you what time it is. Although the case of this watch is approximately 2.5 centimeters in size, Casio has managed to squeeze in an LCD display that can display hours, minutes and seconds. There are also three function buttons that can be used to control other functions, such as displaying the date or time in a different time zone, and a stopwatch, just like a classic digital watch.
Rather surprisingly, Casio’s ring also has a backlight and an alarm that flashes the display instead of making a sound. Powered by a replaceable battery, the Japanese company says it can keep the ring alive for around two years. Interestingly, the ring is also waterproof. With this ring, Casio wants to pay tribute to its watchmaking tradition, which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year.
In order to accurately imitate the design and intricate details of traditional digital watches, Casio uses metal injection technology using metal powder. This results in a uniform US 10.5 size (inner diameter 20.4 millimeters), which simply has to fit you – Casio does include a few spacers for smaller hands, but if you have larger fingers, you’re unfortunately out of luck.
This isn’t Casio’s first attempt at creating a “smart” ring. The company already experimented with a similar design last year, but at that time it was only a design matter, which, unlike the current ring, was not functional. Who knows, maybe in the coming years we will also see a brush-up of the design with a calculator, which is an inherent part of Casio. The Casio CRW-001-1JR will be on sale only in Japan this December for the price 19,800 yenwhich is roughly 3 thousand crowns.
Author of the article
Michael Chrobok
Casio’s New Smart Ring: An Innovative, Time-Telling Wonder!
Well, folks, Casio is back at it again, and this time they’ve decided to spice up the wearable electronics market with their new smart ring, aptly named the CRW-001-1JR. Rolling out in Japan this December, it’s the kind of ring that says, “I love you, but I’m only here to tell you the time!” Yes, you heard right. It can’t measure your steps or track your sleep, but it comes equipped with an LCD display that’s as flashy as a neon sign at 3 AM!
- Casio plans to launch its own smart ring in December
- Although it cannot measure steps or sleep, it does have a built-in clock or alarm clock
- Unfortunately, it will only be available in Japan
One Ring to Rule Them All!
Now, let’s dive deeper into what this quirky contraption has to offer. In a world where smart rings are competing for who can track your every move and heartbeat, Casio has boldly stepped onto the field, not to run the marathon, but to time it! The ring is about 2.5 centimeters big (that’s about the size of a small donut), and it’s got all sorts of functionality packed in there. Remember the days when watches had buttons? Well, the CRW-001-1JR carries that legacy beautifully with three buttons to navigate your digital playground—think a classic digital watch, only less wrist-flaunting, more finger-guarding!
And you know what they say about Casio – if it ain’t waterproof, it ain’t worth wearing! Not only will this ring survive a dip in the pool, but it also has a backlight and an alarm that flashes the display instead of ringing obnoxiously. Because who wants to wake up the whole house when you can just annoy one finger? Casio promises that this little marvel runs for about two years on a battery, which is impressive unless you have the same luck as my houseplants!
The folks at Casio are also making sure everyone can wear this undeniable tribute to their fifty years of watchmaking tradition—there are spacers for those of us with dainty fingers! But, if you’ve got fingers resembling the Hulk’s, I’m afraid you might need to sit this one out.
This isn’t a first for Casio either; they dabbled in ring design last year, but it was more of a look at my cool concept than a functional piece of tech. Who knows what they’ll brew up next? I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a smart ring with a built-in calculator. Just imagine the conversations you’ll have: “Check out my ring, it tells time… and can solve algebra!”
Ready to snag one? It’ll cost you about 19,800 yen, which is around three thousand crowns, just for a flashy reminder of how late you are to your next appointment!
In conclusion, while this ring misses the mark on health tracking, it perfectly captures the essence of Casio – simplicity, reliability, and functionality with a wink of nostalgia. Now, if only they could add a garlic press, maybe we’d really have something!
By Michael Chrobok – Your friendly neighborhood tech enthusiast!
- Casio plans to launch its own smart ring, the CRW-001-1JR, in December
- While it cannot measure steps or sleep, it does feature a built-in clock and an alarm
- However, the ring will be exclusively available in Japan
In the rapidly growing segment of wearable electronics, the term “smart ring” has gained significant traction lately. The Finnish startup Oura has dominated this niche market, with other notable companies, such as the South Korean electronics giant Samsung, entering the fray. Not to be left behind, the renowned watchmaker Casio is making its debut in this space, targeting a different competitor—Timex—who has also recently released a smart ring of its own.
One ring rules them all
The Casio CRW-001-1JR, as this innovative wearable is officially named, won’t track your sleep patterns, count steps, or monitor your heart rate, but it does provide the essential function of telling time. Measuring approximately 2.5 centimeters, Casio has ingeniously incorporated a compact LCD display that showcases hours, minutes, and seconds. Alongside this display, three functional buttons allow users to access additional features, including date settings, options for displaying time in different zones, and a stopwatch, reminiscent of vintage digital watches.
In an unexpected design choice, Casio’s smart ring features a backlight and an alarm that captures attention by flashing rather than emitting sound. This innovative gadget runs on a replaceable battery, which Casio claims will last up to two years. As a nod to its rich heritage in watchmaking, which marks its fiftieth anniversary this year, the ring is also waterproof, making it suited for everyday wear.
To emulate the design and intricate craftsmanship of traditional digital watches, Casio utilizes advanced metal injection technology utilizing metal powder. This manufacturing method results in a consistent US size 10.5 (inner diameter of 20.4 millimeters), ensuring a good fit for most users; however, those with larger fingers may find themselves out of options. Although Casio has included a few spacers for smaller hands, a wider range of sizing would have been beneficial.
This isn’t Casio’s first foray into the realm of “smart” rings. The company had previously dabbled with a design concept last year, but that model remained non-functional. There’s hope for the future, as Casio’s reputation for innovation could lead to a reimagined smart ring featuring an integrated calculator, a hallmark of the brand. The Casio CRW-001-1JR will be available only in Japan this upcoming December for a price of 19,800 yen, approximately equivalent to 3,000 crowns.
Author of the article
Michael Chrobok
What are the unique features of the Casio CRW-001-1JR smart ring that differentiate it from other smart rings on the market?
**Interview with Casio Product Manager: The Launch of the CRW-001-1JR Smart Ring**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today! Casio is famous for its watches, and now you’ve entered the smart ring market. What inspired the creation of the CRW-001-1JR?
**Casio Product Manager:** Thank you for having me! The decision to develop the CRW-001-1JR was driven by our commitment to innovation while honoring our watchmaking tradition. As we’ve seen the rise in wearable technology, we wanted to add our signature touch by creating a product that focuses on simplicity and functionality—essentially, a time-telling device that fans of Casio would appreciate.
**Interviewer:** It’s definitely a unique approach compared to competitors like Oura and Samsung. Can you tell us more about the functionalities of the CRW-001-1JR that set it apart?
**Casio Product Manager:** Absolutely! While many smart rings on the market excel in tracking health metrics, we’ve decided to focus solely on what we excel at—telling time. The CRW-001-1JR features an LCD display that shows hours, minutes, and seconds, along with an alarm that alerts users with a flashing display instead of an intrusive sound. It also includes a stopwatch and time zone capabilities, bringing the best of classic digital watches into a compact design.
**Interviewer:** The design sounds practical yet nostalgic! However, we see it doesn’t include health tracking capabilities, which seems to be a major trend in wearables right now. Why that choice?
**Casio Product Manager:** Our goal was to create a product that aligns with Casio’s core principles—durability, reliability, and straightforward functionality. By not including health tracking, we’re catering to consumers who may prefer a straightforward timepiece that doesn’t require charging or extensive setup. This allows users to enjoy a device that stays true to the essence of what a watch is meant to be.
**Interviewer:** The ring is launching exclusively in Japan this December. Any particular reason for this choice?
**Casio Product Manager:** Japan is our home market, and we wanted to ensure we fully support and refine the product with our local customers first. Feedback from our end-users here will guide future modifications and enhancements. Depending on the reception, we can consider wider distribution later on.
**Interviewer:** We’ve seen some clever design features highlighted, like the waterproof capability. How important is durability to your consumers?
**Casio Product Manager:** Durability is incredibly important to our consumers. We’ve built a reputation for creating rugged products that withstand various conditions, and the CRW-001-1JR is no exception. With a waterproof design and a replaceable battery that lasts up to two years, we’re emphasizing that reliability is key.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like you’re confident in this new venture! What does the future hold for Casio in the wearable tech market?
**Casio Product Manager:** We’re excited to explore more possibilities within the wearable space. While we’re starting with a straightforward product, we believe there’s room for growth and innovation. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll offer a smart ring that combines our iconic calculator with time-telling features!
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights. It sounds like Casio is poised to make waves in the smart ring market with the CRW-001-1JR!
**Casio Product Manager:** Thank you! We look forward to seeing how our customers respond this December.
