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NEW YORK (AP) — Motorola has introduced a circular smartwatch, hoping a more traditional design will win over consumers who have so far shunned other computerized wrist devices.
Motorola vice president of product management Steve Sinclair says people "don't want to wear a shrunken-down smartphone on their wrist," so the Moto 360 is round with an all-metal frame, making it look more like a regular watch. Until now, smartwatches have had rectangular faces.
However, design has not been the only obstacle keeping smartwatches from catching on. Small displays and the need for a companion smartphone nearby have also limited their appeal.
Today's debut of the Moto 360 comes a week after LG Electronics announced its own circular smartwatch, the G Watch R. LG's watch won't be available for at least a month, though.
Both watches use Google's Android Wear operating system, which uses voice controls for basic functions, such as reading messages, checking the weather and getting reminders on calendar appointments.
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APPHOTO NYBM306: Steve Sinclair, Motorola's vice president of product management, shows the new Moto 360 circular smartwatch, the company's first, during an interview, Wednesday Aug. 27, 2014 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) (27 Aug 2014)
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APPHOTO NYBM305: Steve Sinclair, Motorola's vice president of product management, demonstrates the new Moto 360 circular smartwatch, the company's first, during an interview, Wednesday Aug. 27, 2014 in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) (27 Aug 2014)
<<APPHOTO NYBM305 (08/27/14)££
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