Miscelleneous by stefan @ 2014-10-15
The newest reincarnation of the COOKOO watch features numerous improvements and now the watches are split in two different categories, the Sporty Chic Collection but also the Urban Explorer Collection. Thanks to the simplified notification system and Bluetooth LE, the internal battery can last up to one full year and it can be replaced by simply removing the back cover with a familiar CR2032 model.
At first we would like to thank CONNECTEDEVICE for offering a sample of their COOKOO Watch for testing and reviewing.
“ConnecteDevice Ltd is a global business specializing in the manufacture, design and development of technology-driven, visionary products and services in the appcessories field (i.e. smartphone accessories working together with an app). With engineers in the USA and Hong Kong, industrial designers in Europe, and a strong manufacturing team in China, ConnecteDevice develops cutting-edge technologies to create intelligent, intuitive, and fashion-forward products.
The company’s newly released COOKOO™ connected watch, designed by multiple-award winner Xavier Houy, provides intuitive connectedness to users who want to stay upwardly mobile, connected, and in control, without the hassle of media overload. The COOKOO watch exemplifies ConnecteDevice’s commitment to high quality, functionality, and exceptional design. The creative packaging featuring a birdhouse can be repurposed for various uses.
Other brands under the umbrella of ConnecteDevice include the soon to be released OSUNGO™ FlowerPower energy-efficient chargers, Bluetrek - an award-winning designer and manufacturer of wireless mobile phone accessories and Bob, the LostDog™, the breeder of the artistic and eco-friendly phone accessories
The name of COOKOO
We named it the COOKOO™ connected watch because like the first cuckoo clock, COOKOO is blazing the trail for a new generation of Bluetooth Low Energy-enabled analog watch that looks set to become an integral part of our increasingly connected life.
While the classic cuckoo clocks have been faithfully announcing the time on the hour and every hour and so became the centerpiece of numerous homes since the 18th century, COOKOO is a handsome timepiece of the 21st century that keeps us stay on top of our digital life.
Also just with cuckoo clock we could set the particular hours for the cuckoo bird to coo, COOKOO is easily customizable via the COOKOO App for us to pick and choose the specific notifications that you wish to receive on the wrist.”
Notifications
Incoming Call and Missed Call
Incoming Caller ID or number (*supports in latin characters only)
Text and Social Media Message included :
WhatsApp, Line, QQ, WeChat, Skype, Facebook, Twitter
Calendar event
Low / Critical Low alert of phone's battery
Actions
Remote music control
Remote trigger phone's camera
Find phone / watch
Mute incoming call (*Support on Android device only)
Time
3 hands Japanese analog movement
Dual Time display : Analog and Digital Display
Watch Resistance
10 ATM
Battery
No Recharge Required – Extra-long battery life by a standard cell button battery
Warranty
1 year limited warranty
CONNECTEDEVICE has released a new COOKOO watch version (designed by Xavier Houy) for addressing previous issues and retaining some of the useful characteristics. The COOKOO 2.0 is featuring a new design, display, new materials and also new color schemes. As before, we have a combination of analog and digital, with more enhancements regarding the notifications. The designs are split in two sections: the Sporty Chic Collection along with the Urban Explorer Collection.
Let’s get in more detail by looking at the packaging; as with the previous COOKOO, the enclosure is a unique plastic birdhouse with a transparent window:
CONNECTEDEVICE makes sure to remind us that we are dealing with a revised watch by placing a small sticker right in front:
On one of the box sides, we learn more regarding the compatible devices:
Some main product features are represented with an interesting scheme right on the opposite side:
The side we have not yet covered comes with a sealed transparent cover:
After removing the seal, we will be able to uncover the watch inside the inner layer, along with the documentation, which sits inside a small pouch:
The manual is written in multiple languages, and must be followed carefully in order to operate the watch:
The new COOKOO has a quite classic appearance and the Sporty Chic Collection sample we have received is equipped with a soft-touch silicone band:
Our sample model has white hour and minute hands, while the sweep second hand matches the color of the second marks. In the middle we have the electronic display:
On the left side, we will find the Power button along with the Page Left Button:
On the right side, we will get to see the Command along with Page Right buttons and also the Crown; in order to get the watch in pairing mode, we will have to press Power & Command buttons until 1st beep (for about 3 seconds) and all icons will blink every two seconds. We can also reset the watch by pressing the Power button for three seconds; then we can press and hold the four buttons together until we see the Alert icon, then the watch will turn off:
The metallic back has a removable circular cover, which aids battery replacement:
The CR2032 is a familiar model and can be found in most shops:
After installing the Connected Watch application and turning on Bluetooth, we have initiated the connection with the COOKOO in pairing mode; in just a few seconds, we have been prompted to perform a firmware update and the progress was shown on the display:
The current date and time can be also shown on the top side of the screen, if no notification is in effect:
When the Find My Watch function is activated, a suggestive icon will displayed and the COOKOO will beep and blink:
The CONNECTED display can also show the battery percentage and the low and critical battery icons will blink respectively:
The watch supports SMS, MMS and social media posts on Facebook, but also message notifications from Skype, Line, WhatsApp, WeChat and more; on the top we will have the total number of notifications:
Notifications will appear on the watch for calendar reminders, weather and stock updates:
Inbound email alerts are also shown:
Caller ID will be displayed during incoming calls and Call numbers will be displayed if the respective number has not been currently stored in our phone book:
The total number of missed calls can be also shown by the watch:
After the installation of the application, we will be prompted to register the product, but it is not mandatory:
The interface screen will have the notification options on the left side, while on the bottom we have the Device Radar pictogram, Out of Range option, Camera Trigger but also the Find My Watch option:
The Device Radar will show the currently detected COOKOOs and their connection statuses:
Depending on the notifications we want active on the watch, we can enable or disable the buttons on the left:
The General Settings menu contains several sub-menus like Support, Feedback, Legal, Store, Device Demo and Device Info:
Device Demo will allow us to test all watch alert functions and check if they work correctly:
From the Device Information menu, we will be able to check other hardware and software details related to the watch:
The new COOKOO watch from CONNECTEDEVICE is a solid upgrade versus the previous iteration and includes now even more color schemes which are split in two different sections, with two types of straps. The design of this product will be fully enjoyed by people which still prefer analog wrist watches but with a visible upgrade which brings the notifications more accessible to the user.
The new Caller ID display will show us who exactly is calling us, so we can make an easy decision if we pick the phone from our pocket to respond or not; also, because of the vibrating function, it is always possible to keep the smartphone on vibration without the need to define a custom ringtone.
By using the latest Bluetooth LE, the COOKOO can conserve the battery energy for up to one year, which is great when compared to many other smartwatches on the market; also, the battery is easy replaceable and can be found on many electronics shops, being a familiar model, the CR2032.
The new COOKOO can be found online for about 125 Euros, which we think that is fair considering the benefits.
We would like to thank again to CONNECTEDEVICE for making this review possible!