Skip to main content

Galaxy Watch 6 Astro Edition takes to the stars with new astrolabe-inspired design

Samsung has unveiled a limited Astro Edition of the 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic sporting a redesign inspired by an astrolabe.

Astrolabes, if you don’t know, are instruments people from ancient times used to figure out the position of stars at night. It was used back then for traveling and to figure out the time of day. 

Obviously, the Galaxy Watch 6 can already do things (it comes with Google Maps). Instead, the astrolabe inspiration shines through in the rotating Black Astro Bezel. It now features etchings of constellations and celestial bodies around the display. The new watch face appears to be a looping video of space, presumably the Milky Way. If you look closely at the sample videos, you will see objects moving across the screen. The second hand has a crescent moon at the tip. 

Altogether, the Astro Edition is a series of nice little flourishes.

Galaxy Watch 6 Classic Astro Edition

(Image credit: Samsung)

There is more to the Astro Edition besides its redesign as Samsung did add two star-related features. On the left side of the new watch face are trackers to help amateur astronomers follow the phases of the sun and the moon. On the right side is a simple compass complication. They're not the most vital features for many users, but they’re nice inclusions nonetheless.

Limited availability

As nice as this smartwatch looks, you’re going to have a tough time getting your hands on one because it’s currently only available in the MENA (Middle East/North Africa) region. This includes countries like Egypt,  Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The reason why Samsung is choosing that specific area for the initial launch is because that part of the world contributed a lot to science – “particularly [towards] astronomy and mathematics.” Think of it as a thematic gift.

The announcement doesn’t reveal the price of this version of the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. However, checking out Samsung’s Levant (a subregion in the Middle East) website, we see the Astro Edition goes for 350 Jordanian Dirham, which is about $500 USD. Buying one gives users an extra Fabric Band, “Astro Edition collectibles” plus access to the company’s VIP promotion store.

Hopefully, this smartwatch does launch elsewhere, and we think Samsung actually has plans to do so. After all, this information comes from the tech giant’s global website; we reached out to Samsung asking if it plans on releasing the Astro Edition to other countries like the United States. This story will be updated if we hear back.

We should mention the original post states the Astro Edition is the “first of several limited-edition collections of watches”. In other words, more redesigns are on their way.

While we have you, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best smartwatches for 2023.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Garmin's new radar-equipped tail light will keep you safe on your e-bike

Garmin's Varia bike radars are some of the most popular pieces of cycling tech around – and now the company has delivered its first rearview radar to have been specially designed for some of the best e-Bikes .   Garmin's Varia range mounts to the back of your bike and broadcasts a radar signal behind you, so you can get visual and audible alerts when something's overtaking you. Even better, the new Varia eRTL615 plugs directly into most e-bikes, with no battery required. Because the catchily-named Varia eRTL615 is also a tail light, it'll also make sure you're visible to other vehicles too, promising to emit a flashing or solid light that's visible from up to a mile away in daylight. To connect Garmin's new radar tail light to your e-bike, you'll need to pick the right Garmin adapter cable (which isn't included). You can buy power cables compatible with Bosch, Shimano, or USB-A terminals or connections, with more info on those available on Garmin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Revolution Software is using their own AI technology to remake Broken Sword

TechRadar Gaming is reporting live from Gamescom 2023 on the latest and greatest developments in gaming and hardware. Revolution Software announced at Gamescom 2023 that Broken Sword would be coming back, with Broken Sword - The Shadow of the Templars getting a full remake while a sixth title in the series is coming in the future too, under the title Broken Sword - Parzival’s Stone .  Speaking to TRG ahead of the announcement, Cecil talked about the studio’s plans for a Broken Sword remake and the sixth title in the series. Cecil is a larger-than-life character, who is able to talk about the studio’s plans with enthusiasm. It even carries a pocketful of stones to illustrate the plans for Parzival’s Stone , but he also talks about how Broken Sword - The Shadow of the Templars would be using AI to upscale.  Cecil wasn’t shy about the studio’s use of AI technology, but he gave a fairly robust explanation of why the game was using it. The AI technology will be used to upda...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hackers steal passwords, emails from hookup websites

Two gay hookup websites have been breached with sensitive and personal user data stolen and sold online, new reports have claimed. The databases, which are now being sold on dark web forums, were taken from platforms called TruckerSucker, and CityJerks. They contain enough personally identifiable information to engage in identity theft , such as usernames and passwords, email addresses, profile pictures, sexual preferences, birth dates, postal addresses, IP addresses, and bios. The passwords are encrypted, but according to TechCrunch, the algorithm is “weak” and could be broken by a more persistent hacker. The silent treatment HaveIBeenPwned founder Troy Hunt, who was tipped off on the leak, described the incident as a “typical forum breach, albeit with super sensitive content.”  However the content includes more than just identity data, as there are also messages users exchanged, including arranging meetings and describing their sexual preferences.  In total, more than...
Post a Comment
Read more