Motorola’s premier smartwatch, the Moto 360 , is officially available today in the United States for $250.
Users have the option of a silver or black plastic frame with a variety of leather band colors. A metal frame and strap version will follow later this fall for $300.
We’ll have a full review once we’ve had a chance to live with the 360 for a few days. For now, check out our initial hands-on from Google I/O .
You can now buy Lomography’s retro Petzval Art Lens designed for analog and digital SLRs
It’s been over a year since analog camera company Lomography launched its Kickstarter campaign for the Petzval Art Lens , but today it’s finally available for everyone to buy online and in-store.
The new hardware is inspired by the iconic Petzval lens developed by Joseph Petzval in 1840. The original was known for producing a sharp central focus and a dreamlike “bokeh” effect around the outside. Combined with high color saturation and natural vignettes, it was a truly unique piece of glass.
The new Petzval Art Lens from Lomography is designed to capture similar images, but with all of the benefits that come with modern manufacturing techniques. For instance, the lens is smaller than the original, with a beautiful design that stays true to the original camera lens. It’s also compatible with all Canon EF and Nikon F mount analog and digital cameras, which should ensure that a wide range of photographers can take advantage of it.
Last year, Lomography wanted to raise $100,000 over a 30-day period; instead it raised almost $1.4 million, smashing expectations and rebuffing the idea that analog and analog-influenced photography was dead.
Be warned though, the Petzval Art Lens isn’t cheap. The brass Canon and Nikon Mount editions cost $599 each, while the black variant will set you back an extra $100. Collectors can also pick up a “low serial number” version, one of the first Black Petzval lenses that came off the production line, for $749.
➤ Petzval Art Lens
Motorola unveils the Moto 360, its first smartwatch running Google’s new Android Wear platform
Google unveiled its Android Wear platform today for wearables and already it has a host of hardware partners pledging their allegiance. One of the most notable is Motorola, who revealed its first smartwatch today running the new operating system. It’s called Moto 360 , and it’s quite the looker.
It has a classic, circular watchface that appears to be made of metal and has been shown in promo images with either a metal or leather strap. Motorola says it will be available globally “in a variety of styles” this summer, starting in the US.
The device will run Android Wear, which Google announced earlier today. It’s a new operating system that will extend the functionality of Android to all sorts of wearables, starting with smartwatches. It’s clearly influenced by Google Now, centered around notifications and contextual information based on where you are, the time of day and how other people are interacting with you.
Motorola highlighted how it would be using these features in the Moto 360. A quick twist of the wrist can tell you who’s calling, when your next meeting is scheduled for and the latest social updates from friends. In addition, the Moto X will support voice commands with the simple “OK Google” hotword. Whether you’re curious about the gone or want to send a text, the Moto 360 should allow you to do it hands-free.
It’s an approachable design and one that Motorola says was designed to “celebrate” the history of the traditional wristwatch. “From mechanical to electronic movements, analog to digital faces, the wristwatch has been reinvented several times over, but the basic design has endured for a century because of its elegance and usefulness at a glance,” the company said.
A Developer Preview is already available and Google says it will be releasing new developer resources and APIs soon. Motorola isn’t the only confirmed partner either. Google says it’s working with other manufacturers including Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung, as well as chip makers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek and Qualcomm. In addition, it’s working with fashion brands such as Fossil on currently unannounced devices.
Want to know more? This teaser video by Motorola is a good place to start.
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