Google Buys Fossil Group Smartwatch Technology for $40 Million

cageymaru

cageymaru

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Google has entered into a deal with Fossil Group to purchase its smartwatch technology that is still in development. The internet giant has also purchased the R&D teams directly involved with developing the secretive technology. Fossil Group will retain 200 members of its R&D team that aren't connected to the project to continue creating new innovations at the company and for its partners.

"Wearables, built for wellness, simplicity, personalization and helpfulness, have the opportunity to improve lives by bringing users the information and insights they need quickly, at a glance. The addition of Fossil Group's technology and team to Google demonstrates our commitment to the wearables industry by enabling a diverse portfolio of smartwatches and supporting the ever-evolving needs of the vitality-seeking, on-the-go consumer," said Stacey Burr, Vice President of Product Management, Wear OS by Google.
 
"...The internet giant has also purchased the R&D teams..." I get the meaning, I hope. Either that or the article is reporting Google bought people.
 
DNMock said:
I'm absolutely blown away by the fact that Fossil had 200+ R&D employees. How many engineers do you need to stamp a logo on cheap chinese watches wallets and sun glasses?
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Or maybe the cheap Chinese one stole their work ?
 
Zulgrib said:
Or maybe the cheap Chinese one stole their work ?
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If the chinese spent time reverse engineering a $40 watch someone bought at urban outfitters at some backwoods mall, joke is on them and I question their taste.
 
probably an ecg+ppg fitness tracker sort of thing, not exactly new. got a nice Chinese one that im happy with.
 
mord said:
"...The internet giant has also purchased the R&D teams..." I get the meaning, I hope. Either that or the article is reporting Google bought people.
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Thats typically how it works if you want to keep your job.
 
Way to go Google! Wristvertisements: When it's too much effort to pull the phone out of your pocket.
 
First there were Glassholes, IIRC there were two generations of Glassholes (plural). What is this division? The Glasshole division? Seeing as there's only one glass surface on their smart watches. SO, if I had a Google smart watch in the near future would that mean I was a Glasshole Fossil now? Rather appropriate seeing as I'm 1. An Asshole & 2. An old Fucker, lol. ;)
 
BoiseTech said:
Thats typically how it works if you want to keep your job.
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Not sure if you are being facetious or not, but I agree either way. Having worked in application dev for many years, I'm all to familiar with the options employees get.

Boss: Great news! Google loves your work and is making the company a big offer for it!

Employee: awesome! Do I get a bonus or raise?

Boss: Even better! You get an opportunity to work for Google!

Employee. Ok... where, and what if I decline?

Boss: No worries, we value our employees! We worked hard to get a great transition package for our valued employees that made us a metric F ton of cash!!

Employee: That didn't answer either of my questions. If I accept, would I have to move? If I dont accept, what can I work on here?

Boss: We negotiated hard to get an iron clad and generous proposal for the employees that will be transitioning out. Here are the details.

Employye: /reads over papers/ so, they give me a $50 moving company allowance and a contract guaranteeing employment if I relocate across country to accept the job. I guess that means I have to move. How long is the guaranteed job?

Boss: /cough 20 hours. /cough

Employee: not even a full day!?!?! Ok, what if I decline?

Boss: Here are the alternate placement options and steps. Look them over, take your time. Just be sure to get your answer to HR by noon tomorrow. I will be out of the office, I'm going to Tahiti for a month with part of the bonus I got. Bye.

Employee: WAIT! This is just the number to apply for unemployment and foodstamps!

/boss already gone.
 
mord said:
Not sure if you are being facetious or not, but I agree either way. Having worked in application dev for many years, I'm all to familiar with the options employees get.

Boss: Great news! Google loves your work and is making the company a big offer for it!

Employee: awesome! Do I get a bonus or raise?

Boss: Even better! You get an opportunity to work for Google!

Employee. Ok... where, and what if I decline?

Boss: No worries, we value our employees! We worked hard to get a great transition package for our valued employees that made us a metric F ton of cash!!

Employee: That didn't answer either of my questions. If I accept, would I have to move? If I dont accept, what can I work on here?

Boss: We negotiated hard to get an iron clad and generous proposal for the employees that will be transitioning out. Here are the details.

Employye: /reads over papers/ so, they give me a $50 moving company allowance and a contract guaranteeing employment if I relocate across country to accept the job. I guess that means I have to move. How long is the guaranteed job?

Boss: /cough 20 hours. /cough

Employee: not even a full day!?!?! Ok, what if I decline?

Boss: Here are the alternate placement options and steps. Look them over, take your time. Just be sure to get your answer to HR by noon tomorrow. I will be out of the office, I'm going to Tahiti for a month with part of the bonus I got. Bye.

Employee: WAIT! This is just the number to apply for unemployment and foodstamps!

/boss already gone.
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Most companies aren't even that generous...
 
This would be great news if Qualcomm wasn't dicking around. A Pixel Watch will be behind as long as Qualcomm continues to slack off.
 
Does google even still care about Wear OS? I havent heard of too many big upgrades and anyone really doing anything new with it. Seems to me like Google forgot about it as it tradition and just remembered they still have it and decided to give it another shot.
 
Honestly, I didn't know that Fossil was still around, or that they made anything other than gaudy watches. Maybe I'm thinking of Swatch. I'm old, please bear with me. Or bare breasts. Arm bears? I probably should have taken my meds earlier in the bear tree...
 
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surlyroad said:
Honestly, I didn't know that Fossil was still around, or that they made anything other than gaudy watches. Maybe I'm thinking of Swatch. I'm old, please bear with me. Or bare breasts. Arm bears? I probably should have taken my meds earlier in the bear tree...
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SWATCH Group owns most of the watch companies out there that most people are familiar with, including the makers of Swiss watch movements that wind up in everybody-else's watches, so they kind of dominate. Fossil and Movado are long running brands that aren't going anywhere, hell they'r estill selling the same iconic "flat face with a single diamond at the 12 spot" Museum Watch and it's still popular...

I always thought smart watches were DOA. Today they're just turning more and more into medical devices for athletes.....basically if you wear a G-Shock today, you are the smart-phone market..but G-Shocks are awesome watches, and smart phones aren't.
 
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Yeah, when I was in the AF I went through many G-shocks. They never broke, I just sold the one I had at the time to make it easier to get the newest one.

Awesome watches. But I have small wrists, so they just looked huge on me.
 
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