While I cling tenaciously to the belief that, even in a post-smartphone world, there’s still room for dedicated handheld gaming devices, there are a few that I’ll admit my iPhone has rendered irrelevant. My standalone MP3 player is an obvious example as is my point-and-click camera, but despite the fact that it has — right there in big, bright characters — the date and time, I still choose to wear a watch.
I’m a watch guy.
I typically go with something subtle and functional like a classic round analog face on a simple black band, but recently I got a chance to try out Phosphor’s new digital World Time Sport Watch. Its thick silicone band comes in basic black as well as the flashier white or orange, but even that’s not the boldest feature of this timepiece.
The World Time Sport boasts an enormous display that employs the same E Ink technology as your e-reader. This gives the device unbelievable clarity and readability thanks to the high level of contrast, but the watch does more than just look cool; it also features a buttonless interface.
While it’s not exactly the multi-touch to which we geeks have become accustomed, you can use a series of simple swipes and taps to do everything from program the watch and switch the display mode to flip through the 24 titular world time zones. This gives the World Time Sport a very clean, modern aesthetic that truly ramps up its overall appeal.
At a $99 MSRP, it’s a nice watch for the money, especially for those who might be looking for something a little different. A little techier. A tad bit geekier. The only problem — aside from the fact that it’s rather bulky — is its non-replaceable watch band. You’re stuck with whichever color you choose for the life of the device, and if it becomes damaged you’re either out 100 bucks or you’re forced to hack together a homebrew solution.
Still, if you’re in the market for a new timepiece and aren’t put off by the all-in-one construction, the Phosphor World Time Sport Watch is a fun, funky accessory with a charm all its own.
Review materials provided by: Phosphor
