Watches
Fingers-On: Casio G-Shock G-Lide GBX100-2 Tide Chart Watch
It’s summertime and, relying on the place you reside on this planet, that might imply numerous time spent within the water. If you’re fortunate, then water means the ocean. Anybody who spends sufficient time on the seaside implicitly is aware of that their expertise will differ relying on the tides, and if they’re a surfer, their total enjoyment is dependent upon monitoring the tides. Tide chart watches aren’t something new. Casio and a slew of different digital watchmakers have been enjoying with quite a lot of tide chart watches for some time. Even the luxurious names have performed with mechanical tide charts or moon part indicators particularly designed for being across the ocean. That mentioned, the simplest tide chart watches are digital, and if they are often married to related information out there through the Web, then all the higher.
This units the stage for Casio’s newly up to date G-Shock G-Lide watch assortment (GBX100 household) whose lovely new type contains each a brand new display and a brand new working system that has Bluetooth connectivity. It isn’t a full-on smartwatch, because it doesn’t should be re-charged recurrently, and it doesn’t have numerous functions operating on it, nevertheless it marries the most effective of what the G-Lide has to supply with trendy connectivity and options that customers count on.
That is the third Casio product I’ve reviewed that features the Japanese firm’s still-fresh up to date working system that includes a extra detailed MIP (reminiscence in each pixel) LCD display, together with an working system fully totally different from what’s operating on basic G-Shock gadgets. This working system is tweaked a bit for every machine it’s on, and within the G-Lide GBX100 contains some particular screens for the tide charts and moon part info. G-Lide watches are a subset of the G-Shock household designed primarily for surfers and different individuals who do in-ocean sports activities, together with swimmers, kayakers, snorkelers, boogie boarders, and many others…
Casio did a surprisingly good job making the G-Lide look actually enticing. They opted for a extra angular, squared look with a metallic bezel and a pleasantly symmetrical form. Right here we’ve got the G-Lide reference GBX100-2, which has an aquamarine-colored resin case (vented for water to flee from the strap and underneath the watch) and is waterproof to 200 meters. The case is 46mm-wide, 50.9mm lug-to-lug, and 14.7mm-thick. It weights simply 66 grams. That is truly one of many extra diminutive of the fashionable G-Shock gadgets, and although it has a devoted marine theme, you possibly can simply put on it each day given its practicality and attractiveness.
The module 3482 quartz motion contained in the watch is new; the one draw back is that there isn’t any photo voltaic power-generation on this mannequin, although it does comprise a normal CR2032 cell battery that’s mentioned to have a two-year common life. The watch has each Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in step counter (pedometer), so this watch can truly perform as an exercise tracker when used along side the G-Shock Transfer smartphone app. That mentioned, the Casio G-Shock Transfer GBDH1000 is the mannequin household to get in order for you most of what the GBX100 has, however with a coronary heart charge monitor and GPS. That makes it the extra full-featured exercise tracker machine.
One of many good issues in regards to the companion app is that it helps you to do easy issues like replace the time zone or set the alarms on the GBX100 watch out of your cellphone. It’s also possible to do extra exact issues to set your native seaside for time chart information. The app has a sequence of pre-loaded in style seashores, however you possibly can manually enter the coordinates and associated location information of various seashores. Sadly, this course of is a bit cumbersome, and I want the G-Shock Transfer app merely allow you to drop a pin on a map and get the tide information for that precise spot. This isn’t a ding on the watch itself, because the app is separate and might theoretically be up to date within the close to future.
Urgent the button labeled “LAP” means that you can entry the varied tide information watch faces. Every is logical and straightforward to learn, however it is advisable to know what you’re looking at. Casio has by no means been good about educating novices the way to use tide chart information, to start with. It could be very nice if the G-Shock Transfer app contained small tutorials on the way to use the out there information if you happen to aren’t but accustomed to the way to interpret that information.
For the cash, the brand new era G-Lide is numerous watch. It prices barely greater than final era’s gadgets and provides a protracted record of recent options, together with a terrific new type. Casio will doubtless find yourself making the G-Lide GBX100 in a sequence of types on high of the three launch fashions, together with this aquamarine-colored reference GBX100-2. That is yet one more robust new Casio product from the famed Japanese watchmaker that has actually been on a roll with its new watches. Worth for the Casio G-Shock G-Lide GBX100 watch is $160 USD. Study extra on the G-Shock web site right here.