Introducing Neptune Duo

Sometimes products are dead on arrival because they "surprise" the user with a fundamentally different implementation than the one they expected.

In this case, the "phone-shaped" object isn't a phone at all. In fact, you can toss it in the trash if you like. Instead, the bulky, underpowered wrist piece is the one you need to keep track of and care about.

If your "phone" (watch) is dying, you can save battery by using the "monitor" (phone?). Or if you feel awkward talking to your "watch" (phone), just talk instead to the "phone" (monitor).

It won't surprise me that as components get smaller and smaller, these communications devices change over time, but as for today...

Just, no.

I've worn several "wearable" devices - the Jawbone UP (more than a year) and a Basis watch (4 weeks). Surprisingly to me I found that my life - as sedentary as it is - didn't play well with expensive, breakable, things on my wrist. I've just gotten used to not having something there. My children ripped it off, I smacked it on door frames, accidentally showered with it, and scratch/banged them pretty badly when doing random car work or goofing off in the backyard. While the wearables were expensive, they aren't nearly as expensive as my phone, which does hold up much better. I'm pretty wary of the idea of putting that on my wrist now.

This concept is exactly where I predict things will/should go. No idea if this particular product is any good though.

It's wasteful and expensive to duplicate components across many devices. Have them in one device, with other devices sharing them / as dumb terminals to them. If I want to do something on my phone, but on a big screen, I should be able to pull out a big dumb screen that talks to my phone. Of course in this scenario replace "phone" with "hub."

Counterpoint: as we gain the tech to do this kind of things, the hardware may become so cheap that we gain very little cost savings from not duplicating most of it.

Great, now I have two things I need to carry around with me. If I forget the wrist device, the phone is useless? No thanks. The phone as it is right now works great. Wearing something on my wrist seems kinda archaic at this point. Having to look at my arm for information seems so dated. A more interesting thing is to have that information come to me when the context deems it. Why do I need to check what time it is? My phone should alert me that my next appointment is in 20 minutes and I need to start walking there. Why are we trying to ape 400 year old technology when we have things ambient, always on internet for every device in our possession?

I like the thinking outside the box BUT too much on the wrist.

This would be annoying and uncomfortable against your laptop or any wristrest.

I think people need to think much more about what _wearable_ means.

Epaper displays, long battery life, and soft breathable bands and no buckles.

I just learned about the Neptune Pine from another HN post. Neptune just announced their latest device, the Neptune Duo. I was hoping for something like the Neptune Pine, but smaller and slimmer. This fits that bill, but once again it's two devices, almost like today's smartphone and smartwatch pairing. This just moves the phone part to the wrist. And it's much more expensive, without any specs at this point. I'm disappointed, but maybe someone else here might be interested.

Ok before I pluck $800 down, can I have some info on who's working on this? The website has no introduction to the team.

So how do I know if I could use this with my carrier? Kind of an important question when it comes to reservation?

As of right now wearable is still pretty thick, but style and implementation wise this is superb. As usual I reserve final judgement, until I will be able to see reviews.

Wow, $789 is a little steep.