Are you ready for a smartwatch that breaks the rules? Here at Smartwatch.me, we're always covering wrist wearables that fit the typical "nice-and-neat" shape. All of our smartwatches covered so far fit into the normal "square or circle" shape, with most of them being thin and lightweight on the wrist so that you barely even notice their presence. And, for the most part, these typical smartwatches suit most consumers. It's been said in the industry that the last thing consumers want is "a computer on their wrists."
Well, if you're tired of typical smartwatches and don't mind something geeky, we've finally stumbled onto one. It's called the Fallout 4 Pip-Boy from ThinkGeek, and, yes, as the company's name implies, the second-generation model is designed to be geeky: for geeks, by geeks (FGBG).
The second-generation Fallout 4 Pip-Boy differs from the first in that it appears to be more of a smartwatch here than just "a glorified smartphone case," as was said of the first-generation model. It has its own screen for the device that sits on your arm, and it can accept calls and messages, as well as alarm, clock, month and date, as well as a geographic map and radio. At the very top of the Fallout 4 Pip-Boy you can insert a "cartridge" which, when opened, is nothing more than a USB drive that can be used to transfer content and data (this is what I'd call the old-fashioned way of transferring content and data). A lot of information provided on-screen is to help you as you play the game on your wrist (yes, you can play the game right from your arm). Most of the buttons on the Pip-Boy are functional, though some are there strictly for replica value (they mimic the tool in the game rather than do anything like retrieve messages, for example).
What makes the Fallout 4 Pip-Boy so special is that this device matches the context of the game Fallout 4 (for which it is named). Fallout 4 takes place in the 1940s and 1950s Boston life, though the technology used within the game is futuristic (creating a retro-futuristic feel). The Fallout 4 Pip-Boy itself is retro-futuristic, with a design that few would want on their wrists today but provides a nostalgic trip back in time for hardcore Fallout 4 gamers. Some have even gone to sleep at night, playing Fallout 4 on the Pip-Boy.
There's a lot to learn about the Pip-Boy, but we'll leave it to you to check out the screenshots and video below. After seeing all this, feel free to let us know if you could ever see yourself wearing a hardcore nostagic gaming device on your wrist that's even more eccentric than the Razr Nabu smartwatch.
