Crowdfunded Company Tries To Flip Smartphone Model

Canadian CE company Neptune introduced a two-device wristband that combines a wrist-based hub with a pocket-sized display that it says “reinvents the smartphone.” The device reverses the smartphone-wearable relationship, turning the wristband into the master device and the phone into a dummy display. The Neptune Hub -- packing support for 3G/4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC -- works with the Pocket, a five-inch interactive dummy display. Called Neptune Duo, the product is slated for late 2015 delivery. The company is accepting reservations for the device at getneptune.com, with $798 to be paid when the crowd-funded product ships. Consumers can pay $49 now, and then pay $649 at shipment, for savings of $100; pay $199 now and then $399 at shipment to save $200; or pay $498 now and pay $0 at shipment, saving $300, the company said Tuesday. Consumer tech sites generally didn’t take kindly to the concept Tuesday, we found in a scan. Engadget called Duo “a wristband that replaces your phone with a dumber phone” and wondered “why exactly you’d want to do that.” Gizmag said simply flipping roles isn’t a convincing argument for purchase, and that Neptune’s rationale that you’ll always have your personal information with you doesn’t measure up. Most smart watches today have alert features that prompt you when you when you’ve left your smartphone behind, Gizmag said.