Earlier this year, Paul reviewed the Casio PRW-5000 which is the analog flagship in the Pro Trek range. Paul found the 5000 to be his favorite model from the Pro Trek line up, enjoying the style and features it offers. Casio was kind enough to send us their newest iteration in the “all-digital” side of the Pro Trek line, the PRW-2500T. The 2500T aims to be the best featured and easiest to use of Casio’s tough-guy Pro Treks. This new model builds on the success of the PRG-240 by incorporating a titanium bracelet, an updated screen and an enhanced user interface which makes information more accessible and increasingly viewable.
This year Casio took the PRW-5000 we reviewed last year and gave it a makeover: PVD case, blue highlights and an almost stealth look. Let’s start with the specs for the new version, model number PRW-5000Y-10R:
Altimeter/barometer, compass and thermometer
Tough solar power, 5 month power reserve
Tough movement with automatic hand position correction
Water resistant to 100m (330ft)
Six-band atomic (radio) receiver, rated for +- 15 seconds per month if no signal
Altimeter: -2,300ft to 32,800ft (-700m/10,000m) A good watch for Everest, perhaps!
Temperature sensor: 14F to 140F (-10 to 60C).
Mineral crystal
Black ion-plated stainless steel case, buckle and bezel
Rubber strap with color-matched logo on keeper
Small inset multifunction LCD for numbers, graphs and indicators
World time, 29 time zones plus UTC
1-hour stopwatch, 1/100th resolution
1-hour countdown timer
Five daily alarms
Digital compass, 20 seconds of readings at a time, 1 degree resolution
This year at CES, Casio brought along a promising prototype watch. Featuring Casio’s BLE (bluetooth low energy) technology this watch will be able to have bluetooth functionality without the dismal battery life we have seen in models from Sony Ericsson and LG. The watch is powered on a single watch-style coin battery and would connect to a smartphone allowing a host of features and 2-way communication. Expect call and email alerts, phone locating ability, global time sync, and expanded functionality from application support based within the phone’s OS.
While the watch shown here is still a prototype, its exciting to think of a Casio MR-G or Oceanus with these features. Presumably, your phone would need to be BLE compliant, which might require a new phone all together. This is massively exciting technology as the premise is taken directly out of science fiction and it could facilitate an entirely new feature set into a controller we are all very familiar with.
As a side note, we would like to congratulate Casio for winning the CES 2011 Design and Engineering Award for the recently upgraded Pathfinder PAW5000. Please check out our review of the PAW5000.
Casio recently updated their mid-range Pathfinder lineup — the "Solar Triple Sensor" line — by adding the PAG-240 which sports a series of refinements. The Pathfinder line is famous for melding large LCD screens with navigational and atmospheric data, all in a wrist-top package. The Casio PAG-240 uses a new duplex screen, and a new manner of navigating its many features.
The new Casio G-Shock GXW-56 — and its American counterpart, the GX-56 — are proof that huge is the new big. With a case 55.5mm wide at its widest point, and 17.5mm high, the GXW-56 is the biggest G-Shock ever made. (Yes, they are even larger than the venerable Frogman.)
(Before going any further, I want to point out the differences between the GXW and the GX. The GXW is the Japanese version and has multi-band atomic timekeeping. The GX is the American version which is less expensive, and has all the features of the GXW except atomic time calibration. This review focuses specifically on a GXW-56-1BJF which I imported from Japan in order to get atomic time calibration, but most of what I cover here pertains to the GX, as well.)
The thinking behind the GXW-56 (and the GX-56) is that, in the overall scheme of things, typical G-Shocks simply aren’t all that big anymore. Yes, they are certainly bigger than your average timepiece, but if you look at the watches that are really driving the trends right now, G-Shocks don’t completely dominate in terms of size. So in order to maintain their status as trend-setters (and make no mistake — G-Shocks are as much about fashion as they are toughness; if you don’t believe me, read my coverage of Shock the World), it was time for G-Shocks to take the next step.
Fortunately, Casio decided to do something constructive with all that extra space in the case: they filled it with aGEL which they describe like this:
aGEL® is a soft silicone gel material with outstanding shock-absorbing characteristics.
So what is this mysterious new aGEL material? aGEL, or Alpha GEL, is the brand name for the soft silicone gel material which was first made famous by Asics Gel running shoes, and it helps to make the GXW-56 even more shock and vibration resistant than your standard G-Shock.
But the GXW-56 isn’t all about size. It also has the functionality and features that we’ve come to expect from G-Shocks. Here’s an exhaustive list:
I just got back from Casio's 2010 Shock the World press event in New York, and I have plenty to show. We all had a blast checking out some new G-Shock models, meeting folks from Casio (and Casio's PR team), rubbing elbows with celebrities, and hanging out at what turned out to be a pretty wild concert.
Here are the highlights:
A quick walkthrough of the floor before the press conference.
Casio G-Shocks play many roles: fashion icons, hardcore tool watches, respectable divers, etc. Today, we look at something of a new phase for the G-Shock line in the form of a “multi role fighter.” The Casio G-Shock GW-2000 sports aviation styling while retaining the GMT features of many of its older siblings. The GW-2000 combines the radio controlled technology which Casio is now famous for with a refreshed style more reminiscent of the MR-G series.
Let's take a look at the details:
Mineral glass crystal.
47mm at the widest point (wears more like 43mm).
15m thick.
Radio controlled atomic calibrated module.
Solar powered.
Stopwatch with a resolution of 1/20th of a second.
Every new Pathfinder I get tends to become my favorite, and the PAW2000T-7V is no exception. In fact, not only has it become my favorite Pathfinder, but it is also one of my favorite digital watches in general. I've typically thought of Pathfinders purely as outdoors watches in the past — watches you only wear while hiking, boating, stargazing, etc. — since all the features they pack have traditionally required large, knobby cases to accommodate sensors and circuit boards. But not so with PAW2000T-7V. Although still obviously a feature-rich digital watch, the PAW2000T-7V is the thinnest, cleanest, and most subtle Pathfinder I've ever owned.
Today's review is Casio's latest in their Frogman line of G-Shock dive watches. These are the first in that line to have atomic timekeeping and solar power. Let's take a look and see what you get for a list price of $725!
Specifications:
Water resistant to 200m (660ft).
Dedicated dive timer with surface interval measurement and logbook.
Tide graph and moon phase (based on UTC offset and lunitidal interval).
DLC-coated stainless steel case, integral rubber strap with double-tang buckle.
World time in 48 cities (31 time zones).
Automatic and manual EL backlight.
Six-band radio reception (Japan, US, China, UK, Germany).
Machined aluminum bezel with stainless steel screws on the face.
24 hour countdown timer.
Five alarms.
26 month power reserve with H/M/L display of charge.
One thing you can always count on is for Casio to introduce new and interesting features and products in the G-Shock line. Today let's look at the G-Rescue G7900A-7, introduced in May of 2009:
Inspired by search and rescue teams (thus the name).
Bigger buttons for gloved use — largest ever on a g-shock.
Back case shock absorbers (pictured below).
Low temperature rated display (-4°F/-20°C).
And of course the long list of normal g-shock features:
Earlier this year, Paul reviewed the Casio PRW-5000 which is the analog flagship in the Pro Trek range. Paul found the 5000 to be his favorite model from the Pro Trek line up, enjoying the style and features it offers. Casio was kind enough to send us their newest iteration in the “all-digital” side of the Pro Trek line, the PRW-2500T. The 2500T aims to be the best featured and easiest to use of Casio’s tough-guy Pro Treks. This new model builds on the success of the PRG-240 by incorporating a titanium bracelet, an updated screen and an enhanced user interface which makes information more accessible and increasingly viewable.
