A direct descendant of the first multifunction touchscreen watch in history, the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar charts a new course. The latest generation T-Touch is brimming with signature Tissot watchmaking expertise in all its forms: this Swiss-made timepiece is securely connected, private, interactive, self-contained, contemporary and durable.
Innovators by tradition, Tissot puts its experience to good use. The long-awaited T-Touch Connect Solar comes from a long line of touch watches, namely successive generations of T-Touch since 1999, and as a smartwatch it is ahead of its time, just like the High -T from 2004, created in association with Microsoft. By injecting its know-how into the interface between the wristwatch and the mobile application environment, Tissot has created a connected watch equipped with a multitude of functions, rechargeable by solar energy and durable. But it is above all a watch to live and wear, with a sophisticated design.
Design
The T-Touch Connect Solar is above all a watch. Not a gimmick, not a “device”, and not a wrist-worn mini-tablet. Its 47 mm titanium case with an extremely scratch-resistant ceramic bezel is ergonomic and bears witness to Tissot’s characteristic attention to detail. These details include satin-brushed surfaces, softened corners, an engraved ceramic bezel and even an all-new titanium bracelet with links that bear the seal of a sharp and modern design. Plus, it’s water resistant to 100 meters.
It is available in several versions with rubber or titanium straps, and a case in satin-brushed titanium, black PVD or rose gold PVD. And these tough materials mean that this watch, unlike more disposable smartwatches, is naturally protected from obsolescence, including the built-in obsolescence of electronics.
Functions
The T-Touch Connect Solar has the basic functions of a T-Touch Solar Expert, such as a perpetual calendar, countdown timer, various timing functions and alarms, as well as weather and altimeter functions. To these are added an activity tracker and the
opportunities offered by the interaction between the Sw-ALPS operating system, developed specifically for this project, and a smartphone, namely notifications and app updates. And like all T-Touch, it is controlled via its original feature, the tactile sapphire crystal. The T-Touch Connect Solar is a connected watch made in Switzerland. This certification of origin of components and manufacturing is a guarantee of manufacturing quality and safety. No vendor can access the data through a component or the operating system. And neither the watch nor its app send data to a third party.
Profile
The T-Touch Connect Solar is also autonomous. It is firstly because it is energy efficient, all its components being low consumption. It is also recharged by solar energy, using photovoltaic cells developed in Neuchâtel by the CSEM and embedded under the dial. The T-Touch Connect Solar is therefore capable of operating almost indefinitely in connected mode, and for several months depending on its use and exposure to the sun.
Finally, the T-Touch Connect Solar is universal. It is compatible with iOS, Android and Harmony mobile operating systems. The Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar is the first connected watch compatible with the Huawei system. Later upgrades extend the range of its capabilities. And in case the user chooses not to connect his watch to the application, the T-Touch Connect Solar is still the equivalent of a T-Touch Solar Expert, but updated.
Tissot has created an operating system specifically for the T-Touch Connect Solar. Sw-ALPS was developed by the Swatch Group in partnership with a research and development centre, CSEM. Several manufacturers from the Swatch Group, to which Tissot belongs, participated in the creation of the T-Touch Connect Solar, as with all T-Touch watches since the first in 1999.
Operation
The user interface of the T-Touch Connect Solar consists of two push-buttons, an electronic crown and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal touch interface. A confirmation vibration mode can be activated to ensure safe use, especially when wearing gloves for activities such as golf, hiking or mountaineering.
A long press on the ‘start’ button at two o’clock activates the touch screen. A long press of the “back” button at four o’clock brings the T-Touch Connect Solar to its home screen. Activation is then confirmed when the hands point precisely to 12 o’clock. Six dialing zones are enabled, containing grouped functions.
Display
The screen of the T-Touch Connect Solar plays an essential role both in terms of its interactivity and its energy efficiency. At the top of the screen is a status bar where essential information and notifications are located. Its reading surface is the largest possible, taking into account the need to balance energy consumption, space allocated to photovoltaic sensors and readability.
It is a MIP (Memory in Pixel) type screen, similar to a passive display. It is only refreshed when needed, thus saving energy. It is also easy to read in direct sunlight. In addition, the T-Touch Connect Solar has adaptive brightness, which immediately triggers backlit mode when ambient light decreases.
Energetic efficiency
The consumption of the T-Touch Connect Solar is practically unlimited in disconnected watch mode, as for a T-Touch Solar Expert. In interactive mode and after activating Bluetooth, battery life depends on several factors, such as the frequency of visual or vibration notifications, backlighting, adaptation to ambient light level and the amount of data transferred. The T-Touch Connect Solar is thus light years ahead of existing smartwatches, which require long, frequent and stationary recharges. Although the T-Touch Connect Solar comes with a charger, it mainly relies on the next-generation photovoltaic cells under its dial, which allow unrestricted battery recharging, as well as a low-power operating system. low power consumption developed especially for this watch.
Abilities
In “watch” mode, i.e. not connected, the T-Touch Connect Solar has all the capabilities of a T-Touch Solar Expert, namely: weather, altimeter, compass, countdown, chronograph with intermediate time function, second time zone, perpetual calendar and numerous alarms. In connected mode, the T-Touch Connect Solar has even more functions associated with the smartphone’s integrated mobile application. Its Bluetooth Low Energy chip is compatible with versions 4.2 and higher. It minimizes the power consumed while sharing data. For example, the T-Touch Connect Solar displays all the desired notifications: calls, SMS, e-mails and the like sent by other applications.
For now, navigation is only done in compass mode. The same goes for the weather function, which is linked to an integrated barometric sensor. But later updates will open new possibilities. The T-Touch Connect Solar also has a built-in activity tracker combined with an accelerometer. It works both in “watch” mode, after entering the wearer’s physical data, and in connected mode, to record the number of steps, distances and energy expended.
Privacy
What matters most with the T-Touch Connect Solar isn’t the data collection, or the brand, but the person wearing it. Thus, all information about the wearer – his personal life, where he is, what he does – is and will remain strictly private and stored in the T-Touch Connect Solar mobile application. No transfer or storage of data by an organization other than Tissot has been authorized.
In addition, the watch has several security modes. With Basic Lock, screen buttons are disabled to prevent accidental activation during intense activity. When a security code is entered, an additional lock turns off the screen display for added privacy. In addition, this additional lock activates automatically and immediately when the connection with the smartphone is lost.
Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar is available in Tissot, Rivoli, Hour Choice boutiques and online at rivolishop.com. The plus sign of the Swiss flag in the Tissot logo symbolizes the Swiss quality and reliability demonstrated by Tissot since 1853. The watches, sold worldwide, enable Tissot to be the leader in the traditional Swiss watch industry, exporting more than four million watches each year. Tissot remains faithful to its signature, Innovators by Tradition. The brand’s high quality with every component is recognized worldwide. Tissot has been appointed official timekeeper and partner of many world events such as basketball with the NBA and FIBA; cycling with the Tour de France and the UCI Cycling World Championships; motorsport with the MotoGPTM and the FIM Superbike World Championship and many more in the sports of ice hockey, fencing and rugby. Major flagships include: Tissot T-Touch (the first touchscreen watch in 1999). Tissot Le Locle, a classic and timeless automatic watch with 80 hours of power reserve. Tissot T-Race, ‘sporty design’.
Features
made in switzerland
Titanium case, black PVD coating and rose gold
Diameter 47mm; thickness 15.3mm
Quartz movement, solar charging
Clock – Time, time zones, perpetual calendar
Meteo – Barometer, Weather trend, Temperature
Activity – step counter, calories burned, distance traveled, altimeter
Connected – Notifications, Incoming Calls, Find My Phone, NBA Features
T-Touch – Safety Lock, Eco Mode and Auto Sleep Mode
Timing – Alarms, Timer, Chrono split/Lap/Logbook
Navigation – compass, azimuth
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