Samsung Gear Fit Not Running Android or Tizen

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When Samsung launched their new Galaxy Gear 2 series devices last month, both the Gear 2 and the Gear 2 Neo were announced with their Tizen OS. It was assumed that their Gear Fit fitness band was also running Tizen. It turns out that was incorrect. It isn't running Tizen or Android, but will instead use a proprietary OS called RTOS (Real Time OS).

Here's a quote with more of the details,

Samsung's RTOS is a simple platform, which processes data significantly faster than other, more complex operating systems. Although RTOS can run on ”limited computing hardware”, it still comes with multitasking capabilities and supports task priorities. Thanks to its simplicity, Samsung's wearable platform allows the Gear Fit to squeeze out even more battery life than its peers, the Samsung Gear 2 and Gear Neo.

"[RTOS] is a much simpler OS, and it helps us keep the battery life three to four days whereas Gear 2 is [about] two days," claimed Seshu Madhavapeddy, Samsung America's Senior VP of Product and Technology.

The simplicity of RTOS does not allow developers to create 3rd party apps for the Gear Fit. Still, this might prove to be good for users, as the health-centric Gear Fit wearable will most probably provide them with more accurate data and feedback.

Intriguing. Perhaps it makes sense to use a stripped down basic platform for something like the Gear Fit. It doesn't need to have a plethora of options to do what it was designed to do. Does it surprise and/or disappoint you that the Gear Fit doesn't include Sammy's own Tizen OS?

Source: PhoneArena