[Isthmus]

Authored by b_andersen


"The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO


For all the lack of respect CASIO G-Shocks get from many Seiko Citizen Forum (SCF) regulars, you have to admit that the Japanese computer company continues pulling away from its domestic rival watch manufacturers in terms of advances in technological innovation.

A good case in point is a new model relesed this summer, the GW-400 series. Let's take a closer look at this amazing watch together.



Part of "The G" series, The Silencer is the new model on the left.

SCF'ers love watches with nicknames and fancy numerical designations. This one has several to satisfy your longing for insider terminology. It is part of "The G" series. It's called GW-400. There is a limited Edition (LE) Hawaiian Lifeguards model, and one in the G-Glide series that is an LE for the Triple Crown of Surfing competition. But the main nickname for this one is "The Silencer."

Won't that satiate you? We can easily have a conversation about these watches using these terms that Swiss watch lovers can't follow at all!


[img]http://www.larrybiggs.net/scwf/images/com/photobucket/i15/4f/55/75/28/49d64f0835408974c241e8b6.jpg


Staying on task, let's take a look inside at the technology of this marvel. Needless to say, it is Solar Powered, Radio Wave Controlled, has 30 City World Time (yes, even Adelaide, South Australia), Stopwatch, Alarms, Full Auto Backlight, 200m Water Resist (WR), Power Reserve Indicator, and so on.

Ho-Hum. Seen that. Done that. Not impressed.

OK, but it features some exciting new innovations that might wake up some of you who aren't blacked out!





One is a "Vibration Alarm." You can see (picture above) the unit diagramed, it looks like a plunger that churns in-and-out to create the vibrating effect. I can think of several situations where this feature might come in very handy. Like when I fall asleep in the public library working on translations for the SCF.


[img]


In this next shot (above) you can see the alarm designation above the seconds readout that says "VIB." Now, that's new! "I'm picking up good vibrations ..."

You'll also notice that the larger readout above is showing Temperature. This watch is meant for water sports aficionados. The readout can be set to find either air temperature, or water temperature. Your choice.

New.

[img]


It also features a Tide Graph function. It can be set to display a readout in different scales, 1X, 2X, or 3X.

Man.


[img]

The strap features a new pin system to connect it to the watchhead. It also has the dual row of buckle slots, like G-Shock Frogman models, that make for a comfortable fit on wrist.

Forumer GVD asked me about the Hawaiian Lifeguards LE yesterday, so I took a look at GW-400 today since I have nothing better to do with my time. The Hawaiian version is the same as above, but simply is a yellow LE version with different detailing on the caseback, backlight, strap.

[img]
Hawaiian Lifeguards LE catalog scan.


[img]
Triple Crown of Surfing LE version.


Here is a link to CASIO's press release on the watch, that was also featured in the April 2005 issue of Japan Design Express.


CASIO: [url=http://www.casio.co.jp/release/2005/gw_400.html]http://www.casio.co.jp/release/2005/gw_400.html[/url]

Japan Design Express: [url=http://www.japandesign.ne.jp/EXPRESS/050427/037.php]http://www.japandesign.ne.jp/EXPRESS/050427/037.php[/url]


[img]


Well, that about wraps this review up. Hope it didn't put you to sleep! [img]http://www.larrybiggs.net/scwf/images/com/network54/23/aa/77/fc/531a2098fa776821e0338543.gif If it did it's probably a sign you need one of these new CASIO watches. Either that, or jump in the lake.


BA

 

[Isthmus]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

by b-andersen



Last week I did a review on the CASIO GW-400. The chip in this watch is pretty amazing; I keep noticing new things about the technology bundled in it.

Today I realized, according to a page I translated (I don't own the watch .. yet) the "vibration alarm" can be set not only for the alarm clock, but also for the countdown timer, and will silently signal the hourly chime, apparently.

In addition, I noticed the countdown timer apparently sets using one-minute intervals up to 60 minutes to correspond with "yacht timing."

(I can set the countdown timer on my Frogman down to the level of seconds. I don't know anything about yachting so I'm not sure what the real significance of this is but I think it's cool anyway. It's my understanding the measures air or water temperatures, and tides, and of course it's water resistant to 200m, so it'd be a real useful tool boating, especially yachting, it seems.)

Interesting.

I was thinking having a silent, vibrating alarm function on a countdown timer could come in handy sometimes. What do you think? Any suggestions when it might be useful?

 

[casiojem]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

There were only a few of the Casio's with vibration alarm, and I found it to be really useful, so to have that function in countdown or timer mode would be great for me.
Here is my G7500 with the vibrating alarm feature
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20100402-rku95aqdkguaj87h9ay1yhtr6y.jpg" alt="photo"/>

 

[sharkfinDave]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

Cool, just getting into the G's.
So new vibe modes only with GW-400, and G7500?

Thanks.
Dave

 

[nhoj]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

Cool, just getting into the G's.
So new vibe modes only with GW-400, and G7500?

Thanks.
Dave

The Fisherman (DW8600) also had a vibration feature. Don't want an alarm to scare away the fish, right?

There are several Pathfinder models that have the vibration alarm feature as well.

 

[sharkfinDave]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

The Fisherman (DW8600) also had a vibration feature. Don't want an alarm to scare away the fish, right?

There are several Pathfinder models that have the vibration alarm feature as well.

Cool, will check that out.
Yeah, like to be stealth in the audio dept sometimes.

Thanks John.
cheers, Dave

 

[UpstandingCitizen]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

The Fisherman (DW8600) also had a vibration feature. Don't want an alarm to scare away the fish, right?

There are several Pathfinder models that have the vibration alarm feature as well.

That's pretty cool, I might have to look into those Fishermans. 8)

 

[scuttle]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

Nice review, Isthmus. But how powerful is the silent alarm? A gentle reminder, or something that you could count to wake you up from a deep sleep? How long does it continue?

 

[jason_recliner]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

Very interesting - thanks for the review.

 

[gerry.geg]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

I could use that feature. G's keep packing in the features for even the most value driven watch wearers.

 

[jone5]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

Cool

 

[spiralarchitect]

Re: "The Silencer" GW-400 Series; Eye-Opening New G-Shock Technology From CASIO

I have got to get out of this G-shock forum before some of the neat tech seduces me into buying one. That vibrating alarm would come in handy for a deep sleeper like me.

 

[blocsef]

Is there any watch which comes with puzzling alarm system in such a way that we have to solve that puzzle in order to off the alarm?

 

[leger]

Very interesting