Martian Notifier

With a circular watch face and classic analogue display, the Martian Notifier looks like a conventional watch.

The twist is that it connects to both Android and iOS devices to give you notifications via its small Oled screen (96 x 16 pixels) on the lower half of the watch face.

The Notifier is encased in black plastic with a stainless-steel bezel. The smooth silicone band is light and comfortable to wear. A plastic cover above the crown hides a micro-USB charging port.

A small LED light just above the eight o'clock position glows red when the watch is being charged. It turns to green when fully charged and blue during pairing.

Charging is only for the "smart" portion of the watch. The analogue timepiece is powered by a coin battery that should last two years.

To pair the Notifier with your smartphone, download the Martian Notifier app (available for both Android and iOS) to your phone. Turn on the smartwatch by pressing down the lower button on the left until the Oled screen comes on.

When a notification arrives, the blue LED light blinks and the watch vibrates. You will also see a line of message on the display.

The rechargeable battery lasted around three days with the watch constantly connected to my iPhone during waking hours - shorter than the rated four to five days.

However, even if you do not charge the watch or if the rechargeable battery runs down, you can still use it as a regular watch.

The downer is the lack of good water resistance. Securing the plastic cover of the micro-USB port compartment is a must to prevent water damage. But even with the cover properly closed, the Notifier is only splash-resistant. Hand washing and exposure to rain should not damage the watch. Just do not submerge in water.

Another minor foible is the need for the use of a proprietary charging cable included with the watch. Common micro-USB cables will not work with the Notifier.