Retro Casio Watches Get a Modern Bluetooth Upgrade
▼ Summary
– The Ollee Watch One is an aftermarket upgrade board that adds smart features to classic Casio watches like the F-91W without requiring soldering skills.
– This upgrade adds Bluetooth connectivity, enabling automatic time setting, step tracking via an accelerometer, and personalization through a mobile app.
– The kit includes new features like a temperature sensor, a customizable color backlight that can function as a flashlight, world time, and timer presets.
– It also adds simple games like Ping and Blackjack to the watch’s basic screen, but it does not support notifications or upgrade the display technology.
– The DIY upgrade kit costs $54.99, while pre-upgraded watches are sold for $99.99, and battery life is reduced from years to approximately 10 months.
A classic piece of wearable technology is receiving a surprising new lease on life. The iconic Casio F-91W digital watch, a design virtually unchanged since its 1986 debut, is now available with modern smart features thanks to an aftermarket modification. The Ollee Watch One is a drop-in replacement mainboard that brings Bluetooth connectivity and app support to several beloved Casio models, all without requiring any soldering skills for the installation.
This clever upgrade is designed for hobbyists who already own a compatible watch, such as the F-91W, A158W, or F-84W. The do-it-yourself kit is priced at $54.99 and reportedly takes only about six minutes to install using basic screwdrivers. For those who prefer a ready-to-wear solution, Ollee also sells pre-upgraded watches for $99.99, though these are often in high demand and frequently sell out.
The new internal board is far more capable than the original. It incorporates an accelerometer for tracking step counts and an enhanced buzzer that can signal when you hit a daily activity goal set within the companion mobile app for iOS and Android. Beyond fitness tracking, the upgrade introduces a host of new utilities. These include a temperature sensor, a customizable multi-color LED backlight that can even function as a small flashlight, world time settings, and the convenience of five programmable timer presets.
While the modification doesn’t transform the watch’s fundamental character, there are no notification alerts and the classic segmented LCD screen remains, it does unlock some playful extras. Owners can access alternative watch faces and even play simple games directly on the display, like a version of Blackjack or a ball-bouncing game called Ping.
One of the most remarkable features of the original Casio watches is their legendary battery life, often lasting up to seven years. The Ollee upgrade does have an impact here, but it’s a thoughtful compromise. By utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy technology, the modified watch still achieves a respectable battery life of approximately ten months on a standard CR2016 battery, balancing new functionality with practical, long-term use.
(Source: The Verge)
