​Blocks shows off images of its modular smartwatch and we want it now

The 'Project Ara' of smartwatches is nearly ready for its crowdfunding debut
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The upcoming modular smartwatch Blocks has been getting some serious buzz since it lost out in the finals of the Intel Make It Wearable competition last year – and now we have a glimpse of what it might look like.

The prototype watch features a round-faced screen with multiple removable links. In the background, you can see that there are a number of different colour options. However, the company noted in a comment on Facebook that the team is still deciding on which colours will make the final cut.

We saw the original concept back last year, and the design has come a long way in that time. It's actually starting to look like a real smartwatch, and that's genuinely exciting to see.

Essential reading: The beest smartwatches to buy now

In Blocks' weekly Why Thursday video diary, the design team also responded to questions on wrist size, features and battery life.

The modular links are designed to be as small as possible in order to allow users with small wrists to have as many different features as possible without getting too big to fit. The watch clasp will also be adjustable for a fine tuned fit.

The core Blocks watch will allow you to connect to your smartphone, run apps, and get alerts similar to traditional smartwatch devices. Additional modular links will be extra.

There is still no word on the date for the crowdfunding launch. However, the company commented on Facebook that by the end of the summer, there will be an official announcement.

If you're getting impatient and have money burning a hole in your pocket, you should check out this week's list of wearable device crowdfunding campaigns to find out about some great startups looking for seed money.


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Lory is a freelance technology writer, who specializes in apps and games. She now works as a contract editor for Apple.

Lory has written for iMore, Lilliput Computing and Applewatchdaily.com.


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