Exchange secret messages with your kids on myFirst Fone S4 smartwatch
New magiCode feature allows for custom vibration patterns as a "secret code"
As a parent of two children, I have tried smartwatches and fitness trackers for kids from the likes of Garmin, Fitbit and Xiaomi. But when it comes to features, they don’t come close to the smartwatches from homegrown brand myFirst. How many brands will go to the extent of creating a curated social circle for their smartwatches, like what myFirst did?
But myFirst, which expanded to major US retailers like Walmart and Best Buy this year, and is eyeing an IPO in the US, is not resting on its laurels. The manufacturer is launching the Fone S4 smartwatch later this month with a 1.65-inch AMOLED screen — the largest in the myFirst smartwatch range — and a host of other upgrades, from dual-band GPS to an Always-on display feature for the screen to a faster processor.
The big new feature on the Fone S4 is magiCode, which lets users create a series of custom vibrations on the smartwatch that they can share with their parents, friends, and other myFirst contacts. The adult me isn’t too enthusiastic about it, but I can see the appeal for kids. It’s like an unspoken, secret Morse code between them. And no one would be the wiser.
Because it’s a hardware feature, magiCode is only available on the Fone S4. But the new gamification feature that’s debuting with the Fone S4 will come to other myFirst smartwatches as a software update. This gamification system lets parents encourage their kids to perform tasks like reading or cleaning their room by rewarding them with virtual “Carrots” currency. This currency can be used to purchase fun customisations like unique avatars, colourful wallpapers, and special frames. Frankly, I’m surprised that it took myFirst this long to introduce this gamification feature, which can be found in some other smartwatches for kids.
The upcoming software update will also include other new useful features, like being able to track the location of the myFirst smartwatch in real-time during a call, and a photo polling feature that lets users attach photos for their poll entries.
The myFirst Fone S4 smartwatch will be available for pre-order later this month from 27 December at S$299.
This week, we tested Oppo’s latest Find X8 Pro flagship smartphone, checked out Lenovo’s affordable AI-capable Copilot+ PC, and watched a bunch of shows on Asus’ Google TV-powered ZenScreen smart monitor.
With a quad-camera system that’s co-branded with famed camera brand Hasselblad, Oppo’s new flagship Find X8 Pro delivers the goods when it comes to smartphone photography. In particular, its two periscope telephoto cameras offers 3X and 6X zoom respectively. Overall, photos were detailed and well exposed, while the performance is excellent, thanks to its new flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset.
Asus may be new to the smart monitor scene, but the ZenScreen Smart Monitor MS27UC is a solid first attempt. This 27-inch display offers good visuals, with an effective anti-glare layer, as well as good speakers. Its Google TV interface is also easy to use and navigate, with plenty of apps for entertainment — there’s even a couple of productivity features.
If you’re shopping for a Windows Copilot+ PC on a budget, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x is an affordable model that does the job for under S$1,200. Sure, it has some downsides, like a middling webcam, and it’s a bit heavier than it looks. But the performance is good, especially battery life, for the price.