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Fans of Casio watches may be interested to hear that the company has unveiled a prototype timepiece that uses Bluetooth technology.Although it is not being mass-produced yet, the black watch was available for technology aficionados to look at on Casio's stand at the Las Vegas International Consumer Electronics Show this week.It looks much like one of the brand's classic retro styles from the 1980s, but it has a Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) link function that allows it to be connected to a smartphone.The wearer can therefore receive texts and emails on their wrist, instead of having to fish around in a briefcase, without using up lots of power. In fact, it uses the same battery life as an ordinary timepiece."Now, Casio's application of BLE positions the company to create new possibilities for the way people use their watches," said a statement from the company.Last month, Casio revealed a new solar-powered Oceanus G-Shock watch in Japan.

TweetEmailIt looks like Casio just repackaged the Oceanus 5 Motor's insides in a dark and bold G-Shock GIEZ case. Currently only available to the Japanese (and to resourceful and fanatical foreign watch geeks), the Casio G-Shock GIEZ 1000BJ appears to be identical to the Oceanus 5 Motor that I just reviewed, but with a much tougher, "special ops" look to it.Rather than titanium, the case is stainless steel with some sort of black, abrasion-resistant coating, and in place of the titanium bracelet is a pretty standard G-Shock rubber strap. The sapphire crystal of the Oceanus 5 Motor has also been replaced with whatever type of scratch-resistant plastic or acrylic that is used in G-Shocks. I'm not going to bother listing this watch's features since the Oceanus 5 Motor review covers them in detail (including a video), but I will say that aesthetically, this reinterpretation of the Oceanus really creates an entirely new watch.In fact, there might even be some advantage in owning both since your titanium, around-the-office, out-for-drinks timepiece could work identically to your weekend, change-the-oil, help-a-friend-move "beater". I think there could be a marketing opportunity here.The Casio G-Shock GIEZ 1000BJ goes for about $227.Update: Read the Casio Giez 1000BJ review.