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Author Topic: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?  (Read 8734 times)

rcjordan

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #15 on: June 25, 2015, 02:23:48 AM »
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JasonD

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #16 on: June 25, 2015, 01:36:58 PM »
> What are the things you find most useful, Jason?

in order of importance:

Normal Watch stuff - Day Date and Time - I need all three available at a quick glance and my last watch that had this was a Rolex, which Sue (ex wife) still has / sold etc.

Notifications without a doubt. It allows me to look at my wrist and quickly decide whether the constant bleeping of new email, FB Messages, Skype etc, is worth getting my phone out of my pocket.

Music / Radio - changing Spotify Playlists / TuneIn stations at home or the car without looking for a remote or device to change.

They're 3 small things, but for me, means the value is huge.
« Last Edit: June 25, 2015, 02:36:59 PM by JasonD »
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Brad

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #17 on: June 25, 2015, 01:54:12 PM »
>Notifications

This is what does it for me.  I hate digging out the phone when I don't have too, especially in the car.

I have to say I like being able to get the weather info just by talking to my wrist and not digging out the phone all the time.  Somehow, talking to my wrist is less embarrassing than talking to my phone. I call this the d##k Tracy effect.

I experimented with Google Maps on the watch while driving in town.  I think the solar activity had the GPS messed up because the little blue dot representing me on the map on the watch face was always a block off.
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JasonD

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #18 on: June 25, 2015, 02:47:32 PM »
>GPS

I have a Google Maps app on my watch that fires up when it's launched on my phone. It's useless when I am driving, as I prefer the full navigation apps speaking to me, but when walking it's perfect.

EG. Straight ahead 500m, turn left on XYZ  street.
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Brad

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #19 on: June 25, 2015, 03:37:08 PM »
>walking

Brilliant. Never occurred to me. Thanks.
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bill

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #20 on: July 08, 2015, 08:01:39 AM »
Sales of the new Apple Watch have plunged by 90% since the opening week, according to a new market-research report
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-watch-may-not-be-ticking-with-customers-2015-07-07

Anyone surprised?

How's the Android watch holding up?
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Brad

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #21 on: July 08, 2015, 12:39:54 PM »
I really like the Android watch.  It was easy to figure out and does the job.  However, the watch is unreadable on a bright sunny day.  Not a problem in the car, indoors or when it's overcast but real bad on the motorcycle, bicycle or even just walking around in the bright sun.

Therefore I picked up a Pebble Steel and intend to switch off between the two.  I've only had the Pebble for a day so I can't give a decent review yet.  Like JasonD says it does what it is supposed to do.  Frankly, for iPhone users it may be a far better smartwatch for the money if you mainly want notifications and a time piece than the Apple watch.  More learning curve with the Pebble.

You can't talk to the Pebble which is a big plus!

Why the Pebble Steel? I think it is one of the better looking physical designs for a smartwatch.
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JasonD

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #22 on: July 08, 2015, 02:59:19 PM »
> better looking physical designs for a smartwatch

Agreed.

I also want to add a feature I didn't know existed till last night. Shake your wrist to enable the backlight. Bloody useful and annoying not realising I could do that till now!
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Brad

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #23 on: July 08, 2015, 03:13:34 PM »
Quote from: JasonD on July 08, 2015, 02:59:19 PM


I also want to add a feature I didn't know existed till last night. Shake your wrist to enable the backlight. Bloody useful and annoying not realising I could do that till now!

Thanks for that tip, Jason! 

I find myself both annoyed and liking the Pebble at the same time.  The only way to interact is with push buttons which means two hands and clicking down through menus a bit like a PDA which can get annoying. OTOH it gives notifications in some ways better than the Android Wear watches.  Also it is not as clunky as my LG.
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JasonD

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #24 on: July 08, 2015, 04:08:30 PM »
>push buttons.

I completely agree, however, on balance I guess the "always listening" aspect of voice comms, would mean battery life would be terrible. I like the 1 charge every few days thing and overall can accept button pushing at the cost of voice communication.
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JasonD

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #25 on: July 09, 2015, 08:44:01 PM »
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Rooftop

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #26 on: July 10, 2015, 07:20:36 AM »
I was quite tempted by the Motorola 360. I found the screen to be way ahead of the LG even in bright light. Nice looking watch too.

2 Things stopped me though

1. Not waterproof.  If get a lot more use from the smart features if it were.  Without that I can't see any use case for me.

2. Had a meeting with someone wearing one. I didn't realise at first and just thought they didn't want to be there as they kept glancing at their watch.  I don't want to be a notification slave like that.

It's just another tablet to me: a device for the sake of it. No real point or purpose, despite being quite a cool physical thing. It does a group if things that I already own better devices for.

As a format that will likely change, but I think it's a while off for me. Make it waterproof and throw in a cheap camera and I'm there today.
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Brad

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Re: Android Smartwatch is it worth it?
« Reply #27 on: July 10, 2015, 11:36:58 AM »
The Pebble is truly waterproof.  I think my LG is okay in rain or if I forget to take it off in the shower but I'm not sure it would survive the pool.  Of the two, the Pebble is definitely the best choice for an outdoor, bright sun, active person.

>slave

I think each individual is different.  I feel no need to look at my notifications when at a formal meeting.  At a social gathering I don't mind glancing at the watch but I can skip it.  It's when I'm alone or in the car that I sometimes feel the need to look at what is incoming.

Still not talking much to the LG.  ::)
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