Android Smartwatch is it worth it?

[Brad]

I used to say I had no interest in buying a smartwatch.  Then I got a new android phone and all that blew out the window.  What I ended up buying was the LG Watch Urbane.  I figured If I was going to throw all privacy out the window by wearing a smartwatch I should do it now and test it for a few months.
http://www.lg.com/us/smartwatch/urbane

Here is the reason I wanted a smartwatch:

1. When I'm riding my motorcycle, I'd like to see who is calling and if it's worth pulling over to talk or if it can wait.  Problem is, on really bright days the display can get washed out.  The Pebble watch might have been a better choice on sunny days because it uses e-ink display like your Kindle.  Cloudy days the Urbane is just fine.

2. In the car. Same reasons as on the motorcycle: I can see who is calling on the watch and decide if it is worth digging my phone out from under coats, seat belts, sweaters and what have you while I'm trying to drive.

The weather notifications, email notifications etc. are handy too.

I know there are tons of other things you can do but really the notifications are enough for me.

Are those worth $300?  Probably not unless you like messing with new gadgets.  If you like talking to your wrist it might be worth it, telling Google what to do.  Typical android though, I installed a watch face that show both time and weather, except the Temp is all Centigrade and stubbornly refuses to accept a F temp display.  Little Android cr*p like that will keep you pulling your hair out.

[rcjordan]

Just say 'No.'

[bill]

I don't see the use-case for my lifestyle. I rarely use my phone to speak with anyone. I prefer text, and I have my apps set up with different sounds so I can tell who's messaging. If you're not important enough to warrant your own sound you can wait until I have time to take my phone out. 

[Brad]

For anti-Google privacy I could have gone with a Pebble watch.
https://getpebble.com

Pebble does the notifications, is cheaper and works with both Android and iOS.  My problem with it is you can only interact with it via the buttons.  I hate pressing in button sequences.

I was in a meeting last night and the smartwatch started paying off: I could see emails coming in without having to rudely look at my phone while others were talking.   This sounds lazy and it is, but there is no way to be discrete when pulling out a giant 5.5" phablet at a meeting table.  Internet addiction to be sure.  It notifies me of incoming SMS messages.  That is handy because I give those priority, whereas emails can generally wait.

I have learned to say, "Ok Google. What is the weather?" and it pulls up a card on the watch.  This is the limit of my l33t watch skillz.

Oh and changing the watch face at will is neat.  Its like having a whole watch collection.

What makes all this worth it is this partially bursts the bubble of a friend of mine who has just gotten an Apple watch and has been flashing it around.

[rcjordan]

put down the credit card, brad, you're starting to worry me. hhh

[Brad]

put down the credit card, brad, you're starting to worry me. hhh

LOL! It's too darn easy with Amazon having my CC # on file.

[Mackin USA]

Like RC said "Just say No"

[littleman]

I've been wrong before, but I think smart watches are going to go down in history as a product without a real purpose.   I don't know, maybe if they get really cheap and small.  Everybody already has a computer in their pocket, why do they need one on their wrist too?

[Mackin USA]

Have have not had or needed anything on my wrist for 20+ years.

People buy so much $HIT they just don't need. imfo

[Brad]

I've been wrong before, but I think smart watches are going to go down in history as a product without a real purpose.   I don't know, maybe if they get really cheap and small.  Everybody already has a computer in their pocket, why do they need one on their wrist too?

I'm sorta with you littleman. I bought one just to see if they were worth having.  I had to dig deep to come up with a rationalization as to how it might be useful too me.  Then again, I said the same thing about smartphones just before I bought a 1st gen. iPhone.

Testing continues for a few more months.

[littleman]

Brad, let us know how it goes.  I thought tablets were dumb at first too, why would I want a computer without a mouse and keyboard?

>People buy so much $HIT they just don't need. imfo

I completely agree.  People need to think about how many hours they need to work to pay for something.  I manage to live quite nicely on mostly second hand items I get at a fraction of their original cost.  Now, if I could just do something about those intangibles that cost so much.

Specifically on this topic wrist watches are very redundant, smart watches are doubly so.

[rcjordan]

I wear a $15 waterproof watch from WallyWorld. F### having to pull out my phone to see what time it is.

[Brad]

I gotta have a wristwatch.  A cheap Timex will do but I got to know what time it is like I might be late even if I have nowhere to go.

[JasonD]

I have a Pebble Steel and it's without doubt the best and most useful gadget I've ever owned, bar my old Psion 5's.

[Brad]

I have a Pebble Steel and it's without doubt the best and most useful gadget I've ever owned, bar my old Psion 5's.

What are the things you find most useful, Jason?