Abandoning smart watches

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Abandoning smart watches

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#3070774 3-May-2023 10:59

alasta:

To be honest if it weren't for my intense interest in running and, to a lesser extent, swimming then I wouldn't bother with a watch at all. I can easily see the time on my phone or one of the many clocks scattered around, and counting my steps seems a bit academic.

I have to admit the 'three rings' goals on the Apple Watch are stupid, and they need to introduce an athlete mode to swap that out for a 7 day training load measure like what Garmin has.

Many moons ago when I was an athlete I used a stop that was my grandfathers, he was a watchmaker. I would start it at the beginning of my training runs and leave it in the front porch of my home and stop it when I got back. Of course that didn't give me splits.

I used it at the track for timing 100m, 200m and 1500m runs usually with a friend or family member doing the times. Sadly it was stolen from my kit years ago.

Batman

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#3070775 3-May-2023 11:01

MikeB4:
Batman:

yup after 1 week

I love this post

I just don't see the need or benefit for a smart watch. Tried it for a week and I've no idea where that thing is now. Never seen it since.

Unfortunately I'm married to the phone (or the laptop when I have access to it) - working on this though.

MikeB4

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#3070780 3-May-2023 11:06

Batman:

I just don't see the need or benefit for a smart watch. Tried it for a week and I've no idea where that thing is now. Never seen it since.

Unfortunately I'm married to the phone (or the laptop when I have access to it) - working on this though.

It's hiding from you, it's sad because you abandoned it.

lchiu7

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#3070788 3-May-2023 11:49

freitasm:

lchiu7:

Then gave up on it and moved back to my Omega Seamaster automatic. I am not missing the watch at all since all notifications come to my phone and I can get basic steps from the phone also.

Nice not having to put the watch on a charger every night.

I do have an Omega Seamaster, that I only use in some occasions these days, as most of the times I am wearing the Scanwatch Horizon. I have had this Omega for 26 years now.

The main reason I got the Horizon is because it's the closest to looking like an actual watch with smarts. I even got the blue one because my Omega is blue as well.

I bought mine in 2001. I had it serviced recently and it cost $1100! The only mitigation it was its first service so there was some work to be done.

It is this model - the Pierce Brosnan one.

Handsomedan

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#3070803 3-May-2023 12:42

I couldn't live without a smart watch.

I blame Pebble - that was where it all started for me.

I still have a lot of notifications muted, but my phone is always on mute and my watch discretely taps me on the wrist to let me know about whatever it is that I need to know.

Charging it every 36-48 hours doesn't bother me overly.

I also use it when Mountain Biking and track my rides.

When 2Degrees eventually make wearable eSims live, I'll barely use my phone when I am on the go

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Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

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mudguard

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#3070805 3-May-2023 12:53

I must admit I've enjoyed using my Garmin S62 more than I thought I would. I have only a few notifications, but like the sleep and energy metrics. It's a golf specific one which I thought would be naff but the club tracking and auto caddy is great.
I only charge once a fortnight.
But I wear two watches. Garmin on the right and G-Shock on the left!!

Stu

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#3070806 3-May-2023 12:55

eonsim:
I got rid of the fitbit and other companies and shifted to Withings Scanwatch, looks like a traditional watch with a 30 day battery life but still has the health/exercise monitoring for when I want that and allows me to chose which if any notifications get sent to the watch.

They have a range of three rather nice models Withings Scanwatch, Scanwatch Horizon or Steal HR, gets you 90% of a smartwatch with many of the benefits of a traditional watch.

The Scanwatch Horizon looks nice!

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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MikeAqua

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#3070808 3-May-2023 13:10

I just bought a new smart watch (Samsung Watch 5 Pro). They can be intrusive. I think the key is to ruthlessly cull the notification settings. I have many turned off.

I mainly have mine for: -

1) Recording runs without phone - I find S Health really good for analysing my running. Due to injury, I didn't run for about 6 months, and I've got some residual gait issues;

2) Music via ear plugs/headphones on runs or in the workshop without phone;

3) I can put my phone away in meetings or while woodworking with hand tools and keep an eye on incoming calls and messages.

(also having the time on my wrist, but that's not a watch thing).

I turn mine off at night. For me, personally if I wanted a sleep problem monitoring and analysing my sleep would be the easiest way to develop one.

I get about three days of standby/messaging from 100% to 50% charge. Less if I exercise due to GPS and music functions.

Mike

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#3070811 3-May-2023 13:22

I'd been using MiBand 3 for many years, until the ever more frequent battery recharges got me to give up on it a couple of weeks ago. I was considering replacing it at first, but I now realise I'm pretty happy without it. In fact, I'm happier without it - one less thing to worry about.

Hello, Ground!

alasta

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#3070830 3-May-2023 14:29

Handsomedan:

When 2Degrees eventually make wearable eSims live, I'll barely use my phone when I am on the go

This reminds me of the safety features of the device that give me piece of mind. The backtrack, compass and SOS features are really good to have, particularly when running in an unfamiliar area.

And yes, it will be good when all telcos support wearable eSIMs so that these features can be fully utilised.

jonathan18

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#3070853 3-May-2023 15:39

That Withings ScanWatch Horizons may well be the watch to pull me away from a traditional smartwatch, though that’ll be partly determined by how it manages notifications (eg, does a text alert give you who it’s from and/or any of the message, or just that you’ve received it?) - will watch some YT reviews to see it in action, though interested to hear how users of the watch find its ‘smarts’ features (as opposed to its health tracking).

Interestingly, the price I’ve found at two NZ stores - $729 - is better value than the current price on Amazon.au ($780) and Amazon.com ($950). Will be interesting to see if it ever comes down much below this in NZ. [Edit: Priceme shows the lowest price was $559 at Xmas time, but hasn’t been on specia this year.]

networkn

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#3070856 3-May-2023 15:45

I have a very nice non-smart watch I love very much, but a smart watch is where it's at for me. I find the notifications very useful, it tracks my sleep and exercise, there are just too many reasons to switch back. I can even get a face for it that looks like my non-smartwatch.

Occasionally, if I go somewhere very nice, I'll wear my other watch, but when I get home, my smart watch asks why I took another watch out, and makes comments about my weight and says I am looking a bit haggard. The other day I had an issue where in a fit of jealousy the smart watch took over my radio controlled car and repeatedly drove into the draw I keep my other watch in.

I am feeling self-conscious writing this as my smart watch is on my wrist, I think it knows I am talking about it. My smart toaster is making some threatening toaster noises.

If you don't hear from me in the next day or so, send help!

Bee

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#3070858 3-May-2023 15:47

As many have said, I used to have a really nice solar powered watch, but ditched it very reluctantly for a smartwatch. I use it to keep track of steps, heart rate daily and notifications at work, with phone on silent. I miss having a metal strap and Im sure I could get that if I paid more money, and charging is a bit of a hassle but otherwise I wont be ditching the smart watch any time soon.

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

MikeB4

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#3070860 3-May-2023 15:49

networkn:

I have a very nice non-smart watch I love very much, but a smart watch is where it's at for me. I find the notifications very useful, it tracks my sleep and exercise, there are just too many reasons to switch back. I can even get a face for it that looks like my non-smartwatch.

Occasionally, if I go somewhere very nice, I'll wear my other watch, but when I get home, my smart watch asks why I took another watch out, and makes comments about my weight and says I am looking a bit haggard. The other day I had an issue where in a fit of jealousy the smart watch took over my radio controlled car and repeatedly drove into the draw I keep my other watch in.

I am feeling self-conscious writing this as my smart watch is on my wrist, I think it knows I am talking about it. My smart toaster is making some threatening toaster noises.

If you don't hear from me in the next day or so, send help!

This is a truly excellent post. There should be a badge for this

freitasm

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#3070862 3-May-2023 15:50

jonathan18:

That Withings ScanWatch Horizons may well be the watch to pull me away from a traditional smartwatch, though that’ll be partly determined by how it manages notifications (eg, does a text alert give you who it’s from and/or any of the message, or just that you’ve received it?) - will watch some YT reviews to see it in action, though interested to hear how users of the watch find its ‘smarts’ features (as opposed to its health tracking).

It shows the message and sender (number or name). The message scrolls twice across the little screen, and you can manually scroll it left/right by rotating the crown. From the Withings app you can select which app notifications will be sent and which ignored.

Be careful when buying from importers or Amazon US. The US version requires you to submit an ECG reading to a US physician (online via the app) who will then give the ok to enable the feature.

The European and Australia/New Zealand versions come with this feature enabled out of the box.

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