Abandoning smart watches

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

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#3073402 7-May-2023 15:54

Thanks for that @freitasm - I saw a review saying it didn't but must be been a different model. Purchased one now.

Looks like it intergrates into Apple Health too.

Technofreak

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#3073414 7-May-2023 16:36

Low is good but it can get too low as I found out.

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mudguard

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#3073483 7-May-2023 18:54

Technofreak:

Low is good but it can get too low as I found out.

What happened?

I definitely feel like there are couple of angles to this debate. There are the sports orientated versions which happen to be smart watches, and then there are definitely nicer looking smart watch, watch replacements. If you're slightly serious about an activity, then you need a sports watch, if you enjoy notifications and aren't worried about charging frequency, then get a smart watch.

I don't buy the "constant interruptions" etc, I mean a phone does that already. I have very few notifications coming through, in fact I barely look at it during the day (I'm double wristing 😂). What I find really interesting about my Garmin's in particular, is the body battery and recovery time. I wear a heart rate strap and use a different device for proper mountainbike rides, and have a Garmin S62 on often as well, but not tracking that activity. The interesting part is when I go for a regular ride, feel fine, then get a much longer recovery time than normal, ie my regular loop near home, at a regular effort, will give me a recovery time of 18 hours or so. Sometimes it's come back really high, and I've thought, that's odd, that wasn't a hard effort. A day or two later I'll come down with a cold.

So whatever fairy dust they're using, it's certainly interesting.

SheriffNZ

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#3073487 7-May-2023 19:22

Nice to hear from another "double wrister"

Senecio

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#3073501 7-May-2023 20:20

My HRV takes a nose dive and my resting heart rate lifts about 5-7 bpm about 2 days before I start showing symptoms of any bug that I’ve caught.

alasta

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#3073628 8-May-2023 08:56

mudguard:

I don't buy the "constant interruptions" etc, I mean a phone does that already. I have very few notifications coming through, in fact I barely look at it during the day (I'm double wristing 😂).

I feel like sports watches are being used as a scapegoat for the wider problem with the whole concept of notifications. There are people in my office whose phones are constantly screeching at them literally at least once per minute - that distraction is going to affect their productivity regardless of whether they happen to be wearing a sports watch.

iPhones have a feature, I think it's called 'screen time' whereby you can measure the number of notifications you're getting each day. In my opinion if you're getting more than half a dozen then you need to improve your workflow practices.

jonathan18

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#3073647 8-May-2023 10:02

Agh, I don’t get why more people don’t have their phones set to vibrate when at work - at least then they’re disrupting only themselves with every notification that goes off…

I use an app (MacroDroid) that uses geolocation (though it can also use other variables like connection to a specific wifi network) to automatically put my phone into silent while I’m at work; I’m then alerted on my watch only by apps I have notifications turned on, and don’t disrupt or interrupt my workmates.

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MikeB4

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#3073652 8-May-2023 10:24

When I was full time in the wheelchair the smartwatches were useful for seeing messages and answering some phone calls as it can be a pain getting the phone out of my pocket. It did feel weird answering call on the watch. Now that I am 90% out of the wheelchair, cross fingers for ever, it is not that needed.

I spent the weekend with only my classic time piece on and I did feel a lot less hassled by technology. Don't get me wrong, I love tech one would just have to walk around our home to see that.

Technofreak

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#3073745 8-May-2023 10:47

mudguard:

Technofreak:

Low is good but it can get too low as I found out.

What happened?

I undertake a 24/48 hour holter each year. The results of that showed resting heart rate intermittently went as slow as a beat very 4 to 5 seconds a two or three times each night. Sub optimal was the term used if I remember correctly. Following an "event" on the operating theatre table I now have a pacemaker.

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Technofreak

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#3073746 8-May-2023 10:48

jonathan18: Agh, I don’t get why more people don’t have their phones set to vibrate when at work - at least then they’re disrupting only themselves with every notification that goes off…

I use an app (MacroDroid) that uses geolocation (though it can also use other variables like connection to a specific wifi network) to automatically put my phone into silent while I’m at work; I’m then alerted on my watch only by apps I have notifications turned on, and don’t disrupt or interrupt my workmates.

I use "Situations" to do the same thing.

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heavenlywild

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#3073751 8-May-2023 11:19

Interesting convos.

I'm looking to get into the smart watch world but have not bought one due to the limited battery life and the ultimate question "what benefits are there with one?"

I'm not an athlete so the exercise modes are not useful.

My thinking is that I'll use to so I can keep my phone in my pocket or bag.

I've looked into hybrid watches like the Scanwatches and also Tissot.

I think I'll get the next Samsung watch where the rotating bezels apparently makes a comeback.

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alasta

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#3073754 8-May-2023 11:37

Honestly if you're not into health and fitness then I wouldn't bother. It sounds like you have a solution looking for a problem.

MikeB4

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#3073782 8-May-2023 12:53

alasta:

Honestly if you're not into health and fitness then I wouldn't bother. It sounds like you have a solution looking for a problem.

In my case and not trying to sound dramatic but after years of fighting back from the brink I have reached a point now that I know what is needed and the levels of exercise, food and fluid I need without the need for constant measuring and recording. I am now more mobile and my stamina is increasing. My weight is stable and my BMI has been a constant 20.3 for a year now.

After all these years of fighting I am now happy to not focus on health and fitness and to be able to focus on living not just existing.

jonathan18

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#3073788 8-May-2023 13:16

heavenlywild: Interesting convos.

I'm looking to get into the smart watch world but have not bought one due to the limited battery life and the ultimate question "what benefits are there with one?"

I'm not an athlete so the exercise modes are not useful.

My thinking is that I'll use to so I can keep my phone in my pocket or bag.

I've looked into hybrid watches like the Scanwatches and also Tissot.

I think I'll get the next Samsung watch where the rotating bezels apparently makes a comeback.

My recommendation is to buy a s/h watch - this gives you the opportunity to try one out without spending too much, and sell it on without losing much (or anything) if it’s not for you. (I’ve ordered a Withings ScanWatch Horizon to wear instead of my Samsung, so could well be looking to sell it in the next few weeks.)

As mentioned elsewhere in the thread, battery life on current models is pretty poor, so expect to charge daily unless you go for an older model, eg my Galaxy Watch lasts three if not four days. And, yep, the rotating bezel on the Samsung watches does work well - they’ve had them for many years, though not on all models; it’s something I’ll miss moving to the ScanWatch (a bit of a lazy upgrade by Withings from the base model, given the main difference is the bezel - which does nothing!).

pom532

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#3073800 8-May-2023 13:53

For sleep tracking, I guess you need to wear the watch at night? Is that not uncomfortable?

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