Smartwatch: why would you buy one?

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Giggs

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Ultimate Geek

#151866 8-Sep-2014 13:01

My nearly 10 year old polar sports watch is due for replacement.

I have been looking at the new range of Android smart watches but I am struggling to figure out what they are supposed to be and why I would buy one.

I get they have exercise related functions and can bring up notifications but outside that it is not clear to me what their function is. Are they being developed as mini smartphones or are they actually primarily a watch?

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BigPipe

#1124251 8-Sep-2014 13:04

I'm getting sick of having to fish my phone out of my pocket every time I want to know what time it it.

Some kind of device on my wrist that could replicate that smartphone function would be really useful.

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NZtechfreak

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#1124283 8-Sep-2014 13:33

BigPipeNZ: I'm getting sick of having to fish my phone out of my pocket every time I want to know what time it it.

Some kind of device on my wrist that could replicate that smartphone function would be really useful.

Pretty much this ^

Notifications at the wrist appeals, especially as I start eyeing a 7-8 tablet with calling capability as my one device.

The sports stuff I'd like, if only someone can do it well, but based on the goes I've had with smart watches with HR monitors so far they seem a fair way off being good enough for that.

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overkill

222 posts

Master Geek

#1124297 8-Sep-2014 13:38

I have the Pebble Smart Watch and it's a pretty great piece of kit, it's only the original and have only held off purchasing the Pebble Steel because of the possibility of Apples Watch offering. To be able to tell the time, to view snapshots of texts and emails, to see who' calling before answering, without taking your phone out of your pocket or bag. The extra Apps that Pebble offer for everything from Home Automation to different time/watch displays, can be quite fun.

A couple of weeks ago, I added a noise App, one that my soon to be 5yr old thought was absolutely hilarious, it makes farting noises.... We decided to go shopping down at The Warehouse, I gave my wife a cuddle and sneakily dropped my iPhone into her pocket without her noticing.....as she went to the checkout to purchase bit and bobs, my son and I stood back 10 meters, he pressed the side button on the Pebble to activate the farting noises on my iPhone, needless to say she was looked at sideways by many shoppers and we hid behind a display in fits of laughter, she is a great mum and took it well, but I know payback is coming :)

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NZtechfreak

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#1124323 8-Sep-2014 14:02

overkill: I have the Pebble Smart Watch and it's a pretty great piece of kit, it's only the original and have only held off purchasing the Pebble Steel because of the possibility of Apples Watch offering. To be able to tell the time, to view snapshots of texts and emails, to see who' calling before answering, without taking your phone out of your pocket or bag. The extra Apps that Pebble offer for everything from Home Automation to different time/watch displays, can be quite fun.

To be honest, I was really holding out for the Moto 360, but the 12 hour battery life kills that device for me. So far all of the smart watches announced have just made me wish I'd grabbed a Pebble ages ago. The e-ink display and attendant battery life just looks like the way to go. Still interested to see what Apple come up with, but I'm really wondering whether they are going to fare much better in the battery life stakes...

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nakedmolerat

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#1124329 8-Sep-2014 14:10

NZtechfreak: To be honest, I was really holding out for the Moto 360, but the 12 hour battery life kills that device for me. So far all of the smart watches announced have just made me wish I'd grabbed a Pebble ages ago. The e-ink display and attendant battery life just looks like the way to go. Still interested to see what Apple come up with, but I'm really wondering whether they are going to fare much better in the battery life stakes...

I was in the same boat with you, I waited for galaxy and disappointed with the battery life. I grabbed pebble steel from one of the geekzone user here and quite happy. I like the fact that I can just glance on my hand to see the text messages/whatsapp/email.

The only problem I have now is to sort out my seiko watches. Anyone keen on a well looked after Seiko Ananta?

NikT

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#1124373 8-Sep-2014 14:50

Smartwatch = Never miss a notification, know exactly what does & doesn't require further attention at a glance, & the phone never needs to make any noise or vibrate because it's all sent to the wrist.

That's the killer feature IMO. Combined with custom watchfaces, it's what makes the Pebble work for me. Most of the current crop focus on being a 'phone minus' rather than a 'watch plus'. Give me less features and more battery life any day.

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Juicytree

109 posts

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#1124438 8-Sep-2014 15:45

What about one of these WeLoop Tommy watches - cheap as chips ($US70) but functionally smart. Only needs charging every three weeks and looks to be a good fill-in until the more upmarket ones get better battery performance. Saw it advertised on this site by DX

StarBlazer

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#1124501 8-Sep-2014 16:37

I love having my Pebble. I get around 1 week battery life if necessary (although tend to charge it at 30-40%) which was the reason for not considering all the others - I'm not expecting any of the new ones to be much different to the 0.5-2 day area.

Use Music Boss to control my music without getting my phone out in the rain.
Answer or more importantly reject calls without having to carry my phone on me all the time or running back to my desk.
Having the phone on silent at my desk and still knowing when I have a text or phone call and so not disturbing others.
Reminders when my next meetings are
Using Canvas I've customised the watch face to show all the information important to me (currently have date, time, weather forecast, temperature, watch and phone battery percentage, missed calls, unread texts and my next 3 meetings)
Waterproof to 5ATM
It's a talking point :)
Using Glance I can reply to texts with preset messages - saving me getting my phone out all the time.

I have turned off the email notifications because I get too many.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

Coil

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#1124513 8-Sep-2014 16:45

nakedmolerat:
NZtechfreak: To be honest, I was really holding out for the Moto 360, but the 12 hour battery life kills that device for me. So far all of the smart watches announced have just made me wish I'd grabbed a Pebble ages ago. The e-ink display and attendant battery life just looks like the way to go. Still interested to see what Apple come up with, but I'm really wondering whether they are going to fare much better in the battery life stakes...

I was in the same boat with you, I waited for galaxy and disappointed with the battery life. I grabbed pebble steel from one of the geekzone user here and quite happy. I like the fact that I can just glance on my hand to see the text messages/whatsapp/email.

The only problem I have now is to sort out my seiko watches. Anyone keen on a well looked after Seiko Ananta?

That website has 10 tonnes of flash built into it.

jeffnz

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#1124638 8-Sep-2014 19:07

I have the Gear 2 and like the notifications mostly as has been stated that I don't need to take phone out of pocket also good when in meetings. I have also used in the car to answer calls but guess I look a bit silly talking to watch but it works fine.

I use the watch when cycling in tandem with Endomondo on phone and Polar CS200 bike computer and it tracks heart rate speed etc fine but gets erratic sometimes whgen it gets too wet from sweat. Main problem is you have to activate screen to see anything and then its not what I want on screen so a bit hard when cycling but from ons using it for running they say its fine.

The camera is useful as well although not used video. S Voice on the other hand is next to useless compared to Google voice.

I should have waited for the android model as Tizen is limited but still like changing watch face to TAG or whatever takes my fancy so overall happy with purchase but they are definitely in their infancy so looking forward to Apple raising the bar.

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eXDee

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#1124643 8-Sep-2014 19:16

Possibly. But not the first generation at least.

dafman

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#1124670 8-Sep-2014 20:24

It's frustrating enough charging my phone every other day, without adding a watch into the mix. One week minimum battery, then I'll take a look

nakedmolerat

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#1124691 8-Sep-2014 21:00

TimA:
nakedmolerat:
NZtechfreak: To be honest, I was really holding out for the Moto 360, but the 12 hour battery life kills that device for me. So far all of the smart watches announced have just made me wish I'd grabbed a Pebble ages ago. The e-ink display and attendant battery life just looks like the way to go. Still interested to see what Apple come up with, but I'm really wondering whether they are going to fare much better in the battery life stakes...

I was in the same boat with you, I waited for galaxy and disappointed with the battery life. I grabbed pebble steel from one of the geekzone user here and quite happy. I like the fact that I can just glance on my hand to see the text messages/whatsapp/email.

The only problem I have now is to sort out my seiko watches. Anyone keen on a well looked after Seiko Ananta?

That website has 10 tonnes of flash built into it.

Ha, are you interested? Any offer above $4k I will consider.

1eStar

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#1124756 8-Sep-2014 23:54

I'm on my second smartwatch. A Sony SW2. Love it to bits. Battery life is 3-4 days. If you want to know why i like it so much, go hunt for the Sony SW2 thread further down in the Android forum.

dafman

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#1124789 9-Sep-2014 08:44

1eStar: I'm on my second smartwatch. A Sony SW2. Love it to bits. Battery life is 3-4 days. If you want to know why i like it so much, go hunt for the Sony SW2 thread further down in the Android forum.

I see the Sony store is selling the SW2 for $199 at present

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