Smartwatch Thread (news/apps/updates)

POB · 28 Dec 2015 at 22:35

jrodga2k5 said:
I don't get the whole thing about the baterry life, I take my watches off every night anyways so sitting one down on a wireless charger just isn't an issue for me!

The wireless charger was the issue for me. I would forget to pick it up if away for too long.

Really happy with my Sony SW3 for the mini USB port. I've plugged it into the car before to boost the battery.

-Mike- · 29 Dec 2015 at 14:11

AndyCr15 said:
I'm still on my G Watch R. I don't believe there's a reason to update just yet. (Mind you, not like that stops me changing phones every few months)

How scratch resistant are the screens Andy? Fancy one but current job is a bit rough and ready!

kitkat2015 · 29 Dec 2015 at 14:22

AndyCr15 said:
I'm still on my G Watch R. I don't believe there's a reason to update just yet. (Mind you, not like that stops me changing phones every few months)

Don't you fancy the Huawei watch?

I got one for Xmas & have to say it's a beast, I have the Moto 360 2nd Gen as well & this thing just eats it.

Steve_bullockuk · 29 Dec 2015 at 17:01

I can squeeze nearly 3 days out of my Urbane with moderate use.

AndyCr15 · 29 Dec 2015 at 20:30

-Mike- said:
How scratch resistant are the screens Andy? Fancy one but current job is a bit rough and ready!

Hard to say as my job isn't rough and ready... no scratches on mine.

kitkat2015 said:
Don't you fancy the Huawei watch?

I got one for Xmas & have to say it's a beast, I have the Moto 360 2nd Gen as well & this thing just eats it.

What advantage does it have over the others. With a phone there are many aspects one can be better than the other. With watches is it not mainly battery and aesthetics?

Ben Cole · 30 Dec 2015 at 01:47

Ambient light sensor is a massive thing for me. I bought and ran a G Watch R and an Apple Watch around the same time.

Despite me preferring the G watch aesthetically and liking a lot of things about it, I hated constantly adjusting the brightness and the screen burn was annoying too. When I bought them I thought the always on screen was a major bonus against the Apple Watch but the screen activation is so well implemented on the apple it rarely bothers me.

As always, the perfect smart watch doesn't exist, they both have pros and cons, just like comparing an iPhone to any other smartphone.

AndyCr15 · 30 Dec 2015 at 06:45

I can honestly say in a year I think I've only adjusted screen brightness once that I can remember, on a very bright day. Not seen any screen burn?

Personally I found it annoying having to make a defined movement to turn the screen on. It could have course be that Apple's works better than the Moto 360 for that.

-Mike- · 1 Jan 2016 at 11:56

AndyCr15 said:
I can honestly say in a year I think I've only adjusted screen brightness once that I can remember, on a very bright day. Not seen any screen burn?

Personally I found it annoying having to make a defined movement to turn the screen on. It could have course be that Apple's works better than the Moto 360 for that.

Not sure if you have the app, but can you control amazon music from the watch? IE skip tracks etc?

jazzy68 · 2 Jan 2016 at 14:24

Sound coming to the Huawei watch and others with speakers...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvS4iPynkuM&feature=youtu.be

Demon · 2 Jan 2016 at 17:19

Nice to see Android Wear continually improving!

I've had my Pebble Steel for a few days, and I think it's opening my eyes to how useful a smartwatch can be.

I agree that 'battery life' is not the be-all-and-end-all of criteria, although it's easy to say when with heavy use I've never used more than 20% of the battery in a day yet!!

I might start looking at how easy it is to develop Android Wear Apps and watchfaces.. Pebble have quite a slick system where you can develop totally online and don't have to install a thing..

jrwagh333 · 3 Jan 2016 at 14:35

Just got my first Android phone so I think it may be time to start looking into this. I have a blackberry priv that runs android if that makes any difference. But the only ones I'm aware of that I should look into is the Moto 360-2 and the Huawei.

Anyone recommend any others?

-Mike- · 3 Jan 2016 at 16:30

Tried the LG Urbane in an argos today - man is it huge on my unmanly wrists! Only way it would fit me is if I put back on the 25kg I've lost!

Scottland · 3 Jan 2016 at 20:49

Managed to have a look at a few in the flesh, and as much as the Huawei is a bit nicer, it's not worth paying nearly double for it (IMO of course) compared to the 360. 42mm Moto 360 ordered, should be here by the end of the week.

Any recommended watch faces? or other apps I should take a look at?

SKILL · 3 Jan 2016 at 22:53

Pujie Black: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pujie.wristwear.pujieblack&hl=en

Awesome and extremely configurable watchface, he keeps updating it as well, recently added Tasker integration and now that means I can turn on/shut down the htpc from my watch, awesomes

-Mike- · 3 Jan 2016 at 23:46

Scottland said:
Managed to have a look at a few in the flesh, and as much as the Huawei is a bit nicer, it's not worth paying nearly double for it (IMO of course) compared to the 360. 42mm Moto 360 ordered, should be here by the end of the week.

Any recommended watch faces? or other apps I should take a look at?

The 360 may be my savior vs the urbane, let me know how you find it

Atari · 4 Jan 2016 at 11:01

I've had an Urbane for the best part of a week and a half now, love it! The battery lasts a good amount of time, and Android Wear works well.

Ben Cole · 4 Jan 2016 at 11:26

AndyCr15 said:
I can honestly say in a year I think I've only adjusted screen brightness once that I can remember, on a very bright day. Not seen any screen burn?

Personally I found it annoying having to make a defined movement to turn the screen on. It could have course be that Apple's works better than the Moto 360 for that.

You're talking about a Moto 360? Which does have a sensor I believe? Does it have the same type of screen as a G Watch R?

AndyCr15 · 4 Jan 2016 at 11:29

The sensor I'm talking about a LG GWR. The wrist movement I'm talking about why I didn't like the 360.

V_R · 4 Jan 2016 at 11:33

On the few occasions I've needed to up the brightness on my GWR I just triple click the button on the side - sunlight mode.

Likewise in the cinema, double click.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...watchs-button-activate-theatre-sunlight-mode/

Ben Cole · 4 Jan 2016 at 11:50

AndyCr15 said:
The sensor I'm talking about a LG GWR. The wrist movement I'm talking about why I didn't like the 360.

I agree the wrist movement is an annoyance on very infrequent occasions but the Apple implementation is much better than it was on the G Watch R (I disabled always on screen because of the burn in).

Interesting what you say about not adjusting the brightness. I find that very surprising . For me, when I was outside or on a bike ride or whatever (GWR was amazing for that) I had to have the brightness on max. Indoors I had to reduce to minimum to avoid looking like a like a bit of a tool.