hi to all forum members.
i'd like to purchase a new smartwatch and here is what i'd like it to do for me:
1. be able to answer a phone call shortly - not long conversations - and also via a text message
2. get and read notification from messenger, Whatsup or SMS -text messages.
3.be able to navigate while walking using Google maps and get directions on my smartwatch.
4. and last but not least see the time
all other function will be appreciated and welcomed
those i was considering were
AsusZen Watch
LG G Watch R
Samsung Gear Live
Sony Smartwatch 3
i'm using a galaxy s4 as my phone
thanks in advance
macc
As far as I know there aren't any Android Wear watches that support phone calls.
You can answer the phone on Android Wear, but you have to pick up your phone to hear and talk. I personally have the ZenWatch, but keep in mind that the second generation of these watches will be coming out later this year and early next year.
Sent from my VIVO AIR using Tapatalk
...and Biktor will be all over that update. If you can stand some flashing and subscribing to xda threads, the gear 2 neo will make a viable and extremely cheap alternative. I got mine in box for a third of the price of a wear watch.
Ilxaot said:
You can answer the phone on Android Wear, but you have to pick up your phone to hear and talk. I personally have the ZenWatch, but keep in mind that the second generation of these watches will be coming out later this year and early next year.
Sent from my VIVO AIR using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U8 smartwatch lets you answer and continue the conversation. You can also bring up the keypad and dial and call any number.
For what they cost on eBay aud $26 I can't find anything better... Like the Asus Zenwatch but they have no speaker and you have to hop off the bike and take the phone out of your pocket to continue the call.
The Samsung Gear has the charge contacts that fail from perspiration and Samsung claim it's the owners fault....are they supposed to keep the watch in their pocket. It's like having purchased a dive watch and your warranty is void if you wear it in the water.
So the design is flawed, the choice of sweat resistant solid contacts is needed with the light weight ones that corrode should be on the charger itself.
As for most of the others smartwatches they are too expensive for what they actually are capable of and the poor battery life.
Sent from my SM-P605 using Tapatalk
Honestly what I did was purchased a LG G Watch, refurb, from CowBoom for $45. I actually love this little thing. The only thing it WON'T do is take calls because of lack of speaker. I an answer/decline calls but I have to grab my phone to talk unless you pair a headset, which then it works great.
I went this route for 3 reasons. One because I didn't even know if I "needed or wanted" a smartwatch. I figured it would be a toy that ended up in a drawer. So I went the cheap route and picked up the cheapest Android Wear I could find. It is water proof so having notifications and music control while in the pool is very very cool. The only thing it doesn't do is actually let me take the call on the watch itself from the lack of speaker.The second reason I went that route was because supposedly the next round of Android Wear SmartWatches will support speakers. I suspect the Moto 360 2 and others will have this. The third reason is that I believe all current smartwatches have the same innerds anyway. I don't need to spend $200 more just for a round display.
Having used Android Wear for about a month. I can honestly say most of the features I thought I "needed" aren't really needed. Here is my list of "wants/needs" for my next watch I buy in round 2:
Needs
1. Water Resistance (absolute must since my primary use is in the pool)
2. Speaker for taking quick voice calls
3. Magnetic or Qi Wireless Charging. Not having a decent Charger connection is annoying. The LG G Watch has a magnetic dock. Super awesome.
Wants:
1. AMOLED screen (the LCD is fine, but the AMOLED seems it would be better for battery and usage)
2. Wireless (for extended range and direct app access)
3. Sky is the limit!
I know they are the underdog around here, but I thought I would point some things out. All things being equal, the Sony swr3 is my choice.
Why,
Needs:
waterproof
Easy to read in direct sunlight
Long battery life (all things being equal)
Not too expensive
Comfortable
Wants
Stand alone gps
WiFi
Nfc
Magnetic charging
All things being equal, this watch checked all the boxes save for wireless charging.
However, things are rarely equal and it seems the past few updates have been buggy as far as battery drain. So, the battery life is now the same as all the other watches (a bit more than a day when I reboot it preventing the drain), and when it drains quickly, it overheats. Other than that, it is amazing.
lekofraggle said:
I know they are the underdog around here, but I thought I would point some things out. All things being equal, the Sony swr3 is my choice.
Why,
Needs:
waterproof
Easy to read in direct sunlight
Long battery life (all things being equal)
Not too expensive
Comfortable
Wants
Stand alone gps
WiFi
Nfc
Magnetic charging
All things being equal, this watch checked all the boxes save for wireless charging.
However, things are rarely equal and it seems the past few updates have been buggy as far as battery drain. So, the battery life is now the same as all the other watches (a bit more than a day when I reboot it preventing the drain), and when it drains quickly, it overheats. Other than that, it is amazing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I looked at the Sony. The 1 downfall I think with Sony is that it uses special wrist straps vs standard 22mm like the others do, so you are kinda stuck wearing a Sony strap.
Regardless I won't buy another smartwatch until I can use it as a speakerphone.
Yeah, they do make a universal band adapter, but it seems expensive, and you can only buy them on eBay. As for the speakerphone, you can use bluetooth with it (or your phone) so you could do speakerphone that way theoretically.
player911 said:
Honestly what I did was purchased a LG G Watch, refurb, from CowBoom for $45. I actually love this little thing. The only thing it WON'T do is take calls because of lack of speaker. I an answer/decline calls but I have to grab my phone to talk unless you pair a headset, which then it works great.
I went this route for 3 reasons. One because I didn't even know if I "needed or wanted" a smartwatch. I figured it would be a toy that ended up in a drawer. So I went the cheap route and picked up the cheapest Android Wear I could find. It is water proof so having notifications and music control while in the pool is very very cool. The only thing it doesn't do is actually let me take the call on the watch itself from the lack of speaker.The second reason I went that route was because supposedly the next round of Android Wear SmartWatches will support speakers. I suspect the Moto 360 2 and others will have this. The third reason is that I believe all current smartwatches have the same innerds anyway. I don't need to spend $200 more just for a round display.
Having used Android Wear for about a month. I can honestly say most of the features I thought I "needed" aren't really needed. Here is my list of "wants/needs" for my next watch I buy in round 2:
Needs
1. Water Resistance (absolute must since my primary use is in the pool)
2. Speaker for taking quick voice calls
3. Magnetic or Qi Wireless Charging. Not having a decent Charger connection is annoying. The LG G Watch has a magnetic dock. Super awesome.
Wants:
1. AMOLED screen (the LCD is fine, but the AMOLED seems it would be better for battery and usage)
2. Wireless (for extended range and direct app access)
3. Sky is the limit!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a great summary and I am sure would suit most but if the next generation ups the prices again.. I doubt if I will head down that path.
If you need all those things including gps on board and water proof you can get all those features on a Chinese smart watch for a bit over $110 but not really a working warranty process. But as I explained earlier the big manufacturers duck when they can and want over $170 to bring your very expensive smart watch back-to life..
Me.. I will just buy another which will be next generation as well.
Thanks for your list though..
Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk
The Sony watch is around 170 on Amazon. And since they messed my order up, they took about 50 dollars off. I feel that is a reasonable price for the tech considering it was cheaper than most exercise trackers which really was my purpose in looking at a smart watch.
Bunter221 said:
That's a great summary and I am sure would suit most but if the next generation ups the prices again.. I doubt if I will head down that path.
If you need all those things including gps on board and water proof you can get all those features on a Chinese smart watch for a bit over $110 but not really a working warranty process. But as I explained earlier the big manufacturers duck when they can and want over $170 to bring your very expensive smart watch back-to life..
Me.. I will just buy another which will be next generation as well.
Thanks for your list though..
Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really need an onboard GPS or separate SIM. And I actually have a Chinese review unit and just not impressed. It does what it needs to do, but the navigation is clunky and overall just performs like a chinese product. It seems rushed and not well planned. I think I will be sticking to Android Wear. I really like how the devices can install Android Apps.
The Gear S looks amazing, but requires a Samsung phone.
I just bought cheap now to get into it and KNOW what features I really like, want, or need. That way when the new devices come out, I can buy one that fits me. The lack of a speaker is really sad. My chinese smartwatch has a speaker and it is awesome. In fact my CoWorker today, his Samsung S5's display just died. Phone still works but no LCD. His chinese Samsung Gear knockoff smartwatch still connects and he is able to make and receive phone calls and get all of his notifications. His watch is really his saving grace today.
player911 said:
I don't really need an onboard GPS or separate SIM. And I actually have a Chinese review unit and just not impressed. It does what it needs to do, but the navigation is clunky and overall just performs like a chinese product. It seems rushed and not well planned. I think I will be sticking to Android Wear. I really like how the devices can install Android Apps.
The Gear S looks amazing, but requires a Samsung phone.
I just bought cheap now to get into it and KNOW what features I really like, want, or need. That way when the new devices come out, I can buy one that fits me. The lack of a speaker is really sad. My chinese smartwatch has a speaker and it is awesome. In fact my CoWorker today, his Samsung S5's display just died. Phone still works but no LCD. His chinese Samsung Gear knockoff smartwatch still connects and he is able to make and receive phone calls and get all of his notifications. His watch is really his saving grace today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange you mention the gear knock off, for the money will be my choice it looks good and doesn't matter too much if it only lasts a year or two.. if the charging terminals on the watch are protected from corrosion it will overcome one of the major issues with the gear 2.
I will order one next month as I will be away. I will report back here as well.. The prices at gear best seem fair.
Sent from my SM-P605 using Tapatalk
The knockoff Gear does look good. Playing around with the mediatek software of the Gear, it is meh. Not as nice as the Android Wear with the gestures and ambient mode and play store app options... but does look good and works great. I am not sure it is waterproof but the charger clips on the back. I really like the magnetic LG G Watch charger.
My coworker has his gear watch for about a week and the screen is already shattered. I assume the knockoffs do not use gorilla glass or equivalent. Just a reminder.
Yes correct they are not waterproof. Splash proof probably..
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Waterproof is a must. I use mine for the pool all the time. Even if I dont wear the watch, it is nice to have handy knowing the G Watch is waterproof.
Related
I originally purchased the Galaxy Note around 1.5 months ago on a £27 GBP per month 24-month contract from 3 (including 500 minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited data) with the purpose of it saving me the costs of two devices. So far, it has proved more than capable as serving as both a tablet and phone, but I want to try and extend that. After spending a few ill days using solely the Note, I've found I'm able to complete almost all my regular PC tasks that I would carry out on my laptop on my Note instead.
Thanks to Polaris Office, which comes pre-installed on the phone, I can even do the majority of my school homework on my device with reminders set on S Memo and S Planner. S Note helps me organise recipes for my passion for cooking, whilst Nova launcher allows me to have several slots on my dock bar coupled with a default ICS look for a tablet-like experience. The sites which I visit frequently, such as YouTube and Facebook, all have adequate enough apps and Thumb Keyboard makes typing on the Note (be it landscape or portrait) a breeze. So, fading out my laptop usage seems like the natural thing to do in my mind.
However, before I am able to do that I have a few things I need to sort out first and I have taken the liberty to write them out below with the hope that someone hear can help me with one or more of these issues I face.
Firstly, the Galaxy Note only delivers around 4/5 hours of screen time, which isn't awful but an improvement is always welcome. So, I am looking for a larger battery, but I still need to fit my phone into a case so I don't want one which increases the size of my device. Any recommendations that aren't ridiculously priced as I don't have an awful lot of money with £27 out of £40 allowance going towards this phone?
Next, I am looking for a case for my Note which both protects the back of the device and the camera, which I have heard to be prone to scratches, plus the screen. So, a flip-case seems most appropriate. I love the styling of the Zenus one found here, but it is rather expensive. So, does anyone know of some cheaper alternatives with a similar styling? I want one with a kickstand so I can view movies from my bedside cabinet or set it up to play some games using a gaming pad.
Unfortunately, as with every device, severely heavy usage does mean you have to charge at least once a day. Unfortunately, the charger which came with my phone does not reach from a mains plug to a chair in my living room or bedroom. So, could anyone recommend a longer wire approximately four metres in length for a decent price?
I also have a few questions regarding the software of the Galaxy Note. My phone suffers from the brick-bug thanks to accepting an upgrade before checking online, which was in hindsight a little foolish, and also the deep sleep bug. The brick bug should, hopefully, receive a fix from Samsung. But, if this comes in the form of an update, will it not wipe data and trigger the bug or shall this update be safe? As for the deep sleep bug, what can I do to try to trigger my phone into deep sleep? I already get around 15 hours of light use on my phone, which is still better than any other smartphone I have (admittedly just an old HTC Desire and Samsung Wave), but as I said all improvements are welcome. Any ideas?
OnLive allows you to pull of full HD gaming with the likes of Homefront available on the service to play on your mobile. I want to know how connecting the "Universal Wireless Controller" works? Is it compatible with ICS?
Finally, I am looking for some app recommendations. Open to all suggestions.
EDIT 1: I am also looking for a 32GB Micro-SD/SD card (whichever one the Galaxy Note takes) for the cheapest price available. I have heard of some 64GB cards working too, but unless they are for a reasonable price I am uninterested. Any suggestions for a cheap card for storing some media on? I am also looking for PC software to rip my DVDs to place them onto my SD card. I have loads of television show box-sets that have 20 minute long episodes just perfect for a bus trip, for example.
EDIT 2: So, upon some reading, I've heard lots of people saying how a screen protector is a must. I certainly didn't think so, but I trust the people on here to not steer me wrong. The issue I have with many screen protectors is that they add a weird texture for touching and also are absolutely a nightmare to get on. Anyone know of a screen protector which doesn't impair the comfort of touching and using the S-Pen on the screen?
Brad387 said:
I originally purchased the Galaxy Note around 1.5 months ago on a £27 GBP per month 24-month contract from 3 (including 500 minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited data) with the purpose of it saving me the costs of two devices. So far, it has proved more than capable as serving as both a tablet and phone, but I want to try and extend that. After spending a few ill days using solely the Note, I've found I'm able to complete almost all my regular PC tasks that I would carry out on my laptop on my Note instead.
Thanks to Polaris Office, which comes pre-installed on the phone, I can even do the majority of my school homework on my device with reminders set on S Memo and S Planner. S Note helps me organise recipes for my passion for cooking, whilst Nova launcher allows me to have several slots on my dock bar coupled with a default ICS look for a tablet-like experience. The sites which I visit frequently, such as YouTube and Facebook, all have adequate enough apps and Thumb Keyboard makes typing on the Note (be it landscape or portrait) a breeze. So, fading out my laptop usage seems like the natural thing to do in my mind.
However, before I am able to do that I have a few things I need to sort out first and I have taken the liberty to write them out below with the hope that someone hear can help me with one or more of these issues I face.
Firstly, the Galaxy Note only delivers around 4/5 hours of screen time, which isn't awful but an improvement is always welcome. So, I am looking for a larger battery, but I still need to fit my phone into a case so I don't want one which increases the size of my device. Any recommendations that aren't ridiculously priced as I don't have an awful lot of money with £27 out of £40 allowance going towards this phone?
Next, I am looking for a case for my Note which both protects the back of the device and the camera, which I have heard to be prone to scratches, plus the screen. So, a flip-case seems most appropriate. I love the styling of the Zenus one found here, but it is rather expensive. So, does anyone know of some cheaper alternatives with a similar styling? I want one with a kickstand so I can view movies from my bedside cabinet or set it up to play some games using a gaming pad.
Unfortunately, as with every device, severely heavy usage does mean you have to charge at least once a day. Unfortunately, the charger which came with my phone does not reach from a mains plug to a chair in my living room or bedroom. So, could anyone recommend a longer wire approximately four metres in length for a decent price?
I also have a few questions regarding the software of the Galaxy Note. My phone suffers from the brick-bug thanks to accepting an upgrade before checking online, which was in hindsight a little foolish, and also the deep sleep bug. The brick bug should, hopefully, receive a fix from Samsung. But, if this comes in the form of an update, will it not wipe data and trigger the bug or shall this update be safe? As for the deep sleep bug, what can I do to try to trigger my phone into deep sleep? I already get around 15 hours of light use on my phone, which is still better than any other smartphone I have (admittedly just an old HTC Desire and Samsung Wave), but as I said all improvements are welcome. Any ideas?
OnLive allows you to pull of full HD gaming with the likes of Homefront available on the service to play on your mobile. I want to know how connecting the "Universal Wireless Controller" works? Is it compatible with ICS?
Finally, I am looking for some app recommendations. Open to all suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brad, you put a lot into this post. I'm not able to comment on all of it, but good luck in your pursuit of a single device.
I cannot offer an alternative to Zenus, but can attest to the quality of their cases. If you go their route, you won't be disappointed.
As far as cables, I'd suggest checking out Cables-To-Go. They have tons available online.
And lastly, there are a lot of app recommendation threads out there... but for your purpose I might suggest "Papyrus". It is a very slick note taking application with some nice features.
Good luck!
The On live universal controller works. Used it on stock gingebread. Never tried on ice cream sandwich.
I find the blackberry charger works well. Its pretty long.
I suggest you head to the market and get the longest (branded) charger you can find.
Does anyone know whether the Note requires more power to charge the Note like the iPad needs a more powerful charger and cannot use the iPhone 4's charger.
Thanks.
I have a charging doc with slot to charge an extra battery. Bought the dock with two batteries for less than $20 on Ebay. The batteries are not the quality of the original but still are serviceable. I have since ordered two OEM batteries still in the blister packs (also on Ebay cellphone dealer for $7.00 ea.) just because the price was good.
I'm never without my Note anytime I'm awake.
I am also looking for a 32GB Micro-SD/SD card (whichever one the Galaxy Note takes) for the cheapest price available. I have heard of some 64GB cards working too, but unless they are for a reasonable price I am uninterested. Any suggestions for a cheap card for storing some media on? I am also looking for PC software to rip my DVDs to place them onto my SD card. I have loads of television show box-sets that have 20 minute long episodes just perfect for a bus trip, for example.
CorruptedSanity said:
I find the blackberry charger works well. Its pretty long.
I suggest you head to the market and get the longest (branded) charger you can find.
Does anyone know whether the Note requires more power to charge the Note like the iPad needs a more powerful charger and cannot use the iPhone 4's charger.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, thanks, but I don't own a Blackberry charger as Blackberry devices have never ever appealed to me.
stiffi2011 said:
The On live universal controller works. Used it on stock gingebread. Never tried on ice cream sandwich.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I am using the stock ICS. But, still...thanks. I am sure someone here might found that information useful.
CGI_Ram said:
Brad, you put a lot into this post. I'm not able to comment on all of it, but good luck in your pursuit of a single device.
I cannot offer an alternative to Zenus, but can attest to the quality of their cases. If you go their route, you won't be disappointed.
As far as cables, I'd suggest checking out Cables-To-Go. They have tons available online.
And lastly, there are a lot of app recommendation threads out there... but for your purpose I might suggest "Papyrus". It is a very slick note taking application with some nice features.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure the Zenus cases are of a sufficient quality, but they are around £40 GBP which is just ridiculous for a case in my opinion. I am looking for a similar styled one, but cheaper.
So, upon some reading, I've heard lots of people saying how a screen protector is a must. I certainly didn't think so, but I trust the people on here to not steer me wrong. The issue I have with many screen protectors is that they add a weird texture for touching and also are absolutely a nightmare to get on. Anyone know of a screen protector which doesn't impair the comfort of touching and using the S-Pen on the screen?
All i can say is dont go for the really cheap screen protectors, as you get what you pay for, But on the other hand, dont get ripped off and pay a fortune either !
Have a read through this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1332004&page=27
People have reviewed their protectors so you might find one thats just right for you.
Good ones wont affect the S-Pen, But if they do, there are a few screen tuner apps on the market to adjust the sensitivity.
a protector is a must for me ! No matter how tough the gorilla glass is, Its not un-scratch able, just scratch resistant.
azzledazzle said:
All i can say is dont go for the really cheap screen protectors, as you get what you pay for, But on the other hand, dont get ripped off and pay a fortune either !
Have a read through this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1332004&page=27
People have reviewed their protectors so you might find one thats just right for you.
Good ones wont affect the S-Pen, But if they do, there are a few screen tuner apps on the market to adjust the sensitivity.
a protector is a must for me ! No matter how tough the gorilla glass is, Its not un-scratch able, just scratch resistant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for such a quick reply and I am reading through that thread right now. I am looking for a screen protector which does not effect the S-Pen nor ruin the quality of the image of the screen. Anti-glare for greater outdoor visibility would also be nice. I've heard of anti-fingerprint too, which again would be nice. What screen protector are using might I ask?
theres a whole range of cases available for the Note, I personally like the wallet cases, as it saves me some room in my pocket
theres a case thread in the accessory section too, Have a look through there, It all depends what you are looking for !
TPU, Leather, Plastic, Carbon faker * I mean fibre*
Wallet, flip, hard shell......... you can see where im going with this right ?
azzledazzle said:
theres a whole range of cases available for the Note, I personally like the wallet cases, as it saves me some room in my pocket
theres a case thread in the accessory section too, Have a look through there, It all depends what you are looking for !
TPU, Leather, Plastic, Carbon faker * I mean fibre*
Wallet, flip, hard shell......... you can see where im going with this right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also looking for an SD card, big as possible for as cheap as possible, and also a solution to the sleep bug I have where my phone won't deep sleep.
Im gonna let you in to a little secret here Not many people know about it but if you go here, Magic Place Full of Info
you can find out a whole array of things.
azzledazzle said:
Im gonna let you in to a little secret here Not many people know about it but if you go here, Magic Place Full of Info
you can find out a whole array of things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.play.com/Mobiles/Mobile/...urce=0&searchtype=allproducts&urlrefer=search
What do you think about this SD card? Think it'd do the job okay?
yeah I only use a class 4 SD card also, Ive had it for ages and it does the job so i kept it.
However, the higher the class, the faster the read/write speeds are, If that isnt an issue then go for that one as its reasonably priced.
I'd avoid ebay unless you find a well known ebayer as there are a lot of scams about, People selling 32gb class 10 cards that turn out to be 8gb class 2 or something lol
keep your wits about ya
Good post Brad....I've always searched for the single 'converged' device and the Note has pretty much done the trick.
Apps like Evernote especially and Springpad are great catch all apps allowing cloud storage, organization, and easy access of ALL of your data and documents...checked Em out.
Some big (work) sites tho, so just aren't displayed well on the note compared to my lap top so have to use it sometimes, and that's about the only downside.
rockky said:
Good post Brad....I've always searched for the single 'converged' device and the Note has pretty much done the trick.
Apps like Evernote especially and Springpad are great catch all apps allowing cloud storage, organization, and easy access of ALL of your data and documents...checked Em out.
Some big (work) sites tho, so just aren't displayed well on the note compared to my lap top so have to use it sometimes, and that's about the only downside.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, frankly, I spend most of my internet time on a small selection of sites. Facebook, YouTube and many more all have mobile apps/versions of their site.
I am looking for...
a good screen protector which doesn't ruin the screen or S-Pen
a charging cable around 4 metres in length
a case which offers protection to the camera, back and front/screen
I think the gloved hand and waterproofing features would go great with a motorcycle handlebar mount.
The whole reason I ditched iOS years ago was to use a Bluetooth watch with physical buttons to control my music, see caller ID (decide to reject or pull over for calls), and FEEL the incoming call notification while on the bike. Even when I was still using iPhones in 2008, my brand new $300 iPhone 3G I had just purchased at launch was ruined even though I was still dry (pockets somehow filled with mist kicked up from the road). These features would be important to me, especially now that no one makes anything like the Sony Ericsson MBW-series Bluetooth watches anymore (touch-screens and ePaper gizmos, need not apply).
I already ordered my Note 3 because I didn't hear anything about other versions but there's still time to cancel.
CZroe said:
I think the gloved hand and waterproofing features would go great with a motorcycle handlebar mount.
The whole reason I ditched iOS years ago was to use a Bluetooth watch with physical buttons to control my music, see caller ID (decide to reject or pull over for calls), and FEEL the incoming call notification while on the bike. Even when I was still using iPhones in 2008, my brand new $300 iPhone 3G I had just purchased at launch was ruined even though I was still dry (pockets somehow filled with mist kicked up from the road). These features would be important to me, especially now that no one makes anything like the Sony Ericsson MBW-series Bluetooth watches anymore (touch-screens and ePaper gizmos, need not apply).
I already ordered my Note 3 because I didn't hear anything about other versions but there's still time to cancel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cant have everything. If you give up stylus you could have gone for Sony Z Ultra.
Yes, before the end of the year...
And an assortment of other colors on the normal n3 as well
Originally, the Galaxy Note 3 was rumored to have a flexible screen. Back then I thought that they might just seal it from moisture and make the standard model similar enough in utility that there was no need for an "Active" version, especially since the stylus would allow for full use of the screen and touch keys with gloves. Follow-up rumors were that they couldn't make the flexible screen in high-enough volume for it to be the standard screen, so I began hoping that they would still release an "Active" version incorporating it.
Now, I read this:
http://www.androidorigin.com/samsung-galaxy-note-3-5-things-to-know-before-buying/
Hmm... "exactly the same hardware as the original" except for a flexible screen? I was at least expecting water-proofing. Heck, I was also expecting a cut-down camera, physical menu/back keys, glove support, etc too. I was even willing to accept a 720p screen while we were at it.
Cancel my GNote 3 preorder or sell it once this is announced? I'm really torn.
dmstar said:
Yes, before the end of the year...
And an assortment of other colors on the normal n3 as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you hear this?
CZroe said:
I think the gloved hand and waterproofing features would go great with a motorcycle handlebar mount.
The whole reason I ditched iOS years ago was to use a Bluetooth watch with physical buttons to control my music, see caller ID (decide to reject or pull over for calls), and FEEL the incoming call notification while on the bike. Even when I was still using iPhones in 2008, my brand new $300 iPhone 3G I had just purchased at launch was ruined even though I was still dry (pockets somehow filled with mist kicked up from the road). These features would be important to me, especially now that no one makes anything like the Sony Ericsson MBW-series Bluetooth watches anymore (touch-screens and ePaper gizmos, need not apply).
I already ordered my Note 3 because I didn't hear anything about other versions but there's still time to cancel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a good question.
I think we're at the point that the residual resale value on these phones is high enough that you could sell yours and buy whatever without taking too much of a hit.
Also people are usually more than willing to trade straight across once the device comes out, or they get one for free from work or contest and want something else, or even for a few bucks.
CZroe said:
Where did you hear this?
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Friends in the telco business....
And yes, it's not the news on the flexible screen.... that will be another product line all together...
Most likely will be like an S4 active.. previous gen screen, 8MP cam and cheaper.
bobturismo said:
That's a good question.
I think we're at the point that the residual resale value on these phones is high enough that you could sell yours and buy whatever without taking too much of a hit.
Also people are usually more than willing to trade straight across once the device comes out, or they get one for free from work or contest and want something else, or even for a few bucks.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, so it's probably nothing to lose sleep over. Now I just need to get all those "ZOMG REGION LOCK!" guys to quit spreading misinformation and ruining my resale value (not nearly all are region-locked).
dmstar said:
Friends in the telco business....
And yes, it's not the news on the flexible screen.... that will be another product line all together...
Most likely will be like an S4 active.. previous gen screen, 8MP cam and cheaper.
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Click to collapse
Ah. Good to know. I think I am the perfect example of the target market for such a device so it's disappointing that they haven't announced anything yet. Everyone is buying the wrong thing!
Can word travel the other direction as well? Another thing I'd love to see: Stylus gloves or stylus pins/buttons that can be attached to gloved fingertips.
Should I give up hope or is there still an Active Note 3 expected even after the Galaxy Round announcement?
And why?! Please no bashing of certain brands/watches! Discussion thread only!
First to reply !?
Well, personally I use a LG G2 as my daily driver now. I would naturally go for the G Watch.
I agree that the circular watch face on the Moto 360 is way awesome. But it is not available just yet
In comparison of the G Watch and the Galaxy Gear Live. I would go for G Watch, on same company and the fact that it has more battery.
400 vs 300, thats 1/4 differences, which is a lot. My previous experiences with Galaxy 3 didn't occur to me that Samsung's products are not battery hungry. I would rather have 25% more battery than say, having an extra heartbeat sensor (which will potentially use up more battery?)
I also like IPS screen more :good:
I like the look of the 360 best but from videos I've seen, a square screen has a lot more usable real estate than a round one. So I would choose the Gear.
Little confused. I was looking to get the gear 2 but figured I'd wait. With the news today..will one be able to answer calls and text on the android wear watches? Also..it looks like they are basically revolving around Google now?
Sent from my SM-T310 using Tapatalk
I have ordered the Gear Live. Higher resolution and heart rate sensor made me pick it over the LG. The fact that it was cheaper helped too.
I will probably pick up a Moto 360 when it becomes available as well.
Are there any hands on that show how you wake the Gear Live from it's sleep state? Does a simple flick of the wrist work, or do I have to press the button. If I have to press the button, I'm going to get the G Watch in a flash.
I voted galaxy gear one hundred percent because its 30 bucks cheaper. Dont know why the LG G is more? Haha so thats why i came to this thread.
Just ordered both (UK) as I'm undecided and expect them to sell out fast... my brother wants one anyway so will give him the Samsung most likely.
Strange that the LG was the cheaper one in the UK? Maybe it has a secret spec :fingers-crossed:
Prefer the LG anyway as it is smaller and looks to have a longer battery life (essential in a watch device).
Ordered the LG.
Battery life was the decider.
The Moto360 - because of its circular display with near zero bezel
Joe0113 said:
And why?! Please no bashing of certain brands/watches! Discussion thread only!
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Click to collapse
The Moto360 is a reinterpretation of the classic circular wrist watch which makes it a classic in its own right. The display has a near zero bezel, running edge to edge which is a first. I find these two enough to go for it. There's a high novelty value. The screen looks fantastic.
Apparently the screen is off most of the time, and can be turned on with a) a gesture b) touch c) the button.
Wireless charging is the right move.
Negatives:
The screen doesn't have an anti-reflective coating, though, so it will be hard to read outdoors, impossible in the sun.
The battery won't last more than a few years, and sinces it's likely to be non replaceable. This prevents the Moto360 from becoming a true classic worn in the future. Not that important, perhaps, since there will be better versions out in the future, but it makes it less of a classic, more time bound, ephemeral.
Find it a little strange the LG is cheaper in the UK, but more expensive in the US.
Went for the Gear, no real decider as they're really similar, hoping as samsung have a history with them the hardware will be a bit better
Gadgety said:
The Moto360 is a reinterpretation of the classic circular wrist watch which makes it a classic in its own right. The display has a near zero bezel, running edge to edge which is a first. I find these two enough to go for it. There's a high novelty value. The screen looks fantastic.
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Click to collapse
Good points. I'm a guy who wears a classic round-faced watch everyday and want to get into Android Wear. Moto360 seems to be the right choice for me.
Does the Moto360 actually have Android Wear on it? Why were they allowed to release a bunch of pics and advertise before the I/O while everyone else had to/wanted to wait? What else do we know about it? Price? Release date?
Ordered the Gear
Better style, heart rate monitor, cheaper
granduke said:
Ordered the Gear
Better style, heart rate monitor, cheaper
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Click to collapse
Same. Ordered it last night.
My s/o thought the gear live just looked way better.
I was torn on what to get. Obviously the 360's design is fantastic. For a poor graduate student, though, it is going to (likely) be well above my price range at the moment. I have $150 from the recall of my FitBit Force and decided to go with the Gear Live because of the AMOLED screen and the overall design. JR Raphael of PC World and Artem Russakovskii from AndroidPolice both recommended the Gear Live over the G Watch. Neither of them have led me astray yet, so I will take their word.
Once I am done with grad school and have a good job in hand, I will upgrade to something more fancy-schmancy. I'm stoked to get my Gear Live, though!
Ordered the Samsung here in the UK
I wanted the LG until I saw it ....
I think the Samsung looks better, has higher screen res, and the HRM - the other main factor was that Samsung have been making smart watches for a while now, so should have learnt a few things
All that said - I like the Moto with the metal strap - so will probably change later in the year --- by which time HTC may have come up with something
I orderded the G watch. Personally think its better looking than the Gear. Hoping the 400mah battery pays off as well. Ultimately hoping whatever HTC has up their sleeves will be as amazing as their phones.
I jumped for the Gwatch. I personally like the less flashy design, and chose to support LG over Samsung. Pretty excited to get it! It's a step in the right direction I would say.
Just ordered a Gear Live, G-Watch was tempting but it is more expensive has a worse display and fewer sensors ?
The Motorola Watch is vaporware, this is why Motorola dropped from number one manufacturer to a company bought out by a Chinese corporation. Motorola has not been first to the market with anything in years.
i
Still AndroidWear SmartWachtes is are so young
No Camera
No Speak-Mic to Answer Call
and lots of more features.
when i compare androidWear by Tizen Powered SmartWatches I will choose Galaxy Gear2
Hello,
So I was in the market for a new watch. I figured that if I am going to go out and buy a watch, I may as well go with a smartwatch. I want it solely to show me what time it is and for notifications. (Phone Calls and Text Messages mainly) So I could care less about a heart rate sensor. Here are all of the watches that I have considered, but decided against for various reasons:
Asus Zenwatch 2: This was originally what I wanted to get, until I went and looked at it at Best Buy. I can't stand the bezels. If the watch face was all display, I would have one on my wrist right now.
Moto 360 1st Gen: Then I looked at this, as it was $150 from Motorola for the model I liked. (Champagne w/ brown leather) The dated processor and smaller battery turned me away.
Moto 360 2nd Gen: I do like this overall, however by the time I get it the way I want, I can just buy a Huawei watch for the same price. (Dodging the flat tire LCD for an AMOLED)
LG Watch Urbane: I have mixed feelings about this one. I'm not crazy about the overall design and I have heard numerous reports of screen burn in.
Huawei Watch: I like this watch overall. However, I feel a 2nd Gen is right around the corner, and the price is a bit high.
Tag Heuer Connected: I really like this one! I do not like its $1500 price tag though....
Samsung Gear S2 Classic: I feel this watch is PERFECT for me. I love the design and the rotating bezel! I was super bummed to find out the display size and that it wasn't running Android Wear though....
This brings me to my last choice, and the one that I ended up ordering: The Fossil Q Founder.
I really do like the design of the watch itself! I feel it looks quite nice. I prefer leather bands, so the fact that it accepts pretty much any 22mm watch band is a big plus. (I wont wear metal bands) I also feel the Fossil Q is a better investment, which played a big part in my decision. The Intel Atom processor, 1GB of ram, and internal speaker make it seem more future proof to me. The 400mah battery should be sufficient for a full day of use. I expected to have to charge whichever watch I ended up getting nightly. The only downfall to the Q in my opinion is the infamous flat tire on the display. I can live with it though. Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to have a Fossil Q Founder with the Huawei Watch Display. It is what it is though.
After reviewing pretty much every Android Wear watch, I found that none of them are perfect. There are pros and cons to all of them really. Even the Tag Heuer Connected, although I feel its only con is its price tag. lol. With very similar hardware and pretty much identical software I guess it comes down to personal preference of aesthetics ultimately. I like the design of the Fossil Q. The fact that it is a little better specd than others as well is what ultimately made me decide to get it.
I will update more when I get it. I am also going to (very carefully) pop the bottom off to see if I can find out which Intel Atom processor it is running exactly.
So what Android Wear watch did you go with and why?
xx
dazultra2000 said:
I stopped wearing watches a few years ago as the bulk on my wrist started to annoy me and my phone told me the time so it seemed pointless. A few months ago the vibrate on my M8 stopped working, and as it was out of warranty and considerably hacked in the software department, I was kinda stuck until I can upgrade. I found myself missing notifications and calls and got pretty annoyed about it. I was holding out for the zenwatch 2 as it was cheap enough that if I didn't get on with it, it wouldn't be such a loss money-wise. However, it had limited availability and I didn't want to wait any longer as I would end up just waiting for the next better watch. I found a decent discount for the urbane and went for it. I always had chunky metal watches before (my last was a casio g-shock GW-1210U which I loved dearly, so I figured if I could change the band on the urbane to a nice metal one it wouldn't be much different. The Urbane is actually thinner than my old G-shock. Anyway, I love my urbane. Battery life is great, display is nice and it feels like a quality item. My only real issue with it is that it does lag sometimes, but I was expecting that so it doesn't put me off too much.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
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Nice! I did look at the LG Urbane. Amazon has it right now for $250 brand new. So it was tempting. Especially being it has an AMOLED display with no flat tire. I just felt for $25 more dollars I am getting a slightly larger display, double the ram, and future speaker support. Personally, I like the design of the fossil more as well.
Zenwatch 2. I love it. Honestly, the software is all the same, and hardware to mostly. Zenwatch is more affordable meaning when gen 2 or 3 watches come out, you can put that extra money to get those.
High end device with user replaceable battery, IPS LCD to retain natural color reproduction, separate 2nd screen for shortcuts-music control-notifications, microSD, ideal fingerprint location-functionality, quad DAC-headphone jack considering current trends+the V30 abandoned several of those?
Yes it could have fit dual front facing stereo speakers, better front facing camera & low light cameras but is the V20 the last of it's kind with all these aforementioned features because I'm considering buying more now that they can be had at bargain prices?
The only correct answer is "Nobody knows what the future will bring."
I can take a guess. Since water proofing seems popular now I suspect any openings in the case will be eliminated if possible to please those who think they should teach their phone to swim. That means no replaceable battery and no headphone jack for sure and maybe no more SD cards.
Personally, if I drop my phone in the toilet it's history but for those who like "crappy" phones they must be water proof!
I think I'm the only person who actually likes the sound of the V30 (I currently have a V20). I really don't need a hot-swappable battery as I've always found fast charging to be enough, and I really like the idea of added waterproofing and dust protection. The second screen is great but the always-on feature that AMOLED displays offer covers that for me. So in my opinion, yeah! LG seem committed to keeping the advanced features for the V series at the moment. But for those of you who really like the idea of a user-replaceable battery, I'd say those days are numbered.
SMARTPHONEPC said:
High end device with user replaceable battery, IPS LCD to retain natural color reproduction, separate 2nd screen for shortcuts-music control-notifications, microSD, ideal fingerprint location-functionality, quad DAC-headphone jack considering current trends+the V30 abandoned several of those?
Yes it could have fit dual front facing stereo speakers, better front facing camera & low light cameras but is the V20 the last of it's kind with all these aforementioned features because I'm considering buying more now that they can be had at bargain prices?
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Click to collapse
I would suggest focusing on new models that have an easily replaced battery (IE some Motorolas, One plus etc) and other features that you like (ext SD etc). For me the ability to somewhat easily replace the battery is a HUGE factor in my decision buying a phone... Because I like keeping my heavily used phones more than a year or so. I always check ifixit before buying or recommending a phone... To see how easy it is to replace the battery
Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk
jasonv31 said:
I would suggest focusing on new models that have an easily replaced battery (IE some Motorolas, One plus etc) and other features that you like (ext SD etc). For me the ability to somewhat easily replace the battery is a HUGE factor in my decision buying a phone... Because I like keeping my heavily used phones more than a year or so. I always check ifixit before buying or recommending a phone... To see how easy it is to replace the battery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do exactly the same!
I really do favor being able to pop in a new battery in seconds at will vs hassles or planned obsolescence. I'd even like to see manufacturers offer slide in batteries of different sizes & offer case options for waterproofing and sports models for those who may refuse to use any kind of case.
I view the disappearance of user replaceable batteries as an extension of Apple's market power and hostility (my way or the highway proprietary attitude) to the end user. Apple never offered user replaceable batteries (nor expandable storage) and it was once a distinguishing Android device feature.
I see people around me often with dying phones being tethered to walls or carrying around large external batteries for their devices. The only smartphone I've ever owned without a user replaceable battery is the Nexus 6P & after that terrible experience of the battery dying so early ultimately having to get it professionally replaced really cemented how much I hate not being able to pop in a new battery at will. It's almost like a claustrophobic crippled feeling having to deal with an enclosed battery with no sd card like the Nexus 6P. User replaceable batteries also makes the secondary used device market much more viable vs getting a dying enclosed battery with used devices. Sales enhanced with planned obsolescence seem to take priority over offering end users & the e-waste-environment other options. I'd like to see https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/...s-smartphones-tech-last-longer-easier-repair/ happen in other markets including the US but won't hold my breath.
Regarding upcoming high end devices (none I see with removable batteries sadly), as I prefer IPS LCD to retain natural color reproduction with loud speakers-headphone jack, potentially good cameras, I'll check out the reviews & ifixit for https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_5_ze620kl-9061.php but would not expect future phones to be as repairable as https://ifixit.org/blog/8550/lg-v20-repair-phone/ :
Wired’s Brian Barrett called the V20 a phone for power users who “feel rightly abandoned by the move toward one monolithic, iPhone-inspired smartphone design upon which HTC and Google and Motorola and others have converged. The V20 wants you to know that you are not forgotten.”
“It’s refreshing to hold a phone with a removable battery. It’s beneficial on so many levels. The life of the phone is extended by years and the battery replacements are inexpensive and so easy that anyone can do it,” Zack told us. “Screen replacements are a little more technical. But only one tool is required: a screwdriver. And that makes it simple for the average person to fix on their own.”
Any upcoming devices catch anyone's attention?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8XYKIdG9tI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4pN-vqLCj0
In theory, this phone is perfect. But the planned obsolescence and flimsy plastic bull**** it was constructed with has cost 2 new headphone jacks and 2 new bezels in a year; although I'm counting it as three since my headphone jack has AGAIN worn out and needs to be replaced, along with the bottom bezel. At this point, I am convinced I could either have built a better phone myself or should have just kept my indestructible flip phone and bought a DAP.
measty said:
has cost 2 new headphone jacks and 2 new bezels in a year; although I'm counting it as three since my headphone jack has AGAIN worn out and needs to be replaced, along with the bottom bezel. At this point, I am convinced I could either have built a better phone myself or should have just kept my indestructible flip phone and bought a DAP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe by now, you'd arrive at the conclusion bluetooth headset won't do that like conventional physical plug in versions? Just a thought. My daughter complained about her LG G3 and the one-sided output from the physical jack. Bluetooth headset solved that but quick
nightstah said:
Maybe by now, you'd arrive at the conclusion bluetooth headset won't do that like conventional physical plug in versions? Just a thought. My daughter complained about her LG G3 and the one-sided output from the physical jack. Bluetooth headset solved that but quick
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Well, the reason I got the v20 was for the DAC. Irony hits in all the right places.
I am in the same dilemma as to what will I replace the V20 with when it knocks out. I got the phone because of the DAC and user replaceable battery. My gripe with LG now is slowness of updating the software.
xs11e said:
The only correct answer is "Nobody knows what the future will bring."
I can take a guess. Since water proofing seems popular now I suspect any openings in the case will be eliminated if possible to please those who think they should teach their phone to swim. That means no replaceable battery and no headphone jack for sure and maybe no more SD cards.
Personally, if I drop my phone in the toilet it's history but for those who like "crappy" phones they must be water proof!
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Click to collapse
The Galaxy S5 was waterproof and had a replaceable battery.
Sent from my LG V20 using XDA Labs
---------- Post added at 02:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:49 AM ----------
Nolia said:
I am in the same dilemma as to what will I replace the V20 with when it knocks out. I got the phone because of the DAC and user replaceable battery. My gripe with LG now is slowness of updating the software.
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Not really slow considering the factors that carriers get in the way. Also going straight to Oreo.
Sent from my LG V20 using XDA Labs
The Galaxy S5 was water "resistant", not water proof. To be waterproof a phone would need no openings in the case and I suspect that's what they're working toward. Seems silly to me, the V20 just may be my last phone since I like replaceable batteries AND SD cards. I don't need waterproofing (so far) as I've never soaked a phone.
Hope I didn't just jinx myself!
BROKEN1981 said:
The Galaxy S5 was waterproof and had a replaceable battery.
Sent from my LG V20 using XDA Labs
---------- Post added at 02:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:49 AM ----------
Not really slow considering the factors that carriers get in the way. Also going straight to Oreo.
Sent from my LG V20 using XDA Labs
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Click to collapse
Mine was sim free. I would still say its slow considering phones like mate 9 r running Oreo
pistacios said:
I do exactly the same!
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Click to collapse
Easy like the one plus 5t (for a sealed battery its pretty easy, if your used to this sort of thing)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=l7UvDoj6RZA
jasonv31 said:
Easy like the one plus 5t (for a sealed battery its pretty easy, if your used to this sort of thing)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=l7UvDoj6RZA
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Click to collapse
Definitely been around a device or two. I'm usually "tech support" for friends and family. Not an electronics technician, just a hobbyist. I'm actually a machinist. I'll give anything a shot before it goes in the trash.
I've been able to score some "broken" devices and get tons of use after repair, dating back to the OG Droid A855.
(3) Nexus 7 2013. One for my car install, one for my daughter, and one for around the house. 2 of them were broken screens.
My wife's "water damaged" G3, which is still alive going on 3 years after an alcohol bath fix, even after mine started wigging out with SIM errors (baked it, got it working, then bought my US996 a week later).
I've torn down a brand new Galaxy S6 and a broken screen one just to swap the board to recover data, then swap it all back to send in for insurance, lol. That was fun...stupid glass backings.
Baked my brothers V10 to get it to boot. Recover some data, it looped again, disassemble, baked it, assemble, recovered more data, looped, dissassemble, bake, assemble, recover......total of 7 times, lol.
The days of having an easily repairable device with a removable battery are slowly dying. But where there is a will, there is always a way.
It is unfortunate that it seems that way.
I'm okay with Galaxy S5 level of water resistance. I used to wash that phone on the sink constantly, and shower with it. It was enough. So there are ways to still have removable battery covers.
The problem is that most of us that opted for the V20 was for the features it have that no other phones had. If I wanted a AMOLED with always on display I would've go for a Samsung or many others. I prefer the far more useful for me second screen, it works for shortcuts, controls and notifications. Although I wish I could have even more control over it, specially like when playing fullscreen games.
I prefer IPS screens over all others any day. Specially over Samsungs SAMOLEDs, those give me headaches due to its sub pixel alignment.
The Quad-DAC headphone jack is miles ahead of grand majority of phones. On the level of overly priced music players. And the IR is something I need, for in my house family always lose/brake the remotes.
The phone was truly the last phone released for power users, the phone had every tech you could cram it, only missing true stereo speakers. Decent dual cameras with great software, removable battery, mSD, DAC, IR, a second scree, display out, near perfect IPS display, sturdy construction relative to most other phones that brake on first drop.
I seriously have no idea to what phone I would jump to, none satisfy me. Would go for a Razer phone, for the whole project linda thing. But no headphone jack makes it a no.