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[Discussion] Neptune ecosystem with the Hub and Duo?

Neptune, the company behind the Pine wearable phone, is coming back around, but their efforts are curious now. First, they boast the Neptune Duo, an idea of flipping the watch and phone to make the phone the companion and the watch the core.
The phone part is considered a peripheral. Replaceable, non-essential. The watch is where the magic happens.
But then they update their website. The ability to reserve or pledge for a Duo disappears. In its place, a teaser for their newest idea, one to truly make the personal computer...
It mentions the Hub, as a primary source. I have nothing but speculation and curiosity.
Neptune made a name for themselves when they proposed the idea of a smartwatch that could truly be your only device. The Pine didn't quite live up to those expectations. It fell flat as fast as it rose. But Neptune looks like they're far more professional about this, with plans to change the world through a model that merges two other models that most of us weren't aware of. They plan to balance the understanding of use cases, but make it work with one device? It's interesting, but impossible considering there are many kinds of people.
This isn't even the first time. Canonical built Ubuntu Touch with an intent on allowing you to make a dockable phone that would allow the phone to be a full-on computer for easy and simplified use. That is still in the works, and not even being seen yet from the Aquaris E4.5, the only phone with Ubuntu Touch currently.
What do you think? Can Neptune pull it off for real this time?

A good concept
I recently became the proud owner of a stand alone smart watch.
The main disadvantage of super small stand alone smartphone watches (with only 1.5 inch screen) is that typing sms-es or search criteria becomes a true challenge.
The usage of a companion screen that allows for a bigger interface (and thus a larger keyboard), only when needed, is the perfect solution.
Why is the protocol between the "hub" and the screen a propriatary thing?
I think there is a market for the Duo, if the price is right.

It's no longer the Duo, but the Suite. The protocol is not proprietary. It is actually WiGig, an advancement on existing Wi-Fi that takes form in the unused 60Ghz band, able to send 700mb/s wirelessly. The Hub is the center of the system with flagship specifications. The Pocket Screen is the most equivalent to a phone. The Tab screen is a 10-inch display, Keys for physical function, Earphones for sound and charging, and a dongle for TV use.
WiGig technology is simply not consumer-grade yet. Neptune Suite should change that.
The Hub uses a 2.4in display, and they're currently arguing the choice of OLED vs. E-Ink display. I personally think OLED is a better option. Since the WiGig technology is energy-efficient, the worry of OLED for energy consumption sort of gets canceled out due to streaming data to a completely different device.
Since you'll get the equivalent of a flagship phone in watch size, a phone, tablet, keyboard, headphones and dongle bundled, the price comes out to $900.

Interesting. Thanks for that information. Price seems high.
A nice spec Android smart watch phone: less than $200
A nice Android tablet : less than $200
If one has both already, what does it take to use te tablet as a second screen and keyboard? If tablet connects through the Phone hotspot, All I would need it for is to:
Surf: tablet
Sociale networks: tablet
Video: tablet
Phone: phone
Music: Phone or tablet
Edit contacts, type sms: both with tablet to help me for typing
I admit that it would require some user discipline to do all what the duo/suit can do,
....... for half the price of less

Well, to be fair, this is potentially the strongest smartwatch that will be available. It does more than the Samsung Gear S or Apple Watch, it runs Android, it has Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, 802.11b/g/n/ac + ad for WiGig.
The extra hardware doesn't even operate without the Hub. That seems bad, but it acts as a sort of security feature, and the Hub is the center of all the hardware, so you have the same data at your disposal whether you use the phone or the tablet. Your idea has that issue where data and apps would potentially be out of sync.
With 64GB, this is likely supposed to be the answer to the businessman on the go. Tired of carrying cables to sync data over, and doesn't care about the operating environment, someone who can use Android, iOS, OS X, or Windows. Carries his data on his wrist, never worries about leaving hardware because if it's a good enough product, he can just buy a new Pocket screen at a Wal-mart. Maybe wouldn't mind going out for a jog once in a while, and won't need to carry the Pocket screen because the Hub is a phone at the heart of it.
The price sort of makes sense. On the Indiegogo page, they offer the devices individually, and the Hub + wireless earphones came up for $400, which seems good for a watch of this magnitude. Likely, that's backer price, and it would be $500+ on its own. $900 seems worth it, of course, if you want to entrust the time between here and now, it's $649.

Extremely intrigued by the Neptune...
I'll admit, I'm a bit obsessed with the concept of a true standalone smartwatch, and am a big believer that delegating simple tasks like phone calls and sending/receiving texts and emails (made easier by voice) to a smartwatch while using a small tablet for heavier browsing/app usage is simply a more effective and efficient use of technology. For those reasons, I LOVE what Neptune is trying to do here (especially leveraging WiGig, which I didn't obviously know they were doing...) A few concerns I still have:
- How are app developers realistically supposed to design apps (both in terms of UI and functionality) for a platform that scales from 2.4" all the way up to potentially 60-80" TV's (using the dongle?)
- What's the point of having a hub "always on me" when the cuff is so darn thick that I can't possibly wear it comfortably during my workday, or fashionably outside of work?
That said, I love that they've made the necklace both a charging cord and a more attractive alternative to the standard Bluetooth necklace/headset. They've done a LOT of brilliant things with their new suite, but a few glaring holes still terminal in my mind.

Well, you have the passion for the idea like I do. Something about all that power in a pocketable form factor is always so intriguing, and we already carry phones with high specs, so a high-spec smartwatch would be impressive, as Neptune is going for.
Regarding your issues, I can see what you mean, but this is a fairly moot point. Let me explain...
Android devices of all shapes and sizes exist for all types of purposes. The core of the display driver is the resolution and the pixels per inch. Now, I don't know the PPI for the Hub itself, but it's certainly going to be high. Apps will probably display at their "full size" in the 2.4inch display, but that's like reading a microscope. My mother has an LG Optimus Fuel, and apps such as Pinterest are impossible to use on that thing, as they are sizing for large displays, while being on a very small display. So, yes, some apps won't be optimized to be viewed on that type of display.
As for stretching through the dongle, I'm sure it'll hit a limit and it'll perform like, say, the Amazon Fire TV. A fair size, almost like a tablet was blown up, but you'll have the keyboard at your disposal to manage it. I can't explain that bit, you'd just have to use a Fire TV and see what I mean.
Regarding the design, Neptune is working with Pearl Studios on that front. Pearl Studios focuses on design above all else, so the appearance of the device should be fittingly elegant, especially in workplaces with the suit and tie attire, the business-centric lifestyle. Ultimately, though, it's personal preference, and you probably need to know if you like a 36mm watch before you purchase this. They'll also offer sizes for various wrist sizes, so it won't quite be one-size-fits-all.
I do see what you mean, though. As someone who's mostly working in environments where your appearance should be presentable at minimum, as well as continuing his education, I am not certain how it will be to wear it in my every day life. It's going to be a waiting game from here to April.

Confused with so many watches. Help me pick a smart watch

I understand its pretty much what you pay is what you get but I do not wish to buy an expensive Gear or Apple iWatch right now. Please recommend me a good chinese smart watch? I have gone through Amazon and Gearbest however its my first time into this and I rather buy something with recommendations from you guys.
Basically Im looking for something which is less than $40. I dont care about all the bells or whistles as long as it shows me time, shoes me text messages, has as good battery life and hopefully have face plate changes. Really dont care about making calls, or other sensors, or video or photo recording etc.

I'm in the same boat but looking to spend up to $80

I feel the same freaking way. There's so freaking many of them. I just want one that at least has a wifi chip and is water resistant but I can't find any that has both and under $100

Bump. Appreciate your help guys,

If you're willing to live a little dangerously ... the Weloop Tommy might be up your alley. It functions as it is with an older apk than the one on the play store and the firmware 3.18 seems to be stable. There is also an open source project that seems is pretty close to fruition.
relevant links -
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sma...s/weloop-tommy-smartwatch-looks-best-t2864444
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sma.../weloop-tommy-smartwatch-faq-updates-t2995858
https://hackaday.io/project/4510-open-source-sportsmart-watch

I'll be reviewing some new budget watches (around $50). stay tuned to the forums :good::good::good::good:

I have been looking and looking through the fabulous forums about reviews and features. I, too, am looking for a new "toy". I don't wear a watch typically so I it would probably not last, hence why I don't want to spend a lot of money. However I do really have a need to easily dismiss a ton of notifications remotely. I am hoping that I can pick up a cheap one to get my feet wet, get a little experience with what I want and need.
I REALLY like the Galaxy Gear S, with the curved display... but I do not have a Samsung phone/tablet to pair it with. I have been looking for knock off, but have not found one yet. I think something similar to the Gear S is what I am looking for. Something that has a browser, wifi, GPS for maps (I travel a lot), and of course the ability to answer/speakerphone calls and view/dismiss notifications (exchange, gmail, FB Messanger, snapchat, etc.).
I am not looking for a sport watch, but maybe something with a metal band that looks classy. I really liked the Round watches... but I think a lot of screen space is wasted. With the chinese versions, it seems the UI is built around a square display and looks goofy. The Android Wear looks great but I am not sure the capacity of its ability.
I think I would prefer a android device with a good interface. And a decent charger (magnetic/wireless)

Same here, if any has a complete mind in this can you share with us.
Like $50-80, which is the best to get?

Go for gear s I have one I M satisfied it can be used as stand alone device and u can have extra no.

far56 said:
Go for gear s I have one I M satisfied it can be used as stand alone device and u can have extra no.
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I would love the Gear S but I do not have a Samsung phone thus makes it almost completely worthless. If the Gear S had a Android Wear rom, that would be an instant buy.

player911 said:
I would love the Gear S but I do not have a Samsung phone thus makes it almost completely worthless. If the Gear S had a Android Wear rom, that would be an instant buy.
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Click to collapse
Yes exactly then go for LG g watch r or moto 360 or any android wear watch.

I actually just picked up the LG G Watch for $50 (refurbished) from CowBoom shipped.
http://www.cowboom.com/product/1553348/
$5 off $50
"CowBoom5"
It is an Android Wear device, waterproof, and a SD 400 which is snappy. I really liked the magnetic charger but I wish I had an AMOLED display like the Samsung Gear Live for its battery sipping and deep blacks. The LG also lacks WiFi but... I think it is a good start watch for the price. It will let me play with the notifications and see if a watch is something worth investing more money into.
I paid through Amazon which apparently has a 30-day return policy. This will at least give me time to trial it. I figured the waterproof display will at least allow me to control my phone from the pool, if nothing else. So even if I do not wear this every day, it will still have some use around the house.
This seems to be the best buy for the money compared to the other Chinese watches. There seems to be a few roms and hacks for the LG G Watch and fairly good support.
WARNING:
If you buy from CowBoom, make sure you look at what is included. Mine included the charging dock but others just include the watch and band. The G Watch has a priorietary magnetic charging dock required to charge... without it you will not be able to charge. I thought it was weird they would sell the watch without the required charging dock but make sure you pick one that includes one.
They also have other watches on there. The Samsung Gear Live (AMOLED + WiFi) was $129. You can take $10 off $100 using CowBoom10 making it $119. But that that price range, I would almost OPT for the Motorola 360 ($150 new at NewEgg) or LG G Watch R ($179 used at Cowboom = $169 with discount).
This is why the $50 LG made sense. They all run Android Wear so will function the same. I always carry a phone and this is meant to compliment it for notifications.

player911 said:
I would love the Gear S but I do not have a Samsung phone thus makes it almost completely worthless. If the Gear S had a Android Wear rom, that would be an instant buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does look pretty nice. Don't have a Samsung phone and the price is too much for me tho.

Hello,
Which Chinese smartwatches offer full voice call? Not only dial, but whole conversation via mic and speaker of smartwatch.
I see Zeaplus Watch dm360 offer this function. But what about U Watch UO, S360, Zeaplus S2 or ZenGear/Zeaplus G3 or others new?

My personal experiences with smartwatches:
Bluetooth phone companion: Moto 360, my cost $150
Looks nice. Runs android wear, works with any andriod phone (I think 4.4 and higher). With 5.1.1 update can tether to phone via wifi. Receive notifications, answer calls, but lacks speaker, so need to continue conversation on the phone. Remotely control music play on phone. Remote control of phone camera. Voice control (OK Google) to send text hands-free, or start call and search web hands-free. Available apps growing. Battery life 1 day. Can change watch face easily, lots of choices in playstore. Cannot be used independent of phone.
I returned this. Too limited for my needs.
Hybrid bluetooth companion/standalone phone: Aplus GV18, my cost $25
large, square-ish face. light-weight silicon strap. proprietary software. Can pair with phone via bluetooth to receive push notifications. Connection has been stable for me up to 10m without obstruction (android, not iOS, phone). Has speaker and mic, so can answer and carry on full conversation on watch (sound quality on both ends is good). remotely control phone music (but plays from watch speaker) or load music onto SD card (user provided, format FAT32, upto 32GB) to play music independently. remote control phone camera or use built-in 2Mp camera for photo and video (low quality). Can also play loaded videos (AVI VXR MP3 format). Also accepts SIM card for voice calls and texts, to use as standalone phone. When used as standalone, can pair with bluetooth headset. Water resistant. No wifi, no GPS. Pedometer not that accurate. has calendar and alarm but OS is proprietary, so will not sync with Google. Will not sync contacts. Battaery easily lasts 2 days with light to moderate use. Limited watch face - choice of 3. I love it!. I have a pay-as-you-go SIM card in it. When I go for a jog, I leave my phone at home and forward calls and texts to the watch. (too much hassle to transfer the SIM card from phone to watch). I pair with bluetooth headset and listen to my downloaded songs. It is my go-to smartwatch.
Stand alone watch phone: ZGPAX S82, my cost $125
large, square-ish face, rubber strap. 2G/3G calls and data, wifi, bluetooth, GPS (worked intially, now doesn't work on mine anymore). Full android 4.4. Basically, a full android smartphone in a watch size. Small size can limit apps, as apps not created for screen this small, cannot see everything on the screen. Limited watch faces. Full android OS uses alot of power. if you tightly regulate antenna use (i.e. turn off wifi, data and bluetooth when not in use) and reduce screen brightness, battery can last 1 day (i.e. 8-10 hours). Has Google Playstore. Sign into your account, and download you apps and receive your notifications that way. Or can use SWapp Link app if want bluetooth pairing with your phone, but will use lots of battery. Good visibilty in sunlight. keyboard is tiny. can use OK Google for voice control. low res camera. Can expand memory with TF card to 32 GB for music,videos. pairs easily with bluetooth headset. I have watched YouTube on it. Some people have used this as their main phone. Since I have my cell phone with me most of the time, I primarily use my GV18. This device is a fun gadget for me that will be my back-up phone.
The right smartwatch for you is the one that best suits your needs. I would love the functionality and style of the moto 360, but with the ability to also function as a standalone phone. I think the Gear S has that ability, but too big and too expensive for me. New models coming out soon. If you need a smartwatch now, try out with cheap one and decide which functions you need, then invest in the right higher-quality model.

I started a small webshop selling smartwatches about a year ago, so I buy different design smartwatches from different manufacturers, pick the best, buy those in a small bulk (sometimes fixing software issues and sometimes add proper quality straps) and resell them on the European market with proper warranty.
My point:
Even I don't know which one (of the proper ones) to choose
I'm wearing the Omate TrueSmart for over a year now because it's the best stand-alone Android smartwatch with proper robust casing and sapphire glass, but I don't like the design when I compare it to my latest lines of companion smartwatches...

I'm in the same boat. I am stuck between the ZGPAX S8 and iMacwear M7. The S8 is more popular by far, but the M7 seems to be fairly equal, but more water resistant and really doesn't seem to have anyone complaining from what I've seen so far. I'd really like to have a daily smart phone watch.

So did anyone come up with a conclusion? i gave it a good read. Even i am planning to buy one too. not looking to spend much. $70-$80 is fine by me. Can anyone give me the best options to help me chose. please.

I like my LG G Watch. For $45 it is probably the best the money can buy. The chinese ones are ok but they just look and feel cheap. I have 1 and I cant even get it to fully pair with 2 phones I have. Speakerphone is nice but not at the cost of not being waterproof

player911 said:
I like my LG G Watch. For $45 it is probably the best the money can buy. The chinese ones are ok but they just look and feel cheap. I have 1 and I cant even get it to fully pair with 2 phones I have. Speakerphone is nice but not at the cost of not being waterproof
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Click to collapse
LG G Watch for $45. How come? i will buy from Amazon and its $96 there. :/.
And about the chinese smart watches not being water proof. yeah that sucks. Although they do advertise it as being waterproof. so isnt there any smart watch around my budget of a bit more good quality and water proof?

Please advise - Finow X5 vs. K9

Hello,
I am looking to buy a Smartwatch. I saw very good reviews of the Moto 360 1st gen (good price too) but I have small wrists so it would look huge on me. I recently stumbled upon Finow X5 and No. 1 D5 (and G4) but since they are not as popular I couldn't find as much information... Now I just found another one - K9 3G. That's why I am seeking your help. Which one should I go for? It saw that No. 1 tends to look weird on the hand, so for me now is mostly down to X5 vs K9. I don't know if the X1 / X3 models of Finow are worth over X5.
I am open to any smartwatch suggestions in the budget of £100-150, which means I also consider the Moto 360 2nd gen (42mm), but there are so many options in this market, I am just confused.
Also, I will plan to use the Smartwatch with no SIM inside (who uses a sim with that anyway? I need it in my phone), I live in the UK and I got an Android phone with 5.1. Will i be able to get full functionality out of the above models?
If you can drop your 2 cents here, I would greatly appreciate.

If you can afford it moto 360 2nd gen especially if it's for watch faces as they are much easier to install over the full Android watches. Android wear is a bit like Apple it just works well and more apps come out daily.
Sent from my JAZZ using Tapatalk

snake65 said:
If you can afford it moto 360 2nd gen especially if it's for watch faces as they are much easier to install over the full Android watches. Android wear is a bit like Apple it just works well and more apps come out daily.
Sent from my JAZZ using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. Sorry for being such a noob, Finow devices don't use android wear? So if they use stock android, there might be some advantages in that too I guess.
You would say Moto 2nd gen 42mm over Finow X5 for functionality? Cause regarding design, Moto has that little black strip unfortunately, a bit of turn off)

I had the Moto 360 1st gen and loved it but wanted something more powerful. Don't get me wrong from what I've seen here the finow is exceptional value for money , I have an i2 but stuck at bootloader and waiting on the arrival of the kw88, but you need to look around and read for yourself.
Sent from my JAZZ using Tapatalk

The 2nd gen Moto 360 has appalling battery life apparently, which is a thing to be wary of. I'd love for the Chinese manufacturers to up their game when it comes to companion watches, I understand the advantages of a standalone, but I think they've underestimated what a large market segment they could tap into by pressuring the mainstream brands (I also understand this is down to Google licensing of android wear, but what happened to AWC? Shows there are workarounds?).
That said, watches like the X5 etc. Show massive potential, the Ticwatch 2 looks very interesting as well.
PS. Just to add that Motorola's customer service and repair centres are woeful also if you're in the UK

letrix42 said:
Thanks for the reply. Sorry for being such a noob, Finow devices don't use android wear? So if they use stock android, there might be some advantages in that too I guess.
You would say Moto 2nd gen 42mm over Finow X5 for functionality? Cause regarding design, Moto has that little black strip unfortunately, a bit of turn off)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look here - https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/109827242607524552712
We have done a lot of work with these devices and when it comes to custom watch faces the X5, X3 (which is the same as K9) and X1 (same as D5) is a fantastic watch.
It is really a stand alone watch at the moment though. It takes a sim card and works exactly like a mobile phone.

pablo11 said:
Take a look here - https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/109827242607524552712
We have done a lot of work with these devices and when it comes to custom watch faces the X5, X3 (which is the same as K9) and X1 (same as D5) is a fantastic watch.
It is really a stand alone watch at the moment though. It takes a sim card and works exactly like a mobile phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, just awesome!! Finow X5 looks like a great great device. I see you know what you are talking about, so maybe you can help me out a little.
My main concern is that I won't be able to get the most out of my Finow if I don't use it with its own SIM - and really, who would ditch the phone over a smart watch? I can only think how much you lose: web browsing with ease on bigger screen, private phone calls (you keep it to your ear, not on speaker), writing messages a lot easier, photos/videos on decent screen etc.
Will I be able to do the following with the X5?
- get notifications from the phone on the watch (SMS, Emails, Whatsapp, Facebook)
- disable notifications / reply to messages received on phone with the X5
- accept calls from the watch (again, no SIM inside, call received on the phone)
Also, is the Moto360 (2nd gen, 42mm) more limited compared to the Finow X5 from other points of views? Will I be able to load any watchface on the Moto 360, as I see we are able to do with the X5? Will I be better off using a SIM in my phone and one in my X5? Does the X5 communicate with my smartphone whatsoever - do they share any notifications?

letrix42 said:
Wow, just awesome!! Finow X5 looks like a great great device. I see you know what you are talking about, so maybe you can help me out a little.
My main concern is that I won't be able to get the most out of my Finow if I don't use it with its own SIM - and really, who would ditch the phone over a smart watch? I can only think how much you lose: web browsing with ease on bigger screen, private phone calls (you keep it to your ear, not on speaker), writing messages a lot easier, photos/videos on decent screen etc.
Will I be able to do the following with the X5?
- get notifications from the phone on the watch (SMS, Emails, Whatsapp, Facebook)
- disable notifications / reply to messages received on phone with the X5
- accept calls from the watch (again, no SIM inside, call received on the phone)
Also, is the Moto360 (2nd gen, 42mm) more limited compared to the Finow X5 from other points of views? Will I be able to load any watchface on the Moto 360, as I see we are able to do with the X5? Will I be better off using a SIM in my phone and one in my X5? Does the X5 communicate with my smartphone whatsoever - do they share any notifications?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest - looking at your list of requirements - I would suggest Android Wear.
All you really want is a companion watch - these X5 etc etc are stand alone.
Not good for pairing with phones - although some people do manage to work through it with app like M2D and similar

pablo11 said:
To be honest - looking at your list of requirements - I would suggest Android Wear.
All you really want is a companion watch - these X5 etc etc are stand alone.
Not good for pairing with phones - although some people do manage to work through it with app like M2D and similar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I will definitely take the X5 over Android Wear if I could get paring to work too. The no flat tire display just looks better. Can you please tell me which are, in your opinion, the 1-2 major functionalities of X5 over Android Wear (Moto 360) and one major downside?
And hold on a minute, I got an idea. What if I put my SIM in the X5 and use this M2D app on the phone to get notification from the watch on the phone. Will that improve the communication between the devices? I mainly use my phone for browsing on a big screen (over WiFi, no SIM use), taking pictures (no SIM use) and making calls (SIM use). So how do you cope with phone calls on the speaker of the X5? Aren't you concerned about other people hearing the person you are speaking to / the quality of the X5 microphone?
Honestly, I incline more for the X5 at this point, but I still want to clarify the above points before making a decision. Thank you so much Pablo!

letrix42 said:
Well I will definitely take the X5 over Android Wear if I could get paring to work too. The no flat tire display just looks better. Can you please tell me which are, in your opinion, the 1-2 major functionalities of X5 over Android Wear (Moto 360) and one major downside?
And hold on a minute, I got an idea. What if I put my SIM in the X5 and use this M2D app on the phone to get notification from the watch on the phone. Will that improve the communication between the devices? I mainly use my phone for browsing on a big screen (over WiFi, no SIM use), taking pictures (no SIM use) and making calls (SIM use). So how do you cope with phone calls on the speaker of the X5? Aren't you concerned about other people hearing the person you are speaking to / the quality of the X5 microphone?
Honestly, I incline more for the X5 at this point, but I still want to clarify the above points before making a decision. Thank you so much Pablo!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as a companion, Wear is a much better choice. Of Wear, skip the 360 and get the original LG (square). You can find the LG for as little as $50 these days. And even though the LG might not look cool to you, it has the same CPU, RAM, storage and features the Asus, LG R and many others.
In a X5 vs Wear;
Readability of the font- Wear (the UI is designed for smartwatches)
Notification interaction- Wear (X5 requires third party apps for notification interactions)
Notification logs- X5
Wearable Apps- Wear (while limited in features, all apps for Wear are designed for smaller screens)
Voice Commands- Wear
Navigation- tie
Remote music and camera control- Wear
Phonecalls on watch from phone- neither work
Phonecalls on watch (no phone)- X5 *requires a SIM in the watch* (but about 2 hours is the best you will get)
Custom watchfaces- Wear has something like 100,000, X5 couple hundred
Watchface features- Wear, by a long shot if you use WatchMaker
Battery life- As a companion using BT, same
The best way to look at this is Wear is designed to be a companion out of the box. The X5 (D5, K9, etc) are tiny little phones for your wrist with tiny little batteries, and not really designed to be a full companion device.

Lokifish Marz said:
As far as a companion, Wear is a much better choice. Of Wear, skip the 360 and get the original LG (square). You can find the LG for as little as $50 these days. And even though the LG might not look cool to you, it has the same CPU, RAM, storage and features the Asus, LG R and many others.
In a X5 vs Wear;
Readability of the font- Wear (the UI is designed for smartwatches)
Notification interaction- Wear (X5 requires third party apps for notification interactions)
Notification logs- X5
Wearable Apps- Wear (while limited in features, all apps for Wear are designed for smaller screens)
Voice Commands- Wear
Navigation- tie
Remote music and camera control- Wear
Phonecalls on watch from phone- neither work
Phonecalls on watch (no phone)- X5 *requires a SIM in the watch* (but about 2 hours is the best you will get)
Custom watchfaces- Wear has something like 100,000, X5 couple hundred
Watchface features- Wear, by a long shot if you use WatchMaker
Battery life- As a companion using BT, same
The best way to look at this is Wear is designed to be a companion out of the box. The X5 (D5, K9, etc) are tiny little phones for your wrist with tiny little batteries, and not really designed to be a full companion device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, I just bought a second hand LG Urbane W150 in good condition for $130. I hope I made the right choice, looking for your opinion. I didn't go for the square LG cause I don't like the design... and the Moto 360 has that flat tire on the bottom that I don't like.

First smart watch. Huawei Smart Watch 2 Classic?

Looking to get my first smart watch. Around £250.
I would like it to do the following without a having a phone on me:
Pay with tapping.
Track runs via Strava.
Play music (possibly Spotify?).
I would like the following when I have the phone on me:
Email alerts
SMS
Whatapp
Facebook Messenger
Answer / Make calls (would this count as legal hands-free? ).
The Huawei Smart Watch 2 Classic looks to do all this for about £230 (unless someone else can find it cheaper?).
Any other alternatives that can do the above?

Ticwatch Pro is my favorite. I don't own one yet so I can't really back that up, other than on paper and community reviews.

I had the Huawei 2 classic for about a week. The battery didn't get me through the day, and at least for me, the 1.2 inch screen was just too small. It's a really good looking watch though. Had the screen been bigger and the battery lasted a day, I would have kept it no questions asked. Hopefully the 3 whatever fixes those two things. Also, at this point, you *should* be able to find a 2 classic cheaper. Keep looking around. Or wait until Amazon's black Friday week.
OR, do what I did and buy a Fossil Q Explorist HR. I LOVE this watch. It looks great, the battery last more than a day, the screen is 1.4 inches, and super fast charging. Brand new, just came out they go for $250-270 depending on the color and band type. I got the gunmetal with the metal band just because I love that color. I don't even use that band.
OR, wait a couple more months for some smartwatches to come out with the new chip.

WillyShatsWig said:
Looking to get my first smart watch. Around £250.
I would like it to do the following without a having a phone on me:
Pay with tapping.
Track runs via Strava.
Play music (possibly Spotify?).
I would like the following when I have the phone on me:
Email alerts
SMS
Whatapp
Facebook Messenger
Answer / Make calls (would this count as legal hands-free? ).
The Huawei Smart Watch 2 Classic looks to do all this for about £230 (unless someone else can find it cheaper?).
Any other alternatives that can do the above?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, hopefully I am qualified to provide you with a reasonable answer.
I have had Smartwatches since the beginning I think.
My Huawei watch 1 has finally given up after 3 years, a great service, may it rest in pieces (literally) and my backup Sony SW3 just never feels 'right'.
in my search for a replacement, I have since bought/returned or tried the Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm), Ticwatch Pro (Amazon deal 180£), A fossil gen 3.
The Samsung is faster than a speeding bullet, well made, awesome bezel thingy, and a great screen. But there's bugger all app support, notifications don't work to my liking (eg it notifies of Twitter feed but not the actual message), slow to charge and battery simply not as great as stated and Samsung Pay, doesn't include Halifax (my bank (well not my bank as in I own it, but rather they have all my money)), expensive additional chargers and expensive watch in the first place.
The Ticwatch Pro - uses same tech as all current items and the LED screen cant be seen in low light or dark, and it was the laggiest of all watches owned/tried and isn't particularly cheap.
I didn't want to buy another HW1 so I purchased an Amazon WH special HW2, just to give it a whirl.. £130
Glad I did. Agreed the screen is too small and was a backward step compared to HW1 but this helps with battery life. It doesn't look like anything special (like a mid range Casio). But it is comfortable, all apps work as they're supposed to, cheap to buy, low-cost spurious chargers (£4!), and once you disable a couple of bloatware apps the battery is incredible and Android Pay works (never had this before).
If you can't wait for watches with 3100 chip (and they're unlikely to perform much better, but hopefully have improved staying power, then I recommend the HW2 .... especially an Amazon special.
I'm currently experimenting with different settings to understand battery implications but with 'Always on' set to off, I can get 3 days if careful), currently trying always on, with simple screen and looks like a comfortable 2 days ... which I could never get with my HW1. Additionally I just discovered it has a watch only facility (bit like the Ticwatch) giving you a month's use as a dumb smart watch.

Thanks for the above... I took the plunge and bought the HW2, A-grade second for £170. It turned up still sealed, with all the protectors on it. Great!
However, it looks like I'll be sending it back unused, as Huawei have leaked that they will be release the GT (baiscally HW3) THIS MONTH and it looks gorgeous.
Available in Classic, Sport and Fashion versions. It will have the new Snapdragon 3100 chipset, a bigger screen, be completely water-proof and a much longer battery life. Whether it will be running Wear OS remains to be seen:
https://www.techradar.com/news/first-huawei-watch-gt-photo-leaks-showing-the-new-design

BobDunn said:
OK, hopefully I am qualified to provide you with a reasonable answer.
I have had Smartwatches since the beginning I think.
My Huawei watch 1 has finally given up after 3 years, a great service, may it rest in pieces (literally) and my backup Sony SW3 just never feels 'right'.
in my search for a replacement, I have since bought/returned or tried the Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm), Ticwatch Pro (Amazon deal 180£), A fossil gen 3.
The Samsung is faster than a speeding bullet, well made, awesome bezel thingy, and a great screen. But there's bugger all app support, notifications don't work to my liking (eg it notifies of Twitter feed but not the actual message), slow to charge and battery simply not as great as stated and Samsung Pay, doesn't include Halifax (my bank (well not my bank as in I own it, but rather they have all my money)), expensive additional chargers and expensive watch in the first place.
The Ticwatch Pro - uses same tech as all current items and the LED screen cant be seen in low light or dark, and it was the laggiest of all watches owned/tried and isn't particularly cheap.
I didn't want to buy another HW1 so I purchased an Amazon WH special HW2, just to give it a whirl.. £130
Glad I did. Agreed the screen is too small and was a backward step compared to HW1 but this helps with battery life. It doesn't look like anything special (like a mid range Casio). But it is comfortable, all apps work as they're supposed to, cheap to buy, low-cost spurious chargers (£4!), and once you disable a couple of bloatware apps the battery is incredible and Android Pay works (never had this before).
If you can't wait for watches with 3100 chip (and they're unlikely to perform much better, but hopefully have improved staying power, then I recommend the HW2 .... especially an Amazon special.
I'm currently experimenting with different settings to understand battery implications but with 'Always on' set to off, I can get 3 days if careful), currently trying always on, with simple screen and looks like a comfortable 2 days ... which I could never get with my HW1. Additionally I just discovered it has a watch only facility (bit like the Ticwatch) giving you a month's use as a dumb smart watch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good for your detailed review. I have gone ahead with HW2 and currently getting almost 20 hours battery life including 1 hour of training with BT headset playing so that itself uses almost 30% with GPS on for tracking activities. Would like to know which 2 apps you froze to give you better battery life. On other items my watch is always on power saving mode and connected to BT all the time with Wifi off and GPS off (on when only needed). At night, its on airplane mode.
ChrisMarin said:
Thanks for the above... I took the plunge and bought the HW2, A-grade second for £170. It turned up still sealed, with all the protectors on it. Great!
However, it looks like I'll be sending it back unused, as Huawei have leaked that they will be release the GT (baiscally HW3) THIS MONTH and it looks gorgeous.
Available in Classic, Sport and Fashion versions. It will have the new Snapdragon 3100 chipset, a bigger screen, be completely water-proof and a much longer battery life. Whether it will be running Wear OS remains to be seen:
https://www.techradar.com/news/first-huawei-watch-gt-photo-leaks-showing-the-new-design
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you get that watch? i have seen this watch and tho it looks awesome it based on Huawei OS and not on Wear OS. Second thing which killed it for me was the lack of internal storage. It only has 128 mb ROM. Not sure what you can do with it.

Dual Processor-Dual OS with Kospet Optimus Smartwatch, Gimmick or Useful Feature?

The new Kospet smartwatch, Kospet Optimus Smartwatch, it has dual operating system and dual processor, it look like a good feature, but it could be just a gimmick and just little impact on the overall performance of the smartwatch.
See specs here:https://www.smartwatchspecifications.com/Device/kospet-optimus-smartwatch-specs-review/

senseijuan said:
The new Kospet smartwatch, Kospet Optimus Smartwatch, it has dual operating system and dual processor, it look like a good feature, but it could be just a gimmick and just little impact on the overall performance of the smartwatch.
See specs here:https://www.smartwatchspecifications.com/Device/kospet-optimus-smartwatch-specs-review/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when they find the way i will buy it,no reason to buy,is the same Android 7.1 as the others nothing more.For Android act as a phone same problems or issues,not Bluetooth phone call,same display 1.39" , bigger is better as the Lemfo LemX, the resolution i can said better a little,yeah waterproof at least we can swim for 30 minutes,,we dont about the speaker if is louder or decent even the where are place it, Amoled no good for outside. So for the other MCU(SoC) the nordic,can do a lot of more, they call it Lite OS and as you can see and search this SoC in cheaper regular Bluetooth Smartwatch can do; Health,outdoor activities,Bluetooth notfication and call answer and rejection and fitness with better implementation of the GPS..
So will see

The second processor will dig in if you go to the limited mode where you basically don't have a smartwatch, but a watch. Is this what you look for when buying a smartwatch? I would say no. This is a really poor made device imo. With its gigantic battery for a smartwatch it will stay in stand by mode for 5-7 days. Please note that this is only stand by. If you actually use it, it will last 2-3 days(for example take a look at banggood where they list this). Ofc they say this is with 4g, but it is unknown what the "persistent" mode is.

xchatter said:
The second processor will dig in if you go to the limited mode where you basically don't have a smartwatch, but a watch. Is this what you look for when buying a smartwatch? I would say no. This is a really poor made device imo. With its gigantic battery for a smartwatch it will stay in stand by mode for 5-7 days. Please note that this is only stand by. If you actually use it, it will last 2-3 days(for example take a look at banggood where they list this). Ofc they say this is with 4g, but it is unknown what the "persistent" mode is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its really a dump idea because its not implemented,for what reason i need a bracelet mode if i am using the watch as a phone and i wont get get nothing,the only way to work is with a second small display in the band.

I had one of the first Kospet devices and I liked it but it lacked the Lite OS and the always on display. I purchased the Optimus Pro and it arrives this week. The 3GB/32GB version.

limestar said:
I had one of the first Kospet devices and I liked it but it lacked the Lite OS and the always on display. I purchased the Optimus Pro and it arrives this week. The 3GB/32GB version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just returned my Kospet Optumus Pro - nothing but problems
Pay attention to these details:
Fresh out of the box - you must setup the watch for language and body height/weight/gender - then when the QR code pops up - follow the exact procedure on video below to install the SPECIAL VERSION of WiiWatch 2 app on your Android phone
https://youtu.be/WquMzVsXBmk
Avoid the WiiWatch 2 app on Google Play Store here
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.weitetech.WiiWatchPro&hl=en_US
This is crucial procedure for all owners of the Kospet Optimus Pro - as this special WiiWatch 2 app version is required to install all the latest firmware for each processor in the Kospet Optimus Pro
On my Kospet Optimus Pro, problems began right after I installed Google Chrome Browser - (to gain access to all my Google account password credentials for all the URL web sites I participate on ( lots of forums)) - the Heart Monitor stopped working, and the raise watch to enable the watch display stopped working too. Next I entered the new Low Power mode , and thats when I discovered the Watch internal silent alarm buzzer would start, and never stop and just remained buzzing the whole time - sadly I made this discovery after the watch had been sitting on a desk buzzing for 15 minutes straight!
Only recourse is turn off the watch - but that did not function until after I placed the watch in the USB charging cradle , then it responded to the upper right side power button ( long 30 second press) - after a full 2 hour charge , I removed all apps, and verified I had the latest firmware version
Kospet Optimus Pro firmware reports
Build Number = Kospet_Optimus_Pro_V1.5_20190523
KERNEL VERSION = 4.4.22
Thu May 23 16:56 10CST 2019
Baseband Version MOLYLR12A R2.MP.V5.23.P10
SERIAL NUMBER - 0123456789ABCDEF ( WTF?)
Frankly it smells like I may have a counterfeit Optimus Pro - other owners might want to review their "About Watch properties and inspect their serial number , as surely a S/N of "1234567890ABCDEF" is not valid!
https://youtu.be/0Ne11J7U-0w
Here are the results - no third party apps installed and no Sim Card installed
= non stop buzzing in low power mode at all times - and no remedy from Kospet Support -they point me to the useless "FullAndroidWatch.com forum
https://discourse.fullandroidwatch.com/t/kospet-optimus-pro-constant-buzz-in-low-power-mode/47540
And tell me "Update firmware and reset" - did that several times - no fix
Had to return watch to Ebay seller

limestar said:
I had one of the first Kospet devices and I liked it but it lacked the Lite OS and the always on display. I purchased the Optimus Pro and it arrives this week. The 3GB/32GB version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Greetings, mate can you tell me your experiences with this watch please, how are you satisfied with it? How long last the battery? Are there any good apps for that circle resolution? Thx.

mrobo said:
Greetings, mate can you tell me your experiences with this watch please, how are you satisfied with it? How long last the battery? Are there any good apps for that circle resolution? Thx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the most of the apps will work as there is an option to make the screen square. there is also an other option to optimize 3th party apps.
as for the battery life it's not bad at all. I use mine with sim card installed and I did not run out of the juice at the end of the day yet. so surely 1, maybe up to 2 days of "normal" use
in the "long standby" probably a week or two on one charge. I switch between the two modes depending on if I want to take my phone with me or not.
much on this watch remains to be fixed (gps integration with the stock fitness app, a working tethering app etc), but for what I use it ( 2nd phone and audio media consumption) I'd say it's pretty cool.
best regards

Kospet watches are nice to wear BUT they are not compatible with the VERIZON network. Sprint only offers a Dara plan, no voice or text. No matter who you have the phone can not make bluetooth calls.
It turns out to be little more than a wrist watch that doesn't offer near what you think.