Hello,
Does anyone know if the Sony Smartwatch works well with the Samsung Galaxy S III ? Has anybody tested it ?
Thanks.
I'll install this afternoon the smartwatch app's on the S3 this afternoon and let you know.
Thanks Do you own both the Sony Smartwatch and Samsung Galaxy S III ?
Hi, I can confirm the Sony Smartwatch works fine with the S3. Yes I have both. It didn't surprise me since the Watch worked without any issues on the Galaxy Note too.
Thanks a lot. I'll probably buy the watch very soon. Can you confirm it is a good product ?
Wouldn't the s3 battery drain pretty fast with it being connected to a watch by Bluetooth all day?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA
Wond3r said:
Wouldn't the s3 battery drain pretty fast with it being connected to a watch by Bluetooth all day?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
assume its offset by not turning the screen on as much
If its an good product? I have to say yes, although it comes with some compromises. Small screen, poor visibility in full sun light. However the ease of fetching those important information snippets, like new mail headers, messages, controlling music player etc... make it for me an really usable tool. Often enough I just can't full the phone itself from my pocket.
Regarding battery usage of phone and watch for that matter. It all comes down to how frequent you have those mini apps replicate. Those which must be noticed immediately, phone calls, email, messages are pushed instantly. Other apps I replicate every few hours. I would say the phone gets 10% extra load, the watch runs easily one week on a full battery.
I made a small change to the watch. I took away the clipp and super glued the rubber band directly to the watch. This makes the whole unit a little less high. Sony rolled out new firmware yesterday. The screen is a little brighter and the icons a bit bigger.
Coming from an Xperia S
Hi there,
For the music player app on the smart watch, a small thing but the name of the song and artwork is not transmitted to the watch, although the controls work. I have tried Rocket Player and PowerAmp, but they are not recognized in the Music Player Liveware setting page, it's only Automatic.
My friend complained that battery life for the smart watch is worse after the new update though; I haven't confirmed it yet
Have you tried with the last firmware update of the smartwatch ? Do you still have this issue ?
Yesterday there was another SmartWatch firmware update. The previous one did indeed show an higher battery usage. Not that strange, the screen is a lot brighter, icons bigger and much more responsive system. The update from yesterday seems to polish everything a bit more. Battery life can't tell much yet.
Do you still have the issue with the song name and the album cover ?
Steve301187 said:
Do you still have the issue with the song name and the album cover ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The music player widget does not work. Other than that I can confirm everything works like a charm. Just as good as it would on a Sony Xperia phone. Just got mine today.
Can PowerAmp be controlled through it?
Steve301187 said:
Have you tried with the last firmware update of the smartwatch ? Do you still have this issue ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello there, im using smartwatch for 2 months and everything is ok. I have updated using latest firmware.
Just install liveviewcharm from google play to stop your drop connection from BT
I get very small fonts in messages, events,phonebook.. not readable at all..I am using the latest firmware but still no use..I wasted my money on this
Small fonts hell
I was using smart watch in a very good way. But after recent update its useless. Sony should fix this.
kuberchib said:
I get very small fonts in messages, events,phonebook.. not readable at all..I am using the latest firmware but still no use..I wasted my money on this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm interested in buying the Smartwatch because I want to be able to read SMS without pulling the phone out of my pocket at an inconvenient place (Samsung Galaxy Note II.
I wanted to ask what music players work with Smartwatch as I'm not a big fan of the stock android music player as it adds anything it can find in its playlist and I don't have the option to designate a dedicated folder for Music files. Although someone told me that I could create playlists, it's too cumbersome especially when you add several new songs every now and then.
I cannot connect my smartwatch with my s3. can anybody help me?
Related
I am planning to get one of these babies. Can any one enlighten me if there are any glaring faults with the phone?? I have read up on calibration fix but that about it.
Any particular build i should opt for , i notice ST15 /ST15i have been used around.
Cheers!
See under the battery. It should be 11W41(i.e. 2011 Week 41) or later.
Sent from my ST15i using XDA App
Hi!
It is very unlikely that i'll get to open the box up and inspect it. Is there any way by looking at the box on the outside?
Cheers!
Hi, my battery says 11W28, what is the significance of 11W41 over 11W28?
Thanks
Mark
It's a code showing when the phone was manufactured - "41" is "newer" than "28". (basically - week numbers in 2011)
For the most part, it makes no real difference - unless there's been a significant hardware revision. In this case, Sony Ericsson recently claimed to have made a hardware change that reduces or removes a known problem with audio interference when using the video camera. That makes "41" and onward phones more desirable and less likely to have that problem.
pengipete said:
... In this case, Sony Ericsson recently claimed to have made a hardware change that reduces or removes a known problem with audio interference when using the video camera. ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems you/people are confusing the problems of the Mini Pro SK17i with the Mini ST15i, which the OP is asking about.
Although superficially similar, the Mini is a different device to the Mini Pro and doesn't have those audio interference problems, weak reception or poor GPS.
To the contrary, the Mini has first class reception in real life (a German magazine said the ST15i has the best 3G reception of any devices they measured so far), a good audio quality and smooth operation.
It has some thermal problems, but the latest Android 2.3.4 takes care of that, some need a recalibration of the touchscreen. Otherwise it is trouble-free and smooth to use, offers a precise touchscreen and a bright display. One has to root it to get rid of the crapware and free up some memory.
All in all, and compared also to my Defy, my Mini (made 11W29) is fast and capable, offers a very good value for the money. It is a more telephony oriented device, for emphasis on surfing a larger, higher resolution screen is a better choice, of course.
Thanks for the input guys. I get a feeling this has been discussed to death ,but i have yet to read up a deal of user experiences. How does the battery fare? Does one need to root it to improve the performance? Is there a possibility of swapping the existing battery for a newer higher powered one ?
Cheerss!
saintsimon said:
It seems you/people are confusing the problems of the Mini Pro SK17i with the Mini ST15i, which the OP is asking about.
Although superficially similar, the Mini is a different device to the Mini Pro and doesn't have those audio interference problems, weak reception or poor GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right - my bad.
It's a bit confusing at times - having a bunch of different phones all lumped together in the same forum sections just because they carry the Xperia name.
rickom said:
Thanks for the input guys. I get a feeling this has been discussed to death ,but i have yet to read up a deal of user experiences. How does the battery fare? Does one need to root it to improve the performance? Is there a possibility of swapping the existing battery for a newer higher powered one ?
Cheerss!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root is recommended to get rid of the crapware memory occupants (in RAM and ROM), and also to use some practical apps which require root. But performance & user experience are already smooth and fast (in contrast to my Defy), with no annoying lags, I see no need for overclocking at all or even for a modded firmware. This thing is already as capable as bigger phones, with 1GHz and a small screen it is well equipped (flash support included). Overclocking would be a bad idea IMHO, because the heat may already be at its limits sometimes in this compact device.
The battery lasts longer than in my Defy. If you can find a better battery, I don't know. Also, as all 2011 Xperia devices, it will get ICS next year.
Among the other androids in the small smartphone class, the ST15i looks like the most capable. I originally wanted the SK17i, but after following the user's experinces for some months now I decided to get the less troublesome and cheaper device.
Thread ressurection! My device came in. It is a W30 , not sure if this is prone to any issues?
More importantly, I noticed that most unboxings had replaceable battery covers included in the box; but mine are "missing". If I have a look at the sony website It adds up.
What’s in the box?
Battery EP500 & USB cable
EC450Screen protector ET921
Memory card 2GB
Stereo Headset MH650
I would still like to confirm that some one has not pulled a fast one on me.
Ps: The phone was purchased from carphonewarehouse and not a doggy ebay buyer.
Cheers!
rickom said:
Thread ressurection! My device came in. It is a W30 , not sure if this is prone to any issues?
More importantly, I noticed that most unboxings had replaceable battery covers included in the box; but mine are "missing". If I have a look at the sony website It adds up.
What’s in the box?
Battery EP500 & USB cable
EC450Screen protector ET921
Memory card 2GB
Stereo Headset MH650
I would still like to confirm that some one has not pulled a fast one on me.
Ps: The phone was purchased from carphonewarehouse and not a doggy ebay buyer.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry, the number of included back covers or the type of the headsets does vary by country, operator or dealer. There are several kinds of packages, even a "Ladyphone" version, which includes a bracelet. My package contained the MH410 headset with a straigt instead of an angled plug, and no screen protector.
Now, how do you like the little thing?
Cheers mate! That takes a load off my mind
I am in complete awe of the display. I have not had the chance to take it for a proper spin, so definitely more to follow. Just upgraded to latest android on the device.
Being my first smart phone , i am still finding my feet... I end up launching applications when i am changing panes ; touch the wrong number/alphabet on the keypad etc. The device is incredibly responsive...Oh and i botched up applying the screen protector.... I had to bin it in the end....so looks like i'll need to run out and get a new one
The battery does seem to be draining rapidly, but as I understand, it will improve over a couple of cycles... I have put all internet traffic to off at the moment... My data plan has not kicked in yet.
Can you please suggest , without rooting, what can be done to improve performance of the battery?
I have done the following so far
1) Turned Internet traffic off
2) Brightness down to 70%
3) Animations - Some only.
Cheers!
rickom said:
Cheers mate! That takes a load off my mind
I am in complete awe of the display. I have not had the chance to take it for a proper spin, so definitely more to follow. Just upgraded to latest android on the device.
Being my first smart phone , i am still finding my feet... I end up launching applications when i am changing panes ; touch the wrong number/alphabet on the keypad etc. The device is incredibly responsive...Oh and i botched up applying the screen protector.... I had to bin it in the end....so looks like i'll need to run out and get a new one
The battery does seem to be draining rapidly, but as I understand, it will improve over a couple of cycles... I have put all internet traffic to off at the moment... My data plan has not kicked in yet.
Can you please suggest , without rooting, what can be done to improve performance of the battery?
I have done the following so far
1) Turned Internet traffic off
2) Brightness down to 70%
3) Animations - Some only.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ya happend to me also bout few cycles the battery got battery
put data pff
switch to 2G network GSM Only
turn of GPS
turn off background data traffic
I wanted to know if there are any other accessories which i should probably invest in ? Being my first smart phone, I am not sure on the build quality and how it is going to perform on drop-testing. Personally I'd rather avoid roll-cages for phones , as they add to the size.
It's me again. So i have tested the phone for short time, but the screen feels a bit of too small, even if it says it's same size as x8 i got impression that it is even smaller then x8. I curious how does it feel to surf web on it and to write messages, does it work fine on that size? The screen felt very responsive but still i didn't take it yet cause of the size. Also is it possible to play games on it like fruit ninja, or with emulator for snes/gba because i would like to complete some old games again . Thanks in advance
ProxyZer0 said:
It's me again. So i have tested the phone for short time, but the screen feels a bit of too small, even if it says it's same size as x8 i got impression that it is even smaller then x8. I curious how does it feel to surf web on it and to write messages, does it work fine on that size? The screen felt very responsive but still i didn't take it yet cause of the size. Also is it possible to play games on it like fruit ninja, or with emulator for snes/gba because i would like to complete some old games again . Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well how im playing all those games I played on X8 with double speed on my walkman even you got right,screen seems much smaller on X8.
Sent from my WT19i using Tapatalk
great phone
I got one of the (made 11W29 also) had no problems. i had some small issues with text input at first, it would double the letter eg it would put II aa tthe at the start of every post. This was fixed with a ota update. i would say this phone has the best GPS on a phone i have ever used. its a little power house. amazing really.
Most people underrate this phone because of its size and maybe think its the old x10 hardware. it does use the battery up at a fair rate of nots though. And im not keen on the usb cover. it also plays flash with ease. i put spb shell from the market on mine.
XperianPro said:
Well how im playing all those games I played on X8 with double speed on my walkman even you got right,screen seems much smaller on X8.
Sent from my WT19i using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The screen size was the same with x8 but Xperia mini frame was slimer than x8. Btw x8 speaker quality is better than Xperia mini.
Sent from my ST17i
Thx for reply. It looks like it's a very good phone, i will most likely get it. Speaker isn't such a big problem, i read that the sound with headphones is good which is a more important thing because i use my phone as a mp3 player a lot. I was mostly worried about the text input and overheating problem. Also, should i put a custom rom on it or keep the original?
You should start using stock rom first. With some customization, it will be great. Now I I'm using stock rom and customized it.
For consideration if you use custom rom you will lose :
1. Time Scape
2. Gesture input
3. Track ID
4. DLNA (maybe)
Sent from my ST17i
Not sure if this is correct forum but here it is, feel free to move it mods if not. Although its a Sony, I'm planning on using it with my Samsung S3 as its Android.
Has anyone got one? I've got one, which has arrived, but I don't get until my birthday soon.
So I've read reviews, it seems to have got better now with a few firmware updates - has it?
Is it just a gadget that you oooh and ahhh over,and then never use?
Any good apps/widgets for it?
Hows battery life in real use? How does your smartphone compare battery life wise, as will have to keep Bluetooth on all the time, I always switch mine off.
How is it on a non Sony smartphone, for music etc, thats what I think I'll mostly use it for, e.g. wired headphones on, phone in pocket, control from smart watch. Would this control Google Play Music app for streaming?
Anything I should do/get/add.
Any other tips from current users, or people who have used in past and maybe got rid of and why.
cheers
I've got a gear 2 and am leaning towards the gear s because of the bigger screen and such..I dont need the stand alone phone function and just want it to use a bluetooth connection like my gear 2. Will everything still work like my gear 2?
kevinthemilkdud said:
I've got a gear 2 and am leaning towards the gear s because of the bigger screen and such..I dont need the stand alone phone function and just want it to use a bluetooth connection like my gear 2. Will everything still work like my gear 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it works the same with bluetooth.
kevinthemilkdud said:
I've got a gear 2 and am leaning towards the gear s because of the bigger screen and such..I dont need the stand alone phone function and just want it to use a bluetooth connection like my gear 2. Will everything still work like my gear 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Big better same apps no camera no IR blaster we have internet we have wifi
I have the OG Gear running Tizen that I bought as a $99 refurb and use it mostly just for notifications...once in a while I will answer a call on it. I have been looking to upgrade to a newer smartwatch. I was all set on the Gear S but decided to take a serious look at the Moto 360 and the LG G Watch R....to be honest I am on the fence with all 3....each one has it's pluses & minuses.......I have a Note 2 running Android 4.3 but plan on upgrading to the Note 4 within the next month or 2 so the Gear S would keep me in the Samsung Ecosystem....and Tizen has been great with battery life (4+ days with average use)...however the Android Wear watches seem to have more & better apps. It seems developers just aren't developing for Tizen.....
I know I am preaching to the quire on this one but based on my usage what would YOU get? I am assuming most will chose the Gear S considering the forum I am in....but I am asking anyway....
Thanks
mikespe said:
I have the OG Gear running Tizen that I bought as a $99 refurb and use it mostly just for notifications...once in a while I will answer a call on it. I have been looking to upgrade to a newer smartwatch. I was all set on the Gear S but decided to take a serious look at the Moto 360 and the LG G Watch R....to be honest I am on the fence with all 3....each one has it's pluses & minuses.......I have a Note 2 running Android 4.3 but plan on upgrading to the Note 4 within the next month or 2 so the Gear S would keep me in the Samsung Ecosystem....and Tizen has been great with battery life (4+ days with average use)...however the Android Wear watches seem to have more & better apps. It seems developers just aren't developing for Tizen.....
I know I am preaching to the quire on this one but based on my usage what would YOU get? I am assuming most will chose the Gear S considering the forum I am in....but I am asking anyway....
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Neo, I had the Moto for 2 days.Battery life was unacceptable(could not get through a day). Out of curiosity what Apps do you see for the Wear that are so good? From what I could tell there was little to nothing and honestly using the UI to run any app other than notifications was cumbersome.
My Neo lasts for 4+days of use, gear s seems to be about half of that right now. Not great but liveable. Hopefully it improves with time and updates.
FYI I am a dev and am in the process of setting up my samsung dev account and if I keep the watch I will be writing some apps for it.
gottahavit said:
I have a Neo, I had the Moto for 2 days.Battery life was unacceptable(could not get through a day). Out of curiosity what Apps do you see for the Wear that are so good? From what I could tell there was little to nothing and honestly using the UI to run any app other than notifications was cumbersome.
My Neo lasts for 4+days of use, gear s seems to be about half of that right now. Not great but liveable. Hopefully it improves with time and updates.
FYI I am a dev and am in the process of setting up my samsung dev account and if I keep the watch I will be writing some apps for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you develop a video folder on the Gear S that is not hidden inside (You can see the video folder when you connect to a computer. ) can we have another browser dolphin mini or something. A calculator app that actually fit our Gear S would be terrific. How about music pandora/spotify something like that.
gottahavit said:
I have a Neo, I had the Moto for 2 days.Battery life was unacceptable(could not get through a day). Out of curiosity what Apps do you see for the Wear that are so good? From what I could tell there was little to nothing and honestly using the UI to run any app other than notifications was cumbersome.
My Neo lasts for 4+days of use, gear s seems to be about half of that right now. Not great but liveable. Hopefully it improves with time and updates.
FYI I am a dev and am in the process of setting up my samsung dev account and if I keep the watch I will be writing some apps for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't seen any apps on the Wear that were no good. What I meant was there seems to be MORE apps for Wear than Tizen....and I don't intend on needed stand alone apps on the watch...but mainly apps that work in unison with my phone. Thants why I am wondering if I need the Gear S?
mikespe said:
I haven't seen any apps on the Wear that were no good. What I meant was there seems to be MORE apps for Wear than Tizen....and I don't intend on needed stand alone apps on the watch...but mainly apps that work in unison with my phone. Thants why I am wondering if I need the Gear S?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like Wear or Gear 2 will be good. Can't go wrong with either.
Sent from my SM-N910P
Uniquebarbee said:
Can you develop a video folder on the Gear S that is not hidden inside (You can see the video folder when you connect to a computer. ) can we have another browser dolphin mini or something. A calculator app that actually fit our Gear S would be terrific. How about music pandora/spotify something like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm working on and app right now that I will hopefully release as soon as I get my developer accounts set up.(Don't want to spill the beans yet,I will post here when available).
I was reading the video thread, I have not tried yet, but some form of video app should be possible and I might be interested in looking at that next.
Calculator is really not my style, but if I get a bored moment... maybe
Pandora/Spotify or any other proprietary streaming is just not gonna happen(At least not from me).1) it's nearly impossible without help from the companies 2) it's illegal without licensing
Tahde said:
Looks like Wear or Gear 2 will be good. Can't go wrong with either.
Sent from my SM-N910P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I won't go Gear 2....if I am going to stick with Tizen I might as well get the Gear S....but I am really liking the LG G Watch R and the Moto 360....except for the poor battery life I have been reading...
mikespe said:
I won't go Gear 2....if I am going to stick with Tizen I might as well get the Gear S....but I am really liking the LG G Watch R and the Moto 360....except for the poor battery life I have been reading...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true. I've heard the battery life on the Moto is terrible. But a great device. I forgot all about the LG.
Sent from my SM-N910P
Tahde said:
This is true. I've heard the battery life on the Moto is terrible. But a great device. I forgot all about the LG.
Sent from my SM-N910P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all depends what you want on your watch. personally beyond battery the other killer for me with the Wear was no sound.
Tahde said:
This is true. I've heard the battery life on the Moto is terrible. But a great device. I forgot all about the LG.
Sent from my SM-N910P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The moto 360 charger cradle looks cool that is all
LG needs to stick to making other things like Bluetooth headphones TV and such
gottahavit said:
I'm working on and app right now that I will hopefully release as soon as I get my developer accounts set up.(Don't want to spill the beans yet,I will post here when available).
I was reading the video thread, I have not tried yet, but some form of video app should be possible and I might be interested in looking at that next.
Calculator is really not my style, but if I get a bored moment... maybe
Pandora/Spotify or any other proprietary streaming is just not gonna happen(At least not from me).1) it's nearly impossible without help from the companies 2) it's illegal without licensing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would be killer to have a shoutcast capable app.
I've had the moto 360 since launch and now have the gear s and the only thing I miss about the 360 is the facer app that I used to make watch faces with.
I don't miss the crappy battery life, the below par screen, the lag as the processor is piss poor and finally whilst the dock is cool looking its not very handy like the gear s battery dock.
kevinthemilkdud said:
I've got a gear 2 and am leaning towards the gear s because of the bigger screen and such..I dont need the stand alone phone function and just want it to use a bluetooth connection like my gear 2. Will everything still work like my gear 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't have camera, but I think everything is better. The screen and the looks are killer...
i too eould like to see those apps for the gear s.
Uniquebarbee said:
Can you develop a video folder on the Gear S that is not hidden inside (You can see the video folder when you connect to a computer. ) can we have another browser dolphin mini or something. A calculator app that actually fit our Gear S would be terrific. How about music pandora/spotify something like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes i too would like to see those apps for the gear s. You have to use the stock messenger app for texting to work. And that sucks. Opera just launched their browser but it doesnt support flash so sites like YouTube dont work. Nore can i stream pandora or spotify. However Milk radio does have an app for the gear s. So there is at least somewhat of an option. But yes we need more apps that take advantage of that processer and ram.
Dear readers,
Based on the topic question alone, a lot of people should go with an Android Wear watch. Just being honest and straight forward.
People who are on the fence between the two will be the first to complain when it isn't everything they'd hoped for and I'm not going to sugar coat it--there are issues with this device. From incompatibility to apps. But the joy you see on here about this watch isn't about what it can't do. So if that's going to be or has been a focal point for you with devices in the past, go get Android Wear.
This whole project could go belly up in a week and Samsung could drop it like a hot potato tomorrow. If it never got any more apps or updates tomorrow, would you have been happy you spent $300-400 on it? I would. That's what I knew when I bought it on Day 1, and that's how I still feel.
You just know if this is the right watch for you and if you have any hesitations between it and Android Wear, just go with Android Wear.
I owned an Android Wear watch for two weeks, then it was #ByeFelicia and back to my Galaxy Gear. They may have more apps and direct support for Google's native apps (haha which are now the majority of apps on their stock Android, Nexus phones ... so much for open source). Anyway yeah, they may have more apps. Are they quality apps? Eh. They have to have apps for proximity unlock and those don't even work like the Gear S does out of the box. But whether that is important to you or not is up to you.
If you hesitate about or worry about getting the Gear S, go to BestBuy and just get an Android Wear watch.
jongilluley said:
I've had the moto 360 since launch and now have the gear s and the only thing I miss about the 360 is the facer app that I used to make watch faces with.
I don't miss the crappy battery life, the below par screen, the lag as the processor is piss poor and finally whilst the dock is cool looking its not very handy like the gear s battery dock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't disagree with you more....I ended up buying the Moto 360 yesterday and I absolutely LOVE it! Battery is EXCELLENT since the update. I charge my phone every night so why not my watch. Sure my Gear 1 got 4+ days on a charge but since I don't stay awake that long anything longer than 18 hours is irrelevant to me. As for processor...what lag do you speak of? Mine FLIES and to be honest the demo of the Gear S I played with was very glitchy & laggy....could be because it was a demo but why take a chance.
Too each is own on what OS one goes with...and for me the only watch I saw that would beat the 360 AND the Gear S is the new Asus ZenWatch....THat watch is HOT.....unfortunately they only had a demo & none for sale yet at Best Buy....but I have until Jan 15 to return my 360 if I choose so I will wait to see the reviews on the Zen
If stand-alone WhatsApp is available for the Gear S, I'd buy this phone/watch in a heartbeat. I've been a huge phablet fan, and the Gear S would be a great for the occasional night out and leaving my huge phone home. As an avid runner, the Gear S functionalities are amazing.
Been pondering using the Gear S for communication via phone/text/WhatsApp exclusively, and switching to a small tablet with LTE for daily use.
Any thoughts?
squeakywipers said:
If stand-alone WhatsApp is available for the Gear S, I'd buy this phone/watch in a heartbeat. I've been a huge phablet fan, and the Gear S would be a great for the occasional night out and leaving my huge phone home. As an avid runner, the Gear S functionalities are amazing.
Been pondering using the Gear S for communication via phone/text/WhatsApp exclusively, and switching to a small tablet with LTE for daily use.
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No whatsapp for Gear s that I am aware of yet - or any other real messaging app (someone correct me if I'm wrong).
I telecommute so rarely leave the house except for errands and I hate bringing my phone with me. I don't need all the fancy stuff for when I'm at the grocery store and when I do need internet etc I'm usually at home. The Gear S is a perfect phone replacement for me.
If I was in a different situation where I was away from home and internet more often I think I'd want either a more traditional phone or tablet as well. The Gear S is a great device and I enjoy using it for internet and such when for example I'm sitting in a waiting room but to me, it's still a companion device that can occasionally act as a standalone device.
Of course your needs and mileage may vary but that's my 2 cents.
"Notifications for Gear S"
megatherian said:
No whatsapp for Gear s that I am aware of yet - or any other real messaging app (someone correct me if I'm wrong).
I telecommute so rarely leave the house except for errands and I hate bringing my phone with me. I don't need all the fancy stuff for when I'm at the grocery store and when I do need internet etc I'm usually at home. The Gear S is a perfect phone replacement for me.
If I was in a different situation where I was away from home and internet more often I think I'd want either a more traditional phone or tablet as well. The Gear S is a great device and I enjoy using it for internet and such when for example I'm sitting in a waiting room but to me, it's still a companion device that can occasionally act as a standalone device.
Of course your needs and mileage may vary but that's my 2 cents.
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I just downloaded "Notifications for Gear S" from the Samsung App store. It works great to respond Whatsapp messages. I believe it also works with other messengers as well.
willmir said:
I just downloaded "Notifications for Gear S" from the Samsung App store. It works great to respond Whatsapp messages. I believe it also works with other messengers as well.
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paid app?
I don't believe What'sApp is supported right now...
I have a feeling that we are only a couple of months away from a 3G enabled smart watch from a competitor (Huawei, Asus, etc) that will run android wear... And perhaps even be cheaper than the Gear S and offer more apps. Therefore, I think I'm gonna hold out buying one for a few months. Luv the fitness features of the Gear S, but if it's a choice between more apps like WhatsApp over a heart rate monitor, the former would win.... It's nice to know my heart rate, but hey, as long as it's beating, right.....
squeakywipers said:
I have a feeling that we are only a couple of months away from a 3G enabled smart watch from a competitor (Huawei, Asus, etc) that will run android wear... And perhaps even be cheaper than the Gear S and offer more apps. Therefore, I think I'm gonna hold out buying one for a few months. Luv the fitness features of the Gear S, but if it's a choice between more apps like WhatsApp over a heart rate monitor, the former would win.... It's nice to know my heart rate, but hey, as long as it's beating, right.....
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It would likely be a forked Android Wear, as i think I read somewhere that Google does not intend for Wear to be call-capable on its own.
If so, you'd run into the same issue with Samsung, needing a specific manufacturer's phone to pair with the smartwatch.
Well, who knows....
joytest said:
It would likely be a forked Android Wear, as i think I read somewhere that Google does not intend for Wear to be call-capable on its own.
If so, you'd run into the same issue with Samsung, needing a specific manufacturer's phone to pair with the smartwatch.
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Android Wear is even more dependent upon a connected phone than the Gear S. It can run separate apps but ... I wouldn't give it too much hope.
LG is rumored to be working on a 3G watch so you never know ... but just have to wait there will always be something following what's already out here and since this is Samsung's 6th watch they probably have a better handle on how to get things up and running than their conpetition.
Greetings, all. Despite all the hype around the Apple Watch and Android Wear, I decided to get a Gear S. It is being delivered today. I have an LG G Watch, but I'm not terribly fond of it and I think the Apple Watch is an overpriced toy.
The Gear S seemed a better fit for me. I'm a fan of big watches and it seems much more functional than Android Wear.
That said, I have a few reservations and I'm hoping the community can put my mind at ease. I don't have it in my hand yet, so I can't look at the app store, so forgive me:
With the screen always on, how long will the battery last?- This is how I use my smartwatches. If I can't glance at the screen to see the time without jerking my wrist around, it's no good to me. I also ride a Harley and can't really afford to be required to make a wrist gesture to see the time.
Is there any kind of Shazam or Soundhound app? I know this seems frivalous, but I saw they had Shazam for the apple watch and it occurred to me how cool that would be.
Which apps do you use the most? Any good ones I should look for immediately?
Do you think it has any kind of future? It seems like it has already been forgotten. The Tizen store is stagnant and Apple and Android Wear seem to be stealing all the spotlight. Am I buying a product that is already obsolete?
Thanks. Just trying to convince myself that I made the right choice. I can return it, of course, but it seems like the best option for me right now.
greyhulk said:
Greetings, all. Despite all the hype around the Apple Watch and Android Wear, I decided to get a Gear S. It is being delivered today. I have an LG G Watch, but I'm not terribly fond of it and I think the Apple Watch is an overpriced toy.
The Gear S seemed a better fit for me. I'm a fan of big watches and it seems much more functional than Android Wear.
That said, I have a few reservations and I'm hoping the community can put my mind at ease. I don't have it in my hand yet, so I can't look at the app store, so forgive me:
With the screen always on, how long will the battery last?- This is how I use my smartwatches. If I can't glance at the screen to see the time without jerking my wrist around, it's no good to me. I also ride a Harley and can't really afford to be required to make a wrist gesture to see the time.
Is there any kind of Shazam or Soundhound app? I know this seems frivalous, but I saw they had Shazam for the apple watch and it occurred to me how cool that would be.
Which apps do you use the most? Any good ones I should look for immediately?
Do you think it has any kind of future? It seems like it has already been forgotten. The Tizen store is stagnant and Apple and Android Wear seem to be stealing all the spotlight. Am I buying a product that is already obsolete?
Thanks. Just trying to convince myself that I made the right choice. I can return it, of course, but it seems like the best option for me right now.
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Click to collapse
Totally agree about Apple watch! But regardless of OEM, I prefer the features of the standalone form factor vs the companion. Having its OWN data connection is invaluable at times. The remote feature is amazing and works very well for a first crack at this feature.
1. The wrist/motion sensor works pretty well on the S. Seems to work 9 outa 10 times you turn to look at time. Having the full screen on will cut usage time in half.
2. I personally have not heard or seen an app like SoundHound for Tizen... yet
3. This is a question that varies widely. Having Opera is a must and I've read a lot about people using Milk, Nike and S-health. I like Bullet News and Engadget's apps as well. S-voice makes sending brief texts and emails a breeze. However, what we really could use is an email client app that doesn't require the phone's connection to send/rcv email.
4. The Tizen store IS growing at a very slow pace, I agree. Not sure what is going to happen in the standalone vs companion war in general. But I will say this...before I bought the S, I had the Omate TrueSmart which took my personal phone out of my already bulging pockets and put it on my wrist. This, in itself, was a great technological step. And even though the TS was riddled with problems, I loved it. Now, with the remote connection always on, my personal phone stays at home connected to the Wi-Fi which feeds the incoming notifs to my wrist.
In conclusion, my personal thoughts on the future of wearables is completely dependent on the consumer market and OEM innovation. I think most future watches will all have the option to be standalone. Battery life will continue to be a big hitch and input methods. In addition, Samsung needs to stop trying to create it's own ecosystem and work with what is already here and accepted, now.
Go get your Gear S... You'll love it!!!
Thanks man. I'll find out soon, if UPS ever gets here.
Sent from my SM-G920I using XDA Free mobile app
Just found a hopeful answer to #2; Gearam Music ID I just downloaded but wife asleep so cannot test yet. Says it does what Shazam does. Also..
There are some good ones out there that you can get:
Xenozu Player for Youtube, works well. click on pic to play, and text for info
GearTweet for Twitter, much improved lately
GearGram for Instagram and plays video as well as shows pics
Basic Video Player, load videos to your Gear through PC to play on app
Wearable Widgets, I can use it to control my lights at home that on on my WeMo switches, using WeMo widgets; I can see my outside surveillance cameras using the IP Cam Viewer Basic widget
IPCameraViewer, I can see my indoor home surveillance camera feed through Gear S app
OperaMini for web browsing
Milk music for streaming to my bluetooth headset at the gym, without having to carry my phone.
S Health, I have used very well to track and motivate myself to move and exercise more. I lost 85 lbs. last year and it gets some credit. Program finally much better than it was.
I too hope they push for more, but in the end it will be up the the other companies and developers and they will probably go to Apple due to shear volume of sales alone.
Good luck.
Cheers,
highlordkram said:
Just found a hopeful answer to #2; Gearam Music ID I just downloaded but wife asleep so cannot test yet. Says it does what Shazam does. Also..
There are some good ones out there that you can get:
Xenozu Player for Youtube, works well. click on pic to play, and text for info
GearTweet for Twitter, much improved lately
GearGram for Instagram and plays video as well as shows pics
Basic Video Player, load videos to your Gear through PC to play on app
Wearable Widgets, I can use it to control my lights at home that on on my WeMo switches, using WeMo widgets; I can see my outside surveillance cameras using the IP Cam Viewer Basic widget
IPCameraViewer, I can see my indoor home surveillance camera feed through Gear S app
OperaMini for web browsing
Milk music for streaming to my bluetooth headset at the gym, without having to carry my phone.
S Health, I have used very well to track and motivate myself to move and exercise more. I lost 85 lbs. last year and it gets some credit. Program finally much better than it was.
I too hope they push for more, but in the end it will be up the the other companies and developers and they will probably go to Apple due to shear volume of sales alone.
Good luck.
Cheers,
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Click to collapse
Ah, thank you for that. I will check out Gearam. I wish IPCamviewer worked with dropcams, but I don't think it does.
I can't download Opera Mini, for some reason. It simply doesn't show up for me in the store. I am in the U.S. on AT&T, but I do have the International model of the GS6. Maybe that's why? Either way, it sucks. I was really looking forward to that one.
Edit: Dammit. Gearam doesn't show up for me, either. If it does have to do with my International model of the GS6, I wish there was a way to spoof my ID for the store.
Try Doreso Music Radar. That is a Shazam like app.
greyhulk said:
Ah, thank you for that. I will check out Gearam. I wish IPCamviewer worked with dropcams, but I don't think it does.
I can't download Opera Mini, for some reason. It simply doesn't show up for me in the store. I am in the U.S. on AT&T, but I do have the International model of the GS6. Maybe that's why? Either way, it sucks. I was really looking forward to that one.
Edit: Dammit. Gearam doesn't show up for me, either. If it does have to do with my International model of the GS6, I wish there was a way to spoof my ID for the store.
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Really Sorry to hear of issues, as I confirm now that GEARAM Music ID works very well. Just found 5 out of five that I played off my phone.
highlordkram said:
Really Sorry to hear of issues, as I confirm now that GEARAM Music ID works very well. Just found 5 out of five that I played off my phone.
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Dammit. I wish I could figure out why apps aren't showing for me.
Sent from my SM-G920I using XDA Free mobile app
1. I don't see any point of using screen always on. It just eats up alot of battery and it's useless. Better choose wake up gesture.
2. Yes it is. The best is Gearam Music ID
3. Some cool apps i use:
XENOZU - you can watch youtube;
Instant Settings - Control your phone wifi , 3g etc.;
Calculator ; GearGram Instagram ; Opera - a must have and My notes
4. Samsung has done a very good job with smartwatches. They are the no 1 vendor. The tizen store it's stronger than Android Wear and Apple in my oppinion , the real problem is the official developers have no interest in developing apps. And individual developers ask for money. Believe me. You made the right choose. I've used the Moto 360, Gear 1,Gear 2,LG G Watch R. I tested the Apple Watch too, it's a bull****. Now i own a Gear S and i think it's the best on the market.
l3o4nn said:
1. I don't see any point of using screen always on. It just eats up alot of battery and it's useless. Better choose wake up gesture.
2. Yes it is. The best is Gearam Music ID
3. Some cool apps i use:
XENOZU - you can watch youtube;
Instant Settings - Control your phone wifi , 3g etc.;
Calculator ; GearGram Instagram ; Opera - a must have and My notes
4. Samsung has done a very good job with smartwatches. They are the no 1 vendor. The tizen store it's stronger than Android Wear and Apple in my oppinion , the real problem is the official developers have no interest in developing apps. And individual developers ask for money. Believe me. You made the right choose. I've used the Moto 360, Gear 1,Gear 2,LG G Watch R. I tested the Apple Watch too, it's a bull****. Now i own a Gear S and i think it's the best on the market.
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Click to collapse
I don't see the point in NOT using always on mode. It is a watch, after all. Pretty useless if you can't see the time.
Wanted to give my feedback for your first and fourth question.
Since I had a Pebble before the Gear S, a screen that is always on is very useful. After all, the primary function of a watch is to give you time. Having the screen always on hasn't really impacted my battery life. On average, My Gear S loses about 3.1% - 3.5% battery life every hour with my screen always on. Since my screen is always on, I leave all motion gestures off. With the screen always on, I can easily get a full day of use. Throughout the day, I usually get 3-4 email notifications per hour, 2 text messages per hour, reminders from S-health to take a walk, approximately 2-4 calls, and random social media notifications. On days when I'm going out for a run, my batter life drops quick mainly because of S-health and the heart rate monitor. Even if I'm going for a run, getting a full day of use with the screen on is an easy task.
I'm sure that the Gear S has a future. There are other smart watch platforms such as Pebble, Android Wear, and Apple Watch, but these are just companion devices. To me, the other platforms are very good at telling you that you need to look at your phone. I like to think of other smart watches as handcuffing you to your phone. You really can't do much with the other smart watches without a phone. Tizen/Gear S really shines with stand alone features. The problem is with getting developers for Tizen. I think most developers don't consider developing for Tizen because the Android and Apple names are so well known. I'm sure if we ask the average person if they know what Tizen is, their response would be "What?"