Related
Has anyone tried this with their Photon? http://www.verizonwireless.com/moto-bluetooth-smart-controller.shtml
Here is a video to see exactly what it does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nurgwe20cO4
I bought myself this thing for Christmas from Verizon, and I am wondering if mine is defective, of if this thing just sucks. It looks so awesome, and more or less it works, but none of the multi touch gestures work.
This little track pad is supposed to support pinch to zoom, rotate, etc. In webtop it's supposed to support scrolling and other actions. But, it doesn't say it specifically supports them on the Photon. There are videos of it working on the RAZR. The bluetooth calling and answering work perfectly, which is really cool.
But the other problem is that it frequently disconnects for about 10 seconds, then reconnects. It seems to do it more when I try to use one of the multi-touch gestures.
The other con, that I think would be there even if I had a unit that was working properly, is that the mouse speed needs to be turned way up to use this thing effectively. It's too slow natively to navigate quickly around your big screen TV, and I had to swipe over the pad several times to move from one end of the screen to the other.
I still think it has potential. I was hoping it would be the solution I was looking for. Webtop watching Hulu on my big screen, phone rings, and I can just answer from my remote. Go back to watching hulu. Switch to mirror mode and play some N64 games when I am done, all leaving the phone docked. You can even use some of the voice actions to interact with the other features of the phone right from the controller.
Anyway, maybe some of your thoughts? Do you think this is defective, or the multi-touch gestures aren't compatible with MoPho?
That thing looks awesome. Have you tried calling motorola support? Keep us posted on how it works though.
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
Not to be rude, but have you lost your f***in' mind, it's cool and all, but unless you're rich, or have hit the lottery, I doubt it's worth spending that much money for... You can get a Targus Tablet Keyboard for less that does the same thing, sans the trackpad...
I would have to assume that it would be compatible, it may be defective. It appears that the multi touch gestures are a part of the actual device instead of being interpreted on the phone itself. I can only assume this because it works on my Xoom, my RAZR, my wife's Thunderbold, and my wife's Galaxy tab.
And no, I don't think anyone has lost their minds, I have one myself that works very nicely with my RAZR and it was a sound investment given that I use it much like Bradleyw801 does. My phone stays docked, then I pull up Netflix or Hulu or whatever else I want to watch or do on the phone and still be able to use it as a phone if needed. I would say that it is almost a must for any phone with Webtop that will be used while docked.
Side note Bradley, check out a really cool app called Spool, it can pull video from websites for offline viewing...
deedscreen said:
Not to be rude, but have you lost your f***in' mind, it's cool and all, but unless you're rich, or have hit the lottery, I doubt it's worth spending that much money for... You can get a Targus Tablet Keyboard for less that does the same thing, sans the trackpad...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahaha, well, thank you for your opinion. I actually have a targus tablet keyboard, I bought it from Radio Shack back on my OG Evo. It's a great keyboard, but it actually doesn't have all the Android hardware keys working correctly. That keyboard is more designed for iOS devices. It's fine for typing, but I frequently have to re-pair it, and it's a little bit of a pain. If someone is looking for a bluetooth keyboard, I would actually recommend the Motorola Android Bluetooth Keyboard. I haven't been real happy with my Targus, and my friend has the Moto one. It's much more tailored for Android.
Also, you say "sans the trackpad", kind of ironic since that's literally the main reason to buy this. But you also seem to have missed where it works as a bluetooth headset, allowing you to make and take calls from the device while leaving your phone connected. The trackpad and mouse input are what I really want. I have a blutooth mouse, with a scroll wheel and everything, and when I am watching things from my phone on my TV, it's inconvenient to have to find a flat surface to move the mouse on. This made it so I could navigate laying down, with it under a blanket, or just in my hand. It's just much more comfortable and convenient. Plus, if I get a call, and I am super comfortable, I don't have to get up to answer it. I can answer it right there.
If you have never used your MoPho to watch content on your TV from either webtop, or the phone itself, this may seem frivolous, but if you have, then you can see the need for this.
I did call Moto, and they are as expected, pretty useless. They tried to walk me through rebooting the phone, and turning on bluetooth, and all of the really basic stuff, so I patronized them and did, but once it got down to the nuts and bolts, they were stumped and told me to return it.
I am going to take it into Verizon today and try to use it on the Razr or Xoom like another poster suggested. If it has issues there, then I can clearly rule it out as being defective. If it works on those, but not on my MoPho, then I may be back to the drawing board. Thanks for your help guys. I will let you know if I can get this working, as I still think it's something many people would care about.
I have one of these and the bluetooth keyboard coming. I'll let you know how it works on my mopho.
KSmithInNY said:
I have one of these and the bluetooth keyboard coming. I'll let you know how it works on my mopho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you really that rich and that bored? Really?
I have HDMI out on my Desktop, never used it!
I have HDMI cable for Photon, too lazy to test it.
I have PS3 and 4 controllers, never used that either.
I have 2 laptop computers, I think they work!
I have gas stove, I think it works too!
I have 41" TV in Spare bedroom, never turned it on (matter fact, no sure its still there!)
I have 4-in-1 Game Table, I have not played one game of pool, Air Hockey, Fooseball or Ping Pong!!
Point is, why buy more worthless (and I mean that both ways! Not going to use it and it really is worthless!) crap!
EDIT: I have MoPho Photon, I think I can make calls!!! XDA, text, and internet work. Last actual phone call was 2 weeks (lying, operators called me at 3:45AM 2 nights ago. Phone works!)
dsims7_2000 said:
Are you really that rich and that bored? Really?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol I wish. Luckily the only device specific accessories I've purchased are the car dock and HD dock ($78 together) so I'll sell those with the phone when I get rid of it.
The lapdock 500 (assuming google continues support), the moto smart controller, and moto bluetooth keyboard aren't device specific so I can use them on my Motorola Nexus
Alright so my smart controller arrived today and i gave it a quick 30 minute test drive and here's my initial thoughts:
FYI - I RSD'd a stock 198_7 SBF prior to testing. I did root it, but made no modifications, and the bootloader was locked so obviously, stock recovery.
1) Multi-touch doesn't completely not work as indicated in the OP. Pinch to zoom doesn't work, nor does rotate, but i've found 2 finger scrolling (in apps, in the app drawer, browser, etc) to work quite well. A little drag of 2 fingers up or down gives me a nice smooth scroll.
2) No issues with disconnect/reconnect for me. The mouse icon does disappear from my screen after a about 10 seconds of inactivity, but it's still 100% connected as can be seen by the bluetooth icon in the notification bar still being solid blue and going into settings shows the device is still connected. When i lightly touch the mouse pad, it wakes back up.
3) The OP was spot on with you need to adjust the scrolling speed of a mouse. Prior to turning it to "fastest" it took several swipes to move a couple inches. With the settings for the device turned up to the highest it seems to work just fine for me.
4) The volume rocker on the side of the mouse controls the ringer volume on the phone. Pretty cool.
5) The OP was spot on with the phone function also not working.
6) The USB charging cable that comes with it is the shortest, most unusable POS I've ever seen. It is literally like 4 inches long. No it does extend, no there's no magic involved .... it's just short and provides no purpose.
Final Thought - It's cool but not $100 cool. With it's current functionality, I'd value it at about $30. Once everything is fixed I'd gladly shell out $50 for it, and would begrudgingly pay $70 if I had to. Never though, would i pay $100 for it, even fully functional. Once everything works i could see this being useful if a person has and uses a lapdock and also the HD station. If you don't have either or even if you own them but don't use them regularly, this device is kind of pointless.
Hope that makes sense.
KSmithinNY,
Your opinion as an active forum member is greatly appreciated and valued.
Now, let me give you my opioion. You have too much Damm Money!!!!!
Told you not to get that crap!! But, if you lend me $30.00 (actual worth) I'll take the crap off your hands!!! (God, some days I kill myself!)
EDIT: Look for my "Things that piss off dsims7_2000" thread!
dsims7_2000 said:
KSmithinNY,
Your opinion as an active forum member is greatly appreciated and valued.
Now, let me give you my opioion. You have too much Damm Money!!!!!
Told you not to get that crap!! But, if you lend me $30.00 (actual worth) I'll take the crap off your hands!!! (God, some days I kill myself!)
EDIT: Look for my "Things that piss off dsims7_2000" thread!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha ha ha I hear yah man. I'll keep you in mind if I feel like donating it. I enjoy participating in the community as much as I enjoy contributing so you might be surprised.
Send that crap to my crib and I will have you arrested!!! I'm the one that told you it was crap in the first place!!!
I recently bought a used Xperia Active mainly to be used as a cycling computer (with the awesome app OruxMaps) and for recording my runs using Endomondo. The stock ROM was bloated with all sorts so after a few days it just had to go.
First I flashed CM10.1 but apparently the BT stack is borked on that so Ant+ is not working, so I flashed CM10 and everything works great or at least everything that I need. It connects to my BT x-fit headphones, BT Polar HRM and Ant+ B'Twin Speed and Cadence sensor without any major issues - the audio cuts out occasionally but I'm not sure if it's an issue with Google Music/All Access or a 3G connectivity or BT issue and haven't bothered investigating to be honest.
I've read that the BT stack in 4.3 is better and supports BT BLE which I might decide to use for fitness accessories - although reading about Ant+, it sounds a far better option for that sort of thing.
So, is CM10.2 likely to come to the Active? I'm assuming there shouldn't be an issue in terms of hardware, is there?
Also, if there are any fellow runners/cyclists with any app suggestions to motivate/record/map/etc I'd like to hear from you!
My setup as I said is OruxMaps for cycling. I tried IpBike which is not bad either, but didn't like the UI. I also tried a couple of other apps, but haven't seen anything that I liked. Apparently Cyclemeter is great on the i-Devices but their FAQ says: "We do hope to do an Android version of our app, but it’s not in our near term plans. We’ve had a great response from customers on the iPhone, and they provide lots of feedback for us about new features they’d like to see. Wish we could have said otherwise, it would be great to have you as a customer!"
OruxMaps uses MapMyTracks.com for live tracking and you can email the GPX of your ride to Strava straight from the app. BTW, I have no association with OruxMaps!
For running I have a premium subscription with Endomondo. I like the flexibility of the audio coach and I just noticed that they have a new beta feature on their website: 'Training Plans' where you enter your goal, goal date, number of training days, pace, etc and it creates a... Training Plan. Probably not as good as getting a customised training plan from a coach, but it's probably on par to the generic ones you can find online. I also export my runs and import them to Strava.
Regarding Strava, they have a much better looking website than Endomondo, and without a doubt the segments for cycling are awesome, but their apps are a long way from being great. Apart from being much less customisable, they only support Zephyr HxM and have no plans on supporting Polar HRMs. Apparently "there are connectivity issues with Polar HRMs and they want to give their customers the best possible experience!". I have used my Polar HRM with a number of different apps, phones and Android versions and it seems to be working fine 99% of the time, so I don't see why they can't support it. Also, it's hard to justify paying almost double of what Endomondo's premium subscription costs - but perhaps their analysis is better?
NT
Hi,
I can tell you to try the uBike.apk
For me is the best for cycling.
Regards
Joao
I've been considering buying this device to be used for working out as well, so thanks for confirming that Google Play Music will work on it! I'll be interesting to see if things get better with different ROMs.
Amazing! I thought I was the only one. I was on a year long quest to find the perfect (and better) substitute for the ever popular garmin 800 series. I do a lot of credit card touring, lots of country riding where I create the route using ridewithgps, DL as gpx and off I go. Oruxmaps has proved to be the perfect app for me when I'm doing any real riding/recording, and I use an app called Osmand+ if I'm doing a little bit more exploratory or want better navigation options (its got far better offline POI capabilities, so it helps if you get stuck in a rainstorm and need to find some kind of nearby shelter). I'm pumped to hear someone else went this route as most of my racing buddies are too high brow to get anything other than a garmin.
On a sidenote, I came up with a pretty incredible and simple (read: easy to do if you're a dummy with epoxy) way to get the male bit of the garmin mount on the back of the xperia so I could use all the low profile and cool garmin mounts. If you're interested let me know and I can give you a super easy step by step.
All that said, I'm really struggling to find a reason to root/mod the phone. I use it purely as a cycling computer right now (but plan to probably get my music on there too depending on battery life). It performs amazingly at this task as-is. Super snappy, the only thing I hate is having to look at the extra icons of the apps I'll never use. One thing I really wanted to get from rooting was the ability to skip the lock screen as that gets pretty annoying during a ride and potentially so I could remap the hardware buttons to something more useful while cycling (perhaps have it cycle through all the available apps? dunno, but it sounds cool). But, I found an app that lets you skip the lockscreen, so that major requirement has already been met.
Aside from the bloatware, have you found any nice advantages to rooting and putting on CM? Thanks in advance -
Rick
Hi Rick,
If is possible for you to send this to mu email acount ([email protected]) I thank you very much.
Regards
laquer09 said:
On a sidenote, I came up with a pretty incredible and simple (read: easy to do if you're a dummy with epoxy) way to get the male bit of the garmin mount on the back of the xperia so I could use all the low profile and cool garmin mounts. If you're interested let me know and I can give you a super easy step by step.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the replies guys! I was sure that there must've been other Active users/fans!
@optiplus Thanks, had a look and looks interesting! I'll have to give it ago!
@tartanblue @laquer09 What I found when I flashed CM10 was that the phone is snappier and the battery lasts a lot longer. Although I didn't do any scientific testing, with the stock ROM I would ride for an hour or so, leave it unplugged overnight and that was that pretty much. (no other usage, just on standby) With CM10 I was really surprised that it lasted a similar ride and more than 48 hours on standby. It's not a huge achievement in the sense that I have turned off all syncing, there's no Facebook or anything running, but the stock ROM has a lot of stuff running. Another thing that CM10 fixed was the super annoying flickering issue and also, at full brightness at CM10 is a lot brighter than stock, which seemed to go very bright as soon as I unlocked it and then dim. I checked the setting and it was not on auto brightness and tried with the Bravia engine on and off. Didn't work. CM10 fixed it.
I like having the screen on during the right to check cadence, speed, etc as I ride, so on the odd occasion that we were graced with a sunny day, increased brightness helped! Although I think OruxMaps has a setting to keep the screen on I use Screebl (I've linked to the paid version, but there's a free Lite version too which works well, but I found it so useful, that I just had to support the dev. I've been using it since the days of my HTC Magic - Oh how far we've come!!)
Also, as a stock Nexus user, Sony's software is just... revolting! Even the little things like the toggles in the notifications drawer is great. (and I prefer the CM way to the Google way... but what can you do?)
Having said that, for purely cycling purposes I guess stock or CM10 doesn't make a huge difference. Also, flashing the Active was a bit more complicated than I would've liked.
Regarding mounts, I got the xperia active bike holder from SportyPal (Review) and it's simple, solid and having the Active on it really looks like it's a Garmin. (when I read it back it looked like I was embarrassed about using the Active instead of the Garmin, but I didn't mean it like that!! Just that the whole mount+Active combo is quite diminutive!)
I also recently heard about the Finn and thought for 12 euros it'd be rude not to get one. When the weather is good I'd like to try recording with OruxMaps on the Active and maybe the Strava Cycling app on the Nexus 4 and see how different the results are.
Honestly though I do wish Strava pulled their finger out and sorted out their apps. How cool (and I imagine relatively easy for developers who are worth their salt) it would be to have proper BT/Ant+ support, customisable dashboard and segment notifier which would buzz to let you know that you're entering a segment!! And they would totally kill it if they added track creation capabilities on their website! But I'm just dreaming!
optiplus said:
Hi Rick,
If is possible for you to send this to mu email acount ([email protected]) I thank you very much.
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can email you as well, but I kinda thought other folks might like to see this so I posted it up here. Let me know if you still need the email.
Things you need:
1. The male bit of the garmin mount. These are not easy to find because for the most part, the male bit is part of the plastic mold on garmin devices. However, I found this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006BACP6A/ref=pe_385040_30332190_pe_175190_21431760_3p_M3T1_ST1_dp_i1
2. Epoxy putty - http://spasandmore.com/catalog/quic...ts-to-repair-your-pool-spa-hot-tub-59502.html
3. A razor blade or hobby knife...something pretty dang sharp and fairly rigid. This will be used for cutting the male bit.
4. Like 45 minutes of time
What to do:
1. Take the male bit thingy from the package of stuff - image attached. Cut it around the raised edge. You can see where I cut mine in one of the attached images. The plastic was actually not difficult to cut, at all.
2. Score both the back of the xperia and the male bit pretty good. I used the edge of a scissor to do it and it worked fine.
3. Take out that epoxy, cut a bit of it off, and knead it with your fingers (basically, read the instructions on how to use it. I am not awesome at this kind of stuff and it was really straightforward).
4. Put the kneaded putty on the back of the phone, then simply press that male bit into the putty. Wait the recommended amount of time for setting (pretty sure its between 1-2 hours)
You're done. Go get whatever garmin mount you like (I really like the SRAM one that sits out in front of the bars, but you can use any of their mounts or the sweet looking barfly one.
Couple things to note
- I waaay overused the putty here. This was supposed to be my test case so I was overdoing it on purpose. Functionally its totally fine, but it is a tad ugly. After you plop the male bit onto the putty, you could probably trim a bunch of it.
- Scared its not going to hold? Don't worry, I was too. This is where that what-I-thought-was-completely-useless-lanyard comes into play. I actually put the lanyard in the phone and then ran the lanyard over my bars. I did this maybe for the first week, but I live in Chicago and I tested it using my cross bike / commuter over some really really really crappy roads with my tires at 110. I was pretty convinced after a week and stopped using the lanyard. And then I lowered my psi back to normal chicago 90 so my butt wouldn't hurt anymore Still, better safe than sorry right.
- One cool side benefit, among 100s of others, is the flashlight feature of the phone. Now, I just set it to strobe and turn it on at night...boom, no longer need a bike light
- Using bluetooth headphones and whatever music app you want rules. I didn't know how much I'd adore it before I tried...but having the ability to cycle through songs, albums, playlists....amazing.
- My xperia came with 2 backs...one black and one white. This, my supposed to be test case, is the white one. As you can see, it gets dirty. Might want to use the black one and maybe paint/marker up the putty so it matches.
Let me know if you've got any questions, and good luck. I could not be flipping happier about the way this all turned out, and my racing buddies are starting to get jealous. Lets see...a garmin 810 for 600 bucks, or a phone that has multiple options for mapping/tracking (free), can be your music player and emergency phone call maker (or anything else you can do with the android platform) for a whopping 188 bucks and maybe 20 bucks on the mount stuff.
Win
Rick
Thanks so much for posting this. I wanted to ask you in my previous post to put it somewhere like G+ or a cycling blog or something but I guess here is just fine!
laquer09 said:
I can email you as well, but I kinda thought other folks might like to see this so I posted it up here. Let me know if you still need the email.
Things you need:
1. The male bit of the garmin mount. These are not easy to find because for the most part, the male bit is part of the plastic mold on garmin devices. However, I found this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006BACP6A/ref=pe_385040_30332190_pe_175190_21431760_3p_M3T1_ST1_dp_i1
2. Epoxy putty - http://spasandmore.com/catalog/quic...ts-to-repair-your-pool-spa-hot-tub-59502.html
3. A razor blade or hobby knife...something pretty dang sharp and fairly rigid. This will be used for cutting the male bit.
4. Like 45 minutes of time
What to do:
1. Take the male bit thingy from the package of stuff - image attached. Cut it around the raised edge. You can see where I cut mine in one of the attached images. The plastic was actually not difficult to cut, at all.
2. Score both the back of the xperia and the male bit pretty good. I used the edge of a scissor to do it and it worked fine.
3. Take out that epoxy, cut a bit of it off, and knead it with your fingers (basically, read the instructions on how to use it. I am not awesome at this kind of stuff and it was really straightforward).
4. Put the kneaded putty on the back of the phone, then simply press that male bit into the putty. Wait the recommended amount of time for setting (pretty sure its between 1-2 hours)
You're done. Go get whatever garmin mount you like (I really like the SRAM one that sits out in front of the bars, but you can use any of their mounts or the sweet looking barfly one.
Couple things to note
- I waaay overused the putty here. This was supposed to be my test case so I was overdoing it on purpose. Functionally its totally fine, but it is a tad ugly. After you plop the male bit onto the putty, you could probably trim a bunch of it.
- Scared its not going to hold? Don't worry, I was too. This is where that what-I-thought-was-completely-useless-lanyard comes into play. I actually put the lanyard in the phone and then ran the lanyard over my bars. I did this maybe for the first week, but I live in Chicago and I tested it using my cross bike / commuter over some really really really crappy roads with my tires at 110. I was pretty convinced after a week and stopped using the lanyard. And then I lowered my psi back to normal chicago 90 so my butt wouldn't hurt anymore Still, better safe than sorry right.
- One cool side benefit, among 100s of others, is the flashlight feature of the phone. Now, I just set it to strobe and turn it on at night...boom, no longer need a bike light
- Using bluetooth headphones and whatever music app you want rules. I didn't know how much I'd adore it before I tried...but having the ability to cycle through songs, albums, playlists....amazing.
- My xperia came with 2 backs...one black and one white. This, my supposed to be test case, is the white one. As you can see, it gets dirty. Might want to use the black one and maybe paint/marker up the putty so it matches.
Let me know if you've got any questions, and good luck. I could not be flipping happier about the way this all turned out, and my racing buddies are starting to get jealous. Lets see...a garmin 810 for 600 bucks, or a phone that has multiple options for mapping/tracking (free), can be your music player and emergency phone call maker (or anything else you can do with the android platform) for a whopping 188 bucks and maybe 20 bucks on the mount stuff.
Win
Rick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ntoqiakt said:
Thanks so much for posting this. I wanted to ask you in my previous post to put it somewhere like G+ or a cycling blog or something but I guess here is just fine!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem - I'd love to post it on a cycling blog/forum if you can point me to the right one. There are so many out there...I've never actually joined any. I could also put it on G+...PM me your email address and I'll add you into one of my groups and post it there. Even though this solution was simple, it took me a darn long time to come up with and I'd love to save folks the time/effort/money/despair.
FWIW, I used it on a 60mi custom route I made this weekend and it was friggin flawless. Not a single missed turn and the route was perfect. I've recently started listening to music using it via my BT headphones. That is so much win I can barely handle it.
Rick
ntoqiakt said:
I recently bought a used Xperia Active mainly to be used as a cycling computer (with the awesome app OruxMaps) and for recording my runs using Endomondo. The stock ROM was bloated with all sorts so after a few days it just had to go.
First I flashed CM10.1 but apparently the BT stack is borked on that so Ant+ is not working, so I flashed CM10 and everything works great or at least everything that I need. It connects to my BT x-fit headphones, BT Polar HRM and Ant+ B'Twin Speed and Cadence sensor without any major issues - the audio cuts out occasionally but I'm not sure if it's an issue with Google Music/All Access or a 3G connectivity or BT issue and haven't bothered investigating to be honest.
NT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
at the begining i would like say "hello" im new member on xda so BTW...
I'm looking for CM10 working with SE Xperia Active ST17I.
I saw that upgrade was succesfull.
Could You tell me where download (all links "died") or share package of working files to upgrade Xperia Active to CM10 and android 4.1.2?
I ve upgraded xperia to 4.0.4 and I would like try highest version of software. It is great device for active Cyclists.
Please help. Thank You for reply :good:
Regards
October Edition just arrived, 6 months late, but it did arrive and it did work (albeit with the additional Cradle not in the box)
Charged, set up email to send myself the Google Play apk; double clicked it and everything worked fine. Activated my Android and all working well.
Downloaded some apps, inc spotify and mapmyrun. Added a sim card and sd card - not well designed really. The galaxy s5 shows how simple it is to do and retain waterproofing. The Omate, with tiny fiddly screws, rubber bits, non symetrical cover etc was something I hope not to have to do again; which renders my spare battery a bit pointless. I was expecting to pop off the back and swap a drained battery for a charged one, as I can do on a mobile.
However, with battery at 67% went for a 1 hour run and with GPS, Wifi, Data and Bluetooth active (music to BT Headphones and running data being tracked) battery only went down 20% - impressive! and confirmed I can give up the GPS watch...
All good, but definitely some sticking points. Wifi at one point wouldn't re-activate, without a long reboot. The keyboard can drive you insane, especially entering masked passwords - the keyboard can be supersensitive and fire off several characters at once by accident, so you have to start again. The 'show passwords' option doesn't always work.
The navigation seems awkward and inconsistent - i wish there was a back button, the swipe left often triggers an option or menu unintentionally so you have to go back twice and when the same thing happens again, it's not long before you give up and press the home button...
Maybe it's just some getting used to - day 1 and all that!
Overall this is an incredible piece of tech and will be a big benefit to my lifestyle. It requires a change of thinking I suspect, but one that is welcome, so overall I am very pleased with the first impression.
I think the answer to your question about whether you have day 1 frustrations is: yes and no.
I put on Lokifish's latest ROM and did a few other tweaks (principally Daniel Ortiz's recommended GPS fix) and then started from there. I played with the out-of-the-box version for a total of two minutes before I became monumentally frustrated with the sensitivity of the touch screen, and the keyboard seemed to trigger letters even when I was just hovering over the screen trying to make a more accurate 'tap'. Maybe it was placebo effect but the Lokifish ROM seemed to be better calibrated, though I still avoid using the keyboard for anything other than tapping in passwords to get accounts setup.
The first app that gave me an inkling that the TS is a 'keeper' is Runkeeper. (pun!) I'm actually not so much of a runner, but I use Runkeeper on my main device to track my cycling and I log my circuit and swim training data on the web which integrates across the other apps I use to collect and manage fitness data (Withings Body Analyzer, Myfitnesspal, Fitbit). The thought of being able to dispense with multiple tracking apps/devices and perhaps even leaving the big phone at home (the Z1s doesn't have the brightest screen anyway) was one of the main draws of the TrueSmart. But the real 'killer app' feature for me was the ability to use this TrueSmart as an 'all day wearer' *and* have it work in-water to capture swim data. But After six months of waiting (like you) and seeing the not-really-waterproof drama unfold, I was pretty much ready to put this thing on eBay on day 0.
However, Runkeeper/Ride with GPS plus Cyril Preiss' "SWApps" has just about sold me on keeping the device, or at least rekindled my interest enough to see whether its worth pursuing some form of aftermarket waterproofing approach. (currently being hashed out in another thread here)
So in essence I concur with/confirm your findings. I still haven't found out how to get the auto-correct to behave on the keyboard, but I think that's as much about taking a grand-daddy step back to understand how the Fleksy is designed, and how to properly inflect the gestures to keep things from getting out-of-hand (pun!). I remember having *some* of the same trouble when going from the iPhone 4s to the Xperia Z1 (before the Z1s) and that keyboard drove me kuh-ray-zee until I figured out the whole swipe-your-finger-to-spell-the-word thing worked. Then suddenly I wondered how anyone would type on one of these things any other way.
So - I'm coming around to seeing the advantages of the TrueSmart, and more to the point *really* understanding why Lokifish, Cyril, Kurt, Daniel and so many others here see in the platform - and continue to invest time and effort into it.
Oh - and as to the battery drain, I just ran my TS down to 15% and then connected it to a Waka Waka to charge, and while I didn't have it timed it's already back to 100%. Solar powered smartwatch - now we're talkin'. So instead of thinking about a snap-in/out solution for the battery I'm looking at/for a 'gator glip' charger cable or some other light-weight charger connection for the TS (I thought I saw them online somewhere, and OMate was offering them at first - I'd prefer that to the case for workout/outdoor activities where space is a premium). I'm also looking into how to/whether I can set up profiles that are more like "give me what you got" versus "all-day wearer" mode. On the Sony Xperia Z1s there's a "Stamina Mode" which tamps down on battery drain, but can also kill functionality of apps that are not in the foreground (bad news for Panobike cycling cadence meter, etc) so while I have *some* apps exempted from Stamina Mode, when I'm doing a dedicated outing I just switch it off completely - knowing that I'm going to be putting the device on charge by either using one of the portable packs I'm carrying with me - or when I get back to the car.
Anyway, food for thought...
Thanks for the reply, it's good to share tips and tricks!
I saw that Loki has actually abandoned TrueSmart. Frustrations with their updates and lack of support I think.
Primarily for me this watch was a replacement sports tracker, but my hopes for an all-purpose watch are not looking good as the blue-tooth tethering is not working with my S5; it pairs successfully, but doesn't connect, so the TrueSmart Master app is useless.
The TS also doesn't connect to my BT headset for voice, but it did connect with the JayBird headphones (although the cutting out was super irritating).
In Summary - BlueTooth not reliable and will be a deal-breaker as I would have to carry my phone anyway.
Couple with the infuriating keyboard and inconsistent navigation, (I've now tried the LMT dial thing, which also doesn't work properly) I'm losing interest fast - which is a shame as it could be so good.
For charging, my GPS watch uses a clip as you describe. So much better than the cradle which renders the watch inaccessible while it's charging. But why not a simple USB port with a cover, like the S5....(a proper waterproof phone). Even the solar charger will then require carrying two separate items for the TS...
You can set up profiles on an app called Easy Battery Saver - I used it on my last phone and installed it for TS. It works as described and easy to activate/de-activate.
I will keep with the TS a while longer, but I suspect the next Galaxy Gear, which is rumoured to be stand-alone, will be what we are really looking for...
Hope to hear more from you - I will post my next findings on the TS too.
lphovercraft said:
I think the answer to your question about whether you have day 1 frustrations is: yes and no.
I put on Lokifish's latest ROM and did a few other tweaks (principally Daniel Ortiz's recommended GPS fix) and then started from there. I played with the out-of-the-box version for a total of two minutes before I became monumentally frustrated with the sensitivity of the touch screen, and the keyboard seemed to trigger letters even when I was just hovering over the screen trying to make a more accurate 'tap'. Maybe it was placebo effect but the Lokifish ROM seemed to be better calibrated, though I still avoid using the keyboard for anything other than tapping in passwords to get accounts setup.
The first app that gave me an inkling that the TS is a 'keeper' is Runkeeper. (pun!) I'm actually not so much of a runner, but I use Runkeeper on my main device to track my cycling and I log my circuit and swim training data on the web which integrates across the other apps I use to collect and manage fitness data (Withings Body Analyzer, Myfitnesspal, Fitbit). The thought of being able to dispense with multiple tracking apps/devices and perhaps even leaving the big phone at home (the Z1s doesn't have the brightest screen anyway) was one of the main draws of the TrueSmart. But the real 'killer app' feature for me was the ability to use this TrueSmart as an 'all day wearer' *and* have it work in-water to capture swim data. But After six months of waiting (like you) and seeing the not-really-waterproof drama unfold, I was pretty much ready to put this thing on eBay on day 0.
However, Runkeeper/Ride with GPS plus Cyril Preiss' "SWApps" has just about sold me on keeping the device, or at least rekindled my interest enough to see whether its worth pursuing some form of aftermarket waterproofing approach. (currently being hashed out in another thread here)
So in essence I concur with/confirm your findings. I still haven't found out how to get the auto-correct to behave on the keyboard, but I think that's as much about taking a grand-daddy step back to understand how the Fleksy is designed, and how to properly inflect the gestures to keep things from getting out-of-hand (pun!). I remember having *some* of the same trouble when going from the iPhone 4s to the Xperia Z1 (before the Z1s) and that keyboard drove me kuh-ray-zee until I figured out the whole swipe-your-finger-to-spell-the-word thing worked. Then suddenly I wondered how anyone would type on one of these things any other way.
So - I'm coming around to seeing the advantages of the TrueSmart, and more to the point *really* understanding why Lokifish, Cyril, Kurt, Daniel and so many others here see in the platform - and continue to invest time and effort into it.
Oh - and as to the battery drain, I just ran my TS down to 15% and then connected it to a Waka Waka to charge, and while I didn't have it timed it's already back to 100%. Solar powered smartwatch - now we're talkin'. So instead of thinking about a snap-in/out solution for the battery I'm looking at/for a 'gator glip' charger cable or some other light-weight charger connection for the TS (I thought I saw them online somewhere, and OMate was offering them at first - I'd prefer that to the case for workout/outdoor activities where space is a premium). I'm also looking into how to/whether I can set up profiles that are more like "give me what you got" versus "all-day wearer" mode. On the Sony Xperia Z1s there's a "Stamina Mode" which tamps down on battery drain, but can also kill functionality of apps that are not in the foreground (bad news for Panobike cycling cadence meter, etc) so while I have *some* apps exempted from Stamina Mode, when I'm doing a dedicated outing I just switch it off completely - knowing that I'm going to be putting the device on charge by either using one of the portable packs I'm carrying with me - or when I get back to the car.
Anyway, food for thought...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More success with BT pairing
More success today - got the bt headset (MyVoice 312) paired for calls, plus the jabra sport wireless+ bt headphones for music.... both devices paired and switch automatically when powering on and off.
Galaxy S5 also paired, but no joy with the SWAPPS app. I will keep trying with that, but it's actually a low priority since I have a sim for the TS ($10 per month for second sim with same number as primary sim)
Tonight I hope to try the Endomondo app on the TS paired with the Jabras, since they have a special feature that gives realtime data from the app when pushing a button on the headphones.
I can see it's going to take a while with the TS, but the tech is really good and offers a lot of promise. It's all about expectations I guess.
If the BT goes all intermittent again tonight I will be v disappointed as this is a basic but critical feature.
One problem I have had after exercising is that if you hand/fingers are sweaty then the TS goes nuts when you touch the screen - there really needs a sensitivity option (like on the S5)
Any pointers for best option for gaining Root Access to Omate TS? I notice that you have flashed Loki's 'latest' ROM, so presumably you have Rooted and flashed a Custom Recovery??
Best way to proceed--I would be grateful for a 'Heads-Up'.
BTW--I have, today, just received my October Dev Edition 1 GB 8 Gb 2100 Mhz version--and am looking at flashing Loki's ROM 20140328--is that the one to which you are referring?? or, do you have a different device version?
Any pointers--gratefully received.
I can't help you with the technical nuts and bolts as I am going to keep it all simple and hopefully working. No ROM flashes, install PlayStore and get your BT headset working.
Just that alone gives you a mobile on your wrist which is pretty damn cool for checking email, facebook, text, whatsapp and voice calls. Plus spotify, endomondo and maps!
The keyboard is a problem though, being so sensitive. And if it's raining, forget using it at all - not because of the water resistance, but because the screen just goes crazy with the water drops.
I am going to try Google Search/Voice to see if I can use voice commands on it.
Anyone else had luck with using voice?
haybill said:
Any pointers for best option for gaining Root Access to Omate TS? I notice that you have flashed Loki's 'latest' ROM, so presumably you have Rooted and flashed a Custom Recovery??
Best way to proceed--I would be grateful for a 'Heads-Up'.
BTW--I have, today, just received my October Dev Edition 1 GB 8 Gb 2100 Mhz version--and am looking at flashing Loki's ROM 20140328--is that the one to which you are referring?? or, do you have a different device version?
Any pointers--gratefully received.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey guys, I'm like a dev October backer and I get my watch this week-end. I have just started it today and after reading the lokifish topic I don't think it is a good idea for us to use our watches until we flashed a ROM with a secure kernel (the kernel of the 1/8/2100 is unsecure).
If you want to root your TS there is tons of solutions as it i a mediatek chip.
Can you recommend me a BT Headphone to par with my TS.
Blue-rayer said:
Can you recommend me a BT Headphone to par with my TS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Backbeat Go 2 with my TS, I love the "minimalistic" approach to it. When not used I wear them like a necklace (you can attach the earbuds to eachother) and it's not in the way the slightest. It works great for taking phone calls, and I've tried it with both walking, biking and running with no issues. Volume controls, checking battery level, taking calls and such works great from the remote. Battery life is ok:ish, maybe a bit more than 3 hours total listening time. That is if you play music or talk on the phone non-stop, with moderate use (taking a few phonecalls during the day and similar) they last for days.
From what I hear the Backbeat Go 2 is more or less a ripoff of Jaybird Bluebuds X headphone (looks very similar), but the Jaybirds have better battery life, fits more securely in your ear for sporting and such - not that I ever had issues with that. The main thing that made me go with the Backbeat though is that it's about half the price.
Ok thanks. I'm gonna give a look to this.
Headphones
Blue-rayer said:
Can you recommend me a BT Headphone to par with my TS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After going through two Backbeats (not the Go, think it was 903 or something similar) I can state they are useless for exercising with, no resistance to water or sweat.
I then tried a pair of Philips SHB6017/10 and lasted a month before starting to randomly calling strange numbers due to shorting out. I'm not a sweaty person, honest!
Finally settled on Jabra Sport and they're awesome, have been using them for a year now.
Thanks to Amazon who refunded and replaced every single failed headphone, even sending out the replacements before I'd sent in the dead ones.
Cheers,
Andreas
I was actually playing around with the voice commands, you do have to setup loads of Google Apps, like Google search and Maps etc and give it permission to everything but it does work... I highly recommend using Nova launcher as it places the Mic search option right on the home screen.... which launches Google search... "Ok Google" and you're off.... I'm not sure how to get it to recognise OK Google without first having started the search app... Anyway some of my favourite things to ask for....
Take me home.... (Starts maps navigation)
Play some music (starts Google music and tries to play music)
Order Pizza (finds the nearest dominos)
What is iPhone (reads out definition of an iphone)
Not a deal breaker, but for any of you out there with a Gear S in hand, can you stream Pandora or anything else with this watch? If I left my phone in the car and went running, all I have is my watch and a bluetooth headset, would I still be able to listen to internet music... I am guessing with further Itzen development here on XDA, that one day will be possible if it isn't already.
So far, not right now. However, I imagine this could be coming to the watch down the road.
Yes, you can stream music, but as of right now only using the Milk music app.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
paitobp said:
Yes, you can stream music, but as of right now only using the Milk music app.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that's something at least. I don't have a music library at all, I only use streaming services. So that will hold me over for now. Thank you.
simpletona70 said:
Well, that's something at least. I don't have a music library at all, I only use streaming services. So that will hold me over for now. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let us know how it performs battery wise.
simpletona70 said:
Not a deal breaker, but for any of you out there with a Gear S in hand, can you stream Pandora or anything else with this watch? If I left my phone in the car and went running, all I have is my watch and a bluetooth headset, would I still be able to listen to internet music... I am guessing with further Itzen development here on XDA, that one day will be possible if it isn't already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah if tizen gave us Pandora or another music app that would be terrific milk music for now
The is a "tunein" app made for tizen. Tunein is an Internet streaming radio wich I use a lot on my phone.
@NeatSheep
I will know soon enough, local Tmobile just called me and they got some in. Didn't expect that for another week at least.
simpletona70 said:
I will know soon enough, local Tmobile just called me and they got some in. Didn't expect that for another week at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah I'm on t-mobile Gs too we can stream music free yeahhh
would love if you could use google music on it. then i wouldnt need to drag my phone out at the gym.
So I got the Gear S! Tmobile received 4 and held one for me since I had issues getting a White Note 4 from them. I got the MILK app but it just acts as a remote for the phone! It doesn't stream to the watch itself.
simpletona70 said:
So I got the Gear S! Tmobile received 4 and held one for me since I had issues getting a White Note 4 from them. I got the MILK app but it just acts as a remote for the phone! It doesn't stream to the watch itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hum.. T-mobile says stream milk app is free maybe that only works on the phone itself (The free streaming part)
omg, i just got it. The first time i tried to stream from the watch, i turned off bluetooth so it be be a standalone, MILK gave me an error saying it couldn't connect to bluetooth device and it quit. but i didn't know it had wifi, so now i'm connected to wifi and it's working. I assume it will work on 3G as well, I'm not in a good area for data, so i basically get Edge network.
simpletona70 said:
omg, i just got it. The first time i tried to stream from the watch, i turned off bluetooth so it be be a standalone, MILK gave me an error saying it couldn't connect to bluetooth device and it quit. but i didn't know it had wifi, so now i'm connected to wifi and it's working. I assume it will work on 3G as well, I'm not in a good area for data, so i basically get Edge network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea it will work on 4G too so when you play milk it wont count against your data plan.
simpletona70 said:
Well, that's something at least. I don't have a music library at all, I only use streaming services. So that will hold me over for now. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be mindful that streaming will significantly reduce battery life.
pdqgp said:
Let us know how it performs battery wise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll pitch in on this one, I took it today for a run as standalone and for the 7 miles that I ran the battery went from 97% to 49% at the end of the run which was 1 hour long. I received a call that played about a minute lol and numerous email notifications. That being said I say that it will probably last at the most 2 hrs as a standalone with everything turned on and streaming music. Hope this help!
PS. The built in hr monitor is not very accurate and I think the GPS is a little bit off, but I'll have to check with my previous runs on endomondo.
Sent from my SM-P607T using Tapatalk
paitobp said:
Be mindful that streaming will significantly reduce battery life.
I'll pitch in on this one, I took it today for a run as standalone and for the 7 miles that I ran the battery went from 97% to 49% at the end of the run which was 1 hour long. I received a call that played about a minute lol and numerous email notifications. That being said I say that it will probably last at the most 2 hrs as a standalone with everything turned on and streaming music. Hope this help!
PS. The built in hr monitor is not very accurate and I think the GPS is a little bit off, but I'll have to check with my previous runs on endomondo.
Sent from my SM-P607T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found the gps to be pretty accurate on my runs. I'm planning on wearing my polar hrm to see how accurate the hrm is. However, if it is like the gear fit was it is going to seem kinda erratic during the workout, but the end results will compare nicely to the polar.
paitobp said:
Be mindful that streaming will significantly reduce battery life.
I'll pitch in on this one, I took it today for a run as standalone and for the 7 miles that I ran the battery went from 97% to 49% at the end of the run which was 1 hour long. I received a call that played about a minute lol and numerous email notifications. That being said I say that it will probably last at the most 2 hrs as a standalone with everything turned on and streaming music. Hope this help!
PS. The built in hr monitor is not very accurate and I think the GPS is a little bit off, but I'll have to check with my previous runs on endomondo.
Sent from my SM-P607T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not very concerned with battery life. I have plenty of opportunities to charge the watch during the day. Especially since the charging dock is a battery too. Sure is a great feature for this little watch.
paitobp said:
Be mindful that streaming will significantly reduce battery life.
I'll pitch in on this one, I took it today for a run as standalone and for the 7 miles that I ran the battery went from 97% to 49% at the end of the run which was 1 hour long. I received a call that played about a minute lol and numerous email notifications. That being said I say that it will probably last at the most 2 hrs as a standalone with everything turned on and streaming music. Hope this help!
PS. The built in hr monitor is not very accurate and I think the GPS is a little bit off, but I'll have to check with my previous runs on endomondo.
Sent from my SM-P607T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you ever have issues with it streaming Milk in "standalone" mode? I can not get it to stream, it only sits at the Milk splash screen weather on Wifi or 4G,(it does play on the phone when connected to Bluetooth). I have called Samsung and T-Mobile but no one has any idea how to fix. Samsung actually tried to tell me that Milk was discontinued and no longer supported, I guess he was out of trouble shooting ideas and wanted to get me off the phone. Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is the only reason I bought it and decide to leave my Moto 360 on the nightstand.
^ To be honest the only problem that I have had is that sometimes the app hangs and I lose audio for a little bit and then it comes back. Where I run there are a couple of spots where the signal is weak and I think that's what happen when it hangs. Other than that I have had not issues, but I haven't use Milk al that much.
How is your data usage streaming milk to run?
I want to try android wear device.I choose LG G Watch.
Because in India,LG G Watch is available for 6500 INR (105USD).
Can any one tell me the pros and cons for this watch?
Is good to buy?
I just posted this message in another thread, but it is relevant to your question, so here it is again......
I just got mine too, but I really like it.....
First, I have to have my phone encrypted for work reasons. Having the Wear Unlock feature is a Godsend.
Second, I really like having my email and other notifications right there on my wrist. 90% of the emails I get are unimportant, but the other 10% are critically important. Before having the watch, I didn't check my email as much as I should have due to the amount of low importance email. Now with the watch, it is quick and easy to see an incoming message and immediately delete the unimportant ones.
Third, I love Google Now. It may start out feeling like a gimmick, but the more you use it, the more you will depend on it as a important feature. I was really starting to use this feature on my phone (G3), but it was a pain to get my phone and turn the screen on before I could use it. Having the watch allows this experience to be much quicker since I don't have to touch my phone. It's even better than the Moto X with it's "always listening" mode because you get the results right on the watch. Sure, there are sometimes that I need to push the results to the phone, but many times I am fine with viewing the information right on the watch. Checking the traffic conditions is something I do regularly - even when traveling on secondary roads and not the highway.
Fourth - Navigation on the watch. Having the turn by turn directions on the watch means I can leave my phone screen turned off when using navigation. I don't have a car mount for my car, so trying to position the phone where I could watch the navigation queues was a pain. In fact, many times I simply listened to the voice instructions which wasn't ideal. Now having the steps appear on the watch is great!
Fifth, I like having the incoming phone calls vibrate the watch. I would miss calls sometimes because I didn't hear my phone ringing or feel it vibrate (if on silent). Now I'm much less likely to miss a call.
I use all of these features all the time, but it is especially nice to be able to put my phone down when I get home and not have to carry it around with me. I can place it in the middle of our house (in the Den) and it will stay connected to the watch pretty much wherever I am in the house. It's great to still get notifications and see who is calling without having to run to look at my phone.
Those are just some features off the top of my head that I have enjoyed with the new watch.
Thank you for your info.
What about battery life from your usage?
I charge it every day, but the watch has never died on me before I end the day - usually 15 hrs or longer. I've had the watch about a week now, so I didn't experienced the "pre-update" battery performance. The battery performance was worse on the early versions of the Wear OS, but by all accounts, it is pretty good now.
Thank you for your information.
svprm said:
Thank you for your information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just an update. Somehow my watch didn't charge last night - the charger must have gotten unplugged or something. I'm sitting at 11% battery life after about 26 hours.