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Hello everyone,
Samsung has released a watch with the Samsung Galaxy S5 as a companion. Here is my full unboxing and review of the watch. Do you think that the watch would be worth your money? Is it a good watch? Is it silly or actually useful? Watch the Review and let me know what you think of the watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dtT4dSHxLiU
I like it as I am am wearing a Gear 2 on my left arm and a Fit on my right. At the moment the Fit is my preference assuming I can find a way to increase the band size. Its small...
Earthdog said:
I like it as I am am wearing a Gear 2 on my left arm and a Fit on my right. At the moment the Fit is my preference assuming I can find a way to increase the band size. Its small...
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Or you're big
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
SirLance99 said:
Or you're big
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
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Well in my case every watch I have ever owned fit except the Fit. :laugh:
Earthdog said:
Well in my case every watch I have ever owned fit except the Fit. :laugh:
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Yeah it is a bit small.
Earthdog said:
I like it as I am am wearing a Gear 2 on my left arm and a Fit on my right. At the moment the Fit is my preference assuming I can find a way to increase the band size. Its small...
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OMG, thats what i want to do. How do you like that setup? Right now, I want it just to have changable watch faces and use the fit as a customizable bracelet.
Im sure ill use the utility of both devices, but for now im more focused on just those two aspects.
Before anyone says anything, $300 is nothing for a watch and $200 is nothing for a bracelt. Just to have them fully customizable is awesome. I will most likey use the watch to take short calls in the field, check a msg at meetings. Use the fit band for the health tracking. Time will tell what utility I will use, but I dont really want to use the cool features as much as some people do, or will perceive me to want to(people think that enough with my N3, N8.0 and NP12.2 lol)
Ugh, what a waste - I wanted to buy one for my wife until I found out it doesn't have the microphone/speaker like the other Gears. She saw me talking on my Gear 2 Neo and mentioned she'd actually use that feature (she wouldn't use bluetooth headsets before because she has a thing about putting things on her ear). It would have been the first smartwatch she would have been open to using if only it had those missing features as she doesn't like the size of most of the other smartwatches.
rEVOLVE said:
Ugh, what a waste - I wanted to buy one for my wife until I found out it doesn't have the microphone/speaker like the other Gears. She saw me talking on my Gear 2 Neo and mentioned she'd actually use that feature (she wouldn't use bluetooth headsets before because she has a thing about putting things on her ear). It would have been the first smartwatch she would have been open to using if only it had those missing features as she doesn't like the size of most of the other smartwatches.
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Who wants to talk to their watch in public?
aooga said:
Who wants to talk to their watch in public?
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Are you always in public? Do you ever use speakerphone? Have a little imagination, will you? It's not like you would do this for every conversation. Did it occur to you that -sometimes- it's handy? ie - when your hands are full, when you're in the car, by yourself, etc. Also the possibility of controlling Google Now/S Voice is gone - which is more what I was interested in for my use and one of the reasons I'm exploring switching from my Pebble (which currently can do way more useful things than my Gear).
Wouldn't you rather have the option to do it and never use it if it doesn't suit you rather than buy a product that was limited by hardware to do more?
rEVOLVE said:
Are you always in public? Do you ever use speakerphone? Have a little imagination, will you? It's not like you would do this for every conversation. Did it occur to you that -sometimes- it's handy? ie - when your hands are full, when you're in the car, by yourself, etc. Also the possibility of controlling Google Now/S Voice is gone - which is more what I was interested in for my use and one of the reasons I'm exploring switching from my Pebble (which currently can do way more useful things than my Gear).
Wouldn't you rather have the option to do it and never use it if it doesn't suit you rather than buy a product that was limited by hardware to do more?
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Well for me, I would never use it. Car has bluetooth anyway, not really by myself that much, and even if I was, I would still not use speakerphone. I have an HTC One and people complain a lot when I use speakerphone, so I've stopped. It might work for you, but I see it as more of a gimmick than a real feature.
Yeah you can't use google now, but you can't do that on the gear 2 either. Only Svoice to send messages.
aooga said:
Well for me, I would never use it. Car has bluetooth anyway, not really by myself that much, and even if I was, I would still not use speakerphone. I have an HTC One and people complain a lot when I use speakerphone, so I've stopped. It might work for you, but I see it as more of a gimmick than a real feature.
Yeah you can't use google now, but you can't do that on the gear 2 either. Only Svoice to send messages.
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Ok, let's petition all the manufacturers to remove speakerphone from all phones because it doesn't fit -your- use. j/k
See, I agree with you that speakerphone in public is annoying, but wouldn't you feel bad buying a phone in this age that didn't have that feature -even if you never expected to use it? Sometimes I'm roaming my home and it's handy to have a quick convo on the speakerphone of the Neo without taking out and holding my phone or running to get my headset. Wow, it just made my life easier!
MOST of the samsung features are gimmicks, btw. Hell, lots of people consider a smartwatch a gimmick as well - it's all about perspective and being open to capabilities. You know what's a gimmick to me? Making a color screen on a smartwatch but having to keep it off just to save battery - it's annoying looking down and not seeing the time on the watch and being forced to wave my arm/touch the watch to display info.
S-Voice is damn useful on the Neo, though. I just got the weather forecast with it on the watch. Maybe a dev can switch the intent from S-Voice to Google Now (otherwise going for one of the Android Wear watches). My Mom just discovered how much easier her phone is to use w/ voice commands. Voice recognition is moving to the point of being pretty accurate, so as a handsfree interface, it's an awesome option rather than swiping all over the damn watch. This is why -for my use- I wouldn't consider the Fit until they add the mic and speaker back in and any future smartwatch I consider will need to have those as a requirement.
rEVOLVE said:
Ok, let's petition all the manufacturers to remove speakerphone from all phones because it doesn't fit -your- use. j/k
See, I agree with you that speakerphone in public is annoying, but wouldn't you feel bad buying a phone in this age that didn't have that feature -even if you never expected to use it? Sometimes I'm roaming my home and it's handy to have a quick convo on the speakerphone of the Neo without taking out and holding my phone or running to get my headset. Wow, it just made my life easier!
MOST of the samsung features are gimmicks, btw. Hell, lots of people consider a smartwatch a gimmick as well - it's all about perspective and being open to capabilities. You know what's a gimmick to me? Making a color screen on a smartwatch but having to keep it off just to save battery - it's annoying looking down and not seeing the time on the watch and being forced to wave my arm/touch the watch to display info.
S-Voice is damn useful on the Neo, though. I just got the weather forecast with it on the watch. Maybe a dev can switch the intent from S-Voice to Google Now (otherwise going for one of the Android Wear watches). My Mom just discovered how much easier her phone is to use w/ voice commands. Voice recognition is moving to the point of being pretty accurate, so as a handsfree interface, it's an awesome option rather than swiping all over the damn watch. This is why -for my use- I wouldn't consider the Fit until they add the mic and speaker back in and any future smartwatch I consider will need to have those as a requirement.
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Thats why Samsung made both
One works for some people and the other works for other people. I chose the fit because the neo is a bit too big for my tastes as well as the battery is supposed to be better on the fit. I didn't know svoice could be used for things other than just replying though. Seems interesting. I'm probably going to pick up a Android Wear watch too when they come out...depends how big they are. I hate having a dinner plate on my wrist.
aooga said:
Thats why Samsung made both
One works for some people and the other works for other people. I chose the fit because the neo is a bit too big for my tastes as well as the battery is supposed to be better on the fit. I didn't know svoice could be used for things other than just replying though. Seems interesting. I'm probably going to pick up a Android Wear watch too when they come out...depends how big they are. I hate having a dinner plate on my wrist.
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If Samsung makes a Android Wear that is in the Fit form factor (maybe call it the "Fit Pro") I'd buy 2 on release day for my wife and myself. S-Voice is not Google Now, but it actually does a lot of what I need already. This will change as Google fleshes out what Google Now can do and integrate with. Also, making it "always listening" without having to touch the watch would be key - as that demo with "open garage door" in the Android Wear video got me really excited about it.
Being a happy Pebble user, it was the Fit form factor that tempted me to switch as no one has made such a unique and appealing form factor, yet. I've seen a band that is just pretty much a glorified bluetooth speakerphone on your wrist and that's not the same. It's a shame they crippled the current Fit by keeping off the mic and speaker because the more I use that on my Neo I'm realizing voice control immensely increases the smartwatch's fun and usefulness, IMO.
I have speaker and mic on the Galaxy Gear, I almost never used them.
I understand people want them, they could still get a Galaxy Gear(cheap), Neo or Gear 2.
If anybody likes a speaker and mic, why buy the fit? Samsung did not hid the fact the watch has no speaker or mic.
Sure you may like how the fit looks (I do) but you need to decide what is more important the style of the watch or the speaker/mic.
I like the style with the Gear Fit, it is very light.
I still get notifications, weather and now a step counter and heart beat sensor (even though they are not great)
AstroDigital said:
I have speaker and mic on the Galaxy Gear, I almost never used them.
I understand people want them, they could still get a Galaxy Gear(cheap), Neo or Gear 2.
If anybody likes a speaker and mic, why buy the fit? Samsung did not hid the fact the watch has no speaker or mic.
Sure you may like how the fit looks (I do) but you need to decide what is more important the style of the watch or the speaker/mic.
I like the style with the Gear Fit, it is very light.
I still get notifications, weather and now a step counter and heart beat sensor (even though they are not great)
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But that's the thing, it's such a missed opportunity to not have a version in the gorgeous form factor of the Fit w the mic/speaker. After testing the Neo for a few days, that's the main reason I didn't return it immediately, as my Pebble already did a lot of what I wanted w/ the exception of the janky pedometer/HRM. I could even forgive that the Neo is only controlling S Voice and not Google Now, because it's handy enough. You would think that with the Fit's smaller form factor and the fact you have less screen to interact with, supplementing the control scheme with the mic/speaker would make sense.
Again, it's not the phone conversations that are attractive to me, it's the immediate access to S Voice. It is a major factor of convenience on your wrist once you realize the potential. I still come back to how great the Fit looks, especially for females who don't really have a lot of options in the Smartwatch arena. But there's no way I would invest in a smartwatch w/o the mic now - it's just not complete without one.
Please go here for any further discussion, thanks...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2709343
Its not perfect but after all the criticisms i have to say i like it
Sent from my TrueSmart using XDA Free mobile app
It's ok, I like mine too
What do you like about it though?
I'm getting another SIM to use in it and I think I'll like it more then, but the fact that the companion app is so poor means that the integration with bluetooth isn't an option really.
I'm quite happy with it too.
I have the 1/8 2100 version, and all seem to work well.
- It started up out of the box
- The cradles charge ( I got the extra one I ordered)
- the buttons don't fall off
- call quality is awesome
- screen sensitivity is good (sometimes a little too good, but hey)
- bluetooth, wifi and gps have a proper connection
- "back button" swipe left action works
And in general use:
- surprisingly easy to read on small screen
- even able to watch short video/tutorials on watch (very handy when needing both hands free)
- app installing/start up goes quick
- I use Minuum Keyboard now, and that is awesome, Frees up half the screen for reading conversations, perfect!
- with Minuum keyboard it's also easy to make small voice commands that turn to text, for me works even quicker than responding with the "normal phone" in the old days
by having the phone on the wrist it makes checking if you need to respond 10 times faster. Just a flick of the hand and a two finger swipe when you get a short vibrate or buzz from a message/email/update and you are ready. Where as the "normal phone" you have to get out of the pocket, check and put back.
The two biggest downside that I find, are not necessarily omate related but more smartwatch in general:
- by having the watch on your wrist, if you use it for typing, by default are using both arms. Where as a "normal phone" you can operate with one hand.
- I don't 100% like the reading angle: you have to hold your arm really parallel to the body to read without make strange neck moves. Having "landscape" mode is even worse.
I think about 35 degree angle of the arm would be a way better reading position. That maybe would be the biggest advantage of the round type smartwatches like the moto 360, the ability to adjust the screen orientation till it ergonomically fits you best.
Wiggz said:
What do you like about it though?
I'm getting another SIM to use in it and I think I'll like it more then, but the fact that the companion app is so poor means that the integration with bluetooth isn't an option really.
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My experience is pretty much identical to timkey's. It does what its supposed to. Typing is obviously slower but its better than I thought. Screen is sharp. It's fast. And it's a phone on my wrist I think rooting it and putting on soft keys and a status bar are pretty essential though. I do find the touch screen goes a little haywire sometimes.
To help with the viewing angle, I wear it a little loose and then I can twist it slightly towards me.
Sent from my LG-V500 using XDA Free mobile app
I like it because it functions just how I wanted it to. Its quite simply an android phone on your wrist, which is pretty damn awesome. Calls work pretty good, texting on this is awesome (so handy being able to just look at your wrist), and it's pretty much taken every app and game I've thrown at it so far. I also like being able to throw a song on and have handsfree music, so I can cut rebar or something at work and have music. And to top it off, I get pretty great battery life out of it. It's always lasted at least a full day, if not two. Even after two days the lowest I've had it is 30%
So, despite the company itself acting like a total noob for supporting this, it does function quite well (after some necessary patching of course). Having proper sources and support with proper firmware updates and having more tweaks android is known for available, would all just be icing on the cake.
So would those who like it buy a TS2, or has the arrogance and sheer mismanagement of Omate put you off, even though you enjoy the product?
I enjoy mine, though I can rarely use it as intended due to water issues. I have a T-Mobile sim in it. I would not only not ever buy anything associated with Omate ever again, but also not Umeox and not MTK. Never Again.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
It depends. I mean, the reality is I paid about £120 for a brand new android phone in watch form. If the TS2 was also a bargain, I'd probably get one. Hopefully they would learn some good lessons from this.
I am an engineer and did my degree in electronics, so I have some experience with product development. It was very clear to me that the timescales Omate were claiming were ridiculous and that made me question their competence. I'm still impressed they produced what they did as fast as they did. The testing problems people are experiencing are not acceptable but they are expected. Omate kinda painted themselves into an corner with their optimistic claims and high ambitions.
Now, all that said, I don't see what I would want from a TS2 that in don't get from this device. Its too small to do anything too intricate. It creates a WiFi hotspot and provides basic smartphone functionality well, which is all I need it for. Maybe if I got a 4G data plan, it might be good to have a watch that can make use of it but that's all I can think of.
Sent from my LG-V500 using XDA Free mobile app
The device has potential. I could maybe live with the HW shortcomings like IP rating, non-responsive buttons, add SD-card kills back seal etc as well as HW limitations like a little too heavy and too thick. The delays and communication failure from Omate is a separate story. I believe llepen believes what he says, he is still communicating still.
What I do not accept is the crappy firmware, that is HW specific. Noproper open source either. That kills BTLE, battery etc, as well as limits the adaptations required to get Android usable on a small device. I am not talking about limiting functionality like Android Wear, but an adapted Android experience w button actionssweep. Omate/Umeox mostly relies on MediaTek, and MediaTek seem to make good HW, but are both breaking GPL and incompetent in SW development.
I love my TS. I tried to have few expectations as to not be let down if it sucked, but I was happy to find that it was just about everything I could hope for in a smartwatch. It is solidly built, not too big, the screen is very sharp and sensitive, the camera is Good Enough(tm) (though the camera app really should rotate 90 degress left, which it does in the BlueTooth tether ROM, iirc).
My one major complaint is that Omate's version Android is awful. I work around it with third-party software (e.g. Nova Launcher, All in One Gestures), and with some effort, after-market ROMs can be ported. I'm very disappointed that no sources are available, but we all knew that would be the case.
That the notification bar is always hidden bugs the heck out of me, but the BlueTooth tether ROM fixes that.
Screen-on battery life is okay; not great, not awful, but it charges very quickly, so that's usually not a big deal. Screen-off life is fantastic.
I wish I could change the DPI for Ingress. It would be so cool to be able to play on my wrist.
Working with Omate is indeed like rolling a boulder uphill, and while I'll probably never buy anything from them again until they prove themselves reliable, I do believe Le Pen is trying. And I'm as disappointed with Omate as I am with those who continue to try to poison the TS community, making productive, open collaboration difficult.
timkey said:
I'm quite happy with it too.
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I agree with just about everything you say. Anymore I use my phone only for long text conversations and more-than-casual web browsing. Everything else is done on my TS. Flesky is remarkably easy to use once you get used to it (although whoever decided to put backspace next to return needs a smack in the face). I'm especially happy that it's so easy to read text on the small screen as I read lots of RSS feeds on and off all day long.
The reading angle bothered me at first, but my arm just had to get used to being held in an unfamiliar position.
gerhardo said:
I could maybe live with the HW shortcomings like IP rating, non-responsive buttons, add SD-card kills back seal etc as well as HW limitations like a little too heavy and too thick.
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The IP rating and back seal issues don't matter much to me, but I can see how that would be a disappointment to other users. The button responsiveness, weight, and thickness are fine for me. It did seem a bit heavy for the first day or two, but I quickly got used to it.
nicktastique said:
I wish I could change the DPI for Ingress. It would be so cool to be able to play on my wrist.
Working with Omate is indeed like rolling a boulder uphill, and while I'll probably never buy anything from them again until they prove themselves reliable, I do believe Le Pen is trying. And I'm as disappointed with Omate as I am with those who continue to try to poison the TS community, making productive, open collaboration difficult.
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Xposed Framework
Xposed Per App Settings
I consider setting default dpi to something higher than 120, to see better and change dpi where needed
gerhardo said:
Xposed Framework
Xposed Per App Settings
I consider setting default dpi to something higher than 120, to see better and change dpi where needed
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Yes, but it doesn't work, and others have confirmed. Is your experience different?
Smockingjacket said:
So would those who like it buy a TS2, or has the arrogance and sheer mismanagement of Omate put you off, even though you enjoy the product?
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No.
While I like the watch itself, if I were to drop another $200-$300 on a new watch, it would be from a company that can support it's device a little more competently. I really doubt we'll ever see a firmware update.
Although as long as this watch doesn't **** the bed I should be using it for a good long time. It functions pretty much like I want it to, so I don't feel the need to upgrade anytime soon.
I like it as well. After changing launcher and installing a few apps I felt it was usable. I tried for a while to use it as phone replacement. It DOES work as that, but the upsides of having a watch (smaller / lighter than a phone, won't forget something strapped to your arm and so on) doesn't really outweigh the downsides (hard to type, sometimes hard to navigate menus, small screen causing readability and layout issues, battery is slightly worse than my phone, etc). The most annoying issue though is when the screen goes into over-sensitive mode and register button press all over the place. Someone said it gets a lot better with a screen protector on, I will try that.
However, it does work great in some areas. My main use is for exercise - RunKeeper (and similar apps) works great. I can take a run, track my progress, listen to music, and see notifications if someone is trying to reach me, without needing a much more cumbersome phone jumping around in my pocket.
It's also useful when I'm outdoors, say fishing or hiking. While it isn't waterproof, it does what I need (gps / maps, tell time, make calls if I need to, no risk of dropping it).
So overall, it's a nice device (even though software and such needs some urgent updates). Maybe not great for a phone replacement but for outdoor use and exercise it's really good imo.
nicktastique said:
Yes, but it doesn't work, and others have confirmed. Is your experience different?
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Works fine for me, using it for SuperSU and Titanium.
Well, the TS is unavailable again: Screen is black, no response to buttons (except the feedback I added with Xposed Additions to get virtual physical button) and no adb. adb is a common issue, very seldom works. But I have my device for a couple of days, I have occasionally borrowed one for time to time though.
He means that changing the DPI to 90 for Ingress doesn't work, I think, gerhardo.
Actually, I play Ingress with my TrueSmart and the stock Ingress client (only) and it mostly does work. Hacking and firing work fine from the front screen long press menu and I was even able to deploy I found recently mainly by lucky pressing in the portal view on a crunched up set of buttons there. I had previously thought deploying impossible with stock and stock. Its still impractical.
What was reported no longer working was adjusting the DPI because of some change Niantic introduced into their code at some point a while back. I have not tried that anyway.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
trent999 said:
He means that changing the DPI to 90 for Ingress doesn't work, I think, gerhardo.
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Yes that's what I mean in particular. Ingress no longer honors density settings via App Settings. It doesn't even appear to honor ro.sf.lcd_density on the TS, though it does on my Note 2 (which is annoying since it's set to 280).
I like mine too (1/8 2100 Dev).
Straight from the box, no patch, no rom, no bootloader, no nothing. The apps tho aren't there but it's almost like when the new Xbox, Playstation or Nintendo come out - people don't introduce games until the hardware is in use. I figure the developers of apps are waiting, working and planning something awesome for all smartwatches (not just companions).
Omate, well, hopefully, lessons on their side have been learned and fingers crossed the TS2 (if there is one) will be better planned for.
Hats off to SWApp Link tho. The app is the best thing that's been introduced for me. I had my SIM in my phone originally, then the watch and now back to the phone (just to work out what is best for me - I take a lot of photos and use 4G too much so my Note 3 is where my SIM is needed most) but the app - Bluetooth aside - is absolutely wonderful.
I don't regret buying the TureSmart, nor regret using Kickstarter - I have backed many an idea over the months. My regret is that the technology in total isn't there, yet.
But thank you XDA for being here :good:
Hello!
My wife wants to get a fitness band like this to track steps, maybe bike, etc. Since she has a Note 4 I thought this one could be nice but reviews are not all that great.
What is the status these day?
Thanks!
Ideally it should be used with a stand alone sports tracking app and heart rate monitor. Samsung S-health is frustrating. The built in HRM will only work continuously with S-health.
It needs to be treated as an extension to your device. It fits my purpose perfectly, remote control (music) , exercise tracker (endomondo), mail/sms/viber notifications and whether or not to take that call.
I think it's the best value device at the moment.
shaolin95 said:
Hello!
My wife wants to get a fitness band like this to track steps, maybe bike, etc. Since she has a Note 4 I thought this one could be nice but reviews are not all that great.
What is the status these day?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had mine since Nov 14,and am very happy with it.I use it with my note 3.I got to track steps but have come to rely on it for notifications like a quick check of message received and see who is calling without taking phone out of pocket.(easy to see with hands on steering wheel)Also very nice to control music player and seeing notifications without people knowing you are checking your phone.I would highly recommend the gear fit,especially at todays prices ,only cost me 10.50 to get liquid shield put on.
so I'm going to try out the Virtual Reality experience. Getting the Google Daydream View ($80 on Amazon).
Choosing the Google ones so that I can cast the video on my TV via chromecast so that others can see what I'm seeing.
Anyone have any experiences with these (or other goggles) that may be helpful?
thanks!
nobody? really? wow. i guess the VR goggles are more unpopular than I thought.
well, got mine last night and tried them out. pretty cool. still some bugs though like keeping the pointer centered, video streaming, lack of content. I can really only stand 15-20 minutes of it, otherwise my eyes begin to hurt. my kids tried them out and loved them.
my phone did get hot, and it did use a lot of battery.
had some difficulties with the initial setup, as I did not realize that I had to enable NFC on the phone, and charge the pointer first. i think it uses a bluetooth connection to the pointer (I already have bluetooth enabled, so keep that in mind).
but after a while, I can see myself getting used to it. watching the shark videos was pretty cool, as both my wife and I actually jumped when shark swam by.
casting the experience on my TV is a nice plus so that others can be involved too (as well as help navigate them).
I like the Daydream better than the Gear VR. I don't use either a or the because it's so isolating and I don't have old dogs that constantly need to go in and out doors. [emoji16]
Sent from my SM-T820 using Tapatalk
I've spent a lot of time in both. I like the Gear better, but only because I have a wide face, with my eyes a bit wider apart than most. Daydream is the cooler version, nicer to touch and look at. Gear is a bit clunky, but if you have a wide face or glasses, the Daydream gets uncomfortable quickly. Sammy's library is much bigger, but much of it is shovelware. Both ecosystems have their exclusive highlights.
I've spent time with a Huawei Watch, HW2 and now a Ticwatch Pro and they all share the same problem - WearOS. It is so slow and unreliable. battery life.....
I loved my Pebble Time Steel and briefly had a Amazfit BIP - which I was very impressed with. I just wanted something that looked a bit better, so went back to Huawei watches.
I only use my watch to tell me of incoming notifications and phone calls. Not for any exercise or sport stuff.
Looking at what's out there, the Stratos and Verge keep garnering my attention. I was relieved to see a dev community for these watches.
What do people prefer? Stratos looks gorgeous, but Verge has calling ability. I suppose both have an equal amount of development done on them. Is installing APKs on these as simple as ADB'ing to them?
Thanks
Hi,
i have few Pebble (Steel and Pebble 2), on rebel.io soft last time but its development is dead practically. wife have Samsung Gear Classic but i want to try Verge.
I was interesting about long battery (2 days with continuous pulse, 4-5 normally), pulse measuring (really good sensors), reply to messages and speaker for calls and low price - so i buy for 120$ Verge and it does the job. Great GPS ! and software.
Of course its plastic but this is not so important for me, it's light great screen and for this price you can't find anything better i assume... Try to use PACEficator from @Saratoga79 and this is it !
white43 said:
I've spent time with a Huawei Watch, HW2 and now a Ticwatch Pro and they all share the same problem - WearOS. It is so slow and unreliable. battery life.....
I loved my Pebble Time Steel and briefly had a Amazfit BIP - which I was very impressed with. I just wanted something that looked a bit better, so went back to Huawei watches.
I only use my watch to tell me of incoming notifications and phone calls. Not for any exercise or sport stuff.
Looking at what's out there, the Stratos and Verge keep garnering my attention. I was relieved to see a dev community for these watches.
What do people prefer? Stratos looks gorgeous, but Verge has calling ability. I suppose both have an equal amount of development done on them. Is installing APKs on these as simple as ADB'ing to them?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want best battery, Amazfit Bip.
If you are interested on notification replies, answering calls, Amazfit Verge.
If you are focusing on sport, notification replies, Amazfit Stratos.
Saratoga79 said:
If you want best battery, Amazfit Bip.
If you are interested on notification replies, answering calls, Amazfit Verge.
If you are focusing on sport, notification replies, Amazfit Stratos.
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Thank you
So you can reply to messages - inc WhatsApp with Verge and Stratos?
Is battery life equally good on both?
Is PACE worth considering?
white43 said:
Thank you
So you can reply to messages - inc WhatsApp with Verge and Stratos?
Is battery life equally good on both?
Is PACE worth considering?
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Yes, on Stratos/Pace/Verge, not sure on Bip,, using AmazMod or WatchDroid apps.
Battery depends on usage but 4-6 days with some sport and notifications.
Saratoga79 said:
Yes, on Stratos/Pace/Verge, not sure on Bip,, using AmazMod or WatchDroid apps.
Battery depends on usage but 4-6 days with some sport and notifications.
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Cool. I see in some reviews they're saying you can't reply? Or do you mean you need to install AmazMod or WatchDroid to reply? Is it easy to install on Verge?
white43 said:
Cool. I see in some reviews they're saying you can't reply? Or do you mean you need to install AmazMod or WatchDroid to reply? Is it easy to install on Verge?
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You need to install a 3th party app on watch and phone (Android only).
In the forum there is a thread about AmazMod.
white43 said:
I've spent time with a Huawei Watch, HW2 and now a Ticwatch Pro and they all share the same problem - WearOS. It is so slow and unreliable. battery life.....
I loved my Pebble Time Steel and briefly had a Amazfit BIP - which I was very impressed with. I just wanted something that looked a bit better, so went back to Huawei watches.
I only use my watch to tell me of incoming notifications and phone calls. Not for any exercise or sport stuff.
Looking at what's out there, the Stratos and Verge keep garnering my attention. I was relieved to see a dev community for these watches.
What do people prefer? Stratos looks gorgeous, but Verge has calling ability. I suppose both have an equal amount of development done on them. Is installing APKs on these as simple as ADB'ing to them?
Thanks
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When broke down my previous smartband i looked for new smart wearable device. I had to found new manufactor at all, cos previous device's manufactor don't release and did not released yet new wearable devices at all. My requirements:
1. Inexpensive, price must be from 50 to 100 euros.
2. GPS (navigation is my wish, i hope Amazfit will add this feature (widget) in future)
3. Heart Rate tracking
4. Sleep tracking
5. Steps tracking
6. Long battery life
7. Notifications of call/messages/calendar and ect.
8. Microphone/Soundspeaker was request, cos previous device had it too, but all previous models which i checked before i bought Verge, havn't that (if say exactly - microphone, voice assitant), so it wasn't so important, but was big plus and reason to buy Verge model.
So in my market sellers in theirs shops by these my requirements could offer just some models and one of them was Amazfit Bip. Ofcourse i wanted good manufactor, i didn't wanted cheap product which will break down after month or little more. So i discovered Amazfit as manufactor in this way. I read a lot of opinions about this company and most or maybe all was birliants: long time battery life, good heart rate tracking and ect. All features which i wanted they could offer me in my wanting price. So i started to search more about Amazfit and Bip. I liked in first sign this model: very very long battery life - 45 days, it's something incredible. Device which cost about 70 euros (2 - 3 months ago) with heart rate tracking, GPS, sleep tracking and many more. But Bip have some minus too: cheap display, small screen, can't read my language text (letters), ofcourse most features is missed which have Stratos and Verge. So i continued my search further. I saw in market Stratos too, which cost at these days around 200 euros, which was to expensive to me. So i was confused, i did not knew what to do: to wait untill price of Stratos will be lower or to buy inexpensive Bip model, which have a lot of deficiencies if compare with Stratos and Verge. I read and watched a lot of compare, reviews and ect., about these both models and one day my suprised i found name "Verge". This model was new these days, wasn't in my market yet, but i thought maybe to wait, maybe one day will be in my market, must be. Ofcourse i continued my search, i still looked into Amazfi's products. I read they are leaders of wearable devices or one of them. So quality i thought will be good, must be. So patient i looked further. And for bigger as 100 i found that is Pace, was discount. So i decided to buy it, but... Seller which offer this model had only one device in all my country, so i had to ask about possibility to get this model in my city. They prosimed to call if will be this possibility. So after some weeks i did not got any call and i saw in theirs web site that model is sold. Then i decided to buy Verge, which by the way came to market very fast if say honest. Most market in all world havn't this model until now, or got it just few weeks ago. I have Verge from this year beggining around 2019 Februrary, my search started from 2018 end December, after Christmas, so i looked this model and waited really not so long. Stratos in the market is still now, Pace some sellers sold out long time ago, some of them selling just now. When i looked for new model most of this models (Stratos/Pace) wasn't in market at all, cos was sold out or was with big prices. So that's why i did not bought it at all in my search period. After i decided to wait Verge, i did not checked others models. Then i started to ask about possibility to buy it in my country. After showed up first sellers i went to see in shop how look it and ect. So i saw then all Amazfit models and decided to buy only Verge. Startos looks great too, but is expensive or was when i bought it. Pace wasn't in market and Bip was to small, cheap display compare to others models.
Why Verge?
This model could offer to me what i wanted, all my requirements total completed fulfill. Pace havn't microphone, which have Verge, have poorer water protection - IP67, when Verge have IP68. Similar is with Stratos if i'm not wrong, Stratos have better protection of water from these all models, but havn't microphone too. So Verge in this way for me look better. Design all models is wonderful, Stratos maybe look most beautiful, but Verge and Pace look great too. It's a little bit hard to compare, coz all models i think is dedicated for various people. My opinion Verge best look for people which like to sport, with Startos you can wear classic clothes, Pace? Pace maybe for daily usage, i mean leisure time, leisure people. Design for me never been most important thing, i like good design, but most important to me is features. So in this way win Verge again. Coz Pace was sold out, i had to choose Verge or Startos, ofcourse and you writing that you liked only these models, so maybe i will write about it only.
My opinion Verge and Startos is similar to each other models. I mean specifications. Stratos have better protection from water, but Verge have better display and many others things. Why i chose Verge? Verge price is lower, also this model is newest. I am opinion that newest things can offer better things. So these argument helped to me to choose what to buy. But let's talk more about difference of these models. Verge is plastic that's not maybe good, but how much i read, it's not cheap plastic. If say honest all time i was againts Chinese products, a lot of people know quality of Chinese products. But i don't know why, but i trust in Amazfit. Maybe for great opinions, maybe that i found a lot of great reviews Maybe that this company is leading in wearable devices market. I don't know. But i am happy that i bought Amazfit product yet, and even i'm happy that i chose Verge model. I started compare these two model what i want: Stratos have oxygen tracking (if i'm not wrong), but microphone for me sounds better, i like voice assisntans too, i had it in previous device, so this feature was important to me more as oxygen, water proof resistant which have Startos, as i mentioned and price in this place wasn't last argument. Also if i'm not wrong Stratos havn't NFC, so which watch impossible to do payment in shops. Ofcourse voice assistant, payment via NFC this moment is not available in all market, working just in China and voice assistant in US too, but as i know it coming and it's only time question when will be available in all or most market. Maybe with upcoming updates, maybe later. verge is very new model, so Amazfit as i know working in this already. I very suprised how they fast doing updates, release it and how company so good working on this at all, all mistaked fixing process, so fast and good. I'm very happy of Amazfit Verge at all. By the way Stratos i did not tested, i just saw it in shot, so maybe i more will be talk about Verge. But before that some compare of these models from official web sites:
SCREEN:
Verge - 1.30" AMOLED
Stratos - 1.34inch reflective low-power consumption color display screen
RESOLUTION:
Verge - 360x360
Stratos - 320 X 300
* Both models have always on display feature and Corning Gorilla glass. About that you can read more in offcial Amazfit web site
BOTH HAVE:
1.2GHz Dual-Core Processor, 512M RAM 4GB internal flash memory, GPS + GLONASS. Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g 2.4GHz；Bluetooth 4.0. Heart Rate, Sleep tracking and many others.
So probably biggest differnce between these models is price, resolution, protection of water and some features, like voice assitan, NFC and ect. That's why i bought Verge. Now my feedback about Verge:
This model i have from around 2019 February first days. When i bough it immediately i got update. After month (around this time) i got second update and later another two (one was update, after week was bug/issue fixing, cos did not worked double tap option). So Amazfit on update working hard, fast and really good. As i know Chinese manufactor release update at all very fast: Huawei, Amazfit now, Xiaomi (which actually is Amazfit part or Amazfit is part of Xiaomi) and many others, which i can't remember right now. Amafit Verge by manufactor must be alive about 5 days after last charge. With my settings (sport modes is not activated. Heart rate working all the time. Double tap is activated. Low light mode (always on display mode if say in others words), don't disturb mode, wrist up mode working in specific time, all modes working or not working for 9 hours. Double tap which i mentioned and wrist up modes not working when is activated always on display mode. Is tracking sleep (if i remember right from 22 to 10 or something like this, in day sleep is not tracking, is not tracking and second sleep if you have one). With these settings i charging battery every 2 - 3 days. Before was updated device was moment when i had to charge after 4 days or around it. So i don't know it's update changed charge time or something else. Usuage is the same, settings always was the same or similar to these which i posted. Notifications which you want to get you can choose in Watch App. Facebook, Messenger, Whats Up, SMS you can get with full text, but from Gmail is showing only subject, all full message you can't get. Amazfit is reported a lot of about this, but... maybe will be fixed later. Watch is easy to wear, is not heavy. Sometime i forgetting that i wear it. But... for me size of band is not comfortable so much. If i close it more on my hand, you know, more tighten, when after some minutes annoying, cos pressing to much. If i release band, when moving from place. Even this happening in hot days, when is a little bit sweat or water, cos i cleaning my hand often with this watch (ofcourse i don't trying to special immerse it to water, but after some work need to watch hand, which sometimes going on hand too, included watch band). Maybe it just for me. Is not so bad, but sometime annoying, need to close it again and again. Heart rate this watch tracking very accurate. I compared it with blood measure device, company which creating these devices is one of the best in market of blood tracking. It's medical device, approved by companies which sets these accurate and ect. Sleep tracking is often incorrect. Most time this watch did not detected my correct wake up time. Often was missed 1 - 3 hours from my sleep. It's a little bit weird, coz Amazfit i read working with one of best world University science workers with sleep tracking, if i understand everything right of course. I reported that a several times, so maybe in future will be fixed that too. Steps counting with question too. I tried to check and seek it, one moment looks like everything is fine, next time it looks like tracking is with mistakes. For example when i walking steps by steps was counted right or maybe one or twi steps more, but sometimes i sitting on chair, but watch counting as steps. Weird. I mentioned a lot of time here soundspeaker and microphone. So with this watch you can call from watch to friends or to get their call and talk via watch. Also you can listen music with bluetooth headphone without smartphone. One big problem you can get message, but you can't answer in it from watch. I had smartband which had this option, so little bit weird why Amazfit did not this possibility. Screen is shine, bright. Display is wornderfull, Oled is really cool display. What else? If you have question, post it. If i did not wrote something. By the way soundspeaker is not loud of this watch, to talk with people or to listen straight from watch music (you can do that without headphone too) need enoguht silence place. This watch havn't calendar, watch faces official is a little bit more as 15 after update, but you can easily add ęrd parties or create own if you know how to do that. Every hour watch reminding you to walk if you sitting a lot of, this feature impossible to turn of yet, but if i understand right, this possibility will be add. Voice assistant, NFC payment working as i mentioned right now only in China and US (voice assistant only right now), but as i understand company working in this right now, so maybe soon will be available in all rest world. What else? Weather is getting from yours smartphone, but i don't know from which app or Amazfit have own source. This watch have own oeprating system as you know, so from Google Play you can't install more apps, there is in this forum too some guys which created some apps like Calendar which havn't this watch yet, but to install it it's not so simple. But maybe it's just for me. In watch you can add only two widget from 13: weather, health (steps counting), heart rate, sports, sleep, activities, phone, music, alarm, find phone (if you forget where to left your phone, this app will help you to find it, will turn on alarm of smartphone), timer, stopwatch, compass (working fine) and last settings, but settings i don't count as widget, cos you can add it as i remember. Weather is 5 days in widget, so really good widget. I forget to say, i mentioned that Bip model can't regonized specific language. For example my language letters is not showing in bip message notifications, with verge i can read my language text without any problem. So probably that's all. Big text, but if i missed something just ask, i will try to say it.
Finally watch it's really good, plastic, but is strong, good quality platsic. Have Gorrila Glass protection (3rd generation which is better when in smartphone). Have some minus like incorrect sleep tracking often, but not daily, steps with question, but most feature working fine, battery is good, display is very nice. I recommend you to buy it.
---------- Post added at 05:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:27 PM ----------
Saratoga79 said:
If you want best battery, Amazfit Bip.
If you are interested on notification replies, answering calls, Amazfit Verge.
If you are focusing on sport, notification replies, Amazfit Stratos.
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I disagree, Verge is much more better for sport as Stratos. Verge have more as 10 sports genre from running to football
Well done my friend to the post above! It was a great read! I hope you enjoy and have pleasure with your new Amazfit!
Give that man a cigar!
?
Damoedge said:
Well done my friend to the post above! It was a great read! I hope you enjoy and have pleasure with your new Amazfit!
Give that man a cigar!
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I don't smoke :laugh: But thanks, user asked opinion - here is it