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jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
129
McKinney, TX
After having it on and playing with it for a bit, I find the design and overall execution to be stunning.



To such an extent I think it could be as iconic as the Nathan George Horwitt Museum Watch for smart watches.



While I can't promise I will trade my S6 for a an iPhone 6S in the fall, the Apple Watch is having a some swaying power with me.


Exactly what I would expect. It's an accessory product that makes the ecosystem a stronger competitor overall. Apple's products are more and more about the ecosystem and really not marketed to those who want to be platform agnostic.
 

mcmul

macrumors 6502
Dec 14, 2009
341
12
I've tried the Pebble and liked it but that isn't the reason why I'm commenting. I'd like to hear from other people who tried out the watch and were massively unimpressed? I played with two of them yeaterday for a few hours and to summarise: it's the first Apple product that I picked up, attempted to use and couldn't get anywhere on it. I actually had the opposite experience to what I expected: the watch is way smaller than I expected and is a very nice finish (still not my style but I liked it), but the software is too complicated, confusing and frankly does too much. Massively disappointed. I won't be buying one.
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
Already decided I will look at the LG G Watch Urbane, the new Moto 360 or the upcoming round Samsung watch (if it is Android Wear. If it is Tizen, I won't touch it.)

Once I decide, my Martian Notifier will be retired.
 

kdarling

macrumors P6
Already decided I will look at the LG G Watch Urbane, the new Moto 360 or the upcoming round Samsung watch (if it is Android Wear. If it is Tizen, I won't touch it.)

Don't forget the Huawei Watch!

Once I decide, my Martian Notifier will be retired.

Yes, but keep it around and charged just in case.

For camping or even long work trips, you still might want your Notifier :)

It's also good to have around if your power goes out for an extended period, like happened up here with Superstorm Sandy.
 

Esoom

macrumors 6502
Apr 30, 2010
415
51
Colorado
Am happy with my Pebble Steel, and am waiting for Pebble Time Steel to ship, someday, LOL.

I have an Apple Watch pre ordered as well, hoping there'll be a jailbreak out soon. :confused:
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Don't forget the Huawei Watch!



Yes, but keep it around and charged just in case.

For camping or even long work trips, you still might want your Notifier :)

It's also good to have around if your power goes out for an extended period, like happened up here with Superstorm Sandy.

The Huawei watch look gorgeous, maybe a little bit thick. Certainly much nicer than the urbane which I find fairly ugly. My money is on the Moto 260 2 though. Other than that the Samsung round will be nice, but hamstrung by Tizen so probably not an option unless it includes cellular like the Gear S.
 

kdarling

macrumors P6
The Huawei watch look gorgeous, maybe a little bit thick.

I think this points out that aspect ratio (thickness to diameter) is important.

The Huawei is about 0.2mm thinner than the Moto 360, but because it's also 4mm smaller in diameter, it looks "thick".

Certainly much nicer than the urbane which I find fairly ugly.

I agree, I'm not fond of the urbane's large plain bezel. I wish it had the Urbane LTE's little dots.

My money is on the Moto 260 2 though.

The Moto is a people's favorite. It'll be interesting to see what they change.

Other than that the Samsung round will be nice, but hamstrung by Tizen so probably not an option unless it includes cellular like the Gear S.

Yeah, it's got to be tough for Samsung. They really want to add more features, but I think stock Android Wear is holding them back, so they often go Tizen.

I forget. Is there some sort of contractual reason why they can't use a version of Android on their watches instead?
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
Don't forget the Huawei Watch!



Yes, but keep it around and charged just in case.

For camping or even long work trips, you still might want your Notifier :)

It's also good to have around if your power goes out for an extended period, like happened up here with Superstorm Sandy.

No, I won't sell it. It will go in with my collection of phones and tablets, and other wearables I have like the Nike Fuelband, FitBit Flex and other classical watches from Tissot.
I tend to pull my electronics out every 6 months and cycle the electrons in the battery and update the phone or tablet.

P.S. I'm also waiting on the Huawei watch. (Just forgot to include it in my list.) :)
 

aneftp

macrumors 601
Jul 28, 2007
4,374
570
My LG G watch vs Apple Watch! Man my G watch feels so ancient and I just got it when it first launched in July 2014.
 

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Technarchy

macrumors 604
May 21, 2012
6,753
4,927
My LG G watch vs Apple Watch! Man my G watch feels so ancient and I just got it when it first launched in July 2014.

To each his own but I think the Apple watch is most aesthetically pleasing smart watch on the market currently.
 

SLC Flyfishing

Suspended
Nov 19, 2007
1,486
1,717
Portland, OR
So I've owned a Pebble Steel, and tried out a Microsoft Band, along with a Sony Smartwatch 3, and a Moto 360.
Part of my job involves trying them out to see how they rate against one another, and I write about it here.
I tried the Apple Watch last week, and I did love it.
But I'm wondering if anyone else has their own Smartwatch/Band to fit their lifestyle, possibly to have alongside the Apple Watch on order, or just a straight up alternative?
I'd go with the Pebble Steel so far, until I can try a Pebble Time Steel.

I got the Garmin Fenix 3. It's certainly not cheap, more in line with the Apple Watch (steel version) than the Apple Watch Sport, but I prefer it immensely.

For one I'm an outdoorsy person, my watch needs to be waterproof because I can't worry about it getting submerged when landing a fish. Because of this, the Apple watch was a non-starter.

Additionally, I like that I can still navigate with the Fenix even when my iphone is not receiving a signal. Apple-watch is useless for that unless it has access to your phone's GPS and data.

I like the robust fitness features of the Fenix 3 as well.

Finally, having some outdoors oriented sensors aboard is nice. The Fenix3 is an ABC watch (Altimeter, Barometer, Compass), it actually predicts incoming storms pretty well based on sampling the barometric pressure. The altimeter and compass are also useful in a variety of situations.

So for me, the Garmin Fenix 3 is the best all-around option.

My wife is struggling between the Apple Watch Sport and the Garmin Vivoactive though...
 

Klyster

macrumors 68020
Dec 7, 2013
2,231
2,642
I have a Gear 2, tizen powered.
What can my watch not do that android wear can do?

I can take video and photos, take and make calls, I can texf if I want but it's pretty fiddly
I can use my IR blaster too.

My battery seems to last for days.

Oh, I can tell the time too amazingly.

I can use the watch independently from the phone, no calls or notifications but most other functions.

What am I missing?
 

APlotdevice

macrumors 68040
Sep 3, 2011
3,145
3,861
The Pebble is definitely my watch of choice. Its exceptional battery life, daylight readability, and "eyes optional" controls being the deciding factors for me.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
LG Watch Urbane goes on sale tomorrow. Huawei Watch goes on sale in June/July.

So far I've only seen mention that it'll be available tomorrow from Verizon. My fear is they are going to tie its sale to something else, like adding a line, and not make it available free and clear.

I did also notice the silver is available for sale from Clove in the UK. At current exchange rates and including shipping, total cost works out to about $355--actually cheaper than one would pay at the Verizon store with sales tax.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
Wonder if they have more than 350,000 watches on hand to sell for pre-order? If so, that alone is better than Apple. :D

I know you're being sarcastic but I doubt they need 1/10 of that to fill their preorders and would be surprised if they see that many in 6 months.

So taking a closer look at the watch shows that it's really just a re-skinned version of the G Watch R, nothing else updated--same display, CPU, memory, storage, battery. It's basically also using the same internal hardware as the year old G Watch. Not sure I want to spend $350 on what for the most part is one year old tech or that it's worth $100 more than the G Watch R, which I'm sure I'm in the minority in thinking actually looks better.

I'd like to put the latest version of Android Wear through it's paces along side the Apple Watch but don't think I'll pick up an Urbane and instead see if I can find a deal on a used G Watch R considering it's essentially the same watch.
 
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kdarling

macrumors P6
Not sure I want to spend $350 on what for the most part is one year old tech

It's still amazing tech. The display brightness in "off" mode, and the battery life are just great. I think it's the best Wear watch out there for the price.

(Unless you're a runner and want onboard GPS. Then the Sony SW3 is the clear choice.)

or that it's worth $100 more than the G Watch R, which I'm sure I'm in the minority in thinking actually looks better.

It's funny how we all sometimes pay extra for looks. Heck, Apple Watch buyers are shelling out $200 more for an upgrade to stainless steel, which the LGWR and Moto 360 already have at a price hundreds of dollars less.

(Not to mention paying hundreds more for Apple-specific watchbands, while Wear owners can buy Milanese and link and leather bands for a fraction of the price.)
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
It's funny how we all sometimes pay extra for looks. Heck, Apple Watch buyers are shelling out $200 more for an upgrade to stainless steel, which the LGWR and Moto 360 already have at a price hundreds of dollars less.

Some certainly find the extra cost worthwhile for different aesthetics (Samsung Galaxy S6 edge comes to mind) and that's fine (though the upgrade from the Apple Watch Sport to Apple Watch involves more than just aesthetics since one's getting stainless steel vs. aluminum and sapphire glass vs. Ion X glass). I personally think the G Watch R looks better so the $100 savings is just a bonus.

I'll wait until we hear the G Watch R is getting the latest Android Wear update before considering picking one up.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
It should get it.

If I recall correctly, I've seen the FCC authorizations for WiFi for both the Moto 360 and the LG Watch R.

Now if they'd only put a speaker in these things and let us answer/make remote calls, I'd be content for a while :)

I really want to test out the remote wifi access on Android Wear's next update. I only have one phone line and would like to use both the Apple Watch and whatever Android Wear I choose simultaneously (yup, gonna look pretty ridiculous :p) but I can compare the similar functionality in real time (health, notifications, voice dictation and commands). Only things I couldn't compare simulataneously are making/receiving calls, messaging, and listening to music).
 

Tinmania

macrumors 68040
Aug 8, 2011
3,528
1,016
Aridzona
Martian Notifier. Does not have step count though. Cheap at around $100, does notifications, gives caller info and number, weather info, customizable vibration patterns for all apps, LED notification light, can activate Siri or remote picture shutter, tethered leash notification, and uses a standard 22mm band, so you can switch out bands. Comes in red, black and white. 2 year analog watch battery life and 6 day OLED rechargable battery.

For step counting I use the iphone and the apps Pedometer++ and FitPort. GPS data logging is more accurate IMO.

I only mention this, because it is a minimal investment while you wait for gen 2 Apple Watch.

After returning a couple of smart watches last year, including a moto 360, I picked up a Martian Notifier for $70 on sale at Best Buy. I love it! My biggest issue with the 360 was battery life: I just didn't want to charge it each night as I wanted to wear it at night.

With the MN I have no battery issues. I charge it up while working at my desk, with the watch still on my wrist. I do this every couple of days or so.

It only died on me once and that was because I left on a camping trip with it only 25% charged. But at least it still worked as a watch.



Michael
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
It should get it.

If I recall correctly, I've seen the FCC authorizations for WiFi for both the Moto 360 and the LG Watch R.

Now if they'd only put a speaker in these things and let us answer/make remote calls, I'd be content for a while :)
LG Watch R is not getting WiFi. Only the Urabane will.
 
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