Apple watch made you look at other options?

[gregvet]

I must admit I have never considered a smart watch until watching the apple keynote the other day. I don't wear a watch usually, but for some reason the apple watch stuff has really got me considering trying one.

However

It has got me looking at the pebble steel as I think the apple watch looks overpriced and quite feminine. I know that watch styles are very personal, but I had expected something a little more masculine looking.

I also already know that some of the features I would want to use on a daily basis (vibrate alarm in the morning, sleep monitoring etc) would require a battery life lasting multiple days so that I could wear the watch the majority of the time which it seems unlikely that the apple watch is going to achieve.

So, anyone else have their interest piqued buy the apple watch only to start looking at other companies options as a more suitable? Any anyone got any thoughts on the pebble steel?

Thanks

 

[Oohara]

I was interested in smartwatches from the second I heard of them but so far I've seen nothing that makes me seriously interested in buying anything. These things will have to get a lot smaller before I'll consider it.

Very excited to see the progress though!

 

[Lloydbm41]

I must admit I have never considered a smart watch until watching the apple keynote the other day. I don't wear a watch usually, but for some reason the apple watch stuff has really got me considering trying one.

However

It has got me looking at the pebble steel as I think the apple watch looks overpriced and quite feminine. I know that watch styles are very personal, but I had expected something a little more masculine looking.

I also already know that some of the features I would want to use on a daily basis (vibrate alarm in the morning, sleep monitoring etc) would require a battery life lasting multiple days so that I could wear the watch the majority of the time which it seems unlikely that the apple watch is going to achieve.

So, anyone else have their interest piqued buy the apple watch only to start looking at other companies options as a more suitable? Any anyone got any thoughts on the pebble steel?

Thanks

To me, the Pebble looks like a cheap watch you'd get a kid and the Apple Watch is just plain ugly. They both could be awesomely great at what they do, it is just really diffucult to get past the looks of them.

I personally use the Martian Notifier which is the best of both worlds as it is a hybrid. A real chronograph watch with normal 2 year battery and then a small oled area for text and graphics, plus custom vibrations, with 6 day battery life. Works with both ios and Android. Best deal out of all current smartwatches, since it is only $129.

 

[Wrathwitch]

No, I think it's nice enough for a smartwatch but for me there is no point to having a watch that can't work without a smartphone attached. It is no great hardship for me to pull out my phone from whatever pocket and check it.

I personally think that these smartwatches are going to take poor cellphone etiquette to a whole new level.

Even if I did want one, my work doesn't allow us to bring in any sort of recordable media. So pointless for me anyways.

 

[F123D]

The apple watch made me appreciate other options. That thing is ugly..

 

[abshole765]

Yeah, it made me look at more real watches.

 

[mattopotamus]

I have had a pebble well over a year. Since the apple watch announcement, I have had more people notice my watch in the last 2 weeks than that entire year combined.

 

[The Game 161]

Personally love my gear 2 and what it does. Does everything I need it to do. Notifications, texts, music

 

[Arran]

I watched a demo video of the pebble steel yesterday. The high-end model.

The user in the video was pushing one of the three side buttons and all I could think of was how wobbly, misaligned and poorly engineered they seemed to be.

And on the other side of the watch there's what looks like an ugly rectangular hole in the casing housing some sort of exposed USB port. The whole thing didn't inspire confidence.

 

[tbayrgs]

I had one of the first gen Pebbles--was part of the original Kickstarter for it. It was, and IMO, still is first gen quality. The original model was quite unattractive and felt cheap--screen was very susceptible to scratches. The UI is also quite rudimentary feeling and in appearance. I didn't fault Pebble too much though because they really were the first significant entry into wearables, at least smart watches. It did have pretty good battery life though--originally would get 5+ days though after their OS update to 2.0, I was lucky to get 2-3 days.

Ultimately though the novelty wore off as it just wasn't a great user experience and again, I just find it generally unattractive.

I'm curious about the Apple Watch but still not sold on it. In the interim, I just picked up a Garmin Vivosmart fitness band. It quite unassuming in appearance, not strikingly attractive but more innocuous than anything. It has a touch display, can receive notifications, control music playback on your phone and of course, tracks fitness (standard stuff--steps, sleep, activity, etc). There apps was updated to incorporate with the Health app as well. It supposedly gets up to 7 days of battery life but we'll see how long it truly is after a bit of real world usage.

 

[Oohara]

Actually the one I'm most interested in at the moment is Sony's Smartwatch 3. Hoping to see it in stores soon so I can test how big it actually is. But from the pictures I really like the design. I prefer the simplistic approach and I'm not that keen on round watches.

 

[Chodite]

I haven't worn a watch in 15 years and I'm completely in love with my Moto 360. Love, love LOVE that thing.

 

[Technarchy]

It's made me take a look at the Samsung offerings and Moto 360 for sure. Where prior, I never bothered.

 

[cube]

It reminded me I had not bought a new real watch in a long time, so I got some.

 

[spinedoc77]

To me, the Pebble looks like a cheap watch you'd get a kid and the Apple Watch is just plain ugly. They both could be awesomely great at what they do, it is just really diffucult to get past the looks of them.

I personally use the Martian Notifier which is the best of both worlds as it is a hybrid. A real chronograph watch with normal 2 year battery and then a small oled area for text and graphics, plus custom vibrations, with 6 day battery life. Works with both ios and Android. Best deal out of all current smartwatches, since it is only $129.

I wanted to like the Martian, but finally got to handle one the other day at an ATT store. It's very cheap feeling, just very light plastic and gives off a sense of a mall kiosk watch. I'm sure it functions great, but as a fashion piece I don't think I'd consider it. Now if they could put that notification bar like the Martian has in a Rolex or Tag then I'd be excited.

The closest thing out there to a true fashion piece is the Moto 360, without any competition in terms of aesthetics. The apple watch doesn't compete with it in looks as it's fugly, although I'm sure the apple watch will be VERY well put together, perfect fit and finish with superb materials, that still doesn't excuse it for being as ugly as it is. The Moto 360 is the opposite, a bit cheap feeling IMO, but beautiful to look at.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Not really. I kind of like the idea of a smart watch but haven't been tempted to actually buy one yet as I'm not sure if I can justify it. I like the look of the gear watches and also think that the Android Wear devices look interesting. So I was already interested in wearables long before the Apple watch was announced. The Apple watch is dead on arrival for me as it requires an iPhone which is something I don't want.

 

[RMXO]

Mota Smart Ring is interesting and I invested in a pair. Sadly, it won't be ready until mid 2015.

https://www.mota.com/mota-smart-ring/

 

[Lloydbm41]

I wanted to like the Martian, but finally got to handle one the other day at an ATT store. It's very cheap feeling, just very light plastic and gives off a sense of a mall kiosk watch. I'm sure it functions great, but as a fashion piece I don't think I'd consider it. Now if they could put that notification bar like the Martian has in a Rolex or Tag then I'd be excited.

The closest thing out there to a true fashion piece is the Moto 360, without any competition in terms of aesthetics. The apple watch doesn't compete with it in looks as it's fugly, although I'm sure the apple watch will be VERY well put together, perfect fit and finish with superb materials, that still doesn't excuse it for being as ugly as it is. The Moto 360 is the opposite, a bit cheap feeling IMO, but beautiful to look at.

You have to get past the cheap silicone band they include with the watch and replace it with a leather band. Completely changes the look and feel. The resin or plastic or whatever it is they use on the housing is surprisingly resilient. Hasn't shown signs of scratches or degradation yet. Personally, I think the way mine looks is far and away better than any other smartwatch out, save for the Moto 360. That is the epitome of simplistic design and elegance. Something I would have expected from Apple, instead of that aborted fetus of a watch they made.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Mota Smart Ring is interesting and I invested in a pair. Sadly, it won't be ready until mid 2015.

https://www.mota.com/mota-smart-ring/

Unfortunately, that is a kickstarter project which 9 out of 10 times results in a very, crappy end product or a complete loss of your money (and as soon as KS gets their cut, they refuse to help anyone out. Amazes me that KS is still in business. The consumer is completely unprotected by this scam.)

 

[spinedoc77]

You have to get past the cheap silicone band they include with the watch and replace it with a leather band. Completely changes the look and feel. The resin or plastic or whatever it is they use on the housing is surprisingly resilient. Hasn't shown signs of scratches or degradation yet. Personally, I think the way mine looks is far and away better than any other smartwatch out, save for the Moto 360. That is the epitome of simplistic design and elegance. Something I would have expected from Apple, instead of that aborted fetus of a watch they made.

Yeah I think a band would transform it for sure. Very interesting watch/concept.

 

[RMXO]

Unfortunately, that is a kickstarter project which 9 out of 10 times results in a very, crappy end product or a complete loss of your money (and as soon as KS gets their cut, they refuse to help anyone out. Amazes me that KS is still in business. The consumer is completely unprotected by this scam.)

It's not a KS project and I have yet to experience with all the KS projects that I've invested in but I've read about what you've described. The investment pricing is pretty affordable but to each their own.

 

[apolloa]

They are cool gadget, the Toq and the LG G Watch I think are the best so far, but I don't think they would ever replace my lovely Tissot T Touch I wear. They I think desperately need to improve those smart watch battery life's though. 3 days would be an improvement!

 

[abshole765]

Unfortunately, that is a kickstarter project which 9 out of 10 times results in a very, crappy end product or a complete loss of your money (and as soon as KS gets their cut, they refuse to help anyone out. Amazes me that KS is still in business. The consumer is completely unprotected by this scam.)

Kickstarter is the land of products for problems that don't exist.

I saw one that was a portable lap 'desk'. You know what it was? A sheet of wood with holes cut out for venting.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iskelter/slate-mobile-airdesk

 

[tbayrgs]

Kickstarter is the land of products for problems that don't exist.

I saw one that was a portable lap 'desk'. You know what it was? A sheet of wood with holes cut out for venting.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iskelter/slate-mobile-airdesk

LOL...and it surpassed its $6,500 goal...by over $100,000!

Best quote on the actual site and most apropo...

"The desk you didn't know you needed."

 

[dingster1]

Started looking at the Gear S. ..