Not unless you absolutely need cellular data/voice while away from the phone. I bought mine from ATT for 299 without any plan, $0 per year. It's still incredibly useful in standalone mode even without data. For example, HERE maps app has offline maps. Fitness apps are also functional without data. Etc.
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Galaxy Gear S Owners chime in here!
- Thread starter pdqgp
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Not unless you absolutely need cellular data/voice while away from the phone. I bought mine from ATT for 299 without any plan, $0 per year. It's still incredibly useful in standalone mode even without data. For example, HERE maps app has offline maps. Fitness apps are also functional without data. Etc.
I also like that the craddle (which has a battery inside) can be actually worn under the watch while recharging watch's battery. Had to adjust the band to the last hole. Not something to do routinely, but may save your day when you need the watch on your wrist but the battery is dead. It feels comfortable, although it's almost as thick with the craddle as the mehWatch. LOL
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On a second thought, I might just leave the craddle attached at all times. It helps prevent the watch from hiding under the sleeve, and it looks more mean this way.
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On a second thought, I might just leave the craddle attached at all times. It helps prevent the watch from hiding under the sleeve, and it looks more mean this way.
Anyone tried to cut a piece of screen protector and stick it to Gear S? I tried the one I use on Note 4, but it's too stiff to follow the curved screen. Need one less stiff and with stronger adhesion.
I'm in the same boat about the different ph# things. I know when it's in range of my phone it uses my Note 3's ph# but otherwise it will use the new Gear S ph#.
This could prove confusing for some people when I call them. especially when a lot of folks tend to call you from their recent call list, etc. or even if they plug it in as another number for me. I know often times my contacts will call me from their recent call list or simply hit a call-back from the number I called them from.
The above shouldn't be a problem as when I'm back near my phone it will be seamless, but there does exist the instance where people won't recognize the number coming in as me or may call me on my Gear S number when in fact I'd prefer they call me on my Note 3. I know when the two are connected via BT if you dial the Gear S directly it goes straight to Voice Mail so if they do that they will just get voice mail immediately.
^^ the one design flaw I think Samsung should address is to make the cradle curved / contoured like the watch is so that when / if you do actually wear both that it sits on the arm better. Perhaps something they should look at doing for the next go-round.
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Hmm, anyone know of a way to use the watch while paired with a phone to make a call on the watch by default? It's very tough to transfer the call to the watch before it times out and half the time the button press doesn't register.
Just read on xda that you can pair this with non-Samsung devices.
Seems like calls work but SMS and notifications don't so is a bit crippled.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56589013
Doesn't really sound worth it but just passing on info in case someone is interested.
Seems like calls work but SMS and notifications don't so is a bit crippled.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56589013
Doesn't really sound worth it but just passing on info in case someone is interested.
Not sure I follow what you're asking. My Gear S and Note 3 are paired right now and I can call out using my watch? It will dial through my Note 3 but if you look at the display the Headset is lit up and thus it's my watch that is the listening and talking device being used on the call.
Likewise, if dial on my Note three, a simple press of the headset button flips it to my watch within just a moment. Not even one dial/ring and it's from one device to another. I've don't see it timeout as you're describing?
I haven't let the call be completed yet so didn't realize that even though the Note was dialing the watch would actually pick up the call. Perfect, that's what I wanted.
. So I can safely leave my Note in my pocket and make calls on the watch, very nice.
I haven't let the call be completed yet so didn't realize that even though the Note was dialing the watch would actually pick up the call. Perfect, that's what I wanted.
It is a very cool thing. I'm going to test it out hard this week. So far the only disappointing thing is the battery life. I have been using and setting mine up with lots of things so it is to be expected, but my days usually go from 6am to 11pm and while I may not "need" my Gear S that whole time, it certainly is going to take a battery beating. I am going to have to keep the battery pack/charger with me for sure. Will likely pick up a second one from Samsung for $29 once they are available too. Will keep that one in the car so I can be covered all around.
I'm also interested in how it's going to work in my car. Too cold outside now to go try it out. I usually talk on my Car's hands-free Sync System but when I get to work and step out the Note picks up. I wonder if it will still or if it will kick over to my Gear S? I have a feeling it will kick to the Note then I can hit handset and move to my watch, put my phone in my bag and walk inside without having to have my phone in my hand.
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Another Tip: MS Exchange Emails and Gear S Notifications
I was bothered by the fact that when using the stock email app on my Note 3 the Gear S would show me the sender of my work emails (exchange) but for "security reasons" I had to "review the message on my device"
However, I found CloudMagic (Very nice fully unified email) app that is seamless on my Note 3 and once I configured it for Notifications in the Samsung Gear App viola! I can now read my MS Exchange email via the notifications on my Gear S!!
Wahoo!
Well I'm kind of struggling on whether to keep this or not. With Tizen it's kind of boring, if it had Android wear I think I'd get more enjoyment out of it. Hangouts is kind of wonky and doesn't work well with it and I don't want to use the stock messaging app. But without Android I'm finding it very hard to justify leaving my phone at home for any reason. Maybe if it had a streaming music app I could use it in the gym, but then again it doesn't have android so that limits it to only transferred music. Also GPS only allows pedestrian navigation for some odd reason.
So far that's 3 core functionalities that don't work. Messaging, music and GPS. That's kind of a large part of using a cell phone.
It just feels very hamstrung by having Tizen on it. There are no apps whatsoever, the ones that are there are very uninteresting and not really useful.
So far that's 3 core functionalities that don't work. Messaging, music and GPS. That's kind of a large part of using a cell phone.
It just feels very hamstrung by having Tizen on it. There are no apps whatsoever, the ones that are there are very uninteresting and not really useful.
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I would give it a few more days. Our experiences are different but then so are the uses.
I have not tried hangouts yet. Will do today if it's out there. I only use hangouts to get text messages from my daughter on her wifi only iPad Mini. Messenger wise, I really liked Textra for my Note 3 but am willing to go back to stock for the sake of using my Gear S.
GPS wise, the Here Now app is in Beta and I read on XDA that it will likely open up all avenues of travel means when it goes live. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd use it in my car anyway. I really like using my phone and have it mounted on my dash perfectly. It also helps that all our cars have built in GPS too.
Music wise my gripe isn't so much streaming it's the sound quality. I'm spoiled by PowerAmp and it's amazing EQ and sound quality.
My guess is as these devices evolve more and more will come to them. Especially given they are stand alone units. The app developers need time to get things going. I mean this is the first of the connected devices and one with a larger screen.
Another Update that I'm testing is I actually tured off the GPS Feature to see what impact it has on battery life. If it's like my Note 3, I bet it's huge. I only need it when I'm out and about and looking for something anyway. Otherwise, like my phone, I don't need it on all the time. Stay tuned.
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I would give it a few more days. Our experiences are different but then so are the uses.
I have not tried hangouts yet. Will do today if it's out there. I only use hangouts to get text messages from my daughter on her wifi only iPad Mini. Messenger wise, I really liked Textra for my Note 3 but am willing to go back to stock for the sake of using my Gear S.
GPS wise, the Here Now app is in Beta and I read on XDA that it will likely open up all avenues of travel means when it goes live. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd use it in my car anyway. I really like using my phone and have it mounted on my dash perfectly. It also helps that all our cars have built in GPS too.
Music wise my gripe isn't so much streaming it's the sound quality. I'm spoiled by PowerAmp and it's amazing EQ and sound quality.
My guess is as these devices evolve more and more will come to them. Especially given they are stand alone units. The app developers need time to get things going. I mean this is the first of the connected devices and one with a larger screen.
Another Update that I'm testing is I actually tured off the GPS Feature to see what impact it has on battery life. If it's like my Note 3, I bet it's huge. I only need it when I'm out and about and looking for something anyway. Otherwise, like my phone, I don't need it on all the time. Stay tuned.
My fear with Tizen is that with the VERY few Tizen devices out there what kind of development will we have for apps? I already know the answer, very little.
My battery has been pretty good so far. I took mine off the charger this morning and have made 2 fairly short calls on it, and played with it here and there. It's at 92%. I think without making phone calls this will easily last a day or 2, with phone calls I'm not sure yet.
It's just so damn awesome though I can't bring myself to return it yet. Like I mentioned before I highly doubt anyone will release a standalone phone like this. It's actually better than a standalone phone the way it's integrated with your main phone line. That integration is pretty innovative IMO, kudos to Samsung.
it is light now but the market will pick up. I mean it just came out Nov7th. Devs will pick up if it sells. I think this will force other manufacturers to think through a stand alone device too. I really does make more sense than a BT Only one.
I've been using the heck out of mine for 4-5hrs with tons of text messages and it's at 75%. Inside on wifi and BT Connected. The true test will be on the road traveling with only a BT connection part of the time.
I do give Samsung credit for going to market with new stuff quickly. Some criticize them for it but I'd rather try and fail then to never try at all. I also don't consider them any different than others like Moto or Pebble. They are doing the same. Apple may wait and improve then release, but until then the others are the ones driving this niche.
Couple new tips I read about and now will use:
- Tapping twice with two fingers will pop up brightness & volume controls.
- If you touch and hold with two fingers, the task switcher comes up.
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Hardware looks awesome but it seems hobbled out of the gate by choice of Tizen over Android. If it had been Android I can have the flexibility of using the same apps on phones and tablets, Groove IP and Google Voice, for calls, voicemail and SMS and can seamlessly switch between accounts/numbers.
Watch has decent battery life but having it connected seems to drain my Note 4. Ive barely used my phone and its down to 40%, normally at this time on a Sunday it would easily be at 80%.
Some updates. Hangouts incoming text messages work perfectly, they display on my Gear and stay in the Gears history. I can also text out and the sent text shows up on my Hangouts as a sent text. The only caveat is that I can't see any pre-existing texts that were not forwarded, not sure if this is the case with the stock messaging app.
Google voice alerts work, they forward to the Gear, but you cannot listen to voicemail messages and it doesn't display the voicemail transcription, you still have to go back to the phone for that information. Still it's decent, at least I can see the number that called. Out of curiosity, since I don't use the stock voicemail, can you listen to voicemail on the watch?
I'm really debating on keeping it. It's pretty awesome, but at the same time I scoured the Tizen app store and it's incredibly sparse. Yes I have the attention span of a 2 year old and can see myself just getting bored with this very quickly.
Google voice alerts work, they forward to the Gear, but you cannot listen to voicemail messages and it doesn't display the voicemail transcription, you still have to go back to the phone for that information. Still it's decent, at least I can see the number that called. Out of curiosity, since I don't use the stock voicemail, can you listen to voicemail on the watch?
I'm really debating on keeping it. It's pretty awesome, but at the same time I scoured the Tizen app store and it's incredibly sparse. Yes I have the attention span of a 2 year old and can see myself just getting bored with this very quickly.
How do I reply to a text received through Hangouts? I have Hangouts on my daughters wifi iPad Mini but when I get a message from her, the Gear S notifies me but I can't reply...just like with emails. Regular SMS messages I can reply of course.
No, you can not listen to the voice message on the Gear S. I have AT&T's Visual Voice mail set up and I get a notification that I have a message and it will list the contact name but it only offers to dismiss it or open it on the Note 3/My device.
Here's what I have installed so far:
Voice Memo
Samsung Wallet
Timer
Find my car
Yelp
TipCalculator
Gearam Music ID
Endomondo
TeraCalc
On AT&T it's $10mo for an added device because yes, it has a seperate sim card and ph#.
How it works is seemless and appears just as your paired Samsung Phone if it's tethered. If you're phone is out of range the only time it appears with a different ph# is if you make a call to someone from your watch. Otherwise if they call you or text your Main Phone/Device it will come to you transparently.
Make sense?
That makes the phone call functionality seem less practical.
I wouldn't want to juggle two numbers or make people juggle two numbers just because I decided to leave my phone in the house while I go for a run or something.
looking pretty good..
make it fully waterproof / ocean, saltwater ready and I'm all over it
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I believe the only time they would see the second number is if you were to call/text outgoing while the phone is off. Receiving end should be standard phone # regardless of phone state
make it fully waterproof / ocean, saltwater ready and I'm all over it
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I believe the only time they would see the second number is if you were to call/text outgoing while the phone is off. Receiving end should be standard phone # regardless of phone state
You don't have to juggle two numbers really. Neither do your friends. I mean they might plug your GS ph# into your contacts but they don't have to. If they call your main cell phone it will get to you either way. If they do happen to call your GS while it's tethered (perhaps just redial their last call received), it goes right to voice mail. If it's not tethered it will ring.
I simply noted in my greeting for the GS Ph# that it's my mobile number and that they can leave a voice message or even send a detailed text message and I'll return their message as soon as I'm available.
I find a LOT of people will just simply text me and not even leave a voice message. Definitely greater than 75% do.
If they text you at either place you'll get it right away.
Thank you for this information. I was interested in the Gear S but looks like I'll pass it... I guess I'll look into other Android Wear options.