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The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,991
20,174
UK
I gotta say, this watch is pretty awesome. I've been using it every day except for functions I have to dress up for and I love it. You don't realize how convenient it is to just turn your wrist and see your notifications, especially if you are getting notifications semi constantly like I do. The phone can stay in the pocket, or better yet at my desk in my office as I do my rounds.

Anyone else having fun?

I will be in a few weeks
 

pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
Windows PC? Yosemite doesn't see it, Android File Transfer can't connect to it.

Oh yeah. Two weeks with it, still the impression is that the future has arrived.


Yes, Windows 7. I just plug it in and it recognizes it just like it would my Note 3 or my iDevices.
 

Sensamic

macrumors 68040
Mar 26, 2010
3,072
689
I saw the watch this week and I must say it was really big for a watch. I can't see myself wearing comfortably such a big screen watch every day.
 

samiznaetekto

macrumors 65816
Dec 26, 2009
1,016
24
I downloaded a bunch of maps and when trying to download one more (about 50MB), it said there's not enough memory. Checked the available space and it's still 1GB. Anyone have similar problem? I wonder if there's a cap on how much storage any single app can use.
 

Ccrew

macrumors 68020
Feb 28, 2011
2,035
3
I downloaded a bunch of maps and when trying to download one more (about 50MB), it said there's not enough memory. Checked the available space and it's still 1GB. Anyone have similar problem? I wonder if there's a cap on how much storage any single app can use.

1 GB available space isn't necessarily available memory. Storage doesn't = memory. The device only has 512mb RAM and if a map loads to memory along with other functions it's feasible that the device indeed ran out of memory available.
 

samiznaetekto

macrumors 65816
Dec 26, 2009
1,016
24
1 GB available space isn't necessarily available memory. Storage doesn't = memory. The device only has 512mb RAM and if a map loads to memory along with other functions it's feasible that the device indeed ran out of memory available.

So, you're saying that when the app downloads the offline maps, it loads them to RAM? Do you have a proof? (I was able to load about 1.3GB of them so far.)
 

Ccrew

macrumors 68020
Feb 28, 2011
2,035
3
So, you're saying that when the app downloads the offline maps, it loads them to RAM? Do you have a proof? (I was able to load about 1.3GB of them so far.)

What I'm saying is that it's application dependent, and it's possible that they're being loaded to ram. It's all in how the application is coded to handle memory management - any developer can tell you the same thing. It's totally not unheard of to hold data in memory prior to writing to storage.

And considering that you haven't so much as even identified an application no I can't offer proof other than I've seen much much worse in 30 years in the IT business.
 

samiznaetekto

macrumors 65816
Dec 26, 2009
1,016
24
What I'm saying is that it's application dependent, and it's possible that they're being loaded to ram.

I've downloaded a 460MB map without a problem. With 512MB RAM and [usually significant] chunk of it taken by OS, this doesn't support your theory.

It's all in how the application is coded to handle memory management - any developer can tell you the same thing. It's totally not unheard of to hold data in memory prior to writing to storage.

I'm a developer with 20 years of experience. While there are some situations when writing to disk must be deferred until the whole massif of data is ready (I have an iOS app that does exactly that, because it loads CPU to the max and there's simply no time to do concurrent disk writing - it's such a slow operation), downloading something over the internet is usually is not such a case. In the code, the dev opens a file stream and writes to it in relatively small chunks as data is received.

And considering that you haven't so much as even identified an application

Nokia "HERE for Gear"
 
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Ccrew

macrumors 68020
Feb 28, 2011
2,035
3
I've downloaded a 460MB map without a problem. With 512MB RAM and [usually significant] chunk of it taken by OS, this doesn't support your theory.

And not having coded it yourself, you can't say if that data was compressed and is being expanded before being written. And secondly this isn't in the scheme of a straight download, as it's being handled by Gear Manager, it's not a straight transfer to the device.

Regardless it's all speculation. Neither of us wrote the code, neither of us have the code, and short of delving into the API which frankly I'm not going to do as it really has no value to me we don't even know if it's possible. Your entire argument is based solely on size, which in more cases than not is short sighted as there's available memory versus contigous memory, etc. This could be as simple as a code call to X amount of defined memory that's not free. You don't have the luxury on this device of paging to disc. I doubt you have 20 years of dev experience as you claim if you ask for proof of this kind of behavior - it's a textbook memory allocation call.
 

pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
Cheers switched it off..

I'm on 63%..was full charged about 12.30. It's 6 here now

You'll notice a big difference now. I also tend to keep the screen OFF. I also turned off gestures as it tended to turn on while I was driving.
 

pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
Yeah I've noticed a difference already...

You got a sim in yours?

Yes, I'm running an AT&T Sim Card, thus it functions stand alone when I'm out and about with my phone resting at home :D

Stand alone function is the main reason I bought this one. For the longest time I've been intrigued about the likes of the Moto 360 and others, but with them needing to be tethered all the time, I saw little value in them. I mean it's true that I'm around my phone a lot but the occasions where I need it to work when I'm not, the Gear S is great.

I'm sure the Apple version will be cool and likely be as integrated and as smooth as I can expect, but even that isn't deemed to be a stand alone unit, thus of no real value to me.
 

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,991
20,174
UK
Yes, I'm running an AT&T Sim Card, thus it functions stand alone when I'm out and about with my phone resting at home :D

Stand alone function is the main reason I bought this one. For the longest time I've been intrigued about the likes of the Moto 360 and others, but with them needing to be tethered all the time, I saw little value in them. I mean it's true that I'm around my phone a lot but the occasions where I need it to work when I'm not, the Gear S is great.

I'm sure the Apple version will be cool and likely be as integrated and as smooth as I can expect, but even that isn't deemed to be a stand alone unit, thus of no real value to me.

Yeah same here

I'm getting a sim tomorrow for mine. Love the fact right now at home I have switched bluetooth off and just using WiFi

Still not sure even when out to maybe use bluetooth or just use my data..suppose battery life wise it will help not using bluetooth dunno
 

pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
Yeah same here

I'm getting a sim tomorrow for mine. Love the fact right now at home I have switched bluetooth off and just using WiFi

Still not sure even when out to maybe use bluetooth or just use my data..suppose battery life wise it will help not using bluetooth dunno

According to what I've heard from the Samsung Rep when I talked with them, using BT Pairing is more efficient battery wise thus if you're out an about with your phone, let it connect. I leave my BT on all the time. The only time I see it drain faster is when I'm streaming music from it to my Jaybird headphones or to my car. Also on a call with it connected to my car.
 

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,991
20,174
UK
According to what I've heard from the Samsung Rep when I talked with them, using BT Pairing is more efficient battery wise thus if you're out an about with your phone, let it connect. I leave my BT on all the time. The only time I see it drain faster is when I'm streaming music from it to my Jaybird headphones or to my car. Also on a call with it connected to my car.
Interesting..guessing you don't see much difference battery life with bluetooth on or off on your phone?

you find you use your data much?
 

pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
Interesting..guessing you don't see much difference battery life with bluetooth on or off on your phone?

you find you use your data much?

I leave BT on with my Note 3. No noticeable change in battery life. I get nearly 24hrs + of heavy Note 3 use too.

Data wise, I have a 10GB plan shared with my wife and son on their iPhones. No where near that much use though. I'm on wifi a ton as I use my office wifi at work and my home wifi here thus I doubt either my phone or Gear S use my "data" per-SE. This is my first billing cycle with it though, so I'll see what it comes to.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
I leave BT on with my Note 3. No noticeable change in battery life. I get nearly 24hrs + of heavy Note 3 use too.

Data wise, I have a 10GB plan shared with my wife and son on their iPhones. No where near that much use though. I'm on wifi a ton as I use my office wifi at work and my home wifi here thus I doubt either my phone or Gear S use my "data" per-SE. This is my first billing cycle with it though, so I'll see what it comes to.

Off topic but you can up your 10gb to 15gb until end of the month for free!!

----------

Cheers switched it off..

I'm on 63%..was full charged about 12.30. It's 6 here now

GPS on, plus watch face is set to always on and I'm very impressed with battery life. 2 hour workout with heart rate tracking, 10 hour workday after that and end of day I still have 40%.
 
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