S Band Vs. Other Brands - Galaxy S 4 Accessories

So I have been doing some research on the S Band and Comparing it to similar products like Jawbone Up and Nike+ Fuel band. I am not sure which one I will go with yet but there are things about each of them I like more than the other. Example, I like that the Nike+ Fuel Band has a basic LED Display and displays time, The Jawbone Up does tracking of sleeping and vibration alarm.
I didn't read anything about the Jawbone Up connecting Wirelessly, uses aux port to "Simple Sync". Same with the Nike+ Fuel Band, it tells of plugging it into the USB to Sync. I have NOT found anything that says the S Band will sync via bluetooth but based upon the HRM and S Scale using Bluetooth, thats what I believe it will be.
If anyone knows more specs on the S band please post them or the source of them. For those of you considering the S Band, what do you think of the other options?
What I really want is a band that has a built in HRM, with a display. Not sure if it will be compatible with the S4 or S Health but I am keeping an eye on these watchs.
http://www.mybasis.com/
http://www.alphaheartrate.com/#alpha

Isn't the Nike+ band not compatible with android?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

The Fuel band does not offer android support, i wonder why as the product has been out for awhile, it does sync wirelessly to any apple product but doesn't track sleeping habit and its battery life isn't stellar either, i get about 4 days, if not less.
Jawbone Up does not offer wireless syncing capability, it sync via your 3.5mm audio jack. I also read that it has some durability issues, like it scuff up easy, not that it affects the functions or anything. It is stated to last 7 days per charge however. It does offer sleep monitor, silent alarm...etc.
The Basis is pretty cool, but it quotes 4 day battery life, in practice i'm guessing is more like 2-3 days, which makes it a pain to deal with, the bluetooth 2.1 does not improve its image of a long lasting device. Its also $199, kinda pricey.
The Alpha is just a high end HRM, but is nice as there's a color indicator letting you know if you hit your targeted heart rate or not. They also didn't share the battery life on the device, which i assume is not long either.
Here is another product which i think is the best of all of them out there, the Fitbit Flex , 7 day battery life, Bluetooth 4.1, sleep monitor, calorie counter, activeness tracker, vibration alarm...etc. No led display(just some lights) or HRM however. The cheapest of them all too at 99 bucks, too bad is not out yet.
S-Band should do everything the Jawbone or the Fitbit band does, but that huge samsung logo is kinda ugly imo, don't know the battery life either at this point, i'll post the info as i see it.

Thanks for the info, I like the Basis because it has has the HRM built in but like you said its kind of pricey and with bluetooth 2.1 and a short battery life might not be worth the price. I will keep the FitBit Flex in mind but will probably hold out until something is made with the HRM built in. Can't have it all I guess, at least not yet LoL.

the reason these Bluetooth devices aren't compatible with android is because android doesn't support Bluetooth Low Energy, like apple does.. however bt4.0 devices can, so 3rd party accessories creators are starting to add support for galaxy phones and HTC one x
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

soraxd said:
the reason these Bluetooth devices aren't compatible with android is because android doesn't support Bluetooth Low Energy, like apple does.. however bt4.0 devices can, so 3rd party accessories creators are starting to add support for galaxy phones and HTC one x
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android in general really needs to step up their audio and bluetooth support.
Shame of the price of this, seems ok, but I wouldn't pay more than $50 (paid $100 for my wife's fitbit, and that was too much)

soraxd said:
the reason these Bluetooth devices aren't compatible with android is because android doesn't support Bluetooth Low Energy, like apple does.. however bt4.0 devices can, so 3rd party accessories creators are starting to add support for galaxy phones and HTC one x
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bluetooth 4.0 should be enabled in the next android build, Google hinted at bluetooth 4.0 for the galaxy nexus a little while ago and stated it was coming in a future update.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I'm using the Fitbit one and FitBit is coming out with a band as well. It syncs with my Note 10.1, the Note 2 and S3. It should sync with the S4 too. I hope S Health will be a partner since MyFitnessPal, Edmondo and bunch of others.Fitbit App Gallery. Even if it doesn't, the fit bit app is pretty good.

any news when tthe S band will be released?

Anyone? Bueller?

8 months later, did anyone tried out Samsung S band?

Related

What's the next big leap in smartphones?

Hi all, just a newbie trying to contribute back to this community. I've gleaned a lot, here and there. I'm rocking a Huawei Honor U8860 5-touch version out here in India.
I've always stuck with budget phones, waiting for the Really Great Device to arrive. What I've found is that the best smartphone/tablet products tend to have these characteristics:
Attention to detail
Horsepower (processor/RAM) is among the best on the market
Good physical attributes: battery life, build quality, screen brightness and resolution
One thing not on the list, though, is that the phone draws on all the latest and most cutting-edge technology. Usually this is because first-gen devices are typically rushed to market and haven't been properly stress tested or had their new capabilities harnessed.
What do you think represents the next paradigm shift in mobile devices? Remember the first Blackberry that was in color? Remember in the early 2000's when they decided to slap a camera on a phone? Remember the StarTac?
What do you think is the next big thing in devices? My thoughts are:
3D that makes sense
Flexible screens
Mini Kinect-style motion detection
Google Glass has the possibility of representing a huge paradigm shift, of course, but it's hard to imagine that is a template for a mainstream shift.
blueray player
ps2/psp emulator
firefox OS
Adaptive software. Similar to Google now, but covers a larger portion of the os. Also perhaps better clock per watt ratios
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Built in projector
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747
Integration.
We have these wonderful devices with a large amount of power and storage and they are portable. Now, we focus on getting other stuff to talk to it.
I'm thinking remote touchscreen specifications for cars. My phone is better than any automotive electronics. Think of system that could let you know the optimal time to stop for the cheapest gas based on your location and fuel level. Perhaps it would look at the weather forecast and let you know its a good time for a wash (I never pick that one right)
NFC might take off like a rocket if it would include itemized transaction storage for later download into your financial software. Maybe a rough stab from your grocery receipts to estimate caloric intake.
vmxice said:
Built in projector
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhhh... the Samsung Galaxy Beam already has that.
I think the next big phone should have no physical buttons at all on the phone, not even a power button. They should change the buttons to capacitive buttons only (onscreen keys for the navigation buttons). That would be sick.
I think Google glass is a real possibility.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Flexible display technologies.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda app-developers app
jfrorie said:
Integration.
We have these wonderful devices with a large amount of power and storage and they are portable. Now, we focus on getting other stuff to talk to it.
I'm thinking remote touchscreen specifications for cars. My phone is better than any automotive electronics. Think of system that could let you know the optimal time to stop for the cheapest gas based on your location and fuel level. Perhaps it would look at the weather forecast and let you know its a good time for a wash (I never pick that one right)
NFC might take off like a rocket if it would include itemized transaction storage for later download into your financial software. Maybe a rough stab from your grocery receipts to estimate caloric intake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree completely. Android OS has become very polished, and the hardware is increasing in power with every new day. If manufacturers can learn to integrate these devices with everyday equipment, the convenience and range of use will be increased exponentially.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Battery technology will limit everything until there is a leap in technology.
I still think there is a room for a specialist music playing phone as well. And I don't just mean something with Beats Audio!
exynos said:
Uhhh... the Samsung Lightray already has that.
I think the next big phone should have no physical buttons at all on the phone, not even a power button. They should change the buttons to capacitive buttons only (onscreen keys for the navigation buttons). That would be sick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suppose you could get close to that, though you'd have to have some kind of pinhole physical button for hard resets.
I agree with the above posters: increased NFC functionality and better integration. Sony's smart tags and NFC properties allow touch-to-transfer for music and other media already, so no reason this couldn't expand to in-car, etc. The entertainment industry was discussing working it into movie posters and adverts so that you could just touch your phone to the display and see trailers.
jfrorie said:
Integration.
We have these wonderful devices with a large amount of power and storage and they are portable. Now, we focus on getting other stuff to talk to it.
I'm thinking remote touchscreen specifications for cars. My phone is better than any automotive electronics. Think of system that could let you know the optimal time to stop for the cheapest gas based on your location and fuel level. Perhaps it would look at the weather forecast and let you know its a good time for a wash (I never pick that one right)
NFC might take off like a rocket if it would include itemized transaction storage for later download into your financial software. Maybe a rough stab from your grocery receipts to estimate caloric intake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't agree more. The phone is getting increasingly more important for every individual so to integrate it properly with the environment as well as inventing some revolutionary battery technology so we could get back to the 1 week battery times would change the phone industry.
RAM and CPU power and all that will come by itself, we've gotten to the moon with less.
I'm stoked to see what the future holds... I'm still amazed at what a SGSII can do...
SENT VIA ICS MIUI ON THE INTERNETS!!!
I lke to see phone with a built in projector
tclaw said:
I lke to see phone with a built in projector
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung galaxy beam
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
Maybe 16MP Camera in 2013
It would be Nice to see a very HD 16MP camera in the newer devices along with 1080i Video
that could sync with newer wifi enable HDTV ,instead of using a cable.
Better battery + true multitasking (side by side apps on the screen)
Built in fm transmitter.
Wireless charging from wifi signal.
http://gajitz.com/something-in-the-airnergy-rcas-wifi-charging-device/
Flexible screens for sure. Samsung will come out with them in some time. Barrettes need improvement for now. Hardware and software will keep increasing but without decent batteries, consumers will not like it. Samsung's bendable AMOLED screen will have a flexible battery that takes thirty seconds to charge. Now that, will be awesome.
Sent from my Bread Slice running pure Potato
Speed
Snapdragon S5 processor with Dual-channel 733 MHz memory on 2100 GHZ cpu on a dual core krait would be really
so fast i would love to see a monster screen 6"x4" super amoled screen to save power and toggle switches to fast foward,
rewind and zoom in, etc on videos and games as well lol.
Android
1) Adaptive software (android os)
2) Good tochscreen
3) Good music sound
4) Light

Sony Liveview wort it? Vs. Pebble and newer sony smartwatch

so the liveview is $25 on amazon, the second gen sony smartwatch is $94, and the pebble is $150. I have preordered the pebble, but have yet to pay. I wanted to ask if the liveview is worth it in comparison, for the price being so cheap..i may just buy it to try it out since its so cheap. i have an htc one s with android 4.2, also does liveview have push notifications?.... any suggestions..thanks
When a Google search brings up the suggestion "Sony Liveview don't bother", you know you'll be wasting your money.
Those Amazon reviews paint a very negative picture.
See what kind of reviews the Pebble gets and decide from there. You'll likely get what you pay for.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 2 using Tapatalk 2
got to respectfully disagree. For 20$ this thing is awesome.
I'd sort the reviews by date.
Also, consider the technical sophistication of your average user.
If you are posting on xda - you are the top 1% generally.
This thing is awesome.
There's a new firmware and client software out from sony that obviates pretty much all of the old problems.
AND there's an Open Live View reverse engineering effort that is 90% functional already!
This thing is badass!
imho.
willfck4beer said:
got to respectfully disagree. For 20$ this thing is awesome.
I'd sort the reviews by date.
Also, consider the technical sophistication of your average user.
If you are posting on xda - you are the top 1% generally.
This thing is awesome.
There's a new firmware and client software out from sony that obviates pretty much all of the old problems.
AND there's an Open Live View reverse engineering effort that is 90% functional already!
This thing is badass!
imho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea i ended up getting it for $27 off amazon with expedient shipping. so i should get it soon and im hoping it works well with my htc one s...and for that cheap why not...much better than spending $150 on a pebble that ill get in like 6 months
i got my liveview, and id say its worth the money...it does what it says it does, though it sometimes disconnects...im glad i bought this and didnt spend 150 on a pebble, since its kinda of a gimmick... i mean its basically a pager on your wrist, but 27$ for it, i cant complain
For $20-30, it is a steal. Unfortunately they don't ship to my country, otherwiser I would have ordered an extra one as well.
I saw the Pebble, and frankly, I miss a two quite important functions from it that the liveview has: volume up and down as a music remote. Yeah, most likely someone will figure out how to add them to the 3-button-only interface (long press track skip would be ok) but till then, I'll go with my Liveview. Even if the connection is still not rock solid. Yeah, it is much, MUCH better than it was, but still not 100% if you are skipping music tracks left and right.
Another thing to watch out for: the frames are extremely fragile. Yes, even the metal clip-on frame. My wristwatch frame has a holding clip broken off (so it is useless as the LV falls out of it quite easily) and the clip-on is broken at the microUSB connector part. I actually had to attach the LV with a piece of masking tape to the frame so it won't fall out. I'm thinking of supergluing it there.
i found sony liveview a good smart watch but this is depending of what you demand from it
i found that it offers me the basic functionalities with cheap (really cheap) price
may be you found it a little bit dull (its look is not that great for some people), but who cares
It all depends on what you want to do with it, for me I wanted to use it as a cycling computer that worked with my phone using the my tracks app which worked perfectly so I love it for that and it only cost me $25. If you buy it just for the hell of it and don'd really know what is available for it then you might hate it, also I haven't encountered any issues with it disconnecting with my phone as others have had but it can be difficult to set up at first.
auda said:
i found sony liveview a good smart watch but this is depending of what you demand from it
i found that it offers me the basic functionalities with cheap (really cheap) price
may be you found it a little bit dull (its look is not that great for some people), but who cares
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I just got my liveview so far so good I bought one when it first cam out switch to an HTC amaze and it didn't work at all so I got rid of it, switched to a samsung note 2 and since I rarely had a problem with my old nexus s and t959 I figured it was worth getting it over the pebble I synced it about 2 hours ago and no disconnects and everything seems to be working fine
Sent from my SGH-T889V on the WIND network
Mine frequently disconnects, and I also had issues with the clip not holding, so I was a little disappointed. That being said, I only paid $22 for it, so I can't be too upset. I only need it to be able to discreetly check text messages at work, so it serves its purpose.
Sent from my HTC Flyer using xda app-developers app
Hello,
I was in a position like you at one point here's my take on it:
I considered the Liveview when it came out, but the reviews were horrible. Personally felt it looked a bit cheap for a wach... I saw the price drop, but since I can't get the US deals, I gave up on that one.
I then saw the pebble, but missed the kickstart. Noticing that the shipping date was so far away (and the price of $150 seemed too high), I looked elsewhere.
I found a nice balance with the Sony Smartwatch. It's cheaper than the pebble, and the general reviews are better than the previous liveview. I also like how they bundle the 20mm watch strap adapter so you can make it look better with other straps. This is what I ended up getting and I'm quite happy since all I really need was for my notifications to show up on my watch (free app for that!). Cost me about $100 AUD, but I've seen it cheaper in US sites.
just purchased one last night and i should be getting it on saturday. will post my thoughts on it. not expecting too much for $22 but im still excited!
I kickstarted the Pebble. I had another Android smartwatch on preorder until I realized the Pebble is the only waterproof one. I dreaded the thought of washing my hands wrong, or getting caught in the rain and ruining my $300 watch. The $115 Pebble seemed like a no brainer, all things considered.
With that said, the Pebble SDK still isn't public yet, so there's currently a severe lack of functionality. The Pebble has piqued my interest in smarter watches though, so I've been keeping my eyes peeled for better alternatives.
I think the year of the smartwatch is coming soon. Especially if the rumors of an Apple iWatch are true.
Have mine for a half year now. I use it almost every day. It's pretty useful if you are listening to music via your phone in car and want to skip a song etc. . Also the Camera Watch function is pretty funny
i can only speak about the liveview since i have not bought a smartwatch yet.
as you can see within this thread and on openliveview.com, custom firmware developement and a liveware manager replacement is in developement.
the custom liveware manager replacement you can find here, has all the functionality the liveware manager has, except plugin support (wich is currently in developement)
besides, it has a notification implementation that is pretty similar to how custommessagenotifier works.
the firmware is yet not for daily usage since it does not put the watch into deepsleep yet and has no bluetooth support yet.
a big minus would be that you need to kindoff break your wristband holder to charge the liveview.
overall i'd say, the liveview is currently extremely customizable since the custom manager and the custom firmware are opensource.
to the smartwatch:
it has bluetooth 4 instead of 1.1 (liveview) wich makes the bluetooth battery drain pretty small and it could theoretically even be ported to iphone.
the screen is the same except it has multi touch instead of 4 tap keys.
it has more internal storage than the liveview so a custom firmware would be more awesome on it.
overall i'd say, its better than the liveview but unless we devs get our hands onto it, there will mostly not be a custom manager / rom soon, so you will need to stick to connection issues and sony's creepy try to write software.
It seems a good idea this new project.
Since 2 years, the LiveView is not on my wrist but on my desk.
Liveview is so worth it considering the price.
Sent from my GT-I9100
I got mine for $15. I can't even find a cheap wristwatch at walmart for that much. The Liveview is a watch, but has some added functions which are pretty cool. Worth every penny of my $15.
Been planning on buying this for my Samsung Galaxy Nexus running on Jellybean 4.2.2 just wanted to ask if anyone can tell me if this watch is compatible on my device and android version. Just recently got ahold of bluetooth headset (Nokia BH-503) can this watch has capability to override handsfree and music controls of bluetooth headsets.
Now that I think of it, can I pair to devices on a phone at once? Asking because here in my country this costs 30$.

[Q] What smartwatch should i get

Hey everyone! First of all I didn't see a Q&A forum so if this is in a bad spot sorry about that.
So I have been wanting to get a smartwatch and i have been stuck on deciding between the Sony smartwatch 2 and the Pebble Steel.
I have been looking everywhere, reading and watching reviews, but no one ever gives a good opinion on which is better. It seems like they end up weighing them out as even. For the Sony sw2 with the metal wristband it is currently $199 with free shipping. The Pebble Steel is $249 with free shipping that takes several weeks (so the site says) and may include import taxes.
I am currently using a Nexus 4, enjoy some small development, mainly looking for practical use, with a nice look.
Currently I am leaning towards the pebble steel. I don't know guys. Please share some of your opinions and thoughts, it would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Sony Smartwatch 2 FTW
babanomania said:
Sony Smartwatch 2 FTW
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whats your reason behind that? Have you used both? And do you have the metal or silicone band?
I have the SW2 and have tried the Pebble, and while the Pebble is a great device that lasts a good deal of time, I prefer the touchscreen and colorful display of the SW2. The app selection is not that great, but it has all that I need and then some. If you are using the Sony made Gmail notifier app, prepare for some battery drain on your phone. None of the other apps I have used really cause that much of a drain if any.
mikeydubbs said:
Hey everyone! First of all I didn't see a Q&A forum so if this is in a bad spot sorry about that.
So I have been wanting to get a smartwatch and i have been stuck on deciding between the Sony smartwatch 2 and the Pebble Steel.
I have been looking everywhere, reading and watching reviews, but no one ever gives a good opinion on which is better. It seems like they end up weighing them out as even. For the Sony sw2 with the metal wristband it is currently $199 with free shipping. The Pebble Steel is $249 with free shipping that takes several weeks (so the site says) and may include import taxes.
I am currently using a Nexus 4, enjoy some small development, mainly looking for practical use, with a nice look.
Currently I am leaning towards the pebble steel. I don't know guys. Please share some of your opinions and thoughts, it would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a hard question to answer. Unfortunately, right now the Smart Watch market is in the very beginning stages in commercial availability and functionality.
For the most part, the Sony and the pebble do the same thing...and seem to do it well. In this case, the option really boils down to color or black and white screen. I have both the Pebble (1st edition) and the Sony SW2... The Sony quickly replaced the Pebble when it arrived. I loved the color screen, Android UI, and build quality. I felt that the pebble was outdated technology being in B&W and was a toy in comparison. I used the Sony for a few months...to be honest, I really wasn't impressed either. The watch face was really big and overwhelming. I did feel that the functionality was decent, but customization was very limited. Disconnects were prevalent every day and many times I missed notifs all together. I also experienced constant slow downs and extensive lag that could only be fixed by a restart.
Now...once I got the SmartQ Zwatch... my impressions and overall acceptance of the smart watch device changed. After a few firmware upgrades from SmartQ, the Z became my daily driver. Amazing considering I expected the LEAST from the Zwatch.
But this was almost 6 months ago now...for you the situation is different. Now we have devices like the Omate Truesmart, SimValley AW420/421.RX, and ZGPAX S5...dual core, full featured power houses. And with Google and Apple expected to release their stab at the Smartwatch...it's a tough time to commit to one.
My recommendation to you...is really try to figure out what your wishlist is for a SW. How will you use it? Will you need a full function device? I know this can be a difficult thing to do since you most likely don't know what your expectations are.
My advice is to start small. Buy something that has all the functionality you want....see if you like having a vibrating wrist. Some people hate it! Look at the Zwatch...it's only $99...fairly feature rich for that price with 4gb of storage, WiFi, BT, KitKat 4.4 and a great screen. With all the other possible devices hitting the shelves soon, it won't be long before you'll be looking to upgrade.
How this helps.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
I've had the same disconnect problem with sw2, but I fixed it by changing the oom values. You need a rooted phone to do that. Mine has 1gb of ram.
Sent from my LT30p using Tapatalk
mghtymse007 said:
This is a hard question to answer. Unfortunately, right now the Smart Watch market is in the very beginning stages in commercial availability and functionality.
For the most part, the Sony and the pebble do the same thing...and seem to do it well. In this case, the option really boils down to color or black and white screen. I have both the Pebble (1st edition) and the Sony SW2... The Sony quickly replaced the Pebble when it arrived. I loved the color screen, Android UI, and build quality. I felt that the pebble was outdated technology being in B&W and was a toy in comparison. I used the Sony for a few months...to be honest, I really wasn't impressed either. The watch face was really big and overwhelming. I did feel that the functionality was decent, but customization was very limited. Disconnects were prevalent every day and many times I missed notifs all together. I also experienced constant slow downs and extensive lag that could only be fixed by a restart.
Now...once I got the SmartQ Zwatch... my impressions and overall acceptance of the smart watch device changed. After a few firmware upgrades from SmartQ, the Z became my daily driver. Amazing considering I expected the LEAST from the Zwatch.
But this was almost 6 months ago now...for you the situation is different. Now we have devices like the Omate Truesmart, SimValley AW420/421.RX, and ZGPAX S5...dual core, full featured power houses. And with Google and Apple expected to release their stab at the Smartwatch...it's a tough time to commit to one.
My recommendation to you...is really try to figure out what your wishlist is for a SW. How will you use it? Will you need a full function device? I know this can be a difficult thing to do since you most likely don't know what your expectations are.
My advice is to start small. Buy something that has all the functionality you want....see if you like having a vibrating wrist. Some people hate it! Look at the Zwatch...it's only $99...fairly feature rich for that price with 4gb of storage, WiFi, BT, KitKat 4.4 and a great screen. With all the other possible devices hitting the shelves soon, it won't be long before you'll be looking to upgrade.
How this helps.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what i was hoping for from a reply, thanks!
I dont think i would mind the black and white screen, and i feel like the steel would take away from the "toy" feeling. But as you said, it is still early for the smartwatch generation. All that im really looking for is an easy way to see notifications, flip through music, and as i would think/consider basic functionality. Ill have a look at some of the ones that you mentioned!
i have been watching reviews on youtube for these
honestly they seem pretty cool but i would probably wait until they get the technology up to speed with the vision.
they seem more like notification centers for you to then check your phone
and not as much SMARTPHONE
they are missing some key stuff
FULL COLOR
AND TOUCH SCREEN
camera
actual ability to talk on the phone and message back.
that is the major issues
i have with pebble.
sw2 seems slightly better to me
but both im sure are cool to play around with
I'm not really sure you want what you think you want. You'll never be able to put as much functionality on your wrist than you can in your pocket. It makes too much sense to let the wrist device extend the pocket device. It's still useful for situations like driving and shopping, even if you can't do everything with it. A microphone would be nice though.
Sent from my LT30p using Tapatalk
tacotester1 said:
i have been watching reviews on youtube for these
honestly they seem pretty cool but i would probably wait until they get the technology up to speed with the vision.
they seem more like notification centers for you to then check your phone
and not as much SMARTPHONE
they are missing some key stuff
FULL COLOR
AND TOUCH SCREEN
camera
actual ability to talk on the phone and message back.
that is the major issues
i have with pebble.
sw2 seems slightly better to me
but both im sure are cool to play around with
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are apps available for the pebble to send text messages
I don't know of an app that you can actually type a text from for the Pebble though. SW2 you can.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
Testingchip said:
I don't know of an app that you can actually type a text from for the Pebble though. SW2 you can.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its called wrist ponder
mikeydubbs said:
Its called wrist ponder
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the writer above said that you write the sms with your watch, not preloaded sms, but actually you write the sms with your watch from the start. Doesnt Wristponder work on the way, that you have to write sms with you phone, like "ill be there in 5min" and use these preloaded sms to answer.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 10.1 (N8000).
The "which one should I get?" question is one that is difficult to answer and likely to get different answers depending on which form you asked. I am sure the folks in the Pebble will give you valid Pebble recommendations in their forum, same for Gear, AI, HOT, Onate, etc. Here, you will get SW2 recommendations.
I looked at all and chose the Sony obviously. There were/are things about each design I liked and disliked. I like the community aspect of the Pebble and the greater number of apps/extensions available to customize the watch, especially the watchface. I like the build quality and looks of the SW2, and the ability to use touch instead of buttons. Plus most of the functions I need are covered by the available extensions. My biggest gripe continues to be the limited number of watchfaces... I envy the complete customization available with the Gear (eg. recreating a high-end watch face like a Bell&Ross, Omega, Breiltling, etc). And even the Pebble offers way more and way more functional watchfaces... eg. one that shows time, weather, and notification counts).
Ultimately, I think the real winners will be the next gen of true "smart" watches. Whether its the gear 2, or something like the Omate. Where you can completely customize with ROMs and add functional apps from the Play Store. I don't know if cameras and calls are that big of a deal, but I really think the smartwatch has to be more than a notification window and more of a smartphone extension.
My two cents... discounted as usual.
I say the smart watch 2!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using xda app-developers app
mikeydubbs said:
Hey everyone! First of all I didn't see a Q&A forum so if this is in a bad spot sorry about that.
So I have been wanting to get a smartwatch and i have been stuck on deciding between the Sony smartwatch 2 and the Pebble Steel.
I have been looking everywhere, reading and watching reviews, but no one ever gives a good opinion on which is better. It seems like they end up weighing them out as even. For the Sony sw2 with the metal wristband it is currently $199 with free shipping. The Pebble Steel is $249 with free shipping that takes several weeks (so the site says) and may include import taxes.
I am currently using a Nexus 4, enjoy some small development, mainly looking for practical use, with a nice look.
Currently I am leaning towards the pebble steel. I don't know guys. Please share some of your opinions and thoughts, it would be appreciated!
Thanks!
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Click to collapse
I was in the same dilemma few days back and I chose Gear instead of SW2. Reason being simple. Now with the launch of Gear2, we can get Gear at the price of SW2 if not less. You get more features with Gear. And its cool too. If you check Gear forum, you can see the Null ROM which has added more features to Gear than the stock OS. With Null ROM, you can connect it to any device and not just Galaxy range. Check it out and decide. Try to see all 3 at the same time and see which one you like. End of the day, you are not gonna spend 24hrs of ur time seeing notifications. Its gonna act as your watch so check how comfortable are you wearing one and how it suits you. For the usage you mentioned, all 3 serves the purpose.
All the best! Gonna place my order for Gear next week
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk
I used to have first Sony attempt to a Smartwatch and the experience was horrible (few years back).
Now, I played with Gear, SW2 and Pebble and, let's put it simple: my money went to Sony's SW2. Is far from perfect but, considering the price, is a very good quality/price ratio. If you ask me which smartwatch is the best nowadays I would say: TOQ ... it has by far the best display - but that is expensive.
Functionality wise - they are all the same: a simple notification extension to your smartphone.

Android TV-Nexus Player

the first official android tv player has been announced. Interesting specs. Anyone thinking of getting one?
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/15/6982375/google-nexus-player-android-tv-set-top-box-announced
http://www.google.com/nexus/player/
Sent from my Sony Tablet S using XDA Free mobile app
the concept is interesting, but the spec is not
99$? Insta-buy! Just waiting for the pre-order in Germany
Gesendet von meinem Nexus 5 mit Tapatalk 2
I have an ADT-1 and thoroughly love it. By far, the best XBMC experience you could ask for, but the device holistically is pretty damn cool too. Going to be ordering 2 of these as well.
what does this have to do with the Nexus 5 section? not wanting to be a forum-nazi, but it's pretty useless in this section.
There is no dedicated android TV forum
Edit found it now. Thread has been moved. Thanks moderator
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Really cool idea and I'd buy one if I didn't already have a Nexus 5, Nexus 7, Chromecast, a Slimport cable, and a PS3 controller. With all that, the possibilities are vast. If playing a game, I'll use my N5, hook it up to the TV via Slimport, and use my PS3 controller. If watching a show, I'll just cast my screen via Chromecast, with the option of using the Slimport cable.
So since the controller is Bluetooth Smart, I can sync it with my phone and tablet, right? Typical Bluetooth syncing process? A spare controller might be a nice little plus to convince me to buy a (another) little gadget device. Like I said, it's a neat idea but I definitely don't need it.
Quite interesting that it's using a Intel processor. Wonder how that will perform. Also any micro SD slot?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
jumper62 said:
Quite interesting that it's using a Intel processor. Wonder how that will perform. Also any micro SD slot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there's a similar question i got:
does it have a usb host port?
As the specs don't mention one (like the sd-slot) i guess there won't be one, what makes sense if you think about their interest in people streaming stuff from google play...
Amazon blocks usb mass storage and google doesn't even add a port, what also makes usb gamecontrollers unusable...
I'll most likely buy one at some point to replace my Roku, but one of the important apps to me is the WWE Network app, and I highly doubt WWE will care enough about their app to update for compatibility with Android TV any time soon. So, I'll have to hold out until they support Android TV.
There is a mini usb port. External storage?
Sigh. Google, y u hate Ethernet?
Another stationary device that eats up wifi bandwidth to save on a 50 cent Gig-E port. Its just plain dumb.
Is there any official information about European availability?
Does it support HDMI-CEC?
I'll get one to replace the Chromecast in our living room. Will be really nice to have a remote to, for example, pause if I get a call. Try to do that on your phone while casting something..
If it hasn't got HDMI-CEC.. that would just be stupid. Hope it has.
Doesn't bother me that it hasn't got wired Ethernet. My WiFi is excellent and I can easily get +600Mbps real performance on my laptop and +250Mbps on my Nexus 5 so the AC-chip on this will do for all my streaming needs and then some.
Any information yet which formats are supported? Is it like chromecast limited to h264 and aac or can it play mkv files with dvd MPEG streams? (how I store my DVD library currently in plex)
Skickat från min GT-I9505 via Tapatalk
Konstigt said:
I'll get one to replace the Chromecast in our living room. Will be really nice to have a remote to, for example, pause if I get a call. Try to do that on your phone while casting something..
If it hasn't got HDMI-CEC.. that would just be stupid. Hope it has.
Doesn't bother me that it hasn't got wired Ethernet. My WiFi is excellent and I can easily get +600Mbps real performance on my laptop and +250Mbps on my Nexus 5 so the AC-chip on this will do for all my streaming needs and then some.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My problem is that I don't live by myself, and we live in a relatively high density area (~3k to ~4k sq ft houses on 60 ft lots). We have three tablets, two ipod touches, two smartphones, occasionally a laptop or two. I have really good wifi coverage (using ubiquiti APs). But my next door neighbors media room is really close to our master bedroom suite and she uses wireless for everything (which is ridiculous...my old company wired her house...I know she has a lan drop in her media room, lol). So she constantly pegs 1 and 11 in 2.4 GHz. So I use 6 on that side of the house. But I can see at least 4 other APs from my neighbors on 6, and that's just those that broadcast. Our phones are are the only two AC devices we currently have.
It would probably be OK on AC. I have one AC AP and my family room cabinets where my equipment is in is only about 20 feet from the AP through wood cabinet doors. But add in a cheapo GigE port and there is nothing to worry about at all. Again, its a stationary device, no reason to use wifi. I think the issue is that these devices are developed by people who live in rented apartments or in parts of the world where adding a lan drop in a home is cost prohibitive (concrete walls, etc.). It never occurs to them that a huge portion of their target audience has a wired lan in their home.
mrw1215 said:
I'll most likely buy one at some point to replace my Roku, but one of the important apps to me is the WWE Network app, and I highly doubt WWE will care enough about their app to update for compatibility with Android TV any time soon. So, I'll have to hold out until they support Android TV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would not be supprised, WWE app has been on Fire TV for a while. It should not take much, if any, reconfiguring to add it to the play store for the player.
Just heard about this. Interesting indeed. I am in the UK and have got an Amazon Fire TV on preorder (released 23rd Oct) not sure whether to ditch that pre-order and go for this or keep the AFTV.
No ethernet is a bummer, but I'm still looking forward to it
need to find the perfect Plex box
I'm going to be pre-ordering one tomorrow as soon as they become available for pre-order... If I'm still awake by midnight, might do it then.
The lack of Ethernet port is truly a bummer, but I guess I will try to get another device off my Wi-Fi lol

No bluetooth 5.0

Is it just me or is this missing feature disappointing to anyone else?
tkoreaper said:
Is it just me or is this missing feature disappointing to anyone else?
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Click to collapse
Hmm, tbh I don't use Bluetooth and if I did it would usually be within the range such as car Bluetooth or connect to a speaker. I guess it is a shame they couldn't have put the latest tech in it but it's nothing I'm too concerned with. It having no 3.5mm jack is more concerning but if it has excellent battery then perhaps I won't need to listen to music and charge it so often.
Bluetooth 5.0 is only any good if you are connecting to accessories with 5.0 as well, otherwise it will only be as good as the lowest version of Bluetooth that you are connecting to. But right now I struggle to find any accessories with 5.0. Still would have been nice for future proofing, but I won't lose any sleep over it.
aliHTCDHD said:
Hmm, tbh I don't use Bluetooth and if I did it would usually be within the range such as car Bluetooth or connect to a speaker. I guess it is a shame they couldn't have put the latest tech in it but it's nothing I'm too concerned with. It having no 3.5mm jack is more concerning but if it has excellent battery then perhaps I won't need to listen to music and charge it so often.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well there are a lot of benefits to Bluetooth 5 over version 4.2 such as twice the data transfer speed, 4x the range (yes, FOUR... That's 800 feet), enough bandwidth to support two devices at one time, and it'll also help facilitate additional location-based functionality. As for the missing 3.5mm jack HTC has said that an adapter will be sent with the device along with some USB-C headphones that people are claiming to be really good.
shineyads said:
Bluetooth 5.0 is only any good if you are connecting to accessories with 5.0 as well, otherwise it will only be as good as the lowest version of Bluetooth that you are connecting to. But right now I struggle to find any accessories with 5.0. Still would have been nice for future proofing, but I won't lose any sleep over it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The other devices need to be 5.0 to take advantage of the new speed and range, yes, but not everything else.
tkoreaper said:
The other devices need to be 5.0 to take advantage of the new speed and range, yes, but not everything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is it that you want bluetooth 5 for over, say, 4.2?
tkoreaper said:
Well there are a lot of benefits to Bluetooth 5 over version 4.2 such as twice the data transfer speed, 4x the range (yes, FOUR... That's 800 feet), enough bandwidth to support two devices at one time, and it'll also help facilitate additional location-based functionality. As for the missing 3.5mm jack HTC has said that an adapter will be sent with the device along with some USB-C headphones that people are claiming to be really good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a big improvement for sure which I was aware of but not the exact figures. The issue of lacking 5.0 really depends on how individuals use their Bluetooth, I never use it so I'm fine. I'm aware of the 3.5 adaptor, I was just saying in my previous post that hopefully the battery will last long enough to listen to music when intended before battery is low. If battery does become low and the USB type c is being used for the headphones than that's a big issue that will definitely be more concerning than not having Bluetooth 5.0. It would be great if they could make an adaptor with a 3.5mm port and charging port next to it, this would solve any battery concerns while listening to music.
shineyads said:
What is it that you want bluetooth 5 for over, say, 4.2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like everything that it offers, but mostly the ability to be connected to two bluetooth devices at once and the increased bandwidth is nothing but good news for audiophiles like myself considering bluetooth has been pretty crappy in terms of quality.
aliHTCDHD said:
That's a big improvement for sure which I was aware of but not the exact figures. The issue of lacking 5.0 really depends on how individuals use their Bluetooth, I never use it so I'm fine. I'm aware of the 3.5 adaptor, I was just saying in my previous post that hopefully the battery will last long enough to listen to music when intended before battery is low. If battery does become low and the USB type c is being used for the headphones than that's a big issue that will definitely be more concerning than not having Bluetooth 5.0. It would be great if they could make an adaptor with a 3.5mm port and charging port next to it, this would solve any battery concerns while listening to music.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I currently have the HTC 10 that also has a 3,000mAh battery and I have no problem getting a full day's use out of it. The U11 can only get better with the more efficient 835 SoC.
tkoreaper said:
Well, I currently have the HTC 10 that also has a 3,000mAh battery and I have no problem getting a full day's use out of it. The U11 can only get better with the more efficient 835 SoC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great to hear. I'm looking forward to my two year upgrade as my contract ends. I'm overall very impressed with the phone. I have the m9 in case my signature does not mention it. From the reviews, it has the best audio, performance, camera, microphones and should have a good battery endurance.
What about yourself, are you thinking of upgrading to this device and in what's situations do you use Bluetooth?
aliHTCDHD said:
That's great to hear. I'm looking forward to my two year upgrade as my contract ends. I'm overall very impressed with the phone. I have the m9 in case my signature does not mention it. From the reviews, it has the best audio, performance, camera, microphones and should have a good battery endurance.
What about yourself, are you thinking of upgrading to this device and in what's situations do you use Bluetooth?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's kinda a no-brainer considering I'd get it at $300 off. They sent me an email with a code to take $50 off and with their upgrade program they'll give me $250 for my HTC 10. They will give you money for your M9 as well, but it would likely only be about $100-150. However, I 'm still contemplating on whether I should wait or not because I like the Solar Red color, but it's not currently available for purchase and chances are that in a month or two they may offer $100 off.
tkoreaper said:
I like everything that it offers, but mostly the ability to be connected to two bluetooth devices at once and the increased bandwidth is nothing but good news for audiophiles like myself considering bluetooth has been pretty crappy in terms of quality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be fair, if you're an audiophile then you should be going wired as the quality will still be superior to BT5. Won't you need to have cans with BT5 to get the full benefit of going wireless?
I'll be making use of the in-box 3.5mm adaptor with amp, but I'll also try out the in-box earbuds as they sound quite interesting (no pun intended).
shineyads said:
To be fair, if you're an audiophile then you should be going wired as the quality will still be superior to BT5. Won't you need to have cans with BT5 to get the full benefit of going wireless?
I'll be making use of the in-box 3.5mm adaptor with amp, but I'll also try out the in-box earbuds as they sound quite interesting (no pun intended).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand, but I think Bluetooth 5's capabilities may be enough to push it into the audiophile range and we'll start seeing much better headphones as a result... I guess the real new feature of the the 5.0 standard is the dramatic increase in range. Can you imagine leaving your phone in the car and running around a track with your headphones on, not needing to carry the phone with you?
tkoreaper said:
It's kinda a no-brainer considering I'd get it at $300 off. They sent me an email with a code to take $50 off and with their upgrade program they'll give me $250 for my HTC 10. They will give you money for your M9 as well, but it would likely only be about $100-150. However, I 'm still contemplating on whether I should wait or not because I like the Solar Red color, but it's not currently available for purchase and chances are that in a month or two they may offer $100 off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lucky you , I'm in UK so will have to check with HTC UK whether they have any deal. I'll be wanting to see them in person before purchasing, the colours are rather unique. I'm feeling kinda excited tbh. I can't wait to try the speakers, camera and performance. Hopefully it's a huge improvement over the m9.
tkoreaper said:
I understand, but I think Bluetooth 5's capabilities may be enough to push it into the audiophile range and we'll start seeing much better headphones as a result... I guess the real new feature of the the 5.0 standard is the dramatic increase in range. Can you imagine leaving your phone in the car and running around a track with your headphones on, not needing to carry the phone with you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really - what if you want to change playlist or send a message to someone? Lol
I agree though, BT5 does have some great benefits but until we see some accessories with BT5 in them then 4.2 does me fine. I reckon it'll probably take a year for BT5 to be more widespread... at which time it'll be time to upgrade to the HTC U12 anyway! Lol
shineyads said:
Not really - what if you want to change playlist or send a message to someone? Lol
I agree though, BT5 does have some great benefits but until we see some accessories with BT5 in them then 4.2 does me fine. I reckon it'll probably take a year for BT5 to be more widespread... at which time it'll be time to upgrade to the HTC U12 anyway! Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on your phones... with all the personal assistants on the phone and the ability already to change tracks or give verbal commands over bluetooth I don't see how that would be difficult to achieve.
tkoreaper said:
Depends on your phones... with all the personal assistants on the phone and the ability already to change tracks or give verbal commands over bluetooth I don't see how that would be difficult to achieve.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, but I'm so breathless running round a track that no assistant would make out what I'm trying to say! I also prefer checking my running stats on my phone as you get more detail than on something like a SmartWatch.
I guess it all depends on how you use BT and what you need it for, but I'm happy enough with 4.2 for now. I mainly want it to show metadata for tracks I'm streaming through my car audio... Something my last 2 Samsung's haven't been able to do when every other phone can!
shineyads said:
True, but I'm so breathless running round a track that no assistant would make out what I'm trying to say! I also prefer checking my running stats on my phone as you get more detail than on something like a SmartWatch.
I guess it all depends on how you use BT and what you need it for, but I'm happy enough with 4.2 for now. I mainly want it to show metadata for tracks I'm streaming through my car audio... Something my last 2 Samsung's haven't been able to do when every other phone can!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The future is here... there's really no limit. Just because you have no display to look at that doesn't mean you have absolutely no way to get that information by other means. I wouldn't underestimate the capabilities of Google Assistant and Alexa.
tkoreaper said:
The future is here... there's really no limit. Just because you have no display to look at that doesn't mean you have absolutely no way to get that information by other means. I wouldn't underestimate the capabilities of Google Assistant and Alexa.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, so how does GA take my SpO2 levels on my S7 Edge if the phone is in the car? It can't even trigger that if I have the phone in my hand - there is absolutely no way it can do it! It also can't tell me what my different splits are or what route I took or how it compared to my last run... and that's if I use Google Fit, which I don't! There's very little 3rd party app integration at the moment for various reasons - assistant software is very much in its infancy and will need a long time to mature.
There will always be limits and the future, by definition, is never here.
I think we'll have to agree to differ on this one - it sounds like it may meet your needs, but it's a long way from meeting mine.
shineyads said:
OK, so how does GA take my SpO2 levels on my S7 Edge if the phone is in the car? It can't even trigger that if I have the phone in my hand - there is absolutely no way it can do it! It also can't tell me what my different splits are or what route I took or how it compared to my last run... and that's if I use Google Fit, which I don't! There's very little 3rd party app integration at the moment for various reasons - assistant software is very much in its infancy and will need a long time to mature.
There will always be limits and the future, by definition, is never here.
I think we'll have to agree to differ on this one - it sounds like it may meet your needs, but it's a long way from meeting mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd argue that Alexa is further along, at least when it comes to 3rd party integration. You're also forgetting that with BT 5 you can connect to two devices so you could also wear something with your Sp02 levels if that's really important to you. I think at this point, you're just really grasping at anything to justify BT 5 not being a true upgrade to 4.2

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