Exclusive early review on the Sony SmartWatch 3! - Sony Smartwatch

Hi all, just wanted to share with you my detailed review of the new Sony SmartWatch 3 and how it stacks up against the SmartWatch 2. I've managed to get a developer version ahead of its release and must say that I'm really impressed with its design and build quality. My initial thoughts based on the press release weren't so flattering but after actually having it in my hands and wearing it on my wrist, I'm pleasantly surprised with how it has turned out.
You can read my review on my blog at
http://xperiazultra.weebly.com/home/exclusive-sony-smartwatch-3-android-wear-review
I've posted heaps of photos so please take a look! If you have any questions please let me know!

Nice review. Did you find out anything about how much the new watch will cost? As much as I liked my Sony SW2...Im ready to move on.

syounger64 said:
Nice review. Did you find out anything about how much the new watch will cost? As much as I liked my Sony SW2...Im ready to move on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi based on info from PC Advisor, "The SmartWatch 3 will cost 229 Euro, which converts to around £180. And that's the exact price for pre-order at Clove. The firm also lists a metal version which we weren't made aware of arriving in November at £215."

Thank you julz, please come to the smartwatch 3 section to talk about it if you want.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/smartwatch-3
I feel this watch will be the one to show the next generation of android wear. The guys who designed the terrible black wristband should be punished. A great piece of hardware with that wristband is a crime.
The colored one look better at least.

Related

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!
Click to expand...
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.

is the sw2 aging well?

How long has it been out? What's it's future look like? How does it compete with the competition? How much has it evolved? Are things gonna keep looking better or worse?
the SW2 was released late september, 2013
i don't expect a very bright future, to be honest
even though it evolved to a very useable smartwatch, thanks to firmware updates, i think the next batch of smartwatches will be much more popular
several google wear watches are expected to be announced during google i/o, one of them the Moto 360, which might just be the smartwatch a lot of people have been waiting for because of it's looks (watches ARE considered juwelry, so why not have something good looking)
compared to watches currently released, the SW2 still has an edge i think, thanks to:
-transflective display, sure it's cool to have a high-res display, but if you can't read it outside...
-extensions, giving you all kind of extra functionality notifications
-watch face editor, i think they really hit the mark there
-battery life, 3-4 days
but the watch is showing it's age
i don't know if it's because Sony added the watch face widgets so long after releasing the watch, or that the watch simply isn't that popular, but somehow i expected an explosion of watchface widgets, which simply hasn't happened
and i don't think it will happen
don't get me wrong, i'm a very happy user, thanks to the last update, watchface widgets and notifications (too bad Sony won't listen and give me (us?) a selectable screen timeout), if i leave my watch at home i miss it all day long
but the Moto 360 does look amazing...
Had mine 2 days & I love it but, yeah, ^ what he said.
JarlSX said:
the SW2 was released late september, 2013
i don't expect a very bright future, to be honest
even though it evolved to a very useable smartwatch, thanks to firmware updates, i think the next batch of smartwatches will be much more popular
several google wear watches are expected to be announced during google i/o, one of them the Moto 360, which might just be the smartwatch a lot of people have been waiting for because of it's looks (watches ARE considered juwelry, so why not have something good looking)
compared to watches currently released, the SW2 still has an edge i think, thanks to:
-transflective display, sure it's cool to have a high-res display, but if you can't read it outside...
-extensions, giving you all kind of extra functionality notifications
-watch face editor, i think they really hit the mark there
-battery life, 3-4 days
but the watch is showing it's age
i don't know if it's because Sony added the watch face widgets so long after releasing the watch, or that the watch simply isn't that popular, but somehow i expected an explosion of watchface widgets, which simply hasn't happened
and i don't think it will happen
don't get me wrong, i'm a very happy user, thanks to the last update, watchface widgets and notifications (too bad Sony won't listen and give me (us?) a selectable screen timeout), if i leave my watch at home i miss it all day long
but the Moto 360 does look amazing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think a lot of People don't even know that there are Smartwatches from other Manufactures, here in Switzerland (where I live), the only official selled Smartwatches are the Samsung ones...The most People here don't know that Sony made Smartwatches too.
Except from that, a lot of People don't see why they should need a Smartwatch, they're always on the Phone, so why should they buy an Accessory which hasn't any use for them?
And then, there's the look of these things. The most Smartwatches are in a rectangular shape...How many People have you seen wearing a "normal" Watch with a rectangular design? Maybe a few, but not much. People like their watches with circular design - and that's where the Moto 360 comes in.
The Sony Smartwatch 2 will probably get a replacement soon with the same (or slightly upgraded) firmware of the SW2, but it hasn't any chance to sell as good as Android Wear devices will, for that, Sony has to deliver more than one Watch, Maybe a circular and rectangular, and a few color options sure won't hurt, and they have to advert this thing! I have never seen any Ad for the SW2 here in Switzerland (The Gear Ad is running almost 24/7 on TV - well , not as much, but it feels like), and there are posters everywhere with the Gear on it! You even get the Gear for free if you buy a new Samsung- Phone here...
Sony should get the marketing right for the upcoming SW3, otherwise they will loose the fight.
i actually don't know anyone (friends, family, co-workers) who has a smartwatch
people respond amazed when they see i get email/facebook/twitter/etc notifications on my watch (or if someone calls me), but that didn't result in anyone wanting one as well
maybe that will change when they see a more fashionable watch like the Moto 360...
Same here! Got SW1, 2 and a Pebble and everyone is astonished but never saw another smartwatch in the wild...
Envoyé depuis mon SM-N9005
at homedepot
I'm a cashier and I see probably around 30% OF WATCHES ARE SQUARR. ITV WAS OBVIOUSLY COMMON IN OLDER DESIGNS
In my opinion - no, it is not aging well when compared with the Android Wear devices on the horizon. On it's own the SW2 is not a bad device and I have enjoyed using mine over the last few months but I have now sold it in anticipation of the new Android Wear products and I shall be picking up a Moto 360 or LG G Watch.
Why's everyone buying into the Android Wear hype? It's basically a screen for your Google Now notifications. With a microphone built in. And batteries 10 times the size of the SW2 but with less lifetime.
ngoonee said:
Why's everyone buying into the Android Wear hype? It's basically a screen for your Google Now notifications. With a microphone built in. And batteries 10 times the size of the SW2 but with less lifetime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because Google supports it natively meaning app devs will be able to easily adapt their apps to utilize it. No hacks and third party apps needed in order to function on the watch. Obviously there are many things still unknown like battery life and general functionality but it's likely to be better supported.
Sent from my XT1080 using XDA Free mobile app
Gahh! Having a bit of headache over this question too. Will android wear kill the SW2? Reason is I´m planning to get a smartwatch for a gift to an event this weekend. The SW2 and Pebble is out here in Sweden, but there´s no word on release for the Android wear watches (we´re not one of the contries google announced the other day).
And I really want to hand over a real, physical device. Not a gift certificate saying "you´ll get a cool device sometimes in the future".
Was really set on getting the SW2 for this gift but now I don´t know...

S2SA - The Sport To Strap Adapter [MAR31: PROJECT HALTED FOR NOW]

According to forum rule 7 & 11: Dear moderator, while this thread should support the development of the S2SA strap adapter for this smartwatch and bring news from the Kickstarter-campaign, it is not intended in any way to acquire customers or selling anything. Please inform me if any problems occur, so I will instantaneously eliminate them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
January 18th: Design #1 (Model: S2SAS) is created.
January 18th: Design #1 is submitted for standard printing. (ETA next Tuesday morning)
January 19th: Design #1 evolved with round edge (Model: S2SAR).
January 20th: Prototype #1 arrived and got verified already. (see here)
January 21st: The kickstarter campaign got submitted to Kickstarter.
January 21st: Design #2 (Model: S2SAS) is submitted for standard printing. (ETA next Monday morning)
January 22nd: Design #2 (Model: S2SAS) is submitted for HD high resin printing. (ETA next Monday evening)
January 22nd: Alternative fixing method (Model: S2SASSW) (with screws) is mostly finished.
January 22nd: The kickstarter campaign started! (see here)
January 23rd: Alternative fixing method is finished (Model: S2SASSW). (see here)
January 23rd: Round version of alternative fixing method is finished (Model: S2SARSW).
January 24th: Design #2 (Model: S2SASSW) is submitted for HD high resin printing. (ETA next week)
January 25th: Prototype #2 (Model: S2SAS) arrived and got verified already. (see here)
January 25th: You can read about the S2SA now on Sammobile too, thanks to our member Jeshter2000!
January 26th: First watch strap applied on the S2SA and Gear S2, look at this nice pictures here!
January 29th: HD-resin printed prototype parts came today!
January 30th: The HD-resin prototypes of the models S2SAS and S2SASSW got verified, you can find them here!
January 31st: HEAVY METAL! All models ordered for metal printing! (ETA February, 5th)
February 1st: Supplier able to print with new model structure! (new ETA February, 10th)
February 10th: Stainless steel version is printed, first pictures from supplier here. (new ETA February 12th)
February 17th: Stainless steel version arrived and in work! You can find pictures here!
February 21st: Kickstarter campaign failed ! But keep the head up!.
March 3rd: Investigation for different suppliers or manufacturing methods.
March 31st: Development stopped so far, read this post for further information!
I want to thank you all for your support and beliefs in me! Maybe we can bring this idea to life anyway, I would appreciate it! You all are great!
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Welcome to the official project thread of the S2SA!​
This project can be supported via a Kickstarter campaign. Just take this road to get there.
I would be very pleased if you join the poll to find out the common interest in this project!​
Some of you already read from my thoughts about a new strap adapter for the Samsung Gear S2 Sport in this thread. Initially the named thread was started by our valuable member simlpyphp who also decided to do some development on a strap adapter. Unfortunately he stopped development because of prototyping reasons. If anyone wants to reuse his model and needs help, just PM me.
1 - Introduction​
The year 2015 brought a big variety of smartwatches to us. Not only for me it was a hard decision which wearable to choose. Maybe the Pebble Time? Maybe the Moto 360? After some time, also Samsung came out with a great new device, the Gear S2! The rotating bezel itself as a whole new handling experience put this smartwatch at the top of my wishlist and now I have it. Samsung offers two (actually three with the 3G) versions of this smartwatch. The Sport and the Classic. While both of those versions deliver the same hardware inside (apart from the Sport 3G), they differ at their clothing. The Sport (and Sport 3G) version comes with a stylish and futuristic housing with a proprietary strap connector, while the Classic version provides a standard strap connector in a classy design.
When deciding to buy the watch I decided to choose the Sport version as I like to use it as a sports tracker, where it is more comfortable for the skin to not have a leather or metal strap at my wrist. Nonetheless I want to wear my watch at the dinner with business partners or other noble events too. So I came to the idea that it would be nice to be able to use noble looking straps in combination with our watch as well.
And thats the reason to invent the "Sport To Strap Adapter" - in short S2SA!
So those who bought the Classic version want to laugh at us poor Gear S2 Sport owners but the one who laughs last that laughs best! ​
The BIG advantage against the Classic version IS indeed the proprietary strap connector. While Classic owners have to fizzle around to change their strap or have to put the watch off at all when sporting, we can simply change the strap as we like. Put on the genuine rubber strap and go jogging. After coming back you're under for a shower and after changing your clothes for the big business day, just simply switch from the rubber strap to the S2SA with the already attached stylish leather strap and you're done. Under 10 seconds. No fizzling! Ready for the day!
The S2SA will work of course also with the Sport 3G version, so for those of you who had no choice at all between Sport and Classic, here is your turn!
2 - Let's talk about design.​
So here we go! The following pictures represent the first designs that I created. Two different ones. One with a straight edge and one with a round. The explanation of both design will follow after the picture. I want to mention, that the plan is to create some different "clothings" for the S2SA too:
shiny polished stainless steel, that will nicely fit to the housing of both the silver and the dark grey Gear S2
matted stainless steel (maybe with a brushed steel look?), that will fit best to the housing of the silver Gear S2
and dark grey lacquered stainless steel to fit the housing of the dark grey Gear S2
While the straight version provides a more sophisticated design to meet the existing design line of the smartwatch, the round design meets a more minimalistic manner. There are two different type of people. One of you want no space between the S2SA and the strap and one of you like it to let the S2SA follow the contour of the watch. Nonetheless both designs only add up a very little amount of size to your watch!
I want to mention how the S2SA can get assembled in terms of the connecting mechanism:
While the easiest intention is to take the connecting mechanism from a spare strap that you have (what you will have, because you got two sets of straps and only use one), it is a little handicraft. This is also the cheapest method because we won't get into need of additional parts.
Another possibility would be to deliver the S2SA assembled with the parts already so you can plug&play it. That would be more expensive, also small parts are worth their money...
An alternative is to avoid Samsung's locking mechanism and instead of the seesaw (the little button inside) use two little screws that will fit into the indent on the watch.
Actually I (for my own set) would prefer the first/second kind of connecting mechanism because after some strength tests I came to the conclusion, that Samsung did a good job in designing the connector (although a common strap connection would be better ). However, the alternative will surely be stronger but you will need a screwdriver to put on/take off the watch. The decision is up to you :good: !
3 - Which models are available?​
I started with one design and for now there are 6, while 4 will get relevant, so I have to summarize them to make it easier to see each benefits. I am currently working on a more detailed line-up of all the different designs (and model structures).
At first you should understand the naming of all the models, so it will get easier for you to understand the whole matter. So the model naming follows a very easy cycle:
S2SA X YY​X : S - straight edge, R - round edge
YY: nothing - Samsung standard connector, SW - screwed connector
The following pictures shows a quick comparison between all the recent designs. While you can see the common design differences, you will get more information about advantages and disadvantages as well as measurements of all the models after the picture in the given table. If you have any other questions regarding other properties, please post them and I will add the to the table.
You can view this picture in full size by right-clicking on it and selecting "Show in new tab".
You can view this picture in full size by right-clicking on it and selecting "Show in new tab".
4 - What should it cost?​
As XDA-Devs is not a selling platform, I also won't sell anything here. The development will get funded by interested people mainly on kickstarter. I surely understand, that not everyone is registered at kickstarter and not everyone wants to do that. So for those of you, there are several ways to support developers work here at XDA. You can show the project to friends or help in acquiring possible suppliers to manufacture the parts or even donate some coins over the donation button near my profile picture... You know how to go !
Because some of you asked already for how to accomplish donations over PayPal!
When using the Donate-Button at the left side, you can donate any amount you want via PayPal, but that is regardless to this project (it is a private-to-private-donation with no additional securities). While I would appreciate your donations directly via Kickstarter, I want to give you the possibility to get the same benefits like when backing at Kickstarter with the same amount of security. SO: All of you, which want to donate something via PayPal to this project, please CONTACT ME FIRST! When it comes to donations, you have to donate not to private but to a commercial reciever. In this case you got the additional security from PayPal for a refund, when needed. We will talk about all question in detail via PM if you have some.
The price in the future depends on how much people support the work (in several sights) and how much are even interested in getting the S2SA. The more people want to have it, the cheaper it can be. Easy calculation. While it is possible to manufacture one set itself, it gets much easier when it comes to big series. To be able to make a better estimation, I would appreciate your votes at the given poll at the beginning of this thread! But for now it is not the right time to talk about that. But it should be effordable and should stay in a good ratio to the watch and straps itself.
Thats all for the moment! I would like to hear your thoughts and wishes! Every advice is welcome so let us come together to make our sweet smartwatch a little bit better!
Best regards
Gerhard
Looks great, you could follow on by making a bracelet to integrate into your design.
crustyeyez said:
Looks great, you could follow on by making a bracelet to integrate into your design.
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Hey crustyeyez!
Indeed I already mastered a first draft, where the watch itself sits inside a type of bracelet. But to not overcome the design process it takes some time to make things look good! Just stay tuned!
I'm very interested in this but planning on using a stainless steel band,or possibly a nice metal mesh band in black. I think the straight design would work best in this situation,or maybe the round one depending on the design of the stainless steel band. Would either of your designs work with a stainless steel band?
gregorz48 said:
I'm very interested in this but planning on using a stainless steel band,or possibly a nice metal mesh band in black. I think the straight design would work best in this situation,or maybe the round one depending on the design of the stainless steel band. Would either of your designs work with a stainless steel band?
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Hey gregorz48!
At the given first design evolution, all versions will provide best fit for the common watch straps we were used to in the past. So you don't have to worry for now which design to choose!
Nevertheless you might have to make a decision in the future which S2SA to choose because of the following:
Think about the metal mesh (so called milanese) strap. It is very thin and at the fixing point it will maybe show only a diameter of around 2mm.
And another possibility would be to use a heavy and thick genuine leather strap which also provides an elegant touch but will measure at the fixing point with up to 4mm.
Where at the first situation I am able to make the S2SA even shorter, situation two will require a little more space.
Please help and spread the idea to keep the thread up!
"Changes The Way How You Get In Touch With Your Smartwatch." LOL!
Zagzagel said:
"Changes The Way How You Get In Touch With Your Smartwatch." LOL!
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Isn't it incisive?
I updated the post with new information regarding the connection mechanism. You can find the new points at the end of chapter 2.
Here a quote about the new things as following:
I want to mention how the S2SA will get assembled...
While the easiest intention is to take the connecting mechanism from a spare strap that you have (what you will have, because you got two sets of straps and only use one), it is a little handicraft. This is also the cheapest method because we won't get into need of additional parts.
Another possibility would be to deliver the S2SA assembled with the parts already so you can plug&play it. That would be more expensive, also small parts are worth their money...
Additional there would also exist an option to integrate the connecting mechanism into the S2SA itself, so it would only be one single part. That option is possible but manufacturing those things is not that super cheap.
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Silberpfeil3110 said:
Isn't it incisive?
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The product is a good idea, but I think the tagline should read "Changes The Way You Get In Touch With Your Smartwatch" or "Changes How You Get In Touch With Your Smartwatch". There are some redundant words in there which amplify the fact that this is basically Marketing BS.
Zagzagel said:
The product is a good idea, but I think the tagline should read "Changes The Way You Get In Touch With Your Smartwatch" or "Changes How You Get In Touch With Your Smartwatch". There are some redundant words in there which amplify the fact that this is basically Marketing BS.
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Yeah I think that this is not marketing bull****, more it is a grammatic error, because english is not my native language
But nevertheless thank you for your help, I will correct it! :good:
Today the first plastics prototype from the 3D-printer arrived! Although we had some problems with the laminating process (environmental conditions seemed to be not good enough) and we had to change the design a little bit because of the material the first prototype looks awesome! I also see what I already thought of... there is enough space to reduce! I think about 1-2mm! So although there were some prototyping issues, you know how the S2SA should look like (CAD pictures) and the prototype is the first gusto piece!
Silberpfeil3110 said:
Today the first plastics prototype from the 3D-printer arrived! Although we had some problems with the laminating process (environmental conditions seemed to be not good enough) and we had to change the design a little bit because of the material the first prototype looks awesome! I also see what I already thought of... there is enough space to reduce! I think about 1-2mm! So although there were some prototyping issues, you know how the S2SA should look like (CAD pictures) and the prototype is the first gusto piece!
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Looking phenomenal! Keep up the great work!
As today I got the first prototype I already spent some time on refining the measurements to decrease size. I have to say I am very satisfied with the result. Just look at the picture and the explanation below...
The base/watch plane represent the edges of the watch. So BASE-BOTTOM at V1 was nearly 3mm while at V2 it is only 1,2mm which means that the adapter wont add any height on the downside as the watch itself is nearly 3mm down there. WATCH-BAR was at V1 nearly 5mm while now at V2 its minimized to 3mm. So while the watch provides a diameter of 50mm, the strap would be 56mm apart. And WATCH-END was at V1 a little bit more than 7mm and at V2 now its only 4mm.
Again I try to get the new samples as soon as possible to show you the progress.
Great work Do you have your own 3D Printer? I used my Robo 3D+ (with some upgraded parts) to make all my prototypes. They looked similar to yours though my design is slightly different.
I look forward to seeing your finished product, feel free to message me if you want to chat over Skype about ideas etc.
simplyphp said:
Great work Do you have your own 3D Printer? I used my Robo 3D+ (with some upgraded parts) to make all my prototypes. They looked similar to yours though my design is slightly different.
I look forward to seeing your finished product, feel free to message me if you want to chat over Skype about ideas etc.
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I was personally going to suggest you guys work together, I feel like you could both come up with an immaculate idea, being your both very intuitive in the field. I'll buy both sets either way. You guys rock, we greatly appreciate it.
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
simplyphp said:
Great work Do you have your own 3D Printer? I used my Robo 3D+ (with some upgraded parts) to make all my prototypes. They looked similar to yours though my design is slightly different.
I look forward to seeing your finished product, feel free to message me if you want to chat over Skype about ideas etc.
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Hey! Great to see you joining the discussion ! No I have no own printer, but one collegue of mine has.
And I am also curious about further prototypes and the end product. The next days I'll get another one to verify the new measurements and after that I have to switch to high resin 3D prints. Not that cheap because I have to order it somewhere else but it can be done.
Silberpfeil3110 said:
Hey! Great to see you joining the discussion ! No I have no own printer, but one collegue of mine has.
And I am also curious about further prototypes and the end product. The next days I'll get another one to verify the new measurements and after that I have to switch to high resin 3D prints. Not that cheap because I have to order it somewhere else but it can be done.
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Yeah that's the problem with 3D printing prototypes, I might have it EXACTLY spot on in the PLA and ABS prints I make, but when I get it made in stainless steel their machinery is far more advanced than mine and could be even more precise... thus the tight fit required for the adapter and the clip (especially the clip in my case) will be determined as soon as I get my package tomorrow.
For you, if you're having to order everything, it will be a longer process especially if multiple tweaks are necessary. I sent you a PM as well.
Hello Sir!
I like your idea! I own the Sport 3G and I would like to wear also those steel element straps you find also on the Pebble Time Steel! I like your design very much and wow the prototype looks good! I showed the pictures some friends of mine which own the 3G version and they were impressed too! I'm looking forward to further examples!
Do you know when the next ones will arrive?
R41DZ3R0
R41DZ3R0 said:
Hello Sir!
I like your idea! I own the Sport 3G and I would like to wear also those steel element straps you find also on the Pebble Time Steel! I like your design very much and wow the prototype looks good! I showed the pictures some friends of mine which own the 3G version and they were impressed too! I'm looking forward to further examples!
Do you know when the next ones will arrive?
R41DZ3R0
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Currently I did all refinements based on the last prototype and the new design (which is updated in the opening post now) is already finished. It's now out for printing. I hope to get them the next days for further testing !
Great to hear from your interest!
Best regards
Gerhard
Silberpfeil3110 said:
Currently I did all refinements based on the last prototype and the new design (which is updated in the opening post now) is already finished. It's now out for printing. I hope to get them the next days for further testing !
Great to hear from your interest!
Best regards
Gerhard
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Thank you sir
I would like to see the applying method of the adapter like it's at the oem strap. It seems very strong and easy to clip on because I dont want tools. Will the adapter scratch the watch when applied?

Question Planning to develop Apple Watch Ultra Wayfinder WF port for WearOS

Hello Everyone,
I was able to get hands-on with an Apple Watch Ultra recently and after messing around with it, I really loved how intricate the watch face was and had so much information displayed at once without really clustering everything in a mess.
I plan to develop a port of the Wayfinder WF for Wear OS watches, especially the Galaxy Watch 4 / 5.
I've attached a quick prototype I made in Figma. Had to adapt the square display to a circle, but this is just a rough approximation as to how it can possibly look in its default state.
The development would at least take a month or so, and I plan to release a 1:1 highly customisable watch face with its own companion app.
I was wondering if anyone would be interested in it? Considering it would most likely be a paid watch face.
Yes brother! GW5 user
I am interested in a barometric altimeter with manual calibration
Interested in this one, have you released it yet?
I might be interested. Let us know if you release a beta for us to try out.
More than interested !
@oddlyspaced Has anything been done in this direction?
Looks great! Of course I'm interested!
Looking forward to it!
Sorry for the late reply--just found this post while looking for this type of watch face. DEFINITELY interested and would of course expect it to be a paid one!

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