S2SA - The Sport To Strap Adapter [MAR31: PROJECT HALTED FOR NOW] - Samsung Gear S2

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.
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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?

Related

Quite possibly the most feminine mobile cases (whipped cream) review + pictures

I understand that these forums are most likely largely male dominated and some of my male friends were disgusted when seeing what I recieved today (and females)... but there are so many viewers there's got to be some girls out there alike myself who would go for this sort of thing~
I received this today:
http://imgur.com/a/GM7GD#0
I found it while contemplating getting one of these:
http://www.facebook.com/SoTotallyLame
But since they were too expensive I went for a cheap asian alternative.
Pros:
Very cute, ridiculous etc.
Your phone looks edible.
Good build quality - these bits of candy won't be coming off any time soon
Cons/practicalities:
Makes your phone a lot heavier (1.5x?)
Because it's so fat and heavy, it's a lot more difficult to handle the phone than not having it
Difficult to press the power button
The material they made the cream out of and a few other things is a bit sticky, so lint and dust will easily cling to it
Just looking at it will make you crave candy
I'm definitely going to use this for a few days to see how it goes.
It was roughly $20, took 2 weeks to get to me (1 week before I was expecting it). It came in a delicate white bag was well packaged. It had a nauseating plasticy smell.
Anyway, for those who are interested, here are all the cases in the store for SGS.
http://stores.ebay.com.au/directstation-aus/_i.html?_nkw=i9000&submit=Search&_sid=1029916421
If anyone has found them cheaper, please tell me!
hicough said:
I understand that these forums are most likely largely male dominated and some of my male friends were disgusted when seeing what I recieved today (and females)... but there are so many viewers there's got to be some girls out there alike myself who would go for this sort of thing~
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You've got a very frilly sense of feminity, sister. Anyway, you can buy cases like this in FocalPrice (cheap, no shipping fees) or DealExtreme. Like this one:
http://www.focalprice.com/MSA11X/Cute_White_Cream_Red_Ribbon_Strawberry_Cake_Phone_Protective_Back_Case_Cover_for_Samsung_i9000.html#.UGhuYYgqdUA
For reference, something like this:
http://www.focalprice.com/MSC31B/Butterfly_TPU_Back_Case_for_Sumsung_i9000.html#.UGhvaogqdUA
is the girliest I'd put on my phone.
it looks nice but i dont think it will be suitable for daily use does it? it would make the phone more bulky and it wont be comfortable on hand (for me at least)
It's funny I actually like most feminin accessoires like this case, however from a professional point of view it's pretty much frowned upon if you have your "own style". It's different if you are in an artistic field of work, but choice is pretty limited for men in usual life.
Like this pink case for example;
http and the : and the // and then the link: cdn2.mobielbereikbaar.nl/product/OX11365740/accy-flip-case-genuine-leather-pink-samsung-i9000-galaxy-s-i9001-galaxy-s-plus_0 and then add .jpg
really liked it for it's colour. I'm just a straight male guy, and I bought the black version for above reasons, but I actually like the pink one more, just for its colour . It's easy to say "to do as you like and don't mind what others think", which may be true if you are in high school, but it has its consequences in life for 18 and up.
ADD: you can't post links if you have less then 10 posts , and I do not like I need to spam before I can just USE the forums
The 10 post rules is there to stop the annoying spam bots. Don't worry, you will exceed 10 posts in no time
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2

Elevate Sports Armsleeve

The one and only thing that frustrates me about the Galaxy line is the lack of sports cases/bands that fit well, protect the phone and are comfortable. I've gone through a half dozen since the SGSII and they all sucked. And some were outright highway robbery for what they offered.
This Elevate Sleeve on Kickstarter looks like it has good potential. I'd back it, but the creator will only support bigger devices if he gets more than 25 requests. If anyone also thinks this could be the right sports case, head over and make a request for the SGSIV. There are other "sleeve" type cases, even a couple from Kickstarter, but they are just like the armbands, not real high quality, look cheap and still have that raggedy plastic face.
I was going to buy something similar from nike yesterday, but the last time I checked it out I didn't notice, it was for iphones/ipods.....I was seriously bummed.
Big thanks for posting this and getting my hope up a little bit!!
If I understood correctly, then they consider requests, not how many will actually going to buy this?? Everyone who even likes the idea....start emailing
The price is actually quite good too.....~10€ more expensive than the nike's long sleeves that were 50% off, but the elevate definitely seems alot nicer!!!
Just_s said:
The one and only thing that frustrates me about the Galaxy line is the lack of sports cases/bands that fit well, protect the phone and are comfortable. I've gone through a half dozen since the SGSII and they all sucked. And some were outright highway robbery for what they offered.
This Elevate Sleeve on Kickstarter looks like it has good potential. I'd back it, but the creator will only support bigger devices if he gets more than 25 requests. If anyone also thinks this could be the right sports case, head over and make a request for the SGSIV. There are other "sleeve" type cases, even a couple from Kickstarter, but they are just like the armbands, not real high quality, look cheap and still have that raggedy plastic face.
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Hope he didn't do too much so searching for that idea
http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/forearm-sleeve-sleeve/pid-581614
warnette said:
Hope he didn't do too much so searching for that idea
http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/forearm-sleeve-sleeve/pid-581614
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Yeah, as I mentioned above, there are several other sleeve-style cases, but none that don't suck. I'm guessing you haven't used the NIKE version, which doesn't fit an SGSIV with or without a case on it, nor is it comfortable. Also the NIKE sleeve has the same cheap plastic face and the phone sits on the underside of your forearm rather than the top (very uncomfortable position when running IMO.) Sadly, it is still the best of the cases I've tried, too bad it doesn't work with anything but an old iPhone I use as an iPod.
I'd wager that this or even this were as much an inspiration as the NIKE+ sleeve for the Elevate.
If your criteria for buying something is that it be an original idea, your place must be empty. We don't come across may truly original ideas in the world we live in today. I'll happily take an innovation on an existing product in lieu of an original/bleeding edge product if it gets the job done. If we didn't buy better versions of existing products, we wouldn't have iOS nor Android devices, now would we?
That said, the Elevate is an unproven product, not unlike the betas we all like to run here at XDA, so I am not touting it as the end-all-be-all in fitness cases. From the specs and the prototype, it certainly looks like an innovation over the NIKE version. I'm also not asking anyone else to back the product. I'm just hoping that some folks will head over and chime in for the S4 so that if I decide to back it, I will have a case to receive.
warnette said:
Hope he didn't do too much so searching for that idea
http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/forearm-sleeve-sleeve/pid-581614
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That's exactly where there problem started, it's for the iphone...a tiny inferior phone.....a lot of useful stuff is produced for iphones/ipods only because they get to link their product with apple's name....but the rest of us have to suffer...
The approach on the materials is nice...shows that more consideration has gone into the product plus a possibility to get it for other phones as well....at least that seemed to be the idea behind this thread....
alliktaavo said:
That's exactly where there problem started, it's for the iphone...a tiny inferior phone.....a lot of useful stuff is produced for iphones/ipods only because they get to link their product with apple's name....but the rest of us have to suffer...
The approach on the materials is nice...shows that more consideration has gone into the product plus a possibility to get it for other phones as well....at least that seemed to be the idea behind this thread....
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Click to collapse
Bingo!
And as of today, they only need 17 more requests to make this for the S4.
(Potential) Backers — Here's a quick update on the request count that we've gotten so far. Looks like S4 is our most popular so far. Not surprised. Just 17 more requests and we're adding it to the production list.
I put in my request yesterday! Hopefully we get enough for our S4's to be accommodated because this sleeve looks amazing! :good:
I've asked the maker to consider a semi universal sleeve for larger (not the largest, sorry Note folks) phones as this range is relatively similar in size.
Visual Comparison and SIze Specs
Found this kickstarter the other day and backed it. Seems to have a lot of potential if it'll fit the bigger phones (S3/S4)

Microsoft Surface Ears, for low volume problems

Hi xda,
I have developed Ears for the Surface family of tablets. It has launched! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1463948377/ears-for-the-surface-tablets
I just want to see what your feedback is. This is my first project/product and if anyone has suggestions, let me know.
I would love to hear what the community thinks!
Thank you,
Brandon
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lgnationrc said:
Hi xda,
I have developed Ears for the Surface family of tablets. I will launch it Saturday at 9:00am EST (UTC-5:00) on Kickstarter. Right now you can see the Prefundia link: http://prefundia.com/projects/view/ears-for-the-surface-tablets/976/
I just want to see what your feedback is. This is my first project/product and if anyone has suggestions, let me know.
I will post a Kickstarter link when it goes live.
I would love to hear what the community thinks!
Thank you,
Brandon
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I really enjoyed the story behind your move to China and starting a business in there. I'm sure it will be inspirational for a lot of people!
Regarding the project, it's a good idea, but... here is a big problem I see with it. Your product is catered to a small group of people who bought original Surface RT (probably on fire sale when they drop the price). I know you really like it and still enjoying it, but in a big picture Surface RT (arm processor based, right?) was a huge flop for M$. On top of that, if they decide to release a new version of it and re-design location of speakers, your design will have to be changed.. Do you know what I mean?
Don't take it in a wrong way, I'm just trying to help you out with my opinion (I review a lot of products, see my signature link). The product you come up with is a good idea, but I'm not sure if its suitable for KS or IGG unless you set a low target. XDA is not the best place to promote it; you need to go directly to MS/Surface forums and communities to get a feedback from there and see if people will be interested to buy it. Then, maybe sell it through ebay or Amazon? Of course, I could be wrong, but I just feel the focus of this product is very narrow due to Surface RT being less popular product.
vectron said:
I really enjoyed the story behind your move to China and starting a business in there. I'm sure it will be inspirational for a lot of people!
Regarding the project, it's a good idea, but... here is a big problem I see with it. Your product is catered to a small group of people who bought original Surface RT (probably on fire sale when they drop the price). I know you really like it and still enjoying it, but in a big picture Surface RT (arm processor based, right?) was a huge flop for M$. On top of that, if they decide to release a new version of it and re-design location of speakers, your design will have to be changed.. Do you know what I mean?
Don't take it in a wrong way, I'm just trying to help you out with my opinion (I review a lot of products, see my signature link). The product you come up with is a good idea, but I'm not sure if its suitable for KS or IGG unless you set a low target. XDA is not the best place to promote it; you need to go directly to MS/Surface forums and communities to get a feedback from there and see if people will be interested to buy it. Then, maybe sell it through ebay or Amazon? Of course, I could be wrong, but I just feel the focus of this product is very narrow due to Surface RT being less popular product.
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PM sent and thank you or the feedback!
To add to what vectron said...
My first take on seeing the product was OH LOOKIT A MICKEY MOUSE SURFACE! awww that's sooo cute... I suspect, however, that that isn't the desired effect Surface owners will be looking for. You are looking at your product from a purely functional view. However, consumers place a higher importance on aesthetic and stylistic aspects. From this, you can't pay people enough to use the "ears," let alone thinking of charging for them. Excuse the blunt words, but it's reality.
My second comment is that you need to think of your market, and not yourself, when creating a new product. As vectron said, Surface RTs are obsolete, with a small userbase. If you want to make something like this (ignoring my first comment), then you need a universal-fit model to fit any tablet. There are indeed many mobile devices with backward-firing speakers that can benefit from this.
Non-Apple tablets are very underserved for accessories, especially Windows tablets. If you are that targetting that niche, there are many things to try.
To name one, Windows/Android tablets are always starved for powered USB ports, and I've looked high and low for a suitable battery-powered USB hub to velcro onto the back of my tablet, but none such exist (one did exist, but it's no longer being made). Granted, this is an order of magnitude more complex than the mentioned silicone slip-ons, but there is wide demand for such.
Good luck with your business.
Thank you for the feedback!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1463948377/ears-for-the-surface-tablets
Surface RT and Surface 2 may not be doing well (though there's more than enough customers of them to make something like this work out financially), but the Ears are also available for Pro and Pro 2, and those are pretty popular...
Frankly, for the trivial amount OP was asking, he could well have covered it himself. KS has morphed from its original mission of crowdfunding seed money to be a PR vehicle, as well as feasibility feedback for marginal ventures. This particular is among the latter.
OP's post confirms this, as it was more for PR than getting opinions, since opinions only matter BEFORE committing to a proj, not after. This thing was going live regardless of feedback. Taking OP's KS blurb at face value, my guess is that this is more about the process rather than the end product, ie OP is gathering info for future widgets, presumably via the KS route, and a simple & cheap widget to start was ideal, regardless of its appeal. In short, a dry run.
Extrapolating from the 2-day take, the proj could conceivably make the nominal 5.5K amount ($348 / 2 * 30 = $5220), although normally interest is highest the first few days, then tapers off. But OP miscalculated on the "sweet spot" amount, and the $5 slot (that most backers opted for) is used up. He'll have a tougher time convincing people to pay $10 for the next slot up.
But as said, my impression is the means is the end in this case, and OP is laying the groundwork for more KS ventures. It would be better if the proj gets to its goal, as then he can get more data about the carry-through rather than just the lead-up. But it's not particularly important. He has already gotten a valuable piece of info about how much his widget is worth (about $5 incl shipping).
e.mote said:
To name one, Windows/Android tablets are always starved for powered USB ports, and I've looked high and low for a suitable battery-powered USB hub to velcro onto the back of my tablet, but none such exist (one did exist, but it's no longer being made). Granted, this is an order of magnitude more complex than the mentioned silicone slip-ons, but there is wide demand for such.
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not a full hub but:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Additions®-Battery-Extender-Batteries/dp/B002PHC1XU
^Battery pack with USB port
USB power injector cable:
http://www.newtech.cat/w/en/1473-USB-2-0-Cable-Double-Power-Injector--2xAM-AH--1-2m.html
Mains powered USB hubs are usually barrel jack connector. USB to barrel jack cables exist to use the above battery pack with a hub directly.
Neither option is the clean 1 piece unit but they are functional if you absolutely require a battery powered hub.
Of *course* the majority of the first 50 backers are going to go for the "get this thing half off" deal. That doesn't mean people wouldn't be willing to pay $10, just that they aren't going to pay 2x as much as they need to...
When I checked last night (midnight on US west coast), there were 0 people at the $10 or $15 levels. Now there are 7 and 1, respectively. That's not huge progress, but it's not bad for 11 hours in the middle of the night for the Surface's biggest market.
>Of *course* the majority of the first 50 backers are going to go for the "get this thing half off" deal.
People don't cost-justify for small amounts. Yes, my $5-ceiling guess looks to be off, and the $10 mark looks to still be under the impulse-spend threshold for the widget. Also, I didn't take into account that KS isn't just about crowdfunding money, but crowdsourcing publicity.
I'd retract my "Mickey Mouse ears = bad" comment. This falls into the "conventional wisdom" category that oddball accessories that clash against prevailing fashion sense are eschewed by the main. I think that still holds, but given the small numbers involved here, this isn't the main. For fringe projects, being unusual and weird is a plus in that it catches people's attention, and the money amount is small enough for impulse buy.
Yes, I dare say that if OP had shaped the ears to be like Mickey's, or Batman's, or a nekomimi shape (as a backer had requested), then the widget would have added "decorative" appeal. It can become a conversation piece. (How about glow in the dark?) Pragmatic concerns like "how does this work with a case" don't come into play until after the purchase, which are irrelevant for impulse buys.
Consumer buying and selling is mainly about psychology, and each platform has its own idiosyncracies. I've not paid attention to KS as a platform, but looks like I'll need to put it on my to-do list.
As said, all this is valuable data for OP as well as anybody who wants to make a go at the crowdfunding route--much more valuable than the actual project itself.
Congrats on passing your goal! Only 1/3 of the way through the campaign, too. I've seen some buzz online about this. Sorry I don't do more social media stuff myself. :-/
e.mote said:
Frankly, for the trivial amount OP was asking, he could well have covered it himself. KS has morphed from its original mission of crowdfunding seed money to be a PR vehicle, as well as feasibility feedback for marginal ventures. This particular is among the latter.
OP's post confirms this, as it was more for PR than getting opinions, since opinions only matter BEFORE committing to a proj, not after. This thing was going live regardless of feedback. Taking OP's KS blurb at face value, my guess is that this is more about the process rather than the end product, ie OP is gathering info for future widgets, presumably via the KS route, and a simple & cheap widget to start was ideal, regardless of its appeal. In short, a dry run.
Extrapolating from the 2-day take, the proj could conceivably make the nominal 5.5K amount ($348 / 2 * 30 = $5220), although normally interest is highest the first few days, then tapers off. But OP miscalculated on the "sweet spot" amount, and the $5 slot (that most backers opted for) is used up. He'll have a tougher time convincing people to pay $10 for the next slot up.
But as said, my impression is the means is the end in this case, and OP is laying the groundwork for more KS ventures. It would be better if the proj gets to its goal, as then he can get more data about the carry-through rather than just the lead-up. But it's not particularly important. He has already gotten a valuable piece of info about how much his widget is worth (about $5 incl shipping).
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Not to get into conflict here but I want to say that this KS campaign was all about raising money and this thread was all about getting feedback. Since I have no money to produce these myself, this project would have never happened if the goal was not met. Period. I don't see the point to continue to put money into a project or business venture if people are unwilling to buy it. The whole point of Kickstarter. It doesn't make good business sense to me to continue to pour funds into a dying/dead business. There has to be an exit strategy. Mine was, if Kickstarter didn't meet the goal, the project will stop.
And no, no future Kickstarter projects planned. Personal I prefer to deal with angel investors. Yes, I have more projects and business' planned for the future, but none on Kickstarter for the foreseeable future.
I wanted more sound on my Surface, I thought the Surface crowd would share the same feelings as me, I have to put food on the table. Lets make a business!
GoodDayToDie said:
Congrats on passing your goal! Only 1/3 of the way through the campaign, too. I've seen some buzz online about this. Sorry I don't do more social media stuff myself. :-/
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Thank you! A much followed writer for Cnet Twitted about Ears and my project took off! It is back down again but I reached my goal. Surface owners are so far and few in between and Ears are very niche, so it is hard to get through to enough people. But it has been exciting to watch my project go.
Thanks!

Exclusive early review on the Sony SmartWatch 3!

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.
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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.

Review: BlitzWolf Virtual Reality Glasses (Cardboard)

Virtual Reality is becoming more and more easily accessible. These VR glasses make it super easy to be somewhere you’re not!
The box comes with: a microfiber cloth, the VR headset, and instructions.
VR was proven to be easy to achieve thanks to Google Cardboard, which is a VR headset made from basic materials like cardboard, magnets and rubber bands. This headset is an improved and sturdier version of Cardboard since it’s made out of hard plastic.
To use this product, you will need a smartphone. Any smartphone will do, but it is recommended that you use one that is up to date and can downloaded the latest apps, since that’s one of the most important things here.
Apps I tested: Google Cardboard app, Vrse, Google StreetView and Discovery VR.
Note: These apps don’t come with the product and must be downloaded separately, depending if you’re using Android or iOS. They’re all free, but you must understand that the apps are about half of what you need to make this work.
Thoughts on the product:
I’ve used Google Cardboard so I had previous knowledge of how VR works. You can say this is an upgrade from that since it feels like a real headset, it’s made from hard plastic, and it even has cushions for your face. There are two adjustable settings: one to adjust the focus of the glasses themselves and the second one is to set how far away your phone is from your eyes.
Let's start with customization and comfort. You can adjust pretty much every feature of the glasses. From the straps to the focal length and distance between the lenses. Truly a "one size fits all" product.
Regarding performance, the lenses are extremely clear. Once you have them on, you can adjust the lenses to get the best quality of image. If you haven't tried the VR experience before, you are in for a ride. The image quality is fantastic.
The way the the phone goes into the goggles is awkward at best. Yes, it will fit a phone up to 6" screen size, but not comfortably. I tried using it with my Nexus 6P and i struggled getting the phone in there (did not fit with the case on). When i finally got the phone in, the braces were touching the buttons causing it to not function properly. What i did is i took out the the bracket that is supposed to hold the phone in place and it works great now. little hack that made this very functional with my phone case on and everything.
Another negative aspect I found for these glasses is that if you are in a very bright location, some light does get in through the side slats. This does not happen often and not really a deal breaker for me. It is also something that can be fixed quite easily with tape.
Here is my list of pros and cons:
Pros:
- Adjustable.
- Comfortable on your face. Nice padding.
- Quality materials. Not too heavy.
- Works with most phones.
- Nice additional items such as stylus and microfiber cloth.
- Image quality. Great lenses.
- Easy to use and set up with your phone.
Negatives:
- Side slats allow a bit of light in.
- No way of interacting with touch screen when phone is in the VR goggles (google cardboard Star wars edition had something to touch the screen). would really like if i didn't have to take the phone out of the goggles every time i wanted to change what i am doing
- Fitting larger phones (nexus 6P, LG V10) are awkward
See pictures for details (will post pictures when i get home from work)
I received this at a discount for my review, but my review is completely honest in what is stated.
Please let me know if you have any questions guys. I am more than happy to answer them.
The Glasses can be purchased here:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AJSKIDG?redirect=true&ref_=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0
Thanks for the review. I am very interested in VR I have no experience with it and just ordered my first VR headset today. However I went with the freefly VR (about 85 bucks). I'll report back on my impressions. Although a bit more costly I have read a lot of good things about them.
Tfast500 said:
Thanks for the review. I am very interested in VR I have no experience with it and just ordered my first VR headset today. However I went with the freefly VR (about 85 bucks). I'll report back on my impressions. Although a bit more costly I have read a lot of good things about them.
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I am in no way affiliated with blitzwolf, but the freefly vr looks like just a more expensive version that ultimately does the same thing. Neither of the goggles have additional sensors in them the way the gear vr or oculus do. I'd save about $50 and order the blitz vr (or any of the ones that look identical on Amazon)
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
steveo17 said:
I am in no way affiliated with blitzwolf, but the freefly vr looks like just a more expensive version that ultimately does the same thing. Neither of the goggles have additional sensors in them the way the gear vr or oculus do. I'd save about $50 and order the blitz vr (or any of the ones that look identical on Amazon)
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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I totally get what you are saying and I honestly debated spending this much... vs something 1/3 the price, I was also looking at the vrbox v2 or the blitz vr; However, I have read many good reviews about users already owning other vr headsets and still think the freefly is worth the extra cost. Supposedly it has 120 FOV which is more than the gear vr and any other phone vr headset.
I will be receiving this tomorrow so if i am not totally impressed ill get something cheaper or nothing at all.
Tfast500 said:
I totally get what you are saying and I honestly debated spending this much... vs something 1/3 the price, I was also looking at the vrbox v2 or the blitz vr; However, I have read many good reviews about users already owning other vr headsets and still think the freefly is worth the extra cost. Supposedly it has 120 FOV which is more than the gear vr and any other phone vr headset.
I will be receiving this tomorrow so if i am not totally impressed ill get something cheaper or nothing at all.
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gotcha. i will be interested in hearing your results.
btw: check out this website to analyze the reviews that you see on Amazon
http://fakespot.com/
Bluetooth Controller
steveo17 said:
Negatives:
- No way of interacting with touch screen when phone is in the VR goggles (google cardboard Star wars edition had something to touch the screen). would really like if i didn't have to take the phone out of the goggles every time i wanted to change what i am doing
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Of course, there is a way to interact with screen without taking the phone out of the goggles. It's a worthwhile investment to get an inexpensive bluetooth controller.
Schmoopdawg said:
Of course, there is a way to interact with screen without taking the phone out of the goggles. It's a worthwhile investment to get an inexpensive bluetooth controller.
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i have come across those, but out of the box there is no way to interact with the screen

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