Hi guys,
After buying an S7 edge (switched from iPhone), I'm looking to sell my Apple Watch and get the Gear S2 but have a few questions for all you fellow owners:
1) for a WhatsApp notification, does it vibrate and show you the message on the watch face?
2) do all push notifications come through to the watch? I used to have the Flashscores app on my iPhone and it used to notify me on my Apple Watch of any football goals and final scores etc.
3) are there new apps being released weekly? I've read that the tizen app store isn't as supported as android wear?
4) how accurate is S Voice in comparison to the OK Google thing?
5) is there a way to control Spotify on the watch?
Thanks guys [emoji4]
bobster260189 said:
Hi guys,
After buying an S7 edge (switched from iPhone), I'm looking to sell my Apple Watch and get the Gear S2 but have a few questions for all you fellow owners:
1) for a WhatsApp notification, does it vibrate and show you the message on the watch face?
2) do all push notifications come through to the watch? I used to have the Flashscores app on my iPhone and it used to notify me on my Apple Watch of any football goals and final scores etc.
3) are there new apps being released weekly? I've read that the tizen app store isn't as supported as android wear?
4) how accurate is S Voice in comparison to the OK Google thing?
5) is there a way to control Spotify on the watch?
Thanks guys [emoji4]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I've had this watch for about two months so I hope I can help ya with some of your concerns.
1: when any notification arrives on your phone, your watch will vibrate and will only show up on your screen if you raise your wrist to check the watch. That's good.
2: anytime your phone gets a notification, it will show up on your watch. If you don't want a specific app to bother you, you can mute the notifications for the specific app!
3: unfortunately I've been somewhat disappointed with the app development for tizen. Slowly more and more apps are coming out, but definitely not as fast as they should be. My main reason this doesn't concern me much is that the watch as it is comes with the essential apps such as messenging, GPS, and email. Heck you can get a third party YouTube app which is nice. Whatapp is not on the app store but you will still receive notifications on your watch and should be able to respond from your watch.
4: s voice is terrible in comparison to Google. But it's "okay"
5. I'm actually unsure of Spotify. I can try to test for ya. I'll get back to ya. Edit: just made an account and yup you can control spotify or any music playing on your phone.
Hope this was coherent enough for ya
ATalkingRock said:
So I've had this watch for about two months so I hope I can help ya with some of your concerns.
1: when any notification arrives on your phone, your watch will vibrate and will only show up on your screen if you raise your wrist to check the watch. That's good.
2: anytime your phone gets a notification, it will show up on your watch. If you don't want a specific app to bother you, you can mute the notifications for the specific app!
3: unfortunately I've been somewhat disappointed with the app development for tizen. Slowly more and more apps are coming out, but definitely not as fast as they should be. My main reason this doesn't concern me much is that the watch as it is comes with the essential apps such as messenging, GPS, and email. Heck you can get a third party YouTube app which is nice. Whatapp is not on the app store but you will still receive notifications on your watch and should be able to respond from your watch.
4: s voice is terrible in comparison to Google. But it's "okay"
5. I'm actually unsure of Spotify. I can try to test for ya. I'll get back to ya. Edit: just made an account and yup you can control spotify or any music playing on your phone.
Hope this was coherent enough for ya
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for this buddy, really appreciate it
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
So I initially bought this watch on release and unfortunately had to return it due to massively overspending that month. I only had time to have a quick play with it but I loved the screen and the look (Classic) and am now really tempted to repurchase.
One thing I did note at launch was that the selection of apps was pretty woeful, basically everything was a watchface and there wasn't even Spotify, Uber etc. at least not in the UK app store. Has this situation changed at all? Is there any way of seeing a list of current available apps?
Secondly, one of my main reasons for buying would be tracking distance, pace and calories for runs using the watch as a standalone - can anyone tell me how reliable this is and if it works well?
I will post here what I have already said elsewhere on the Gear S forums, because it's relevant to your question,
People complain about there being more watch faces and not enough apps on the Galaxy Store...
well firstly there are hundreds of apps on the store! but just how much do you expect to be doing on your watch? I mean essentially it's for time and date function, relaying of notifications, messaging, call taking/making, health tracking, weather, news and navigation. All these functions are covered out of the box.
So what are you expecting? Microsoft Office? Minecraft? Photoshop? Hello... it's a watch!! and considering that you will be looking at the time more than anything else on the watch, having a huge choice of watch faces is not only a GOOD thing, it's essential!
Now I have downloaded various apps:
Voice Memo
Guardian News
Speedometer
Gear Navigator
Calculator
Cooking Timer
Xenozu (YouTube videos)
Spotify
Gear Browser
Flashlight Premium
Brrr (disconnect warning)
Yelp
Stopwatch
Timer
Hangman
And you know what? I hardly use any of them! So I wouldn't worry about the app situation.
Also, Spotify is available in the UK
and S-Health will track your performance and upload to your Samsung account, so it will sync with your phone(s) when reconnected.
I currently have an S20 Ultra that I am very close to returning while I still can (Exynos and camera) I have wanted the P40 pro (or Mate 30 pro) ever since they were announced but just wrote them off due to the lack of Google.
The thing is though I'd be totally ok with a lot about life without Google, I use a 3rd party email app, I could easily switch my contacts and calendar back to iCloud and rarely watch netflix on my phone. So then it just comes down to the no google pay and the potential faff to work around not having Google Photos.
My question is for those that have it how are finding it day to day? Are the limitations a frustration too far or does it work for you?
arsenal74 said:
I currently have an S20 Ultra that I am very close to returning while I still can (Exynos and camera) I have wanted the P40 pro (or Mate 30 pro) ever since they were announced but just wrote them off due to the lack of Google.
The thing is though I'd be totally ok with a lot about life without Google, I use a 3rd party email app, I could easily switch my contacts and calendar back to iCloud and rarely watch netflix on my phone. So then it just comes down to the no google pay and the potential faff to work around not having Google Photos.
My question is for those that have it how are finding it day to day? Are the limitations a frustration too far or does it work for you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can live with some compromises, then it's an amazing phone. The Camera is phenomenal, the battery life is great, and apps and games run super smooth.
Getting GMS up and working is a straight forward process, but be prepared to do it a few times to get it right (it took me about 6 attempts to get it fully working with no notifications and app errors etc) and follow the steps precisely. Obviously, it's still not going to be as smooth a Googley and app experience as your Samsung, missing G-Pay, G-Music and a few others may or may not be crucial to you. Plus many apps won’t give notifications - but I don't mind this so much it's quite nice not having random notifications all day and only getting them when i open the app and actually want to see - I predominantly use Whatsapp and notifications work fine here.
I did try a few days without Google services, but the App Gallery really is terrible. It might have 45000 apps, but 44950 are awful. Downloading apps from elsewhere works, but many apps crash with a 'No google services' type error. So, for me the compromise of having some stuff work with GMS is the better option and the rest of the phone makes it worthwhile.
Thanks, how would you feel if sideloading GPS was not possible? Strikes me that that would have to be my assumption going in as whatever loophole allows it could get closed at any time.
arsenal74 said:
Thanks, how would you feel if sideloading GPS was not possible? Strikes me that that would have to be my assumption going in as whatever loophole allows it could get closed at any time.
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Click to collapse
Personally I only installed GMS out of the "urge" to tinker with my phone. I love that stuff. But honestly, I wouldn't mind not having Google services on my phone, there are enough alternatives on the Huawei App Gallery. For me, at least. Everyone is different. Check out some of the posts on here or reddit where people list some good Google apps alternatives. Like
Gmail = Bluemail or Aquamail.
Google Maps = Here WeGo or Maps.me
etc.
And you're right about the loophole possibly getting closed. That's why I wouldn't recommend this phone to people who are heavily dependent on Gapps. But if you can live without them, then just buy it! It's a great phone and I'm very satisfied with it, so far.
arsenal74 said:
Thanks, how would you feel if sideloading GPS was not possible? Strikes me that that would have to be my assumption going in as whatever loophole allows it could get closed at any time.
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Click to collapse
I think that it would still be a great phone, I'm sure i could cope with downloading APKs using ApkPure etc, but it would be less attractive. Really hoping the workarounds still work when the Pro+ version arrives!
On a side note, i said on the above post that it took many attempts to get GMS fully working with no errors. Yesterday evening I had a meltdown and accidentally removed my Google account and it was not possible to re-add it, so i backed up my stuff and reset the phone. I followed the steps from Swag Sell's 7th May video on YouTube (using the same files as always) and it worked first time with no errors and took about 20 minutes, I think as people refine the processes and steps it gets more accurate.
On the google side it is only really google photos that would bug me as I use that, I could live without google pay. Email would not be a problem, other than that it would just be not getting notifications for other apps. I actually think there are some plus points of being google free!
I am really tempted as the camera on the S20 Ultra is just a let-down (the hardware is there but I have no confidence Samsung will get the software right) I really liked the P30 pro and am actually considering getting another but the P40 pro just looks like a really good device.
I like my P40 Pro a lot but I'm waiting for improvements in the camera department.
The phone is fast, stable, looks great, feels great and has good battery life.
I don't really trust my privacy in the hands of big US tech companies, so it's nice to break free from Google. The only Google apps I sideloaded are YouTube Vanced and Google Maps. I tried other GPS applications but unfortunately none really lived up to GMaps, even Waze. So I'm using GMaps without GMS which means no saved/starred places etc, but that's ok with me. As an alternative, I'm saving my search history locally on the device and I created home screen shortcuts (GMap widget) for addresses that I want to "save".
H-Emmanuel said:
I like my P40 Pro a lot but I'm waiting for improvements in the camera department.
".
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Click to collapse
Really? Camera would be the main driver for me getting this phone.
I assume banking apps are a no no too?
I think I am going to give the P40 Pro a try, Amazon have a pretty good deal including the watch, do have one final question..
For those who have managed to install GPS how safe do you feel? i.e. if you were able to get your banking apps working or PayPal would you be happy using them? Only ask as the method obviously involves installing stuff from unknown sources.
I am on the fence of accepting I will not get my banking apps or google photos and going the app clone, app gallery route and finding a workaround for photos.
arsenal74 said:
Really? Camera would be the main driver for me getting this phone.
I assume banking apps are a no no too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The current camera app doesn't unleash the camera's full potential.
Some banking apps work, others don't, there's no hard rule.
Bit disappointed so far ... I have not installed any GMS mods .. just cloned some apps and installed from apkpure, amazon app store, etc.
1. call earspeaker volume is low
2. call speaker volume is low
3. no AOD weather & music controls
4. notifications missing for most side-loaded apps (whatsapp ok, skype + others are a fail)
5. notifications disappear after unlocking (usual huawei thing)
6. amazon photos app crashes
7. gestural nav quick app switcher is supported with an option but doesnt seem to work.
That's about it for now.
(4) is critical .. the others I can probably overlook for a while.
Ok I pulled the trigger and it arrived today. So far I have just used phone clone, app gallery and Amazon/APKPure, early days but so far it feels quite seamless.
Not had a chance to form an opinion on how good the phone is overall other than it feels really nice in the hand but my experience/observations in terms of what is working and not so far are as follows:
- All of my non-google apps transfered over just fine other than Uber and eBay
- Installed eBay from apkpure but it does not work.
- Lastpass works fine with none of the errors or pop-ups I have seen mentioned elsewhere
- My First Direct Banking app also works fine and appears so far as normal as does PayPal
- Newton Mail, gives a GPS error but does work ok, no notifications though. May have to go back to Nine or try another app
- Nova Launcher works ok and Nova Prime app also transfered over. Nova Google companion does not seem to work though
Early days and some of the above could change and go wrong but so far I am not feeling the temptation to install GPS.
Google Photos yuo can use in browser. Full functionality with Google account. Also almost all other things are usable in browser or you can download app via Apk Pure... for example. The camera with the latest update ... . 121 is super. And I had for a few days Note 10 and also S20 but battery life was terrible. And the camera here is simply the best, and so so smooth and fast user experience.
Update Amazon photos crashes constantly, not a fan of the browser route as it feels quite clunky so am going to try piktures.
Surely the lack of notifications is an issue for you?
WhatsApp notifications work just fine as does obviously SMS.
Still looking for email, outlook seems hit and miss but notifications are coming through on it. I have used nine before but obviously no way of carrying through my purchase.
I think the key is identifying apps that do not reply on GPS to work.
I am going to persevere a bit before trying to install GPS, only because it looks a faff and is also not a one-of job. I’ll see how I feel after a few days. WhatsApp, email and sms are the must haves, the others can follow hopefully.
The camera is very very good, tested it briefly against my ultra and indoors it is just no contest. I’m sure outside in good light it is a personal preference thing but in mid to low light so far it seems streets ahead.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
arsenal74 said:
I’ll see how I feel after a few days. WhatsApp, email and sms are the must haves, the others can follow hopefully.
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Click to collapse
yes .. it's close to being acceptable for me with whatsapp working ... really just skype is the problem for my must haves .. the others are not so critical ... i can use calendars etc from HAG.
such a hassle to go back to google services just for skype.
Can you continue to use your game progress saved with Google Play? I refuse to use Facebook to save my progress, so Play is the only way I can keep my progress.
I have an old Amazon HD8, it's been modified using Fire Toolbox made by Datastream33.
So all the Amazon software and Alexa have been disabled and Google Assistant has been activated, as what I want it to be.
Since I don't use it much these days, I think it'll be nice to have a digital frame shows big clock and weather or calendar that opens 24hr/day, while having the ability to response talking via Google Assistant.
There is plenty way to do this, but how can I do this properly?
So far, I can think of that if I install an digital frame app, then when I say "Ok, Google", it'll response to me, but it'll open Google Assistant app and leave the app opened after the conversation is end, then I have to manually switch app back to the digital frame, just like using a tablet, and means I can't really interactive with it without walk to it or just by talk to it, then it's not that much difference then I just use my phone.
I think there must be some better solution out there since the hardware has the capability, hope I can get some experience/ideas here.
Thanks!
My excitement for a Google watch died after getting one. I soon learned that the apps and features I wanted weren't supported, mainly Google maps transit with the watch. Also when I travel to places like Japan, I'd love to tap my watch I instead of carrying around a train pass (suica/pasmo). But Google wallet only lets you do that for Japanese accounts
I didn't really care about about the health related apps, but I continued to use it for meeting reminders. When my watch died one day and I forgot to recharge it...I left it on my desk for like a year. I just found it and I'm considering using it again...but to what end?
Are there any interesting apps being made that I could try? Idk what I'm looking for but nothing health or workout related.