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I got the gear 2 just a few months ago and prior to that I had the Galaxy gear 1, which I still think is good. The Gear 2, not the Neo, got a lot of things right. I'll go over several of the reasons why I'm keeping the Gear 2 and why it's my preferred wristwatch, even moreso that my Rolex Submariner.
1 - It's a watch, not a cellphone. Most people expected "smartwatch" to be the same thing as "smartphone". Once you adjust your expectations to something more realistic, you find out that it's really a great watch.
2 - The Gear 2 is much lighter than my Rolex, Suunto and even my Patek Philippe.
3 - It's a more accurate watch than all my other watches. Even though Rolex may say "officially certified chronograph", It's actually not that accurate. Any Seiko quartz watch is more accurate. Read up on that if you don't believe me! Mechanical watches have a way bigger margin of error over 24 hours than most quartz watches. Quartz technology is VERY accurate. Not too sure about the oscillator in the Gear 2 but I bet it's a pretty good one which is far better than any mechanical ones.
4 - Price; I got mine for $250 CDN. Some people may say that's pricey. Sure, if you compare that cheap digital watches. My Suunto which I use for freediving is $400! My Casio G-shock is $118 and doesn't do 1/3 of what the Gear 2 does. And don't even ask about the price of the Patek Philippe. Thank god I won that one during the president's club competition. Even most mid-range watches are in the $200-$300 range these days and don't have the prestige of the luxury swiss watches or the features of the Gear 2. You get a lot of "bang for the buck" from the Gear 2.
5 - Battery vs. winding. My swiss watches are mostly self winding "perpetual" watches. Yes, they keep going and going... so long as you wear them. If you put it down for 2 days, it runs out of energy and you can't tell time. Surprisingly, my gear 2 still has some power left over after 2 days of inactivity and it can still tell time... accurately. Given that my swiss watches cost hundreds of times more and do far less for a modern connected person like myself; it's a much better choice if you can put aside the luxury watch snob factor. I really like showing off my Patek Philippe and it's spinning balance wheel at the bottom. It impresses a lot of people. But after a day where I couldn't check my messages, make messages, phone calls and so on, I really miss my Gear 2.
6 - The changeable wristband is a godsend. I have 3 wristbands besides the original; a large rubberized one which I wear when going skiing, my el-cheapo just to prove the point that for $15, you can class it up and a really nice stainless steel (heavy one) which I just got. It's so easy to change wristbands on this watch. Much easier than any other wristwatch I have, even my cheap plastic ones. Kuudos Samsung
7 - Button on the front. This is one area where samsung has it right and Apple will get it wrong. The Gear 1 had it on the right side which is just wrong. Not too bad when you use your right hand to press but for those who like the watch on the right wrist, you find yourself putting your hand over the screen when pressing the button or using your thumb instead of your index finger; which doesn't work quite as well. As a golfer I can tell you that a crown on the right side of a watch is a pain! This is where Apple will really get it wrong. When you swing and you pronate and supernate, you'll find the crown snags on your glove. That's why most left handed golf watches are built with the crown on the left. Samsung go it right by putting the button on the front.
8 - Size, this thing is smaller than most Breitlings and even smaller than my Patek Philippe. So while it is larger than most watches, even the square and rectangular ones, it's by now means unwieldly.
9 - Camera; It takes decent pictures and for really quick snapshots, it's far faster than reaching for your phone. I just double press the front button to get to camera mode and then I can snap. Great for those "did you see that?" moments
10 - Heartrate monitor; not as accurate as the HR monitors on my gym equipment or even those blood pressure monitors but it does the job pretty well most of the time.
11 - IR blaster; ok, this thing is really cool! I was changing the TV at a bar and nobody knew it was me. It's very discreet. I even have the "power off" app which is great when there's just too much noise. As far as I know, the gear 2 is the only one with such a thing. I don't even need my phone to use it either.
12 - Built-in apps; this thing comes with so many right from the factory it's really good value. Think about it: Dial the phone, call a contact, check the weather, get notifications, for almost any app on the phone, play music and videos directly from the watch, control the media player on the phone, record voice memos, voice controls, pedometer, heart rate, sleep tracker, exercise tracker. reply to text messages, check my schedule for the day, tomorrow etc, stopwatch, timer. That's a LOT of things that you can do from your wrist.
13 - Autonomous apps; A lot of people get this part wrong. They think the watch has to be constantly tethered to the phone. This is not the case. Many apps require the phone to work because of internet connectivity or GPS but there are lots of apps which don't. Once you're paired with your phone, power off your phone and try some of these: Pedometer, Heart rate, Exercise (except hiking and biking which require GPS), camera, Gallery, music player (and videos), sleep tracker, stopwatch, timer, IR remote, voice memo and of course, the watchface itself. That's a lot of things that regular watches can't do.
14 - Lots of apps; Yeah so there isn't 1 Million apps in the app store. But like I said before: this is a smartwatch, not a smartphone. You don't really need an app store that has 50,000 different variations of a LED powered flashlight. Yes. I wish there were more apps but given that the gear 2 hasn't even been around for a year, the samsung app store gives a pretty decent choice of apps. Lets not forget that some apps just aren't suited for your wrist. Do you really want to play angry birds on this thing? I already have a solitaire game and I barely use it because it's just not right for my wrist. Developpers are still trying to figure out what works and what doesn't on a wrist.
15 - Some apps, really work well though. Some of my favorites: anti-sleep alarm which is really useful for late night driving. Meternome which I use all the time when playing guitar. Calculator, I mean duh right? Casio had it back in the '80s. Alarm, especially the vibrate part so I don't wake up my wife. Swing by Swing golf; this is actually pretty damn good for us golfers. Runtastic, strava, bike computer, bike; all apps that are really handy for a cyclist. I just can't choose which one is the best for me. xbmcGear to control my media boxes (goes really well with IR remote), Expedia, which I always use when travelling. It knows everything about my bookings. DSLR remote, comes in handy with my Nikon 300. Calendar, of course! If you've got a clock, this is the next logical choice. A lot of these apps can work autonomously as well!
I could go on and on. The only downsides to this watch are that I have to plug it in about every 2 days and I need to press the button to see the time. I turned off the "wake on gesture" to save the battery. Still, charging is really fast; it's usually fully charged in 30-45 minutes. Nice!
As an owner of many watches, from high end Swiss luxury watches to cheap plastic digital quartz, I can tell you that this is currently my favorite for everyday use. And since I "get it" that this is a WATCH and not a "PHONE ON MY WRIST", My expectations were REALISTIC when I got the Gear 2 and I've been pleaseantly surprised by the Gear 2 and everything it can do.
How do the others stack up? Well, the Android wear ones seem to be lacking a lot of what the Gear 2 has; no camera, no speaker, no IR blaster etc. The Apple watch? Well the whole "you must ABSOLUTELY be tethered to an iPhone for ANYTHING to work" is a turn off for me. Not to mention the stupid crown AND button on the right side which will piss off many people wearing it on the right wrist and any golfer wearing it on their left. The Gear S? Well, the simm card thing is cool but deleting the camera and IR seems like it's taking away some useful tools I've gotten used to. The Gear 2 isn't the best, but it's really hard finding others which have better functionality and features. All the "better" options out there always seem to be missing something that the Gear 2 has.
Oh! forgot to mention this: Music player on the go!
I use the music player with connected Bluetooth headphones all the time. The Gear 2 has 4GB of storage so lots of room for plenty of music when I work out. I retired my iPod shuffle once I got the bluetooth headphones (Beats). That note 3 is just too big when I'm out jogging or at the gym.
I do this 2-3 times a week and having the music player secured on my wrist, where it can't fall off, and no wires to get caught up in, is much better at the gym. SO MUCH BETTER!
Have to agree.. I also love my Gear 2. Currently the best available iteration of smart watch rather than the recent set of Android wear smart watches without speaker or IR.
The speaker feature is great when you are alone driving in the car. Even playing the songs from gear 2 in low volume while sleeping really works for me. Hope it had a sleep timer thought
I have to say, i miss my gear 2. I went and traded mine for the gear s and there are days where I really wish I still had the gear 2.
Then I remember:
Every recent up date to gear manager I had to reset the watch.
Every time I really needed the camera to work
(Taking a pic of our parking spot at WDW, couldn't even do that because it was stuck in macro mode)
Drop the watch from my wrist taking it off and boom it quit working (This happened to 2 watches)
The gear s has not had any of these problems.
I definitely will keep my gear 2 once I upgrade to the gear s just for the camera alone. Only smart watch avaliable with a camera! Awesome sauce!
Started on the Neo, then tried various Android Wear watches, was waiting for a deal on the Gear S but then got a deal on the Gear 2 do happy, excellent battery life, looks super cool, love the call and camera functions.
For me it is the right balance of apps and notifications. I feel others try to almost make your mobile redundant with apps.
I find with the Gear 2 I barely take my phone out of my pocket. For me only annoying bits are S Voice is too limited and would be perfect with some WhatsApp quick reply function.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
I love my Gear 2 and even with the Gear S available, I'll still stick with gear 2, unless they make a gear S 2 with a camera LOL
Pro's - well, almost everything has been said by the OP so let's keep it that way
Usage:
Fleksy Messenger - no need to pull up my huge slate Tab S 8.4 to read/reply to messages
Music App - paired up with Gear Circle, I could be on the go with music.
Gear alarm (app store) - does what it says. vibrates and does not wake up the one sleeping beside you lol
Stay awake( app store) - useful when driving during the night, you need to make weird circular gestures to turn off the alarm, keeps you awake
Instant Setting (appstore) - toggles phone state mobile data, wifi, bluetooth, silent/vibrate etc.
launch gear (app store) - toggles apps before pulling out my slate, use? so that everything is loaded even before I open the tablet
although the gear 2 with it's tizen OS lacks app count, it is usable enough on a day to day basis,
turning off the wake up gesture will save the battery bigtime, last me 5 days in one charge only using it to respond to sms and to check time.
overall, a $200 investment is worth it especially to those who wield device like me
Enjoying mine to the max
after having the original Gear, and installing the Tizen update, I really thought that I wouldn't need a Gear 2.
Discovering one barely used on eBay for a bargain price in the UK, swayed me enough to take the plunge...and I'm so glad I did!
The Gear S took my fancy, but I was amazed at how much I had come to rely on the camera for quick pics and video. The fact that these appear on my phone, then, through dropbox, appear everywhere, means iMovie on my iPad mini is a doddle!
That is 'my' usage case anyway. I use the stock fitness apps a lot and with the heart rate monitor, which can be accurate enough, I find this little gem of a watch becoming more and more useful.
The IR blaster for the tv is cool, the odd occasion when your hands are full and your phone rings (yes, a well placed 'swipe' with your nose will answer that important call on your wrist, and I'm actually enjoying using S Voice(although its gone bloody quiet again) for its message replies, appointment creation and task/memo reminders has made me realise that this really is a neat little package!
Looking through the app store, I'm seeing a few good apps come through, like Gear Navigator, S Alarm, BeatObox, Notepadd ++ and Notifications Wear style(alought this last one is still a WIP), there seems to be people willing to invest time in this device.
Now it is true that I am intrigued by the Apple watch (I am platform agnostic, owning both iOS and Android), but I know for a fact that if CES 2015 brings a Gear 3 with upgraded features, or the hint of a Gear S2 with a camera.....I'd stick with Android!
The only thing to date that has kept me from jumping on the Android Wear platform is the lack of sound/feedback/ no external speaker!
Well thats my thoughts on the watch....anyone else?
actually...thats not all...Has anyone else lost Fleksy messenger etc since upgrading Gear manager....they just dont seem to exist any more on the app store???
Zeuserx i REALLY APPRECIATED your post!!!
i am in a difficult moment. i own gear 1 but i NEVER modded it...... and BLOCKED the tizen update because i don't want tizen.
in my future i would find the time and skills to put a custom rom... why? just 2 things..... to use a record video with unlimited time...especially using a SPY app like SecretVideoRecorder that record/take picture while SCREEN IS OFF!!!
but............... i recently found a used gear2 and:
1) i prefer that do have CHANGEABLE bands, because what if i RUIN my gear 1 band? i noticed replacement parts are not so cheap.
2) it's more compact, but i have to ask you if the SPEAKER PERFORMANCE is the same of the gear 1. i ask it because i think gear 2 uses less space and SMALLER HOLE to thespeaker compared to gear 1
3) i REALLY.....(and really!) like the IR blaster feature!! i'm a native PRANKSTER.... i like jokes.... and i would use the ir blaster lots of time and ok, sometimes just to really use it at my home.
but really.....................i could buy the gear2 only for THIS FEATURE!!!!!
but..... i find just 1 cons:
does not have a ROM with full android. just like nullrom. is it a big problem? i don't understand if with tizen i CAN INSTALL my preferite app/apk ( secretvideorecorder for example......) or not.
if i CAN install secretvideorecorder..... i'm in!
Speaker is fine. I can have a decent conversation on the phone in most enviornments except those which are just REALLY too loud, like a bar.
IR blaster is not only fun but also useful. As in my post: if you don't like what's on TV at a bar, just a few presses and you'll have total control of the TV. and since it's on your wrist, it's pretty stealth. Not to mention that the average joe just doesn't know that you can change TV channels with a watch. hehehe. I use it at home too. "Time to go to bed!", I just swipe 3 times, click the remote app, click power. "Awwww!!!!!" . "I said: bed time !"
I use the camera all the time when shopping. I take snaps of items to research, barcodes etc. Sometimes even videos. And I do this even when my phone is nowhere nearby. YOU CAN'T DO THIS WITH AN APPLE WATCH!
Still the best smart watch on the market
---------- Post added at 10:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 PM ----------
Shame Samsung only start great ideas but never finish them
Went to the Apple store to buy my sister a Watch as a present, so pretentious and whats with the you cant actually buy a watch in store and have to book an appointment to try one on ???
Third time playing in store with the Apple Watch - i don't like it, small screen, too busy, crap battery life and expensive.
Then it dawned on me, unlike bloody Samsung, Apple won't abandon this model and already updating it and building up more apps.
I still like not love my Gear 2, but really getting sick of Samsung's ditch the product after 12 mths, less in some cases (thats mobiles and wearables).
I had gear 1, and returned it. Just last week got gear 2 over gear s. Like it, but the experience would be better if s voice was more robust (faster and more features) and there were good apps.
I remember the gear 1 had snapchat, and I thought I was able to share pics. This was a good watch, samsung should of kept the OS
The best thing about gear 2 right now is that it's better battery and lot more responsive than gear 1...
Who cares about android on my wrist? Actually I do because that is were the development market is. This is why apple watch is going to be a killer in about 1 year.
I may return the gear 2? It's frustrating to not have s voice working. Google voice is soooo much better. I'm tempted to try to get android wear on my gear 2 if the camera works
---------- Post added at 02:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:12 PM ----------
Zeuserx said:
I got the gear 2 just a few months ago and prior to that I had the Galaxy gear 1, which I still think is good. The Gear 2, not the Neo, got a lot of things right. I'll go over several of the reasons why I'm keeping the Gear 2 and why it's my preferred wristwatch, even moreso that my Rolex Submariner.
1 - It's a watch, not a cellphone. Most people expected "smartwatch" to be the same thing as "smartphone". Once you adjust your expectations to something more realistic, you find out that it's really a great watch.
2 - The Gear 2 is much lighter than my Rolex, Suunto and even my Patek Philippe.
3 - It's a more accurate watch than all my other watches. Even though Rolex may say "officially certified chronograph", It's actually not that accurate. Any Seiko quartz watch is more accurate. Read up on that if you don't believe me! Mechanical watches have a way bigger margin of error over 24 hours than most quartz watches. Quartz technology is VERY accurate. Not too sure about the oscillator in the Gear 2 but I bet it's a pretty good one which is far better than any mechanical ones.
4 - Price; I got mine for $250 CDN. Some people may say that's pricey. Sure, if you compare that cheap digital watches. My Suunto which I use for freediving is $400! My Casio G-shock is $118 and doesn't do 1/3 of what the Gear 2 does. And don't even ask about the price of the Patek Philippe. Thank god I won that one during the president's club competition. Even most mid-range watches are in the $200-$300 range these days and don't have the prestige of the luxury swiss watches or the features of the Gear 2. You get a lot of "bang for the buck" from the Gear 2.
5 - Battery vs. winding. My swiss watches are mostly self winding "perpetual" watches. Yes, they keep going and going... so long as you wear them. If you put it down for 2 days, it runs out of energy and you can't tell time. Surprisingly, my gear 2 still has some power left over after 2 days of inactivity and it can still tell time... accurately. Given that my swiss watches cost hundreds of times more and do far less for a modern connected person like myself; it's a much better choice if you can put aside the luxury watch snob factor. I really like showing off my Patek Philippe and it's spinning balance wheel at the bottom. It impresses a lot of people. But after a day where I couldn't check my messages, make messages, phone calls and so on, I really miss my Gear 2.
6 - The changeable wristband is a godsend. I have 3 wristbands besides the original; a large rubberized one which I wear when going skiing, my el-cheapo just to prove the point that for $15, you can class it up and a really nice stainless steel (heavy one) which I just got. It's so easy to change wristbands on this watch. Much easier than any other wristwatch I have, even my cheap plastic ones. Kuudos Samsung
7 - Button on the front. This is one area where samsung has it right and Apple will get it wrong. The Gear 1 had it on the right side which is just wrong. Not too bad when you use your right hand to press but for those who like the watch on the right wrist, you find yourself putting your hand over the screen when pressing the button or using your thumb instead of your index finger; which doesn't work quite as well. As a golfer I can tell you that a crown on the right side of a watch is a pain! This is where Apple will really get it wrong. When you swing and you pronate and supernate, you'll find the crown snags on your glove. That's why most left handed golf watches are built with the crown on the left. Samsung go it right by putting the button on the front.
8 - Size, this thing is smaller than most Breitlings and even smaller than my Patek Philippe. So while it is larger than most watches, even the square and rectangular ones, it's by now means unwieldly.
9 - Camera; It takes decent pictures and for really quick snapshots, it's far faster than reaching for your phone. I just double press the front button to get to camera mode and then I can snap. Great for those "did you see that?" moments
10 - Heartrate monitor; not as accurate as the HR monitors on my gym equipment or even those blood pressure monitors but it does the job pretty well most of the time.
11 - IR blaster; ok, this thing is really cool! I was changing the TV at a bar and nobody knew it was me. It's very discreet. I even have the "power off" app which is great when there's just too much noise. As far as I know, the gear 2 is the only one with such a thing. I don't even need my phone to use it either.
12 - Built-in apps; this thing comes with so many right from the factory it's really good value. Think about it: Dial the phone, call a contact, check the weather, get notifications, for almost any app on the phone, play music and videos directly from the watch, control the media player on the phone, record voice memos, voice controls, pedometer, heart rate, sleep tracker, exercise tracker. reply to text messages, check my schedule for the day, tomorrow etc, stopwatch, timer. That's a LOT of things that you can do from your wrist.
13 - Autonomous apps; A lot of people get this part wrong. They think the watch has to be constantly tethered to the phone. This is not the case. Many apps require the phone to work because of internet connectivity or GPS but there are lots of apps which don't. Once you're paired with your phone, power off your phone and try some of these: Pedometer, Heart rate, Exercise (except hiking and biking which require GPS), camera, Gallery, music player (and videos), sleep tracker, stopwatch, timer, IR remote, voice memo and of course, the watchface itself. That's a lot of things that regular watches can't do.
14 - Lots of apps; Yeah so there isn't 1 Million apps in the app store. But like I said before: this is a smartwatch, not a smartphone. You don't really need an app store that has 50,000 different variations of a LED powered flashlight. Yes. I wish there were more apps but given that the gear 2 hasn't even been around for a year, the samsung app store gives a pretty decent choice of apps. Lets not forget that some apps just aren't suited for your wrist. Do you really want to play angry birds on this thing? I already have a solitaire game and I barely use it because it's just not right for my wrist. Developpers are still trying to figure out what works and what doesn't on a wrist.
15 - Some apps, really work well though. Some of my favorites: anti-sleep alarm which is really useful for late night driving. Meternome which I use all the time when playing guitar. Calculator, I mean duh right? Casio had it back in the '80s. Alarm, especially the vibrate part so I don't wake up my wife. Swing by Swing golf; this is actually pretty damn good for us golfers. Runtastic, strava, bike computer, bike; all apps that are really handy for a cyclist. I just can't choose which one is the best for me. xbmcGear to control my media boxes (goes really well with IR remote), Expedia, which I always use when travelling. It knows everything about my bookings. DSLR remote, comes in handy with my Nikon 300. Calendar, of course! If you've got a clock, this is the next logical choice. A lot of these apps can work autonomously as well!
I could go on and on. The only downsides to this watch are that I have to plug it in about every 2 days and I need to press the button to see the time. I turned off the "wake on gesture" to save the battery. Still, charging is really fast; it's usually fully charged in 30-45 minutes. Nice!
As an owner of many watches, from high end Swiss luxury watches to cheap plastic digital quartz, I can tell you that this is currently my favorite for everyday use. And since I "get it" that this is a WATCH and not a "PHONE ON MY WRIST", My expectations were REALISTIC when I got the Gear 2 and I've been pleaseantly surprised by the Gear 2 and everything it can do.
How do the others stack up? Well, the Android wear ones seem to be lacking a lot of what the Gear 2 has; no camera, no speaker, no IR blaster etc. The Apple watch? Well the whole "you must ABSOLUTELY be tethered to an iPhone for ANYTHING to work" is a turn off for me. Not to mention the stupid crown AND button on the right side which will piss off many people wearing it on the right wrist and any golfer wearing it on their left. The Gear S? Well, the simm card thing is cool but deleting the camera and IR seems like it's taking away some useful tools I've gotten used to. The Gear 2 isn't the best, but it's really hard finding others which have better functionality and features. All the "better" options out there always seem to be missing something that the Gear 2 has.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's 2015, we need to do more from our wrist.
The limitations right now appear to be software related. And developers drive the innovation if they get excited and see market. Samsung has killed their gear 1 start by abandoning android.... Android wear on gear s with a camera would of been great progress.
Actually, I like my gear2 is because it can run on android wear. although the porting is not so perfect enough
I'll go over several of the reasons why I'm keeping the Gear 2 and why it's my preferred wristwatch...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amen to all the reasons mentioned. In addition, I like the scratch proof glass. I can't avoid bumping/hitting hard objects with my Gear 2 but the glass is still smooth. I also love the contrast of the amoled screen.
With Watch styler and some tweaking on the json file while the watch is connected to my laptop, I can mimic any watch face or design my very own.
What I hate with this watch is the very low resolution display and the absence of ambient sensor that is needed to automatically adjust the brightness of the screen.
So I switched from a FitBit Charge HR to the Huawei Watch for the sole purpose of further integrating into one coherent ecosystem that is Google.
I enjoy the Huawei Watch but I am slightly disappointed in overall features for a watch that comes with all the bells and whistles that FitBit can't even come close to. Why is it that Google can't have an all-in-one Google Fit app that is on par with FitBit's? I know there are several third party apps that provide the ability to track your daily water intake, set calories, monitor your sleep, and offer continuous heart rate monitoring (Heart Rate OS) - but that's 7-10 more apps I need on my phone just to get the most out of my smartwatch.
It leaves me feeling tempted to actually go back to FitBit.
But who knows, maybe I haven't given it enough time yet. But I don't see this as a watch I'd wear while even doing the smallest of physical activities let alone actual exercising.
Anyone else see where I'm coming from here? Thoughts? Suggestions?
I agree with you.
I'm really missing S Health on my S7 edge + Gear S2 classic combo.
I exchanged those for P9 plus + Huawei watch but I discovered that google has much to learn from Samsung
Sent from my VIE-L29 using Tapatalk
I have and use the Huawei watch everyday BUT never for fitness tracking, gym/walking/running etc. Aside from not looking like a sports activity tracking watch it doesn´t do it like any of the other fitness tracking gadgets. Huawei watch just doesn´t look good in the gym or on a bike
Gave it a shot but it just didn't meet my expectations for several reasons.
1. SHealth was extremely inaccurate both in distance and HR recording compared to my Garmin.
2. No split times recorded in SHealth. Anybody who runs wants to know their mile times.
3. Notifications were hit or miss.
4. Didn't like that for proper text and email integration you need to use the Samsung apps.
5. No group texting
6. Can't look backwards in calendar.
7. Not that it's a phone or tablet and I intended on loading the watch with apps, but, the app selection is a far cry from the 10,000 they claimed at release.
Things I did like.
1. Build quality
2. Size
3. LTE connectivity
4. Watch face selection
Returned my Frontier, too
The Samsung Gear App isn't shown in the Playstore for my Huawei MediaPad X2 Phone, so I loaded it as unknown application
I'm able to install the app and to start it
The gearS3 is also recognized by bluetooth, but prepairing the watch fails, because the app closes without any notification
The Samsung Page
apps.samsung.com/gear
for receiving the gear app direct by Samsung shows:
"This URL is only supported on mobil devices" (translated from german language)
on my Huawei Mediapad X2 mobil device
So I returned the watch to Amazon without any possibilty to test it
Edit
My AndroidWear Huawei Watch works without any limitations on the MediaPad X2
bye felicia.
Sampson0420 said:
bye felicia.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh?
Sampson0420 said:
bye felicia.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got it.
My Gear S3 LTE is my fourth Gear and the third with 3G/LTE connectivity. It's the best of the four and, for me, the only wearable worth buying. They all have limitations by the way. The Gear family works best with Samsung phones and with Samsung's apps (EG: e-mail, MMS, contacts, etc.). Used that way it's literally a stand-alone alternative to your phone. And that's why I buy it. That and the Gear S3 has impressive battery life, a great display, a neat always on display, a fantastic UI, the ability to pay with your watch at any terminal, and the "write with your finger" really solves text entry on a wearable problem. For those with non-Samsung phones, especially iPhone users, know what you're buying before you buy it and you'll reduce your chances of being disappointed. None of what's been discussed hasn't been discussed a year ago on the Gear S2 forum.
Sounds like you expected it to be a phone on your wrist. No smartwatch will acheive that in the forseeable future.
Of course Garmin devices will track more accurately. That's their primary function. ON the Gear S3, it's an addition to it's main functions.
It's targeting the average consumer, not the fitness fanatics.
S3 is not cooking aldente pasta too...
All the reasons you mentioned are ridiculous, as everybody knows such limitations of the smartwatches.
the_scotsman said:
Sounds like you expected it to be a phone on your wrist. No smartwatch will acheive that in the forseeable future.
Of course Garmin devices will track more accurately. That's their primary function. ON the Gear S3, it's an addition to it's main functions.
It's targeting the average consumer, not the fitness fanatics.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So based on the things I listed, what exactly is a smartwatch supposed to do? Notifications, email, text, etc...
And it's funny it's not targeted for fitness fanatics considering there was a commercial with a girl climbing a rock wall taking wait for it, a phone call. Additionally, why all the effort in creating all of the different exercise tracking if its not to be used as a fitness tracker? Being able to run with a watch that can provide text and email notifications and make actual phone calls, eventually stream Spotify without the need of an actual phone would be a huge advantage for any fitness fanatic. But the fact that it can't accurately track a run and provide split times renders it useless for fitness fanatics.
Gio999 said:
S3 is not cooking aldente pasta too...
All the reasons you mentioned are ridiculous, as everybody knows such limitations of the smartwatches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good reference.
So all of the things they tout that it will do it just does those half ass... Oh, now I get it. Those be the limitations you mentioned.
awilson181 said:
So based on the things I listed, what exactly is a smartwatch supposed to do? Notifications, email, text, etc...
And it's funny it's not targeted for fitness fanatics considering there was a commercial with a girl climbing a rock wall taking wait for it, a phone call. Additionally, why all the effort in creating all of the different exercise tracking if its not to be used as a fitness tracker? Being able to run with a watch that can provide text and email notifications and make actual phone calls, eventually stream Spotify without the need of an actual phone would be a huge advantage for any fitness fanatic. But the fact that it can't accurately track a run and provide split times renders it useless for fitness fanatics.
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You're 100℅ correct that they've targeted athletes or people who want to track their various outdoor adventures. I was shocked that I couldn't do a manual lap in the s health running app as I like to track splits for my sprint workouts.
Apparently there is an update that improves GPS that should arrive soon.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
cdd543 said:
You're 100℅ correct that they've targeted athletes or people who want to track their various outdoor adventures. I was shocked that I couldn't do a manual lap in the s health running app as I like to track splits for my sprint workouts.
Apparently there is an update that improves GPS that should arrive soon.
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Yeah, saw that yesterday...you know exactly the same day I returned it. Maybe by time Verizon gets it all the kinks will be worked out.
I love my g Gear S3, but I agree with the author of this thread. I have had the original Gear, Gear 2, Gear S, Gear S2 3g, and now the Gear S3 LTE. I have also had several AW watches (LG, Moto, Moto 2, LG Urbane 2 LTE). The Gear S3 is by far the best smartwatch I have owned. I pair it with a Sammy Note 5 so I get full capabilities.
I also have always owned a fitness band to track my workouts and runs since all the watches I mentioned above do a mediocre job as it relates to fitness tracking. I currently wear a Garmin Vivosmart HR+ on my other wrist. I use it for my fitness tracking. I haven't given the S3 a thorough test period yet, but on the few runs I have taken it on, it has performed above average. The GPS was almost exactly the same as my Garmin. The heart rate was close but annoyingly different from the Garmin. Basic step tracking is always 1000 plus below my steps on the Garmin at the end of the day.
It works great streaming downloaded music to my BT headset when I run and the challenge workout coaching is fun (speed up, run faster, you are on pace nice job, etc...).
When I first saw ads and videos of the S3 I too thought it would be the perfect solution and I could give up wearing another fitness device. For 1st time Gear owners I am sure many were also expecting Garmin or Fitbit type results. I don't think the S3 is delivering on it.
awilson181 said:
Gave it a shot but it just didn't meet my expectations for several reasons.
1. SHealth was extremely inaccurate both in distance and HR recording compared to my Garmin.
2. No split times recorded in SHealth. Anybody who runs wants to know their mile times.
3. Notifications were hit or miss.
4. Didn't like that for proper text and email integration you need to use the Samsung apps.
5. No group texting
6. Can't look backwards in calendar.
7. Not that it's a phone or tablet and I intended on loading the watch with apps, but, the app selection is a far cry from the 10,000 they claimed at release.
Things I did like.
1. Build quality
2. Size
3. LTE connectivity
4. Watch face selection
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True about Garmin vs s3. I returned my Garmin Fenix hr which was stupid of me.
awilson181 said:
Gave it a shot but it just didn't meet my expectations for several reasons.
1. SHealth was extremely inaccurate both in distance and HR recording compared to my Garmin.
2. No split times recorded in SHealth. Anybody who runs wants to know their mile times.
3. Notifications were hit or miss.
4. Didn't like that for proper text and email integration you need to use the Samsung apps.
5. No group texting
6. Can't look backwards in calendar.
7. Not that it's a phone or tablet and I intended on loading the watch with apps, but, the app selection is a far cry from the 10,000 they claimed at release.
Things I did like.
1. Build quality
2. Size
3. LTE connectivity
4. Watch face selection
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Click to collapse
A smart watch is not the same thing as a specific fitness band or other such device. Neither can perform the others tasks.
Buyers remorse is a horrible thing and despite doing all our 'home work' prior to purchase there will always be some devices we purchase that we just don't like so return them.
Most important thing to remember though is the Gear S3 is a highly accomplished smart watch and if you didn't enjoy its ownership I would question if any smart watch would fit your requirements. Samsung make their own fitness band have you tried that?
The more I look at your list of disappointments the more I ponder if any smart watch can comply with that list? There are not that many choices of OS.
I do hope you find what fits your needs, let us know how you get along. :highfive:
Ryland
For the Nth time. No fitness tracker/smartwatch is ever accurate. You might find it accurate/ close to accurate at times- but various studies over time has proved them to be varying in accuracy over extended trials. Also, various company representatives like from Fitbit etc have made it clear that "these devices are designed to provide meaningful data to users to help them reach their health and fitness goals, and are not intended to be scientific or medical devices".
So unless you have a chest strap, you never get an accurate HR reading. So its time to focus on important things like get moving. Look at what you are trying to accomplish- if you plan to lose weight, your smartwatch/ fitness tracker should help you get closer to that goal and provide motivation. Now if you are a professional athlete and wants accurate reading and sh*t u probably already know what you need.
Hi
anoopjylive said:
For the Nth time. No fitness tracker/smartwatch is ever accurate. You might find it accurate/ close to accurate at times- but various studies over time has proved them to be varying in accuracy over extended trials. Also, various company representatives like from Fitbit etc have made it clear that "these devices are designed to provide meaningful data to users to help them reach their health and fitness goals, and are not intended to be scientific or medical devices".
So unless you have a chest strap, you never get an accurate HR reading. So its time to focus on important things like get moving. Look at what you are trying to accomplish- if you plan to lose weight, your smartwatch/ fitness tracker should help you get closer to that goal and provide motivation. Now if you are a professional athlete and wants accurate reading and sh*t u probably already know what you need.
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I just ran a 10 mile certified race with my Garmin. That watch measured 10.18 which given the fact that I didn't run all the tangents I'd say that's really accurate. Been this way for any race I've done. Now a half a mile(or more in some cases) off like the gear 3, that's too much especially when the watch is determining split times. Or in the case of this watch, average mile time over the entire run since it can't provide mile splits for some reason.
awilson181 said:
Hi
I just ran a 10 mile certified race with my Garmin. That watch measured 10.18 which given the fact that I didn't run all the tangents I'd say that's really accurate. Been this way for any race I've done. Now a half a mile(or more in some cases) off like the gear 3, that's too much especially when the watch is determining split times. Or in the case of this watch, average mile time over the entire run since it can't provide mile splits for some reason.
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Looks like you already got what you needed. And If accuracy is one thing that's very important, smart watches are not probably gonna fit your needs. We still gotta wait couple generations more I guess.
For me it's simple.
If you want a watch you buy a watch
If you want a smartwatch you buy a smartwatch
If you want to track your fitness you buy a fitness tracker
If you want all of the above and like gadgets get yourself a smartwatch. In which case the S3 is a good choice.
There is an old saying that accurately describes the S3: jack of all trades, master of none. The S3 is packed with every feature currently imaginable on a watch. It does each of these things to the 80th percentile. If you need the upper 20% you're going to have to get a focused device that's willing to sacrifice breadth of function in exchange for greater depth.
It isn't reasonable to expect the S3 to outperform a dedicated running watch, cycling computer, GPS, sleep monitoring device, or any other specialized gadget.
Me to going to return it back to amazon(classic)
The reason for that.
1.Too heavy,big and uncomfortable wearing it for many hours plus less attractive design than Zenwatch 3 I'm also having and gone keep at end.
2. I'm having several disconnection issue with plenty of Bluetooth stereo headset.
But one think I ll be missing is Tizen OS that to me is much more polished and friendly than android Wear.
Also the rotation mechanism I found it very comfortable and enjoyable.
Hello Guys, I am thinking about wether to buy this watch or the Huawei Watch 2. Maybe someone could give his or her opinion and satisfaction about the available Apps in Tizen. What I am going to die with it? Especially I would Like to track Training in Gym.
Android all Life!
Inviato dal mio Lenovo TB2-X30L utilizzando Tapatalk
There are hardly any apps on Tizen FYI.
I had the Huawei watch 2 classic for about two weeks then returned it for the Gear S3. The screen was WAY too small, and I couldn't even get through the day on the battery. Plus, once you've had a gear watch, it's REALLY hard not having the scrolling screen with widgets and such.
BUT, if your main interest is fitness/gym, AW all the way. The Google Fit Workout app is amazing. It very accurately tracks each exercise and rep count, then at the end of each set has a rest timer. I miss that app a LOT! Samsung Health kind of blows. And the UA record works fine (not even close to fit workout though either), but it has bad syncing problems (and you have to sync with health before anything else you use).
If you want looks and a nice UI, go with the gear, if you want apps and a great fitness tracker, AW. I would go with the LG sport though instead of the Huawei. 1.4 inch screen v. 1.2. You'll seriously appreciate that difference in size. I hear battery life is much better too.
gettinwicked said:
There are hardly any apps on Tizen FYI.
I had the Huawei watch 2 classic for about two weeks then returned it for the Gear S3. The screen was WAY too small, and I couldn't even get through the day on the battery. Plus, once you've had a gear watch, it's REALLY hard not having the scrolling screen with widgets and such.
BUT, if your main interest is fitness/gym, AW all the way. The Google Fit Workout app is amazing. It very accurately tracks each exercise and rep count, then at the end of each set has a rest timer. I miss that app a LOT! Samsung Health kind of blows. And the UA record works fine (not even close to fit workout though either), but it has bad syncing problems (and you have to sync with health before anything else you use).
If you want looks and a nice UI, go with the gear, if you want apps and a great fitness tracker, AW. I would go with the LG sport though instead of the Huawei. 1.4 inch screen v. 1.2. You'll seriously appreciate that difference in size. I hear battery life is much better too.
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Thank you for the Post and Suggestion. So as I Understand, there is no app in Tizen store, that could record a full workout? It is not that much important for me, that the watch recognizes the exercise, duration and... Automatically. It is only important, that there is an app to create workouts and type in the watch which exercise I did and the reps like Fitness Point, if you could give it a look. It is a shame, that there is no possibility to take a look at the store...
I wear a FitBit and Gear S3. It may look a little funny, but I don't care. I use the FitBit to track my health metrics and the Gear for everything else. The FitBit does continuous HR monitoring, detailed sleep analysis, and daily activity. The Gear has inferior hardware and software in these areas. But the Gear is a great smartwatch and mobile payment device.
If workout metrics are important, you may want to consider wearing a device specifically to capture that data. There are many smart heartrate monitors that work with a smartphone or connect to gym equipment monitors. I've used a Wahoo Tickr.
Hey all, I have the gear s3, and the one thing I hate about it is how bad the exercise tracking is. I am currently using elliptical to track strength training for God's sake, because the latter does not use heart rate to calculate calories burned. So, my main question is, how is the new sport with tracking? Are there more options for exercise tracking? Do ones like strength training and such use heart rate now? Anything added that's cool like rep counting?
I am curious where Samsung is going with their fitness, if they're moving forward, or still stuck WAY behind AW, Fitbit, basically everyone else that matters. The Tizen 3 update will come to my watch eventually, so I'm also wondering if I should be excited or not. If they're not moving forward, this will likely be my last Sammy smartwatch/tracker.
Anyway, please and thanks! Screenshots would be amazing too!
I'm having troubles tracking in a slightly different manner. Cardio was not on the gear sport so I used other and Samsung health wouldn't let me edit it once synced on the phone. Does any one know how to track activities not on the gear device? I used endomondo to track indoor biking and it didn't count the calories. I would of liked to think once the correct activity is started on the phone it would sync to the watch while working out? I'm basically ready to return the Gear Sport.
djyosnow said:
I'm having troubles tracking in a slightly different manner. Cardio was not on the gear sport so I used other and Samsung health wouldn't let me edit it once synced on the phone. Does any one know how to track activities not on the gear device? I used endomondo to track indoor biking and it didn't count the calories. I would of liked to think once the correct activity is started on the phone it would sync to the watch while working out? I'm basically ready to return the Gear Sport.
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Unfortunately, I don't believe you can start tracking on the phone and have it sync with the watch. Only the other way around.
If you select manage items in S Health on the phone, you can pick more exercise trackers.
So, does 'other' on the watch have a heart rate monitor on it while it's tracking? Other is what I was using until I found out it didn't track heart rate and use it for calculating calories burned on my watch. On mine (gear s3 with Tizen 2), I have exercise bike, cycling, etc. and quite a few other cardio types available. Your sport does not? I'm not sure which of those track heart rate, but I use elliptical for my workouts and it does and is fairly accurate. Way more than without the heart rate tracking anyway. If the other options you are looking for do not track heart rate, you might just use elliptical buddy. Or return the watch and get an Android Wear or Garmin for better tracking options.
I'm in the same boat. I don't want to get rid of this watch, it's pretty damn secksay, but, I exercise 4-5 days a week, and it's a huge part of my life, so, I need something that will track this stuff better. I was waiting to see if Sammy fixed their incredibly lacking tracker software in Tizen 3 before I started looking elsewhere. If it's not better, I'll probably wait until spring to see if anyone updates their smartwatches then grab something from AW.
Anyway, thanks for the input!
I think I tired other and it was tracking HR for me, which I read is suppose to be slightly updated over the S3. I think GPS has been updated as it works more accurately for me than the S3 I tested. Bu, for a watch marketed as a Sport model that is also named Sport it's missing a good bit of features. Like for walking/running/hiking, it lacks a cadence score, there is no general cardio, or dance option, and lacks a general weightlifting activity. Other things I've noticed the that altimeter and baro data would not get updated unless it was connected to my phone or wifi network(even when GPS is on), which would not be good if I was outdoors hiking with no reception. If Suunto, Garmin, Polar(m600 included) and Apple can do it without data, why can't Samsung? I've been tweeting at Samsung some of the negatives I have noticed and I think it be wise if others did too.
Side note, I remember when testing out the S3 there was a GPS based Speedometer app in the store, but I can't seem to find it anymore, which either means it doesn't work with the Sport and/or Tizen 3.0
Yes the gear devices are pretty to look at. As for the "other" tracking I thought it grabbed my hr and other stats. It was not available to edit it from the health app. I'm now using Map my run and I belive I'll be OK. As I can edit the activities. Though I would still like to see aerobics which I'm not. It calls it something like gym total body workout. I really find it odd and frustrating that I have to use a 3rd party app on my gear sport. Good MFing job Samsung, way to f that up and you only had one job.
Like I said maybe if we group tweet at Samsung they maybe will think about adding stuff in an update?
bigsnack said:
Like I said maybe if we group tweet at Samsung they maybe will think about adding stuff in an update?
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Doubt it. We're not the only ones complaining about it. There's a thread on Sammy's site that's been going since January this year telling Samsung how terrible their tracking is. I'm sure many others have actively complained to them, and told them what they could do to make it better. But here we are, several devices in that offer exercise tracking, without anything really worth using. For now, what I use does the trick, but I really want something similar to what AW has. I will very likely be ditching Samsung for AW or Garmin next spring.
I tried the Garmin Vivoactive 3 and it was great for the most part, but GPS wasn't as fast as the Gear to catch reception, and display of course isn't as good. But, it does everything accurately for the most part(I think GPS could be a tad more accurate vs showing me crossing the street multiple times when I didn't). As for Android Wear the only watch that comes close to the Gear Sport would be the Nixon Mission which is designed for surfing, skiing, and other similar activities, but it lacks HR. The New Balance RunIQ is 5atmos rated, and has HR, but reviews said battery life meh on it, and accuracy could be better. Polar has a really good watch in the M600, but downside is size(looks are also a con for some) and it's only IPX8 rated. So, Gear Sport and Apple Watch kind of stand alone in having HR, and the ability to take it swimming in the ocean in terms of smart watches that do activity tracker, unless I am missing a model.
I tried a Huawei watch 2, and at least for strength training, it was awesome. I didn't try any of the cardio options, or really anything else though, so I cannot comment on that. For strength training though, it was amazing. Fit workout is what I used.
So, once you started it, it would guess what exercise you were doing (with amazing accuracy), and count the reps. So, if I was doing squats, or curls, or presses, whatever, it would figure out what I was doing, with a rep count, then once I hit the completed button, it would start a rest timer. It worked great with supersets too. If it didn't know what exercise you were doing, you could add it if it just wasn't there, or fix what it chose and the next time it would typically get it right. It was seriously perfect for me.
It's a huge blow for Samsung when you consider how lacking health is after trying something else. I ended up returning the Huawei because the screen was too small, and the battery life was terrible (didn't even get me through the day), and I then got a gear s3. I love my s3, it's just secksay, and the UI is way better than AW, but I need good workout tracking. With AW, I didn't have to keep my workout journal (Google sheets), it recorded everything and was available when I needed it. It doesn't seem like Sammy will ever get it right, so, I think I'm out soon. To each their own though.
What's the waterproof rating on the Watch 2? Will other Android watches be just as good for strength? If so, I may just forgo HR and go with the NIxon Mission. I really just need a watch I don't have to worry about when hiking and then decide to go into a body of water, why I really like breadcrumbing features that 3rd party apps in Android now offer and both Garmin and Suunto offer, but that display on the Gear Sport is very good, as is n navigating the OS.
bigsnack said:
What's the waterproof rating on the Watch 2? Will other Android watches be just as good for strength? If so, I may just forgo HR and go with the NIxon Mission. I really just need a watch I don't have to worry about when hiking and then decide to go into a body of water, why I really like breadcrumbing features that 3rd party apps in Android now offer and both Garmin and Suunto offer, but that display on the Gear Sport is very good, as is n navigating the OS.
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IP68, same as the gear s3. Many AW watches, like the watch 2 have HR. The watch 2 did a constant heart rate like the sport does, and it uses it to calculate calories while working out with Fit workout. Which should be on every AW watch btw. It's Google's Fit app for workouts.
Do most Android watches do strength or is that specific to certian watches?
bigsnack said:
Do most Android watches do strength or is that specific to certian watches?
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Google Fit Workout *should* be on all AW watches, BUT, we all know how OEM's like to change Android how they see fit. Also, some smartwatches are just smartwatches, no fitness stuff. The big name ones all should though. Huawei, LG, etc. do. Go to a Best Buy and play with some. BB should have the ones you would want.
I did, and BB told me the only fitness watch with sport is the LG Sport, and the New Balance RunIQ, which got poor reviews(most of them pre-2.0, but stuff like small battery and inaccurate sensors can't really change much with software update). When I asked about the Nixon Mission they weren't sure about it other than being marketed as a surf and snow watch.
---------- Post added at 04:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:52 PM ----------
Has anyone noticed apps like under armour are more reliant on the phone? Like I remember with the S3 I was testing out the apps were more independent, or do I have it wrong?
Anyone having total daily calorie burn issues? I have yet to crack much over 2000 calories burned in a day despite moderate daily activity.
Also, I noticed when using constant HR tracking my HR would sometimes spike to the 90-100 range and stick there despite being in a resting state. I also get credit for moderate activity minutes which skews my overall tracking. I put on my Polar A370 last time the spike happened and HR was low 60s. HR tracking is about the only thing the Polar did excellent. Once I turn off continuous tracking and back on it will start tracking normal again until it happens again.
I really love the watch but the fitness tracking issues may a deal breaker. Problem is I don't want to go back to my A370!
I bought the Huawai Watch 2 (Android Wear) and had a terrible time trying to integrate the applications. All I wanted was ONE application that contained my nutrition, fitness (exercise routines), and steps/stairs. After two days of trying, no luck... now too frustrated and returning the watch.
bigsnack said:
Side note, I remember when testing out the S3 there was a GPS based Speedometer app in the store, but I can't seem to find it anymore, which either means it doesn't work with the Sport and/or Tizen 3.0
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Speedometer is available now on apps store.