So I have had the Galaxy Gear S for about 2 weeks now. I have it without a data plan for the time being. I have to say, I love this thing. I don't know how it will compare to the Apple Watch, but so far I cannot find to much bad with it. I love the larger screen and it looks fine on me as I am a pretty big guy. Receving notifications, emails, texts and calls all work beatifully and being able to check things like that and the pedometer without having to take my phone out is just really nice. Probably the thing that has proven most useful is using it while driving, being able to receive a text, look at the screen by moving my wrist and if absoulutly needed, respond to the text by voice is just awesome. What do others who have it think?
Galaxy Gear S
- Thread starter Glenn Sager
- Start date
• not sure you should be even glancing at texts whilst driving - yeah everyone does that even your Mom so maybe a slightly safer real-world use case scenario than the current idiom - maybe the Gear S should be or already is able to announce the texts?
• if everything's working beautifully then mister you're a better man than I - or maybe you just read the manual!
• its been a bit of a struggle, one step forward two step backs experience for me (if one can use such terms for a first world problem of how to get one's smartwatch to work)
I'm still bemused (vs struggling) trying to understand the Samsung/Tizen/Android ecosystem thing.
Ok everyone tells me Android/Samsung is better but what is this flipboard and all the other preinstalled bloatwear sh!t (on the host phone) and how do i get rid of it - why have i got a google android store, a galaxy store and a Gear S store - maybe @pple were right all along?
whatever - I think & hope not.
That company recently finally jumped the shark for me personally (pole-vaulted over it i think) with Saddam Hussain style solid gold watches and gold laptops
• The Gear S is fantastic for all the reasons you highlight and hopefully will only get better
• if everything's working beautifully then mister you're a better man than I - or maybe you just read the manual!
• its been a bit of a struggle, one step forward two step backs experience for me (if one can use such terms for a first world problem of how to get one's smartwatch to work)
I'm still bemused (vs struggling) trying to understand the Samsung/Tizen/Android ecosystem thing.
Ok everyone tells me Android/Samsung is better but what is this flipboard and all the other preinstalled bloatwear sh!t (on the host phone) and how do i get rid of it - why have i got a google android store, a galaxy store and a Gear S store - maybe @pple were right all along?
whatever - I think & hope not.
That company recently finally jumped the shark for me personally (pole-vaulted over it i think) with Saddam Hussain style solid gold watches and gold laptops
• The Gear S is fantastic for all the reasons you highlight and hopefully will only get better
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Ha, we are Gear S Fanboys/gals...
I am crazy about mine. You are right about the driving bit.. When I am driving and I get a call. I can accept it on my watch, and informed the caller that I am driving and will call them later or if important, hold on, and I will pull over.. Also, the other day, walking my dog, about quarter mile from my house, listening to music off the Gear S(Note 4 left home), and Sony BT headphones, I get a call from a person in Italy.. We talk for about half hour, and I asked them, how does my voice come through? They replied, clear as a whistle. They came through crystal clear to me too, as I had my Sony BT headphones and using the mic off them..
I am anxious to see a head to head up against Apple's watch too. And as soon as a Gear S2 comes out, no need for me to see or read the reviews, just show where I can buy it!!
My experience with the Gear S is spot on with everyone above. Would I like more watch faces, well yes, but it's all good.
Posted via the Android Central App
Posted via the Android Central App
While driving, how do you 'accept' the call from the watch? (I have to swipe my finger across the screen to take the call). Is there a way to accept the call other than physically touching the screen? I have to do it a couple of times for it to 'take', I can't imagine doing it while driving.
mountainbikermark
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- Feb 28, 2015
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There's a setting to activate voice call/reject. On the watch tap Settings, tap Calls, tap Voice Controls, tap to check it, tap ok.
As far as vs any other,AW, Apple, etc I'm content with what I've got and only care that others stop trying to tell me where there's is better. It's what I wanted,a standalone capable phone call and text machine with built in music player . Anything else is bonus points to me. I started with a Gear Fit, outgrew its capabilities, jumped to the S because they were out of the Neo. Now I'm glad they were out of the Neo.
Well, Luckily the Tinzen is only for the watch, and I at least do not notice anything different when using the watch to do things. You can disable flipboard in settings. I dont have my phone handy right now, but it is not difficult. The majority of the bloatware can be disabled as well, at least on an AT&T phone, I do not know abou tthe other carriers. I am using Nova Launcher on the Note 4 and it is great.
Apple has the advantage of completly controlling their ecosystem, but I prefer having some options in what I can do with my devices. The Apple watch could be very cool, but what I have seen so far has not impressed me and yeah the $10k watch that will be obsolete in a year or two...silly.
mountainbikermark
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- Feb 28, 2015
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Samsung already tried a Tizen phone, in India I believe, that was a total flop. Unless they get a ton of developers onboard for apps and services they'll have to stick with Android, or other existing, os for a while longer on the host device. If Apple would allow it, Samsung could stick a huge thumb in their eye by not only making it compatible with all Android phones but Apple ones as well. I'd really like to see them loosen their Samsung phone only restrictions and release a Gear app that'd work on other manufacturers devices as well. For now I'll stick with my Note4 and S and see what next year brings.
I tried the Gear S for a few days and, because I'm a knucklehead, returned it. I've been missing it ever since. I didn't think I needed it because I usually have one of my phones with me. Now, I'm thinking I really liked that I could use it independently of a phone and also get texts from my phone even if I leave my phone at home or in the car or wherever. I think I'll be getting another one.
♻from the Note III
♻from the Note III
I stopped using my Gear S in favor of my Gear 2 for 2 weeks, then went back to my Gear S cuz I can do so much more with it, minus the camera. The standalone feature of the Gear S is by far it's greatest feature, imo. I'm suprised the other big makers haven't follow suit.I tried the Gear S for a few days and, because I'm a knucklehead, returned it. I've been missing it ever since. I didn't think I needed it because I usually have one of my phones with me. Now, I'm thinking I really liked that I could use it independently of a phone and also get texts from my phone even if I leave my phone at home or in the car or wherever. I think I'll be getting another one.
♻from the Note III
I love my Gear S for every single one of its features, but especially for its stand-alone functionality.
I know a few iphone users who would have gotten one the instant I explained to them what was on my wrist. So, yeah, if Samsung were smart, they'd make it compatible with iOS, especially given the Apple watch prices, limitations, and that fact the it only works with iPhone 5 and above.
I was thinking the same. It's not even that Apple won't allow it (Google is working on an Android Wear iOS app already if rumors are to be believed), it's that Samsung does not seem to care one bit about what happens next once a device hits the market. Why are they not advertising it? Why have none of my friends ever heard of it other than from me?
I know a few iphone users who would have gotten one the instant I explained to them what was on my wrist. So, yeah, if Samsung were smart, they'd make it compatible with iOS, especially given the Apple watch prices, limitations, and that fact the it only works with iPhone 5 and above.
It would require an app in Apple's app store...that Apple would have to approve. I wonder if they would.
♻from the Alpha
mountainbikermark
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The only ones I can think of that allows buying directly from competitors inside an Apple device is the Amazon music store/player and Amazon Kindle but there may be more of them now. They may have returned the ability to purchase books for Kindle now but when I got rid of my iPad they had blocked purchases inside the app itself.It would require an app in Apple's app store...that Apple would have to approve. I wonder if they would.
♻from the Alpha
To allow Samsung to have an app would allow buying not only content from a competitor but hardware as well. Maybe it'll happen if the
watch flops AND Samsung gets over itself but I'm not holding my breath. I can honestly say if I didn't own a Samsung phone already I'd have gone AW, probably a 360 and probably would not be as content. The bigger screen on the S is my favorite feature. Adding Fleksy Keyboard, for its bigger keys, has also been easier on my eyes also.To get rid of the bloatware you have to root then install a program like Titanium Backup which can get deep into the rom (or install a new rom, but given the fight I had with my Note2 working/not/semi with my GearS I advise not to touch custom roms anytime soon)
Good and Galaxy stores are essentially the same (that is they both install apps on the phone and most of the galaxy apps are int the google play store too) these apps CAN NOT be installed on your gear.
The Gear S store is the apps specifically for the gear (these do not install on the phone despite saying they are donloading/installing) it's currently the only place to get Gear S apps and the only legit way to load them (though you can sideload if you have a rooted gear --- which is not avalible anymore in most gear S models due to a new bootloader iirc)
If that were really required then most of the apps I used to have on my iPhone (yes I spent a year on the dark side before I came back into the light) dont exist. Your forgetting all about the Cydia App Store (or to be more accurate Cydia Package Manager)
It is not against their policy. There are actually already apps in the Apple App store that allow push notifications for Chinese smartwatches.
I am pretty sure the rumors about Android Wear are true, but for Samsung to see the light is quite another story.
I think Apple might take active steps to prevent it since it might draw people away from their own product. The fact that the Gear S can completely stand alone might be quite compelling to some.
♻from the dark side of the n.Edge✒The problem I have with it is that a lot of times when I bring my arm up to view the screen it doesn't turn on. Then I have to bring my arm down and bring it up again faster. Looks kinda dumb 
For those wondering about the Apple watch, as usual, they are about 2 years behind android. They are about to launch a smart watch with a base price of $350 ranging into the THOUSANDS (really) that has no sim card and cannot be used for much at all without being Bluetooth tethered to an apple device. Insane in the membrane. Maybe in a year or two they will add the technology Gear S is currently using, making it independent. My only beef with my gear S is the lack of apps (no Facebook? Seriously?) but otherwise am in love with the thing. You can bet apple will have that part covered. They are just way behind in the technology aspect.
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