Is the SW3 capable of going for a run without phone?

[BioFanatic]

Hey there,
I'm looking for an AW watch that will allow me to leave my phone behind for a run:


WANTED:

GPS: I noticed that the SW3 has GPS. Does this work with running apps? I use RunKeeper, but I'd consider switching if another app made use of the GPS. If so, does the phone display your speed, time, etc, as you run?

MUSIC: In addition to tracking my run with GPS, I'm also looking for a smartwatch that allows music to be loaded directly to the device and played to my bluetooth headphones. Obviously, music controls are important, but I believe that's already a feature of AW.

 

[ichikuo]

The main reason I got the SW3 is because it's the only available android watch that lets you run without your phone with full music listening and gps capabilities.

The SW3 allows you to store music directly on the watch and the two apps that I know of that let you run without your phone and use the watch's GPS for tracking and stats are Ghostracer and Runkeeper.

Edit - I'm subscribed to google music and you have to use that app to listen to music on your watch at the moment. I am unfamiliar if you can upload your own music onto google music in the free to use version.

 

[Penguwin]

I just tried this today with a SW3 and endomondo... Worked beautifully! I left my phone in the car, walked away and started playing music in play music from the SW3 and then started the endomondo SW3 watch app.

When I returned to the car, all the info from my run appeared in the phone's endomondo app as well.

It should be noted that I did transfer music from the phone to the SW3 before I went on my run though.

 

[danbest82]

This watch looks like something that will work great for my wife since she has a Note 4 and doesn't want to lug it out for her runs. Do you know if any of these apps allow "live tracking" so that I can see where she is on her runs? Its a feature we're both looking for but it seems that only watches with cell data connections have. Thanks.

 

[Penguwin]

This watch looks like something that will work great for my wife since she has a Note 4 and doesn't want to lug it out for her runs. Do you know if any of these apps allow "live tracking" so that I can see where she is on her runs? Its a feature we're both looking for but it seems that only watches with cell data connections have. Thanks.

The SW3 (or any watch really) cannot report her live position or do live tracking without a data connection to deliver that information. If your phone is not near-by (meaning the watch cannot use the phone's data connection) and the watch does not have its own data connection (which the SW3 does NOT), then live tracking isn't going to be possible.

I agree with not wanting to carry a large cell phone while running (I have a Nexus 6 and leave it in the car), but the SW3 may not be the right choice for you if the lack of live tracking is a deal breaker.

 

[cowboy541]

You will already have the google fit app on the watch which tracks walking

Just go into the app store and download Google fit to your phone. Then when it's synced to your watch you will see options for tracking running, cycling. Used it a couple of times for runs I've known the distance and works spot in

Also found out that the watch will estimate treadmill runs when you try and record those. You can then pick up the phone after and edit for correct distance and actual activities

 

[xendula]

This watch looks like something that will work great for my wife since she has a Note 4 and doesn't want to lug it out for her runs. Do you know if any of these apps allow "live tracking" so that I can see where she is on her runs? Its a feature we're both looking for but it seems that only watches with cell data connections have. Thanks.

When the SW4 gets released, which reportedly will have cellular functionality, or when the LG watch urbane 2 LTE comes back on the market, you can install Glympse on it and it sends live tracking to any email address. I have it installed on my Urbane 2 LTE.

If you can't wait, there is a full Android (not AW) watch with a sim card slot and GPS, as well as a round AMOLED screen that others here and on XDA developers have bought and like: the K8 3G, usually around $140 on gearbest.com. I keep looking at it and wondering if I should buy it just because it's full Android....