My 12 day experience using a Gear S with Google Voice and a Moto 360 within reach

[aitt]

Glad you took the time to do your analysis. I agree. Samsung has truly pushed what a smartwatch should be. It has its quarrel but I think they are on the right path.

Until Wear becomes open, I personally think it's a setback for pushing the tech possible. Waiting for Google is slowing down what OEMs wants to do to differentiate themselves. I don't blame LG for wanting to do their own OS wearable. In the end Wear will be the most dominance in wearables, but that doesn't mean it will always be better. I'll come back to Wear when it's more refine maybe, but for now Tizen got all my needs. I have since deleted both Wear and Toq off my phone.

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[jeffruby]

I too go to the gym a ton with my gear s. I have gear network set to auto. When near my note 4- its connected via bt and battery will last 2 days. Once I'm away from the phone, my watch turns independent turning on gear network-and here is where you use 10-20% battery per hour. As long as you understand how to control gps (leave off unless jogging outside), gear network and call forwarding- this battery is a home run.


If I jog and I am OK to be unreachable, I'll jog with gear network off/gps on- prior to run its essential to make sure phone is not connected to gear as first mile of run will think your location is where phone is.

Texts can swipe down and dismiss so listed as read on phone (when linked)... Gmail app doesn't work like that-if you dismiss, the alert on phone goes away but the email is listed as unread (i like this personally) - but will look into the alert app.

If you use the Samsung mail app, you can reply and delete btw

 

[jlczl]

I too go to the gym a ton with my gear s. I have gear network set to auto. When near my note 4- its connected via bt and battery will last 2 days. Once I'm away from the phone, my watch turns independent turning on gear network-and here is where you use 10-20% battery per hour. As long as you understand how to control gps (leave off unless jogging outside), gear network and call forwarding- this battery is a home run.


If I jog and I am OK to be unreachable, I'll jog with gear network off/gps on- prior to run its essential to make sure phone is not connected to gear as first mile of run will think your location is where phone is.

Texts can swipe down and dismiss so listed as read on phone (when linked)... Gmail app doesn't work like that-if you dismiss, the alert on phone goes away but the email is listed as unread (i like this personally) - but will look into the alert app.

If you use the Samsung mail app, you can reply and delete btw

I was using the Samsung mail app and it was possible to reply and dismiss, but not delete. Please confirm you can actually delete the email and not have to delete it again off your phone.

 

[jeffruby]

Can't confirm that. Sounds like you tried. Just going off what I read. I use Gmail app... Sorry

 

[Michael Lynady]

Coming from gear1 to 360 - if the next moto has a speaker, that would be a huge +

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[Jim Buono]

When Samsung says the Gear S is not designed to replace your phone, they're right. If you have a job where you need to have your phone to reply to messages and emails, take and make calls, use Google Maps, surf the web etc. etc. I don't think the Gear S is for you. Carry your phone and use the 360 simply for the convenience of not having to take your phone out of your pocket.

For me, I don't always need to carry a phone. I have nav in every car. Lots of times during the day I can leave my phone and come back to it an hour later, while still needing to have phone access, pedometer, see notifications and messages to check for anything important. The Gear S allows me to not carry the phone in many situations.

For me, that's more convenient than always needing to carry a smart phone and a smart watch.

I don't understand all the issues with notifications and emails. Its simple to bulk clear them with a swipe and a couple of taps. I pick up the phone and bulk delete them, as well. They still appear on my desktop, laptop and tablet. They all get bulk deleted after a quick scan or saved to a folder for reply. I get hundreds a day and it still only takes a couple of minutes.

Again, if you must always have a phone with you and want the convenience of not having to always take it out, use a smart watch, despite the fact you will have 70% functional overlap, or so. If you can go long periods of time during the day when you don't need to carry your phone because the Gear S suffices, that's the way to go and the two devices only overlap 25% or so.

I wouldn't be disappointed either way its just "horses for courses."

 

[aitt]

Coming from gear1 to 360 - if the next moto has a speaker, that would be a huge +

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As long as Google implement voice features. A flaw for closed Wear OS

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[jlczl]

What watch face are you using on the 360?

Gadgets are my weakness. Always have and always will.

It's a Patek Philippe. One of about 100 watch faces I have. While at work I prefer digital watch faces.

I'm a gadget addict as well. I feel your pain lol.

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[tech_fan]

It's a Patek Philippe. One of about 100 watch faces I have. While at work I prefer digital watch faces.

I'm a gadget addict as well. I feel your pain lol.

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I like that face as well. That one is really nice. Thanks for sharing.

 

[tech_fan]

It's a Patek Philippe. One of about 100 watch faces I have. While at work I prefer digital watch faces.

I'm a gadget addict as well. I feel your pain lol.

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I like that face as well. That one is really nice. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jlczl]

I'm back! Actually I never left. The truth is that the gadget addict in me was not able to return the device.

I found a nice little niche in my day to day usage that the Gear S will fit into just fine. I now leave my 360 connected at all times (avoiding the pesky reconnect issue I had previously mentioned) and I only use the Gear S to track my sleep and for my workouts. Obviously during my sleep I wouldn't be able to handle notifications anyway so the S does its job monitoring my sleep (I have sleep apnea so this is one of the things I really wanted to use) and it wakes me in the morning without having to have a loud, obnoxious alarm. Then, since the battery only drains about 20% over night, when I wake up I take off to the gym and use it to stream my music to my BT headset, and as a phone (calls & texting) if necessary (leaving my phone and 360 behind at home). Any other notifications I receive during that hour are not substantial enough to annoy me if they accumulate until after my workout. Once I get home, I switch to my Note/360 combo and leave the S on the charger so it'll be ready when I come back from work. My 360 does a delightful job during the day mirroring my Note 4 and at night as a nightstand clock so I'm a happy camper.

I figured the $5 I spend a month on the Gear plan is equivalent to just a couple of my cups of coffee so I might as well keep it.

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[aitt]

Ha. Sucka

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[jlczl]

Ha. Sucka

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LOL

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[tech_fan]

For me, I was getting ready to leave on vacay and wanted to charge up both batteries so, i could swap them out as needed. The DW called and wanted me to run to Target. So, I was originally upset becauise I had to pull the phone off charger and charge it later. Then I realized, I could just take my watch and leave the phone on charge. Once again, the convenience of watch came through.

Another time, it was raining and the phone was ringing. My hands were full with the umbrella and I could not reach into my pocket and grab the phone. I noticed that the DW was calling. Although, she can ignore my calls, she hates it when I ignore her calls. So, I answered it on my phone. Once again, the GG S pulled it off.

With my Moto 360 most people tell me that they like the Gear S better and thinks it looks better. My wife wonders what I will do when I get rid of my gas cap watch? If I ever need a gas cap in a hurry, i will not be able to use it. LOL

 

[jlczl]

It's funny, I get asked a lot about my watch. When I have the 360 on they always ask, "can you make phone calls with it?" and I'm like, no but my other watch can! LOL.

Interestingly enough, I get more questions when I have my 360 on eventhough the Gear S looks more "gadgety" to me.

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[aitt]

I think it's the same between the two. But I get more inquire about the Gear S because it's easier to notice. The 360 is usually because I'm swiping.

Which is why smartwatches will more likely remain at a niche product until sadly the iWatch is released. So many company advancing technology and Apple gets all the notoriety. Just like wallet payment.

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[fuzionbutterfly]

I just wanted to say thank you for this entertaining, descriptive adventure with your two smartwatches! It really was helpful. I currently own a samsung gear 2, and I really don't like tizen. I am an huge android fan, and I use everything google. Android wear seems perfect. I just need a better platform. The most important features for me would be the camera, heart rate, google voice, the ability to answer calls, reply to messages and interact with twitter and facebook. Is that too much for a girl to ask for? ♡