My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

[Active55]

Re: My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

The most I've gotten with regular settings is 21 hours. Do you turn off at night? Do you recall what your settings were to get the 60 hrs.?

IIRC the settings were: GPS off, data off (except for on/off option), BT only on when driving, gold/brown watch face without motion, hand motion mute on, volume on high, vibrate on high, no app's running that I know of (nno weather, S-Health, Music or News) and NOT connected to any other phone. That was WITH the use of the backup cradle.

Not turned off at night.

From what I can tell right now in Power-Saver Mode, it will be much better.

 

[dorrien12]

Re: My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

IIRC the settings were: GPS off, data off (except for on/off option), BT only on when driving, gold/brown watch face without motion, hand motion mute on, volume on high, vibrate on high, no app's running that I know of (nno weather, S-Health, Music or News) and NOT connected to any other phone. That was WITH the use of the backup cradle.

Not turned off at night.

From what I can tell right now in Power-Saver Mode, it will be much better.

Gotcha, I think Bluetooth is a huge factor, I work from home so I don't NEED to have it on all day. Well I just started a new test with this big clock launcher that I bought. If it doesn't use too much battery, then my next test will be only using bluetooth when needed.

We some testing fools aren't we...lol I usually try every test before I settle in. It's just nice to know WHAT a device is capable of.

 

[Active55]

Re: My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

We some testing fools aren't we...lol I usually try every test before I settle in. It's just nice to know WHAT a device is capable of.

You got that right. I want to know what to expect, because to be honest I don't even want to carry the backup cradle in my pocket. I'm happy with one day, but prefer two days. If I can consistantly get 3 full days out of the Power-Saver Mode without the backup cradle I will be ecstatic!

 

[dorrien12]

Re: My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

If I can consistantly get 3 full days out of the Power-Saver Mode without the backup cradle I will be ecstatic!

You should be able to, 1) I kept bluetooth connected all day even though I didn't need it, so that right there will probably be an extra day or two. And 2) because I have my cell phone, I can cut the gear s off at night, so I could probably get a weeks worth without charging.

Going to Florida over Christmas break; power save mode, leave bluetooth on (at parks all day), cut off every night. Let's see how they turns out. Who am I kidding, that's probably gonna be my next test after the one I'm doing tomorrow.

Next: Trying regular battery, Bluetooth off (except when needed), on all night, mobile network off, other moderate settings (trying to match your 60 hrs).

Then: same as above, but cutting off at night.

Then: power save and cutting off at night. I think that about covers it.

Oh I want to know how it is remote connected all day, you can access that with power mode as well. But I don't like that option as well because of the different phone numbers. I guess its time to get a Google number.

 

[Active55]

Re: My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

More funky stuff while in Power-Saver Mode. Apparently I received a call and they left a message, but I never noticed it once again (probably me). I found it when my barber started asking about the Gear S. He was skeptical that the thing on my wrist was a full on cell phone, so he asked me to call the barber shop on it.

I was in Power-Saver mode, so I tapped on the phone icon, number pad and entered his phone number, but the phone said I couldn't call a non-emergency number??? Then I tried to go to my contact list. You can't get there without taking it out of Power-Saver Mode. Okay, I'll jump through the hoops... But, once in normal mode the contact list didn't display, it started trying to sync search for my contact list (likely looking for the phone it is "supposed" to be attched to). Just the blue spinning circle and a HIDE button. Damn!

I appears you have to do a reset for standalone in order to get the contact list to load from the SIM card again, after leaving it in Power-Saver Mode for 48 hours using it like I do as my only phone. Back to normal mode I go for good, and not turning it off at night to maintain my SIM card contact list on the Gear S. Oh well. Getting an easy two days out of it in normal mode anyway.

BTW the battery was at 37% after 2 full days (48 hours) in Power-Saver Mode! Not bad, but the quirks it produces using it as my only phone isn't worth squeezing an extra day or two out of the battery.

 

[dorrien12]

Re: My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

Active55, when it's in powers save mode, you click the settings and choose the mobile network. For the contact list; click on the phone, then the keypad, then the man and your contact list should show.

 

[Active55]

Re: My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

Active55, when it's in powers save mode, you click the settings and choose the mobile network. For the contact list; click on the phone, then the keypad, then the man and your contact list should show.

I get the same problem doing that once I click on the Man; it shows the blue circle and Syncing comment, but it will never sync because I don't have any other phone connected to it. The quirk is due to the way I use the phone (not as designed), not the phone itself.

I sure would like to see Samsung produce a separate smart or dumb Watchphone that is "designed" to be your only phone (like the S9110, only with today's tecnology like the Gear S).

 

[Wingul_the_Nova]

Re: My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

Actually there is a way to set up the watch without the phone. If you are having issues, you could always do a factory reset on the watch, then set up without the phone.

 

[Active55]

Re: My Standalone Experience: AT&T Gear S as my only phone

Actually there is a way to set up the watch without the phone. If you are having issues, you could always do a factory reset on the watch, then set up without the phone.

You are right. That is how I have the phone setup, but if you put it into Power-Saver Mode for a long period of time (maybe a short period too?), the contact list feature that was there, somehow is not; so it starts trying to sync. You can do another Reset in standalone operation to get everthing back to normal.

Maybe it is a software bug if the phone is actually meant to be used the way I do once you boot it as independent??? I haven't tried to load any of the post release upgrades to see if this issue goes away.

 

[rajnet]

Active55 very intriguing write up, do keep us informed. Love your writing you should become a blogger cheers

 

[Elements95]

Active55 very intriguing write up, do keep us informed. Love your writing you should become a blogger cheers

Same here! So besides contacts, is the watch fully functional as a phone/texting device with the tapping procedure/easter egg?

 

[viking1979]

I just got my gear S and found this thread interesting. I have an old no longer activated (no sim) Galaxy S4 and was able to use that to setup the Gear S, so might not be a bad idea to pick up one to have to sync and download apps with, can get them very cheap with broken screens like mine has. I was a bit annoyed finding I couldn't even start using the watch without sync'ing it with my phone. I bought a Fire Phone cheap, but that won't work with the Samsung Apps, so I will try taking the nano sim from it and using it in my watch instead, if that works maybe just cancel the extra line and pay the $10 Gear S fee (my Wife has a phone through the same plan already so that might be a bit less expensive than paying for 2 phones).

 

[Active55]

Same here! So besides contacts, is the watch fully functional as a phone/texting device with the tapping procedure/easter egg?

It appears fully functional for phone/texting; that's all I use it for. I have had no difficulty tapping or using the touch screen. To my surprise, the keyboard is one of the BEST features of this little wrist phone.

I don't know what Easter Egg is?

 

[Active55]

I just got my gear S and found this thread interesting. I have an old no longer activated (no sim) Galaxy S4 and was able to use that to setup the Gear S, so might not be a bad idea to pick up one to have to sync and download apps with, can get them very cheap with broken screens like mine has. I was a bit annoyed finding I couldn't even start using the watch without sync'ing it with my phone. I bought a Fire Phone cheap, but that won't work with the Samsung Apps, so I will try taking the nano sim from it and using it in my watch instead, if that works maybe just cancel the extra line and pay the $10 Gear S fee (my Wife has a phone through the same plan already so that might be a bit less expensive than paying for 2 phones).

At this point I am convinced the BEST way to use this phone is as it is designed with a remote connection to another compatible Samsung cell phone. It still isn't clear to me if the Gear S will remote connect with other brand name Android KitKat V4+ cell phones or even Samsung Phablets; like the Note Pro 12.2 phone enabled tablet or the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (a phone I'm currently considering)?

If I had a family plan with AT&T or TMO I'd jump on the $10 or $5 a month plans offered. And if you can somehow get the TMO $15/mo. plan without having another expensive phone plan there, you can't beat $15/mo. for unlimited talk/text and 500MB data as your only monthly cell phone expense.

 

[Active55]

Recently I have been dealing with end of life issues for my father who is in a nursing home. This has required much more phone use than I normally do. Texting has been great. In fact, the keyboard is truly wonderful on this little 2" curved screen. Calling out has been no problem at all, but there are two things I have been having issues with.

First, in areas where there is surrounding noise or there is a broken up connection, it is more difficult to hear the other party and make out what they are saying than it is on my Samsung Galaxy S DUOS. The second is incoming calls. I can't seem to answer the calls? I think I forgot how to do it on the Gear S because I normally text or make calls out. Tapping on the green circle doesn't do it and pressing the home button (like I have it setup on my other cell phone) doesn't either.

This heavy use in a variety of locations talking to family members, doctors, attorneys, estate planners, etc... has resulted in me having to put my SIM card back in my GT-S7562L SGS DUOS to get the job done. That's not to say the Gear S can't do it, but I haven't had the time to research something as simple as the proper way to answer an incoming call (I simply forgot how to I guess?).

Currently I really like the specifications and features of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact coupled with a Krusell verictal flip wallet case to combine my wallet, watch and cell phone needs. If I pull the trigger, it's back to the "pocket" I have to go if the Gear S won't remote connect to this non-Samsung KitKat phone. Very tough decision to make. I won't actually make a decisiion until I see what Samsung has to offer (possibly) in January 2015 with their new Aplha size phones in a S6. The current Alpha looks great, but the features aren't equivilent to the S5. I can't understand why companys "feature down" when they size down for easy pocketability and handling?

I'm going to try sweeping right from the green circle on incoming calls right now to see if that works... If so, they back to the Gear S my SIM card goes now that most of the urgent family crisis matters are taken care of.

I can't even imagine functioning without a cell phone in this day and age after what I've been going through lately.

 

[Active55]

I'm going to try sweeping right from the green circle on incoming calls right now to see if that works... If so, they back to the Gear S my SIM card goes now that most of the urgent family crisis matters are taken care of.

Whew... That worked. Don't know why I forgot such a simple thing. It's a change. The Gear S is back in business!

 

[Active55]

After over a month and a half using the Gear S as my only phone (or should I say trying too during heavy use needs?), I have come to like certain "wrist" abilities and others not so much. Getting notifications is the real standout feature of having a device on my wrist without having to pull a cell phone out of my pocket. Receiving and sending text message is where the Gear S shines for me, but knowing who's calling or texting (and viewing the text) is the really great thing. It gives you the ability to screen calls and read texts without the hassle of pulling out a phone. Although I never setup and used calendar notifications of any kind, I can see how that would be wonderful too.

Talking on your wrist is a nice feature to have, but not all that great for your "only" talking phone. Of course that is not what the Gear S is designed for, but it is how I hoped to use it myself, because I don't like carrying a cell phone in my pocket. It's heaviness on my wrist is noticable too and I wish it was lighter. Finally, even charging it every two days seems like a pain to me. I did't think this would be an issue, but it's getting old already. I find that week long battery life best suits me, although very difficult to achieve with just about any device. The health features aren't something I have ever had an interest in.

I started life without a cell phone, just a watch and wallet. When I added the cell phone to my pocket, I eliminated the watch. With the Gear S I put a bigger and heavier watch back on my wrist and eliminated the cell phone in my pocket, but still carried a wallet. Because of the mediocre wrist talking experience (as my "only" phone), I find it best to actually have a real cell phone handy, but still don't want to have to pull the phone out of my pocket to check the time and get notifications. So the next step for me may be to combine my wallet and phone, and go to a smaller and lighter weight device for time and notifications on my wrist. That might be what many manufacturers researching and designing these new devices already found out.

Because I have always liked the smaller and easier to pocket cell phone form factor (4.5"-4.7" screen), I'm seriously considering moving to the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact in a wallet case with a much lighter Sony Smartband Talk on my wrist for notifications (pictured below).



This will get me into the current OS and top end cell phone specifications without increasing the size of my old Samsung Galalxy S DUOS form factor, plus allow full featured connection to the myriad of new wrist devices available and coming. It's battery life is top tier! Waterproofing is a nice touch too.

I also like the Samsung Galaxy Alpha size and look, but it's not as full featured as the Z3 Compact. Battery life isn't nearly as great either. The big advantage of the Alpha is its' ability to connect to the Gear S and Gear Fit properly.

I haven't made a decision yet. Might wait for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Mini and new Alpha phones to be announced before pulling the tigger for another upgrade change...

Does anyone know of a better wrist device for getting notifications (who is calling, texting and calendar reminders) and the ability to take a call when/if you want to? Health features are not a concern for me and neither is the ability to play music currently; otherwise I'd be considering the Sony Smartwatch over the Smartband Talk.

 

[Active55]

One thing that becomes a problem when researching cell phone options is that there is always a newer/better/greater model in the works. With Sony it is currently on a short 6 month cycle. The recent Sony hacking event has produced some internal document leaks that indicate the Z4 is coming soon.

Xperia Z4 Design, Release Date Tipped in Leaked Sony Pictures Email | NDTV Gadgets

Looks thin, elegant and classic high-end Sony. Note the comments about a new Smartwatch in the works too.

Going back to my SGS DUOS for now with new S-View case, because my old IMAK vetical flip wore out. It might sound funny, but if I have to pull it out of my pocket to check time or screen who it is, not having to flip open the case is one less PITA. Lol...

 

[Active55]

This made a lot of sense to me...

"There's an interesting theory that smartwatches are to the smartphone what wristwatches were to the pocket watch. Picture the way the average gentlemen used to have to rummage through his pocket for his watch prior to the 20th century - now skip forward 100+ years and the average smartphone user still has to dive into his/her pocket to check their phone.

The kicker now is that your smartphone holds far more information than a pocket watch ever did, yet all of which is still locked into your pocket. The theory behind smartwatches is not for you to make calls with and speak into, like Inspector Gadget, but instead they provide a quick and easy way to check what notifications are on your smartphone, so you can decide whether it's worth delving into your pocket or searching around your bag to fetch your smartphone or not.

So when testing for what is the best smartwatch, the important factors to consider are how much of your smartphone's functionalities can it perform, and how well does it handle each task, the final attribute is obviously style - it's still bling after all.

We consider the important factors of a smartwatch to be level of notification detail, battery life, style, water resistantcy, compatibility with a range of devices/smartphones, plus additional features such as cameras and microphones."

12 best smartwatches and wearable tech 2014/2015 UK - PC Advisor

..., but I disagree about their theory of Smartwatches. The "ability" to actually take a call on your wrist is a nice feature to have, even if you are not going to use it all the time like Mr. Gadget.

IMO the analogy about the pocket watch and the wrist watch is spot on!

Personally I like their important factors to consider list, but would add weight as well.

 

[rsmin]

Active55,

I have been following your thread on the galaxy gear s and appreciate all the info. Just wanted to say thank you, and also to say sorry you are going through this time with your father. I understand what that is like. I did that about 14 years ago with my dad.