some initial general questions...

[specularius]

I have seen reports of Beta testing the Gear app on iPhone 7. May be out soon. May be a hoax.

 

[Jaycemiskel]

I'm anxiously awaiting to see the watch soon. Probably at Best Buy. As long as I don't need an Android phone to activate it, I will consider it. I like the look of it, how you can change watch faces, hopefully can make use of the GPS, maybe use some apps like Nest. I'm still not sure if I can make use of those type of features. I am not looking to monitor text messages or phone calls. I don't think I could anyway without pairing with a phone. I might be able to configure it with gmail without the need for an Android phone?

I read the manual, you can't activate it without an android phone. This is for WiFi and LTE. Also, you cannot natively receive emails unless connected to a phone. You also couldn't even install an email app were there one that were available because there's no app store on the watch itself and it has to be accessed by an Android phone. Until they release an IOS app, this watch is useless for iPhone users.

 

[11B1P]

https://youtu.be/dDQDotdUJMk

 

[11B1P]

I disagree that the S3 won't make a good standalone device. I think it will be the best standalone watch on the market (with the possible exception of the LG Urbane 2). It will be able to handle phone calls and messages independently. Some apps, like music and GPS should work fine without a phone. The watch won't be a replacement for a smartphone because it won't have all the requisite functionality, but within its limitations, it should not need to be tethered to a phone.

Personally, I expect the S3 to fill the niche previously occupied by a feature phone that I used when I didn't want to carry around my phablet (ie. at the gym, gardening, cycling, occasions with wardrobe constraints).

You're going to have to have a Samsung Android phone on a network (WiFi or Carrier) in order to use the "phone" and "messaging" features. And yes, for fitness activities it will function as a standalone device, but you've got to use an android device with Samsung Gear downloaded to get to that point. The Gear S3 will be a brick until you've paired it to a phone.

https://youtu.be/3a4sVB4DN7s

 

[steph746]

Ok. Thanks very much for letting me know. I appreciate the replies. I was hoping for this to be an option, but perhaps I will have to switch from an iphone 6s. Would a Pixel phone work well with the Gear S3? I'm a little hesitant to switch because of the cost involved as well. I'm one year into my 6s currently. Any advice? Go with an Apple Watch and deal with the 18 hours of battery life?

 

[Jaycemiskel]

Ok. Thanks very much for letting me know. I appreciate the replies. I was hoping for this to be an option, but perhaps I will have to switch from an iphone 6s. Would a Pixel phone work well with the Gear S3? I'm a little hesitant to switch because of the cost involved as well. I'm one year into my 6s currently. Any advice? Go with an Apple Watch and deal with the 18 hours of battery life?

It should work with the Pixel. If I were already in the Apple ecosystem, I would just get an apple watch. I've got two smartwatches and charging every night isn't really that bad. You get used to it. Now if you're planning on switching to Android anyway, that's different. I wouldn't switch just for an accessory.

 

[afblangley]

All Gear watches require an Android phone for initial setup. But the Gear S3 (SM-R765) is capable of initiating and receiving phone calls and messages without being connected in any way, to a smartphone. Furthermore, some apps reside on the watch and do not require a phone. I believe GPS, Spotify, and Samsung Pay fall into this category.

Of course the Gear watches work best with Samsung phones, secondarily with Android phones, and least well with iPhones. Most people will use their smartwatch as a companion device to their phone. Two S3 models cater to this, and the third model, the Frontier LTE is different. It can be put on a smartphone plan (with talk, text, and data) and operated as a standalone device. It is most definitely not a brick.

 

[11B1P]

It should work with the Pixel. If I were already in the Apple ecosystem, I would just get an apple watch. I've got two smartwatches and charging every night isn't really that bad. You get used to it. Now if you're planning on switching to Android anyway, that's different. I wouldn't switch just for an accessory.

I agree. I'm in the Windows Phone world right now, with a Band 2. I get all the features of the Band 2, whereas my wife on an iPhone misses some deep linking features. It works, but she's loosing out. When I saw the Gear S3, I was in love, but knowing I couldn't use it on WP got me to considering a switch. As I've read more and more about the Samsung S7, and seeing the Black Friday deal, and the sad fate of Microsoft not interested in consumers, I decided it was time to switch.

Which means I should apologize in advance to everyone here. Android will probably tank once I come on board. I'm bad luck. It started with Palm Treo, then Palm Pre +, then Blackberry, followed by Windows Phone. Seems like every OS I switch to, ultimately dies,

All Gear watches require an Android phone for initial setup. But the Gear S3 (SM-R765) is capable of initiating and receiving phone calls and messages without being connected in any way, to a smartphone. Furthermore, some apps reside on the watch and do not require a phone. I believe GPS, Spotify, and Samsung Pay fall into this category.

Of course the Gear watches work best with Samsung phones, secondarily with Android phones, and least well with iPhones. Most people will use their smartwatch as a companion device to their phone. Two S3 models cater to this, and the third model, the Frontier LTE is different. It can be put on a smartphone plan (with talk, text, and data) and operated as a standalone device. It is most definitely not a brick.

Yeah, I can use my Band 2 without my phone. I do it all the time when working out.

As far as the S3 LTE being a standalone device, you may be correct. I was under the impression your phone needed to be on a network, wherever it was. I'm not going for the LTE model, even though it would be a cool feature to have.

I meant until you connect it to an android device, it will be nothing more than a paperweight. I fall into this category. I plan on ordering a Gear S3 before I get a Samsung S7, kinda bass-ackwards.