Why do we need this?

[bembol]

I don't get why would I read my notifications off a tiny device when I have my flagship that takes seconds to pull out of my pocket.

I love my toys and having upgraded phones for the 28th time since 2009, I want the latest but for whatever reason I just don't get why we need Smart Watches?

 

[Penguwin]

There has been much discussion on this... I would say just try one, but I'm sure that's not going to happen as it requires a outlay of cash on your end. I'm also not going to sit here and propose that they are for everyone. However, after I tried one years ago (the Sony Ericsson LiveView which didn't work half as well as today's models) I was hooked. I found I took back control and decided what was important and what needed to be addressed now or later... Instead of staring at my phone for a half an hour.

A Forbes article here tries to explain it... Probably better than I can.

 

[YAYTech]

It's not a "need", but some people may find it handy enough that they feel it's worth the cost. Perhaps for you it's not.

 

[sparker04]

I personally wouldn't purchase a smart watch. I don't think I would reach for the smart watch over my phone for it to be a justified purchase. I would get it if I could use the smart watch without a device that it needs to pair to (maybe). I think it would be useful for people that hike a lot or go outdoors and don't necessarily want a phone in their pocket.

 

[itinj6]

Because its disrespectful to pull out a phone when you're in a meeting. You can discreetly check a message on the watch that may be important enough to excuse yourself from the meeting.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Sammuel1973]

I love my Samsung Gear 2! I am spending less and less time on my smart phone because I can simply use my G2 for all calls, texting, listening to music while working out, and even taking pictures, all from my wrist and blutooth headset. I only use my phone to reply to emails and Web browsing.

Sent from my SM-G900T using AC Forums mobile app

 

[mattopotamus]

I think you would be surprised by the amount of notifications that do not need immediate attention. Certain emails, text, phone calls, etc. To not have to pull your phone out for a useless email is surprisingly convenient

 

[Aglet]

Wearing jeans and sitting down, it's not that easy to get the phone out of my pocket sometimes.

Also, where I used to work we've lost three phones this year when someone has pulled it out of their pocket and dropped it on a concrete floor, shattering the screen. Actually a couple of those I think happened when the guy thought he was putting it back in his pocket while not concentrating, and missed. Just to check if there were any messages!

 

[Sammuel1973]

The major benefit is hands free on almost everything I do like washing dishes, doing laundry, etc... all just from a tiny device on my wrist I don't need to hold, such convenience!

Sent from my SM-G900T using AC Forums mobile app

 

[itinj6]

The major benefit is hands free on almost everything I do like washing dishes, doing laundry, etc... all just from a tiny device on my wrist I don't need to hold, such convenience!

Sent from my SM-G900T using AC Forums mobile app

Very true about the dish washing. Who wants to pick up their phone with wet soapy hands when you can just check your wrist? If the message warrants immediate attention, then you can rinse the soap off and handle it. Same thing when working on a car. I wouldn't pick up my expensive flagship phone with greasy, soiled hands when I can just glance at my wrist.

One more example is safety. Here in NYC, having your head down buried in your phone and not paying attention to your surroundings makes you a vulnerable target to get robbed. Believe it or not, but it happens every day.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Furt]

I use a pebble exclusively for the apps i can run on it. Foursquare, Starbucks (for barcode scanning), Google Maps using Nav Me, and accepting or denying calls. all this and the week long battery life equals a worthy buy for the $120 i paid for it.

Now, Android Wear... that's not worth it. 24-36 hours per charge, voice activated search that has been shown multiple time to activate when anyone says the command (seriously. WTF), and the need to exclusively use android phone on a device that cost $80-100 more than the base pebble or on par with the Pebble Steel that is made from more premium materials than the Gwatch or Gear Live and can work on any platform that pebble makes a a companion app for.

I'm just not seeing a major reason for the platform and judging from how google is showing if off, it's not looking like they plan to change its core functions.

 

[bujin]

I use a pebble exclusively for the apps i can run on it. Foursquare, Starbucks (for barcode scanning), Google Maps using Nav Me, and accepting or denying calls. all this and the week long battery life equals a worthy buy for the $120 i paid for it.

Now, Android Wear... that's not worth it. 24-36 hours per charge, voice activated search that has been shown multiple time to activate when anyone says the command (seriously. WTF), and the need to exclusively use android phone on a device that cost $80-100 more than the base pebble or on par with the Pebble Steel that is made from more premium materials than the Gwatch or Gear Live and can work on any platform that pebble makes a a companion app for.

I'm just not seeing a major reason for the platform and judging from how google is showing if off, it's not looking like they plan to change its core functions.

I loved my Pebble, but I'm not sure you're being completely fair. We've all gotten used to nightly charging of phones, so charging a watch isn't a big deal.

The voice search requires tapping the screen to wake it up, so it's simply not accurate to say that it'll go off whenever you say the phrase.

To me, the main advantage is that, if you get a text, you can quickly respond without your phone. Similarly, you can add calendar events and reminders without your phone out. So, to me, there are real functionality benefits over Pebble.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[alistairs]

It's not for everyone. But for me it is replacing a Pebble (notifications and phone lock) and a Fitbit (step counter), and from my initial use today, it is everything I hoped for - a more elegant, integrated (no need for extra apps) and smarter solution. I can also see it - fonts were way too small on Pebble!

 

[vr002sh]

Because its disrespectful to pull out a phone when you're in a meeting. You can discreetly check a message on the watch that may be important enough to excuse yourself from the meeting.

Posted via Android Central App

This!

 

[itinj6]

Also, you got the law of probability working against you. The more you pull your phone out and put back into your pocket, the better chance of dropping it and breaking it and/or cracking the glass.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[anon(661246)]

Why do we need this post?

 

[neonworm]

Why do we need this post?

Discussion.

 

[Devhux]

Exactly!

I've had a Pebble now for 6 months and am quite happy with it. While at first I was like the OP and wondering just how useful it could be, I soon realized just how much I became used to having notification access or music control right from my wrist. Heck, even seeing who's calling was useful at times - especially in cold weather when I didn't want to take off my gloves.

As for Android Wear I decided to give it a chance. Yeah, the poor battery life is a potential concern but I'll have to see just how I feel about it after a week or so. Right now I'm just getting used to things so I can't really say what I think yet.