A programmable watch you can actually wear • Hacker News Board

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#101

Post by Zopieux » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 1:48 PM UTC

taejavu wrote: post #59

amelius wrote: post #56

When can we finally buy a smartwatch that can keep its (color) display ON during the entire day?

September 18, 2020. That's when Apple released their Watch Series 6, which has an always on color display, and enough battery to last all day.

>last all day

Is this really the benchmark for a wearable's battery life? A single day?

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#102

Post by danparsonson » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 1:51 PM UTC

I've loved the idea of a computer on my wrist since I was a kid but now they're available, I find myself unable to think of an actual useful application for them apart from telling the time - what do you smart watch people actually do with them? Are they mainly toys or do they enrich your life in some practical way?

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#103

Post by Zopieux » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 1:53 PM UTC

Genuinely curious: why/what would I ever want to run edge AI on a 1100mAh wearable with a tiny power-optimized embedded SoC? I can't think of a single useful scenario. At this scale, a few ifs/elses will do.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#104

Post by Silamoth » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 1:59 PM UTC

danparsonson wrote: post #102

I've loved the idea of a computer on my wrist since I was a kid but now they're available, I find myself unable to think of an actual useful application for them apart from telling the time - what do you smart watch people actually do with them? Are they mainly toys or do they enrich your life in some practical way?

I stopped wearing my Apple Watch because notifications were too distracting when trying to work (even with Work Focus, I want some notifications, but I don’t want my wrist buzzing and lighting up all the time). I don’t miss it. The only real use I ever got was GPS directions when riding a bike or electronic scooter. I guess I also tracked my runs with it. But I don’t use those often enough, and I can wear the watch for those situations if needed.

I do also love the idea, though. I think part of the limiting factor is that you can’t attach sensors or peripherals to it. Even with a hackable watch like in TFA, there’s only so much you could add without it getting bulky. And the screen is too small to do much with.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#105

Post by Revanche1367 » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 1:59 PM UTC

danparsonson wrote: post #102

I've loved the idea of a computer on my wrist since I was a kid but now they're available, I find myself unable to think of an actual useful application for them apart from telling the time - what do you smart watch people actually do with them? Are they mainly toys or do they enrich your life in some practical way?

Same here, loved the idea since I was a kid and I spend a lot more money on gadgets than I probably should but somehow managed to avoid getting a smartwatch because it doesn’t do anything a smartphone does better. I just wear a simple casio solar powered watch I got for about $100 which I never have to charge. I still like the idea of something programmable though, but this watch in OP is a bit too DIY for my tastes.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#106

Post by neurobashing » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 2:13 PM UTC

danparsonson wrote: post #102

I've loved the idea of a computer on my wrist since I was a kid but now they're available, I find myself unable to think of an actual useful application for them apart from telling the time - what do you smart watch people actually do with them? Are they mainly toys or do they enrich your life in some practical way?

I switched from Apple Watch to a Garmin Fenix 7, for much longer battery life (advertised as ~14 days, in practice 10-12), durability (they're very tough), better biometrics, and stuff like built-in maps/GPS (I camp/hike/hunt/etc a lot). I just didn't use any watchOS features, and I use an MVNO that doesn't support sim cloning so cellular's a wash. In short even with reduced features I am considering just going back to an old analog Timex Explorer and using a dedicated GPS device, because even the more limited feature set of the Garmin seems like I'm barely using what it's capable of.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#107

Post by rhubarbtree » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 2:32 PM UTC

danparsonson wrote: post #102

I've loved the idea of a computer on my wrist since I was a kid but now they're available, I find myself unable to think of an actual useful application for them apart from telling the time - what do you smart watch people actually do with them? Are they mainly toys or do they enrich your life in some practical way?

Don’t have one capable of it, but listening to music whilst running without a clumsy phone to hold/strap to my arm/put in a silly belt would be awesome.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#108

Post by danparsonson » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 2:37 PM UTC

rhubarbtree wrote: post #107

danparsonson wrote: post #102

I've loved the idea of a computer on my wrist since I was a kid but now they're available, I find myself unable to think of an actual useful application for them apart from telling the time - what do you smart watch people actually do with them? Are they mainly toys or do they enrich your life in some practical way?

Don’t have one capable of it, but listening to music whilst running without a clumsy phone to hold/strap to my arm/put in a silly belt would be awesome.

Yeah, we used to have MP3 players for that - I still have my Sansa Clip+ in a box somewhere...

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#109

Post by narag » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 2:38 PM UTC

danparsonson wrote: post #102

I've loved the idea of a computer on my wrist since I was a kid but now they're available, I find myself unable to think of an actual useful application for them apart from telling the time - what do you smart watch people actually do with them? Are they mainly toys or do they enrich your life in some practical way?

Some applications that we use in smartphones are very useful, like the alarm clock. I have begrudgingly adapted to their quirks and privacy implications. I'd rather program my own versions, same for smartwatches.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#110

Post by arximboldi » Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 3:01 PM UTC

danparsonson wrote: post #108

rhubarbtree wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don’t have one capable of it, but listening to music whilst running without a clumsy phone to hold/strap to my arm/put in a silly belt would be awesome.

Yeah, we used to have MP3 players for that - I still have my Sansa Clip+ in a box somewhere...

As a former user of the Sansa Clip, I recommended the Shanling M0 as a modern alternative (they sell a separate case for the clip if you want that). Great audio quality and features, format and Bluetooth codes support.