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Pixel Watch 5

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Re: Pixel Watch 5

#111

Post by anticorporate »

edent wrote: post #81

I overheard a conversation between someone on the Pixel Watch team and a woman I know. He was quizzing her at a party about what features she used - which were pretty much step counter and payment. He somewhat dismissively sneered, "Well, you're not exactly a power user, are you?" I'm trying to imagine what being a "power user" of a watch is like. Can anyone enlighten me? I think smart-watches are much like Alexa. Wh…

Some of this lack of features is self-imposed by Google.

Until they allow Gemini to use MCP servers directly, it's hard to be a power user with a Google Watch. I still dream, thwarted by Google, of being able to actually talk to my watch to have it do useful things. But since "do useful things" for me mostly requires triggering actions outside of the Google ecosystem and their very small approved list of integrated partners, it's pretty useless for anything more advanced than setting a timer.

Re: Pixel Watch 5

#112

Post by halyconWays »

WearOS watches are trash for me personally as they all require you to run Google Play Services on your phone, which I won't do. The only smartwatch I've had luck with is the Garmin series (Venu, Fenix), and since I really only wear a smartwatch when exercising, it's perfect for me. I find myself happier when I go with an analog watch, and all the notifications I get are never so important that I need to check them the second they come in.

Re: Pixel Watch 5

#113

Post by riantogo »

edent wrote: post #81

I overheard a conversation between someone on the Pixel Watch team and a woman I know. He was quizzing her at a party about what features she used - which were pretty much step counter and payment. He somewhat dismissively sneered, "Well, you're not exactly a power user, are you?" I'm trying to imagine what being a "power user" of a watch is like. Can anyone enlighten me? I think smart-watches are much like Alexa. Wh…

Your observation is spot on. I wear my Apple watch all day everyday. Put it on charge every night without fail. Some years back I used to use it as step counter and for payment. These days I don't count my steps and use the phone for tap payment. I guess the watch is just an ornament or habit or ritual. I'm not sure.

Re: Pixel Watch 5

#114

Post by timpera »

varispeed wrote: post #87

I never understood these watches. I have Galaxy Ultra Watch and I found it is pointless (bought 2 years ago). Doesn't last a full day. So I cannot e.g. track sleep because it is charging or I cannot track something else because it is charging. Then too much information on tiny screen. I can just whip out my phone for that. I even preferred checking time on the phone. Now, I got Pebble Time 2 and I think this is it. J…

My Pixel Watch 4 lasts me two days (with AOD turned on), and I charge it while I'm in the shower, so sleep tracking is convenient that way.

Re: Pixel Watch 5

#115

Post by floppydive »

rcMgD2BwE72F wrote: post #104
floppydive wrote: post #9

I reluctantly use a pixel with grapheneos, but anything that can only run google or manufacturer provided software without an independent 3rd party is trash, having looked at wearos while trying to refuse Samsungs terms/integration I also consider it a worse grade of trash than a phone since it can intentionally create codependency on other devices for management despite having more processing power than android 2-4…

I'm pretty happy with a Pixel 9 running GrapheneOS and a Garmin that I never connected to a Garmin account. I use https://codeberg.org/Freeyourgadget/Gadgetbridge instead (then synced to my computer with syncthing), and I don't miss anything from Garmin. I'm 100% Google free, and far happier with tech that I ever was.

Gadgetbridge is great and can even recover a pretty good experience from the touch oriented watches/bands that look deceptively like smartphone equivalents.. But I think the actual smart OS level watches would need a replacement firmware first and the an implementation for talking to gadgetbridge.

Re: Pixel Watch 5

#116

Post by semiquaver »

edent wrote: post #81

I overheard a conversation between someone on the Pixel Watch team and a woman I know. He was quizzing her at a party about what features she used - which were pretty much step counter and payment. He somewhat dismissively sneered, "Well, you're not exactly a power user, are you?" I'm trying to imagine what being a "power user" of a watch is like. Can anyone enlighten me? I think smart-watches are much like Alexa. Wh…

> Alexii

Assuming “Alexa” is first declension, plural is “Alexae”

Re: Pixel Watch 5

#117

Post by manlymuppet »

Google is a great company with some of the most capable engineering talent in the world.

I will never understand why they take this great resource and continually waste it on copying other companies (mostly Apple) and making such unoriginal products. Surely Google can pioneer on more than just the technical side of things?

Re: Pixel Watch 5

#118

Post by bhelkey »

floppydive wrote: post #9

I reluctantly use a pixel with grapheneos, but anything that can only run google or manufacturer provided software without an independent 3rd party is trash, having looked at wearos while trying to refuse Samsungs terms/integration I also consider it a worse grade of trash than a phone since it can intentionally create codependency on other devices for management despite having more processing power than android 2-4…

Pixel Watches have an unlocked bootloader [1] and publish factory images [2].

That being said, it appears that the main open source version of WearOS (AsteroidOS) only supports watches that are 5-10 years old [3].

I suspect that if you did try to flash this watch, you would experience a whole host of rough edges.

[1] https://9to5google.com/2022/10/21/pixel-watch-bootloader-unl...

[2] https://developers.google.com/android/images-watch

[3] https://asteroidos.org/watches/

Edit: past pixels watches have an unlocked bootloader, I assume this one will as well. I don't see this information in the announcement post.

Re: Pixel Watch 5

#119

Post by semiquaver »

dfee wrote: post #79

i was wondering recently if i could ditch my iPhone for (just) an Apple Watch. i know i can't fully ditch it (an Apple Watch needs an iPhone for management). but, i'm curious about the concept nonetheless: what would it be like to ditch a smartphone for a smartwatch?

An Apple Watch doesn’t need a SIM-enabled iPhone for management. You can just use an old one if you have any laying around, or your current one after you’ve deactivated service on it. Just get a standalone watch plan, something like $80/year from US Mobile or other MVNOs.

Re: Pixel Watch 5

#120

Post by ihaveone »

Pebble Time 2 is still miles ahead in being a watch and only a little behind in being a full computer. But it gets way way way more battery life WITH an always on , sunlight readable display. AND it's open source.
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