A programmable watch you can actually wear • Hacker News Board

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#131

Post by cityhall » Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 8:26 AM 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?

They're great for doing phone stuff without pulling your phone out of your pocket and unlocking it. I can check if a notification is important, get GPS directions, snooze alarms, get OTP/2FA codes, or check the weather. None of it it is critical but it's collectively a quality of life improvement.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#132

Post by Neywiny » Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 10:43 AM UTC

asciimov wrote: post #130

Neywiny wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are reportedly solar smart watches. I do wish my dumb watch was a tad smarter in that it doesn't get automatic time updates, but that's not impossible even without a phone. I haven't found one that's waterproof, solar, wireless time, and the right price though. It helps mine runs a bit fast so I'm early to things. If it ran slow I'd probably have replaced it years ago. As is, I'm going on 10 years with barely t…

Citizen has an Atomic Timekeeping Eco-Drive series of watches that have a 200 meter water resistance. If you like complications see the Promaster Skyhawk A-T.

Sadly I got my current watch for free and it still works. And I don't really get dressed up for stuff. So while yes they certainly do have a series of nice looking watches, I can't justify the purchase at the moment.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#133

Post by saltcod » Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 2:12 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?

Just two things for me: telling time, same as yourself, and notifying me that my watch has a text message I might want to attend to. If I could replace the notification feature somehow I’d do that.

I used to use it for running but it performs that job very poorly compared to my $200 Garmin.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#134

Post by ChromaticPanic » Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 3:48 PM UTC

danparsonson wrote: post #117

asciimov wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple Series 3 owner for about 9 years. 1. Notifications. Most useful in noisy environments such as grocery stores, airports, shop floors, or any place you may be wearing hearing protection. Also great while working with your hands, like car work or cooking and directions while driving. It’s best to limit them to the apps that matter, and only when you need them. 2. Biometrics. However, after this watch finally dies,…

Yeah the battery life is off-putting for me - watches I had as a kid would last for years on a single battery so I think I have that expectation stuck in my mind. I do like the biometrics angle - something that tracked my health condition and alerted me to any problems would be interesting, but it would have to be fully under my control; I'm not keen on my health data disappearing into who knows what databae.

Garmin smart watches can last weeks on a charge

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#135

Post by aa-jv » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 7:13 AM UTC

emilecantin wrote: post #98

aa-jv wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Watchy fits the bill: https://watchy.sqfmi.com/ I have one, its a bit bulkier than I'd thought it would be, but its a fine piece of timekeeping ..

I had one, broke 2 screens before I gave up wearing it... It's really not meant to be work in daily life, which is sad because an e-paper screen makes a lot of sense on a watch.

IMHO it just needs a better case. The watch itself is fine - the bulky case it comes with, not so great.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#136

Post by MrMember » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 2:31 PM UTC

NoboruWataya wrote: post #91

explodes wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Several Garmin watches last for weeks (24 days full charge, actual 1-2 weeks with heavy gps and fitness tracking), and I struggle to understand why consumers accept anything less. It seems like consumers don't realize what's available.

I think cost is one factor. I have a Vivoactive 4 and I love it but it has a reported battery life of 8 days and I get maybe half that with regular run tracking. I'm guessing the 24 days/1-2 weeks is for a considerably more expensive model.

The Garmin Instinct 2 is around $200 and will last several weeks on a charge even using the GPS regularly. Without GPS use I wouldn't be surprised if it lasted a month.

Re: A programmable watch you can actually wear

#137

Post by narag » Sat, May 02, 2026, 4:20 PM UTC

danparsonson wrote: post #115

narag wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Alarms I can understand, but that's been a feature of standard watches almost since they were invented I think. I'm looking for something that requires a programmable device to be meaningful and so far the ideas are fairly thin on the ground :-) I get the techy appeal though, and agree wholeheartedly about the value of having total control over a device if possible.

In case you're still reading... standard watches alarms are useless to me. Even regular alarm clocks were not very effective for my kinda morning sleepwalking.

Smartwatches are a godsend: I can set multiple alarms with chosen intervals, volume and ringtones, that never stop and place the phone easily at the right distance.

I could even improve on that and the same could be said of most phone apps. Recording and positioning are the most interesting features if they can be decoupled from big brother's eyes.