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The quest for a simple smartwatch

binarymoon.co.uk

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Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#171

Post by smoldesu »

kaba0 wrote: post #137
izacus wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It absolutely isn't the same as Apple Watch, not sure what you've been looking at. Apple Watch lasts hours with active GPS tracking while Garmin will last for a day (or even several days when in so-called Expedition mode). Nothing from Apple comes close to Garmin's battery life at same usage.

Hours?! That’s definitely not true, I am by no means a Marathon runner, but mine has definitely managed to track quite long distances. Although the two are not directly comparable of course, when is more of a fitness watch, the other is a general smart watch with fitness functionality.

My ex would leave on GPS tracking when we'd go out so he could re-draw his route later, and his Apple Watch would almost always be dead before dinner. Just my N+1 anecdata, and he was using an older (Series 3?) model.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#172

Post by hext »

amelius wrote: post #167

I don't understand why some men would choose to replace the most important piece of jewelry a man can wear —a precision mechanical wristwatch— by something that looks like a cheap toy.

You and me both. One of the only statement pieces a guy can wear and you throw that away to save the effort of taking your phone out of your pocket? Insanity.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#173

Post by HumblyTossed »

furyg3 wrote: post #138

I'm disappointed with the lack of notification granularity, at least as it pertains to my iPhone / non-Apple Watch setup (Garmin). On my watch I'd only like notifications about meeting reminders, scheduled reminders, and possibly google maps notifications (directions) while biking. I don't want my watch to buzz when I get a message. I do want to see a badge / bubble on my phone though. With iPhone / Garmin, it's all…

> With iPhone / Garmin, it's all or nothing.

With Garmin you can enable/disable which apps notify you. Right now I only have my task app, signal and calendar sending me notifications. Nothing else gets through.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#174

Post by wartijn_ »

mft_ wrote: post #79

I have a Fitbit Inspire 3 which, while looking more like a bracelet than a watch, offers all of the functionality the author was searching for. (I bought it primarily for sleep tracking, for which it offers AFAIK the best feature set outside of dedicated expensive sleep-tracking equipment.) However, I’d not really recommend it, and probably wouldn’t buy it again, given the choice: - very slow and buggy sync, which of…

My experience with Garmin with regards to sleep tracking is unfortunately not much better. It does measure the time I'm in bed, but if it takes me a while to fall asleep, or keep laying in bed after waking up, it will count that as sleep. I've even had a few times where it didn't notice that I woke up at night, went to the bathroom and then back bed. It would just count that as sleeping.

Since it can't even see the difference between being awake and sleeping, I absolutely don't trust anything it says about the amount of time I spend in each sleep phase.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#175

Post by Brajeshwar »

I'm still using my Apple Watch Series 5. I started with that series because that was when the Apple watch actually became a watch (you can see the clock dial stays on). The battery is the only reason I might upgrade next. It is the simplest one that works with the ecosystem I'm in. Of course, I can walk out if need be.

Besides the clock (retro analog dial with the numbers), and the date, the only Complication on the first watch face is the Timer. The Timer is the most productive tool that I have found. It is way easier to quickly set the timer for everything than use my brain for remembering the short-term events - such as making tea just before a meeting, boiling eggs, allowance time to people coming late to meetings, grocery aisle walks, and many other things.

I also have a second Watch Face used only when traveling outside of the country, a travel specific data and 2-3 complications.

I don't do phone calls (except a few allowed numbers), no notifications except a few, such as calendar and health app.

So, it is the simplest yet good Smartwatch for me. Sometimes, the battery dies - so, be it - the intermittent charging in between hand-washes, baths, washroom breaks, early morning, and during the wind-down routines are good enough to go round the clock.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#176

Post by knodi123 »

dromio wrote: post #128
millitzer wrote: post #121

[dead]

Same. I've had a fossil hybrid HR for several years and am pretty happy with it. From what I read, you can do some more automation if it connects with an android watch, but I use iOS so I only get the out of box functionality -- which includes customizable display with information like heart rate, steps, and weather. Notifications with vibration and readable text. And probably my favorite thing, physical hands so it…

My fossil hybrid HR was a beautiful watch, and the display was great. But the software, ugh! In 3 years of use, they never managed to get as high as a 30% success rate on fetching weather info. It was almost always displaying "connection error" or something like that. It's just the weather! Why was THAT the sticking point that they couldn't figure out?

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#177

Post by wartijn_ »

hext wrote: post #172
amelius wrote: post #167

I don't understand why some men would choose to replace the most important piece of jewelry a man can wear —a precision mechanical wristwatch— by something that looks like a cheap toy.

You and me both. One of the only statement pieces a guy can wear and you throw that away to save the effort of taking your phone out of your pocket? Insanity.

Is it one of the only statement pieces a guy can were though? I know plenty of guys with bracelets, chains, rings, earrings and/or tattoos. You can express statements with your clothing too, if you want.

And than there are people who don't care about statement pieces and just want to wear whatever is most practical. And people who want to express themselves by wearing a smartwatch.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#178

Post by zeekaran »

amelius wrote: post #167

I don't understand why some men would choose to replace the most important piece of jewelry a man can wear —a precision mechanical wristwatch— by something that looks like a cheap toy.

Maybe because not everyone subscribes to conspicuous consumption / has zero interest in mechanical watches?
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