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The quest for a simple smartwatch

binarymoon.co.uk

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Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#211

Post by 2OEH8eoCRo0 »

silveira wrote: post #152

After my two Pebbles, I have never found something quite like it. I have then accumulated a drawer full of sad, obsolete and nonfunctional smart watches. I then moved my interest to good old plain watches. Digital, mechanical, self-winding, manual-winding, hacking seconds, chronographs, divers, all that. It's a rich, complex, and beautiful world. They can get as expensive or as affordable as you want, but for the pri…

After my Pebble I switched to a $5 Casio that was on sale at Wal-Mart and has a "10 year battery"

Less is more.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#212

Post by gwbas1c »

computer-user wrote: post #27

I think the problem is that everyone has their own “all I want - it’s so simple” set of features, but there are nearly limitless possibilities of feature combinations. I wanted a long battery life (e-ink would work) minimal watch with health tracking only. In the end I just chose the Apple Watch SE, switched off all phone & message notifications and made recharging part of my daily routine. It’s easier to adapt than…

Yeah, I feel like my Google Pixel Watch is a step back from my Fitbit Versa, because it's loaded with a million features that I will never use, and have no desire to use.

The big problem is all the menus are cluttered with buttons for features that I will never use. I'm sure every feature has someone who will use it; but I certainly won't.

(It's not like it's 1995 and half the fun of a brand new computer is figuring out how to use it.)

Probably the best way to solve the problem is to make it easier to disable (or ignore) most of the features.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#213

Post by marcosdumay »

brookst wrote: post #146
b112 wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

which is a bit baffling to me. I'm guessing pebble watches didn't geolocate you, and report your position, and probably didn't record everything said around you then "anonymize" it, so it was likely deemed useless by VCs, and thus died? No wonder there's no replacement! To all VCs, my startup sells geolocated tools, and also orders screws and nails, automatically, by selling special nails, with an rfid tag build in!…

Consumers decide product success, not VCs. If there is demand, the product will succeed. See: all the companies that came from bootstrapped startups. If there is no demand, no amount of VC money will make a successful company. See: Magic Leap.

Not on hardware.

Money decides hardware success. It may not come from a VC, but it's always the deciding factor.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#214

Post by 2OEH8eoCRo0 »

b112 wrote: post #105
0xEF wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I still only use Pebble watches. You can pick them up on eBay for $30 USD, and the Rebble.io community helps keep them alive. I have yet to see another smartwatch do what they did, which is a bit baffling to me. Watchy came close, being fully programmable with an e-ink screen, but the bulk of the housing was atrocious.

which is a bit baffling to me. I'm guessing pebble watches didn't geolocate you, and report your position, and probably didn't record everything said around you then "anonymize" it, so it was likely deemed useless by VCs, and thus died? No wonder there's no replacement! To all VCs, my startup sells geolocated tools, and also orders screws and nails, automatically, by selling special nails, with an rfid tag build in!…

HN user chuckles and returns to their work of building surveillance

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#215

Post by dirtyid »

user_7832 wrote: post #197

> Plus, call me picky if you like, but having a reputable brand name behind my purchase gives me extra peace of mind when it comes to reliability. I hope the author realizes that Amazfit is owned by Huami which is a sister/sibling company of Xiaomi. And as of 2021 at least, they were the 3rd largest smartwatch maker after Apple and Samsung.[1] I'd expect their build quality to be at least quite decent on average, and…

Amazfit and xiaomi bands are like the Casio f91w of smart watches.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#216

Post by amelius »

Jim_Raynor wrote: post #202
amelius wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I know plenty of guys with bracelets, chains, rings, earrings and/or tattoos These are mostly considered to be low-status symbols. For men, in fact it is often recommended not to wear necklaces to a job interview, and hide any tattoos.

Maybe he already got a job? So lets leave mechanical watches to unemployment?

Makes little sense as being unemployed for medium-long term also doesn't look nice in a job interview.

The watch basically says: I had a good job that paid well.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#217

Post by dreamcompiler »

xnorswap wrote: post #61
mtlmtlmtlmtl wrote: post #54

I was fairly happy with my fitbit charge 4, but now it's actually useless as a watch most of the time because they pushed a firmware update that reduces the max screen brightness. So now it's impossible to read the screen outside, even on the max settings . God I hate closed down hardware. I don't actually care if the battery life gets shorter because I take the damn thing off every day to shower anyway, and the time…

This is why I loved my Pebble. The LCD screen meant it was readable in any light and also had fantastic battery life.

And you could program the damn thing yourself.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#218

Post by TYPE_FASTER »

My Pebble Steel was great. I've had an Apple Watch 5 for a few years now. It's comparable, except for the shorter battery life. I configured it for very limited notifications, and mostly use it for exercise tracking because it has the heart rate sensor.

I don't feel the need to upgrade to a newer version. The only motivator for me to upgrade an iPhone is usually the camera. I have the cell version of the watch, but have never used it because I have my phone with me.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#219

Post by ancientworldnow »

anonymoose4 wrote: post #190
input_sh wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's about a dozen of screens you can toggle between (time, date, next alarm, number of steps, distance and so on). Short press of the only button toggles between them, long press does some action (example: cancel next alarm). However I don't have anything on that screen by default to extend battery life closer to a month. Two more features I highly appreciate: - I don't think I could go back to an alarm on my pho…

Does the smart wakeup have a vibration-only alarm?

Yes, that's the only form.

Re: The quest for a simple smartwatch

#220

Post by onceiwasthere »

rahoulb wrote: post #127
zikduruqe wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, if I could buy and provision my Apple Watch with cellular without having to have an iPhone, my only devices would be my MacBook and my Apple Watch. I seldom carry a phone around with me, and my Apple Watch does every thing I need while outside the house.

I've been waiting for years for that (or at the very least being able to manage the watch from an iPad, as I tend to carry that around with me). The only other thing the watch is missing is the ability to connect to bluetooth in my car, so if I have left my phone behind I can still answer calls or listen to music. I'm sure this is intentionally crippled as it starts the pairing process then fails - tried in several c…

I've been (kind of) successful with this with my Apple Watch SE and Honda Civic. The issues arise when I have both my phone and watch in the car and it wants to connect to the watch. Then things get confused and don't work out the way you would want. With just the watch, however, it seems to work fine.

On a related note, I've had significant issues trying to play music through airpods through the watch. I can get it to connect, and it plays a few seconds of music, then goes silent. The screen still indicates its playing. Very frustrating.

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