16 ms·

Quest for my perfect watch

126 points by misterdata 4y ago

kranu 4y ago
I'm surprised the investigated options don't include modifying a watch with a solar panel, given that battery life is an important factor; 1 year seems good but isn't comparable to solar.
Rebelgecko 4y ago
>magnetometer or IR photodiode that I could use to build a low-bandwidth communication channel Maybe I'm missing something, but why not go for something more straightforward like BTLE? There will be some hit to battery, but probably not that much, in exchange for a huge gain in convenience if you want to sync with your phone or whatever
- photoGrant 4y ago
  Did you say straight forward and bluetooth in the same sentence?!
  - napolux 4y ago
    just yesterday (after yet another pairing problem) I was thinking that it’s amazing how bluetooth has been released ~20 years ago and it’s still a pain in the *ss to use
  - Rebelgecko 4y ago
    Yeah. I've used it in the past and it was fine (even on hardware that didn't have good software support). I can't imagine it would be any easier to try and send notifications via magnetometer
- fellerts 4y ago
  Agree, something like the nRF52832 with Nordic Semiconductor's BLE DFU would be awesome. This isn't a trivial change though (new PCB spin, lots of sofware porting). Additionally, the MCU he's already using comes with an LCD driver. AFAIK, small MCUs with a usable BLE stack + LCD driver are far and few between. You could add a dedicated slave driver for the LCD, but again, this is a bunch of work. I'd love to see this happen though!
- Markoff 4y ago
  Yeah, BLE has hardly any consumption, my Amazfit Bip can easily last 30-40 days always connected with lots of notifications.
jacknews 4y ago
There are the nordic nrf52xxx based btle smartwatches for <$30, search 'smartwatch P8' for example. The firmware can be replaced with your own. The battery won't last a year though.
- triyambakam 4y ago
  Any good resources for replacing the firmware and other hacks?
  - Donckele 4y ago
    Try wasp-os https://github.com/daniel-thompson/wasp-os https://github.com/daniel-thompson/wasp-os I have a colmi P8 and it was easy to get wasp-os uploaded and now have micropython available with direct connection into the watch! Battery life is really only 24-48hrs if you don’t do anything heavy. Sometimes I wonder how more useful it is than my apple watch.
    - deleted 4y ago
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- kelvinquee 4y ago
  Just a happy customer of and hacking: https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PineTime https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PineTime
- Markoff 4y ago
  From what I found (Colmi P8) judging by display these will last just few days at best unlike Amazfit Bip which can easily last one month with always on display perfectly readable in daylight without any backlight plus allowing custom firmware. The issue with original Bip/Bip S is they don't produce them anymore, so you have to buy used (as I did after first fell apart) for like 20USD or buy some clone (also not that easy to find).
  - jacknews 4y ago
    Still for sale on their website $39.99. Is that a different model? Is the website defunct?
fxtentacle 4y ago
When I built my smartwatch, I went with ESP32-PICO and bluetooth low energy for connecting to my phone. Battery lifetime is excellent, but not quite a year because I poll weather data over wifi once every 10 minutes.
- sho_nuff 4y ago
  What type of screen did you settle on for your smartwatch?
  - fxtentacle 4y ago
    Waveshare eink. They had the power supply schematics and driver source code on their homepage, which seemed convenient.
Markoff 4y ago
Why not something like Casio G-SQUAD GBD-100/200 (starts from ~110USD)? Or there are also pricier Garmin Instinct Solar with solar transflective display which should last loong time (since he doesn't mind bulky watch unlike me). Casio claim to last one year on battery with notifications, Garmin 50+ days as smartwatch. I wish Casio made something like this (transflective graphic display which can display texts/simple graphic) in F91 form factor with rechargable battery, I wouldn't mind if it last only few months between charges. Currently using Amazfit Bip which I charge once a month.
bayindirh 4y ago
I was well into smartwatches and was planning to scale up to an Apple watch or Garmin or something higher end. Then I got a Longines automatic, and I remembered why I loved mechanical watches so much. So, it's back to basics for me. While the features are nice, It's nice that my watch is "charging" itself as I wear it.
- olabyne 4y ago
  Apple watches are great if you are already in apple ecosystem. But their battery life are disappointing, just like wearOS watches. It seems that Apple / Android watch OSes are just bad for such tiny devices. What Xiaomi (Amazfit), Garmin and others are doing with battery optimization is way better. Zepp OS is providing a great SDK documentation, but I went for a Garmin watch thanks to the wide range of apps and widgets already available.
  - bayindirh 4y ago
    I have a couple of Mi Bands, and they're nice devices. However, they're not watches. They're body monitors with watch functionality patched in, and that's OK. While the functionality they add-in is intriguing, their low processing power is taxing the mobile phone a lot. I'm in apple ecosystem, and constant communication and process offloading reduces battery life of the phone considerably. Esp, when on the move. I want a watch primarily. A time keeping device which I can depend and can use for a long time (i.e. years). So returning to a vanilla, bona-fide watch was refreshing and liberating. Having a self-winding, completely mechanical heart inside is also nice.
    - kramerger 4y ago
      That sounds odd, what kind of processing would the band need?
      - bayindirh 4y ago
        If the Zepplife application is running (even in the background), the band constantly feeds it data about your steps, pulse and whatnot it gets from you, to keep its send queue empty. This wakes the processor a lot, and consumes a lot of battery. If you're exercising, band establishes and keeps a constant connection about your movement data and pulse. It also gets some information from app (is GPS healthy, etc.). Both modes keep the phone out of its deep sleep, and halves your daily battery stamina if you have a moderately active day. Because of that, I actively kill the Zepplife application most of the time if I'm wearing the band that day, unless I'm exercising.
NKosmatos 4y ago
I wouldn't change my Casio Protrek PRG-80T for nothing, More than 16 years and no battery change, Titanium strap and case, solar charging and tough as none of the others, A classic ABC watch (Altimeter-Barometer-Compass) with temperature sensor. To be honest, I also have a small smart band (latest Xiaomi Mi Band) to complement for all the missing smart functionality. People keep asking me why I wear two watches :-)
- tromp 4y ago
  Same here for my Casio Protrek PRW-7000, whose clean, rugged and stylish look I think is hard to improve on: https://www.amazon.com/CASIO-PROTREK-PRW-7000FC-1JF-MENS-JAPAN/dp/B01HHL4TOC https://www.amazon.com/CASIO-PROTREK-PRW-7000FC-1JF-MENS-JAP...
  - deleted 4y ago
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- saiya-jin 4y ago
  Since those sensors are say 20 years old design and 16+ years components, its safe to say that their precision leaves a lot to desire. No gps for example to help triangulation or indicate position. It all may be great for you but depending on your activities one may appreciate higher precision / more capable instruments. That being said, I used to wear some old Suunto that are probably even worse and I had to switch battery every few years. I didnt mind being 100-150m off in altitude for example in some himalayan treks or skitours in alps since terrain navigation was easy. Stopped with them altogether, for weekends phone is vastly superior and battery is no problem. And since kids I dont do much more situations that actually use such watches.
- grujicd 4y ago
  How useful is the temperature sensor? On my Garmin 935 not that much, it's too affected by body heat. Unless I'm swimming, this it the only case when it tracks ambient (i.e. water) temperature correctly, and rather quickly.
  - 4y ago
Humpelstilzchen 4y ago
needs to be recharged weekly and software can brake with each update but BangleJS2 should cover most requirements: https://banglejs.com/ https://banglejs.com/
secondcoming 4y ago
I have a Garmin Fenix GPS doodad, and I regularly get lost in the UI. Great watch though
gonzo 4y ago
l've been wearing my dead brother’s Citizen Eco-Drive Calibre 5700 (stainless) for the past decade for similar reasons to those in the article. It’s rugged, solar powered, and requires no thought. It also has a small scorch mark from an arc welding incident he had that I treasure.
- pablomalo 4y ago
  Similar make by the same brand here. I have been wearing it for five years without issue. It's also a fairly inexpensive watch, so it's no big deal should I lose it. (I have no sentimental attachment to mine.) A downside I see to smartwatches is they feel outdated after a few years. With this, you make the decision to stick to the basics, but hopefully you're not generating any more waste for the next 10-15 years. (Edit: spelling)
- mod 4y ago
  I have an E650 or something like that--an eco-drive. I traded an xbox 360 for it many years ago, when an xbox 360 was worth about 300 or 400 bucks. I was having trouble selling the xbox before I went overseas, but bringing a watch along worked just fine. It's a great watch. I would wear it more, but it's a little gaudy for me, and heavy. Still, I've really mistreated it a lot, and it just keeps on going.
ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
I have a couple of Oceanus[0] (Casio’s boutique brand) watches that I wore, all the time, for years (I brought them in Japan). They replaced a Junghans Mega MF[1], They are all collecting dust. I’ve been wearing Apple Watches for years. The Apple Watch costs half as much as my other watches, and is less attractive, but I have really come to rely on its utility. I have a friend that just got the Ultra. It’s a cool watch, but way too bulky and awkward-looking, for me. Reminds me of a Suunto watch, a friend of mine once owned. First and foremost, I need to know exactly what time it is. The weather functionality is also important to me. For many folks, a watch is jewelry. I had a friend that used to wear a broken Brietling. [0] https://www.casio.com/us/watches/oceanus/ https://www.casio.com/us/watches/oceanus/ [1] https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/junghans-mega-apollo-056-4407-44-276014252 https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/junghans-mega-apollo-...
- ar_lan 4y ago
  > For many folks, a watch is jewelry. It’s funny you say this. I view this of watches, but I wear a Whoop band which gives me utility. My brother-in-law wears a watch, but has multiple times wondered why I wear a bracelet. His claim is “I don’t need a bracelet to tell me I slept horribly,” which is, in my opinion, completely missing the mark. But it made me think about perception - I view watches as effectively jewelry because I have a smartphone. The benefits I could get out of a smart watch don’t match what I get from my Whoop (I’m very anti-notification so the Apple Watch doesn’t appeal to me), so I just view them all as vanity items (I realize they aren’t, but they would be for me). Sorry, just an aside - perception is strange.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
    The phone thing is a valid argument, but one that doesn't work for me. I don't want to have to dig my phone out of my pocket, every time I want to know what time it is. I also like to keep an eye on the outside temperature, so that's useful. I don't like frivolous notifications, but I rely on important ones, and the Watch is pretty much perfect, for that.
    - 4y ago
noncoml 4y ago
F105W (which is like F91W + illumination) Light, reliable, cheap. A true spartan watch
- europeanguy 4y ago
  I don't get it. F91W already has illumination.
  - smcl 4y ago
    It's a little different, the F91W has a little light that shines from one side onto the front of the LCD display whereas (if it's anything like my Casio W86-1) I think the F105W is backlit. So they both have a light, but one is much clearer. edit, just confirmed that this is the case: F91W light: https://i0.wp.com/thetruthaboutwatches.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Ummmm.png?resize=301%2C271&ssl=1 https://i0.wp.com/thetruthaboutwatches.com/wp-content/upload... F105W light: https://media.karousell.com/media/photos/products/2021/7/19/casio_illuminator_f105w1a_retr_1626708182_be799e5d_progressive.jpg https://media.karousell.com/media/photos/products/2021/7/19/...
    - lzooz 4y ago
      I can confirm that the light of the F91W is very poor. I think that given the price difference it's not worth it to buy the F91W anymore.
rand49an 4y ago
I've had a Withings Steel HR (was briefly owned by Nokia) for 5 years and would recommend it to anyone. About £150 new, still achieves a month plus battery and in that time all I've done is change the band a few times.
- input_sh 4y ago
  Same, also for about five years now! Upsides: Month long battery (doesn't use a standard USB cable, but it reaches full charge in about an hour), basic activity tracking, smart alarm clock (which I absolutely adore[0], haven't used phone's alarm for years), no subscription needed for any of its features. Downsides: glass is not scratch-resistant (mine's full of scratches), getting data out of via API is not trivial, and the screen itself is annoyingly small (it can fit like 10 characters). For the past two or three years I did look into other options a couple of times, but they all either don't have any additional actually useful features, or if they do their battery barely lasts days. I don't see myself switching to anything else for the foreseeable future, unless Withings goes out of business of course. [0] Instead of telling it "wake me up at 9am", you can tell it "I need to wake up at 9am, but 8:30am is fine if you detect my sleep is weak". It wakes you up by vibrating. Quick press of the only button on the watch turns the alarm off, longer press snoozes it for 10 minutes. EDIT: I also discovered by accident that it still "works" even with 0% battery. I forgot to bring that special USB cable with me on some trip and I still used it to track time/steps for days until I returned home.
  - kramerger 4y ago
    > Downsides: glass is not scratch-resistant (mine's full of scratches), The latest models do not have this problem. > EDITED: I also discovered by accident that it still "works" even with 0% battery. This is by design, I think in dumb mode it gets you another 5-10 days.
- kramerger 4y ago
  +1 for Withings, I really like that it looks and feels like a real watch (some models have a small display that is normally off). The latest models have"only" 2-3 weeks battery but pack a ton of medical features (Withings is a medical company).
europeanguy 4y ago
I can find this watch by googling "pro trek". At first I thought it's just because that's the name of a series and not a watch, but I can't even find that watch in that series. What am I doing wrong?
- fian 4y ago
  https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/protrek/ https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/protrek/
  - europeanguy 4y ago
    I could find the website, my point was I couldn't find the specific watch on the picture in that website.
- benyami 4y ago
  Try searching for "pro trek prw-3100t". I'm guessing that specific model is no longer produced, but you might be able to find it in a secondhand market like eBay.
z9znz 4y ago
There are two design approaches to wristwatches that I haven't seen but which I think have distinct benefits: wide (landscape) bodies/faces, and bands with batteries in the links. In Sci-Fi, it's normal to see landscape displays on forearms. Often it's part of a suit, so it is kind of an obvious solution. But watches could take this concept at a smaller scale and provide at least double the screen real estate without ending up looking like a brick. The bands on some watches are already fairly thick, and people have shown they are fine wearing thick bracelet things for decoration. Why not embed batteries into parts of the band? The obvious case would be the big metal links (like tank tracks), with the wiring through the link connections. Not only would you be able to store a whole lot more energy compared to a single battery in the watch body, but you could also have swappable bands so you could always have one charged and ready.
europeanguy 4y ago
Over the past 2 yes I've bought 3 F91W. The band keeps breaking. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get a better band? I didn't seem like changing band is doable without appropriate tools, and furthermore I don't know how to ensure I know his to buy a band that is "compatible".
- criddell 4y ago
  It’s super annoying because those bands cost pennies each to make yet by the time they are individually packaged, they are $10 ea. I wish I could buy a lifetime supply. Maybe 50 for $50.
- mkmk3 4y ago
  https://www.reddit.com/r/F91Ws_on_NATOs/ https://www.reddit.com/r/F91Ws_on_NATOs/ It's a pretty common mod, the sidebar describes the process and mentions using 18mm nato straps, though apparently you might want to grind a little off the back of the lug to make it fit better. It also mentions using a paperclip or some other pin to get the spring bar out, so it doesn't seem like it requires much.
  - JackMcMack 4y ago
    Yes, nylon strap is the way to go. Feels great, can get wet, far more durable. I bought this 18mm strap: https://aliexpress.com/item/33044774071.html https://aliexpress.com/item/33044774071.html And this tool: https://aliexpress.com/item/32976742331.html https://aliexpress.com/item/32976742331.html
    - Humpelstilzchen 4y ago
      2nd link is 404, +1 for nylon
  - europeanguy 4y ago
    Thanks for the suggestion, but no. That seems really dangerous. If it gets stuck somewhere heavy or fast, that strap looks like it can take more than your body weight with it...
mhalle 4y ago
On a related topic, I find programming or typing while wearing a watch leads relatively quickly to wrist pain due to the pressure constraints it puts on the muscles and tendons. I have tried several different watches and experienced this problem. I know many tech industry people wear watches while they work, but I have never heard a discussion of this condition. I wonder if I am somehow unusual in this situation. I am otherwise not especially prone to repetitive stress injuries. It has been bad enough I have thought of converting a wristwatch into a modern pocket watch, though I would lose any feature that depended on skin proximity.
- School-Cotton 4y ago
  Data point: I wear a watch every day and have never experienced this.
  - ATMLOTTOBEER 4y ago
    Seconded
  - MSFT_Edging 4y ago
    Same, I only pull it off when i feel it scratching a palm rest. Smaller watches, with nylon, silicone, or leather straps help. Big metal bracelet watches always feel in the way.
    - School-Cotton 4y ago
      FWIW mine has a titanium bracelet.
  - mod 4y ago
    May have to do with posture or body alignment, less than the watch. My data point: much like GP, I experience discomfort if I wear my (smart/big) watch while programming. Also if I wear a small watch too tightly. I get a sensation in my pinky that's a lot like what you feel with a pinched nerve. I just take the watch off if I'm going to be using the keyboard for any period of time. Gaming especially bothers it. Notably, I rest my left wrist on the laptop body underneath the keyboard area. If I kept my wrists perched in the air, I doubt I would have any of this going on at all.
brvier 4y ago
Or go for better, FOSS smartwatch : PineTime : https://www.pine64.org/pinetime/ https://www.pine64.org/pinetime/ Charging one time a week.
- LeifCarrotson 4y ago
  Another one, I built one of the originals a while back and have been procrastinating on actually getting the PCBs I designed for the GPS version manufactured: https://open-smartwatch.github.io/ https://open-smartwatch.github.io/
- branon 4y ago
  Recently purchased a PineTime and have been very impressed. It's more comfortable than my Casio F-91W. The battery life also seems significantly better than advertised. I unboxed and charged to 100% on 13th November, and now on 21st November it's sitting at 43%. I wake the display up maybe a dozen times per day to check the time, read notifications, or pick up a phone call. Updating the firmware was a breeze, the thing just works. Only snag I've noticed is that the pedometer is too sensitive, with no obvious way to adjust sensitivity. I haven't risked showering with it yet, but it's supposed to be waterproof up to 1 meter. I suppose this implies it wouldn't survive a swimming session though.
  - flal_ 4y ago
    I own one, mine's really waterproof, I almost always forget to take it of when doing the dishes or bathing the baby. Agree, it's great, I only wish it had some kind of transflective lcd screen ( like the garmin's ) : better battery life and always readable screen...
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Maxburn 4y ago
Found on that site; Wena Pro and Wena 3. What a great idea, I love my old mechanical watches, really like metal bracelets, and I do like having smart watch features. Unfortunately seems like Wena is a bad implementation of this concept. What other companies make things like this?
- toqy 4y ago
  I've been considering the Withings Scanwatch because it looks closer to a normal watch.
  - Maxburn 4y ago
    It does look nice. I like the health tracking these modern watches do and silent notifications on the wrist was the original reason I went with smart watches. I'm just a little sad my older mechanical watches are only brought out on special occasions these days.
crims0n 4y ago
Posts like this really make me miss my old Pebble. Maybe its incredibly niche, but they left a gap in the market that no other offering has yet to fill.
- charlesrocket 4y ago
  You might like Watchy https://github.com/sqfmi/Watchy https://github.com/sqfmi/Watchy
- specialist 4y ago
  I really wish I had tried the Pebbles. I want buttons. Not capacitive touch. And I have a hunch the rotating bezel on the Samsung classic 4 (or whatever) is The Correct Answer™. My Apple Watch 4's battery is now pretty weak. So I'm looking to replace. I kinda hate my Apple Watch. Now it's just an annoying step counter. It sucks for controlling audio playback. I'm walking the dog, in the cold, wind, and rain. So then I have to take off my gloves, look at the damn thing, navigate to the playback controls (because reasons), tap the button a few times. Etc. So now I just dig out my iPhone. The Activity tracker sucks. If I stop to pick up some waste, it's smart enough to pause. But not smart enough to resume when I get walking again. So I have to hit Dismiss multiple times during an activity. Grrr. So I stopped using it. Siri via the watch is turrible. I've stopped trying. The one huge feature I want for a future watch (or whatever) is tracking my waking breathing rate. For pain management and other mindfulness stuff. I'm supposed to regulate my breathe. Like remind me to stop holding my breathe during a bad spell.
  - mod 4y ago
    > Samsung classic 4 (or whatever) is The Correct Answer™. I think it's the whole Samsung Galaxy Watch line. My Galaxy Watch (original) has one, and they'd be total fools to remove it in a later model. I think the only time I touch the watch face is to dismiss notifications with a gesture. The dial is super nice, and I actually default to spinning it to wake the face instead of hitting a button. The dial is my favorite thing about the watch.
- ijustlurk 4y ago
foobarian 4y ago
I've been dabbling in smartwatches because of the built-in step counters, trying to get healthy, etc. The main thing I found I appreciated is the automatic time sync including DST switchover. There is a long list of negatives: - Battery life is miserable compared to a classic watch - Screen activation is unreliable. Imagine a classic watch not visible when you look at it. - Bad UX. Somehow the brightness settings I apply randomly get reset/reverted. This is probably hit or miss depending on brand, I expect Apple's devices have this nailed. - Outdoor performance. This is the worst one. The screen is just not readable under bright sunlight. I find myself making a little tent out of whatever I have on and furiously shaking my wrist to activate the screen just so I can tell the time. This is what's going to make me ultimately switch back to a classic watch unless I can find one with e-ink. I'm not sure how Apple's devices fare here beyond friends saying 'it works fine.'
- tentacleuno 4y ago
  Heh, I recently got the chance to discover that my trusty W-86 automatically adjusts for DST. On the topic of battery life, it's still going after 6 months!
- ubermonkey 4y ago
  It may not be an option for you based on your other tech choices, but I feel like the Apple Watch excels at all of the things you mention here except, obviously, battery life vs. a conventional nonsmart watch. I supposed UX can be a matter of taste, but I've found it's simple enough to set up an Apple Watch such that I have rapid access to the features and functions I need in a given situation. In particular, outdoor usage -- even in bright sun -- is pretty great. I've done no small amount of hiking with mine, and use it often when cycling. Readability is fine!
- fridek 4y ago
  You might like Withings Steel HR. It easily lasts a month on a single charge. Conversly, I now have their more premium Scanwatch, and I feel the UX regressed, while the added functions are not for me.
  - 4y ago
greyman 4y ago
But Casio already manufacture smartwatches, which meets OPs criteria like 1 year battery life. For example G-Shock GBD-H1000. But they are rather bulky, comparing to the alternatives he mentions.
zapt02 4y ago
Bangle.js 2 sounds like a good option. The hackability is second to none. https://banglejs.com/ https://banglejs.com/
NoboruWataya 4y ago
I have a Garmin vívoactive 3 which to me is a good fit because it is "smart enough" - all the basic features I would want from a smartwatch (fitness tracking, GPS, phone notifications, music control) behind a fairly basic UI. My partner bought an Apple Watch a while ago and while it's quite snazzy and probably does a lot more stuff, the battery life really limits its usefulness and it is very expensive for what it is. I've had mine just over 2.5 years. It's still going strong so hopefully it will continue to serve me for a while yet, but comparing smartwatches to traditional watches really makes you realise how short-term these gadgets are. People here talking about their 16 year old Casio watches - no way this Garmin will reach anything like that age. And then of course you have those quality timepieces that are passed down through generations. Really interested to hear more real-life user reviews of the BankgleJS 2, which I only heard about recently and seems to tick all the boxes while being open and hackable.
dchuk 4y ago
I really like wearing real watches, but I still want to pay attention to health and activity, so I’ve been wearing a Fitbit luxe on my other wrist. It’s been fine so far, battery life is good, seems to be reliable. However, what drives me nuts on this thing is that I distinctly DON’T want it to be a watch, I just want the stats on the face, and there is absolutely no option for the watch face that doesn’t include a huge current time on the front. I wish there was a device with this exact form factor, but was just programmable. Call it OpenFit or something.
- equalsione 4y ago
  Fitbit does have it's own SDK, that you can use to write both apps and watch faces. In theory you could create a watch face that met your needs. The SDK is pure JavaScript and seems friendly enough (I only got a few examples working and lost interest) - https://dev.fitbit.com/build/tutorials/examples/ https://dev.fitbit.com/build/tutorials/examples/ I don't know if the SDK can target the luxe BTW
  - dchuk 4y ago
    yeah unfortunately it seems to only be available for their larger devices, which is a bummer because the way I'm using mine, I intentionally want it to not look like a watch but instead more like a bracelet so I don't look like some weirdo wearing two watches :)
eschneider 4y ago
The Sony Wega 3 looks really interesting, though probably not at that price. Definitely a tech idea worth exploring further. :) As for watches, I tend towards cheap timex windup watches. They tell time well enough, I can read the dial with my distance glasses on, and I don't feel too bad when something happens and they inevitably get broken.
- eschneider 4y ago
  Sad thing is, I've only started needing a watch since the nearest church stopped ringing their bells before 9am. That used to be 'accurate enough' and I didn't need to wear anything.
lazyant 4y ago
In terms of keeping time and no unrelated features, the CASIO G-shock tough solar radio are the best. Cheap, durable, solar and synchronized via radio (plus other things like chronometer and word times).
twiclo 4y ago
Does anyone have an RSS link for this blog? I want to be alerted of his follow up article
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jhallenworld 4y ago
I have a need for something like this "WatchMinder": https://watchminder.com/shop/watchminder3 https://watchminder.com/shop/watchminder3 It's pretty good, battery lasts a month, but it has a stupid limitation: the programmable reminder messages don't allow numbers, only letters. Also, it's nice that you can program the watch directly, but a smartphone app or laptop would make it easier: I would be OK with a USB cable from the charging station in lieu of Bluetooth. Smartwatches should be able to provide this function, but they don't. For example, reminders should repeat until acknowledged. (Text messages on phones should do the same thing...)
- mod 4y ago
  > Text messages on phones should (optionally) do the same thing... Fixed that. Please, just make all things possible! Let me micro-manage the shit out of notifications!
comprambler 4y ago
Nice to see someone lauding the Timex Datalink (the 851), which IMO is the best smartwatch ever made. I would pay modern smartwatch money for a proper re-release. The original software still works perfectly on W10.
helf 4y ago
He needs to port a FPS to the Timex. There is already tetris :) https://github.com/PsiKlops/TimexBlocks https://github.com/PsiKlops/TimexBlocks
helf 4y ago
I love my protrek. I have a PRW-3000 with the inverted LCD. I have worn it every day for at least a decade. I still want a smart watch of sorts. Just nothing out there has grabbed my attention yet. The last "smart watch" I had was the OnHand PC which was the americanized version of the Matsucom RuPuter. http://www.pconhand.com/ http://www.pconhand.com/

126 points by misterdata 4y ago

I'm surprised the investigated options don't include modifying a watch with a solar panel, given that battery life is an important factor; 1 year seems good but isn't comparable to solar.

Rebelgecko 4y ago

>magnetometer or IR photodiode that I could use to build a low-bandwidth communication channel Maybe I'm missing something, but why not go for something more straightforward like BTLE? There will be some hit to battery, but probably not that much, in exchange for a huge gain in convenience if you want to sync with your phone or whatever

photoGrant 4y ago
Did you say straight forward and bluetooth in the same sentence?!
- napolux 4y ago
  just yesterday (after yet another pairing problem) I was thinking that it’s amazing how bluetooth has been released ~20 years ago and it’s still a pain in the *ss to use
- Rebelgecko 4y ago
  Yeah. I've used it in the past and it was fine (even on hardware that didn't have good software support). I can't imagine it would be any easier to try and send notifications via magnetometer
fellerts 4y ago
Agree, something like the nRF52832 with Nordic Semiconductor's BLE DFU would be awesome. This isn't a trivial change though (new PCB spin, lots of sofware porting). Additionally, the MCU he's already using comes with an LCD driver. AFAIK, small MCUs with a usable BLE stack + LCD driver are far and few between. You could add a dedicated slave driver for the LCD, but again, this is a bunch of work. I'd love to see this happen though!
Markoff 4y ago
Yeah, BLE has hardly any consumption, my Amazfit Bip can easily last 30-40 days always connected with lots of notifications.

jacknews 4y ago

There are the nordic nrf52xxx based btle smartwatches for <$30, search 'smartwatch P8' for example. The firmware can be replaced with your own. The battery won't last a year though.

triyambakam 4y ago
Any good resources for replacing the firmware and other hacks?
- Donckele 4y ago
  Try wasp-os https://github.com/daniel-thompson/wasp-os https://github.com/daniel-thompson/wasp-os I have a colmi P8 and it was easy to get wasp-os uploaded and now have micropython available with direct connection into the watch! Battery life is really only 24-48hrs if you don’t do anything heavy. Sometimes I wonder how more useful it is than my apple watch.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
kelvinquee 4y ago
Just a happy customer of and hacking: https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PineTime https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PineTime
Markoff 4y ago
From what I found (Colmi P8) judging by display these will last just few days at best unlike Amazfit Bip which can easily last one month with always on display perfectly readable in daylight without any backlight plus allowing custom firmware. The issue with original Bip/Bip S is they don't produce them anymore, so you have to buy used (as I did after first fell apart) for like 20USD or buy some clone (also not that easy to find).
- jacknews 4y ago
  Still for sale on their website $39.99. Is that a different model? Is the website defunct?

fxtentacle 4y ago

When I built my smartwatch, I went with ESP32-PICO and bluetooth low energy for connecting to my phone. Battery lifetime is excellent, but not quite a year because I poll weather data over wifi once every 10 minutes.

sho_nuff 4y ago
What type of screen did you settle on for your smartwatch?
- fxtentacle 4y ago
  Waveshare eink. They had the power supply schematics and driver source code on their homepage, which seemed convenient.

Markoff 4y ago

Why not something like Casio G-SQUAD GBD-100/200 (starts from ~110USD)? Or there are also pricier Garmin Instinct Solar with solar transflective display which should last loong time (since he doesn't mind bulky watch unlike me). Casio claim to last one year on battery with notifications, Garmin 50+ days as smartwatch. I wish Casio made something like this (transflective graphic display which can display texts/simple graphic) in F91 form factor with rechargable battery, I wouldn't mind if it last only few months between charges. Currently using Amazfit Bip which I charge once a month.

bayindirh 4y ago

I was well into smartwatches and was planning to scale up to an Apple watch or Garmin or something higher end. Then I got a Longines automatic, and I remembered why I loved mechanical watches so much. So, it's back to basics for me. While the features are nice, It's nice that my watch is "charging" itself as I wear it.

olabyne 4y ago
Apple watches are great if you are already in apple ecosystem. But their battery life are disappointing, just like wearOS watches. It seems that Apple / Android watch OSes are just bad for such tiny devices. What Xiaomi (Amazfit), Garmin and others are doing with battery optimization is way better. Zepp OS is providing a great SDK documentation, but I went for a Garmin watch thanks to the wide range of apps and widgets already available.
- bayindirh 4y ago
  I have a couple of Mi Bands, and they're nice devices. However, they're not watches. They're body monitors with watch functionality patched in, and that's OK. While the functionality they add-in is intriguing, their low processing power is taxing the mobile phone a lot. I'm in apple ecosystem, and constant communication and process offloading reduces battery life of the phone considerably. Esp, when on the move. I want a watch primarily. A time keeping device which I can depend and can use for a long time (i.e. years). So returning to a vanilla, bona-fide watch was refreshing and liberating. Having a self-winding, completely mechanical heart inside is also nice.
  - kramerger 4y ago
    That sounds odd, what kind of processing would the band need?
    - bayindirh 4y ago
      If the Zepplife application is running (even in the background), the band constantly feeds it data about your steps, pulse and whatnot it gets from you, to keep its send queue empty. This wakes the processor a lot, and consumes a lot of battery. If you're exercising, band establishes and keeps a constant connection about your movement data and pulse. It also gets some information from app (is GPS healthy, etc.). Both modes keep the phone out of its deep sleep, and halves your daily battery stamina if you have a moderately active day. Because of that, I actively kill the Zepplife application most of the time if I'm wearing the band that day, unless I'm exercising.

NKosmatos 4y ago

I wouldn't change my Casio Protrek PRG-80T for nothing, More than 16 years and no battery change, Titanium strap and case, solar charging and tough as none of the others, A classic ABC watch (Altimeter-Barometer-Compass) with temperature sensor. To be honest, I also have a small smart band (latest Xiaomi Mi Band) to complement for all the missing smart functionality. People keep asking me why I wear two watches :-)

tromp 4y ago
Same here for my Casio Protrek PRW-7000, whose clean, rugged and stylish look I think is hard to improve on: https://www.amazon.com/CASIO-PROTREK-PRW-7000FC-1JF-MENS-JAPAN/dp/B01HHL4TOC https://www.amazon.com/CASIO-PROTREK-PRW-7000FC-1JF-MENS-JAP...
- deleted 4y ago
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saiya-jin 4y ago
Since those sensors are say 20 years old design and 16+ years components, its safe to say that their precision leaves a lot to desire. No gps for example to help triangulation or indicate position. It all may be great for you but depending on your activities one may appreciate higher precision / more capable instruments. That being said, I used to wear some old Suunto that are probably even worse and I had to switch battery every few years. I didnt mind being 100-150m off in altitude for example in some himalayan treks or skitours in alps since terrain navigation was easy. Stopped with them altogether, for weekends phone is vastly superior and battery is no problem. And since kids I dont do much more situations that actually use such watches.
grujicd 4y ago
How useful is the temperature sensor? On my Garmin 935 not that much, it's too affected by body heat. Unless I'm swimming, this it the only case when it tracks ambient (i.e. water) temperature correctly, and rather quickly.
- 4y ago

Humpelstilzchen 4y ago

needs to be recharged weekly and software can brake with each update but BangleJS2 should cover most requirements: https://banglejs.com/ https://banglejs.com/

secondcoming 4y ago

I have a Garmin Fenix GPS doodad, and I regularly get lost in the UI. Great watch though

gonzo 4y ago

l've been wearing my dead brother’s Citizen Eco-Drive Calibre 5700 (stainless) for the past decade for similar reasons to those in the article. It’s rugged, solar powered, and requires no thought. It also has a small scorch mark from an arc welding incident he had that I treasure.

pablomalo 4y ago
Similar make by the same brand here. I have been wearing it for five years without issue. It's also a fairly inexpensive watch, so it's no big deal should I lose it. (I have no sentimental attachment to mine.) A downside I see to smartwatches is they feel outdated after a few years. With this, you make the decision to stick to the basics, but hopefully you're not generating any more waste for the next 10-15 years. (Edit: spelling)
mod 4y ago
I have an E650 or something like that--an eco-drive. I traded an xbox 360 for it many years ago, when an xbox 360 was worth about 300 or 400 bucks. I was having trouble selling the xbox before I went overseas, but bringing a watch along worked just fine. It's a great watch. I would wear it more, but it's a little gaudy for me, and heavy. Still, I've really mistreated it a lot, and it just keeps on going.

ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago

I have a couple of Oceanus[0] (Casio’s boutique brand) watches that I wore, all the time, for years (I brought them in Japan). They replaced a Junghans Mega MF[1], They are all collecting dust. I’ve been wearing Apple Watches for years. The Apple Watch costs half as much as my other watches, and is less attractive, but I have really come to rely on its utility. I have a friend that just got the Ultra. It’s a cool watch, but way too bulky and awkward-looking, for me. Reminds me of a Suunto watch, a friend of mine once owned. First and foremost, I need to know exactly what time it is. The weather functionality is also important to me. For many folks, a watch is jewelry. I had a friend that used to wear a broken Brietling. [0] https://www.casio.com/us/watches/oceanus/ https://www.casio.com/us/watches/oceanus/ [1] https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/junghans-mega-apollo-056-4407-44-276014252 https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/junghans-mega-apollo-...

ar_lan 4y ago
> For many folks, a watch is jewelry. It’s funny you say this. I view this of watches, but I wear a Whoop band which gives me utility. My brother-in-law wears a watch, but has multiple times wondered why I wear a bracelet. His claim is “I don’t need a bracelet to tell me I slept horribly,” which is, in my opinion, completely missing the mark. But it made me think about perception - I view watches as effectively jewelry because I have a smartphone. The benefits I could get out of a smart watch don’t match what I get from my Whoop (I’m very anti-notification so the Apple Watch doesn’t appeal to me), so I just view them all as vanity items (I realize they aren’t, but they would be for me). Sorry, just an aside - perception is strange.
- ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
  The phone thing is a valid argument, but one that doesn't work for me. I don't want to have to dig my phone out of my pocket, every time I want to know what time it is. I also like to keep an eye on the outside temperature, so that's useful. I don't like frivolous notifications, but I rely on important ones, and the Watch is pretty much perfect, for that.
  - 4y ago

noncoml 4y ago

F105W (which is like F91W + illumination) Light, reliable, cheap. A true spartan watch

europeanguy 4y ago
I don't get it. F91W already has illumination.
- smcl 4y ago
  It's a little different, the F91W has a little light that shines from one side onto the front of the LCD display whereas (if it's anything like my Casio W86-1) I think the F105W is backlit. So they both have a light, but one is much clearer. edit, just confirmed that this is the case: F91W light: https://i0.wp.com/thetruthaboutwatches.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Ummmm.png?resize=301%2C271&ssl=1 https://i0.wp.com/thetruthaboutwatches.com/wp-content/upload... F105W light: https://media.karousell.com/media/photos/products/2021/7/19/casio_illuminator_f105w1a_retr_1626708182_be799e5d_progressive.jpg https://media.karousell.com/media/photos/products/2021/7/19/...
  - lzooz 4y ago
    I can confirm that the light of the F91W is very poor. I think that given the price difference it's not worth it to buy the F91W anymore.

rand49an 4y ago

I've had a Withings Steel HR (was briefly owned by Nokia) for 5 years and would recommend it to anyone. About £150 new, still achieves a month plus battery and in that time all I've done is change the band a few times.

input_sh 4y ago
Same, also for about five years now! Upsides: Month long battery (doesn't use a standard USB cable, but it reaches full charge in about an hour), basic activity tracking, smart alarm clock (which I absolutely adore[0], haven't used phone's alarm for years), no subscription needed for any of its features. Downsides: glass is not scratch-resistant (mine's full of scratches), getting data out of via API is not trivial, and the screen itself is annoyingly small (it can fit like 10 characters). For the past two or three years I did look into other options a couple of times, but they all either don't have any additional actually useful features, or if they do their battery barely lasts days. I don't see myself switching to anything else for the foreseeable future, unless Withings goes out of business of course. [0] Instead of telling it "wake me up at 9am", you can tell it "I need to wake up at 9am, but 8:30am is fine if you detect my sleep is weak". It wakes you up by vibrating. Quick press of the only button on the watch turns the alarm off, longer press snoozes it for 10 minutes. EDIT: I also discovered by accident that it still "works" even with 0% battery. I forgot to bring that special USB cable with me on some trip and I still used it to track time/steps for days until I returned home.
- kramerger 4y ago
  > Downsides: glass is not scratch-resistant (mine's full of scratches), The latest models do not have this problem. > EDITED: I also discovered by accident that it still "works" even with 0% battery. This is by design, I think in dumb mode it gets you another 5-10 days.
kramerger 4y ago
+1 for Withings, I really like that it looks and feels like a real watch (some models have a small display that is normally off). The latest models have"only" 2-3 weeks battery but pack a ton of medical features (Withings is a medical company).

europeanguy 4y ago

I can find this watch by googling "pro trek". At first I thought it's just because that's the name of a series and not a watch, but I can't even find that watch in that series. What am I doing wrong?

fian 4y ago
https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/protrek/ https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/protrek/
- europeanguy 4y ago
  I could find the website, my point was I couldn't find the specific watch on the picture in that website.
benyami 4y ago
Try searching for "pro trek prw-3100t". I'm guessing that specific model is no longer produced, but you might be able to find it in a secondhand market like eBay.

z9znz 4y ago

There are two design approaches to wristwatches that I haven't seen but which I think have distinct benefits: wide (landscape) bodies/faces, and bands with batteries in the links. In Sci-Fi, it's normal to see landscape displays on forearms. Often it's part of a suit, so it is kind of an obvious solution. But watches could take this concept at a smaller scale and provide at least double the screen real estate without ending up looking like a brick. The bands on some watches are already fairly thick, and people have shown they are fine wearing thick bracelet things for decoration. Why not embed batteries into parts of the band? The obvious case would be the big metal links (like tank tracks), with the wiring through the link connections. Not only would you be able to store a whole lot more energy compared to a single battery in the watch body, but you could also have swappable bands so you could always have one charged and ready.

europeanguy 4y ago

Over the past 2 yes I've bought 3 F91W. The band keeps breaking. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get a better band? I didn't seem like changing band is doable without appropriate tools, and furthermore I don't know how to ensure I know his to buy a band that is "compatible".

criddell 4y ago
It’s super annoying because those bands cost pennies each to make yet by the time they are individually packaged, they are $10 ea. I wish I could buy a lifetime supply. Maybe 50 for $50.
mkmk3 4y ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/F91Ws_on_NATOs/ https://www.reddit.com/r/F91Ws_on_NATOs/ It's a pretty common mod, the sidebar describes the process and mentions using 18mm nato straps, though apparently you might want to grind a little off the back of the lug to make it fit better. It also mentions using a paperclip or some other pin to get the spring bar out, so it doesn't seem like it requires much.
- JackMcMack 4y ago
  Yes, nylon strap is the way to go. Feels great, can get wet, far more durable. I bought this 18mm strap: https://aliexpress.com/item/33044774071.html https://aliexpress.com/item/33044774071.html And this tool: https://aliexpress.com/item/32976742331.html https://aliexpress.com/item/32976742331.html
  - Humpelstilzchen 4y ago
    2nd link is 404, +1 for nylon
- europeanguy 4y ago
  Thanks for the suggestion, but no. That seems really dangerous. If it gets stuck somewhere heavy or fast, that strap looks like it can take more than your body weight with it...

mhalle 4y ago

On a related topic, I find programming or typing while wearing a watch leads relatively quickly to wrist pain due to the pressure constraints it puts on the muscles and tendons. I have tried several different watches and experienced this problem. I know many tech industry people wear watches while they work, but I have never heard a discussion of this condition. I wonder if I am somehow unusual in this situation. I am otherwise not especially prone to repetitive stress injuries. It has been bad enough I have thought of converting a wristwatch into a modern pocket watch, though I would lose any feature that depended on skin proximity.

School-Cotton 4y ago
Data point: I wear a watch every day and have never experienced this.
- ATMLOTTOBEER 4y ago
  Seconded
- MSFT_Edging 4y ago
  Same, I only pull it off when i feel it scratching a palm rest. Smaller watches, with nylon, silicone, or leather straps help. Big metal bracelet watches always feel in the way.
  - School-Cotton 4y ago
    FWIW mine has a titanium bracelet.
- mod 4y ago
  May have to do with posture or body alignment, less than the watch. My data point: much like GP, I experience discomfort if I wear my (smart/big) watch while programming. Also if I wear a small watch too tightly. I get a sensation in my pinky that's a lot like what you feel with a pinched nerve. I just take the watch off if I'm going to be using the keyboard for any period of time. Gaming especially bothers it. Notably, I rest my left wrist on the laptop body underneath the keyboard area. If I kept my wrists perched in the air, I doubt I would have any of this going on at all.

brvier 4y ago

Or go for better, FOSS smartwatch : PineTime : https://www.pine64.org/pinetime/ https://www.pine64.org/pinetime/ Charging one time a week.

LeifCarrotson 4y ago
Another one, I built one of the originals a while back and have been procrastinating on actually getting the PCBs I designed for the GPS version manufactured: https://open-smartwatch.github.io/ https://open-smartwatch.github.io/
branon 4y ago
Recently purchased a PineTime and have been very impressed. It's more comfortable than my Casio F-91W. The battery life also seems significantly better than advertised. I unboxed and charged to 100% on 13th November, and now on 21st November it's sitting at 43%. I wake the display up maybe a dozen times per day to check the time, read notifications, or pick up a phone call. Updating the firmware was a breeze, the thing just works. Only snag I've noticed is that the pedometer is too sensitive, with no obvious way to adjust sensitivity. I haven't risked showering with it yet, but it's supposed to be waterproof up to 1 meter. I suppose this implies it wouldn't survive a swimming session though.
- flal_ 4y ago
  I own one, mine's really waterproof, I almost always forget to take it of when doing the dishes or bathing the baby. Agree, it's great, I only wish it had some kind of transflective lcd screen ( like the garmin's ) : better battery life and always readable screen...

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Maxburn 4y ago

Found on that site; Wena Pro and Wena 3. What a great idea, I love my old mechanical watches, really like metal bracelets, and I do like having smart watch features. Unfortunately seems like Wena is a bad implementation of this concept. What other companies make things like this?

toqy 4y ago
I've been considering the Withings Scanwatch because it looks closer to a normal watch.
- Maxburn 4y ago
  It does look nice. I like the health tracking these modern watches do and silent notifications on the wrist was the original reason I went with smart watches. I'm just a little sad my older mechanical watches are only brought out on special occasions these days.

crims0n 4y ago

Posts like this really make me miss my old Pebble. Maybe its incredibly niche, but they left a gap in the market that no other offering has yet to fill.

charlesrocket 4y ago
You might like Watchy https://github.com/sqfmi/Watchy https://github.com/sqfmi/Watchy
specialist 4y ago
I really wish I had tried the Pebbles. I want buttons. Not capacitive touch. And I have a hunch the rotating bezel on the Samsung classic 4 (or whatever) is The Correct Answer™. My Apple Watch 4's battery is now pretty weak. So I'm looking to replace. I kinda hate my Apple Watch. Now it's just an annoying step counter. It sucks for controlling audio playback. I'm walking the dog, in the cold, wind, and rain. So then I have to take off my gloves, look at the damn thing, navigate to the playback controls (because reasons), tap the button a few times. Etc. So now I just dig out my iPhone. The Activity tracker sucks. If I stop to pick up some waste, it's smart enough to pause. But not smart enough to resume when I get walking again. So I have to hit Dismiss multiple times during an activity. Grrr. So I stopped using it. Siri via the watch is turrible. I've stopped trying. The one huge feature I want for a future watch (or whatever) is tracking my waking breathing rate. For pain management and other mindfulness stuff. I'm supposed to regulate my breathe. Like remind me to stop holding my breathe during a bad spell.
- mod 4y ago
  > Samsung classic 4 (or whatever) is The Correct Answer™. I think it's the whole Samsung Galaxy Watch line. My Galaxy Watch (original) has one, and they'd be total fools to remove it in a later model. I think the only time I touch the watch face is to dismiss notifications with a gesture. The dial is super nice, and I actually default to spinning it to wake the face instead of hitting a button. The dial is my favorite thing about the watch.
ijustlurk 4y ago

foobarian 4y ago

I've been dabbling in smartwatches because of the built-in step counters, trying to get healthy, etc. The main thing I found I appreciated is the automatic time sync including DST switchover. There is a long list of negatives: - Battery life is miserable compared to a classic watch - Screen activation is unreliable. Imagine a classic watch not visible when you look at it. - Bad UX. Somehow the brightness settings I apply randomly get reset/reverted. This is probably hit or miss depending on brand, I expect Apple's devices have this nailed. - Outdoor performance. This is the worst one. The screen is just not readable under bright sunlight. I find myself making a little tent out of whatever I have on and furiously shaking my wrist to activate the screen just so I can tell the time. This is what's going to make me ultimately switch back to a classic watch unless I can find one with e-ink. I'm not sure how Apple's devices fare here beyond friends saying 'it works fine.'

tentacleuno 4y ago
Heh, I recently got the chance to discover that my trusty W-86 automatically adjusts for DST. On the topic of battery life, it's still going after 6 months!
ubermonkey 4y ago
It may not be an option for you based on your other tech choices, but I feel like the Apple Watch excels at all of the things you mention here except, obviously, battery life vs. a conventional nonsmart watch. I supposed UX can be a matter of taste, but I've found it's simple enough to set up an Apple Watch such that I have rapid access to the features and functions I need in a given situation. In particular, outdoor usage -- even in bright sun -- is pretty great. I've done no small amount of hiking with mine, and use it often when cycling. Readability is fine!
fridek 4y ago
You might like Withings Steel HR. It easily lasts a month on a single charge. Conversly, I now have their more premium Scanwatch, and I feel the UX regressed, while the added functions are not for me.
- 4y ago

greyman 4y ago

But Casio already manufacture smartwatches, which meets OPs criteria like 1 year battery life. For example G-Shock GBD-H1000. But they are rather bulky, comparing to the alternatives he mentions.

zapt02 4y ago

Bangle.js 2 sounds like a good option. The hackability is second to none. https://banglejs.com/ https://banglejs.com/

NoboruWataya 4y ago

I have a Garmin vívoactive 3 which to me is a good fit because it is "smart enough" - all the basic features I would want from a smartwatch (fitness tracking, GPS, phone notifications, music control) behind a fairly basic UI. My partner bought an Apple Watch a while ago and while it's quite snazzy and probably does a lot more stuff, the battery life really limits its usefulness and it is very expensive for what it is. I've had mine just over 2.5 years. It's still going strong so hopefully it will continue to serve me for a while yet, but comparing smartwatches to traditional watches really makes you realise how short-term these gadgets are. People here talking about their 16 year old Casio watches - no way this Garmin will reach anything like that age. And then of course you have those quality timepieces that are passed down through generations. Really interested to hear more real-life user reviews of the BankgleJS 2, which I only heard about recently and seems to tick all the boxes while being open and hackable.

dchuk 4y ago

I really like wearing real watches, but I still want to pay attention to health and activity, so I’ve been wearing a Fitbit luxe on my other wrist. It’s been fine so far, battery life is good, seems to be reliable. However, what drives me nuts on this thing is that I distinctly DON’T want it to be a watch, I just want the stats on the face, and there is absolutely no option for the watch face that doesn’t include a huge current time on the front. I wish there was a device with this exact form factor, but was just programmable. Call it OpenFit or something.

equalsione 4y ago
Fitbit does have it's own SDK, that you can use to write both apps and watch faces. In theory you could create a watch face that met your needs. The SDK is pure JavaScript and seems friendly enough (I only got a few examples working and lost interest) - https://dev.fitbit.com/build/tutorials/examples/ https://dev.fitbit.com/build/tutorials/examples/ I don't know if the SDK can target the luxe BTW
- dchuk 4y ago
  yeah unfortunately it seems to only be available for their larger devices, which is a bummer because the way I'm using mine, I intentionally want it to not look like a watch but instead more like a bracelet so I don't look like some weirdo wearing two watches :)

eschneider 4y ago

The Sony Wega 3 looks really interesting, though probably not at that price. Definitely a tech idea worth exploring further. :) As for watches, I tend towards cheap timex windup watches. They tell time well enough, I can read the dial with my distance glasses on, and I don't feel too bad when something happens and they inevitably get broken.

eschneider 4y ago
Sad thing is, I've only started needing a watch since the nearest church stopped ringing their bells before 9am. That used to be 'accurate enough' and I didn't need to wear anything.

lazyant 4y ago

In terms of keeping time and no unrelated features, the CASIO G-shock tough solar radio are the best. Cheap, durable, solar and synchronized via radio (plus other things like chronometer and word times).

twiclo 4y ago

Does anyone have an RSS link for this blog? I want to be alerted of his follow up article

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

jhallenworld 4y ago

I have a need for something like this "WatchMinder": https://watchminder.com/shop/watchminder3 https://watchminder.com/shop/watchminder3 It's pretty good, battery lasts a month, but it has a stupid limitation: the programmable reminder messages don't allow numbers, only letters. Also, it's nice that you can program the watch directly, but a smartphone app or laptop would make it easier: I would be OK with a USB cable from the charging station in lieu of Bluetooth. Smartwatches should be able to provide this function, but they don't. For example, reminders should repeat until acknowledged. (Text messages on phones should do the same thing...)

mod 4y ago
> Text messages on phones should (optionally) do the same thing... Fixed that. Please, just make all things possible! Let me micro-manage the shit out of notifications!

comprambler 4y ago

Nice to see someone lauding the Timex Datalink (the 851), which IMO is the best smartwatch ever made. I would pay modern smartwatch money for a proper re-release. The original software still works perfectly on W10.

helf 4y ago

He needs to port a FPS to the Timex. There is already tetris :) https://github.com/PsiKlops/TimexBlocks https://github.com/PsiKlops/TimexBlocks

helf 4y ago

I love my protrek. I have a PRW-3000 with the inverted LCD. I have worn it every day for at least a decade. I still want a smart watch of sorts. Just nothing out there has grabbed my attention yet. The last "smart watch" I had was the OnHand PC which was the americanized version of the Matsucom RuPuter. http://www.pconhand.com/ http://www.pconhand.com/