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For me the #1 feature of a smartwatch is it allows me to take out my phone a lot less and keep it entirely silent without missing important calls or texts. I ca

For me the #1 feature of a smartwatch is it allows me to take out my phone a lot less and keep it entirely silent without missing important calls or texts. I can filter down my notifications to just the essentials and when one comes in I feel the vibration on my wrist and can tell at a glance if it is important or not. My phone never makes a sound, not even vibration. Other things I enjoy are having weather/stock prices on the watch face, using Android's "Extend Unlock" feature to reduce the overhead of unlocking my phone, turn-by-turn directions displayed during navigation. The fitness sensors/features are just toys IMO. I'm convinced people spend money on fitness trackers in a vain attempt to guilt themselves into exercising, rather than because they're actually useful. Unfortunately the market for "exercise guilt trip talisman" is larger than the market for "small, comfortable phone companion" and so nobody makes a watch without protruding sensors anymore.

HumblyTossed 2y ago
> The fitness sensors/features are just toys IMO. Not completely wrong, however they're very useful for tracking trends and that's a useful thing to do.
bb88 2y ago
I got a google pixel watch, and thought, "Oh Cool I can use it to pay with my watch!".Unfortunately, for that to happen it requires a pin which means it's locked all the time. If the watch is locked while riding a bike say, it's near impossible to unlock it.
smj-edison 2y ago
Counterpoint, but I use the fitness tracking in reverse, as I have CFS and have to be careful about how much energy I spend. When I get a notification that I've reached my "goal", I know I need to rest so I don't overdo it. It's also useful for tracking how much sleep I get, so I can get a sense for how much I can do that day. Not the typical use-case, but it's really helpful for pacing!
gerdesj 2y ago
"it allows me to take out my phone a lot less and keep it entirely silent without missing important calls or texts" Fair enough - there are rather more nerves on your wrist than wherever your phone is situated near to. I suppose that might depend on pocket shape and deployment and a few other factors! OK so a vibrating watch will trump a vibrating phone in most cases - for notifications. That sounds like a compelling thing but not enough for a device that needs charging and care. Now, how important are those calls and texts? At least you are old school enough to worry about a phone and SMS. Most kiddies are ... ... Each social and comms app that you use can notify you but what is actually important and which should be able to shake your wrist? I personally think my physical person is nearly sacrosanct. I'll allow a phone to shudder in a pocket and no more.

HumblyTossed 2y ago

> The fitness sensors/features are just toys IMO. Not completely wrong, however they're very useful for tracking trends and that's a useful thing to do.

bb88 2y ago

I got a google pixel watch, and thought, "Oh Cool I can use it to pay with my watch!".Unfortunately, for that to happen it requires a pin which means it's locked all the time. If the watch is locked while riding a bike say, it's near impossible to unlock it.

smj-edison 2y ago

Counterpoint, but I use the fitness tracking in reverse, as I have CFS and have to be careful about how much energy I spend. When I get a notification that I've reached my "goal", I know I need to rest so I don't overdo it. It's also useful for tracking how much sleep I get, so I can get a sense for how much I can do that day. Not the typical use-case, but it's really helpful for pacing!

gerdesj 2y ago

"it allows me to take out my phone a lot less and keep it entirely silent without missing important calls or texts" Fair enough - there are rather more nerves on your wrist than wherever your phone is situated near to. I suppose that might depend on pocket shape and deployment and a few other factors! OK so a vibrating watch will trump a vibrating phone in most cases - for notifications. That sounds like a compelling thing but not enough for a device that needs charging and care. Now, how important are those calls and texts? At least you are old school enough to worry about a phone and SMS. Most kiddies are ... ... Each social and comms app that you use can notify you but what is actually important and which should be able to shake your wrist? I personally think my physical person is nearly sacrosanct. I'll allow a phone to shudder in a pocket and no more.