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In all the smartwatch reviews I have read, I fail to see the high-level overview: what kinds of tasks should I be able to accomplish with this kind of device, a

by listic 12y ago

In all the smartwatch reviews I have read, I fail to see the high-level overview: what kinds of tasks should I be able to accomplish with this kind of device, at all? Are Android Wear devices only usable in a vicinity of my Android phone or can I use them without one? Could I use them with an iPhone, Firefox OS phone, Surface Pro tablet, 3G modem or any Wi-Fi source (Moto 360 does have Wi-Fi)? Do Android Wear devices need apps written specifically for them, and/or specific support in a tablet/phone app. Say, I know there is a VK app for Android, but I'm not sure about smartwatch support. Should I be getting VK notifications (or whatever watch is good for) by default? Could I pair a Wi-Fi-equipped smartwatch with a Bluetooth headset and get rid of a phone, with smartwatch providing VoIP connectivity over Wi-Fi? What kinds (if any) of non-default configurations can I expect to use a device like that? (default being pairing it with an Android phone and a specifically supported app)

itp 12y ago
I'm not sure if you're asking because you legitimately don't know, or just underscoring how terrible some of the marketing and advertising for these devices has been. If it's the former, though, a lot of the info you're asking about can be found online[0]. In general, though, the primary mode of operation of an Android Wear device is to work with the existing notification system of an Android device, so most apps should automatically have some reflection on the watch. If they take advantage of Android notification actions, you may be able to interact to a degree with them right off of the watch. Android Wear devices don't (as far as I know) work with non-Android phones because non-Android phones don't give them the required integration with the notifications and applications. [0]: http://www.android.com/wear/ http://www.android.com/wear/
- TheTaO 12y ago
  The Microsoft Band at least seems to be more targeted towards health focused users although it can do all of the smart things that these smart watches do. http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Band http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Band
  - easytiger 12y ago
    except you have a massive 1/2cm thick chunk of hard plastic the whole way around your wrist.
- userbinator 12y ago
  In general, though, the primary mode of operation of an Android Wear device is to work with the existing notification system of an Android device In other words, these smartwatches are not a replacement for an Android smartphone. On the other hand (no pun intended), the Chinese have been creating smartwatchphones for a while now, which are fully-functional Android smartphones in a slightly bigger watch-sized casing.
- minusSeven 12y ago
  I guess he is talking about reviews that lack all such information and rather talk about how exactly it looks on your wrist rather than talking about what exactly you could do with one. I have observed this too and makes me think reading smart watch reviews rather redundant.
penetrarthur 12y ago
I own a moto360 one for almost a month now. You are probably not going to say "ok google" all the time so most of the features that require your voice are pretty useless. To be honest I only use them when driving. What I really use it for is: 1) Check who is calling. If I am on a meeting or otherwise busy I can drop the call. 2) Read messages/gmail(full message)/whatsapp etc. I will have to get the phone out of the pocket only if I need to respond. 3) Notifications/reminders/weather reports etc.
dozy 12y ago
Plenty of use cases...heres one: I've been loving my 360 for exercise. Not only for the step counting (and the Asus Wear watch has GPS I believe). I've always taken issue with carrying a phone around with me while running. With the 360 (and the latest update), you can pair with bluetooth headphones and play music that you've synced from your phone. And obviously since it's a watch, I can time myself. I can then sync my interval timing results, etc. Regarding your request for a high-level overview...it's an extension of the Android platform designed specifically for wearables, is it really that hard to see the potential? Take what you know about Android and what it can do, and Wear is that + APIs for tiny UIs + an sync-focused abstraction layer on top of bluetooth pairing. Additionally, consider not only that the screen is tiny, but the HCI ramifications/opportunities given that it's on your wrist, or ankle, or whatever. AFAIK, you can build a Wear device with any hardware you want. The models we're seeing right now are leaving out things like GPS and LTE radios for obvious cost and battery life concerns. When I think about what Wear could do, that's the context I consider.

by listic 12y ago

itp 12y ago

I'm not sure if you're asking because you legitimately don't know, or just underscoring how terrible some of the marketing and advertising for these devices has been. If it's the former, though, a lot of the info you're asking about can be found online[0]. In general, though, the primary mode of operation of an Android Wear device is to work with the existing notification system of an Android device, so most apps should automatically have some reflection on the watch. If they take advantage of Android notification actions, you may be able to interact to a degree with them right off of the watch. Android Wear devices don't (as far as I know) work with non-Android phones because non-Android phones don't give them the required integration with the notifications and applications. [0]: http://www.android.com/wear/ http://www.android.com/wear/

TheTaO 12y ago
The Microsoft Band at least seems to be more targeted towards health focused users although it can do all of the smart things that these smart watches do. http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Band http://www.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Band
- easytiger 12y ago
  except you have a massive 1/2cm thick chunk of hard plastic the whole way around your wrist.
userbinator 12y ago
In general, though, the primary mode of operation of an Android Wear device is to work with the existing notification system of an Android device In other words, these smartwatches are not a replacement for an Android smartphone. On the other hand (no pun intended), the Chinese have been creating smartwatchphones for a while now, which are fully-functional Android smartphones in a slightly bigger watch-sized casing.
minusSeven 12y ago
I guess he is talking about reviews that lack all such information and rather talk about how exactly it looks on your wrist rather than talking about what exactly you could do with one. I have observed this too and makes me think reading smart watch reviews rather redundant.

penetrarthur 12y ago

I own a moto360 one for almost a month now. You are probably not going to say "ok google" all the time so most of the features that require your voice are pretty useless. To be honest I only use them when driving. What I really use it for is: 1) Check who is calling. If I am on a meeting or otherwise busy I can drop the call. 2) Read messages/gmail(full message)/whatsapp etc. I will have to get the phone out of the pocket only if I need to respond. 3) Notifications/reminders/weather reports etc.

dozy 12y ago

Plenty of use cases...heres one: I've been loving my 360 for exercise. Not only for the step counting (and the Asus Wear watch has GPS I believe). I've always taken issue with carrying a phone around with me while running. With the 360 (and the latest update), you can pair with bluetooth headphones and play music that you've synced from your phone. And obviously since it's a watch, I can time myself. I can then sync my interval timing results, etc. Regarding your request for a high-level overview...it's an extension of the Android platform designed specifically for wearables, is it really that hard to see the potential? Take what you know about Android and what it can do, and Wear is that + APIs for tiny UIs + an sync-focused abstraction layer on top of bluetooth pairing. Additionally, consider not only that the screen is tiny, but the HCI ramifications/opportunities given that it's on your wrist, or ankle, or whatever. AFAIK, you can build a Wear device with any hardware you want. The models we're seeing right now are leaving out things like GPS and LTE radios for obvious cost and battery life concerns. When I think about what Wear could do, that's the context I consider.