Counterclockwise: smartwatches are cooler in space than on Earth

01 April 2018
Smartwatches are frequently seen in film, but rarely on people's wrists... except for the occasional Apple Watch.

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AnonD-94885, 01 Apr 2018"We turn to IDC, which shows that Apple basically rules the... moreDid you read an article properly? Xiaomi, Garmin sells smartbands, which is included as smartwatches sales. Apple solely sells only smartwatches so in reality, it is king in smart watch business, which by no one comes close to it.

    It dies because it's useless and redundable tech. Phones does everything, you no need smartwatch to check something when you have smartphone. Hack I didint have a real wrist watch since I got my first mobile phone, because it lost its functionality. You need some fitness tracking device? Get cheap smarband which will do more than you need. All this people with those expensive Apple Watches trying to pretend their finding some functionality for it but reality is it's just fashion accessory to complement their iPhones and to show that, as your friends, you got it too.

      marclee37, 02 Apr 2018i got my ticwatch s just several days ago. it is good. comp... moreI can never imagine disconnecting my smartphone from my Gear S3, or my Gear Sport when I use either which. To save battery? I have a maximum more than 2 days for either of those two Tizen watches - with heartbeat monitor checking every 10 minutes, always on display, always receiving notifications for email and messages, responding to those using the watch - speaker calls with the Gear S3 Frontier, using the remote control functions for Spotify music, exercise monitoring with both GPS and heartbeat on for 1 hour per day. And as an added feature that I truly love is the storage of Spotify music on the watches or even streaming via wifi.

      I know - the last 3 functions drain the battery faster, but i place either of them on the charging dock as I prepare to go out. The absolute percentage even doing those, including sleep monitoring is about 60%. So that's roughly 40% left for an active 24-hour use, which 1 hour of charging gets the battery to above 90%.

      I never considered getting a smartwatch till seeing it as a health monitoring accessory, a music player for my workouts, and the rest are added bonuses so I don't have to take out my smartphone.

      If you just need to tell time with a stop watch, get a Casio. I see no point of getting a smartwatch for just telling time or timing something.

        Anonymous, 01 Apr 2018I see more and more people having an Apple Watch. But I onl... morei got my ticwatch s just several days ago. it is good. compared to all previous android watches released, i think ticwatch s is one of the best

        gsmarena could have better coverage on smartwatch. i am a daily reader of gsmarena. when i have to search for a new watch, i still have to search elsewhere. i did not know about ticwatch until i searched.

        ticwatchs has the largest screen size possible nowadays. 1.4" oled. price is not high, less than usd200. worth a try. it uses a magnetically connected cord. i hope this cord could be longer, bundled one is just 80cm in length. better create a convertor, covert the current usb c plug, into that magnetically connecting plug. we had got enough cords in home and in office. definitely we need a spare charging cord in office for use just in case.

        compared with the smartwatches a few years ago, the current wear os advanced a lot. i feel the ui is so much prettier and smooth. well designed. way of operation is easy and natural. the menu moved along the circular edge, this looks nice and elegant. i was disagreeing a circular watch face. once owned one and used it, i think it is ok. if there are rect shape watch released in future, i still prefer a rect one

        using a smartwatch, need to make some own decision. if not wanting the battery drains fast on both watch and phone. shut off the connection between watch and phone. in this way, need not charging the watch for at least 24hrs. this watch is still new to me, i turned it on and checked much more than usual. i should know the average charging frequency after weeks of use. it could be 2days a charge, or 3 days a charge. i charge my phone every 24 hours. charging a watch every 48 or 72 hrs is ok for me. it is already so great advancement than a phone

        voice input would not work if connection is not established. all those notifications would not show up if connection is not set, weather info, news info, missed call, sms message, emails would not show on watch then. i think this is ok. these onfo are better be checked on a larger screen phone

        what good is a smartwatch then? it tells the time, count the time, remind the time in a smarter way. all related to time first. i created my own watch face, determined what are shown, in what way, the fonts, colors, size, positions, all can be set. i put the stop watch on top face, for easier immediate access, no other faster method to start counting time. i also put the compass on face of watch, knew where is north easily from now on. do not put the heart rate reading on face, the heart rate sensor would turn on very often, drain the battery fast. footstep on face is good, can know how many steps are made. walk more is good.

        one shortcoming of ticwatch s, is its water proof ability is just ip67. means it could not be used in swimmning pool. as a result, i ordered my another watch misfit vapor, which is 50m water proof, but with smaller screen 1.3". that should arrive within weeks.

        wear os watch, can be adsured there are some apps available to extend the ability of watch. why samsung uses a different os? i could not pick ss then. Pick those right apps to install. for some applications, i dont think using on small screen is good. calculaor, calendar on watch is good. a slightly larger screen on watch is essential. future smartwatch could be larger. 1.5" or larger. i wonder why evernote stopped their support on wear os. i made many great notes on my evetnote. it would be wonderful if i can check some important short note on my easily accessible wrist. i wonder why image capturing, voice recording is not yet available on watch.

        with a smarteatch, time management has become easier, more efficient and fun. foot steps counting makes users concern more on exercises. have a new mindset on using smartwatch. it is a great tool. younger generation should try it, and should probably love it.

          Alien , 02 Apr 2018Google Urwerk and you'll find that you get a manual for rea... moreAnd How much is a replica of Urwerk? Is it dollars or pounds?

          While a real Urwerk cost 30k to 40k(whether it is a dollar or pound). It will only sold less than the electronic counterpart.

          And just so you know. I have a need for a smartwatch for monitoring my hearbeat and navigation. A casio would be better than an apple watch. But having a better brand for navigation cost more than an apple watch. Even the WSD-F10 and the latter isn't available in my country.

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            • Alien
            • 3RM
            • 02 Apr 2018

            Foxtrot2Novmbr, 01 Apr 2018How's that a watch if it can't display anything other than ... moreGoogle Urwerk and you'll find that you get a manual for reading the time on their watches..
            That if you can afford one :)
            An Urwerk replica costs as much as a real smartwatch.
            A real urwerk goes for 30-40K

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              • AnonD-94885
              • mhZ
              • 01 Apr 2018

              "We turn to IDC, which shows that Apple basically rules the smartwatch world...."

              When Apple has the market share of 15,3%, Xiaomi has 13,6% and Fitbit 13,3%, how does Apple "basically rule" the smartwatch world (Apple's share on smartwatches is smaller than on smartphones, btw)?

              I have seen this kind of nonsensical writing on GSMArena quite often. I don't think that serves the readership well.

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                • 3iY
                • 01 Apr 2018

                Anonymous, 01 Apr 2018I would love a watch, which doesn't cost as much as phone a... moreAmazfit bip price about 60$, battery life about 45 days

                  Alien , 01 Apr 2018Smart watches are silly.. Even though I'm a geek and I love... moreHow's that a watch if it can't display anything other than minutes, and no hours?

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                    • Anonymous
                    • srQ
                    • 01 Apr 2018

                    I would love a watch, which doesn't cost as much as phone and has acceptable battery life (maybe 1 week on single charge isn't much to ask).

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                      • Eske Rahn
                      • s0D
                      • 01 Apr 2018

                      The IDEA of a smartwatch is good, but the technology simply isn't there yet...

                      * The device should 'instantly' recognise the face and turn on - even in poor light (IR?).
                      * it should last long on a single charge - preferably charge somehow by body heat or sun.
                      * It should not be much over 5mm thick to stay discrete, and not damage / be damaged by the surroundings, by 'sticking out'.
                      * Should also fit the majority of peoples arms - the current ones are only acceptable for people that are really heavily build (or fat) with broad arms.
                      * Should be light enough to be comfortable to wear.
                      * Should not be so large that sweat under it becomes an issue.

                      ...and this combination is not possible with the currently available commercial technology.

                      But it does NOT need to be like the classic watch with a circular active area, and a large passive band. There could be display/function on three sides.

                      Imagine you could slap your phablet around the wrist like a bicycle ankle slap wrap...

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                        • mvG
                        • 01 Apr 2018

                        Would love a smartwatch that showed if there was new texts or missed calls (besides time).
                        Gladly welcoming a smartwatch that allowed for changing the screen from steam/diesel punk to sober elegance.
                        But all smartwatches do, seems to be monitoring once private live with phone apps and web connection.

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                          • Nzi97
                          • fFA
                          • 01 Apr 2018

                          Shanti Dope, 01 Apr 2018Some OEMs have stopped making smartwatches because what the... moreWell, almost correct entirely,
                          Since smartwatch is one of the thing that can be said as a tool that will be very capable only for a right user

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                            • TN1
                            • PSw
                            • 01 Apr 2018

                            Now that I'm seriously getting fit, it made sense getting a smartwatch and closely monitoring my activity k-calories, intake, and yeah the benefits of NOT having to whip out my phone for notifications, answering SMS, making calls, for remote controlling my music, and the occasional speaker phone session for quick calls.

                            I mean, it took me over a year to finally decide that the Gear S3 Frontier was right for me. I even bought the Gear Sport till I realized the screen was a bit more small than I liked - passed it on to my wife.

                            The Bluetooth connection has been great - no complaints. Battery is 2 days maximum the way I use it, but I put it on the charger before my morning baths. It doesn't take much effort to do that, right?

                            Smartwatches aren't for everyone, just like not everyone wears a watch. Not everyone are into running, and not everyone need Spotify playlist on their watches. It's not everywhere paying stuff with your watch is a thing. Not everyone is into fitness. It takes a majority of these needs for some people to get one.

                              TBH I prefer fitness tracker and smartbands over smartwatches

                                Some OEMs have stopped making smartwatches because what the heck do we need our watches do more than telling us the time and date?
                                Smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, and all of those have evolutionized because they are needed for everyday activities of people (for work, for school, for whatever daily routine of people) while watches are nothing more than for telling time and date.

                                We don't need our watches to browse internet, play music, tell our calories, or whatever just to pay that more money for smartwatches.
                                I have seen a few people with smartwatches and honestly, not even a microsecond, have I ever felt like also buying one. My friend has one, and I find it cool for less than 5 minutes.
                                People just don't see the point of smartwatches. They'd rather buy a smart refrigerator than a "pretty much useless" smartwatch.

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                                  • 01 Apr 2018

                                  Alien , 01 Apr 2018Smart watches are silly.. Even though I'm a geek and I love... morewhy don't you try those hybrid smart watches. it comes with replaceable batteries.

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                                    • krtshv
                                    • 8k9
                                    • 01 Apr 2018

                                    Anonymous, 01 Apr 2018I see more and more people having an Apple Watch. But I onl... moreYou're forgetting it's mainly because Apple fans will buy literally anything with an Apple logo on it (Apple watch only works on iOS, anyway.. meaning Apple fans are more likely to buy that over an android watch). But either way, I find smartwatches useless, especially the way overpriced Apple ones. My current timepiece cost me just over $1,000, a little more than the Apple metal band version, however unlike the Apple watch mine is actually made with real sapphire (and not a Sapphire-like composite), and it won't become obsolete in 2-3 years when the electronics inside of it die (because there aren't any). It won't even run out of battery, since it's Automatic.

                                      Closest store is apple store, may have something to do with that. If only smartphone brand store in town is apple(or with the most stores), you can expect that.

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                                        • Alien
                                        • 3RM
                                        • 01 Apr 2018

                                        Anonymous, 01 Apr 2018I see more and more people having an Apple Watch. But I onl... moreSmart watches are silly.. Even though I'm a geek and I love technology, I'd still choose a classic watch over a useless gizmo every time, even a cool replica.
                                        Why do you need to know how many steps you took today? What's relevant about that? Unless you're working for nasa or you're doing scientific research and you're using it as a tool, smart watches are dumb. Just another thing that won't work unless charged, another pain in the az..
                                        Now THIS is a watch! https://d23x6d9cx8qezf.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/URWERK-UR-105-T-Rex-SIHH-2016-10.jpg

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