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WOW! I cant tell you how much i like this keyboard with my Mogul. It paired up with no driver download required. Just make sure you enter the same passcode and press return with the keyboard immediately after pairing with the ppc. Instructions are minimal in the box, online are better. I thought it worked very well right out of the box. It was fairly accurate and seemed to improve as I used it and played with the sensitivity (lessened it, as I was getting multiple letters occasionally. It makes a click sound every time a key is recognized. The laser projected keyboard is very visible in all but the brightest of rooms. The futuristic look and function is beyond belief. The reviews were slamming it for some reason. While it might not be the ultiimate solution to mobile computing, it is so easy on my eyes (much more so than the onscreen popup keyboard, tactile keyboard or "full screen keyboards) I dont have to use my reading glasses! I paid $149.00 at Fry's in stock here in Houston. Total accident that I stumbled onto it. Did i say it is less than 1/2 pack of cigarettes in size? A bluetooth laser projected vrtual keyboard! You have been warned. I saw this same thing floating around the net years ago and thought it would never happen. It has and it works! Now I want the bluetooth projector (not out, but was in same picture years ago).
Anyway now for the cons, andd they are minor in my opinion. It requires sitting on a flat surface (has a microswitch on bottom that turns it off if lifted though it repairs instantly upon repowering) which makes use in a car difficult if not impossible especially if moving (now if they would have built a clip on it to clip it upright on say a notepad!) That is about it. Btw I paid retail and get no compensation from any manufacturer and I think it was worth it. You wont believe the look on friends faces when you pop it out of your top pocket!
link to the manufacturer's or reseller's website please?
Wow, this is really expensive.
http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/
I'm not sure I'd want to use a bluetooth keyboard when the Mogul already has a built-in keyboard, kind of overkill if you ask me.
Also, what's the battery life on this thing and the effect on the Mogul when paired up with it?
Here is the link http://www.vkb-support.com/index.php
The claimed battery life is 2 hours of active typing. The laser dosent use much power I wouldnt think. Also you think the keyboard on the mogul is good? You must have great eyes and be into texting. It is not a better keyboard (the mogul) nor is it more accurate. Re: The price yes at 149.00 it wasnt cheap, however a bluetooth folding keyboard is 149.00 at Best Buy and a palm bluetooth (not compatible with ppc) was 89.00. So you choose what you spend your money on. I personally think it is one of the most futuristic accessories I have have ever seen and it works very well maybe not perfect but neither is the user! 2 good dinners for my family of 5 easily costs the same and all I get is a larger waist with the dinner. Cya
Those are some cheap dinners...
Fastest1 said:
Here is the link http://www.vkb-support.com/index.php
The claimed battery life is 2 hours of active typing. The laser dosent use much power I wouldnt think. Also you think the keyboard on the mogul is good? You must have great eyes and be into texting. It is not a better keyboard (the mogul) nor is it more accurate. Re: The price yes at 149.00 it wasnt cheap, however a bluetooth folding keyboard is 149.00 at Best Buy and a palm bluetooth (not compatible with ppc) was 89.00. So you choose what you spend your money on. I personally think it is one of the most futuristic accessories I have have ever seen and it works very well maybe not perfect but neither is the user! 2 good dinners for my family of 5 easily costs the same and all I get is a larger waist with the dinner. Cya
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Click to collapse
WOAHHH!!!
you can get TWO dinners for 5 people for $150? Where are you? In NYC a family of 5 can't eat that cheaply unless they go to McDonald's.
Still not understanding though, the Mogul/Titan HAS a built-in keyboard doesn't it? Why then do you need a second keyboard?
yes it does have a tactile keyboard, an onscreen keyboard and i have even dowloaded larger onscreen keypads, however none of those are like typing on a full size keyboard. The VKB is better when being at a stationary location and would like to type easier. I avoid detail when using any of the onboard solutions due to the inconvenience. I am over 40 and the ability to read without glasses is slipping away and that has a lot to do with my preference and the fact I actually TALKED to the girls I was chasing when I was young and single so Texting isnt second nature to me. I really want a total voice command of some type preferably not via a web connection but onboard the phone. Actually if HTC would combine a virtual projector, vitual keyboard and phone the size of say a credit card with a terragig? Is that too much to ask? or do I have to wait for an underdeveloped nation to bring it to me? Btw regarding food, I didnt say a nice restaraunt or nutritious! and surely no good drinks. In NYC you couldnt even afford the toll road to get to the restaraunt with 5 people!
we take the subway
Fastest1 said:
Btw regarding food, I didnt say a nice restaraunt or nutritious! and surely no good drinks. In NYC you couldnt even afford the toll road to get to the restaraunt with 5 people!
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toll road? unless you're part of the bridge and tunnel crowd coming into the city, we take the subway by and large. It's efficient, clean, and safe. Just the tourists are afraid of it. Don't know why, but that's their lookout.
Oh, and there's plenty of places to eat that are affordable, just not kansas affordable (no knock on kansas, I just have to believe that prices in kansas are considerably less than NY).
I have one of these, and I like it, but there are probably a few things you should consider before paying the bucks. First, it's got a major cool factor attached to it, however, if you touch type, it's likely going to drive you crazy, it's a full sized virtual keyboard, but there is no touch feedback, you're going to have to watch yourself type unless you get very good. Also, it's no good in high light situations, you won't be able to see the projection of the keyboard. It will only work on a stable, flat surface, don't expect to be able to whip it out in your car or lap (has a cut-off switch on the bottom, and does NOT like anything that will interfere with the infra-red reading that detects your finger touch on the surface).
Now, all that being said, it's still extremely neat and handy to be able to carry a full sized keyboard easily in your pocket, and using it will certainly turn heads, and even having to look at the keyboard to type, I can still certainly out pace my typing on the hardware or software keyboard on my kaiser and tytn..
It is HID compliant, and will be picked up as an input device natively in wm5 and wm6 from my experience. It is rechargable, and has a decent run time, never used it until it's died, so can't say on real world total run time.
http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/hktechphooey/post.htm?id=63004110&scid=hm_bl#talkbackList
Why on Earth would someone even consider buying this "could have been good, but sucked by HTC as always" ?
Just READ before you buy. You will HAVE the 3D support missing on other devices, though maybe for 2 hours only before recharging.
I was attracted, but this a NO-NO-No for sure
EDIT: any REVIEWS based on 20 minutes usage are NOT representative.
ceevee369 said:
http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/hktechphooey/post.htm?id=63004110&scid=hm_bl#talkbackList
Why on Earth would someone even consider buying this "could have been good, but sucked by HTC as always" ?
Just READ before you buy. You will HAVE the 3D support missing on other devices, though maybe for 2 hours only before recharging.
I was attracted, but this a NO-NO-No for sure
EDIT: any REVIEWS based on 20 minutes usage are NOT representative.
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i had a 24 hours vacation and i bought my diamond at the beginning of it so i'll have time to test it (tomorrow, back to work).
so, after 24 hours with diamond in my hand and i mean this literally, it was all the time with me, made calls, sync, installed all my progs and played with it ("we" did have 4 hours brake, for sleep and recharging) i can say it shortly:
every single word in the above blog is truth! all i can add is that:
1. not working with igo8 and spb backup is a big thumb down for me. 2
2. charging from the pc with a regular usb cable is slow and rises the temperature of the whole room (just kidding but the diamond gets really warm-hot)
3. charging with athena's charger is "fast and furios" (from 30% to 100% in less than an hour, 600-700mA) and to my surprise less heating!?
4. not using the touchflow makes wonders (but we bought it for the touchflow, didn't we?).
and put my money where my mouth is, i think i'll returned tomorrow without any refunding till the pro is going to be available here. i'll hate the dimensions (back to trinity's bulky case?!) but at least i'll have something to use and not only play.
I don't care what any reviewers say. I don't need others to give me my opinion. I only really need 7 to 8 hours of battery life, and I don't need some of the feaures that waste a lot of power, so I'm definitely getting a Touch Diamond.
Dark Fire said:
I don't care what any reviewers say. I don't need others to give me my opinion. I only really need 7 to 8 hours of battery life, and I don't need some of the feaures that waste a lot of power, so I'm definitely getting a Touch Diamond.
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lol! nobody told you not to!
honestly, i would be very greatfull now if i could read this yesterday! i am sorry, i didn't. this is one of the greatest things here, in the forum: we learn one from the another (or not...).
KukurikU said:
i had a 24 hours vacation and i bought my diamond at the beginning of it so i'll have time to test it (tomorrow, back to work).
so, after 24 hours with diamond in my hand and i mean this literally, it was all the time with me, made calls, sync, installed all my progs and played with it ("we" did have 4 hours brake, for sleep and recharging) i can say it shortly:
every single word in the above blog is truth! all i can add is that:
1. not working with igo8 and spb backup is a big thumb down for me. 2
2. charging from the pc with a regular usb cable is slow and rises the temperature of the whole room (just kidding but the diamond gets really warm-hot)
3. charging with athena's charger is "fast and furios" (from 30% to 100% in less than an hour, 600-700mA) and to my surprise less heating!?
4. not using the touchflow makes wonders (but we bought it for the touchflow, didn't we?).
and put my money where my mouth is, i think i'll returned tomorrow without any refunding till the pro is going to be available here. i'll hate the dimensions (back to trinity's bulky case?!) but at least i'll have something to use and not only play.
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Click to collapse
so, quoting my self after a few more hours of diamond usage under my belt:
1. wrong! working with the spb backup. btw, fantastic backup with an option to unpack yr backup file. free to choose what you backup or restore.
2.&3. using the original charger and with the athena's usb cable - fast charge.
4.tweaked touchflow -great improvment
conclusion: returning the diamond? over my dead body! i love it!
what a turn-around!
jehlinger said:
what a turn-around!
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got a fat check, 2 spare diamonds and one htc pro from htc inc. all i have to do: keep my mouth shut about the flows and yap about what a great breakthrough this gadget is. as you can easily guess i humbly accepted..
p.s. don't tell anybody else!
KukurikU said:
so, quoting my self after a few more hours of diamond usage under my belt:
1. wrong! working with the spb backup. btw, fantastic backup with an option to unpack yr backup file. free to choose what you backup or restore.
2.&3. using the original charger and with the athena's usb cable - fast charge.
4.tweaked touchflow -great improvment
conclusion: returning the diamond? over my dead body! i love it!
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Click to collapse
Good, you made me doubt buying it when its in stock in the UK, just have to justify it with my GF now, unfortunately she knows the high price for it and wont be impressed.
Off topic, kinda, is it a deffinate that a better battery will be released by HTC for the diamond?
KukurikU said:
got a fat check, 2 spare diamonds and one htc pro from htc inc. all i have to do: keep my mouth shut about the flows and yap about what a great breakthrough this gadget is. as you can easily guess i humbly accepted..
p.s. don't tell anybody else!
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Click to collapse
ROFL... that's a good one
I really have concerns about the battery, too. I guess that I probably will not use it as much on a regular basis that I would drain the battery before being able to charge it in the evening. But I guess that is the case for a lot of people and you would just want to be sure that on a day when you actually need it that it lasts...
Therefore I will go with the PRO (and because of the microSDHC slot)...
Jorlin said:
ROFL... that's a good one
I really have concerns about the battery, too. I guess that I probably will not use it as much on a regular basis that I would drain the battery before being able to charge it in the evening. But I guess that is the case for a lot of people and you would just want to be sure that on a day when you actually need it that it lasts...
Therefore I will go with the PRO (and because of the microSDHC slot)...
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after reading a few posts here i got scared by the battery life as described here. what i found out:
1. there is a sudden fall from 100% to 80%. it's fast. after this everything went normal and i did mange to see the end of the day without a recharge. no 3g, and only 5 minutes of wifi.
2. i spend enough time in my car or in my office to keep the beast feed. how much time do we real spend far from an outlet/car??? not too much so no worry. of course i'll buy the extended battery!
3. charging from the pc is a pain in the but. so i tried the "special" fast charge usb cable i stole from my htc athena. wow! fast and COOL charge. if you don't have one you can made one as described in my "how to" at: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=387531, post no 6.
4. the memory tweak is good and efficient. the "turn face down" yr phone to silent the ring is working fine but after the first reset is gone (it cost me two voluntary hard resets to find out that there is nobody else to blame). the registry key it keeps the value "0" but the damn thing refuse to do its job.
5. the reception is fine.
6. sound quality is more than ok or fine...is very good.
7. a2dp is the best i ever have. using core player and my old stereo bt headphones was an amazing and more than satisfying experience.
8. used also core player to watch an action movie and i was again impressed. not a glitch!!
9. it fits in my shirt pocket even with my cigarette pack and i am amused by the expression on my friends faces when i slide it out.
9. the shiny, black gadget is a chick magnet and something to brag about.
in 3 words: i love it!
Maybe a stupid question but what are we (the average htc user) expecting from a phone like the Diamond?
Does it need to have enough battery power to run tomtom navigation for 24 hours (hint: carkits) or do we need to be able to just make calls (not the ones with your girlfriend that take about 4 hours talking about the color of her toe nails she should wair tomorrow) getting your email and other things the average user does? This allso brings me to the memory point. How on earth did we manage with the old nokia 6 and 7 series phones? They just had enough memory to have a bloody ringtone? I sure think it's a shame we dont have a sd slot or the option to expand the memory but i'm allso pretty sure i wont fill up that 4Gb unless i'm going to start collecting crap stuff on it.
I'm allso aware there ARE users who want to run stuff that keep your mobile screen running most of the time and have a girlfriend who really needs to know what color she should use and must have the entire collection of mp3's they downloaded the past 5 years with them 24/7... for those users they will hopefully invent a phone with a car battery and static harddisks
But seriously, think about the power drain the larger screens consume when they are lit a lot of the time. I'm afraid the batteries will be a limiting factor for allmost all phones i guess?
Well, I agree with you guys that with a device that small there have to be compromises.
And for using the Diamond just as a phone and PDA the battery is apparently completely sufficient to carry you through the day.
But the phone comes with GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G... And the thing is, when you need those features the most you probably cannot just charge the device in between (e.g. you travel/business trip etc.).
So for me this does not meet MY expectations even if this phone would fail them only once a week or once a month... I need to be able to use the device with some web browsing, phone calls, some GPS (GPS is great not only when you are in a car), using PDA software and listening to some music without the need to recharge it.
Why? Because I do not want to make this compromise...
And if you compare these features with older phones and raise the point that we did not need that or were fine with this 5 years ago, I simply have to reply that your expectations simply change with the options you have. I want to do it because I can do it...
And since an extended battery probably almost adds up to a "bulkiness" comparable to the PRO version, I will go with the PRO right away
Jorlin said:
Well, I agree with you guys that with a device that small there have to be compromises.
And for using the Diamond just as a phone and PDA the battery is apparently completely sufficient to carry you through the day.
But the phone comes with GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G... And the thing is, when you need those features the most you probably cannot just charge the device in between (e.g. you travel/business trip etc.).
So for me this does not meet MY expectations even if this phone would fail them only once a week or once a month... I need to be able to use the device with some web browsing, phone calls, some GPS (GPS is great not only when you are in a car), using PDA software and listening to some music without the need to recharge it.
Why? Because I do not want to make this compromise...
And if you compare these features with older phones and raise the point that we did not need that or were fine with this 5 years ago, I simply have to reply that your expectations simply change with the options you have. I want to do it because I can do it...
And since an extended battery probably almost adds up to a "bulkiness" comparable to the PRO version, I will go with the PRO right away
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i guess i am lucky with my diamond AND my athena. if i want to dl/read my e-mail i am using athena, in my car, calls and gps also athena (i wired the headphones output to my car stereo aux in). diamond is when i walk or i am really on the field. each ppc has his time and use..hehehe..still i very rarely download email or surf when i am "out". besides i always have my trusted laptop with me, a very nice source for recharging the smaller brothers or replace them with his powerful wifi. i think i don't miss a thing in the "mobility" field.
@KukurikU:
Hrhr... I see your point.
I am a doctor and I do not take my laptop to work on a regular basis and I like using a PPC to quickly check some offline database for drugs etc.
Having the chance to check mails without having to go to my office is not the worst thing if you work all over the hospital. That's the same for checking RSS feeds or some easy stuff on the internet. I think this could be nice... and I just cannot take more than one device with me while working.
And that is more or less the same for GPS. If you are "on the go" you really want it to last a little bit...
As said before, even if this is not on a regular basis, you just do not want to run out of energy when you need it.
And honestly because of that I really appreciate that HTC is launching the PRO to address the different needs of customers. If I would work at one office place the whole day, I'd get a second charger and could just charge the Diamond in the middle of the day just within the reach of my hands.
But fortunately I do not have a job like this
Ok, After a week with the DIamond, heres what i think.
The BAD:
1- Battery sux big time, barely a day ( WIFI,3G,Bluetooth=OFF).
2- Performance of the TF3D is not that great, especially opening sms's & emails.
3-A Lot of compatibility issues with your best Appz, some of them wont work.
4-Chrging with usb IS S-L-O-W & the phone does get hot.
The Good:
1- I love the TF3D, it eventually grows on you,just needs some tweaking to speed things up & maybe customize it a little.
2- I love the G-sensor, with time software developers can make wonders using it, example : Flip the phone now to silent.
3- About freaking time to have a vga screen, no way im turning back to QVGA.
4-Hardware is awesome, 528Mhz, 192/256 RAM/ROM and with modified rom, i see a great potential for this phone.
5- Ohh browsing on this phone is great, using the smart wheel, u can enlarge & its great, like an iphone.
-----------------------------------
If i was asked to weight it all in, i would still keep it & just wait for some roms.
If you didnt buy it yet, wait for the Touch pro, has a keyboard, 1300Mah battery & fullkeyboard.
I got the Tyt-II & actually never used the keyboard but i like the saying that goes " I'd rather have it & not need it then Need it & not have it".
Its a phone that has great potential but needs some time.
I am wondering if all the reviews that are out right now have the final rom (/the rom update that caused the delay in shippment of the first batch of Touch Diamonds)...
If not, we might see some differences and hopefully improvements on some of the issues that people report.
For 1 week playing with my Diamond, so far never hang and everything looking good!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ROM Version: 1.35.707.3 WWE
ROM Date: 28-5-08
Radio Version: 0.93.25.NS26
Protocal Version: 52.26.25.09H
Jorlin said:
I am wondering if all the reviews that are out right now have the final rom (/the rom update that caused the delay in shippment of the first batch of Touch Diamonds)...
If not, we might see some differences and hopefully improvements on some of the issues that people report.
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I have thought about this too, I'm hopefull, that this is indeed the situation!
Regarding battery, I will get a second battery (normal, not extended) and the cradle that charges the device plus a spare battery. If I run out during the day, I will just swap batteries. Most days I won't need it, but it will be there if I do.
ceevee369 said:
http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/hktechphooey/post.htm?id=63004110&scid=hm_bl#talkbackList
Why on Earth would someone even consider buying this "could have been good, but sucked by HTC as always" ?
Just READ before you buy. You will HAVE the 3D support missing on other devices, though maybe for 2 hours only before recharging.
I was attracted, but this a NO-NO-No for sure
EDIT: any REVIEWS based on 20 minutes usage are NOT representative.
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Click to collapse
Mate, seriously.. wtf?
I read that review... That guy likes the phone! It has several shortcomings, but it's obvious. As several people said it already, with that thin a phone, especially a WM, with SO MANY features, you're bound to have some compromises.. And this phone still rocks!
Secondly.. Check the coolsmartphone website.. The guy had it for a week (same as your reviewer), but he made the review into a video-blog! SEVERAL HOURS of pwnage video with the diamond! Obviously, it's not perfect.. but you get an almost full overview of the features..
Seriously, some people's expectations are waaaay high =/
Hi guys, this is just a tip for WMWifiRouter users, that use kaiser alot in home with wireless conections like me, we all know that the phone gets to hot and turns off, and the battery dosnt even charge, so i come up with this very easy solution, problably there is better ones but this one was good to me and i made it in 10 minutes or so..
Material:
-A tape;
-A cooler (i took one from a old computer, 12v ,11A actually was the right size for the tape);
-Glue;
-4 screws;
So i stuck the tape to the cooler, be sure the cooler is at the right side, then i added 4 screws under the cooler so the cooler dosnt touch the table, and it throws more air to the mobile, and i pluged it to the computer, so every time i turn my computer on it turns the cooler on also.
You can charge the battery as long as you wish because it will be allways cold, and the kaiser can stay on as long as you need it to be on, you will see in the fotos below that the led is allways green.
And that´s it, problably some of you will think this maybe some stupid idea but it helped me with the problem and it tooked me 10 minutes to solve it, not expensive and very easy to make.
greets to all comunity
And sorry for my bad english lol
Haha! Nice one! I enjoyed that Lets see: tape *check* (...)
it is funny looking.. real smart and i like it.. but funny. good idea
nice that someone liked it
Yes, the Kaiser is using the Pentium4 of Qualcomm processors.
Good idea - I try to hold it up to the car's A/C usually while traveling for the same reasons with Navizon heating things up.
Did anyone have more ideas? maybe more sofisticated...
very nice work - it looks quite nice and practical.
you coulc also try something like this http://www.coolitsystems.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=133
mech_supernova said:
you coulc also try something like this http://www.coolitsystems.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=133
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Looks nice, only bad thing is must pay for it :S
mine looks cheaper lol
Hahaha!
Ghetto fabulous!
Is it possible to make a program for motorcycling, to see your actual bank and save the highest value?
I would pay 15 Euros for such a programm!
mathiaspe said:
Is it possible to make a program for motorcycling, to see your actual bank and save the highest value?
I would pay 15 Euros for such a programm!
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Click to collapse
are you talking about recording speed/distance with gps? If so, you can try run.gps at:www.rungps.net.
I think by bank he means how far the bik leans over to one side. I think this would be pretty tricky as you'd probably have to mount the phone in the centre of the bike and then calibrate it, it would probably have to know how high it was off the ground too.
ljames28 said:
I think by bank he means how far the bik leans over to one side. I think this would be pretty tricky as you'd probably have to mount the phone in the centre of the bike and then calibrate it, it would probably have to know how high it was off the ground too.
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Click to collapse
Not to mention that centripedal en centrifugal are in balance (hence the bike doesn't fall in or out of the corner) , so the Gsensor would read a center position...
But it would be pretty cool.
Lets try to get a bigger lean angle than Nicky Hayden.
Grtz H5N1_NL (aka mrZX7R)
If i were you I wouldnt be relying on the gsensor in a phone to stop you from crashing your bike. Using it as a water level or a lightsaber for fun makes sense, but using it to actually decide how far you lean your bike sounds a somewhat dangerous. I as a software writer wouldn't write anything like this knowing it could put people in danger
Wouldn't mind seeing an app that could measure the G forces when going around corners like some of those expensive sports cars can and could save the biggest G.
On screen you would have a big display showing the live G force with a smaller one next to it showing the biggest G at the time, could be a fun app.
I'll be the first to admit that a large part of my rationale for purchasing the LG G Watch R was gadget lust as opposed to a logical cost/benefit evaluation.
Here's what I've learned:
1) I don't use the notifications nearly as much as I thought. Why? Because honestly it isn't that hard to pull out my phone and look. While the watch interface is cool, it is just too small to "do anything" with as with a small effort I could do that same thing much better on my phone.
2) A large reason I got this was to reduce distraction of looking at my phone while driving. Well again, the problem is, the text is so small and cannot scroll without two hands that it may actually be MORE distracting, not less. Also, I wear glasses to drive. Since I am near-sighted, I cannot see whats on my watch while wearing my glasses. So if I get a notification while driving I need to take off my glasses and take my eyes off the road to look. Hopefully while doing all this I don't hit a school bus full of somebody's babies.
3) Much of the notification work the watch does is already done by my small but powerful bluetooth headset. Text messages read, check. Turn by turn navigation read, check.
Funny thing is that most of the time what I find myself using the watch for is telling the time, temp and battery levels of my devices. Granted I don't go to a lot of meetings so getting texts surreptitiously on my wrist is not a benefit for me while it may be for others.
The #1 drawback (besides the price) of this watch is simply that I have to wear a watch. I have a $6,000 Rolex that I never wear for work because it annoys me when typing. The LG G R has the same issue.
So anyway, if I had to do it all again, would I? No, probably not. What does intrigue me is the new idea of a small curved LCD notification attachment for the wristband of your current mechanical watch. Now that would be useful.
I'm slowly gearing up to sell mine. The novelty has worn off and I really don't wear it as much as I thought I would - it just doesn't DO anything useful aside from having a customizable colorful watchface and showing me notifications, for which I have to take the phone out anyway to respond.
Also, I constantly worry that I'll damage it by hitting or bumping it somewhere, and that only stresses me out.
I got it for $210 with tax and shipping when T-Mobile had that 30% off coupon (along with 5% cash back from my Discover card), so I'm going to probably break even since it's in pristine condition.
I bought mine to replace my old Sony Smartwatch2. It's a great device and I found that I cannot live w/o a smartwatch to my wrist. Thanks to this little buddy, I'm barely touching my phone which leads to great battery life. Watch on the wrist, bluetooth handsfree in the ear, phone in the pocket ... no need to touch it unless I have to send a message.
So my answer is YES ... definitely.
Today I will buy it again hands down, in fact if I lost it or break it I will buy another one as soon as I get Internet access. I've had a Smartwatch (meaning a watch connected to your mobile by bluetooth) since 2009 and I can't understand how did I manage to have a mobile phone without these watches before.
Yes, I've worn a wristwatch since I remember, never had a problem typing or anything else, I'm used to it.
I love a vibration in my wrist rather than in my pocket/backpack/table while charging... (I like my mobile making sounds just when I intentionally play that sound)
I love notifications with no vibration or noise as well, it just stays there on my watch waiting for me.
I check temperature, possible rain, wind speed and direction, just with a quick look, I know what to wear faster than before.
I read and archive non-important emails faster than before, I read messages that doesn't need to be replied faster than before.
I can switch my Wi-Fi light in the garden easily while riding my bike when I'm getting close to my house.
I can check my shopping list while shopping, leaving my hands free to grab things and avoiding the risk of my mobile hitting the floor.
I could keep writing reasons for a while more, but you get my point, I love it, I need it and yes, I'll buy it again and again (until there's one better out there for me to buy)
I hope I didn't do too much harm to English language BTW.
Cheers!
Yes, I would buy again. Especially since I got mine for just $210, when T-Mobile had a discount code.
I replaced a Samsung Gear Live. I'm very happy going from square to round. The only thing the Gear Live has over the "R" is that it does not have screen burn in as easily. But I'm change my watch face all the time with my "R", so burn-in has not been an issue for me.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
One of the things which has lessened my enjoyment is that when I walk away from my phone and the Bluetooth disconnects, often it takes forever to reconnect if it does at all. Weird that my $30 bluetooth headset reconnects instantaneously but my $300 smartwatch cannot.
I guess I was hoping for a smarter "smart" watch.
mitchellvii said:
One of the things which has lessened my enjoyment is that when I walk away from my phone and the Bluetooth disconnects, often it takes forever to reconnect if it does at all. Weird that my $30 bluetooth headset reconnects instantaneously but my $300 smartwatch cannot.
I guess I was hoping for a smarter "smart" watch.
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I suspect that would cost much more battery. It's probably just a matter of the polling rate.
I also think it may depend on how long things are away from each other. To me, when I'm away a short period of time it reconnects faster, than when I'm away a longer period of time. So it's possible the polling rate adjust to wait longer when, it seems you'll be away from the phone for a while.
I have never had a case where the "R" failed to reconnect, but sometimes it takes longer than other times.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
Darnell_Chat_TN said:
I suspect that would cost much more battery. It's probably just a matter of the polling rate.
I also think it may depend on how long things are away from each other. To me, when I'm away a short period of time it reconnects faster, than when I'm away a longer period of time. So it's possible the polling rate adjust to wait longer when, it seems you'll be away from the phone for a while.
I have never had a case where the "R" failed to reconnect, but sometimes it takes longer than other times.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
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Don't think battery life has anything to do with it. My tiny Bluetooth headset reconnects instantly and it has 11 hours talk time. I think its just bad engineering. Its unreasonable to expect the user to accept a disconnected smart watch for any more than a millisecond.
You should not compare a bluetooth handsfree with a smartwatch. The protocols used are different as well as the transferred content and amount of data.
And, because the protocols are different, it is also a matter of hot the phone is behaving with the bluetooth pooling of the clients. Don't jump into blaming bad engineering.
Anyway, my watch is reconnecting in a matter of seconds after I get back in the range of the phone (Z1 Compact).
I'm not using my smartwatch all that much simply because I don't get too much notifications
Would I buy it again? Definitely
I have been and would be wearing a regular watch (which was more expensive than the LGWR) anyways and I love the little “extra” I get from a smartwatch
Most importantly, for me the watch is a fashion statement and that’s where the LGWR does an OK job, which makes it feasible to me (looks good and you can’t immediately identify it as a smartwatch). Are there better looking watches out there? yes, but to me the smart is worth it
I would buy again, But i am typically an early adopter of alot of things. I want to run the face full time on but havent yet. Still nervous. Ive had it since released at TMo. Coming from the Pebble Steel, Id like the watch to always be on.
I had a normal Pebble before. I dont want miss this watch anymore. I wont sell it. I knew how the system is before I got it. So I knew what it can do and what it cant do.
Im very pleased.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
I definitely would buy a smartwatch, but not now.
I love my G Watch R, but I think there are a lot of important things the watch still misses, such as NFC, a speaker, and a better version of Android Wear, and as a student, I wouldn't be able to buy another GWR + the next generation.
So I think that, if I lost it or if I broke it, I would probably wait for the next generation, if I'm able to wait.
I think before being a Gadget, the smartwatches are watches, and it has to be bought as a watch.
I use my smartwatch all the time, to read notifications, mails, messages ... But also as a sleep tracker, and even to read my shopping list when I go to the supermarket. I used to read my shopping list with my phone, and I have to admit that it's a lot better with the watch ! It's very usefull to make simple calculs with the calculator app as well.
All these extra things doesn't justify the price, but comparing to the price of a normal watch, it worth it as a watch for sure !
mitchellvii said:
Don't think battery life has anything to do with it. My tiny Bluetooth headset reconnects instantly and it has 11 hours talk time. I think its just bad engineering. Its unreasonable to expect the user to accept a disconnected smart watch for any more than a millisecond.
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Battery is the exact issue at hand here. It's your phone thats making the reconnect request, not the watch. The Android Wear app is designed to request a reconnect at certain intervals (I believe it's 16 seconds a couple of times, then 32, 64, 128, then finally topped out at 256). This is used not to destroy your phones battery life. I'm suspecting they designed it this way KNOWING that we will walk away from our phones a lot more often with a watch, as compared to a bluetooth headset.
So, for the record, it's quite the opposite of bad engineering. Maybe in time someone will figure out how to mod the app to change the intervals.
Anyways reading your OP, it sounds like a lot of the issues with this watch are pertaining to personal issues/preference. To each is their own of course, I actually have none of the issues that you describe (besides the longer 128 and 256 reconnect intervals), so I would definately buy this watch again. Works like a dream, a lot better than the Pebble Steel I previously owned and sold. Working in the public safety sector, this watch definitely helps me out.
Yes. I love it. It's great at work in the business world
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Bad user experience means bad engineering, period. You can spin it all day and the result is the same. For whatever reason my $800 bleeding edge phone struggles to connect to my $300 (supposed to be bleeding edge) smartwatch while my $30 Bluetooth headset connects and reconnects instantly.
I mean how much battery life is failing to reconnect in a timely manner saving me and why should I care since my long lived smartwatch won't connect to my phone?
Good intentions don't make good engineering. Good results do and this sucks.
mitchellvii said:
Bad user experience means bad engineering, period. You can spin it all day and the result is the same. For whatever reason my $800 bleeding edge phone struggles to connect to my $300 (supposed to be bleeding edge) smartwatch while my $30 Bluetooth headset connects and reconnects instantly.
I mean how much battery life is failing to reconnect in a timely manner saving me and why should I care since my long lived smartwatch won't connect to my phone?
Good intentions don't make good engineering. Good results do and this sucks.
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First off, I am not trying to "spin" anything. I am not a hardcore fanboy, I am just giving simple facts, and you're entitled to your opinion just as I am with mine. I have no problems with my watch "struggling" to connect to my Nexus 5 AT ALL (regardless of their value), what I do notice is the polling taking awhile to connect if I am away from my phone for any extended period of time. You can say its "bad engineering," or software development all you want, but what they are trying (and succeeding) in doing is preventing the Android Wear and Bluetooth apps from popping up in your battery stats with a large amount of battery usage. There would be a lot of people crying here if the watch was sucking up battery because your phone is trying to connect to your watch in 1 second intervals every time you walk away (and for some people who aren't attached to their phones, this would be a big battery drain).
"Bad" user experience as you put it doesn't always mean poor engineering or software development, it just means there's no better way of doing it at the moment. What would have been smart of them to do is have a setting where you can change the polling rate if the user, like yourself, so wanted. Like I said, if your away from your phone for extended periods of time (like an hour at a time per se), that can actually add up to big battery drain if your phone is trying to send the same packets over and over every second.
@mitchellvii : in your case (yes, I read the other topic too) is a problem generated mostly by the phone, not by the watch. Samsung is known to have software issues and a bloated operating system. More than that, if you are on Lolipop with your Note4 this only adds a new layer of uncertainty, especially coming from Samsung.
Don't blame the engineers because they did their job beautifully. From my point of view, this watch delivers very good results.
Then, there is the other possibility: a faulty unit. Nevertheless, my watch is bought in the same day when it arrived in stock here, in Sweden (so I assume is one of the early units) and I did not had any issues with it.
doubleohseven said:
So, for the record, it's quite the opposite of bad engineering. Maybe in time someone will figure out how to mod the app to change the intervals.
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completely agree - but it should be user-configurable
xposed would be the way to go (at least for the non-Lollipop users), hopefully someone can come up with something that makes everyone happy
First 24 hours with the G Watch R after returning a Moto 360 and I couldn't be happier. The heart rate monitor works better, battery life much better, and it is working better with Google Fit. Last night, for the first time, Google Fit was able to detect that I was riding my stationary bike when I was working out as opposed to other activities I had logged previously. Sleep monitoring using Sleep As Android resulted in 85% battery left this morning where the 360 would be dead half of the time. I love being able to have the screen always on and get through a full day with battery to spare. I find it more responsive than the 360 and actually prefer the look of it over the 360.