I disagree with the bad reviews, this thing is BADA$$. - Samsung Galaxy Gear

Been using my Galaxy Gear since Friday, had the weekend to play with it and in my honest opinion those bad reviewers were smoking something. =)
First off, they say there is lag and it's slow to respond. I'm VERY sensitive to lag and I have yet to find any lag on it, the UI is very smooth for me. It registers all of my swipes first try. The only real "slowdown" is S-Voice, but it's really not that bad considering it has to fetch the information and communicate with the phone.
Second they say the camera is mediocre. I disagree, I think the camera is GREAT on a tiny little device like this especially macro shots. Sample attached.
Third, some say it's uncomfortable, I found out after wearing for 10 minutes I hardly notice it on my wrist. It's just as comfortable as any other large men's watch while having a very sleek modern look to it.
Most importantly it doesn't feel like a beta product to me at all, everything works GREAT, it integrates very well with my Note 3. All the things I thought I'd have issues with turns out to be non-issues. I use the stock email client for Gmail and it works fantastic. Battery life is GREAT in day to day use, I went through a whole day of moderate use and still ended with 40 percent life left. It's the perfect companion device for me, I never miss anymore emails, phone calls or text messages. It has a very reliable bluetooth connection, only disconnecting when I'm too far out of range.
Being notified of an email or text message with a discreet little vibration on your wrist during a meeting or movie is priceless. Seeing people's face in awe when you answer a call from your watch never gets old. I'm a cyclist and this thing will be a godsend, I always would have to stop in the middle of a nice ride to check my phone when I receive a text just to see if it's important. Now I can just glance down at my wrist and keep on rolling if it's not urgent.
Lastly, this thing is a chick magnet lol. I had 3 ladies asking me about the watch while standing in line at a show, granted one was like 50+ but still. Chicks see the commercial and they get LOVE IT. I'm happy to report I love it also.

the idea behind the gear is great, but samsung did not impress me with features out of the box. admit it, smartwatch could be done 10 times better, even for 1st generation.
comparing features (except for camera/phone functionality) sony smartwatch 2 has most of them too, and it's like 2.5 times cheaper.
i'm not being cheap or greedy, but paying 300 euros for beta product is way too much in my opinion. i guess it will all change once there are custom roms and more software, but still, this thing should be a beast out of the box on the release day! why do we always have to wait for updates?

Dan37tz said:
Lastly, this thing is a chick magnet lol..
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Agree it is smooth and fast in operation, and as for ladies.... my wife and her daughter want one! Guess I married the right young lady :highfive:

You're preaching to the choir. Great hardware... Love the phone, SVoice and notifications.

I think your just wrong i understand if €300 is a lot of money for you to pay but is it fair to criticise a product because you think it's expensive.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app

thats why i never trust reviewers, remember what they said about the original note? lol

I totally agree with the OP. This device is already great and will get much better.

it's expensive for the things it does. they should include things like sms writing support, full e/gmail browser, web browser, easy way to customize 'clock screen', timer, stopwatch, compass, flashlight (white screen), maps and full notification support i could justify the 300 euros price tag. but at the moment it really lacks simple features, or they are done in an annoying way.

I agree with you

Software software software.... All I read is moans and groans about bloody software. They will come, this is new technology in terms of software.
The real problems are the hardware and that we can do zero about. WHO in their right minds makes a wrist watch that is only water resistant to IP55 ie splashes or minor-some contact with water. If this watch gets a soaking even in the rain it will become a brick.
The clasp. It has the most infamous type of clasp used in the watch trade. There are already threads on this very topic that I warned about when the Gear thread section opened. The sort of clasp is just totally unacceptable for a watch in this price range. The camera is great when there is no moisture on the lens, that hole at the back of the lens needs to be sealed with tape.
The idea, the concept and design are great the software will come BUT this watch may not last long enough to take advantage of further software development. Like it, love it or hate it we cannot blindly enjoy the James Bond feeling for a month or two only, There are several severe hardware features that truly should have been sorted before this came on the market. I hate having to remove this watch every time I go near water and need to immerse my hands. That clasp is already starting to show signs of not closing correctly and those who bend that tiny spigot will soon realise that that bending only resolves the problem for a short time as once we start bending that spigot it weakens the metal and eventually leads to complete clasp failure.
I, like the OP, like the concept and enjoy the experience of ownership but only to a point. I fear a number of those who crow loudly now will soon be writing here about these problems.
I do find it idiotic that some owners have returned their watch due to the lack of software! That is the least of my concerns. This is not a well developed watch. It is also very expensive here in Europe. I don't even want to start the comparison game BUT how does Sony manage to make their devices far more water resistant yet Samsung cannot? OH and don't forget for those of us who live in hot climates its not only rain that causes the damage its also perspiration. Some guys have actually made their own wrist bands to go under the watch strap to prevent perspiration problems! Absurd for us to need to do this.
I do suggest we have a balanced and realistic review of the Gear. It simply isn't all bad and its far from perfect. Its rather clever in so many ways yet.....mmmmmm, not yet there.
Kind regards.

I love the watch, and I too have found a way to wear it and not even notice it's on my wrist.
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app

Ryland Johnson said:
Software software software.... All I read is moans and groans about bloody software. They will come, this is new technology in terms of software.
The real problems are the hardware and that we can do zero about. WHO in their right minds makes a wrist watch that is only water resistant to IP55 ie splashes or minor-some contact with water. If this watch gets a soaking even in the rain it will become a brick.
The clasp. It has the most infamous type of clasp used in the watch trade. There are already threads on this very topic that I warned about when the Gear thread section opened. The sort of clasp is just totally unacceptable for a watch in this price range. The camera is great when there is no moisture on the lens, that hole at the back of the lens needs to be sealed with tape.
The idea, the concept and design are great the software will come BUT this watch may not last long enough to take advantage of further software development. Like it, love it or hate it we cannot blindly enjoy the James Bond feeling for a month or two only, There are several severe hardware features that truly should have been sorted before this came on the market. I hate having to remove this watch every time I go near water and need to immerse my hands. That clasp is already starting to show signs of not closing correctly and those who bend that tiny spigot will soon realise that that bending only resolves the problem for a short time as once we start bending that spigot it weakens the metal and eventually leads to complete clasp failure.
I, like the OP, like the concept and enjoy the experience of ownership but only to a point. I fear a number of those who crow loudly now will soon be writing here about these problems.
I do find it idiotic that some owners have returned their watch due to the lack of software! That is the least of my concerns. This is not a well developed watch. It is also very expensive here in Europe. I don't even want to start the comparison game BUT how does Sony manage to make their devices far more water resistant yet Samsung cannot? OH and don't forget for those of us who live in hot climates its not only rain that causes the damage its also perspiration. Some guys have actually made their own wrist bands to go under the watch strap to prevent perspiration problems! Absurd for us to need to do this.
I do suggest we have a balanced and realistic review of the Gear. It simply isn't all bad and its far from perfect. Its rather clever in so many ways yet.....mmmmmm, not yet there.
Kind regards.
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I disagree with your watch clasp opinion. At first I didn't think I'd like it, but to me, they implemented it well (especially with incorporating the speaker bulge). The bulge of speaker however can get annoying when resting your arm (eg typing on keyboard), but then again I usually take any watch off as even just the standard small, pin in hole type clips annoy me
I think we all agree on the lack of waterproofing and moisture issues needing improvement though...
On a side note, also don't think it's a beta product. It's a proper full release. Just they have a couple of improvements to make like any other first gen thing. First gen does not equal beta!

love mine
galaxy note 3

Love mine, specially now that I have loaded music, videos, apps, email and text work flawlessly, added personal notifications and ringtones. Do I need to go on, this Gear is not supposed to overtake your phone but rather complement it. The apps are coming soon from the developers making this a big success for Samsung.
Ian. B

I just waterproffed my gear with this ! One year waterproofed !! Easy done!
http://www.nanostate.co/

Jeshter2000 said:
I just waterproffed my gear with this ! One year waterproofed !! Easy done!
http://www.nanostate.co/
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Have you or anyone else done this before? I'm curious as how it works and will/does it affect the feel of the phone/watch?
I'm very paranoid about getting my Gear wet. Something like this would be great.

daddyd302 said:
Have you or anyone else done this before? I'm curious as how it works and will/does it affect the feel of the phone/watch?
I'm very paranoid about getting my Gear wet. Something like this would be great.
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Nope never used it before.. But you arent getting your gear wet when Applying it. You just make a paper towel wet with the stuff and start rubbing your Gear in with the solution . Then wipe it off with a dry cloth and tadaa you Gear in nano coated...
Will make a video when I find myself having the time.
The reason I bought this was i was paranoid too when I went to the toilet and needed to wash my hands. Now that is all gone...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNnbU2qn0HA

I agree, I'm really happy with my device, within the first 20 minutes of pairing it to my Note 3 I received a call while I was dressing my son and what do you know my wrist starts ringing and i took a call hands free, my note was on the kitchen bench in the other room. I didnt need to hold my wrist up to my mouth and I could hear clearly and likewise to the person on my call. I look at emails/text messages while in meetings, this feature is really handy, I dont feel as rude by looking at my watch, with one tap of the screen I can read a message. Battery life is good, I can get 2-3 days with moderate usage no problems. At the end of the day $360 for a watch that pairs with my phone is a good deal, considering how much you would pay for a half decent watch. This is something I will stick to now and in the future, for my watch.

$300 for the Gear is fine..The watch design itself is worth the $300, think about a Rolex, or other expensive watches which cost $1000+. The Gear looks just as good as the expensive watches, plus you can do more with the Gear... Much Much more.
Reviews are like Arsewholes, everyone does one, and all of them stink!! Think for yourself, if you don't like it you can always return it..
GEAR UNLEASHED!!!!

I think the main reasons for the bad reviews are the price and that it only (officially) works with the Note 3, for now.
The price doesn't bother me as much since I got Best Buy to match that 30% coupon deal. But considering about a year ago, I spent $170 on a Casio G-Shock that does nothing more than tell me the date, time, and tide tables. Big deal. Decent watches cost money, even $300 is on the lower end.
What I never understood was how these reviewers gush about the Pebble, which has zero appeal to me - and I'm a gadget freak too! The reviews frequently compare the Pebble to the Gear, which is silly because the Gear is on a whole other level! They all talk about how the Pebble has so many apps and the Gear is lacking... how long has the Gear been out, 3 weeks?? Apps will come, not at all worried about that.
I also have no idea what the reviews are talking about re: camera quality. It's like they read the 1.9 MP spec and immediately dismiss it as a crap camera. Photos looks great for what it is, I was actually amazed at how well they looked. My only complaint about the camera is that there is no official way to turn off the shutter sounds, lol.

Related

had to make a tough decision

I was very excited to buy the Nexus 4, and I think not being in the first couple of groups that managed to order the phone turned out to be a good thing. Honestly, the user feedback on this forum and elsewhere has pushed me away, especially after seeing and hearing about he back glass cracking on more than 5 occasions. Actually, 2 such incidents would be one too many. And no, I don't expect this to be solved in any future batches...
This is sad, because I am a true fan of the nexus line and stock android, and I was looking forward to 4.2, as well as always receiving the latest updates.
Well, that ship has sailed, and for now, I've gone and bought the One X+, so let's see how much I'm gonna tolerate HTC sense. I saw it as the next best android alternative, and there's no way in hell I would get a non-android phone...
Maybe if LG and Google prove my theory wrong, I'll go for the nexus 4
Use a case, problem solved
I thought of using a case, but the phone is big enough, and I always keep my phone in my pocket. Plus, when I buy a phone, I'm picky and always like to have a physically attractive phone, so I like to show that off. Even those clear cases take away from the overall physical appeal. So, the one x+ seemed like the best choice there as well.
i dont understand the point of threads like this.... do you think that we care that you are jumping ship? are you expecting sympathy or something?
theres nothing wrong with picking X phone over Y phone... get whatever phone you feel comfortable with (One X, iphone, 1990 Motorola Startac) and enjoy it. no need to let the world know of your displeasure
haha, that's a funny little post norazi... this is the nexus 4 forum, and my post was nexus 4 related, so I thought I'd share my views in hopes that google does actually pay attention. I didn't "jump ship" as you say. I'm still supporting android to the fullest, so it's still in favor of google to some extent. I never had an LG phone, so again, no jumping anything here...
This is an open discussion on the nexus 4 forum about the nexus 4, and I'm interested in knowing if others feel the same way
it's best if you don't comment on what you don't understand (as you claimed in your post)
Good luck with the One X+. We need people like you to support other companies flagship phones too, that way the competition keeps manufacturer on their feed and we benefit from the low price. If you Google actually check this forum I hope they do find this post. Maybe they can learn something and fix any current mishaps and problems from happening in the future. As for me I think i'm one of the lucky ones with an N4 without a defect. It arrive with scratches on the plastics but the phone is perfectly fine.
I'm coming from a Galaxy S variant (Vibrant) and I've got to say, the more popular a phone is, the more idiots you'll draw to the forums. And believe me, idiots are always the most vocal. That's why you've been seeing a lot of N4 hate. It's truly undeserved.
I've had the phone for a day and a half and I love it. Amazing device with enough battery to last me a full day with heavy usage (it lasted from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, and I was playing with it the whole time). I had Gorilla Glass (first generation, not as nice as GG2) on my old phone and the screen really took a beating, and then some. But with the screen on, you won't even distinguish it from a brand new Galaxy S.
The phone has a very faint rattle if I shake it hard and out my ear up next to it... haven't noticed the rattle in any other circumstance. It's super fast, as you know. The colors aren't washed out at all. Compared to my calibrated display, it's a little warm with whites and blues are a little too cold, but that's nothing a gamma shifts won't fix. The display on my Galaxy S, in retrospect, looks positively cartoonish.
As for the durability... I haven't marred my phone and don't foresee any issues, but maybe other people are just more prone to that kind of thing.
Anyway good luck with your 1X+. I hear it's a great phone and I'm sure you'll be happy with it. The HTC community is generally pretty good since most of the idiots jumped ship and the diehard devs and fans stuck with their first love(d company).
But seriously, there are some really stupid people posting in this subforum and I really wish we Thanking posts had a negative counterpart.
Hung0702 said:
I'm coming from a Galaxy S variant (Vibrant) and I've got to say, the more popular a phone is, the more idiots you'll draw to the forums. And believe me, idiots are always the most vocal. That's why you've been seeing a lot of N4 hate. It's truly undeserved.
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People seem to think that they are in the majority of a phone's user base on these forum's. They're not.
They seem to think that because this is a Google Phone they're the only people who know about it. They're not.
We are in the minority, and it's a small one at that.
It's a fact that glass will break, it was a relatively common issue with iPhone 4 and the 4S.
Your post sounded like you expected the glass to be indestructible and then got really disappointed and bitter that it breaks just like glass will.
First of all your talking about ~5 out of how many? (a lot)
2ndly I see the same thing on any new phone release usually related to the front glass, dropping the phone is dropping the phone, end of story.
If you are one who drops your phone, then use a case. If you've never broken your screen, don't worry about it.
I've never run a case on a single of my phones, and I have yet to break one. I don't expect this to be any different. (I had the iPhone 4 as well with glass back).
If you really want a pretty looking phone that's not too big, why not just get an iPhone 5 instead? After having the nexus, that's the only phone worth buying on contact in my opinion, since the nexus is off contact and makes contact androids feel like a rip off.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
electric0ant said:
It's a fact that glass will break, it was a relatively common issue with iPhone 4 and the 4S.
Your post sounded like you expected the glass to be indestructible and then got really disappointed and bitter that it breaks just like glass will.
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Well, one thought is that with the iPhone 4/4S you can get cheap replacement back off ebay. The back for the "Nexus 4" contains only cheap antenna for NFC and wireless charging, so I'd expect backs to pop up as well.
I wish people would stop complaining about the glass back on this phone!!!!!
Its glass, if you drop it the chances are it will break SO DONT DROP IT!!!!!
If you drop phones a lot then get an otterbox or something!
I know loads of iphone users and there phones are fine because they never dropped them. Phones dont just explode ( motsly ) on their own so look after your stuff.
My best freind got a galaxy s3 and dropped it 2 days after he bought it when we was out drinking and the front screen smashed!
I didnt go around saying "oh im not getting one of those the screen smashes if you drop it and the plastic scratches".
Not long back i got mad while playing some xbox and threw my controller and it broke... shocking
Please post this on your blog instead.
Closed

How come HTC have had such a rough journey with the One?

I mean, build quality issues everywhere, and not just with the One. I get it that first batch phones are prone to act up, but somehow HTC always have phones like these and not just in first batches. Why is it like this? Don't they have any sort of quality control at all?
Don't get me wrong, I am a happy HTC One owner with a seemingly faultless phone (just a 1mm gap that I didn't even notice, but my younger brother), but this is scaring me, a lot.
With phones costing as much as they do, and only getting more expensive, you'd expect them to be of a certain quality and not just a five-second put together.
Theshawty said:
I mean, build quality issues everywhere, and not just with the One. I get it that first batch phones are prone to act up, but somehow HTC always have phones like these and not just in first batches. Why is it like this? Don't they have any sort of quality control at all?
Don't get me wrong, I am a happy HTC One owner with a seemingly faultless phone (just a 1mm gap that I didn't even notice, but my younger brother), but this is scaring me, a lot.
With phones costing as much as they do, and only getting more expensive, you'd expect them to be of a certain quality and not just a five-second put together.
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In all fairness, HTC aren't alone when it comes to bad batches. Literally every phone has had its problems, as soon as a phone hits the masses there's always going to be problems. And in all honesty the one has stood up pretty well. Besides the phone getting hot I can't say that I've has any issues myself.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
dladz said:
In all fairness, HTC aren't alone when it comes to bad batches. Literally every phone has had its problems, as soon as a phone hits the masses there's always going to be problems. And in all honesty the one has stood up pretty well. Besides the phone getting hot I can't say that I've has any issues myself.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
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But it seems that HTC have the highest amount of faulty and fault-prone phones. I mean, gaps and things not being fitted correctly. I get that for the first few batches, but now? An acquaintance of mine is on his 5th (fifth) One and the store he bought the original one from (a carrier store but the phone itself is unbranded) has now contacted HTC and he has been promised a Dev edition of the phone and that it will be thoroughly checked before being handed to him.
It shouldn't have to be like that and it's not exactly helping them up from the ground.
Theshawty said:
But it seems that HTC have the highest amount of faulty and fault-prone phones. I mean, gaps and things not being fitted correctly. I get that for the first few batches, but now? An acquaintance of mine is on his 5th (fifth) One and the store he bought the original one from (a carrier store but the phone itself is unbranded) has now contacted HTC and he has been promised a Dev edition of the phone and that it will be thoroughly checked before being handed to him.
It shouldn't have to be like that and it's not exactly helping them up from the ground.
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I have seen a lot of them coming through where i work, maybe i've been quite lucky with past phones, but yea you do have a point with HTC, I think that's why they beefed up their repair service, i've got a number for them which I sometimes give to clients and the quickest turnaround was one day (normally 3 - 5 days, as opposed to two or more weeks) which is pretty phenomenal when you consider that the likes of samsung and blackberry take two weeks to get you your phone back and you seldom have any input on what happens to your phone, kind of like your friend getting promised a dev edition.
My desire HD had a GPS problem, and this is actually my third One, the first one had a back button problem, the second i found that it got quite hot and the third was just as hot when stressed, seems that it's just the way this phone is.
Saying all that though, I apparently got quite lucky with my samsung, only had the one and it was perfect for the ten months i had it for, but again people coming in to my work place with SDS, overheating, call related problems like drops and silence, 3G drop outs, broken wifi, screen anomalies, the works, and blackberries, omfg, that company has got build quality issues, the middles optic button breaking and the software, my word i don't know where to begin, freelancing the bbm software is probably the best move RIM have done in years.
Overall i think that some people are simply unlucky with their phones, I think that HTC's aren't too bad in comparison to other handsets but they are definitely one of the companies that have issues.
dladz said:
I have seen a lot of them coming through where i work, maybe i've been quite lucky with past phones, but yea you do have a point with HTC, I think that's why they beefed up their repair service, i've got a number for them which I sometimes give to clients and the quickest turnaround was one day (normally 3 - 5 days, as opposed to two or more weeks) which is pretty phenomenal when you consider that the likes of samsung and blackberry take two weeks to get you your phone back and you seldom have any input on what happens to your phone, kind of like your friend getting promised a dev edition.
My desire HD had a GPS problem, and this is actually my third One, the first one had a back button problem, the second i found that it got quite hot and the third was just as hot when stressed, seems that it's just the way this phone is.
Saying all that though, I apparently got quite lucky with my samsung, only had the one and it was perfect for the ten months i had it for, but again people coming in to my work place with SDS, overheating, call related problems like drops and silence, 3G drop outs, broken wifi, screen anomalies, the works, and blackberries, omfg, that company has got build quality issues, the middles optic button breaking and the software, my word i don't know where to begin, freelancing the bbm software is probably the best move RIM have done in years.
Overall i think that some people are simply unlucky with their phones, I think that HTC's aren't too bad in comparison to other handsets but they are definitely one of the companies that have issues.
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The One does get hot, there's no way you can get around that and it's the metal that's to blame. I think it goes without saying that metal conducts heat and cold a lot better than plastic. Though the S4 has occasional overheating as well.
Theshawty said:
The One does get hot, there's no way you can get around that and it's the metal that's to blame. I think it goes without saying that metal conducts heat and cold a lot better than plastic. Though the S4 has occasional overheating as well.
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Oh crikey yea, the S4 can bake, I had a hard choice between the two, I had the One first, got some white solo beats, two screen protectors and a double dip flip case for free.
I spent about a week with it and was about to exchange it for the S4 and return all my bits, but it really grew on me, not to mention the build quality is probably the best i have ever seen on a phone (bar a few bad eggs of course) coupled with the fact that they're both generally the same hardware bar the overclock on the S4 i decided to opt for the One and since then i'm constantly reaffirmed that i did the right thing, I'd missed sense since the EVO 3D and i'm glad i stuck it out, the S4 for me was a bit floaty, if you know what i mean, everything is really bright and in your face, I knew i would have just put apex and a theme on there and had done with touchwiz, I can still do that on the One but i actually like sense this time round.
Plus there are a lot of experimental features like the air gestures which i knew were just extra factors for possible failings, many of which have already been reported (phone calls in pockets, volume going up and down on it's own, screen clicking things without you doing anything, etc)
I've heard about a few things you can do about the heat on the One, apparently theres a cooling feature in some of the kernels but i'm not holding much hope for it's actual real life performance, i guess time will tell.
dladz said:
Oh crikey yea, the S4 can bake, I had a hard choice between the two, I had the One first, got some white solo beats, two screen protectors and a double dip flip case for free.
I spent about a week with it and was about to exchange it for the S4 and return all my bits, but it really grew on me, not to mention the build quality is probably the best i have ever seen on a phone (bar a few bad eggs of course) coupled with the fact that they're both generally the same hardware bar the overclock on the S4 i decided to opt for the One and since then i'm constantly reaffirmed that i did the right thing, I'd missed sense since the EVO 3D and i'm glad i stuck it out, the S4 for me was a bit floaty, if you know what i mean, everything is really bright and in your face, I knew i would have just put apex and a theme on there and had done with touchwiz, I can still do that on the One but i actually like sense this time round.
Plus there are a lot of experimental features like the air gestures which i knew were just extra factors for possible failings, many of which have already been reported (phone calls in pockets, volume going up and down on it's own, screen clicking things without you doing anything, etc)
I've heard about a few things you can do about the heat on the One, apparently theres a cooling feature in some of the kernels but i'm not holding much hope for it's actual real life performance, i guess time will tell.
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The S4 can take a hike. I could have accepted that it's plastic, but it has a lot of things I don't like:
Glossy/slippery polycarbonate
Physical home button
Ugly design
Samsung
I have been a samsung fan since the S2, but have to say, the build quality of the ONE, even with the so called gaps, is a lot better than the S3 and S4.
The galaxy s2 was amazing for build quality, no squeeking back cover, and withstood drops onto concrete without breaking. The S3 and S4 and squeeking, badly built, dainty devices that break with only minor 1 foot drops.
I've dropped my HTC One, twice, from over a meter, onto stone tiles, with only scuffs to the corners of the housing. Two friends have broken their SGS3's, one twice, with only 1 foot drops onto the floor.
As for overheating, my One gets what could only be described as warm, not hot. Sgs4 overheats like mad.
I think HTC are getting a rough deal, because they aren't Samsung or Apple. As soon as you tell someone your phone is HTC, they instantly lose interest and wonder off lol.
biffsmash said:
As soon as you tell someone your phone is HTC, they instantly lose interest and wonder off lol.
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Oh, don't I know it, lol! :laugh:
dladz said:
In all fairness, HTC aren't alone when it comes to bad batches. Literally every phone has had its problems, as soon as a phone hits the masses there's always going to be problems. And in all honesty the one has stood up pretty well. Besides the phone getting hot I can't say that I've has any issues myself.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
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Agreed. OP, head on over to the Apple forums, search for iPhone 5 threads from October last year and you'll see that there were tons of issues with the iPhone 5 on launch from the cosmetic (the electroplating on the chamfered edges was poor and you get screen sensitivity issues when you use the phone while it's plugged in).
I think we're just more sensitive with HTC issues because they've had a really rough time of it the past 24 months -- whether it's in the financial press or among tech sites and everything gets blown out of proportion.
jpbl1976 said:
Agreed. OP, head on over to the Apple forums, search for iPhone 5 threads from October last year and you'll see that there were tons of issues with the iPhone 5 on launch from the cosmetic (the electroplating on the chamfered edges was poor and you get screen sensitivity issues when you use the phone while it's plugged in).
I think we're just more sensitive with HTC issues because they've had a really rough time of it the past 24 months -- whether it's in the financial press or among tech sites and everything gets blown out of proportion.
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Click to collapse
I know about the issues the iPhone 5 had. Anyways, I think everyone are praising Samsung because Samsung has a lot of money and easily enough money to pay off reviewers. I mean, why else would anyone with a fully functioning brain even remotely like something made out of glossy polycarbonate and have an ugly design at that?
It's to me something extremely hard to understand, but maybe it's because I think logically, who knows.
biffsmash said:
I have been a samsung fan since the S2, but have to say, the build quality of the ONE, even with the so called gaps, is a lot better than the S3 and S4.
The galaxy s2 was amazing for build quality, no squeeking back cover, and withstood drops onto concrete without breaking. The S3 and S4 and squeeking, badly built, dainty devices that break with only minor 1 foot drops.
I've dropped my HTC One, twice, from over a meter, onto stone tiles, with only scuffs to the corners of the housing. Two friends have broken their SGS3's, one twice, with only 1 foot drops onto the floor.
As for overheating, my One gets what could only be described as warm, not hot. Sgs4 overheats like mad.
I think HTC are getting a rough deal, because they aren't Samsung or Apple. As soon as you tell someone your phone is HTC, they instantly lose interest and wonder off lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What rubbish. The S3 or 4 for that matter might feel less strong, but if anything they are stronger and the fit and finish is better. My One (im on my third after rejecting the other 2 for faults) is lumpy on the sides, it has variable gaps all around and seems easily damaged. Its already more marked than my S3 was at the end of its life despite being in a case.
I eventually cracked the back of my S3, I replaced it with a new original part for £8 and sold it on for £300 after a year. I have already seen marked HTC Ones sell for less.
Its a beautiful phone but flawed like no other.
---------- Post added at 12:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:15 PM ----------
Theshawty said:
I know about the issues the iPhone 5 had. Anyways, I think everyone are praising Samsung because Samsung has a lot of money and easily enough money to pay off reviewers. I mean, why else would anyone with a fully functioning brain even remotely like something made out of glossy polycarbonate and have an ugly design at that?
It's to me something extremely hard to understand, but maybe it's because I think logically, who knows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it because your tastes differ and youre to self important to accept anyone elses opinion. I actually prefer the front of the S4, but the back of the One.
rovex said:
No it because your tastes differ and youre to self important to accept anyone elses opinion. I actually prefer the front of the S4, but the back of the One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol!
I would accept that the phone is made out of polycarbonate or other types of plastic, but why the hell did they go with the glossy/slippery finish?
The S3 and S4 both feel budget, there's no denying that and one doesn't want to put a case on his or her One solely because it feels so great but I will have to put a case on it because it's more prone to serious injuries than any other phone I've ever had. Plastic seems to withstand damage the most. I think I've dropped my S3 in a lot of various ways. Screen down, screen up, each of the sides and then I remember I dropped it and it literally bounced off on a solid concrete floor and how does it look today? Almost mint. It's got minor scratches on a the back only visible if you look like really close. It's got some color loss in one of the upper corners and that's about it, the screen has no scratches whatsoever.
That's what I liked with the S3. I don't dare drop the One.
Theshawty said:
Lol!
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Click to collapse
Keep laughing, it just shows im right.
rovex said:
Keep laughing, it just shows im right.
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Click to collapse
I do accept people's opinions. It's not like I'm showing metal phones down their throats. If they want plastic phones, that's fine.
Theshawty said:
I do accept people's opinions. It's not like I'm showing metal phones down their throats. If they want plastic phones, that's fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then maybe you needed to word your comment better rather than sound so self righteous. There is no right and wrong in design.
Its cultural, design is very much a cultural thing. Take cars for example, Americans like their cars massive, bloated, over the top, loud, garish. The Chinese like them bland, slab sided with tiny wheels, ill proportioned to my eyes.
Some like the glossy finish, it doesnt take Samsung to pay them off. after all the designers and whoever signed off the design must like it, and it has sold 10 million in a month..
rovex said:
What rubbish. The S3 or 4 for that matter might feel less strong, but if anything they are stronger and the fit and finish is better. My One (im on my third after rejecting the other 2 for faults) is lumpy on the sides, it has variable gaps all around and seems easily damaged. Its already more marked than my S3 was at the end of its life despite being in a case.
I eventually cracked the back of my S3, I replaced it with a new original part for £8 and sold it on for £300 after a year. I have already seen marked HTC Ones sell for less.
Its a beautiful phone but flawed like no other.
---------- Post added at 12:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:15 PM ----------
No it because your tastes differ and youre to self important to accept anyone elses opinion. I actually prefer the front of the S4, but the back of the One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know why you're flaming the other poster: he's only expressing his opinion. Also, what you meant to write was "you're too self-important..."
Seriously, though -- the main critique against the GS4 is that it's ugly -- the reviewers are just afraid of not getting any inside information on upcoming Samsung releases which is why they're circumventing the fact that the S4 is a poorly-designed device.
---------- Post added at 07:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:38 PM ----------
rovex said:
Then maybe you needed to word your comment better rather than sound so self righteous. There is no right and wrong in design.
Its cultural, design is very much a cultural thing. Take cars for example, Americans like their cars massive, bloated, over the top, loud, garish. The Chinese like them bland, slab sided with tiny wheels, ill proportioned to my eyes.
Some like the glossy finish, it doesnt take Samsung to pay them off. after all the designers and whoever signed off the design must like it, and it has sold 10 million in a month..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the first place, those sales figures are meaningless absent context: you have to ask things like: did Samsung subsidize the sales? Was there a discount incentive to order in bulk? How many units were available to ship? Also, you have to take into account the fact that there were production issues with the HTC One.
Besides, HTC have come and said that they've sold 5 of the One. That isn't too bad considering that Samsung can outspend everyone outside of Apple to market their devices -- and that includes giving retailers sales incentives and their more aggressive advertising.
All I can say is this.
I had an s2 for about 2yrs and the main problems I had with it was, the charger port going out. Overheating, it would get almost burning hot in my pocket, and with the jelly bean update the battery die way to fast. Would lose 3-5% just by unplugging.
The s3 didn't add much I wanted so I didn't get one
My friend did and had the s2 before. Said it wasn't much of a change and that the s3 was cheap. He broke the battery back, chip the sides and then finally broke the screen.
Had the phone not about 6months. He said his old s2 was build better and last longer then that and he went back to it once the s3 was done.
To me the HTC one feels nice and I don't have a problem with anything. No overheating, crazy battery, I haven't drop it but I'm willing to beat it won't fall apart like a s3 or s4.
But to each his own. There is people who look iPhones but imo they are cheap parts of crap. Have replaced way to many screens for people that drop them from small Heights.
jpbl1976 said:
I don't know why you'r flaming the other poster: he's only expressing his opinion. Also, what you meant to write was "you're too self-important..."
Seriously, though -- the main critique against the GS4 is that it's ugly -- the reviewers are just afraid of not getting any inside information on upcoming Samsung releases which is why they're circumventing the fact that the S4 is a poorly-designed device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why? Well this is what he said..
'It's to me something extremely hard to understand, but maybe it's because I think logically, who knows. '
So anyone who likes the S4 is not thinking logically? There is no logic to taste anyway..
I have said this before in previous threads but the S4 is a quality device. Its made of good quality plastic, and crucially, its made well. The HTC is also made of good quality materials, but its made badly. Whether you like how the material are used is not a build quality issue, its an issue of taste.
I'll try to word my sentences better next time. Sometimes, they sound better in my head and in my native language then come out sounding completely wrong in English. ^^

Galaxy Gear real life experience

hello everybody,
I just purchased a GG yesterday, after reading a lot of your posts and thank you all for it. What convinced me was the new update that brings full notifications and better battery life. So far, I like it a lot, but of course 1 day is not enough.
There are 2 things I would like to ask other owners, who might have had it for longer time.
I read the post about the IP55 rating, but I would like to know if somebody really dropped it in water (most likely unintentionally), drop some water/liquid on it, got heavy rain, ecc. In other words, something more than washing hands or sweat.
Second point regards scratches. There are a lot of posts about this all over Internet, but very controversial. I would like to know if any of you had any scracth on the glass, the case or the buckle. If any of you experinced any serious bump, drops and so forth. I read somewhere that the GG has sapphire glass, but I seriously doubt it, as usually these glasses are very expensive and are used mostly on more expensive watches.
Thining logically, Samsung should have considered these issues, as after all, it is a watch and you want to wear it, so some kind of protection shluld be there. But I learnt that logic does not always work.
Any advice/experience you would like to share will be much appreciated!!!
Thank you very much,
Roger
I am using GEAR since end of OCT.
- water resistance - rain, drops of water is OK for the watch - if You search the forum you will even find the movie with the gear under kitchen tap water flowing on it. It is NOT ok for shower, swimming, diving etc. Generally - keep it away from water when possible. GEAR build quality is OK
If You wonder how SONY watch behaves - check their forum - a lot of complains and quality issues in general like http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2574988
- scratch resistance - Gear glass is NOT scratch resistant! it scratches very easy so keep it away from any hard objects, sand, metal, etc. Generally speaking- with the product life of maximum 1 year ( yes, we may expect GEAR II not later than September 2014) scratch resistance is not so important, and Samsung for sure will not use sapphire for the glass - it is too expensive.
I've had mine since day one and no problem with it whatsoever. I don't take it off when I wash my hands just careful not getting it wet.
Battery life is pretty strong as you go about two days. Don't have any scratches on it so far but I'm pretty careful when I'm around walls/tables/desks.
Ian B
Mr Ian B said:
I've had mine since day one and no problem with it whatsoever. I don't take it off when I wash my hands just careful not getting it wet.
Battery life is pretty strong as you go about two days. Don't have any scratches on it so far but I'm pretty careful when I'm around walls/tables/desks.
Ian B
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Click to collapse
Same here ^^^
I have washed my hands with mine on and have gotten water on it (even into the speaker area) no problems so far. Regarding scratched, I put on a skinomi shield (invisible shield type). Looks awesome! Super clear and can barely see it's on. I got the full body which has a cover for under the watch (not too sure why you would need it but I put on since it came with it). I should let you know that with the full body cover, the charger takes some work to get it to close but it's definitely close-able. Have fun with you new gear. I know I am.
Picked up a galaxy gear with carbon fiber skin protector from skinomi and it came with a screen protector too. Bought extra screen protectors off Amazon just in case. Everything running great and not worries about scratches anymore. Still very cautious around water though.
Sent from my Hyperdrive Rls 11 Galaxy S4
Had mine for awhile as well. I don't worry about washing my hands or rain. Just wouldn't submerge it to be on the safer side. Scratches... The speaker clasp is pretty scratched up but I'm not too concerned about it. As for the face, I have hit/bumped/scraped on things such as desk, doors, walls, etc. So far it has held up well with no noticeable scratches. However I always worry every time I do bump it.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
I know this is a slightly callous thing to say, but suddenly watches have fallen into the bi-yearly replaceable category.
No longer are they finely hand crafted devices that merely tell you just the time (and sometimes the date), they are an extension of your phone. Generally my analogue time pieces would last me anywhere between 5-15 years. This is technology though and we all know it can become out of date very quickly. It's sad and I dislike this fact, but I know that in a year or two I will want to upgrade to keep up with the Jones'. Not just that, I guarantee the Note 6 won't support the original Gear.
We're stuck in the cycle now!
My gear has me essentially committed to samsung now. I usually switch out phones alot but no more. No nexus 5 for me I guess. I wish I didn't have to use some weird workaround to get it to work with another phone
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using xda app-developers app
Skinomi Full Body Cover: Clasp Section Won't Adhere?
WRichieX said:
I have washed my hands with mine on and have gotten water on it (even into the speaker area) no problems so far. Regarding scratched, I put on a skinomi shield (invisible shield type). Looks awesome! Super clear and can barely see it's on. I got the full body which has a cover for under the watch (not too sure why you would need it but I put on since it came with it). I should let you know that with the full body cover, the charger takes some work to get it to close but it's definitely close-able. Have fun with you new gear. I know I am.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you able to get the Skinomi clasp cover to stay on? Mine was very difficult to get on to begin with and I could never get the corners to adhere properly. Within a couple days, the corners were full of dirt. Skinomi sent me a new one, but same problem. Is there a trick to get the corners to stay down, or is the clasp cover just useless?
I am sure you ll enjoy your gg . I just bought one purely to be used when I am out on my motorbike as it will be alot easier to see who calls etc without reaching to my phone with gloves and stuff.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
jonboyuk said:
I know this is a slightly callous thing to say, but suddenly watches have fallen into the bi-yearly replaceable category.
No longer are they finely hand crafted devices that merely tell you just the time (and sometimes the date), they are an extension of your phone. Generally my analogue time pieces would last me anywhere between 5-15 years. This is technology though and we all know it can become out of date very quickly. It's sad and I dislike this fact, but I know that in a year or two I will want to upgrade to keep up with the Jones'. Not just that, I guarantee the Note 6 won't support the original Gear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Learn some basic electronics work and you'll be able to keep stuff running for much longer. That won't help with stuff that just get outdated to the point where they're no longer useful, but I don't see all that much application for more processing power in a watch. In a few years, just open it up and swap the battery with one purchased for a few dollars on a site like HobbyKing.
NiHaoMike said:
Learn some basic electronics work and you'll be able to keep stuff running for much longer. That won't help with stuff that just get outdated to the point where they're no longer useful, but I don't see all that much application for more processing power in a watch. In a few years, just open it up and swap the battery with one purchased for a few dollars on a site like HobbyKing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't need to know much about electronics to know that paying for Battery no matter how cheap, at HobbyKing or at the street corner against someone no longer useful is both immoral and illegal.
klau1 said:
I don't need to know much about electronics to know that paying for Battery no matter how cheap, at HobbyKing or at the street corner against someone no longer useful is both immoral and illegal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the same logic, once the battery goes dead in your car, it's time to buy a new car because replacing the battery is "immoral and illegal". There's nothing wrong with trying to fix something you own.
This is truly an informative thread, thanks for all the detailed replies.
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app
klau1 said:
I don't need to know much about electronics to know that paying for Battery no matter how cheap, at HobbyKing or at the street corner against someone no longer useful is both immoral and illegal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe there is a language barrier issue, but Klau1, if it is your watch then of course you can replace the battery in it with a new one. This is not immoral or illegal in any way.
highlordkram said:
Maybe there is a language barrier issue, but Klau1, if it is your watch then of course you can replace the battery in it with a new one. This is not immoral or illegal in any way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(crime)
klau1 said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(crime)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol. There is DEFINITELY a language barrier it seems.....
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
@jonboyuk: It turns out the Note 4 doesn't even support the original Gear.
Tati F said:
@jonboyuk: It turns out the Note 4 doesn't even support the original Gear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's working fine on my T-Mobile Note 4 running fireKat rom
Edit... Mostly fine. The usual unlock issue

Finally Pulled The Trigger!

So after months of waiting, when it was released on Monday I couldn't help but feel hesitant about picking one up, lol I'm not sure if it was justifying the money for a piece of plastic or the idea of it coming out was more exciting than actually buying it, for me the main seller is the cinema, I'm a huge movie buff and watch movies a lot before bed on my Note 10.1 2014 or Note 4 (If too lazy to grab my tablet) so this is right up my ally, i hope. The other sell is the Harmonix music player, I'm hoping its included because I haven't heard anyone talk about it since launch, I'm hoping they just forgot and it doesn't mean that it sucks or isn't included, being able to lay back on the couch and basically meditate and vibe out with immersive visuals to my favorite music sounds pretty awesome. Lets hope. Honestly those reasons and the fact I specifically opted for the Note 4 over the Note Edge in anticipation for the VR kind of pushed the sale, Otherwise getting the Note 4 would have been in vain lol.
Honestly I'm pretty excited to get it now that its ordered, needless to say I sprang for the Next Day shipping from Samsung because of my hesitation to grab one early in the week, and I wanted to get it to play with over the weekend, so It SHOULD be sitting on my doorstep ready to rock when I get home from work tomorrow.
Questions to the people who already have one in their hands:
Any tips or tricks I should know before getting this tomorrow?
Any cool features I need to know about?
Is the included content easy to run through within a day and does any of it have playback value? (I.E. The ocean, concerts, Iceland etc.)
Loading your own Movies from SD, simple?
Overheating?
Battery Life?
Worth the money?
Gaming?
Current Content & Does it seem like future content will be coming pretty regular?
Is there a content store or just what's on the Included SD card?
Etc.
Any and all thoughts appreciated, I've been reading the threads people have posted who have already picked one up and it's helped me find some validation in grabbing one.
Thanks Guys, Pretty jazzed up due to the wait and the reviews I've been reading and watching, but nervous I just dipped into the savings (especially during the already expensive Christmas time) to buy a tchotchke lol I mean I'm no stranger to Early adopting, especially with Samsung but you never know what you are in for!
Again thanks for any help!
To be honest, I don't want to ruin the surprise for you. But i would save the gaming for last...
I just ordered a Gear VR as soon as I installed the Verizon VR update (wanted to wait for that to happen before ordering- this was quick for Verizon).
nick2k said:
To be honest, I don't want to ruin the surprise for you. But i would save the gaming for last...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol I'm intrigued, do tell! What am i in for?
So that the picture isn't blurry you have to put the Gear VR up and down on your face till you find your sweet spot by adjusting it with the headstrap.
And don't forget to remove all plastic covers from the lenses, they are on the front and back of the lenses.
Powerslash said:
So that the picture isn't blurry you have to put the Gear VR up and down on your face till you find your sweet spot by adjusting it with the headstrap.
And don't forget to remove all plastic covers from the lenses, they are on the front and back of the lenses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Use the Cinema first, it's probably the most impressive and intuitive mode.
Games haven't impressed me much.
I concur that moving it up and down on your face is probably the most important thing for clarity, which Samsung doesn't elaborate much in its manuals.
This is very important if it's pretty cold where you live. If the Gear VR is cold, it will fog up for the first few minutes of use due to it being heated up by the phone and your face. You will notice this because a small fog will form on the lens. What I do is lift the Gear VR off my face about an inch and just blow up into the glass. It will then defog. I have to do this a couple times initially until things warm up. And I'd recommend you watch the Gear VR Intro Video first. And Cinema is real cool with 3d movies / videos. Good luck!
Powerslash said:
And don't forget to remove all plastic covers from the lenses, they are on the front and back of the lenses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's weird... I did not have any plastic things on the front of my lenses (only had them on the lenses inside of the goggles) S: I had something on the tinted cover thing though? Hope no one played with my VR before delivering X_X
Anyways~
My VR starts getting warm after about an hour of normal use without the cover thing on I leave my cover off because I like walking around with the see through function :silly:
JippleStar said:
That's weird... I did not have any plastic things on the front of my lenses (only had them on the lenses inside of the goggles) S: I had something on the tinted cover thing though? Hope no one played with my VR before delivering X_X
Anyways~
My VR starts getting warm after about an hour of normal use without the cover thing on I leave my cover off because I like walking around with the see through function :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok i got my Gear VR today and i had the exact same thing as you, only had a plastic film on the lenses inside of the googles and was also worried if it was already used. But the rest looks pretty much unused.
Powerslash said:
Ok i got my Gear VR today and i had the exact same thing as you, only had a plastic film on the lenses inside of the googles and was also worried if it was already used. But the rest looks pretty much unused.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's probably nothing then XD This thing is so fun with my big ass headphones :silly: I feel like a cyborg when I walk around with it
Apparently if you have Titanium Backup or whatever you can use your phone like normal-ish(?)
And don't forget to wipe your phone's screen so no smudges if any XD

[Q] Potential Buyer

Hi all.
I hope this is the correct place to ask this.
I have been researching smart watches for some time now. I always come across the Pebble watch. I have looked at some of the other faces and applications as well. I am just curious as to what makes the Pebble watch stand out to the community here.
Thank you in advance.
For me... watch face is always on and battery life of 1 week... and of course the awesome community
The build , battery life , simplicity !!
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Free mobile app
Always on face, great battery life, no touchscreen to worry about accidental touches. Not to mention an amazing community that is constantly putting out useful and impressive apps and watch faces.
imaginaryenemy said:
Always on face, great battery life, no touchscreen to worry about accidental touches. Not to mention an amazing community that is constantly putting out useful and impressive apps and watch faces.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Watch faces, waterproofing, 7 day battery life, always on screen
Thank you guys! I appreciate the comments back.
I have a white kickstarter pebble that is getting pretty old, but I still love, I'll rank my pros and cons for you.
Pro's
Batter still lasts 4 days with heavy use.
can read screen in broad daylight, in fact it works best there.
screen is always on, don't have to shake to wake, but can shake to turn on back-lighting
alert vibration is strong
can use a simple website to make your own awesome watch-faces http://www.watchface-generator.de/
connects to every phone/tablet I've tried it with, no brand affiliation
takes standard replacement wrist straps, so you can style it how you like very cheaply on ebay
water proof, I regularly swim and shower with it on
if you are at your desk, you can charge it whilst you still have it on
so simple you can operate it by feel if your just skipping music tracks etc
reliable, I've had it crash twice in years of operation
Cons
The plastic version looks like **** through polarized sunglasses
low res; but lends itself to a retro look that I love
charge cable is proprietary
not much fitness stuff, only a step counter really
plastic is fairly easy to scratch
David hit the nail on the head. If you want a watch with cool features that syncs to your phone, get a pebble. If you want a computer on your risk (extra features but needs to be treated like a computer instead of a watch), then you'd like something else.
Pebble is a watch that's smart. I got the pebble time as a kick starter backer. I think it's pebble v 2, I don't know if they could have done more with it. But the mic is a great addition. I think the pebble steel is a better looking watch.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

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