Smartwatches ?

[Boo2]

Anyone here own one of the new Smartwatchs or thinking of buying one ? If so then I'm interested to hear which OS it runs on and also what boating related apps you would like to see available for it ?

Thanks,

Boo2

 

[Robin]

Unless they can make one with a screen that is
Certain viewable in bright daylight I do not see any point at all other than to pose with the latest gizmo. However in the unlikely event I did it would be android so Google can know absolute ly everything about me. I most certainly could not stand to have Apple constant lytelling me t o sign in and that username an PA sword do not match. Not sure which is least worst option. Then again I will just stick to Timex.:nonchalance:
:nonchalance:

 

[Cardo]

I've had a Pebble for the last couple of years, SWMBO got herself an Apple Watch a couple of weeks ago and I'll be getting myself one in a couple of weeks.

SWMBO knocked up an app for the Pebble that allows it to show NMEA data. Our personal and hacky version also allows me to control a set of relays on the boat, lights, heating, and anchor windlass is in the works. Now that we've lost interest in the Pebble, we'll (SWMBO) will be rewriting it for the Apple Watch.

 

[Seajet]

How many of us imagined that conversation when we were starting sailing ?!

 

[Yngmar]

I haven't even got a dumb watch.

 

[laika]

I haven't even got a dumb watch.

+1.

having said that I always whined that these fancy "sailing watches" always lack the apparently basic functionality of being able to press a button N times and it keep a log of the time of each press. Obviously simplifies taking star sights. With a smart watch if it lacks some functionality you just program it....

(yes yes it has GPS I know...)

 

[Richard10002]

I won't be buying one.

 

[PhillM]

Clockwork!

Manual watches are the new, new thing, who cares if it loses a minute a week, I've a phone that's accurate to the nano-second.

 

[VicS]

My watch tells me the time

Thats smart enough for me!

 

[langstonelayabout]

My watch will remain mechanical and very, very 'unsmart'.

Interestingly, I've spent a small fortune on a watch that I always wanted (big name you'll have heard of) and its still cheaper than an Apple watch...

I guess I'll carry on slumming it

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I've got an Asus Zenwatch and I'm generally delighted with it but then my expectations were pretty low. No problems viewing it in sunlight (including some very bright sunlight whilst in the USA). One problem is that you really have to touch the screen to activate it (daft wrist flick manoeuvres are a bit too geeky, even for me) so I sometimes find I just have to touch the watch to my chin. Normally though it's very easy to just touch the watch face as you bring your other hand across to move your shirt sleeve back. The ability to select the watch face you want is surprisingly handy (I expected to select one and forget about it but I do change it from time to time and it's a bit like being able to try a watch for a few days to see if you like it.

Where the smart watch excels is in notifying you of something and telling you just enough about it to let you decide whether you need to do something or not and, in some cases, to let you respond - so I get to see what texts and emails have arrived and I can reply to them by talking to the watch which really works amazingly well. More than a couple of lines and it's sometimes easier to just get the phone out though. On the watch face below you can set a range of different things in each of the 3 smaller dials - I have phone battery, watch battery and EST set but missed calls or weather are options. With the battery charge level indicator it shows the level in blue round the small dial and the battery is filled to the right level to show the charge and then flipped round to show the percentage. All very polished and far better than I expected. Other watchfaces (of which there's lots) may be vaguely similar or totally different (I think there's a sandtimer type face somewhere and there's graphs and logos and all sorts) plus, with Android at least, you can also design your own. Another nice feature is that any event in my calendar shows red around the outside of the watch dial if it's in the next twelve hours, so 10-12 am is showing red on mine as I will be in the Gym Sunday morning for example. The watch also vibrates to warn you that you've lost contact with your phone (which is often 10 metres or so away and still connected) so that can stop you losing your phone!

The real issue is two-fold - the first is charging. You need to charge it every night really - you might get two days but definitely no more. The charger is small and cheap though so I have one at home, one in the car and one in the office. The second issue is trying to read the screen when it has a lot a of detail on it. For example Rain Alarm Pro works perfectly on it to warn me I'm about to get wet but realistically the fully zoomable little map that opens is pretty meaningless - it's just too small.

For anything that doesn't try and present that level of detail though it is fantastic - a couple of examples that have astounded me. I did no setting up of this at all but a few days after getting the watch I used my phone (Google Maps) to navigate me whilst walking round Manhattan - I'm walking along and all of sudden the watch buzzes at me. I look at the watch and it says turn right in ten feet. In fact the watch guided me round quite a complex and long route flawlessly and I never actually looked at the phone at all apart from setting up the destination.

Another is listening to music. I can put my headphones on and stick my phone in my pocket and then forget about it. I can control the tracks I'm playing, the volumes, the radio station I'm listening to, etc. from the watch. I've mentioned checking and replying to texts and emails though emails aren't easy to read if of any length or with graphics. Another handy thing is seeing who's calling and being able to reject the call from the watch.

None of which answers your question so it runs Android Wear (connected to an HTC M8) and I think the answer to the apps question is none really as, whilst I'm sailing I'm focussed on what I'm doing anyway and have other instruments available to help me out all the time. Maybe an Anchor Watch alarm that alerted via the watch perhaps but that's all I can think of offhand.

Incidentally the Asus ZenWatch (ZenWatch II is just about available as well now) costs $150 if you look around and is IP68 water-resistant I believe. I'm very impressed and I suspect they will replace "dumb" watches as quickly and completely as quartz movements replaced mechanical. The ZenWatch II has WiFi which means you can chuck the phone on charge and it will stay connected over your private LAN even if you lose the Bluetooth connection. That could be handy in a large house or one with thick walls, etc.

 

[Fendant]

Quote:"
I'm very impressed and I suspect they will replace "dumb" watches as quickly and completely as quartz movements replaced mechanical. "
Real watches are mechanic based, self winding and made in Switzerland.
The new phone tethered watches are the really dumb ones, useless on board, hard to operate with wet fingers, difficult to read and low om power when you really need them.
Quartz movements in fact is a market in recession, even the Chinese are now starting to produce mechanical watches.

Hence I don't see a need to develop any apps for them.

 

[Davy_S]

My £10 Casio does everything I ask of a watch, I am not a follower of fashion or marketing.

 

[PetiteFleur]

My £10 Casio does everything I ask of a watch, I am not a follower of fashion or marketing.

Ditto......

 

[ghostlymoron]

Since I retired, I no longer wear a watch except when sailing sometimes when I need time for tidal reasons. The rest of the time I've no need - I eat when I'm hungry and sleep when I'm tired. Besides my car displays time, so does my phone and I can always ask a policeman.

 

[Boo2]

...these fancy "sailing watches" always lack the apparently basic functionality of being able to press a button N times and it keep a log of the time of each press. Obviously simplifies taking star sights...

Interesting idea, thanks.

....Maybe an Anchor Watch alarm that alerted via the watch perhaps but that's all I can think of offhand.

Great review, thanks very much for putting your thoughts down for us. Also the idea of an anchor watch alarm is a good one too, thanks for that also.

Boo2

 

[Boo2]

I won't be buying one.

Clockwork! ...

My watch tells me the time

Thats smart enough for me!

My watch will remain mechanical and very, very 'unsmart'...

Real watches are mechanic based, self winding and made in Switzerland.
The new phone tethered watches are the really dumb ones, useless on board, hard to operate with wet fingers, difficult to read and low om power when you really need them.
Quartz movements in fact is a market in recession, even the Chinese are now starting to produce mechanical watches.

Hence I don't see a need to develop any apps for them.

My £10 Casio does everything I ask of a watch, I am not a follower of fashion or marketing.

Ditto......

Since I retired, I no longer wear a watch except when sailing sometimes when I need time for tidal reasons. The rest of the time I've no need - I eat when I'm hungry and sleep when I'm tired. Besides my car displays time, so does my phone and I can always ask a policeman.

Is there really no information you guys would like to see on your wrist whilst sailing ? Not wind direction, pointer to nearest light , nothing at all ?

I know some on these forums have the option of asking a policeman whilst on the boat but that's not open to all

Boo2

 

[Davy_S]

Is there really no information you guys would like to see on your wrist whilst sailing ? Not wind direction, pointer to nearest light , nothing at all ?
My trustworthy reliable Casio tells me what time the pubs are open and what time the tide is, what else would I need to know?

 

[Davy_S]

Is there really no information you guys would like to see on your wrist whilst sailing ? Not wind direction?

Right, I am going to have a pee overboard, better check the watch and see where the wind is coming from!

 

[pvb]

My eyesight isn't good enough!