Post: #1

I've been looking at smart watches recently. While I find new gizmos cool, i'm failing to see what long term benefit using one would be.

From my view, smart watches seem like the ultimate tool for getting away with texting while in some school setting. Getting navigation directions on a watch would be nifty though I don't use GPS enough times in a month to warrant it.

Anyone own one willing to comment? I don't think i'd like to part with my 1962 Omega Seamaster in favor of an Apple Watch.

Post: #2

I don't understand the smartwatch craze. The smartphone already takes up an obscene amount of attention which is why I'm seriously considering going old school and not using a smartphone at all. My productivity and attention span has dwindled considerably since I first bought an iPhone.

I'd much rather wear a nice automatic watch; Omega, Panerai, Breitling, Tissot. The watch is not just for telling time, it is an accessory that tells me much more about a man than a digital watch ever could.

I'd have much more of a better first impression of a man sporting a 1962 Omega Seamaster than an iWatch.

Post: #3

You need to see the big picture in here, from a long time smartwatch are the dream of inventors anywhere



From GSM phone to smartphone to smartwatch to ehanced reality

The Black Mirror series is a good show on the example of where technology is leading us, a must watch

Every episode of Black Mirror is different:
The first episode, "The National Anthem," finds the British prime minister in crisis when the beloved princess is kidnapped, and her captors say they'll only release her if the PM has sex with a pig on TV. Somehow the episode makes this seem terrifying and credible.
"Fifteen Million Merits" is set in a world powered by humans on sleek exercise bicycles, constantly earning — and spending — meaningless points while being forced to watch either anti-obesity propaganda, trashy pornography, or their society's equivalent of American Idol. It's a story that would be perfectly at home in Welcome to the Monkey House.

Post: #4

(08-04-2015 08:35 AM)blck Wrote:  You need to see the big picture in here, from a long time smartwatch are the dream of inventors anywhere



From GSM phone to smartphone to smartwatch to ehanced reality

The Black Mirror series is a good show on the example of where technology is leading us, a must watch

Quote:Every episode of Black Mirror is different:
The first episode, "The National Anthem," finds the British prime minister in crisis when the beloved princess is kidnapped, and her captors say they'll only release her if the PM has sex with a pig on TV. Somehow the episode makes this seem terrifying and credible.
"Fifteen Million Merits" is set in a world powered by humans on sleek exercise bicycles, constantly earning — and spending — meaningless points while being forced to watch either anti-obesity propaganda, trashy pornography, or their society's equivalent of American Idol. It's a story that would be perfectly at home in Welcome to the Monkey House.

Oh believe me, I see the big picture. In high school I was rocking a smartphone (Treo 650 and then a WinMobile phone) while everyone was still using flip phones. I got made hard core fun for it. A small mobile computer is incredibly useful for reasons I don't need to outline here. They're obvious.

Now, everyone has a smartphone. However, much like Google Glass and smart watches, I fail to see the utilitarian functionality beyond "toy". In all of those pictures you posted, all three are simply talking into their wristwatches which is a relatively simple application. This can be easily implemented into a sub ~50$ bluetooth watch or an even cheaper bluetooth earpiece.

Beyond that, ok you can read texts, emails, and i'd presume some RSS/stock feeds. Even then, you're going to try and tell me you're going to consume all of your media over a watch instead of a slightly larger smartphone screen?

Out of curiosity blck, do you own a smart watch? If so what model?

Post: #5

No I don't and try to get the less app in the smartphone I own to not get too much addicted.
I own a blackberry for texting but my go to phone is a nokia 2630

Post: #6

(08-04-2015 09:10 AM)blck Wrote:  No I don't and try to get the less app in the smartphone I own to not get too much addicted.
I own a blackberry for texting but my go to phone is a nokia 2630

Blackberry eh? Which model? I've been using a classic and love the hell out of it. Another pet peeve of mine are the lack of decent keyboards on devices. To me this is a step backwards not forwards!

As for smart watches, I brought my Seamaster in for an oiling and new leather band. The watch guy wanted to offer me $1200 for it. I think he's a little mistaken on the value since it would probably go for 600-700 on Ebay. Either way, I only paid $300 for it a few years ago. Watches are one of the few pieces of male jewelry, I don't think i'd want to swap it in for a tech piece.

Post: #7

They are very good marketers.

I have a brother working in digital industry and he told me they are already developing algorithms that track tiny increases in your heart rate while you browse the internet. It means you are excited about what you see and then they show you ads based on that.

Post: #8

I got a free Motorola 360 from my credit cards rewards points program



There's a fitness app. syncing with the pedometer. I make my FWB wear it so she doesn't slack on the stroke.

That that's it. There's no way to wear a smartwatch or Google glass without looking like a tool.

Post: #9

For most people? No use other than "cool" factor.

That said I have found them to be great for business users, students, or other people who for whatever reason need to stay connected but don't want to or can't walk around with their phone out all the time. The ability to selectively push notifications from apps is great if you're either stuck in meetings/class all the time. Ditto if you're from or travel to places like NYC or London. In particular turn by turn walking directions are amazing.

In my case I've got a moto 360 set up to display a Bloomberg notification whenever there's significant breaking market news.

Otherwise I don't recommend getting one even if it's dirt cheap. They're moderately functional devices and have zero fun factor.

Post: #10

Tin foil hat time:

Smart watches are just one step closer to the inevitable microchip that will be implanted at birth. This will hold all your bank details (once they scrap paper money and bank cards), it will be your identity chip, your mobile phone (you won't be able to ever change your number), your medical details, and whatever else the government decides you 'need'.

Post: #11

I wore an older one my uncle gave me, original galaxy S or something like that. It was kind of cool, I could take pictures and screen calls from my wrist...and that was about it. I'm honestly not into wearing watches all the time, and when I do I prefer to swap out different ones depending on what I'm doing.

I don't want to worry about breaking it.

It's something I feel like I need to integrate into my life to get the moneys worth out of if and that's annoying.

It's extremely useful, cool, and I have no idea where it is right now.

That moto watch is cool as hell though...

Post: #12

I'll tell you exactly why these watches pick up.

A new style of fashion called Tech fashion.

It isn't that people need it. It is a way of displaying value, called Conspicuous Consumption.

We can talk about the benefits of owning a car, but what of the benefits of owning a low end sedan ford versus a Mercedes? Both can get you from A to B, both have cup holders ect. There might be differences such as leather seating. However, the task difference is that Mercedes sells an image of value for the owner.

There are benefits to owning a smartphone, but what about a cheap Android over an iPhone? One of the reasons why the Android phones own the market is because it is the smartphone for the masses. iPhones are more exclusive. Keep in mind that iPhones are mostly cheap only in the United States and is made affordable because of phone plans that subsidize the cost of the phone. Keep in mind that some Android phones are more powerful than an iPhone but the iPhone makes sense a statement of fashion and as an accessory statement.

Post: #13

(08-05-2015 01:09 AM)PolymathGuru Wrote:  There are benefits to owning a smartphone, but what about a cheap Android over an iPhone? One of the reasons why the Android phones own the market is because it is the smartphone for the masses. iPhones are more exclusive. Keep in mind that iPhones are mostly cheap only in the United States and is made affordable because of phone plans that subsidize the cost of the phone. Keep in mind that some Android phones are more powerful than an iPhone but the iPhone makes sense a statement of fashion and as an accessory statement.

The same is true of all Apple products, as well as companies like Target, Starbucks, and Tesla. Companies like that go beyond traditional "prestige" brands like Rolex and Ferrari because people don't buy Apple products directly to impress but because they appeal directly to the narcissism of the American consumer.

Functionality has little do with it as most of the fans aren't open to other options if they even know the other options exist. It can even be impractical. Here at my school (one of the highest ranked MBA programs in the US where everyone is ostensibly very smart) we've got a lot of students who are STILL clinging to their macs even after being told repeatedly that the Mac versions of the software we will be using doesn't work for the purposes. Predictably they're already having massive difficulties and we're still in the prep classes.

Post: #14

I got a Sony Smartwatch 3 as an unexpected gift recently. Used it for a week, but aside from not exactly being a fan of the styling (haven't really seen any smart watches yet I really like the look of, compared to a nice normal watch that fits my casual style) it just seems a little pointless.

Receiving messages from SMS, Viber, other chat clients. Well, good for a quick immediate look, but since voice commands are highly unpredictable I have to pull out my phone anyway to respond.

Receiving phone calls. I can accept or reject them but still have to pull my phone out to actually take the call, unless I've overlooked something (probably haven't - while the watch has a microphone I don't believe it has a speaker, and I don't really want to share my calls with people around me anyway. Might work with bluetooth headphones, but even if I had some I would only occasionally be wearing them for music).

Navigation with Google Maps on the watch screen. This can in many cases genuinely be used without having to pull out the phone, but while I'm a frequent Google Maps user - particularly on vacations - I really like a more comprehensive view on a bigger screen and would probably end up taking out my phone 4 out of 5 times anyway.

As a fitness tracker. Works well with the various fitness apps I had already been using before on my phone (Sports Tracker, Google Fit, several others I've tested out but discarded like RunKeeper and Endomondo), but since I primarily use them for hiking I don't really have the need to look down at my wrist all the time to check time, distance and pace. Taking out my phone on occasion works perfectly fine.
The Sony Smartwatch 3 is one of the few smart watches with a built in GPS, which means that with some of the fitness apps (eg. RunKeeper) you can leave your phone at home. However the watch GPS proved to be highly inaccurate in the few tests I did, though I didn't see that mentioned in any reviews I had read.

I think I'll wait for that implanted micro chip and VR contact lenses or eye implant instead.
And for fitness tracking - if I ever feel I need more than what the numerous phone apps can supply - I would just get a dedicated fitness wrist band from Fitbit, Jawbone etc.

Post: #15

I'm trying to find a way to justify buying one. But I can't. It adds no benefit to my life.

Post: #16

I think the fit bands are where it's at.

Nifty little wrist bands that track your daily exercise and your heart rate only a few CM thick. Nothing should take the place of a good analogue watch.

Post: #17

(08-05-2015 08:49 AM)CodyB Wrote:  I think the fit bands are where it's at.

Nifty little wrist bands that track your daily exercise and your heart rate only a few CM thick. Nothing should take the place of a good analogue watch.

I rarely see an in shape person wear those. It's normally chubby chicks, you know the 20lb overweight chick that puts "athletic" on her online dating profile, or toolbags.

I don't see the point of having a watch tell me my heartbeat or how many steps I took during the day. That shit doesn't matter. Hit the gym daily, don't worry about how many miles you've walked at some boring ass desk job.

Not hating on you though. I have seen some in shape with them, but they are the exception not the rule. However, I do have a GPS running watch I use that tells me distance and heart rate. That makes sense to me, I wan't to know how far I've ran and try to keep my heart beat at a set target.

So those things are worth it while actively exercising. Wearing them for day to day activity is just fitness porn for fatties: "I've walked 4.3 miles today! see it says it!!!! I can totally reward myself with a bowl of hagen das! Man I'm doing so good I think ill skip the gym and sleep in tomorrow!".

As far as smart watches go, I also do not see the point. A friend showed me her apple watch (is it an iWatch?). My only impression was that it was an expensive shittier replacement for a smart phone that looked like shit on her wrist. I mean if its not useful at least make it look good. I can't see any value that it adds whatsoever.

I'm sure the technology will improve, developers will make more useful apps, and maybe even the price will drop, bur right now the only value I can see in smart watches is the ease of going elderly on a chick wearing one:

anti - "Is that that new iWatch4/appleWatch thingy?"

Post: #18

An iWatch will be obsolete in 1-2 years and is quite expensive.

For the same price, you can have a luxurious watch that will impress the ladies, and will last 10 years.

Personally, I'd rather use my Smart Phone than an Smart Watch for any app.

Post: #19

(08-05-2015 05:06 PM)Soyouz Wrote:  An iWatch will be obsolete in 1-2 years and is quite expensive.

For the same price, you can have a luxurious watch that will impress the ladies, and will last 10 years.

Personally, I'd rather use my Smart Phone than an Smart Watch for any app.

First off it's an Apple Watch, not iWatch. Regarding your 1-2 year prediction, I suppose we'll see. I highly doubt it. People said the same thing about the iPad.

Not sure if you're serious about a luxurious watch for the same price. I'm into Panerai personally and there are only a few models of the Apple Watch that are in the 10-20K range -- the rose gold Apple Watch. The prices for all of the others are in the range of 350-1,200 dollars.

I do agree that if you want a real timepiece, then yes absolutely get a traditional watch like Panerai. But for work, and other day to day functioning I like my Apple Watch, and it looks great. It's the higher range one however.

Is it the greatest gear in the world, no I wouldn't say so. But again it looks good (at least my version) and I enjoy the tech, customizability of it and using it as an extension of my phone. For anyone who cares to know, later this year Apple is releasing a new operating system that will allow you to use your watch independently of your phone, given you have access to wifi.

p.s. I just love how much android users always hate on Apple.

Post: #20

I actually wanted a fitbut surge.
It looks awesome.
But I couldn't justify the price.
I love technology and started looking foot other smart watches.

I decided that battery life and technology just weren't there yet.

This isn't my strategy, but the same with tattoos.
Once it's drawn up.. Sleep on it.
I left the fitbit in my Amazon cart and weeks later I still couldn't justify it.

Post: #21

Smart watches seem like an awful investment to me. They can never do as much as a smartphone, and they'll be obsolete in 2 years time. They really can't compete with a real timepiece like a TAG Heuer or Patek Philippe.

Post: #22

Smartwatches are the most expensive piece of junk ever created. Having one doesn't add any benefits to your life.

Post: #23

Its the first generation of the apple watch, you can't expect it to be amazing or life changing yet. Do the guys that are totally bashing it even know everything that it does? What is the point of an iPad when you can just use your laptop? Hmmm its just a circle jerk.

Smart watch is currently really niched, come back to this thread in 3 years and see if your opinion has changed.

Post: #24

(08-04-2015 09:11 PM)Easy_C Wrote:  For most people? No use other than "cool" factor.

That said I have found them to be great for business users, students, or other people who for whatever reason need to stay connected but don't want to or can't walk around with their phone out all the time. The ability to selectively push notifications from apps is great if you're either stuck in meetings/class all the time. Ditto if you're from or travel to places like NYC or London. In particular turn by turn walking directions are amazing.

In my case I've got a moto 360 set up to display a Bloomberg notification whenever there's significant breaking market news.

Otherwise I don't recommend getting one even if it's dirt cheap. They're moderately functional devices and have zero fun factor.

I agree with this. Whether or not a smartwatch is useful comes down to your lifestyle. They're practical in certain businesses. If you're driving a lot, traveling, or receiving dozens of e-mails/messages/notifications an hour, I can see them being very practical. That said, I would wear a classic timepiece after work. I don't think a smart watch is an actual replacement for a watch.

Watch: fashion accessory; status symbol; works of art in many cases; last forever
Smartwatch: productivity tool; tech gadget; obsolete in 9 months.

If you're a heavy smartphone user and multitasking frequently I think a smartwatch can benefit you. If you're sitting at a desk all day, save your money.

I don't own one yet because I'm waiting for the next generation which will be much better and more affordable.

Post: #25

(08-05-2015 05:06 PM)Soyouz Wrote:  An iWatch will be obsolete in 1-2 years and is quite expensive.

For the same price, you can have a luxurious watch that will impress the ladies, and will last 10 years.

Personally, I'd rather use my Smart Phone than an Smart Watch for any app.

Luxurious watches actually do not impress ladies at all. Ironically a $300 Michael Kors watch will get you far more attention. I wear a Breitling Navitimer and have only gotten about 4 compliments on it ever. First from a close friend, second from a friend who is a business owner, 3rd from a guy who is CEO is a huge company, and 4th from my mom. Women do not understand and appreciate luxury watches. The only people you will impress are business owners, which in the long run is actually more useful than impressing a girl.

My post is sort of derailing this thread but a point had to be made.