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I know this has been already mentioned before but I wanted to start a discussion around wearable tech and touch on a few things I think this particular watch is getting right and why I think the game changer is finally here...
For the most part I think that because this isn't just a companion device like the I'm Watch or the Sony and numerous alternatives out there this is actually has loads of it's own functionality
For a start its waterproof!
If you're anything like me then you know how much you'd be put off having to rush for work and not have to worry about getting your watch soaked in the shower!
7 day battery life!
The I'm watch although has a nice colour screen only has 2 days worth of battery... that would really grate on me... having to charge your watch up ever other day.... 7 days is on par with other activity trackers.
Does everything a Fitbit Flex without needing to wear two things...
I do like the idea that I can wear this and not need a watch so now im back to having something just on one wrist and not on both
Keep track of your fitness in real time..
Something you can't do with any fitness tracker.. I really like the idea of using an Android Rock or Z1 watch phone but sadly they don't support bluetooth 4.0 LE which would have been great to directly see the apps off the fitness trackers... but this is the best you can get right now..
Syncs with Windows Phone 8
Ok for the minority of WP8 users out there with Lumias to actually have proper support with something is an amazing change
Anyway here's the link see what you all think about wearable tech...
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kreyos-the-only-smartwatch-with-voice-gesture-control/x/4042531
Actually what made me really laugh on their promo video was yeh look the watch is waterproof she just made a call and jumped in... errrr... hang but on but she just destroyed her £600 iPhone which isn't waterproof oh... and notice how she didn't try and use it after she had jumped in ;p
If anyone does pledge and doesn't mind using my referral link, it'll be greatly appreaciated! Thanks.
http://igg.me/at/kreyos/x/3035858
Referrals are not allowed on xda
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Hello, I am using the Note 2 LTE and the PRO 12.2 LTE. I am planning to buy either the Note 4 or the new Gear S. Sure the Note 2 and Note 4 are smaller than the PRO 12.2. The latter can do almost all the things that the Note 2 and 4 are capable of (can we upgrade the software of the PRO to the ones used in Note 4?). For me, the main use of the Note 4 and Gear S is: phone calls. I guess I can do it with the PRO using some kind of bluetooth headset. Of course, besides having a better camera, the Note 4 is better at photo taking because it is too heavy and difficult to press the photo taking button while holding the PRO 12.2.
I will buy a new MacBook Pro Retina 15". It will be too heavy to carry the laptop, the PRO 12.2 and the Note 4. I probably use the PRO 12.2 for pdf annotation, pdf viewing, note taking, video watching, etc. I may not carry the MacBook Pro 15" as often as I did in the past. I do need the Mac (Mac OS and Windows) for my research work though. The PRO cannot serve as a laptop replacement in my case.
Looking to pick up the Note 4 eventually though I'm not sure if I'll do so straight away. I still like my Nexus 4 w/ Mahdi ROM.
I'm not sure I want to pick up a Tizen based wearable. I just have this personal issue with entering into another platform and wonder what support there will be for it from application developers. Its just another consideration I'd have to make which may not exist as much on plain Android Wear devices. I'll most likely pick up a Moto 360 or LG's round watch though.
When I travel both my Note Pro and my rMBP come with me. I really don't mind the weight of carrying both at all and my use case simply doesn't support the Note Pro being a laptop replacement. My Note Pro is primarily for content consumption and web browsing. Note taking is secondary and productivity is a distant last. It's quite useful for email and whatnot but I can't get significant work done on it other than mild annotation of PDFs.
Probably not. I have a Note 3, the Note 4 feels like a step backwards. (Particularly if the EU gets the N910C with the Exynos. Rubbish.)
I'm a gamer and a designer, so I always carry my laptop(17.3" Asus N76VB) with me, as the NotePro is simply not capable of replacing it. Not because of the hardware, but mainly because of Android. (iOS won't help. Neither will Linux. And the Surface has an Intel HD, so not useful either.)
As such, my NotePro is my entertainment device. Films, magazines, comics, drawing, that sort of thing. My Note 3 serves as my go-to device for most things on the road, as well as an e-reader.
As for the Gear... I'm a Scifi fan. I didn't get stuck in 1960, and as such I will not be spending my money on tech with a 'retro' design. Not to mention, I want Android, no Tizen. Until it starts working and looking like this, I'm out.
Thanks for the warnings about the Gear. The Note PRO is more like a large screen device below 1kg that I could use on public transportation and while waiting for the foods in restaurants. For research work, I still need a laptop.
I don't know why, but I've always liked the idea of making phone calls with my watch, without the need of a smart phone nearby. The Gear S is the most interesting to me. As others have mentioned, the new OS is a bit of a concern. Not to mention how nice it plays with other devices, should I replace my Note 3. I'll be keeping a close watch after release to see how it does in the wild.
I may consider the Note 4 a few months after release once prices settle down, real world results are in, and the other manufactures have released competing devices. But for what it'll cost off contract (i.e. $700+), I hardly see a reason to hand over that kind of cash any time soon. And that's coming from somebody who frequently buys new gadgets way too often.
When it comes to smart watches and Android Wear what exactly is the draw to these devices?
I currently see them as wrist mounted notification panels cleverly disguised as watches LOL. What else am I missing?
muzzy996 said:
When it comes to smart watches and Android Wear what exactly is the draw to these devices?
I currently see them as wrist mounted notification panels cleverly disguised as watches LOL. What else am I missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
James Bond.
That's hilariously the main reason people want one; because he wore it and that made it cool, and ever since they were kids a lot of people have wanted one to feel like they're a spy.
I'm not kidding, that was the reason they developed them (employed or not, the R&D lads are still geeks and nerds.(Aren't we all?)) and it's the main idea behind the marketing of them.
Better if it has a camera and a voice recorder.
The exciting thing about the note 4 release is the eventual release of the software enhancements that may trickle down to the other note products. The snap note feature for example or the improved floating window support.
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Note Edge for me TYVM?
Turnover is just too damn fast for me.
Hi Y´all!
Got my P905 pro 12.2. Got my N9005 N3. Don´t really need anything new in the months to come.
Anyway - As the title says. The turnover in this business IMHO is just too damn fast, at the very least for me, to continually keep buying the very latest.
I might just decide to get the Note5. But - on an entirely different matter - I recently found out that the 50 GB Dropbox that Samsung proudly keep advertising everytime they present a new flagship(ish) device is actually a bag of hot air if you bought another device before I knew you´d only get the 50 (48 actually) GB once. I.e. not 48 GB per device. But at the very least i´d be able to extend the 48 Gigs. But Noo - no.
So at the moment i actually consider Sony next time.
Regards
Elo
Understand the frustration there but the purpose of the promotion is to bring users to Dropbox that eventually get hooked into having to pay. In their eyes once you are hooked you shouldn't be allowed to continously increase your free capacity using the sane promotion. Every giveaway has loss built in so allowing concurrent application of them surely can't be sustainable in terms of profit margins. Like I said I hear you, this is my second note pro since I lost my first. .. sucks. .
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Polar67 said:
Hi Y´all!
Got my P905 pro 12.2. Got my N9005 N3. Don´t really need anything new in the months to come.
Anyway - As the title says. The turnover in this business IMHO is just too damn fast, at the very least for me, to continually keep buying the very latest.
I might just decide to get the Note5. But - on an entirely different matter - I recently found out that the 50 GB Dropbox that Samsung proudly keep advertising everytime they present a new flagship(ish) device is actually a bag of hot air if you bought another device before I knew you´d only get the 50 (48 actually) GB once. I.e. not 48 GB per device. But at the very least i´d be able to extend the 48 Gigs. But Noo - no.
So at the moment i actually consider Sony next time.
Regards
Elo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's 50GB per dropbox account, once. You can, however, simply make a new account on dropbox. (That's what I do. I currently have 5.)
That is not something Samsung chose to do. It's Dropbox's doing.
ShadowLea said:
It's 50GB per dropbox account, once. You can, however, simply make a new account on dropbox. (That's what I do. I currently have 5.)
That is not something Samsung chose to do. It's Dropbox's doing.
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Hi!
Hmm - gotta try that - Thanks! :laugh:
Update: It worked - Yepiiee - You´re a life saver - Well - almost anyway - Now i can get the Note 5 and feel good about it
Regards
Elo
---------- Post added at 06:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:25 PM ----------
muzzy996 said:
Understand the frustration there but the purpose of the promotion is to bring users to Dropbox that eventually get hooked into having to pay. In their eyes once you are hooked you shouldn't be allowed to continously increase your free capacity using the sane promotion. Every giveaway has loss built in so allowing concurrent application of them surely can't be sustainable in terms of profit margins. Like I said I hear you, this is my second note pro since I lost my first. .. sucks. .
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi!
Your argument makes perfect sense. On the other hand: Samsung gets a benefit by increasing the value of their product as well.
It therefore struck me as logical that there had to be some sort of deal between Samsung and Dropbox. I.e. so many $ to Dropbox each time a unit is sold. If Dropbox gets an income per unit, i´d assume (yes - i know what is said about those) they´d also have to provide a service per unit.
Damn those assumptions
Regards
Elo
Polar67 said:
Your argument makes perfect sense. On the other hand: Samsung gets a benefit by increasing the value of their product as well.
It therefore struck me as logical that there had to be some sort of deal between Samsung and Dropbox. I.e. so many $ to Dropbox each time a unit is sold. If Dropbox gets an income per unit, i´d assume (yes - i know what is said about those) they´d also have to provide a service per unit.
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Click to collapse
LOL You're right! Sadly they're silent on the fact that you can't continually apply the credit. Perhaps its there in fine print somewhere and I'm just too excited at each product purchase to see it . . in any case I'll buy the Note 4 sometime before the end of the year and I'll lose the ability to take full advantage of that offer. Oh well . . .I'm not about to go through the hassle of using multiple dropbox accounts.
I wish Dropbox would match Google's pricing (I actually use both but reserve Google Drive for collaborating with others whereas Dropbox I use for myself and family) across the entire range of options. Would be nice to have a $2/mo 100GB option. I really don't need 1TB of space.
Back on topic though the Note 4 Edge looks interesting too. I'm concerned though that Samsung put the curved screen on the wrong product. Having never had a Note/Note 2/Note 3 I cant say for sure so I ask those of you who have - do you think its going to be hard to avoid touching the icons and menus on the curved edge while gripping the phone and doing other things?
Polar67 said:
Hi!
Hmm - gotta try that - Thanks! :laugh:
Update: It worked - Yepiiee - You´re a life saver - Well - almost anyway - Now i can get the Note 5 and feel good about it
Regards
Elo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happy to help!
It's such a shame to forgo a great device (As the N5 will uncountably be 64Bit and 4G) because of corporate stupidity. Good thing there's usually a way to bypass it.
muzzy996 said:
LOL You're right! Sadly they're silent on the fact that you can't continually apply the credit. Perhaps its there in fine print somewhere and I'm just too excited at each product purchase to see it . . in any case I'll buy the Note 4 sometime before the end of the year and I'll lose the ability to take full advantage of that offer. Oh well . . .I'm not about to go through the hassle of using multiple dropbox accounts.
I wish Dropbox would match Google's pricing (I actually use both but reserve Google Drive for collaborating with others whereas Dropbox I use for myself and family) across the entire range of options. Would be nice to have a $2/mo 100GB option. I really don't need 1TB of space.
Back on topic though the Note 4 Edge looks interesting too. I'm concerned though that Samsung put the curved screen on the wrong product. Having never had a Note/Note 2/Note 3 I cant say for sure so I ask those of you who have - do you think its going to be hard to avoid touching the icons and menus on the curved edge while gripping the phone and doing other things?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well - i´m left handed and use a bumper on my N3. Being somewhat of a klutz i have to protect my device. I couldn´t hold the N4E without almost constantly being in physical contact with the curved edge. The curved edge is on the right side of the phone and looks like an ergonomic nightmare for us "leftys".
For a right handed person your right thumb looks, to me, like the "intended digit". Then you´d have to hold the device between your other 4 fingers and the root of your thumb/edge of your palm. Seems to me it´d be very nearly impossible to avoid touching along the edge. This needs to be tested IRL the phone shape is IMHO just too special to extrapolate or assume (Insert scared whine here) anything.
Edit: And speaking of bumpers - will they even be possible?
Regards
ELO
Yeah my first impression of the edge was it's too bad the S5 didn't have a variant of that instead. The larger note size doesn't seem practical for the edge technology. Also it would be nice if earpiece speakers doubled as normal speakers, hard buttons on front were removed, microphones placed on all corners and an earpiece speaker on top and bottom. With this setup, use rotation sensor to detect orientation so that the proper earpiece gets sound when the phone is in use. Use proximity sensor to up speaker volume when paying media. It surprises me nobody does this, a phone that you can answer in either portrait orientation that also doesn't need speakers on the sides or back.
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muzzy996 said:
hard buttons on front were removed
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Click to collapse
No thank you!
Not only will that cost us 10% screen space, it is also highly irritating if you use full-screen apps. The 'hide the notification bar' feature is already highly irritating. (Every time I try to bring it up in the middle of a video, the swipe is detected by the video player first and it changes the volume or brightness before opening the bar. UGH!)
I don't need more annoyances with on-screen buttons. The Nexus can keep those, cheers. Samsung made the decision to keep the hard buttons for a very well-considered list of reasons.
And no, they can't simply extend the screen. It's bound by aspect ratio. No, they can't add it as an additional bar on the screen either, it breaks the ratio in landscape mode.
ShadowLea said:
No thank you!
Not only will that cost us 10% screen space, it is also highly irritating if you use full-screen apps. The 'hide the notification bar' feature is already highly irritating. (Every time I try to bring it up in the middle of a video, the swipe is detected by the video player first and it changes the volume or brightness before opening the bar. UGH!)
I don't need more annoyances with on-screen buttons. The Nexus can keep those, cheers. Samsung made the decision to keep the hard buttons for a very well-considered list of reasons.
And no, they can't simply extend the screen. It's bound by aspect ratio. No, they can't add it as an additional bar on the screen either, it breaks the ratio in landscape mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All good reasons. I wonder if there's a way to get full use of the device in either orientation without those annoyances.
I understand its pretty much what you pay is what you get but I do not wish to buy an expensive Gear or Apple iWatch right now. Please recommend me a good chinese smart watch? I have gone through Amazon and Gearbest however its my first time into this and I rather buy something with recommendations from you guys.
Basically Im looking for something which is less than $40. I dont care about all the bells or whistles as long as it shows me time, shoes me text messages, has as good battery life and hopefully have face plate changes. Really dont care about making calls, or other sensors, or video or photo recording etc.
I'm in the same boat but looking to spend up to $80
I feel the same freaking way. There's so freaking many of them. I just want one that at least has a wifi chip and is water resistant but I can't find any that has both and under $100
Bump. Appreciate your help guys,
If you're willing to live a little dangerously ... the Weloop Tommy might be up your alley. It functions as it is with an older apk than the one on the play store and the firmware 3.18 seems to be stable. There is also an open source project that seems is pretty close to fruition.
relevant links -
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sma...s/weloop-tommy-smartwatch-looks-best-t2864444
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sma.../weloop-tommy-smartwatch-faq-updates-t2995858
https://hackaday.io/project/4510-open-source-sportsmart-watch
I'll be reviewing some new budget watches (around $50). stay tuned to the forums :good::good::good::good:
I have been looking and looking through the fabulous forums about reviews and features. I, too, am looking for a new "toy". I don't wear a watch typically so I it would probably not last, hence why I don't want to spend a lot of money. However I do really have a need to easily dismiss a ton of notifications remotely. I am hoping that I can pick up a cheap one to get my feet wet, get a little experience with what I want and need.
I REALLY like the Galaxy Gear S, with the curved display... but I do not have a Samsung phone/tablet to pair it with. I have been looking for knock off, but have not found one yet. I think something similar to the Gear S is what I am looking for. Something that has a browser, wifi, GPS for maps (I travel a lot), and of course the ability to answer/speakerphone calls and view/dismiss notifications (exchange, gmail, FB Messanger, snapchat, etc.).
I am not looking for a sport watch, but maybe something with a metal band that looks classy. I really liked the Round watches... but I think a lot of screen space is wasted. With the chinese versions, it seems the UI is built around a square display and looks goofy. The Android Wear looks great but I am not sure the capacity of its ability.
I think I would prefer a android device with a good interface. And a decent charger (magnetic/wireless)
Same here, if any has a complete mind in this can you share with us.
Like $50-80, which is the best to get?
Go for gear s I have one I M satisfied it can be used as stand alone device and u can have extra no.
far56 said:
Go for gear s I have one I M satisfied it can be used as stand alone device and u can have extra no.
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Click to collapse
I would love the Gear S but I do not have a Samsung phone thus makes it almost completely worthless. If the Gear S had a Android Wear rom, that would be an instant buy.
player911 said:
I would love the Gear S but I do not have a Samsung phone thus makes it almost completely worthless. If the Gear S had a Android Wear rom, that would be an instant buy.
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Click to collapse
Yes exactly then go for LG g watch r or moto 360 or any android wear watch.
I actually just picked up the LG G Watch for $50 (refurbished) from CowBoom shipped.
http://www.cowboom.com/product/1553348/
$5 off $50
"CowBoom5"
It is an Android Wear device, waterproof, and a SD 400 which is snappy. I really liked the magnetic charger but I wish I had an AMOLED display like the Samsung Gear Live for its battery sipping and deep blacks. The LG also lacks WiFi but... I think it is a good start watch for the price. It will let me play with the notifications and see if a watch is something worth investing more money into.
I paid through Amazon which apparently has a 30-day return policy. This will at least give me time to trial it. I figured the waterproof display will at least allow me to control my phone from the pool, if nothing else. So even if I do not wear this every day, it will still have some use around the house.
This seems to be the best buy for the money compared to the other Chinese watches. There seems to be a few roms and hacks for the LG G Watch and fairly good support.
WARNING:
If you buy from CowBoom, make sure you look at what is included. Mine included the charging dock but others just include the watch and band. The G Watch has a priorietary magnetic charging dock required to charge... without it you will not be able to charge. I thought it was weird they would sell the watch without the required charging dock but make sure you pick one that includes one.
They also have other watches on there. The Samsung Gear Live (AMOLED + WiFi) was $129. You can take $10 off $100 using CowBoom10 making it $119. But that that price range, I would almost OPT for the Motorola 360 ($150 new at NewEgg) or LG G Watch R ($179 used at Cowboom = $169 with discount).
This is why the $50 LG made sense. They all run Android Wear so will function the same. I always carry a phone and this is meant to compliment it for notifications.
player911 said:
I would love the Gear S but I do not have a Samsung phone thus makes it almost completely worthless. If the Gear S had a Android Wear rom, that would be an instant buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does look pretty nice. Don't have a Samsung phone and the price is too much for me tho.
Hello,
Which Chinese smartwatches offer full voice call? Not only dial, but whole conversation via mic and speaker of smartwatch.
I see Zeaplus Watch dm360 offer this function. But what about U Watch UO, S360, Zeaplus S2 or ZenGear/Zeaplus G3 or others new?
My personal experiences with smartwatches:
Bluetooth phone companion: Moto 360, my cost $150
Looks nice. Runs android wear, works with any andriod phone (I think 4.4 and higher). With 5.1.1 update can tether to phone via wifi. Receive notifications, answer calls, but lacks speaker, so need to continue conversation on the phone. Remotely control music play on phone. Remote control of phone camera. Voice control (OK Google) to send text hands-free, or start call and search web hands-free. Available apps growing. Battery life 1 day. Can change watch face easily, lots of choices in playstore. Cannot be used independent of phone.
I returned this. Too limited for my needs.
Hybrid bluetooth companion/standalone phone: Aplus GV18, my cost $25
large, square-ish face. light-weight silicon strap. proprietary software. Can pair with phone via bluetooth to receive push notifications. Connection has been stable for me up to 10m without obstruction (android, not iOS, phone). Has speaker and mic, so can answer and carry on full conversation on watch (sound quality on both ends is good). remotely control phone music (but plays from watch speaker) or load music onto SD card (user provided, format FAT32, upto 32GB) to play music independently. remote control phone camera or use built-in 2Mp camera for photo and video (low quality). Can also play loaded videos (AVI VXR MP3 format). Also accepts SIM card for voice calls and texts, to use as standalone phone. When used as standalone, can pair with bluetooth headset. Water resistant. No wifi, no GPS. Pedometer not that accurate. has calendar and alarm but OS is proprietary, so will not sync with Google. Will not sync contacts. Battaery easily lasts 2 days with light to moderate use. Limited watch face - choice of 3. I love it!. I have a pay-as-you-go SIM card in it. When I go for a jog, I leave my phone at home and forward calls and texts to the watch. (too much hassle to transfer the SIM card from phone to watch). I pair with bluetooth headset and listen to my downloaded songs. It is my go-to smartwatch.
Stand alone watch phone: ZGPAX S82, my cost $125
large, square-ish face, rubber strap. 2G/3G calls and data, wifi, bluetooth, GPS (worked intially, now doesn't work on mine anymore). Full android 4.4. Basically, a full android smartphone in a watch size. Small size can limit apps, as apps not created for screen this small, cannot see everything on the screen. Limited watch faces. Full android OS uses alot of power. if you tightly regulate antenna use (i.e. turn off wifi, data and bluetooth when not in use) and reduce screen brightness, battery can last 1 day (i.e. 8-10 hours). Has Google Playstore. Sign into your account, and download you apps and receive your notifications that way. Or can use SWapp Link app if want bluetooth pairing with your phone, but will use lots of battery. Good visibilty in sunlight. keyboard is tiny. can use OK Google for voice control. low res camera. Can expand memory with TF card to 32 GB for music,videos. pairs easily with bluetooth headset. I have watched YouTube on it. Some people have used this as their main phone. Since I have my cell phone with me most of the time, I primarily use my GV18. This device is a fun gadget for me that will be my back-up phone.
The right smartwatch for you is the one that best suits your needs. I would love the functionality and style of the moto 360, but with the ability to also function as a standalone phone. I think the Gear S has that ability, but too big and too expensive for me. New models coming out soon. If you need a smartwatch now, try out with cheap one and decide which functions you need, then invest in the right higher-quality model.
I started a small webshop selling smartwatches about a year ago, so I buy different design smartwatches from different manufacturers, pick the best, buy those in a small bulk (sometimes fixing software issues and sometimes add proper quality straps) and resell them on the European market with proper warranty.
My point:
Even I don't know which one (of the proper ones) to choose
I'm wearing the Omate TrueSmart for over a year now because it's the best stand-alone Android smartwatch with proper robust casing and sapphire glass, but I don't like the design when I compare it to my latest lines of companion smartwatches...
I'm in the same boat. I am stuck between the ZGPAX S8 and iMacwear M7. The S8 is more popular by far, but the M7 seems to be fairly equal, but more water resistant and really doesn't seem to have anyone complaining from what I've seen so far. I'd really like to have a daily smart phone watch.
So did anyone come up with a conclusion? i gave it a good read. Even i am planning to buy one too. not looking to spend much. $70-$80 is fine by me. Can anyone give me the best options to help me chose. please.
I like my LG G Watch. For $45 it is probably the best the money can buy. The chinese ones are ok but they just look and feel cheap. I have 1 and I cant even get it to fully pair with 2 phones I have. Speakerphone is nice but not at the cost of not being waterproof
player911 said:
I like my LG G Watch. For $45 it is probably the best the money can buy. The chinese ones are ok but they just look and feel cheap. I have 1 and I cant even get it to fully pair with 2 phones I have. Speakerphone is nice but not at the cost of not being waterproof
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Click to collapse
LG G Watch for $45. How come? i will buy from Amazon and its $96 there. :/.
And about the chinese smart watches not being water proof. yeah that sucks. Although they do advertise it as being waterproof. so isnt there any smart watch around my budget of a bit more good quality and water proof?
I was playing around with the Google Streetview app when I stumbled on the VR option, and really really really wanted to find some good glasses to let me use VR applications. I haven't found anything remotely similar to the Gear VR, which is pretty annoying, given that it seems like google is interested in the technology enough to make this.
Anyone have any leads? $100 is around what I'm willing to spend.
jogirider said:
I was playing around with the Google Streetview app when I stumbled on the VR option, and really really really wanted to find some good glasses to let me use VR applications. I haven't found anything remotely similar to the Gear VR, which is pretty annoying, given that it seems like google is interested in the technology enough to make this.
Anyone have any leads? $100 is around what I'm willing to spend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go with Google cardboard $20 win win
Google Cardboard is cool, but definitely not in the same league as Gear VR. FOV (Field of View) is lower.
That said, for $20 it's still really fun to try out.
I've been researching myself a bit into a good VR headset. What I've found so far is that you need to consider these factors:
* If you can use it handsfree or not (google cardboard you'll need to use your hands to press it against your head, I dont want that)
* Build quality
* how comfortable it feels
* If it releases the heat that builds op
* Quality of the lenses
* Adjustability of the lenses
* If it's google cardboard compatible, this means: does it have a button. If not, you might need to use a wireless controller
Supposedly the "Homido" scores pretty good on all of these, but it's not cardboard compatible: no button, so you'll need a controller (they do sell one seperately). I think I'm going to buy this one anyway myself. But if somebody has another suggestion, let me know !
So I've been using the homido for a while. The quality is quite good if you throw >=1440p at it (oculus rift video for example). With 1080p it's just not sharp enough. But the biggest con with this headset for me is that it's quite uncomfortable to wear. It presses quite heavily on my nose area and after a few minutes of wearing it, the skin area around my nose gets red already and starts to hurt. It's a nice headset to get an idea of what VR can do in its current form but I wouldnt recommend it for anyone who wants to use this for more than 5 minutes.
Supposedly the Gear Vr is more comfortable but only compatible with samsung of course.
My cardboard viewer came with straps to hold it on your head, fwiw.
Less than $15 on amazon shipped.
Probably not the quality you are looking for, but if anyone wants to just get the feel of it, it works great.
I've never tried another. And it does have the button...
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
I just bought the last Gear VR in Portland. While I expected it to be cool, nothing could prepare me for the actual experience. It is the single most immersive experience I've ever had, as it should be, it is truly mind blowing. If anyone has any questions about it, don't hesitate to ask.
Useful info/links-
Tried and tested bluetooth game controller, flawless operation with Gear VR- http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FB5RBJM
A great collection on indie games- https://vrjam.devpost.com/submissions
Unboxing video and first impressions, care of @AndyCr15- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=64510072
Video review, care of @AndyCr15- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6460134
How to view your own movies, 3D and 180 degree VR- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=64750751
To use non-Gear VR games and apps (ie. Google Cardboard)
Download Package Disabler Pro (Samsung) from the Play Store- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro
Open the three-dot menu and choose "Show System" and then find "Gear VR Service" and disable it. This will prevent the phone from detevting the headset and automatically opening the Oculus app. You can now use the non-Gear VR apps and games. Be sure to re-enable it before trying to use Gear VR apps.
I would only be interested in movies and TV shows. How does that work? I recommend you visit reddit gearvr subreddit. They have a ton of information.
Brava27 said:
I would only be interested in movies and TV shows. How does that work? I recommend you visit reddit gearvr subreddit. They have a ton of information.
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Movies are NUTS. It puts you into one of 5 or 6 theater settings where you legit feel like you are watching a movie at a cinema or home theater. You look around and there are seats and wall decor, it's CRAZY. There is also an option to do away with all the flash and just watch a movie which is what I prefer, and it is still amazing. That is the primary reason I bought it, for movies on the plane when I travel. Couldn't be happier so far.
The game Gunjack is seriously the most intense thing I think I've ever experienced. After about 5 minutes I am seriously THERE, and I can't begin to describe what this is like. It's breathtaking. Literally. I was legit out of breath when I took a break. And believe me, I NEEDED that break. Anybody with a modicum of imagination would get sucked into this thing and just be floored by it all. This is EASILY the best $100 I have ever spent in my entire life.
Yes specially insurgent high quality experience was awesome which available in MILK VR
Rather than make a new thread, I'll join yours, I hope you do't mind. I got mine a week back -
It really is an amazing experience. I guess what impresses me so much is how responsive it it. There's zero lag. None at all. I think this is key to the immersion, you really do feel like you're there. I watched a rapper on stage, from just at the front of the stage, for the first few seconds, I honestly expected people in the crowd around me to be looking at me, wondering what I was doing up there!
Gunjack is great, but for me a little simple. I'm looking forward to what games can be like within this thing.
Ocean Rift seems to be a favourite for showing the device off to relatives and friends over the Christmas period. I don't think anyone has failed to be blown away buy it.
The only problem I have is the lenses misting up for the first 5 minutes or so as they raise in temperature. Apparently some anti mist cleaner will help with this.
For me, I always have a top end phone, but have often wondered if I need various aspects -
High PPI count. Well yes, now I do. Even with the Note 5's high count, you can see pixels. I want higher!
Octa core CPU. Do I really need octacore in a phone?! Well yes, now I do, it keeps it lag free.
Fast charging. I used to charge overnight and not really need fast charging or wireless where I can drop the phone down and keep it topped up. Now I do. Watching an hour TV show can burn 25-30%. Being able to boost back up in a few minutes or keep it topped up through the day with wireless is really useful.
What phone model and firmware are you on? Just got my Gear VR and my phone is not compatible (N920G).
In what way isn't it compatible? I have a N920C myself.
When you connect the phone to the headset you should be prompted to install the Gear App. Mine doesn't. The "driver" for the Gear VR is bundled with the firmware. Mine is a 5.1..1 build from August N920GUBU1AOH6. Will you check your build number. It will not make a difference to me because you have a different model.
AndyCr15 said:
Rather than make a new thread, I'll join yours, I hope you do't mind. I got mine a week back -
It really is an amazing experience. I guess what impresses me so much is how responsive it it. There's zero lag. None at all. I think this is key to the immersion, you really do feel like you're there. I watched a rapper on stage, from just at the front of the stage, for the first few seconds, I honestly expected people in the crowd around me to be looking at me, wondering what I was doing up there!
Gunjack is great, but for me a little simple. I'm looking forward to what games can be like within this thing.
Ocean Rift seems to be a favourite for showing the device off to relatives and friends over the Christmas period. I don't think anyone has failed to be blown away buy it.
The only problem I have is the lenses misting up for the first 5 minutes or so as they raise in temperature. Apparently some anti mist cleaner will help with this.
For me, I always have a top end phone, but have often wondered if I need various aspects -
High PPI count. Well yes, now I do. Even with the Note 5's high count, you can see pixels. I want higher!
Octa core CPU. Do I really need octacore in a phone?! Well yes, now I do, it keeps it lag free.
Fast charging. I used to charge overnight and not really need fast charging or wireless where I can drop the phone down and keep it topped up. Now I do. Watching an hour TV show can burn 25-30%. Being able to boost back up in a few minutes or keep it topped up through the day with wireless is really useful.
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I said the same thing to my buddy about the absolutely ZERO lag. The head tracking on this thing is phenomemal. I have been using it for the last 5 hours straight and I still can't believe what my freaking cell phone is capable of.
Agreed about the pixel density. I have a OnePlus 2 with a 1080p screen, I can't image how bad the screen door effect would be with that thing. I'm still going to buy a high end headset to use with it though so I can check out google cardboard stuff. With the Gear VR there's a really frustrating trade off- use an S6 and have a smaller screen but higher ppi, or the Note 5 with the larger screen but lower ppi. Thankfully the immersion is so effective that after a few minutes the screen door effect no longer bothers me.
Yeah Gunjack is simple, but I am an old school gamer and haven't played any current generation games, so simple works fairly well for me. I am obsessed with any media that has to do with space and space colonization, so orbiting a giant planet with a massive space station behind me while shooting down baddies is right up my alley. Ever here of Star Citizen? It looks amazing and has me wanting to buy a gaming rig and oculus headset so I can come close to living my dream lol.
Get yourself some Jaws Quick Spit. It's meant for scuba divers and supposedly does wonders for preventing fogging. I have some on order, haven't tried it yet. In the meantime, just use a little saliva. I'm an old diver so believe me when I tell you that spit is the #1 way to prevent fog. Yes, I did use my saliva in the Gear VR and it did not fog at all for the 5 hours I was using it. It did fog up near instantly before I spit in it so the spit definitely works.
pakalrtb said:
What phone model and firmware are you on? Just got my Gear VR and my phone is not compatible (N920G).
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N920A on latest. All variants are compatible so you must have something going on. Are you rooted/ROM'd? That might have something to do with it.
There's plenty discussion on reddit about incompatible firmwares.
https://m.reddit.com/r/GearVR/comments/3vlluu/gear_vr_not_working_with_note5_no_setup_wizard/
Just read about using Package Disabler to be able to use Google Cardboard games and apps with the Gear VR, and it worked beautifully. Too bad Cardboard is nowhere near as sophisticated as Gear VR. Every game or app I tried was incredibly jerky and laggy and I started to get dizzy after about two minutes. That's a testament to how amazing Gear VR is- 5 hours and no fatigue, dizziness, or headache. I had all three with Cardboard in less than five minutes. Man am I glad I bought the Note.
_MetalHead_ said:
Just read about using Package Disabler to be able to use Google Cardboard games and apps with the Gear VR, and it worked beautifully. Too bad Cardboard is nowhere near as sophisticated as Gear VR. Every game or app I tried was incredibly jerky and laggy and I started to get dizzy after about two minutes. That's a testament to how amazing Gear VR is- 5 hours and no fatigue, dizziness, or headache. I had all three with Cardboard in less than five minutes. Man am I glad I bought the Note.
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That's correct. i never felt any lag nor headache while using gear vr even after using it for countless hours...
Success! I was finally able to flash a stock ROM that is supporting the Gear VR N920GUBU1AOJ4. Man this thing is awesome. These are my initial thoughts :
- agree with other users that with these headsets even 1080p seems basic. Bring on the 16K!
- reorientation only works on the horizontal axis. I would have liked to be able to adjust the vertical axis as well so to watch a movie laying down on a bed/sofa
- hardware wise I'd like the possibility to adjust the optics distance in order to have a perfect match with your eyes.
All in all this headset surpassed my expectations and I see it a very bright future for them.
pakalrtb said:
Success! I was finally able to flash a stock ROM that is supporting the Gear VR N920GUBU1AOJ4. Man this thing is awesome. These are my initial thoughts :
- agree with other users that with these headsets even 1080p seems basic. Bring on the 16K!
- reorientation only works on the horizontal axis. I would have liked to be able to adjust the vertical axis as well so to watch a movie laying down on a bed/sofa
- hardware wise I'd like the possibility to adjust the optics distance in order to have a perfect match with your eyes.
All in all this headset surpassed my expectations and I see it a very bright future for them.
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Nice, glad it was something simple. Yeah I have terrible eye sight, and one eye is far worse than the other. I'm also a stubborn bastard who refuses to wear glasses. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't individual lens adjustment but we gotta be realistic, this thing was $100 (I actually think the build quality leaves much to be desired). But that said, with the adjustment it does have I have no problems dialing in a nice, sharp image and weird enough, my bad eye can see the screen a LOT better than I expected, astigmatism notwithstanding.
I just picked one up today. Doesn't work with MOAR & skyhigh 3.0 (Sprint). Just flashed the factory OK3 firmware via odin & waiting on my phone to boot so I can get this thing working
Waiting on all these stupid ass samsung apps to finish downloading, gotta debloat this thing.....again
The Gear VR was very interesting to use, but I could not get over how pixelated it was.
ksantangelo23 said:
The Gear VR was very interesting to use, but I could not get over how pixelated it was.
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Eh, that stopped bothering me in under 3 minutes. Keep it in perspective- it's $99.
_MetalHead_ said:
Nice, glad it was something simple..
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Simple?!! It took me 40 hours, endless web searches, infinite slow downloads, a couple soft bricks and 4 different firmware before iI was able to pull it off.
Glad I did it though.
Couole more thing : the implementation of vocal commands and a headphone plug would make the Gear VR a killer.