Here's what it's like living with a smartwatch
I always avoided buying a smartwatch because I didn't want to add another gadget to my life. Then I tested a Motorola Moto 360 for a week, shortly after joining AndroidPIT. I kept an open mind and the results surprised me. For those of you who haven't used one, here's what living with a smartwatch is really like.
It reduced my technology dependency
I'm a rigorous notification checker – I check my Galaxy S5 Mini even when it hasn't buzzed. I thought the Moto 360 (2015) would make that habit worse. But in fact, the S5 Mini and I went on a little break. I checked my notifications less even after day one and this surprised me.
During this time, the voice telling me to check my phone quieted down. Checking notifications was unnecessary because the smartwatch was in plain sight. I didn't search for phantom notifications on my phone.
I understand my health goals better
I now have a better idea of what I need to do to get healthier and I have the Moto 360 to thank. It tracked how much I walked, my calories burned and my average pulse rate. I was surprised at the results.
I now know that I need to move more. This shocked me because I am an avid walker. I make an effort to walk to as many places as possible, I enjoy taking the stairs and I take leisure walks. Despite these efforts, the Motorola 360 kept telling me to 'do more.' After a few days of pushing myself, it deemed me active.
The heart rate monitor is a good function but the novelty wore off quickly and I stopped checking it. I figured I couldn't lower the number from one day to the next. That would take months of good habits. I also stopped paying attention to the calorie counter. It's useless unless you know how many calories you take in.
I liked the features, but there were just too many
I tried a lot of features. I consistently used a few and they were quite helpful. The navigation app got me a lot of places without becoming disorientated by 'phone navigation.' I also answered some messages if they warranted a short answer.
I tried online shopping with the Amazon app and it was worthless. Skype is better on a PC or laptop, anyways, it's not necessary on-the-go. I only needed an alarm in the morning and my phone was always right next to me. The bottom line, most features were impractical or redundant.
So would I get one?
The Moto 360 has some great features but I wouldn't purchase a smartwatch just yet. For me, it was mostly a second smartphone. I would consider getting one if there were more useful features.
Would you purchase a smartwatch? Let us know in the comments.
I was a Pebble Kickstarter backer and got lots of use out of it. There was a decent app that extended Maps navigation to the wrist, a good music control app for the gym, etc. When Android Wear came out I started working with an LG G Watch. Not as easy to read outside but everything else was more flexible and sophisticated. Voice commands are very powerful...I use the time a lot, like when I'm cooking I can say "ok Google set a timer for 35 minutes" and have my watch tell me when to check the dish in the oven. The clincher was when my car was very sick and I was able to run out of the vet's with my arms full of car and cage and tell my watch "navigate to UC Davis small animal hospital and by the time I got to the car the first direction was on my wrist and my phone in my pocket was telling me what to do. Don't use the watch as a phone; use it to complement and extendyour phone's capabilities. AS watches do a good job of that and they get better every week or so. When the Moto 360 (2015) came out I got one of those and now I think I have one of the best looking watches on the market
Hi Ellett,
Thank you for your insight here, I'm sure it will be helpful for those considering getting a smartwatch :)
And thank you for your specific examples, they are really illuminating.
to my knowledge ( I am no expert) they use an accelerometer, heart rate monitor, and pedometer, to measure your movements and calculate your calories. They do not take in your actual metabolism and if are truly moving and not just shaking your arm. All they can do is give you a rough idea at best. They have a long way to go before they actually work as they claim. In my opinion
How does a smart watch measure how much calories you burn in a day?
Thank you for your question Bob. Mark above is right, they only are able to guess your calories burned based off of the data you give them and the amount of movement you do in a day. This is only a relative number and not 100% accurate because everyone is different. Who knows, maybe someday there will be a device that can measure every calorie we burn, even while sleeping... or typing responses to articles about new technology :)
It wasn't that long ago people used to say "a camera on a phone!, why would I need that" I've got a phone and a camera and I'm happy with that.. Now it's a deal breaker if your cameras low spec on a phone. I like my 360 2nd gen. It's got its flaws but I like to change things so it's very customisable. I can reply to texts etc and it looks good on my wrist. If you're going to pay £300 for a watch that may only see a few years wear in its life as fashions change, then buy one of these. Looks good. Is helpful and if you tire of the face just change it!
I became quite interested in smart watches after all the advertising blitz when the apple watch came out. I even included a smart watch on my Christmas list (no I didn't get one). But after reading many reviews it seems like they're ok but as almost all reviewers have said, there's just not a must have killer app yet. Though many say to wait, it'll come. So that's what I plan on doing.
I will stick with my Seiko dumb watch all it does is give me the time, the day, and date. I do not need to worry about charging it, battery last 1.5 years. It is water, dust, and shock prof. It is over 15 years old. just like the Timex ad. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking. My smart phone will do everything the smart watch will do better. I think smart watches are stupid gimmicks.
I love you. Just kidding.
I agree. But they have some long term potential, I guess, if they become much more useful and functional. As they are now, completely useless, a show off thing and a status symbol. The same I think about tablets, neither smartphones nor laptops/notebooks; lacking functionality of a bit bigger counterparts (and smaller ones as well), but big enough not to be comfortably portable. Of course, there is a market for any product.
How much are mechanical watches just a status symbol too? Could this possibly shift the way smartwatches are developed in the future, to be more of a status symbol? Who knows, it might drive up sales :)