anyone interested in the Gear 2/Neo/Fit?

[The_Superhoo]

I want to get the Neo. Looks like they made some improvements on the Galaxy Gear

 

[ocnbrze]

I want to get the Neo. Looks like they made some improvements on the Galaxy Gear

i already have the first gen gear, but i think the fit looks really cool especially with the curved glass.

if i was to get another samsung gear watch, i would not get the cheap version with the neo. the gear 2 looks more solid to me. i hate plastic.....and for a few bucks more might as well go all out and get the gear 2.

 

[Strings]

Ummm... have the price points been released, and I missed it?

Last I checked, we don't know what they are. So... could be "a few bucks more". Could be "twice the money"...

 

[chickencrisp]

There's going to have to be a price drop from it's predecessor. At least I would hope around the two hundred and fifty dollar range for the Gear 2 and one hundred and fifty for the Neo and Fit. I can't wait until April 11th for it's supposed release. Definitely going to pick up one of these babies.

 

[Strings]

I picked up a Gear at US Cellular for $100 (price drop + using some belief points). I MAY pick up a Gear 2 down the road

 

[clitrenta]

I want to get the Neo. Looks like they made some improvements on the Galaxy Gear

I like the look of the Fit but I already have the Gear 1 and I like it a lot. I don't care for the fact that they took the camera out of the strap and changed all that around with the Gear 2. Until I see the new Gear and can determine if it's worth it, I am happy sticking with my original Gear (unless of course I change over to the Fit)

 

[raremage]

I preordered a black Gear 2 a little while ago. Didn't own an original Gear but I played with one and came very close to ordering one about a month ago. The new one is scheduled to ship on April 8 (I think) so around two weeks.

 

[Strings]

Just looked up the price: sorry, as much as I like my Gear, I still wouldn't pay $300 for it.

MAYBE, after the price drops (and if folks have figured out if it can be switched to Android).

My one complaint is the need to sideload anything you want to run that isn't in the Samsung App Store. I knew it going in, but I also got a screaming deal. That price, and it might not even be able to run the apps I want? No dice

 

[raremage]

Just looked up the price: sorry, as much as I like my Gear, I still wouldn't pay $300 for it.

MAYBE, after the price drops (and if folks have figured out if it can be switched to Android).

My one complaint is the need to sideload anything you want to run that isn't in the Samsung App Store. I knew it going in, but I also got a screaming deal. That price, and it might not even be able to run the apps I want? No dice

I can understand the changes to the approach being a turn off for some.

Personally I don't expect to use a smartwatch as a device I want to sideload onto though - I want it as an extension to my smartphone. Anything requiring a "real" app I will be inclined to pull out my phone. I want the watch to help me manage notifications, decide wether to take a phone call or not, and maybe form quick replies to communications - plus the health band functionality that is built right in.

Now is that worth the money? I'm not sure, but I guess I'll find out

 

[Strings]

Oh, I'm not expecting to be browsing the web via my watch: my eyes aren't that good

But something simple, like say a compass? or being able to actually reply to a text (haven't tried S Voice yet)?

 

[clitrenta]

Oh, I'm not expecting to be browsing the web via my watch: my eyes aren't that good

But something simple, like say a compass? or being able to actually reply to a text (haven't tried S Voice yet)?

Using S Voice to reply to a text actually works fairly well. Be advised though, that you have to have the stock messing app as your default or you won't be able to reply in this manner. You could still however, create a new text entirely by using S Voice app directly from Gear. I truly find this Gear to be useful and not just a cool toy to play with. You'd have to use one to see how best it fits into your lifestyle

 

[svensett]

Looks like the Fit might get a vertical screen option:Samsung Gear Fit updated with option to enable vertical display orientation | SamMobile

Now if it would play nice with non-Samsung phones...

 

[clitrenta]

Looks like the Fit might get a vertical screen option:Samsung Gear Fit updated with option to enable vertical display orientation | SamMobile

Now if it would play nice with non-Samsung phones...

I seen one the other day. Surprised at how light weight it was. Yes it's plastic but it seems well made and I absolutely like the weight along with the way they did the strap which is also easily swapped out for another color. I'm not sure I want to give up the camera and phone ability with my Gear even if i don't use it all the time. I read where Samsung is working on a Gear stand-alone phone watch. Not sure I would go for that. It's a bit pricey to not be using it in conjunctionwith something else but who knows. If they add enough functionality to it, it could be worth it.

 

[KOLIO]

Looks like the Fit might get a vertical screen option:Samsung Gear Fit updated with option to enable vertical display orientation | SamMobile

Now if it would play nice with non-Samsung phones...

YMMV,but,I was able to pair up/use the GEAR FIT w/these two non-SAMSUNG devices:

HTC ONE M8
LG G-FLEX (both on T-MOBILE)
LG-G3
OnePlus 1+1
However,until further development (SAMSUNG or otherwise) it comes w/some limitations:

You must use GEAR FIT MANAGER version 1.25.0325
(updating to anything else currently breaks the ability to pair up)

& THIS:

GEAR FIT Software version R350XXUOANCF

I believe the former loads the latter,didn't check the software version before successfully paring,but,I compared my FIT to one that had been updated & it indeed had a newer software version,& would not pair w/either phone.

Most items work,but,as one may expect,some things do not:

1) No auto rotate,it's on the same update that breaks compatibility w/non-SAMSUNG Devices.

2) Cannot connect to your SAMSUNG account w/a non-SAMSUNG phone (to be expected,same holds true for other GEAR MANAGER applications).

3) Alarms do not work.

4) Weather Clock:Time works,weather does not,no biggie (IMHO).

I've checked just about everything else & all appears to work,including heartrate monitor/notifications & media player controls.

I only recommend this for non-SAMSUNG devices if you can live w/the limitations.

With all of that aside,I give it a solid 8 out of 10,losing a point each for the following:

1) Lack of OFFICIAL non-SAMSUNG device compatibility,as noted above.

2) Difficulty to view outdoors,particularly on a semi-cloudy day.Kind of an odd quirk for a fitness device.........

Otherwise,especially if you have a SAMSUNG handset,I'd say go for it,it's a nice device.

Here's a YOUTUBE video demonstrating the M8 & FIT functionality:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLybpJoG6mU

 

[svensett]

Yeah, I saw where people were able to side load the gear app on other phones with the limits you've listed.

Do you know if the heart rate monitor works with fitness apps real-time, or will it only do instant reads?

 

[KOLIO]

Yeah, I saw where people were able to side load the gear app on other phones with the limits you've listed.

Do you know if the heart rate monitor works with fitness apps real-time, or will it only do instant reads?

It appears the heartrate just takes instant reads. As the SAMSUNG FTINESS w/GEAR app is inoperable w/non-SAMSUNG devices, I can't say for certain if real-time readings are possible or not.

If you know of an app that can be loaded up to check this out further, I'd be more than happy to try it out.

 

[svensett]

It appears the heartrate just takes instant reads. As the SAMSUNG FTINESS w/GEAR app is inoperable w/non-SAMSUNG devices, I can't say for certain if real-time readings are possible or not.

If you know of an app that can be loaded up to check this out further, I'd be more than happy to try it out.

Thanks, but I'm not sure if there are any 3rd party apps that work with it yet.

 

[KOLIO]

For brevity's sake,the following link is an update to GEAR FIT & M8 Compatibility:

http://androidforums.com/6530551-post115.html

 

[colnago]

Yeah, I saw where people were able to side load the gear app on other phones with the limits you've listed.

Do you know if the heart rate monitor works with fitness apps real-time, or will it only do instant reads?

Not sure about other phones but on my Galaxy S4, it does at least a periodic update. Not sure how accurate it is, but it helps keeping me from going anaerobic. The only problem I have is that it looks like you need to fully reset the phone to factory defaults, in order to update the fitness "Profile", if you just want to change the "Max Heart Rate" alert value.