Smart watches - questions

[AA999]

Do any of you guys own a smartwatch?

I've always liked the traditional stylish digital watches but many of them do not fully use the dimensions of the watch in the available digital display of information. Many have a large body with a large face only to have a small proportion of the face used by the digital display.

So that has always been the 'trade-off' that I have lived with when buying watches as I've just never really liked the analogue displays.
The purpose of a watch for me is practicality and functions presented in a stylish manner, definitely not for the purpose of jewelry or 'art'.

Smart-watches seem to be the natural progression for me but one main question I have is : how long do the batteries last? Are we talking hours, days, years?

Final question is : For my first smart-watch I want to try out a fairly cheap effort to see if they are indeed a natural progression or a waste of time (excuse the pun). Any suggestions?

[PJ S]

Just wait until the Apple Watch is released shortly, then see if it solves your concerns.

[AA999]

Heard the Apple watch has a very short battery life, having to recharge it on a near daily basis? (Or have I heard wrong?)

[PJ S]

No, you've heard/read correctly – but then how hard is it to recharge every evening whilst asleep?

[bobbybee]

18 hours with average usage.
All depends on your usage and what Apple deem average. granted not hard to charge over night, but it does add yet another thing to charge overnight.
Small screen, so forever scrolling, you can't tell the time on it instantly it involves a button press or crown fiddle. It may sound inconsequential, but it all adds up. For example try it with the watch you have now, just touch the crystal before checking the time, you'll be surprised at how often you do it without thinking. A bit like being used to seeing the date on your watch then realising you've worn one without, gets annoying quickly

[AA999]

Yeah I can see how that can become quickly annoying - to have to touch the screen or a button every time you want to see anything.

So nothing works on a 'shake of the wrist' basis (oo err missus!!)..... in that a sharp movement alerts the screen in to display?

[anonymous-user]

I'm normally a sucker for gadgets but it seems that the apple watch can't do much unless it's connected to your iPhone/iPad. It's a way of accessing your phone apps but on your wrist?

Mind you I said I couldn't see the point in an iPad and am on one right now.

[bobbybee]

AA999 said:

Yeah I can see how that can become quickly annoying - to have to touch the screen or a button every time you want to see anything.

So nothing works on a 'shake of the wrist' basis (oo err missus!!)..... in that a sharp movement alerts the screen in to display?

Forgot that, yes if you make a vary obvious hand action that you want to look at it, it will light up automatically, but again not a natural thing to do.
How many times do you glance at your watch without moving the wrist?

Very simply it needs to be a watch that works like a watch but with added features. what we have here is a smartphone piggyback wrist unit that tells the time.

[AA999]

bobbybee said:

Very simply it needs to be a watch that works like a watch but with added features. what we have here is a smartphone piggyback wrist unit that tells the time.

Yes, I fear that is the case at the moment.