Samsung Gear S, LG G Watch R, LG G Watch, Samsung Gear 2 Neo, Samsung Gear Fit, Samsung Galaxy Gear and Pebble Smart Watches. I owned and reviewed them all.
Wearables
Samsung Gear S – 9 Part Review
Tag Archives: Galaxy Gear
Samsung Note 3, Galaxy Gear and Fiio E18 Portable USB DAC/Amp – home entertainment
Just thought I would share a use for the above 3 pieces of hardware.
My Note 3 is streaming music from Google Play Music. The Note 3 is connected via USB , using its USB Audio digital out connection to the Fiio E18. The Fiio E18 translates the digital signal from the Note 3 and then amplifies the sound into my Sennheiser headphones.
The sound on the Fiio E18 is turned up just a little too loud and then using the Galaxy Gear I am now controlling the media and system volume up and down dependant on how loud or quite each track is. The Gear displays the song info as well.
A lovely setup. And incredible sound quality too.
Samsung pins hope on Galaxy Gear BMW App
Samsung has high hopes for a new app that lets BMW owners monitor their cars vital signs on their Galaxy Gear.
Samsung introduced the BMW app for the Gear last week at the International Consumer Electronics Show.
High-end Samsung smartphones, including the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note product lines, have generated big profits, but the company sells far more budget phones. At £299, the Gear isn’t designed for price-conscious consumers or people in emerging markets. Teaming up with the German automaker could help Samsung reach an audience that can afford the Gear.
Using the BMW i Remote app, the Gear can wirelessly connect to the i3 car to deliver notifications about whether the windows are down, the drivable range and how much electric charge is remaining in the car battery — which, by the way, is supplied by Samsung. Gear users can also tap a button on the watch’s screen or say a voice command to locate where their car is parked, load directions onto the car’s navigation system or pre-heat the seats in cold weather.
Many of these features are also available in BMW’s apps for Android and iPhone, but based on user reviews, they don’t work that well. So it’s questionable whether the software will be any better on a watch.
Samsung Galaxy Gear – Impressions
I have had the Galaxy Gear with the Note 3 for 48 hours. I didn’t like either device to be honest so returned both items.
To be clear, the Note 3 was too big for my liking but pretty awesome nonetheless. Just simply too big for a phone. So it you like large phones, this is probably one to check out.
As to the Galaxy Gear, well it was clever and geeky and did a lot of things, but I just couldn’t see the point. I lost interest in it after an hour. It didn’t help that I thought it was ugly to look at on my wrist. My wife thought it looked like a kids toy.
More views on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear
You may recall blog reader Jah left some views on the Samsung Note 3 and Galaxy Gear.
Jah left some more comments on both which you may find useful if you are still undecided about buying either devices.
“Gavin, I know you have a very long history with PDAs as well as Smartphones so hopefully you’ll appreciate that the Note 3 is really what PDAs should have been. That is, providing a set of integrated PIM apps and ability to take notes. The Note 3 s/w is so much more integrated now and I am using S-Planner as my primary PIM (with data added via Action Memo) and once Blackberry launch the BBM for Android I may sell my Q10 as I have been very impressed with the keyboard on the Note 3. So I may only use Android in the future with two devices (Note 3 and my new S4 Active). The battery on the Note 3 has also surprised me. I would say that it is 30% better than the Note 2, which itself was very good. But for serious note taking I still feel more comfortable with my Note 8 tablet. But given the superb quality of the digitiser and S Pen on the Note 3, I may even end-up selling my Note 8. Will give it another 2/3 weeks of testing.”
“I’ve been using BT watches for years and find the notification aspect useful. Also I had a couple that allowed me to control my mp3 player which I found convenient. My Gear is more capable and in particular I like the quality of this wearable. I think it is a niche. Like all good products if it does solve a problem then will not be successful. By the with careful battery management I can three working days of life from the Gear.”
If you have any further views on the Samsung Note 3 or Galaxy Gear, please leave a note in the comments.
Samsung UK offering the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear for pre order – and the price?
Samsung UK has offered the Note 3 and Galaxy Gear for sale.
And the cost? Note 3 is £649 and Galaxy Gear £299. Or buy both for £848. And then you need to add £40 plus for a Samsung case for the Note 3. The S Cover Qi case is £55. Ouch!
So what do you think?
Samsung GALAXY Note 3 + Gear : Official First Hands-on
Samsung has just released a huge 18 minute long video of the Note 3 and Galaxy Gear Watch.
Despite the high cost of these products I am certain Samsung will sell loads.
I must admit it does look so tempting.
Apple already has a Galaxy Gear contender from 2010
TUAW has an excellent post on why Apple has already beaten the Samsung Gear.
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