Android Wear |OT| 2nd Gen is Here

Can I turn that off and just press a physical button to start Google Now from any screen? I'd rather not have the watch always listening to me or people I'm around for privacy and battery concerns. If any watch can do this, which is the best value or the favorite?

My only experience is with the Moto 360 and that only listens to you when the watch is on (by deliberately waking it moving it to your face or tapping the screen). The Moto X, however, will listen to you while asleep but AFAIK, it's only listening for your launch phrase to open Google Now and not anything else.

For phones with a physical button like the S6, you can set it so a long press will open Google Now. Similarly, with phone that have on-screen buttons, you can drag the Home button up to open Google Now if it's supported.
 
Not that I'm aware unless there's 3rd party apps. It doesn't listen until the screen is fully on (there's a power saving mode that always shows the time on the screen, so you can use it as an actual watch and always look at it), so either you can have it so when you raise your wrist the screen comes on and then it will listen, but if you want more security, you can turn wrist gestures off and press the button/screen to bring the full screen up and then it'll listen.

You can even have a screen lock on, but I've never tried it.

My only experience is with the Moto 360 and that only listens to you when the watch is on (by deliberately waking it moving it to your face or tapping the screen). The Moto X, however, will listen to you while asleep but AFAIK, it's only listening for your launch phrase to open Google Now and not anything else.

For phones with a physical button like the S6, you can set it so a long press will open Google Now. Similarly, with phone that have on-screen buttons, you can drag the Home button up to open Google Now if it's supported.

Thanks. Looks like I'll have to try one at a best buy or whatever. Ok, on the phone, when I start the google app, it doesn't start voice search unless I hit the mic icon or say OK google. Is it the same on the watch? If I deliberately start the app, I shouldn't have to say OK google to start a voice search. Would also be nice to change the detection phrase but looks like even S voice has removed that.
 
Phones that are 'always listening' in the background do not upload audio onto the internet. They perform all voice recognition for the trigger word locally on their own processors. There is no additional privacy concern compared to a normal smartphone.

Yes, such a phone could be programmed to upload audio without your knowledge, but then so could any phone.
 
Thanks. Looks like I'll have to try one at a best buy or whatever. Ok, on the phone, when I start the google app, it doesn't start voice search unless I hit the mic icon or say OK google. Is it the same on the watch? If I deliberately start the app, I shouldn't have to say OK google to start a voice search. Would also be nice to change the detection phrase but looks like even S voice has removed that.

Activating Google Now via physical button or sliding motion will only take you to the Google Now Page. When you're in the Google Now page, it then listens to for your launch phrase. You can change this so that it listens on all home screens if you use Google's Launcher or Nova's, but this only works if your screen is already unlocked and remains on the home screen. Some phones will support Google Now voice recognition when the screen is asleep and locked, but only if it's plugged in (sans the Moto X line, of course). The S6 implementation of "auto-listen while asleep" is slow and poorly optimized.

The watch, on the other hand, will automatically listen as soon as it's on and the clock face is visible. You can tap to activate voice search on the watch, but that's only an option as it's still listening as soon as the screen lights up.
 
I can't seem to find the answer to this anywhere. Can Android Wear for iOS activate Siri?

Bluetooth headsets can do it, so I don't see why not, but I can't find confirmation anywhere.
 
Phones that are 'always listening' in the background do not upload audio onto the internet. They perform all voice recognition for the trigger word locally on their own processors. There is no additional privacy concern compared to a normal smartphone.

Yes, such a phone could be programmed to upload audio without your knowledge, but then so could any phone.
Funny you say that, I somehow occasionally accidentally trigger the voice commands on my 360. I often go to https://history.google.com/history/audio to listen to the random shit it has picked up and saved (it keeps every voice or manually triggered request). Some of it is hilarious to hear back, like random conversations I barely remember I've had with people.

But yes as you said, this is not listening all the time, it's just me accidentally setting it off.
 
Moto 360, first impressions from Paul Thurrott (of all people).

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https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/android/6227/moto-360-first-impressions

The 46 mm version doesn't look that big.

And a Huawei Watch review from Michael Fisher at PocketNow.com.

5JvR7Im.jpg


http://pocketnow.com/2015/09/22/huawei-watch-review
 
The thing I noticed in the pocket now video, and I hope I'm completely wrong, is that the display looks like a pen tile display. If that's true, then it immediately killed the device for me.
 
The new 360 is actually a lot nicer than I originally thought. The lugs on it makes it look a ton better. I still can't get over the flat tire (yes I own an original 360 for a year).
 
My next watch MUST have a sapphire display. My 360 has gotten so fucked up from work, I'm surprised I haven't cracked the screen yet.
 
Best buy removed the steel mesh version of the Huawei watch from their site :/

Normal version is apparently in stock at my local retail store though. Hopefully they will surprise me and have the mesh version.
 
Post your impressions.

I like it quite a bit so far. I got the silver with brown band (hoping to buy a black and blue band in the future). The build is solid and I think it looks better than the gen 1 (never owned one). Moving the button up a bit helps. I got the bigger version as well. Fits my wrist fine.

So far so good, we'll see how it goes.
 
I like it quite a bit so far. I got the silver with brown band (hoping to buy a black and blue band in the future). The build is solid and I think it looks better than the gen 1 (never owned one). Moving the button up a bit helps. I got the bigger version as well. Fits my wrist fine.

So far so good, we'll see how it goes.
Cool. Thanks!
 
Few questions.

1. Hangouts on the watch opens and just spins and spins, any ideas?
2. Any way to get Facebook Messenger to show up as an app in the app drawer? It's nice to see notifications as they come in, but it'd be cool to be able to open up my message list.
3. What's the best sports app for scores?

Also any other cool things to know?
 
Few questions.

1. Hangouts on the watch opens and just spins and spins, any ideas?
2. Any way to get Facebook Messenger to show up as an app in the app drawer? It's nice to see notifications as they come in, but it'd be cool to be able to open up my message list.
3. What's the best sports app for scores?

Also any other cool things to know?
Hangouts on wear sucks big ones. I use Google messenger since its way simpler in Android Wear.


Shazam, Wear Calculator, Discover for Android Wear, and Microsoft translate are cool. Pujie Black is the best watchface
 
I think I'm going to buy a Huawei tomorrow at best buy, just want to make sure it's not too big for my relatively thin wrists.

With the new blackberry android phone and this I'm firmly locking myself out of Windows phone. I'm sorry ms ;-;
 
Can't wait for your impressions and how you feel about he size of it.

I'm thinking of going Huawei or the Gear S2. Such a hard choice. Wonder if they'll even come to Europe.

We're not getting the S2, just like the Note 5 or Samsung laptops. Wonder what we did to piss them off so much.
 
The metal one is still one of the best looking smartwatches, imo.

got the black one, best gadget purchase in years... always on screen is requirement for whatever next version I buy... i get easy 2 days of battery life with mine despite getting hundreds of notifications throughout the day... i can always glance at the thing and get time without having to turn it on....

instaweather is my favorite face, lots of nice features although making it a subscription is really silly.
 
It's not as big as I thought, I have pretty small wrists for a guy and it doesn't look too big. Can't really comment on Android Wear as I'm still getting used to it and it's been a pretty quiet day in terms of messages and emails for me. Sometimes the gesture for turning on the main clock face when bringing your wrist up doesn't work but 9 times out of 10 it's instantaneous which is neat.

We'll see if I get any comments on it tomorrow and I'll see if I can pronounce "Huawei" properly when asked.
 
Damn that huawei is tempting. It's going to be rough choosing between the new iPhone and Nexus 5. So many things going for either way.
 
It's not as big as I thought, I have pretty small wrists for a guy and it doesn't look too big. Can't really comment on Android Wear as I'm still getting used to it and it's been a pretty quiet day in terms of messages and emails for me. Sometimes the gesture for turning on the main clock face when bringing your wrist up doesn't work but 9 times out of 10 it's instantaneous which is neat.

We'll see if I get any comments on it tomorrow and I'll see if I can pronounce "Huawei" properly when asked.

Yea i thought the OG 360 was going to be massive on my tiny wrists but it looks awesome. I get so many compliments but it depends on the watch face you have on. The Pac-Man watch face gets the most attention. Everyone is going to ask you if it's an Apple watch which is annoying because they look nothing alike.

Damn that huawei is tempting. It's going to be rough choosing between the new iPhone and Nexus 5. So many things going for either way.

You can probably buy the Huawei watch + Nexus 5X for the price of the iPhone.
 
Anyone have any impressions of the SW3? It's on sale on Amazon for $185.

It's my favourite 1st gen Android Wear watch (and I've used most of them). Things I love:
  • Awesome 2 day battery life.
  • Standard micro-USB charging port
  • Transreflective touch screen is great in outdoor light
  • Built-in GPS, so it works great as a running watch without needing a phone.
  • Easy to clean - rubber strap, water proof. So if you run and get it sweaty, its not a problem.

Things I don't love:
  • Transreflective screen means that colour reproduction isn't great. Its just ok.
  • Not a very attractive looking device.
  • USB charging port has a rubber flap.
  • Custom straps not really available.

I'm also a fan of the Android Wear experience. I have a decent set of useful apps and Google Now serves me pretty well.
 
Two more Moto 360 reviews.

Techno Buffalo: 8.5

The new 360 is almost exactly what I want out of my smartwatch: all day battery and speedy performance.
Moto 360

Overall, I’m really happy with the quality of the new Moto 360 and the improvements they’ve made, but I’m not sold on the price point. I bought the first model at full price for $250 when it came out because I wanted to be one of the first people with a smartwatch, but for this incremental upgrade, I can’t recommend upgrading because the changes are so evolutionary. Once the price comes down, I think it’s a no brainer. Or, if you’re in the market for your first smartwatch, this is a great one to pick up even at the full price of $300.

Pros
  • Much faster than last year
  • Battery is no longer a concern
  • Wear 3.0 is finally mature
  • Easy strap changing
Cons
  • Price hike
http://www.technobuffalo.com/reviews/moto-360-2015-review/


Bloomberg Business:

Conclusions

The Moto 360's recipe for success is restraint. The hardware looks nice and will appeal to the nongeek crowd. The software passes you the information you need from your phone without offering too many superfluous features. Now that Android Wear works with the iPhone, watches like this can be worthy alternatives for those sticking with iOS, and the 360 wouldn't feel out of place at all next to one of Apple's devices.

So while you still don't need a smartwatch, there are plenty of reasons to want one. Having easy access to a stream of notifications, being able to remotely control such basic things as music playback, and quality fitness tracking are all on the list. As is simply wanting a new toy. If you're ready to jump on the bandwagon as the new technology either finds its footing or slips into obscurity, the Moto 360 is a solid choice.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...htforward-update-creates-a-capable-smartwatch
 
I told myself when I bought my Moto that I would not be upgrading all the time... and damn if I don't want to.

Maybe in a year when the second gen units are discounted.
 
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