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Greetings.
With me recently finding out about Samsungs new Galaxy Gear, i started looking into smart-watches again to see how they have progressed. I cant say i was particularity impressed with the G-Gear, especially given its bad battery life. I then found out about Qualcom's Toq, which seemed alittle better, but still felt like the Gear with its "i want to replace your phone" design. I think both of them rely too heavily on the touch screen and are trying to do too much, or rather, taking over too much functionality away from the phone.
After digging some more, i found the Pebble. Although i could see room for improvement (would like to see it in a metal frame and a color e-ink screen), it seems to mostly fit what i am looking for in a 'smart-watch'. Psychical buttons that can be used with gloves on, and an accessory, instead of a 'new device that happens to talk with your phone'.
Now, my main question is, is there a better quality smartwatch out there, that functions similarly to the pebble, or is the pebble pretty much the best thing at the moment in terms of simplicity? The $150 price is a smudge high, but i would consider it. The $299 price for the other two is just insane.
Thanks for your opinions and input.
The Kreyos meteor might be what you are looking for. It seems like they are going a step above the Pebble watch. I am personally waiting for the Google Gem to be announced before I decide on what watch to get.
samsung galaxy gear is only made available for samsung product.. i wouldnt really recommend that if you decide to go for other brand of phones..
i would recommend Sony Smartwatch 2 for that..
However, i don;t really see the point of getting a smartwatch? thats just my opinion... Perhaps you could get Pebble as its cheap...
andrewAwesome said:
samsung galaxy gear is only made available for samsung product.. i wouldnt really recommend that if you decide to go for other brand of phones..
i would recommend Sony Smartwatch 2 for that..
However, i don;t really see the point of getting a smartwatch? thats just my opinion... Perhaps you could get Pebble as its cheap...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My main point of getting one, is music control while im riding my motorcycle. It would be useful to change tracks and such without pulling my phone out (which requires unzipping my jacket, then unzipping the pocket it is in). It would also be a lazy convenience to do that while im walking.
Going back to the bike, i think it would be the only way i would know im getting a call/text while riding due to it being attached directly to me. I couldn't answer it right away, but i would know one came in so i could pull over and respond if needed. This is also why i wanted the psychical buttons, as i wear riding gloves, which make it pretty difficult to use a touchscreen without removing them.
However, to your question, i dont doubt that piratical smartwatch use is pretty situational and in most cases is just a neat toy.
Oh, smartwatch is not a neat toy. Once you start using one - it will become a part of your lifestyle. Just think about how many times a day do you pull out your phone to check if you got email? Or how many times you take your phone out to see who is calling? Or to read a text message? Or to switch a track on your music player? Or when you are in a movie theater or during a meeting and phone is on mute while you missed a call? Or when you are at the game or in a crowded place and you missed a call? Or when you walked out of the car or restaurant or home and left a phone in there? The list can go on and on. Smartwatch becomes a remote extension/display/notifier that resolves all these problems above just by glancing at your wrist.
I have an older MetaWatch smartwatch, and I can't imagine a day without at work or at home. Plus, it saves your phone so many time when you don't need to pull it out all the time. Not to mention the phones are getting bigger and bigger. Even with a decent case on my Note 2, I'm OK during the summer, but when winter rolls around and I have to reach out through layers to get to my phone - forget about it.
Now, with all the choices you have to be careful. Smartwatch has to be water/splash resistant. Watch is meant to be worn outside. You get into the rain, or forget and wash dishes with it or get splattered around the pool - it's done! Also, with too much tech in the bracelet which is not replaceable - you bump it, and your screwed. That's why I'm crossing Gear off my list. Pebble, HOT, Agent and Kreoys are toys in comparison to all the upcoming stuff. The one to watch out for is Omate TrueSmart http://www.kickstarter.com/projects...t-water-resistant-standalone-smartwa?ref=live and Sony SW2. In my opinion, Omate is the only way to go right now. Never mind that you can put your GSM sim card inside (although that will drain your battery), it a pure rugged android experience on your wrist with out of this world support and a number of XDA community jumping into development already. Not to mention an outstanding spec:
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vectron said:
Oh, smartwatch is not a neat toy. Once you start using one - it will become a part of your lifestyle. Just think about how many times a day do you pull out your phone to check if you got email? Or how many times you take your phone out to see who is calling? Or to read a text message? Or to switch a track on your music player? Or when you are in a movie theater or during a meeting and phone is on mute while you missed a call? Or when you are at the game or in a crowded place and you missed a call? Or when you walked out of the car or restaurant or home and left a phone in there? The list can go on and on. Smartwatch becomes a remote extension/display/notifier that resolves all these problems above just by glancing at your wrist.
I have an older MetaWatch smartwatch, and I can't imagine a day without at work or at home. Plus, it saves your phone so many time when you don't need to pull it out all the time. Not to mention the phones are getting bigger and bigger. Even with a decent case on my Note 2, I'm OK during the summer, but when winter rolls around and I have to reach out through layers to get to my phone - forget about it.
Now, with all the choices you have to be careful. Smartwatch has to be water/splash resistant. Watch is meant to be worn outside. You get into the rain, or forget and wash dishes with it or get splattered around the pool - it's done! Also, with too much tech in the bracelet which is not replaceable - you bump it, and your screwed. That's why I'm crossing Gear off my list. Pebble, HOT, Agent and Kreoys are toys in comparison to all the upcoming stuff. The one to watch out for is Omate TrueSmart http://www.kickstarter.com/projects...t-water-resistant-standalone-smartwa?ref=live and Sony SW2. In my opinion, Omate is the only way to go right now. Never mind that you can put your GSM sim card inside (although that will drain your battery), it a pure rugged android experience on your wrist with out of this world support and a number of XDA community jumping into development already. Not to mention an outstanding spec:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That watch looks kind of overkill really. Im not really looking for a 'phone away from my phone' in a watch. Just an accessory to my phone, that offers me easier control over my phone. The buttons on the side are promising, but until i know how i can use them, or if i can use them to control apps, they are worthless. A major selling point for me in a smart watch, would be that it wouldn't be reliant, or heavily reliant, on its touch screen. Basically, if i can have it on my wrist, while music is playing on my phone, and all i have to do is hit a button to advance a track, without looking at the phone, then that would be a major selling point for me. Having it show me incoming calls and texts, while vibrating on my wrist for notification is also a major plus. Everything else is just fluff to me.
On another note, i really dont see the use or point of putting camreas on these things. Its a major waste of space and another point that it can be damaged. Aside from a microphone (and maybe a speaker), the only external feature i think would be neat would be an LED light aimed out the right side (not the top, as that would be awkward to hold your arm up just to shine a light). Though the problem with that is with putting buttons on that side, theirs not really any room to put it.
Would also be nice if they could make a round one, and not all of them be square. but thats just aesthetics for me.
With Omate when it comes to smartphone, it's really an afterthought since you don't have to put sim card in. Regarding music player, I'm pretty sure they will have some customized control where you can just swipe left/right to change the track or maybe map two buttons on the right side. The camera is just a bonus, and it's very discrete, not just like that Gear-bump.
From what you describing, you probably would like the MetaWatch: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2332764 - that's the one I'm wearing right now. BUT, as much as I like it, I wouldn't recommend it to you in comparison to everything else that's available or coming up. MetaWatch (from Fossils guy) was fantastic, but they dropped the ball on sw support, relying on community edition software developed by users. That software was developed for older firmware version, and once MetaWatch firmware was updated - community edition software didn't keep up with it.
Can't wait when Omate TrueSmart will be available on the market. I started to dream about android-watch after trying the old iPod nano with wristlet.Sad that apple stopped manufacturing it.
MetaWatch is coming to Best Buy next week
Seem Nice ! Someone try it with an iphone ?
gianlucab said:
Seem Nice ! Someone try it with an iphone ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MetaWatch? I think its integration with iPhone is better than with android. At least from what I have seen on YT. YT has a lot of clips with demos and comparison.
vectron said:
MetaWatch? I think its integration with iPhone is better than with android. At least from what I have seen on YT. YT has a lot of clips with demos and comparison.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also seems like a step backwards as far as screen tech goes. Looks like an older calculator watch screen lol.
Lyian said:
Also seems like a step backwards as far as screen tech goes. Looks like an older calculator watch screen lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, its not as fancy as other upcoming smartwatches. MetaWatch is over a year old project, with Fossil guys behind it's design. One thing for sure, its super durable and highly visible in any direct sunlight because of its reflective display technology.
pebble!
Seems like Sony has decided to go a step backwards in designing their smart watches... The SW2 was fantastic and very useful because it handled like a small phone, being able to have your apps displayed across home screens and having the ability to download many other apps. Android Wear just doesn't appeal to me... It's way too simplified and dumbed down of an experience for my liking.
so your contribution to the sw3 forum is "I don't want a sw3" lol
Even better, I don't want a ducati, I want a car, the use of only two wheels is a big step backward in the world of driving.
None of this is relevant feedback. If you want an android wear watch that is perfectly readable in daylight and can keep on all day without worrying about battery life, this is the one. The main cons in my book are the lack of interchangeable straps, the lack of wireless /easy charging, and the lack of a heart rate monitor. That said, as of today, I think it's the best aw option because of the usefulness of the screen.
Fwiw I have an original gwatch, moto 360, and briefly a gear live.
Khidr said:
The main cons in my book are the lack of interchangeable straps, the lack of wireless /easy charging, and the lack of a heart rate monitor. That said, as of today, I think it's the best aw option because of the usefulness of the screen.
Fwiw I have an original gwatch, moto 360, and briefly a gear live.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This watch does have interchangeable straps. I also wish it had wireless charging, but I'm okay with it due to the IP68 rating. Also, the fact that it's micro USB and not a proprietary charging cable/crable is a plus in my opinion. Concerning heart rate monitor's, it's lack is apparent but at the same time, HRM's are not very accurate in wrists compared to chest or arm bands. I won't miss it.
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The Cube T7 is arguably the most anticipated tablet from a Chinese brand. Not only is it the first Android tablet to feature the 64-bit MediaTek MT8752 octa-core processor, it is also the first tablet with dual 4G support – LTE & TD-LTE. Is it capable of continuing Cube’s dominant success in the category of tablets with phone functions, we are eager to find out.
Cube T7 main specs:
OS: Android 4.4
Display: 7-inch IPS, 5-point multi-touch
Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1200 (16:10)
CPU: 64-bit MT8752 octa-core processor (eight cores of Cortex-A53)
CPU Frequency: 1.7GHz
GPU: Mali-760MP2
RAM / Storage: 2GB / 16GB
Function: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, A-GPS, OTG, Miracast, FM Radio
WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi hotspot
GSM: band2, band3, band5, band8
TDS: band34, band39
WCDMA: band1, band5
TDD: band38, band39, band40, band41
FDD: band1, band3, band7
Camera: 5MP back camera, 2MP front camera
Battery: 3500mAh
Extend Port: TF Card Slot, SIM Card Slot, Micro USB Port, 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Weight & Size: 280 g / 192*113*9.3mm
Design and build
The main design element is the size of the tablet, as the T7 is the first high-end 7-inch tablet we have seen from Cube. It's almost like holding a phone because the device is so small and slender – holding it one-handed is a breeze. The silver frame looks great and we like the rounded curves of the cover.
The device doesn't have a metal rear cover like those bigger flagship tablets from Cube, instead it has a delicate plastic rear cover which matches that of the iWork 7. This may not look quite as impressive but provides much better grip.
Like other 3G and 4G tablets from Cube, the T7 has the minimum number of ports and buttons. The only physical controls you'll find are the power/lock key and the volume rocker switch on the right hand side of the slate (when held in portrait). The 3.5mm headphone jack and Micro SD card slot are on the top side of the tablet, while the Micro USB port is located on the bottom side, as the T7 is a tablet which has full phone functionalities, there is also a SIM tray slot on the right side.
It is obvious that Cube has already given up on the SIM tray lock design we’ve seen on its previous higher-end 3G tablets, which requires the users to use an awkward removal tool to pull out the SIM tray, and now leaves a more convenient opening for us to be able to pull out the SIM tray with our own fingers.
The tablet weighs 280g, not much heavier than many of the large phones, long period of one-handed operation wouldn’t be much of a problem. However, at 9.3mm, it isn’t a slim tablet by today’s standards.
It's hardly a game changing design, but it is functional and we've seen many worse looking tablets in our time - we're just pleased Cube hasn't gone bezel crazy here. There's just enough to hold the T7 without fingers encroaching on the screen, and that's all we ask for.
Excellent build quality has been maintained with no signs of unwanted gaps in the casing or wobbly buttons. The only thing we can really mark it down for is a lack of premium materials such as aluminum, but that also comes down to personal preferences.
Display
The Cube T7 sports a 7-inch display at an impressively-high 1920x1200 resolution, and we would've been delighted. But not only do we now have a delightful 323 pixels-per-inch IPS display to look at, it's also a really great panel overall.
Compared it down next to the lower-end models such as the Talk 7X Octa, the T7 is notably brighter, has higher contrast and is of course more crisp thanks to the Full HD resolution. The "gapless" display technology used here makes images appear to float on the surface.
In everyday use, the display looks fantastic no matter what we're using the T7 for. Text and images are clean and easy on the eyes, and color reproduction is as accurate as leading LCD panels out there. Tablets are more likely to be viewed by multiple people at once, it's also important to note that the display doesn't distort images or wash out at even obscure viewing angles.
We tried to use the T7 outdoors, and the glass-covered display still performed quite well, aside from some unwanted glares.
Only when we laid the T7 side by side with some flagship smartphones and tablets (The iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4) did we begin to notice some weaknesses of the 7-inch display – the color temperature was a little bit too warm, the black is not too deep, etc.
With that said, it is still the best 7-inch screens we've ever laid eyes on, period.
Sound
The T7 rear-facing speaker is very loud, but tinny. It is acceptable for streaming clips on YouTube, but you would want to plug in your headphone for music and action movies.
System & UI
The T7 runs Android 4.4.4 out of the box. Customizations have been made to some of the icons, other than that, you have the pure feel of Android Kitkat.
Performance
The Cube T7's beauty is more than skin deep: its 64bit MT8752 octa-core processor, coupled with two full gigabytes of RAM, is an agile performer.
Benchmarks
You can spend a day sifting through benchmarks, which tend to place the T7’s performance notably higher than the Nexus 7’s and the LG G Pad 8.3’s, or you can simply spend a few hours using the device. It’s fast, it’s capable, and it’s powerful. This is one of smoothest experiences I have ever had on an Android tablet, period.
Apps and Browser
We did have a few performance hiccups and just one hot reboot while testing every app we could think of, which is expected on pretty much any mobile devices you use today. And I believe it was more of a problem of the Android ecosystem other than the processing power the T7 could bring to the table. Other than a couple of app freezes, the T7 was surprisingly stable, most apps worked quite ideally on the slate.
Browsing webpages on a 7-inch display is definitely better experience than always trying to zoom and drag on your phone, the T7 remained pretty responsive even while we were opening dozens of image-heavy websites at the same time.
Multimedia
Cube's own video app as well as the Google Play apps are on board. Cube's video app is clean and simple; it doesn't muck around with extra features like ifive's apps do, for instance. The tablet had no problem playing video up to 1080p in various formats, including H.264, MPEG4, WMV, and even an MKV file with high-quality audio. The tablet also had no problem with a range of audio formats including MP3, AAC, and WMA.
If you are not used to keeping media files in your tablet, you can always turn to YouTube for tons of videos online.
There's no video out; if you want to show video on a TV, you'll have to do it wirelessly through Miracast with the aid of something like a Netgear Push2TV adapter. Because there's generally a line of sight between your tablet and the TV, I saw perfectly smooth video streaming over Miracast.
Gaming
The T7 features the Mali-760MP2 GPU, which is powerful enough to run even the most graphic-intense games from the Android ecosystem. And I haven’t experienced any lags or hiccups in playing the games that I normally play on my Snapdragon 800 powered LG Optimus G Pro2.
Connectivity
The T7, like other tablets from Cube’s Talk series, is a tablet with full phone functionalities. That means, besides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you also have features such as GPS, FM Radio, Phone call functions, SMS and mobile data access. What really sets the T7 apart from other 3G or 4G tablets is that the T7 is the first tablet ever to support both 4G LTE and 4G TD-LTE, with only one SIM slot.
Because of the T7’s relatively small footprint, holding it to your ears to make a phone call isn’t going to be too awkward, although it still looks a little bit strange.
OTA Upgrade
The T7 is one of the few Chinese tablets which support OTA upgrade, which makes firmware update much easier for users. During my three weeks with the T7, it already received three wireless upgrades. Although I barely noticed any differences after each update, but kudos to Cube for assuring us with its ongoing after-sale services.
Battery
Likely for reasons of weight and thickness, the T7's only packs a 3500mAh non-removable battery, which is less capacity than most higher-end 7-inch tablets on the market. With a high-resolution and extremely bright display and a faster processor, we were initially quite worried about the T7’s battery life, but the test results and the experiences in daily use changed our minds.
In our standard cngadget battery test, which entails looping a video at half-brightness with the normal amount of background actions running (i.e., push email, Twitter syncing, WiFi/GPS enabled), places theT7 at 7 hours and 33 minutes, which ranks in the middle of our list in standardized testing. That's pretty much on par with the run time we got from LG's G Pad 8.3 and the Colorfly G808 3G. In actual usage, too, the T7 lasted through a weekend with light to moderate use. So, unless you plan to sit and stream movie after movie, you should be satisfied with its longevity.
Cameras
I’m all for ignoring a tablet’s camera, as after all, it’s probably the device’s least-functional component. But I know there are people actually having fun taking pictures with tablets, I’ve seen that a lot in China. The T7 has a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera, both of which are not bad. The front camera is fine for video chatting, and the main camera is sharp, when you have good lighting. It records smooth 720p videos and takes nice pictures. The stock camera app also has some useful features, like night mode and HDR.
With that said, they are still just tablet cameras, so don’t expect anything extraordinary, below are some samples:
Conclusions
The T7 represents not only how far Cube has come over the past few years, but also how much Chinese Android tablets have grown. Just two years ago, Cube, along with many other Chinese manufacturers, was still making tablets with not much more functionalities than a blown-up MP4 player; today, they’ve released some of the best Android tablets on the market. And that’s saying a lot in December 2014— the dark days of oversized, bogged down Android tablets are behind us, and we finally have a market filled with capable, gorgeous tablets. Android tablets are finally useful, supplementing your smartphone with a device large enough for books, magazines, movies and games, yet small enough to through in your bag, and the T7 is the cream of the crop.
I’ve never met a Chinese Android tablet that’s more capable, more gorgeous, or easier to use. Its lightweight and delicate design is the ideal balance of size and portability, and that 7-inch display is simply stunning. The 64-bit octa-core processor and 2GB RAM easily generate enough power to smoothly run any Android applications, no matter how demanding they might be.
A lot of Chinese manufacturers can call 2014 a good year, as many were revitalized by Intel’s ambitious invasion in Shenzhen and Microsoft’s free Windows 8 authorization for smaller tablets. But for Cube, 2014 was great. It found itself on top of the second-tier Chinese brands, after years of stumbling and trying to find its way into the public eye. Today, the company is producing several of the best Android tablets on the market. Will it become as financially successful as Xiaomi and Meizu? Probably not. But cheers to Cube for fighting the good fight. .
Pros
• Nice design and build quality
• Lightweight and durable
• Perfect size and footprint
• Top-of-the-line display quality
• Full phone functionalities
Cons
• The camera is still very much a tablet camera
• Lacks the premium feel of flagship tablets
Thanks for that great review. I am waiting for mine coming in the mail in the next few days. I bought it online for $221 canadian and cant wait to see if it is as good as they say cause i am gonna use it as my daily driver as a cell phone and a tablet. At 38737 antutu score it should be very impressive for a tablet compared to my Samsung Galaxy Mega (which is running perfect on megafire), but when it comes to screen size and performance, I am just like a kid with icecream
I got this from cube before Christmas. Very nice capable tablet, wifi great, calls great and 4g great on dan and phil unlimited Internet sim.
Tried framaroot to root no joy, tried vrooot apk now known as iroot but no joy.
Hopefully vroot standalone pc root app can root it tomorrow.
Hasn't restarted on me yet and cant see any bugs yet.
Volume nice and loud on tab and gaming/showbox/chromecast good(beta screencast good quality but not as good as a certified device)
Excellent brightness levels.
Cams a bit weak in low light due to noise but manufactures still haven't addressed that problem yet bar z3.
Sent from my GT-I9305 using XDA Free mobile app
Cant root t7 either
Tried oneclickroot
Root genius
iroot formerly vroot
Kingo root too
Doomlord please help I'll send ya my tablet to root if you fancy a challenge
Sent from my GT-I9305 using XDA Free mobile app
Cube T7 root
serialkillazzs said:
Cant root t7 either
Tried oneclickroot
Root genius
iroot formerly vroot
Kingo root too
Doomlord please help I'll send ya my tablet to root if you fancy a challenge
Sent from my GT-I9305 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I have oficcial rooted firmware for this tab, so if you want to get it - send me message, and I'll give you download link
root forma cube t7
Hi; I would be greatful if you could indicaré to me how to robot muy cube t7. Thanks
Great pm you thx
Sent from my GT-I9305 using XDA Free mobile app
Good tablet.
sergio.banditto said:
Hi, I have oficcial rooted firmware for this tab, so if you want to get it - send me message, and I'll give you download link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Link?
Sent from my GT-I9305 using XDA Free mobile app
Root cube t7
sergio.banditto said:
Hi, I have oficcial rooted firmware for this tab, so if you want to get it - send me message, and I'll give you download link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I bought a cube t7 can you send me the link to root it ?
I think it can help to solve memory use fin application. To use sd card go install application
Do you observe that application are install in Internal memory, and they have a stock memory too.
So rapidely t7 are out of memory to install app, i thing it's strange...
Have you an idea ?
Well if you have a tuto to root the cube t7 thanks a lot !
Best regards, Ludovic
I've already bought a cube t7 ,
is it possible to be rooted?
2GB Internal memory isn't enough ...
I did flash the russian rom floating around, and DID get root (and 4Gb of app storage compared to the original 2).
Slight problem is that it killed any connectivity (sim recognised, but red x over signal bar and no voice or data connection, tested with a few other sims). When trying to fix it by reflashing the original rom, root was gone (logical) but still no signal. Went a bit experimental after that, and managed to brick the poor thing... Oops.
Morale of the story, great hardware but maybe the waiting game is better on that one.
Magnetometer does not work.
The magnet field sensor does not work in my tablet Cube T7.
Because of that many other sensors do not pass their tests,too.
They are: orientation,rotation, gravity, linear accelerometer.
Please tell me guys - is that problem of my tablet or your magnet sensors don't work as well?
Thank you in advance.
I had seen this about sensors on another thread, and therefore tested mine. They DO work in real life, but somehow are not seen as working by testing apps.
Magnetometer does not work for me in real life, too.
I installed 2 "compass" softwares and these compasses did not rotate at all.
Well, I'm getting my second one tomorrow, and I'll check this one too, and will report back. I hope it's a fluke, I know it's an odd piece of kit but it feels perfect for my needs, would hate to see it that flawed.
Thank you, I will wait your report but please take in consideration -
I did not test magnetometer when tablet arrived with firmware v1.1.
I updated it by air to version 1.4 and only then noticed that problem.
So please check it twice - before and after firmware updates, if you can.
Thank you!
Ok, I will, and you make a good point, as I said earlier trying to install a rooted rom killed the modem, so 1.4 might killed the magnetometer. Though that review seems to have the same problem as yours (too new to post external links, it's a german gizchina test.)
I read that v1.3 makes proximity sensor not working well.
But proximity sensor could be re-calibrated from engineering menu.
I made such re-calibration successfully. I found nothing about magnetometer there.
Well, we'll see. Is the absence of a compass such a big deal for you? Will you use it as a tablet or a phablet? Because I can't see the point in the former, unless you use it as in car navigation.
I've been thinking about buying the Moto 360 for a while because it's, imo the best looking snartwach to use with a suit (I work at a bank) since first reviews were not very good. With all the updates it had and after all this time what are the main functionalities that we can do with it at the moment and the main grips you're still having? Should I wait for another snartwach to arrive?
Cheers
Badelhas said:
I've been thinking about buying the Moto 360 for a while because it's, imo the best looking snartwach to use with a suit (I work at a bank) since first reviews were not very good. With all the updates it had and after all this time what are the main functionalities that we can do with it at the moment and the main grips you're still having? Should I wait for another snartwach to arrive?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well my suggestion is to go with the Moto360 with the stainless steel band or if you could get your hands on the uniband. My 360 doesn't get noticed as easily as a smartwatch because of the round face which is good but the LG G Watch R does the same thing but that wouldn't blend well with suits since it has a sports watch type of face.
In terms of battery life it was horrendous before updates but afterwards it can easily last 24 hours with tilt to wake on. I'm assuming without tilt to wake you can go for 36 hours or more.
The ambient screen feature drops it down to about 10 or so hours so if you think that's its worth having your screen on all the time but dark to a point where its very hard to tell time in most situations then go ahead and activate it.
The one thing that I'm the most affraid of when using the 360 is the possibilities of the back cracking. One search in the forums will show you pictures of people cracking their watches from normal use. Most of the time it is due to custom watch bands but not uncommon for it to happen on the leather model. Thankfully I haven't heard much about the oem steelband equipped watch cracking.
If the moto360 is not your style then you can always go to the zenwatch but the con is that it's square (not watch looking) and the fame color can throw off any custom band you may put on it. Only problem I have with that is its You can wait until the LG releases its premimum watch and decide from there or if you want wait until September or so when the updated version of the moto360 releases
Thanks for your input, I really like the design of the 360 but battery life is not good and the ambient Mode destroys it, from what I've been reading. What about the LG Urbane?
Badelhas said:
Thanks for your input, I really like the design of the 360 but battery life is not good and the ambient Mode destroys it, from what I've been reading. What about the LG Urbane?
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I personally can get 2 days out of mine. I have the steel bracelet in silver, it looks really classy and works with everything (as it is both minimalistic and sportslike.
Go with the right watchface and you're done.
http://wearfaces.com/simplism-watchface-by-vanboosh/
Or : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pskstudio.elegancewatchfacefree
But you have ambient Mode always on, meaning, you have it always showing the time?
The moto 360 doesn't have an always on time mode like some of the other android wear watches like the lg g watch. Coming from am lg g watch I was really disappointed in that. The screen is also more pixellated than I expected. And the black bar on the screen makes me only use black watchfaces otherwise the black bar ruins the look. However, all those faults are forgiven if you love the style. I have two generation of pebbles and the lg g watch and the moto 360 may be the least practical of them all, but I really love the way it looks. Even though it's a bit chunky on my wrist. I considered waiting for the huwai watch but in the end decided the moto 360 looks better. If you really like the look of one style vs the other, you won't mind the drawbacks. Keep in mind you will very likely upgrade as new generations are released. The next generation will probably be leaps and bounds better.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium HD app
Yeah, I do prefer the look of the 360 but the LG watch Urbane looks nice as well and because of the amoled screen lasts a full day, from what I've been reading. It's also sharper and has a full round screen. Have you seen it?
Not in person, but I've seen pictures of it. The amoled screen would be a plus (except maybe outside), and not having the black bar is good too. It's not on my radar because it looks too manly, I just don't like the way it looks (I'm a woman). The moto 360 with the thin metal strap is less weird on a woman's wrist; it looks a bit like a boyfriend watch. But if you like the lg urbane and can afford to upgrade in 6 months, get that now and then get the next gen moto 360 in the fall too! It will almost certainly have better battery life in the next gen and maybe amoled screen too.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium HD app
Yes, your right, it does look manly. The 360 looks a mix between something classic and something futuristic and I love it. If you have it, how do you feel about having a watch that is a black screen most of the day? I also have a thin wrist, doesn't It look too big? What about current functionalities?
I would love with the new mono link metal band available with delayed shipping on Motorola Moto maker site... Looks better than the other metal bands IMO.
The only two questions now are: - when will the new metal band be available?
- when will the LG Urbane be available?
Those are good questions. Maybe the availability is what will make your decision. I prefer black screens anyway and probably would use the same watch faces even if that little black bar wasn't on the bottom. I don't like that the time is not always showing. If you like both watches equally, and the urbane keeps the watch on always, I suggest you go for that. But if you like the moto's style more, you will forgive it that fault. I am wearing the moto instead of my pebble or lg g despite the moto needing to "wake up" to show time. But I haven't had it long enough to know if that will really bother me. Right now there is no perfect smart watch on the market so we can choose to live with some drawbacks or we can choose to wait at least 6 months and probably more like 2 years for the technology to mature. I choose to not wait. I didn't buy it initially because it was so big and thick, I don't know if I just got accustomed to the size, or if the gold watch and thin band makes it seem smaller, but I like it. The band you want only comes in 22mm size. The slim bands are 18mm and sized to barely fit my wrist, but come with four extra links. I don't think they would fit most men, you should visit a best buy and try a display model if you can, before you buy.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
My 360 easily lasts two days, but I rarely have the need to stay awake for 2 days at a time. Also, I rarely have the need to stare at my watch face all day so I don't need it to stay lit up all day, or for two days at a time.
Two relatively moot points when you think about it logically.
Reportedly, the Urbane will not be using Android Wear
No, there are 2 versions, the Urbane and the Urbane LTE. The LTE version will use LG operating system which derived from webOS
I wear a suit 6 days a week. My moto360 does me good. Compliments from clients every day.
eljoker402 said:
I wear a suit 6 days a week. My moto360 does me good. Compliments from clients every day.
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Thanks
How is your battery life and which watch phone and band do you use?
I got a Nexus 6 and a moto360 black with black pebble link band. I only use the 360 for messages and to tell time. I turned the brightness all the way down and turned off the health stuff. I usually get home with 30-40% life left after 10-12 hours off charger.
I looked at some photos of that particular band and don't really like it. Can't we buy other band on a regular watch store? I really like the look of the new mono link metal band but don't really if and when it will be available in Europe...
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I have a Moto 360 and I like it but was hoping for more features. Not being able to make a call through the watch is a letdown, to be honest. And the vibration seems a little low, I miss some of the notifications...Also, framerate*seems a little choppy at time, even with the last 5.0.2 update.*I demand more, I really hope future Android Wear updates make it a little more interesting.
Depending on the model itself, it can be really classy or just passable as a professional device. Either way, it doesn't give off a tacky look that would look out of place when worn with a suit, unless you're wearing a color that obviously doesn't match. The metallic band versions seem to work pretty well, but I don't think the leather bands are that bad. If you are on the fence, though, I'd probably wait for the next iteration of the Moto 360, which has been in the rumour mill for some time to come out in 2015. Especially given that the Moto 360 has a few production or design issues like the backplate being prone to being broken easily, I'd definitely wait.
inkrededibles said:
Depending on the model itself, it can be really classy or just passable as a professional device. Either way, it doesn't give off a tacky look that would look out of place when worn with a suit, unless you're wearing a color that obviously doesn't match. The metallic band versions seem to work pretty well, but I don't think the leather bands are that bad. If you are on the fence, though, I'd probably wait for the next iteration of the Moto 360, which has been in the rumour mill for some time to come out in 2015. Especially given that the Moto 360 has a few production or design issues like the backplate being prone to being broken easily, I'd definitely wait.
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Thanks for your input. But if you check the post before yours I already bought the 360
Cheers
Hi there!
Below is adapted from my original review on gadgetvictims.com
Mi A1 is definitely a good phone for the price but the noise-cancellation bug, well know in MIUI devices is also present in this Android One version .
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Nobody was fooled by Xiaomi's efforts to explain that MI A1 is not a rebranded 5X, and it is obviously the same device (with possibly a better thermal dissipation plate for countries with hot climate, like India).
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The A1 is all about the Android One experience out of the box.
An Android One device basically complies with Google standards, which include some (unclear) minimum hardware requirements, and the provision of security and system updates by Google. The device should also receive the Oreo update around Christmas, if you've been good!
Possibly also -but I'll believe it when I see it- we can expect to get the next Android P (Pancake?) when it comes out.
Features:
5.5-inch FHD display,
Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 @2.0gHz,
4GB of RAM, and 64GB storage + microSD slot
SIM/SD tray for 2 SIM's or 1 SIM+1 microSD
Dual rear cameras:
Main: Omnivision OV12A10, 12MP, f2.2.
Second OmniVision OV13880 12MP f2.6
Front camera: Samsung S5K5E8, 5MP, f2.2
Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, LTE with VoLTE,
3080 mAh battery.
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: Band B1/B2/B5/B8
4G: FDD-LTE B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20 TDD-LTE B38/B40
IR blaster
Back lit soft keys
Notification LED (white)
Unpacking
The Global version comes with a standard 5V2A charger, a USB type C cable, a tray pin and the usual leaflet that nobody bothers reading.
As usual with Xiaomi, no accessories are provided. Since the Mi A1 and 5X are identical, there's already a large choice of covers and tempered glass filters to choose from.
It's curious to see a product targeted at the Indian market without any water proofing, (and that factor is equally important for Irish users). So, while the Corning Gorilla 3 should not need further protection, a phone case it always a good idea to protect at least the back side. It won't make it waterproof, but that should help a bit.
While waiting to try a smart flip case, I found the inexpensive ASLING Protective Back Cover to be a nice fit for the black version.
Setting up
The hybrid SIM tray allows either
2 SIM's together
or
1 SIM + 1 MicroSD
So if the 64GB of storage don't suffice, an additional 128GB extension is possible.
Android One experience: so simple it's boring!
The recently reviewed Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime could have been my everyday phone if it wasn't for the MIUI ecosystem, but I must admit that I did enjoy taking time to fine-tune all the customization options.
The Android One experience is the opposite: You're all set just a few minutes!
The initial setup is straightforward, particularly if you had a previous Android device from which apps and settings can be restored.
After that, you're pretty much ready and there's very little fiddling around the system options, even with the System UI Tuner enabled (activated by holding the gear icon in drop down menu for a few seconds).
Suddenly I regret the absence of the wallpaper carousel, the integrated call recorder, some smart gesture options like turn the phone over when busy, or swipe down 3 fingers for screenshot, ...
I wanted a pure vanilla Android experience... I have it!
There's virtually no bloatware (only 2 Xiaomi Feedback and Mi Remote apps which can be uninstalled, at least in the Global edition). The collection of pre-installed apps is kept to the bare minimum, to the point it feels incomplete: for instance, there no FM radio app despite the presence of the hardware (which can be verified in the Hardware Test Menu *#*#64663#*#*)
That's not an acceptable solution and none of the FM radio apk's I tried worked, so it's down to Xiaomi to resolve this in a future update.
Cameras:
The A1 is really a snapper I could live with! The Omnivision sensors may not be prestigious like Sony and Samsung are, but they deliver some nice pictures, with fast focus for sharp pictures, even with HDR.
I normally avoid using the flash at all cost with a smartphone, but the dual tone LED's have proven to be usable, as seen with the shot of the white orchids below, taken in almost complete darkness.
See here for the full picture sample
The manual mode offer a good range of controls and the manual focus is particularly well thought with the assistance of a focus peaking function.
While low cost brands like Bluboo, Doogee, Oukitel, will probably never be able to use their dual camera unless Google releases a camera API supporting them, Xiaomi (and other big players like Huawei, and HTC, ...) can afford to develop their own camera software!
As a result, the A1 dual camera phones can achieve an authentic Bokeh / depth effect (enabled via the Portrait Mode icon) rather than just layer of blurred circles.
The 5 megapixel camera on the selfie side does a decent job despite the absence of a flash and offers a large collection of creative filters. The results lack the level of details offered by the selfie-centric Redmi Note 5A, but are still quite good.
Video recording: not the A1 strong point!
Videos can be recorded in SD, HD, FHD and 4K.
Slo-mo initially didn't work at all but the bug has been fixed with the September Security update.
There's no "focus hunting" problem as such, just a quick but noticeable back-and-forth move each time the focus adjusts to a different subject.
In any case, the videos fail to impress, due principally to the lack of stabilization. A post-recording stabilization can be applied afterward via the embedded editor but the result is terrible!
Adding to it, the deteriorated sound recording quality contributes further in making the A1 a pathetic camcorder.
Sound quality: very good and very bad!
(I know how it sounds but please read on!)
The very good:
Since USB Type C can also output audio, it is often a good excuse to ditch the old 3.5mm earphone jack but Xiaomi kept both! Great!
The music playback through the internal speakers or via the headphones is clear and loud enough, and Xiaomi products are usually good at this.
The very bad:
The troubles start when recording your own sound with either the camera or an audio recording app.
Although it should only be active during phone calls, the dedicated noise cancelling microphone keeps fulfilling its duty during video and audio recordings, adding a weird flanger effect while trying to cancel the "noise" surrounding the voice!
https://youtu.be/6IPtygXJbjk
I discovered this popular Xiaomi noise cancellation bug first with the Redmi Note 5A, but only after a while because my first videos where made in a quiet environment. Then I came to record a public ceremony with loud rounds of applause, and discovered that the sound track had been almost completely muted!
It's quite a bid deal to me as I like to record some excellent bands performing in local pubs. In such typically loud environment, that bug is disastrous!
I hoped that it was confined to MIUI but the A1 is not spared and the bug is so widespread that it's becoming a Xiaomi trademark!
Until Xiaomi eventually acknowledge and fix the problem, I'll have to use other ways for that kind of task (like an Android watch, they make excellent sound recorders).
Battery life, Encryption and Performance
Embarking a 3050mAh battery would have been probably presumptuous with a Mediatek processor, but with a Snapdragon 625 it's a different story.
I could stretch it up to 48 hours of mixed use on a single charge, taking pictures (a lot), playing video games (a little) and watching videos. Of course this varies with each other lifestyle but most users should comfortably achieve a full day without having to keep an eye on the battery indicator.
In this Global Edition, the accompanying charger is a standard 5V2A and the phone definitely does not support Quick Charging.
In any case, it takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery.
The phone storage is encrypted by default, but this had no visible impact on performance when launching apps.
I can't think of an app that would give hard time to an 8-core 2016MHz processor with 4GB RAM.
Some benchmark scores:
Antutu: ~63000,
Geekbench 857/4167
Generous set of sensors, but no NFC
The list of sensors is quite complete with magnetometer, accelerometer, gyroscope, step detector, and Hall (for smart covers).
The fingerprint sensor is lighting fast just as expected after trying the lower range Redmi 5A. It also conveniently double as a way to scroll down the notification bar.
The picture below should tell enough about the GPS, no surprise.
Screen
The bright and vibrant [email protected] is protected by a Gorilla Glass 3.
It feels very smooth and does not keep the fingerprints too much.
The viewing quality and contrasts are very good but maybe I'm not the best judge as I felt the same with the HD-only screen of the cheaper Redmi Note 5A.
There's still a good 1.5cm at the bottom of the screen just dedicated to the soft keys, which is a bit old-fashionish in this bezel-less era, but at least they're back lit.
IR Blaster: (and yes, this is a copy/paste from my previous review)
The A1 can be used as an IR remote controller. The native Mi Remote application mostly supports the smart home devices from Xiaomi but also some popular brands of TV and set top boxes. However I could not get it work with any device, even my LG TV.
As an alternative, I've installed "Universal TV Remote" from Twinone which works great, even with my old X10 IR relay.
Conclusion
According to a poll on miui forum, the preference between the 2 models is evenly balanced:
Xiaomi and Google may have achieved a mutually beneficial deal with this phone by combining the quality of Xiaomi hardware and the authentic Android experience in the first convincing implementation of the Android One project.
You're it, until you're dead or I find someone better! [J. Rasczak, Starship Troopers]
None of the recently reviewed Android phones could decide me to finally put my good old Xperia Z1 to rest.
With its solid performance, large storage, latest Android and excellent camera, the A1 did this!
It is not faultless however and I'm not done with Xiaomi about the noise-cancellation bug!
The Mi A1 (like the Mi 5X) is priced around 200€.
If, like me, you want an unspoiled Android experience but are not willing to sell a kidney but still get a stable, well built phone with a great camera, this may be the Android you're looking for!
Good:
Fast and straightforward setup
Great dual camera
Notification LED
Back lit soft keys
Not good:
Noise cancelling bug
FM Radio present but app missing
Limited customization options
No stabilization for video recording
No NFC