Design and ergonomics back to overview
Design a watch connected is not easy: no model is distinguished for real time. Some attempts were rather nice, especially the Sony Smartwatch and removable strap, but no more. Galaxy Gear does not support this party and for good reason: a part of the bracelet contains electronics
Quite frankly, if the first pictures could scare on the size of the watch, Samsung is not doing so badly at the time. The dial is made of brushed metal with exposed screws, the screen is topped by a curved glass edges. The back is made of rigid plastic and bracelet, assorted rubber.
Everything is also maintained by a metal clasp. All is well done, certainly not the finest, but the device is not too “big gadget geek in bad taste.”
What about the “high tech” part of the strap, then? There is a strange protrusion that houses a photo sensor: it is obviously out of several millimeters … Not very graceful! At the end of the same part of the bracelet, clip clasp contains the speaker of the watch. Its thickness is rather annoying: it butera easily on the desktop, for example when keyboard input
This brings us to the most important: the Galaxy Gear is it comfortable on the wrist? Several points have seemed annoying. First, the presence of the camera requires a portion of the bracelet is rigid and it can be unpleasant. The notches may be a problem depending on the morphology: it may happen that we have a choice between too loose and too tight. At least the weight is correct. The call light would be an exaggeration, but it is not too heavy to make the painful port.
A word about the “docking station” that accompanies the watch: it is rather a clip that fits around the dial. Incidentally, it is essential to recharging accessory. And frankly, we do not really understand why the Galaxy Gear not directly incorporates a USB port, especially as it is not waterproof anyway.
Components back to overview
What do we find inside the Galaxy Gear? Lot for a watch! The processor, a simple heart Exynos is clocked at 800 MHz with a chip that would have a high-end smartphone in 2009
definition LCD display with 320 x 320 pixels!. The above video camera sensor / can still get 2 megapixel photo and 720p video, roughly the equivalent of a webcam current phone. The base of the watch is equipped with two microphones (one for voice and one for noise abatement).
The Gear embeds 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of Flash storage. Finally, a gyroscope, an accelerometer and obviously a Bluetooth 4.0 chip is found. The battery has a capacity of 315 mAh, we will see below that this is one of its major flaws.Back to overview interface
The OS that runs the Galaxy Gear has rudimentary air: a series of monochrome icons you scroll via touch scans. A menu provides access to all applications, this time in the form of a mosaic of four icons.
But before we get to these applications, there is above all … a clock! It provides several themes: three “analog” more or less modern, and six digital (with schedule, shortcuts, weather …). To safeguard the independence, time is displayed only when the watch detects movement of the arm. Why not, but that it should detect a little less temperamental.
gestures shortcuts for faster access to key features: Scan up to display the phone keypad, down to start the camera, and double-click the lock button to start the recognition Voice S-Voice, this shortcut latter customizable.
Installation and connection back to overview
Before going into the detail of what is done with the Galaxy Gear, it should be noted that nothing will be done with the watch without associating it with a smartphone or tablet. And compatible devices are currently two: the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition. Support should extend Galaxy S4, its update to Android 4.3 has been formalized. S3 and the Galaxy Note 2 will follow in the coming weeks. However, it will always do that five models, and only at Samsung!
watch communicates with the smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. The pairing is rather strange: the NFC chip in the dock is used. A Gear Manager application is installed: it allows in particular to manage the synchronization of data between the two devices, the addition of third-party applications, or settings for notifications of Gear
Features back to top
Galaxy Gear differs from other connected by three main features watches. The more “futuristic” is taking calls: you can make phone conversations without leaving his smartphone from his pocket. A little secret agent side, which could be effective if it was not as uncomfortable.
If both pickups do their job to provide a good quality of voice to the caller, the reception is much more problematic. Unless you are using a hands-free kit, it goes through the speaker embedded in the clasp. It does what it can, but in a noisy environment, it is very difficult to hear anything.
The alternative is to approach her ear, but then goes into situations where the use in public of the Galaxy Gear may impersonate a nostalgic ’60s spy movies.
Do not expect to take stunning images of the bracelet integrated camera sensor. It can make the case for use of memo, but offers better quality worthy of a good webcam. Two sizes are available: a square of 1393 x 1393 pixels, and a more conventional 4:3 1280 x 960 pixels
camera can also record 720p videos, but a limit of 15 seconds per video. Just enough to catch a souvenir. Moreover, to export such memories, you can not do it directly from the watch: it must first be transferred to the smartphone via Bluetooth. An option in the Gear Manager is used to configure automatic synchronization between the two.
Finally, the most effective feature of the Galaxy Gear is its interaction with the assistant S-Voice of Samsung smartphones. Deport this module on a watch is quite relevant, and if speech recognition sometimes misfires in all, it works as we would like, especially to add events or dictate a text message.
much for the supposed features differentiate the Galaxy Gear of its competitors. As it stands it is rather thin, and the rest, there are the basics: deportation notifications, remote control for media playback or pedometer. And again, there are annoying limitations: notifications actually work for embedded applications from Samsung, such as SMS or email client Exchange/POP3/SMTP. Whether Gmail, Facebook or Twitter, a message will prompt you to kindly check the details … on your smartphone.
could console themselves with third-party applications, but they are so few at the time of writing this test, you will struggle to find his account. Evernote really stands alone batch Gear offering a version of its service, to create audio or picture memos, or go directly to his notes on the watch, which can be handy for shopping lists particular.
AutonomyConclude this overview of the Galaxy Gear by autonomy. We pay a heavy price by the selected components and features, since normal and intended use (function shows, calls, photo and video capture …), it takes about twelve hours. It will therefore charge whatever happens Galaxy Gear every night, and this is just for show!
Conclusion
No manufacturer has yet been able to offer a connected watch that gives really want to believe in this product category, and despite some efforts, the Samsung Galaxy Gear does not make a difference either.
Yet she dares some features that could have their best interest if they were implemented, and its design reflects the search for a certain elegance. The technical choices Samsung, however, as the bracelet fit a camera and the clasp of a speaker affect its usability.
We could accommodate this defect, unfortunately This is far from the only one. Limited compatibility, even by the end of the year, a very small number of Samsung smartphones and tablets, is currently in a luxury gadget for the reduced range. Autonomy also raises problem and it seems impossible to go beyond the day of use without recharging, while most of the functionality suffer from limitations that greatly diminish their interest. The price finally be an obstacle: it will cost you € 299 anyway (unless ODR, especially with combined purchase of Note 3). Not easy in this case, to recommend the purchase of the Galaxy Gear unless “early adopter” wealthy.more
- Good finish
- Ideas (S-Voice)
- quality components
least
- phones difficult to use
- Autonomy insufficient
- limited compatibility
- Usability issues
Bad
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Features
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Autonomy
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Usability
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