New Watch Face
I saw user cavera-de on the Galaxy Watch subreddit share this watch face, and I finally remembered to install it today. It feels very futuristic to use my laptop to install software to my watch.
Overall, I'm quite liking it. I haven't used an "analog" face for a while, but this is suitably futuristic that I really am enjoying it.
It makes me wish the watchface was OLED so I got deeper blacks, but I'll survive. It still looks great. The orange dot on the left is the notification light. I could add other things such as battery, date, steps, etc. But I really like this clean UI.
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Galaxy Watch 5 first official pics
I shouldn't be surprised, considering the discount I got for my Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, but I am somewhat annoyed and amused that 9 days after I got my watch, they drop official images of the Galaxy Watch 5. You're welcome world. I took the bullet so you all may celebrate.
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Surface Duo 2 + Smartwatch = Amazing
[Disclaimer: This post mentions D&D. I work for the makers of Dungeons and Dragons.]
Yesterday was a full week that I've had my Galaxy Watch 4 and I can conclusively say that the combination of a smartwatch and the Surface Duo 2 has been fantastic. They are something I heartily recommend to any power user for their phone.
I love my Surface Duo 2. I love having two screens and I love the overall form factor. Especially for things like reading and making notes, running D&D, or even for this blog, I can have social media on one screen and this blog's admin on the other. In all of these, the device excels.
I have also come to love the response from others when they first see it and watch as I pull it out and unfold it's two screens. My friend Scott, when I first used it in front of him asked, "What is this marvelous device?"
That said, I was frustrated by my Duo 2 because it's design hindered the quick-use needs I have for a phone. Jotting a note, reading a text, checking the time, etc. All of these are no longer a quick one-handed act of pulling out my phone and thumbing my password in, and then doing what I need. Now it required two hands. Add to that, that the phone's closed screen makes notifications much harder to get if you aren't using your device. If my wife texted me, I would often miss it during the day at work. None of these were enough to make me want to switch my phone, but they were annoyances.
Enter the Samsung Galaxy 4 smartwatch.
I had been planning to give smartwatches another go with Google's Pixel watch, slated to arrive sometime this year. But a few weeks ago Woot.com had a deal of getting the Galaxy Watch 4 for less than $200. That seemed like a good deal, and some online research confirmed it. So I pulled the trigger.
I had tried using a smartwatch before, prior to the Surface Duo 2, I think it was 2014ish with a "normal" smartphone. I found the watch to be fun but unneccessary as I often had my phone out on the table or desk in front of me, or even more readily available as I frequently would simply be holding it in my hand whenever I was out and about.
But, with the Duo 2 and it's closed-book form factor, having a means to quickly access notifications and do most of the small things I found myself wanting to do - has been fantastic. Google's Wear OS has come a long way and provides so much extension to the phone's capabilities. When I first had a smartwatch, it just felt like a toy. Sure, I could see messages, etc. But the overall abilities of the early watch just weren't compelling. Now, in addition to solving my ease-of-access issues, it provides more capabilities and health monitoring things, etc.
So, if you're thinking of getting a Surface Duo 2, I encourage you to do so. Maybe you won't find the same issues I did, but if you do, I then encourage you to try adding a smartwatch. I don't think it has to be the Galaxy 4, but I am happy with mine.
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As I posted last night, I got a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. There was a sale on Woot last week and I pulled the trigger. We'll see how it goes. It arrived with a completely dead battery that had to be charged. Also I had to do four sequential system updates (and each of those require the battery be at at least 30% to do, which when fighting to charge a dead battery took quite a while.)
It's too early to really judge. I did wear it sleeping last night, so I'll be curious to see how it does in tracking my sleep. I like the idea of wearing it while I sleep to see how I do, but also given the need to keep it charged, I'm not sure exactly how to best balance that.
The answer might be a charger on my desk at work so I can charge it during the day for a while. Not sure. I'll need to see how the battery actually fares once fully charged. I'm at least gratified to see that it won't cost me an arm and a leg to get additional chargers for it if I need them.
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Samsung Galaxy Smart Watch 4 - $180 - Deal on Woot.com
I had been waiting for the Pixel watch, but - well - the deal got me and so we pulled the trigger. This matches the lowest price for the watch on Amazon (back in April.) I love my Surface Duo 2, but the closed screen form factor really inhibits me getting notifications.
I had tried a smartwatch before and found it unnecessary because I lived with my old phones in hand. With the Duo 2, I think it will be a big benefit to allow me some quick actions without having to open the phone up.
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