Alltagstauglich, but still has potential

Almost 2 weeks ago, my wife has the clock given and I am absolutely thrilled so far from functional. Android Wear is a real relief thanks to the I no longer constantly look out to smartphone, and can be stuck it in many cases in my pocket, because all the important notifications are to be seen by a quick look on the wrist for me.

The rounded design with bezel it is necessary to distinguish at first glance hardly of a "normal" clock in selecting an appropriate Watch Faces. In direct comparison with the Moto 360 sees thus, despite the minimal larger housing also not quite as clunky. Who is looking for a great selection of Watch Faces, which is the recommended app Facer, the associated page facerepo.com offers an almost unmanageable range.

Processing and material quality are also very good, case and clasp are made of a very light metal. Only the bottom with charging contacts and the window for the pulse sensor is made of plastic, which nonetheless feels very comfortable when wearing. However, the bracelet could be a bit high, as it requires throwing through the donning and doffing has a few wrinkles in the buckle.

Also I am thrilled by the battery life, given two days can also be reached in practice quite. After about 15 hours with many alerts, the battery is still filled to 70-80%, a little less if you let the time display always enabled.

In any case, one should treat the clock to update to the latest software version, because in my delivery, such as pulse measurement has not yet functioning properly. The update itself is fairly simple, as you would expect from Android smartphones a message will be displayed if the clock with the Wear App connected to the phone, and an update is available. Since this is charged via Bluetooth but it take to install a few minutes. After a successful update the clock had to be manually restarted. If you have ever installed a custom ROM on his cell phone, which is likely the Recovery menu familiar come. ;)

Also, we should still note that Android Wear indeed already comes with a fairly good range of functions, but their true potential can only unfold the clock with other apps and the link to services like Google Now. As an example, about the weather or traffic information display is called, the location automatically based are displayed at the right time. Even the whole system is of course still fairly new, so it will be interesting how the range of apps and functions evolved.

Another practical use is the "Smart Lock" feature that allows the connected phone without pin or pattern can be unlocked when the clock is a trusted device nearby.

The voice recognition works also perfectly, even at louder ambient noises can easily speak answers to SMS, Hangouts or mail, start music playback or other functions, and navigation apps. The Pulse also works on command, you have to but keep very quiet and to arm those who want a permanent pulse display should look for alternative apps such as cardiograph because Google Fit unfortunately only one time measures.

As already mentioned earlier, is primarily the notification feature is invaluable. Grade who gets many messages per Hangout or SMS, can limit with Android 4.4 and 5 Wear the number of messages and to only allow the display of important contacts. Even individual apps can be excluded from the notification system. And last but not least, the "manual" Filter the remaining messages more comfortable, just if you use lots of group chats and not respond to every message needs is good the clock very well to breastfeed read along without each time having to whip out the phone. Prefabricated "standard answers" are limited but unfortunately a few OK / Yes / No set phrases which unfortunately can not be customized, if you want so do not speak in public with his clock you have to be sooner or later fall back on the phone.

So far I have to criticize little on the device, only a reference value must be set as to the amount that display or charging does not take place as in the Moto360 by induction. Apart from this it comes the penny! But very close. : D

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Update to 5.0.1

The software update to version 5 4.4W2 is easier, here is the only confirmed the update and a bit of a reboot with the associated optimization of installed apps needed.

Practical newly added features are the ability to select directly on the clock if you want to receive all, or no relevant notifications, with 4.4 went just over the phone. Then there's the cinema mode, this is selected, the display can be unlocked only by hardware key and the Sunlight mode of briefly switches the display to maximum brightness. The latter was not yet necessary, the OLED of the clock is actually so bright that I normally only stage 2 of 6 use.

Another improvement over 4.4 is that now the three most recently used Watch Faces, settings and apps in each menu are put forward to which also simplifies operation and long scroll way saves.

The selection of Watch Faces with Version 5 also again larger and more comfortable, they can now also on the mobile phone via Wear App choose from a menu rather than laboriously by scrolling on the clock. If the clock is not on the current version must note, however, that the Main 5 Watch Faces are not backwards compatible, since Google is mandatory for To prevent image retention, the pixel shifting in ambient mode since the last update.

Also, I have exchanged the leather strap against the Pixnor 22mm stainless steel bracelet. No problem to make the self, but you should be sure to use good tool for that cheap Stiftausdrücker break off easily and the spring bar tool from the tool set TRIXES was not small enough ...

Who wants btw how of Android on the smartphone known developers can see options in the Main settings also fall 7 times on the build number, the fastboot menu can be reached in which one wipes the boot logo from top left to bottom right.