Practical gadget, but still expandable

Now I have 2 good draw an initial conclusion, the Galaxy Gear a day in operation and can. The first generation of Gear has optically not convinced me above all and I did not even really see the benefits. Also in the Gear 2 I was initially skeptical when it comes to benefits, but then it gave her a chance.

Prompt delivery as almost always at Amazon and reliable. Then it was time to unpack the good piece. There are to report nothing exciting. The clock is completely clad factory in plastic wrap - positive!

First Impression

At first impression makes the Gear 2 a high impression. The finish is clean. About Optics one can argue forever, but I like the simple design well. Since I only carry large and heavy watches usually, I can for weight and feeling say little. To me it seems easy, but also not toy-like light. The dimensions it holds well with XL watches. That will not be for everyone.

Creating the clock

The clasp sits stable and needs to open some pressure. Accidental opening by snagging should so rarely occur. The bracelet can be adapted quickly to his own wrist, even without instructions. For the band Samsung has chosen the probably worst material. Although the full plastic has some stability, but is a sweaty affair in the summer. You can see the clock, although with some play wear, but then the pulse measurement is at least often inaccurate. (More on that later ..)

Start & first impression of the battery

After turning the clock had already or 63% battery. This first charge I got along good 24 hours've obviously done a lot with the clock: messing around, MP3s, etc. A transfer charging takes on the light to be attached charger takes about 2.5 hours. During charging, the clock can be easily operated lying on its side. The display rotates with accordingly. How long now extends a full battery charge during normal operation, I have yet to test .. Fill me on occasion.

Before the Gear with the smartphone can be connected, first of Gear Manager from the Samsung App Store must be installed. My phone is a touch 3. Both devices have understood right away. So there you go!

Service

Works quickly and virtually self-explanatory. The home screen can be populated with the apps you use most. Among them are quasi two more levels with apps that can be reached by wiping quickly and without wobbles. The re-sorting of applications is something fummeliger because this is reduced in size on long finger like Android the screen and the icons can be rumgeschoben. The S Pen unfortunately does not work on the Gear 2) colors, photos, fonts, etc. are set up via the Gear Manager on phone. The result appears immediately on the screen the clock.

Standard applications

MP3 Player

Does what he should do. Course offers not the comfort and setting full-fledged Android Player. Songs are also transmitted via the Gear Manager at the clock, making it possible to listen to music without a phone. There are, however, still room for improvement! It is possible to create or transfer any folder. So you get an unordered MP3 collection on the clock together .. Also negative is the transfer limit of 21 titles each in one go. Other songs have to be re-marked and re-transmitted. A queue has not the app unfortunately.

Sonically makes the players without large adjustment a satisfactory impression. Have a Sony SBH80 and an AKG K845BT reingelauscht and experience on each headset the typical sound, as I know him from the respective handset. No complaints! However, I needed at both headphones two or three attempts to connect before you understand the equipment. With a media controller can be on the Gear 2 and the player on the mobile phone with its basic functions operate.

Because of the complicated equipment with the songs Gear 2 is certainly not often come as a player with me to use. The included charging cable has a fixed power plug. Alternatively you can use a standard USB cable. The Gear 2 is detected in Windows 8 without any problems and in the Explorer also obtained access to the folder. Thus MP3s can be transferred faster, but again not in folders or they will be ignored by the player. All securities included land in the normal playlist.

Notifications

What in the Gear 1 long needed to implementation, work here immediately and perfectly. Simply call up the list of installed apps in the Gear Manager and highlight those whose notifications should be forwarded to the Gear 2. Works seamlessly with Twitter, WA, Foursquare, etc.

Camera

For snapshots with autofocus in low light conditions it is sufficient. Nothing more, but that no one should be surprised. Factory-the-clock snaps with 1080x1080 points, but can be attributed to 1920x1080 pixels change. There are possible autofocus and macro shots. If you like it, also has the Samsung gimmick Sound & Shot on board and can put his pictures with a few seconds of audio. Each image is highlighted with the famous Soundfile an old camera. The annoying bit and so far I have not yet discovered how this can be disabled.

Phone

Connection works well. The voice quality is also ok. Even if I do not immediately speak near the wrist, I understood the interlocutor still good. On a noisy street it will be difficult through the speaker of the Gear 2 to understand something themselves.

Fitness

The heart rate monitor was for me from the very beginning an impressive feature. That was something I knew so far without chest strap only from my MIO Alpha and he works very reliably even in the Gear 2. A control with an upper arm blood pressure monitor has confirmed that. At rest, the clock must also rest for only loosely. They can therefore carry a little further on the arm. In moving the clock must however be worn close, so that the measurement can not be imprecise. Accordingly, wet it is unfortunately on the wrist.

The pedometer is similar values ​​such as the smartphone, also works without a telephone. The Activity Tracker uses the Location feature of your phone, so always works only in doubles. A few short bike routes have been recorded correctly. In direct comparison with Runtastic but the clock is always 6-7% percent more on distance traveled. Who is ever now because wrong ..

The evaluation of a single activity is fine. The archive function but weak compared to runtastic. The clock and the Gear Fitness App aggregate the training and leave many details are missing. All data must also be synchronized via the Samsung account, which also does not always work properly. S Health is certainly the more sophisticated app, recognizes the Gear 2 also, but can not do anything with the data, unfortunately, so that it currently works only with the Gear Fitness application.

Against a duo from Runtastic and Alpha MIO the Gear 2 has currently no chance. It simply lacks many options and comfort. Here is Samsung fitness fans (yet) can not convince them to trust only to the Koreans. For occasional sports and everyone who wants to occasionally do something for a good conscience, but it's at least a start and a little incentive.

SMS

Unfortunately only works with the default messages app. Those like me who for example uses GoSMS, will be without this feature.

Other applications

With Gear 2 apps it currently sees very mau. About the Gear Manager you will be brought directly to the currently available apps in the Samsung App Store and can install the same. Currently these are mainly skins for the time display, dubious gimmicks for the price of one euro and various social networks that hardly anyone here knows, let alone use.

Of the major announcements such as injection or Paypal is nothing to be seen. Also Runtastic or Evernote the Gear 2 would good to face. Remains to be seen whether the well-paid developer competition from Samsung and more applications will be flush with the corresponding quality in the store here.

Watchon

A handy feature that works reliably even after a short device. Use I already on the grade 3 and 10.1 in 2014 and I immediately closed on the Gear 2 into the heart. In contrast to the version Tel Gear 2 also dominated as the tablet version, the Preset for Sky Germany. Who likes can control even air conditioning or a fan so listed. However, the version of Tizen Watchon has a huge drawback! It can be each submit one TV. Switching between devices or premises is not yet included.

The Rest

S-Voice works fine. Contacts and protocols are adopted without objection from the phone. The calendar is sufficient for quick nachgucken appointments, but could offer more comfort. Location detection of the weather display is imprecise and unfortunately an indication of alternative places missing. Who cares, can ask to see the sleep control, the percentage of sleep he lay motionless in bed. Oh well.

First conclusion

The Gear 2 is quite mature, but still far from perfection. But that is less of the clock itself, as in the existing software or missing apps from third parties. Nevertheless, the Gear 2 already works reasonably well as a supplement or small everyday relief for mobile. The phone can simply stay in the pocket more often. A bit of comfort in which one can get used to quickly. A real added value, a must-have or possibly the next killer device that umkrempelt the market, that's not natural. And the price of around 300 euros for such a toy is just also no small thing.

One point deduction for the targeted, smaller defects and the price. Otherwise, however, already a buy recommendation from me.

--- Update from 04/26/2014:

After a complete charging of the battery 30 shows hours later still 60% charge. During the pedometer ran through completely, I have called periodic notifications, used a bit rumgeklickt and Watchon. The automatic activation of the display is switched off from the very beginning. The constant flashing of the display at every gesture bothers me more than that anyway, it makes sense. Display brightness on 4 of 6 set. That's enough for good reading even in bright sunlight, though the Gear 2 with Level 6 still holds a special outdoor mode.

Gear Fitness app today to get an update and now runs smoother. Nothing has changed the content and especially the evaluations.

The camera sound when taking pictures seems actually not to be disabling. Could also be intended to prevent clandestine Spanner Photos something.

Handwashing with Gear is not a problem. Test the water resistance but again separately. Positives: water leaves no single spot on the screen.

--- Updated on 29/04/2014

The first battery charge has held almost exactly 72 hours. Little has changed in the use. (See last update) From 11-12% residual charge, the camera is no longer usable. In 2 or 3% residual charge, the Gear separates from the connected device, and it is only the start page.

A 30 minute bath in the sink, the clock is also survived without complaint. From showers or a dip in the sea Samsung does not recommend the way. At least from the showers with soap or shower gel. ;)

The connection with the Note 10.1 2014 also works without hesitation.

But ...

By connecting the Gear 2 with a new device it will reset to factory settings. This may be useful when the clock changes hands, whether it is technically really necessary for the devices change in an owner but? To test the connectivity, I've played the game times. With an assurance of Gear 2 on the app it should not be an issue, they quickly recover afterwards. No sooner said than done, Note 10.1 connected, fit, back again to touch 3rd Gear 2 again back to factory settings. In between, the assurance of course not dubbed. That every time you change the complete Terms of Use must be confirmed again, annoying addition. Can be here not similar to Bluetooth a list for multiple devices to create, love Samsung technician?

Gear 2 is back. In fact, with my old background and the custom startup screen. That was it but also .. gallery empty, MP3s away, pedometer and activity tracks also empty, Watchon settings away. The clock was thus almost virginal again how out of the box ..

Maybe Samsung has other ideas of a data backup? Otherwise quite a bug is present here in the Gear and / or the Gear Manager app. Did it specially tested again. With an identical result. Situated Played MP3s away etc. So you can backup the moment completely save, because the star screen in five seconds and can be reconfigured repeatedly.

KNAPP SIX MONTHS AT WRIST ..

Actually I do not like to miss the Gear. She works without major problems, the battery life has subsided somewhat, but still manages over two days. Samsung has the Gear Manager renovated but except optical changes this fall no more value in the face and concrete changelogs are as always in short supply. The connection to S Health is getting better, but still has room for improvement. The Apps also does not particularly much. Too much or not at all bad works. The fitness trackers it has only managed Endomondo to develop a real working version. But works just have to also install only the basic app that per-user again. The Tizen system and the Gear are always compatible with the app version and then the provider must then decide in accordance with its user numbers .. This circumstance is but inadequately communicated and so often found negative ratings in Apps as Runtastic and Co. Other big names like eBay or Paypal stuck with their apps continue in Nirvana and some notice as spraying, there is still not in reality to visit. Too bad also that the Gear has still not made it into the world of IFTTT. Here is certainly potential, which Atooma exploits insufficiently.

Otherwise, as a streamlined WatchOn operation, timer, heart rate monitor, pedometer, or S Voice to quickly call options remain on the road for me simply practical functions. Maybe I decide soon for Gear S because of its design and displays, but certainly I will no longer do without a SmartWatch! Those things are not a must-have, but already much more than a gimmick and offer some comfort, I have come to appreciate quickly! Even if the product, here the Gear 2, far from being mature, and I had quite a lot to complain about and I, the basic idea behind it is still compelling. Maybe something like this as the early mobile phones, where the question arose as to what that is, who needs it and where the possibilities have technically only hinted .. Well, enough of philosophy: the Gear 2 is worth before ! It is still relatively expensive, has its weaknesses, but also plenty of amenities in the luggage!

Update - the end of 2014

It runs and runs and runs. As for the reliability, there are no problems. The battery life has moved only slightly down. A little more than two days in normal operation are still the rule. An old criticism remains: even today there is still no biotope of meaningful apps that could get even more out of the clock. But on the contrary. When I recently changed from grade 3 to grade Edge and inevitably the Gear had to re-set up because of the telephone exchange, struck me as to the way that the formerly free navigation app now expected to cost money or that one or the other useful app equal has disappeared completely from the AppStore for Gear. Compared to Android Wear Samsung is the Gear models and Tizen still far ahead in terms of functionality, but the Koreans simply take care of still too little to this area of ​​the extensions or support the developer scene too little. Here a lot of potential is wasted and also with big names but little is apparently collaborated to make their business model wearable. The Gear S there finally those SmartWatch that I could imagine ever better by design, as the Gear 2. As the Gear Fit has shown also at the time of Gear 2 release already curved displays were possible. So I liebäugele somewhat with a change, but hesitate other hand. So I have no use once a camera valued at the wrist ... If you are traveling with small children or dog, which sometimes has been a gadget for snapshots that I would never have made only by mobile phone. Although the picture quality is not suitable for printing in large format, they remain with Full HD resolution 1080x1080 pixels, or not too shabby for a digital photo album. Then the IR-Sensor aka course there's the remote for the TV ... That's a lot of comfort that I actually do not like to miss more and speaks against the nicer Gear S. If I but still earn, you will read that! ;) Otherwise, a Merry Christmas, all the best for 2015 and hopefully lots of cool technology in the next year! :)