LG G Watch: cheap and cheerful Android Wear

LG G Watch Watches were first wearable gadget with the operating system Android Wear, which, in principle, it is not surprising, because it is LG has developed and released the last two Nexus'a. Was the first practice makes perfect, and that all we can expect from the platform Wear read on.





Features
The hardware part, on the one hand, locked in an ultra-compact body, in which neither install anything decent can not, nor batareykeu nuclear trailers; and on the other - is dictated by the needs of the computing device power. Smart watches. To all this magnificence is not hindered, provide recognition of voice commands worked, in fact, like a clock (in all senses) manufacturer did not regret forces and means. Under the 1.65-inch screen (resolution 280x280 pixels) hidden: quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 400 (1.2GHz, ARM v7); Adreno 305 graphics accelerator (clocked at 450 MHz); 512 MB of RAM; 4 GB of storage, as well as modules GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 LE and even NFC. However, the same set of iron got many competitors, and it is unlikely we will see in a year clock on Snapdragon 800 (why is it ?! hours) - rather, put the 64-bit version of the junior chip 410.

Claimed battery volume - funny 400 mAh, while the real volume (stripping devices amateurs and labeling of batteries inside) was slightly higher. Hours at an average skid-like carrying case battery will last for two days, no more, and then to achieve similar results must be switched off "continuously on the screen." The clock will activate the display when you look at it - for this feature are responsible gyroscope and accelerometer.


Display - normal LCD with a resolution of 280h280 points. When something like this (320x240) resolution was on smartphones and communicators, and now here even on the clock it seems to be something familiar. Display resolution does not supernatural, but visually quite drawn to the "retinoic" - pixel grid can be distinguished only under a magnifying glass.

Appearance
LG Watch delivered in a neat cardboard box, as compact as possible, not how it is remarkable. Themselves watch is made of several types of plastic, because of what turned out very light.



Housing rectangular, minimalist, without any frills design and controls (touch screen). Watches come in white and black color, the first look more feminine, the second - versatile and easy. Surprisingly, neither the body nor the strap does not collect dirt and fingerprints.



The rear panel contains contacts for charging in the dock (one minus, could place them symmetrically or two corners to devaysu was decidedly not care about the accommodation in the docking station). The watch has Ingress protection, can withstand immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter, however, according to the manufacturer, only 30 minutes.



The watch strap is made of "silky" touch rubber, the back side of it (the one that faces the hand) is covered with an interesting (in appearance and tactile) pattern, however, the "coupling" with the hand, he does not give and do not give any sense of when your watch. I wish he was on the face of the most common :) clasp, metal.



Photograph normal convex pattern on the black hours there is no way, so here's a render of white:) i>

Add something here more difficult - all seen in the photo.

Options
Boxes with clock does not abound related accessories. Manufacturer cost the dock, AC charger, USB-microUSB cable and manual paper-guarantee. All packed neatly, but no cover, no cloth, no spare parts for the bracelet, or anything else is not supplied. On the other hand, everything you need - there is, and the buyer does not pay the extra bucks for all the "thingies».



Operating the
The clock starts ... included ... Hell, where is this button ?! Okay, no buttons, so opening statement. It turns out that to get started is necessary to place the clock on the charging dock. By itself, it is magnetic, after power watch instantly come to life and offer to start working with the language selection.



Next - require installation Android Wear on your smartphone. After a simple pairing and short training (as in the clock itself, and on your phone) gadget is ready for operation.



All management is reduced to tapam (rarely) and swipe (very often) on the touch screen. First thing is to upgrade to the latest version of Android Wear 5.0, if the clock is not offered this for yourself - find information about the update can be in the "settings" of the devaysa.



Update brings some improvements in the navigation area on the clock, and in directly, management, plus adds support for new dials, applications, add-ons. However, there is one drawback. Android Wear 5.0 does not allow to set the clock interface language other than the smartphone itself. The previous version allowed. That is, even if you have a Russian language for Google Now, as the main language of the smartphone - English, then the clock will be in English, despite the fact that they are rather an interface to Google Now, rather than directly to the smartphone.



So that offer smart watches, in addition to determining the time on them, of course. Conjugate with a smartphone, watch can em> access to notifications, arriving on the phone. No calls and sms, namely the notification of the application, which can be useful on the clock: a letter from a mail client, notifications of Twitter and instant messengers. To do this, connect the "mirroring" of notifications in the app Android Wear. This is done in the settings of the smartphone i>, in the notification. All interactive notifications (for example, from player to control music playback) are also working on the clock.

The second (and, in my opinion) a crucial feature - a system of Google Now, which actively displays a variety of information on the screen device. Your calendar, navigator and personal assistant now do not have to get out of his pocket - he's always on your wrist. The interface consists of all of the same cards, and voice control assistant carried out and swipe.

Allow it or not - your choice. The clock will count the distance traveled and share them with the "fitness hub» Google Fit , which will aggregate your daily physical activity. In principle, this handle and the phone itself, without a clock, but with reduced accuracy.

Overall experience
The main value of 'smart' hours - you will not miss a notification. None of the calls or letters on or about the meetings. If the phone is in a bag on the table, under the table, in a jacket or somewhere else - all in any case come to you for hours. The second crucial feature - for poteryashek.



Put one of the applications (for example, it ), and you can always "find" the phone nearby (at home, at work), activating the audio signal from the clock. A couple of times I found the phone in the pocket of his trousers, which were on me, but save yourself for 5-7 minutes convulsive searches devaysa before leaving the house. The third bonus - only for the owners of smartphones with BT 4.0 LE. If you connect the clock on the "economical» BT 4, the charge of "big brother" is almost not consumed, but the battery life is increasing, mainly due to the fact that you can not read the phone gets incoming notifications and not "wake" him voracious system and a display processor.

Pros and cons of
+ Very light;
+ Waterproof;
+ Charged from the dock;
+ Does not collect dirt, dust and fingerprints;
+ Update to 5.0 with no problems.
- In charge can be put "wrong" and left without a charged battery;
- An alternative method of charging is not, lose / break the dock - will have to buy new;
- The display is not OLED-type conventional TFT;
- Do not measure the pulse;
- Primitive design.

At the time of writing, the cost of hours in the store is Yulmart 9990 rubles.

Results of
LG, as pioneers platform Wear, created a great gadget. Yes, it is simple, devoid of some features (such as heart rate monitor to be at the same time and features a fitness bracelets) has austere design and the most outstanding autonomy, but with all this works as it should - show time and reminders, be notified of all that is necessary .



The device quickly addictive and significantly saves battery smartphone for those tasks that the clock can not cope themselves - "first attempt" of the company came out clearly "not lumpy».

Our previous reviews:
» Transformer Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro
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» LEGO Mindstorms EV3
» digital USB-microscope Levenhuk DTX90

Source: geektimes.ru/company/ulmart/blog/244213/

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