Android phones, apps and tablets

Bah... Can't get the S-OFF software to recognise the Desire.

Grr...

Wait, yes I can...

However I forgot that I don't have a microSD card handy to flash the phone with. Blox.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/samsung-unveils-galaxy-gear/

I just had an idea - these smart watches with cameras. If they were quick to operate they could be used to capture registration plates of douche bags. I'm never able to get my phone out quick enough. Reckon they'd do any good as an alternative to helmet cam-ing every ride?

So it should ship with the new note? Or cost $299 by itself.

No way I'd spend that much on it. I could buy a decent watch for that amount.

Yeah, it's way too expensive and way too limited but I like the idea of being able to point my (bloodied) wrist at a fleeing number plate and get some quick video.

That's a good idea. I guess eventually I'd like to see a smart watch become like a go pro camera myself, with a decent battery life.

I can't help but think Samsung have rushed this out.

I think the camera is only a 1.8M pixel, I don't think it would be clear enough unless you were right under the car...

1.8MP is fine I reckon, it does 720p video, it's more if/when the sensor/lense is shit that you won't be able to see.

As long as you don't want to blow up the picture to epic proportions it'll be fine for sly numberplate/sideboob shots.

I can't help but think Samsung have rushed this out.

No change from their normal modus operandi then.

Like the Galaxy Cam, throw it at the market, gauge the feedback, then iterate. Galaxy Cam 2 is a far better device than the original, and the Galaxy S was a better device than their first Android effort, the Galaxy i7500 (June 2009, Android 1.5).

Sucks to be an early adopter.

That's a good idea. I guess eventually I'd like to see a smart watch become like a go pro camera myself, with a decent battery life.

I can't help but think Samsung have rushed this out.

I felt the same, but then what else could it really have?

I had a phone watch many years a go and never really used the phone side of it. It's awkward to make a call and I needed a separate sim card to my mobile, so twice the expense. I assume this is why Samsung made it work with an Android device for calls.

It had a crap camera which was a novelty, but I often preferred a decent quality pic so the phone was out.

The screen is too small for most apps and games.

Well apparently it has 70 apps available now, which is just a bit ridiculous.

If the smart watch market does take off, they'll likely be cheap, small, simple and come in much more wide ranging styles to suit personal taste, which is pretty much entirely the opposite of what samsung has gone for. Right now people are trying jack of all trades type devices to try and judge what the market wants and discover new use cases. With time feature sets will be simplified and refined to the point where they do very few things very well, to the point where they'll make enough difference for it to be worth the users paying for them. And once that point is reached the market will probably start pushing into newer and more interesting areas than just watches and glasses.

This is a very good article from earlier in the year about the direction wearables need to take. I think number 2 - make it peripheral - is a very interesting point, especially looking at things like the galaxy gear. Samsung has tried to make something big and in your face that you're going to be constantly playing with to try and make the stupidly high price tag acceptable to consumers, when really the opportunity is to provide a subtle stream of information to the the user when they want / need it and stay out of their way otherwise.

I think I prefer the pebble idea where the watch is mainly for consuming information and limited interaction than trying to do too much with it. Anything that's remotely complicated it'll be easier to pull out the phone.

If they do take off I can see it boosting the sales of "phablets". You'll be able to leave them in your bag most of the time whilst working on them using the watch but still with the big screen when necessary.

The killer app for me would be a decent integration with google maps so you can glance at your watch for directions rather than keep pulling the phone out. I've been keeping an eye on this with the pebble but it's not quite there yet.

Qualcomm Toq smartwatch unveiled with Mirasol display technology

http://androidcommunity.com/qualcomm-toq-smartwatch-unveiled-with-mirasol-display-technology-20130904/

"Toq’s power profile is so low that it does not require an on/off button."

Sony's 2nd attempt: http://techcrunch.com/2013/09/04/sonys-smartwatch-2-versus-samsungs-galaxy-gear-two-very-different-smartwatches-face-off/

I think I want a Galaxy Gear to mess about with.

If they do take off I can see it boosting the sales of "phablets". You'll be able to leave them in your bag most of the time whilst working on them using the watch but still with the big screen when necessary.

That's exactly my thought. I'm tempted by a note or something next - mainly due to the battery life and this would be good then.

Saying that I already have a tablet so who knows.

"ANT Wireless, proven innovator in ultra low power (ULP) wireless technology, today confirms that native ANT+ has been included in Samsung’s latest flagship product, Samsung GALAXY Note 3"

"The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is the first to deploy the ANT concurrency feature – uniquely available to ANT in Android - which makes it possible for consumers to utilize a variety of third party ANT apps all at the same time."

If anyone has an issue with Cyanogen 7.2 on HTC Desire force closing android.process.media the solution is to turn your phone onto Silent.

No, seriously, just sorted one out, check this out:

https://dmach.net/blog/2011/03/23/android-market-2-3-force-close/

7.2???

That's the highest you can run on Desire.

Since matey dropped his N4 he's gone back to Desire and ran into this problem. It was strange enough I thought it deserved mentioning.